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Andromeda from Hobart
I have had Andromeda on my target list for some time now. It has been a matter of patience, waiting for the right conditions to try for a visual observation of Andromeda from Hobart.
It is a challenge, being a little under 6 degrees altitude at culmination. Plus, given I am directly south of Hobart, it means viewing Andromeda through the Hobart light lume. On the plus side I have a good northern horizon with only the first 3 degrees of altitude lost to the very distant hills.
On Saturday night we had a rare night here - good seeing and transparency and importantly no clouds low on the northern horizon.
Success at last. An easy star hop led me to the right spot and after a few moments of patient viewing Andromeda popped into view. It showed as a faint, hazy, diffuse spot with some hint of central brightness. I could not see any structure and there was no evidence of M32 and M110.
I was viewing through a 103 mm refractor with best views at 32X. Contrast was extremely poor given the low altitude and the Hobart light lume.
Anyhow, another one bagged to top off a successful night. Just a shame good viewing nights have been so few and far between lately.
Cheers
Steve.
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