Obs Report

ZeroID (Brent) · #1 07-11-2010, 09:19 PM

Thought I'd have a go at the November Challenge, the Skeletope is almost complete and the sky was clear despite some local Fireworks. I just dragged the scopes outside the garage door. Tested the 4.5" after the spider mods on Jupiter and am pleased with the improved viewing.

Using the 10" I hunted my way up to NGC 104 with a 25mm Plossl and then the 20mm Wideview and got some stunning almost 3D clarity moments when you could see right up to the core. The 12mm although darker was quite impressive as well.
The cluster was just viewable by binoculars, it's not my best viewing direction for Light pollution.

Started scanning away and found by pure accident NGC 362 just above the SMC. Bit hard to identify as there wasn't much around it that stood out but I've started sketching and noting time and RA/Dec so I can reference back to Stellarium to identify them. My sketches are only positional patterns at present but I'll work on them.

Further scanning got me 346 and above it 330 with 371 hanging around down beneath and off to one side. I tried the 12mm on 346 and got some separation within the group but seeing at that level was marginal.

I probably 'saw' a few others in the vicinity but I'm not up to recognising them yet, it's a steep learning curve in amongst all the shiny things. All told, it was a good night for me.

There is a small volcano about 3 km away with a road to the top that is open at night. The one in my 'backyard' is closed at 9pm. Next weekend, weather permitting of course, I want to drive up with the scope and get Andromeda and if I can wake up early enough 103P Hartley. At our latitude (37) they are very low in the northern sky, maximum elevation about 15 degrees and although I'll be contending with LP to some extent I reckon it's worth a shot.

Suzy · #2 08-11-2010, 10:08 AM

Thank you Brent for that great report.
Observing from the top of a Volcano sounds exciting!
I saw the Andromeda Galaxy for the first time last weekend from a dark site, and it blew me away. I couldn't believe how big and bright it is. It took up the whole fov of my Vixen LVW22mm (65deg) eye piece. If you can your hands on a widefield ep for this one it will be worth it.

ZeroID (Brent) · #3 08-11-2010, 11:01 AM

Hi Suzy, thanks for that. Auckland is dotted with old volcanoes, about 57 in total. Most are just large hills or craters having been mined for scoria in the past. Mt Albert in my 'backyard' is 198 meters to the summit. Mt Roskill with the open road is about 170 meters. We use walks up Mt Albert for exercise, a pathway to the top is in the next street.

Liz · #4 08-11-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZeroID

Auckland is dotted with old volcanoes, about 57 in total. Most are just large hills or craters having been mined for scoria in the past. Mt Albert in my 'backyard' is 198 meters to the summit. Mt Roskill with the open road is about 170 meters. We use walks up Mt Albert for exercise, a pathway to the top is in the next street.

Wow, interesting stuff Brent, and thanks for your report too.

Paddy (Patrick) · #5 09-11-2010, 06:14 PM

Great report Brent and great to hear that you're browsing the SMC. YOu've done well to pick out 346, 371 and 330 in light polluted skies. Whilst you're finding your way around the SMC, I'd be grateful if you could have a play with my charts at http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=67632 and let me know if they help and if you have any suggestions. I suspect that they will be of more use when you finish your larger scope, but I'd love to know what you can pick out from them using a small scope. I do plan to have a set for smaller aperture scopes and binoculars and inverted versions for newtonian friendly use on the web site. I will soon be updating the charts to include symbols to indicate the nature of the objects marked.

ZeroID (Brent) · #6 10-11-2010, 12:06 PM

Hi Paddy, already got your charts incorporated into my Astro Folder. Printed them at A3 size, holepunched one short edge and folded them. they are what led me to the SMC along with the November challenge. Currently I'm using them inverted to match the orientation I see before midnight and they are proving quite handy.
Tracked off from 346,330, 371 last night to find 419 and then attempted to find the next group unsuccessfully although I saw some stars where I thought it should be. (Can't remember the designation sorry). I've just designed and printed up a bunch of sketch/observing record pages similar to the pdf ones somewhere on here and I will start recording more info as I learn. Seems to be an important habit in this game.

The 10" is fully operational now, 2" crayford, 6,9,12,20 and 25mm EPs and working well. Just need a 15 or 17 maybe to fill in the mag gap. I will upgrade them as finances allow, the 20mm is my only wideview but the 25 plossl works well too. I dragged it out last night ( we've had an awesome run of clear nights lately ) to look at the sickle moon along the terminator, astounding detail with the 12mm and fabulous in the 20 and 25. I haven't tried the 4.5" scope on SMC but will drag that out as well now I've modded the spider to improve optics.
I also have a good dark site about 30 mins away and the 10" is designed to pack and go easily so must give that a go soon as well.

Suggestions? I'm still learning my way around up there. Maybe some more star/object info to assist in star hopping but I see you have that in hand already. As a newbie I find naming something makes it easier to remember location and patterns. The combination of a key page and then enlarged portions works well for me. My A3 fold out folder system works well, big enough to see and easy to flip back and forwards.
I await your LMC charts with bated breath.

Thanks for all your incredible efforts on the charts. they not only give information, they give inspiration. I now have a mission to find all the objects. Could take a while.

Keep me posted about updates please.

Paddy (Patrick) · #7 10-11-2010, 01:39 PM

Thanks for trying the charts and for the feedback, Brent. I'm very glad you've found them helpful. My head is brimming with ideas to make them more flexible on the web site and any more thoughts on that are most welcome. I'm looking forward to the LMC charts myself as well as a little daunted. There is just so much to see as the LMC is closer and has so many NGC objects.

Looking forward to more reports

ZeroID (Brent) · #8 10-11-2010, 08:07 PM

Correction Paddy. Just checked t'was 416 I found which led me to look for 465, 460 & 456. Not listed by default in Stellarium, I'll tweak up the settings now that I'm getting more serious. Get it to show more. I think I spotted the location and a star or two but I cannot claim a hit on those ones .....yet!
Transparency is bad tonight, scattered high clouds and mist so no obs tonight methinks.