Your most memorable Visual Deep Sky Observations

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Hi all,

As some of you are aware Gary Kopff and I gave a talk and photographic odyssey of out trip to the 2007 Texas Star Party and other points of astronomical interest in the USA.

During that talk I mentioned that at 2007 TSP I was fortunate enough to observe M51 through Larry Mitchell's 36" Obsession. I also mentioned that it was probably my most memorable visual telescopic observation ever, of any target in the sky. Gary agreed with me on this.

As most members may not have been fortunate enough to observe more Northern Hemisphere targets, I will add a couple of my most memorable Southern Sky observations:-

1) NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter, planetary nebula in Hydra. VM 8.2. 18"/F4.5 Obsession at Coonabarabran 525X magnification with a 10mm Pentax XW and 2.5X TV Powermate, unfiltered. A night of excellent seeing and transparancy contributed to an absolutely stunning view of this wonderful PN. The Central Star and the inner shell were beautifully defined in a photograph like visual image. It looks just like an "eye" looking back at you.

2) Murrell 1, Planetary Nebula in ARA (on Norma border) VM 16.8. 25"/F5 Obsession at Coonabarabran 185X magnification with a 17mm Nagler and a DGM Optics NPB filter. Whilst this is an extremely UNIMPRESSIVE target visually, because of its dimness and difficulty to observe, even in a 25" telescope, it was a memorable observation because there is some significance in visually observing a target that has recently been discovered by one of your observing buddies. This target is almost beyond the reach of a 20" telescope. I think Andrew Murrell with his supercharged retinas, is one of the few people on the planet that could see this in a 20" telescope.

3) NGC 3372 Eta Carina Nebula Complex. Emission Nebula and other targets in Carina. VM 3.0. 18"/F4.5 Obsession at Coonabarabran 68X magnification with a 31mm Nagler and DGM Optics NPB filter. This view was the same night as my memorable observation of NGC 3242, under superb conditions. I have observed this target hundreds of times in just about every size and type of telescope known to man and this was my most memorable view of one of the most remarkable regions of our galaxy. I subsequently changed eyepieces and removed the filter. I cranked the power up to 750X with a 7mm Pentax XW in the 2.5X TV powermate, unfiltered, for one of my most memorable views of the Homunculus Nebula within the Eta Carina complex.

4) Observing the Eta Carina Nebula complex through Paul Shoppis 13"/F5 Binocular Telescope at Kulnurra. 127X magnification using a "pair" of 13mm Nagler T6's. The view of this target through a high quality binocular telescope is something etched in my mind forever. I will never forget it. A binoviewer just isn't the same. I truly thought I was Captain James T Kirk flying the USS Enterprise straight up the middle of the dust lanes.

I am curious what some of the most memorable VISUAL DEEP SKY OBSERVATIONS you have been fortunate enough to make, might be.

Cheers,
John B

[andrewk_82 (Andrew)]

I'm only new to astronomy, so this won't be very exiting to most of you, but it was good for me.

I was bought a 60mm Tasco refractor a couple of years back. Couldn't see much through it, just M42 as a smudge on the sky, Jupiter, Mars and the moon and a few GC's .

For my birthday in September wife got me a 10" Dob . To date, M42 is the most memorable thing I've observed and that was with a half moon and the nebula low on the horizon. Compared to the view in the Tasco there was no comparison. Seeing the faint detail in the nebula and having it fill the eyepiece was awsome . Can't wait till I get to a dark site on a new moon. I'm sure I'll have many more memorable nights of observing to come (especially when I get my UHC filter for Christmas).

Cheers

[hector (Andrew)]

My WOW observation was the impact of ShoemakerLevy 9 into Jupiter.
The G impact was reported that it may iluminate the moon Europa that was in shadow at the time. At the moment of Impact there was no Flash of Europa but a moment later a small bump could be seen on the edge of the planet. The mushroom cloud rising from the cloud layers of Jupiter was visible, looking like one of the moons comming from behind the planet. IT WAS AMAZING. Then about 40 minutes later the "crater" Material dredged up from the interior of the planet rotated around to the front and it reminded me of the scene in 2010. The impact point was HUGE considering the size of the comet piece and BLACK against the planet. That impact site could be seen for many months after and thinking of it now still brings a tingle to my spine.
The 2nd best was seing Saturn during the last ring plane crossing. On a night during the SPSP we had exceptional seeing and you could see the shepherding moons that keep order in the rings. The ASNSWI's Treasurer at the time Max was heard to say FU*& ME which attracted the people awake and observing at the time.he didnt surrender the eyepiece for a good 10 minutes.
For a DEEP DEEP DEEP sky junkie I have solar system observations as my best views.
Clear Skies
Andrew

[iceman (Mike)]

A couple stand out:

1) NGC1365 (I think?) through Mike Kerr's 25" reflector at my first ever SPSP (3.5 years ago). It was my first WOW moment seeing a galaxy with its spiral arms like that.

2) The humunculus in Eta Carinae through Rod's 20" SDM at Kulnura on a night of exceptional seeing. It honestly looked just like the hubble pictures. It was amazing.

3) Comet McNaught at IISAC2007!

[PhilW]

My most memorable views have all been with the 10" bino:

1) Looking at M42 with twin Ethoi. The sense of immersion was unparalleled, as was the mottling and contrast within the nebulosity
2) Browsing around Eta Carinae with the binoscope and 11mm T6 Naglers. Not quite as immersive as the Ethoi, but the enhanced contrast makes the dark lanes really stand out
3) The major globulars are all remarkable sights (M22, 47 Tuc, Omega C). There is a moment when binocular fusion kicks in, and the objects take on a sudden illusion of depth & appear to spring out of the background sky. As you note it doesn't look this way with a binoviewer. I assume this is because in the latter case your brain is being presented with two identical images, so binocular summation does not take place in quite the same way.

[Octane (Humayun)]

John,

Great topic!

I haven't done much astronomical observing, being into imaging. I do miss peering through eyepieces.

My four wow moments:

1. Seeing the Moon for the first time through my (then) new telescope, an Meade 8" LX90 LNT. It was early evening in late December, and the Moon was directly overhead. I just couldn't believe that this level of detail was possible.

2. Seeing the dark lanes through the Keyhole Nebula through Zane Hammond's beautiful 25" Dobzilla. The Bok globules were tak sharp clear, even though Eta Carina was fairly low in the sky.

3. On the same night as 2. seeing COLOUR in the Great Orion Nebula, again through the same instrument. I was there with Louie, and another friend of mine. I remember exclaiming that it was the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. The Running Man was as clear as day, too. A remarkable instrument that Dobzilla. *dribble*

4. Seeing M31, M33 and the Orionid meteor shower of 2006, up at Coonabarabran. WOW!

Regards,
Humayun

[erick (Eric)]

It's been great so far, but, I think my most memorable observations are in my future!

Initially, everything is great - just picking out the Crab Nebula in 30x100 binos was a real thrill. And a few months after I first started observing - the first evening I was up late enough to see something I had only read about or seen photos of - Omega Centauri! Seeing The Jewel Box in my ancient old 7x50s - finally seeing myself something my Father had told me about years ago. The major moons of Jupiter in the same 7x50s - just resolved!

I've finally got the equipment together to settle back, relax and undertake systematic observation over the months and years ahead. So I'm really looking forward from here!

[kinetic (Steve)]

Originally Posted by hector

My WOW observation was the impact of ShoemakerLevy 9 into Jupiter.

I would have to agree with you Andrew for wow factor, although
not really deep sky, it is definately also one of my most
memorable moments at the scope.

I was observing Jupiter on the night you say, through my 8" F7 homemade
Newt, and my mate was two suburbs away simultaneously looking
through his 10" Newt. He was inspired to build his after seeing mine

We were talking on those old huge chunky cordless phones while
looking through our respective eyepieces.
The most easily visible fragment impact that amateurs had a chance
of seeing was due that night , Adelaide time.
He had seen a few already but I couldn't see them easily in my slighly
smaller scope.
Then the biggest fragment impact rotated into view.
He called me and said, "surely Steve you can see that one?"
I took a look...and yes, I could see a cometary fragment impact on the
face of Jupiter!

Not sure if they lasted months tho Andrew, I thought they were
gone after a few rotations?

Steve

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

For those that were fortunate enough to observe the Shoemaker/Levy 9 impact, it is without doubt the most memorable thing you will ever see. That is a once in a several milleniums event and a large % of the current astronomical community never had the opportunity to see it.

Comet McNaught was spectacular. Bennetts' Comet was spectacular. Haleys Comet was a non event. Observing the rings of Saturn is spectacular. Observing the Enke Division in the rings is spectacular. Observing the 9 craterlets in Plato visually is spectacular. Observing the full length of the Alpine Rille is spectacular. Observing the radiating ejecta rays of Copernicus is spectacular.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I AM ASKING

I am interested in Deep Sky Telescope Observations only

Cheers,
John B

[Jeff]

For me, some of the most memorable were quite modest ....

1. My first memorable DSO was Nov 2007 from Melb suburbs looking ... I stumbled across The Pleiades (M45, Seven Sisters) through a modest little scope (Meade ETX-60 refractor, FL=350mm), and remember gazing for ages. It was framed well at 14x and 23x using cheap super plossl eyepieces, but the crispness and blueish hue was like nothing I'd seen before. I dragged the Mrs out of bed to have a look, and although initially not impressed with the idea she was blown away by the view also.

2. Exploring the ETA Carina nebula / region in January 2008 after purchasing a 10" LightBridge Dob was great. Seeing bright nebulosity along crisply resolved stars had an impact, while I was just gaining an introductory appreciation of new star formation and the mechanisms of emission/reflection nebulae.

3. First viewing and resolving the magnificent Omega Centauri and 47 Tuc
globular clusters in January 2008 with my 10" LightBridge Dob at 100x and 50x was breathtaking. Although they look even better from dark skies and with bigger scopes, the awe of fist witnessing and appreciating these ancient beehives of stars lingers on!

4. First "really seeing" the Milky Way, LMC and SMC from a dark sky site ... naked eye (Heathcote Vic, March 2008 Messier Madness). Although retirement is still over 25 years away for me, I decided it will just have to be somewhere with Dark Skies.

5. Open clusters from Melbourne in May 2008 using my 10" LightBridge (M7 at ~70x with Panoptic 19mm, M24 Milky Way patch at ~50x with Panoptic 27mm). Beautiful!

6. Seeing 6 Virgo galaxies on one view from Heathcote in July 2008 with 10" LightBridge and Panoptic 27mm (~50x). Having hunted in vain for galaxies from suburban Melbourne skies, I'd formed the opinion that Galaxies were not worth the trouble ... but this changed my mind.

7. Sombrero Galaxy (M104), Centaurus A (NGC5128), Jewel Box, and the Ghost of Jupiter planetary nebula were also memorable for me when viewing for the fist tome ... some due to having them pointed out to me, others because I recall freezing my private parts off at the time!

Cheers,
Jeff

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Two of mine are the same as Johns, through my SDM 15"er.

Ghost of Jupiter in excellent seeing. The eye was looking back at me too.
Humunculus on the same night. This dso is in a class of its own and a jaw dropping sight when the seeing allows.
Splitting Sirius for the first time, again with the SDM.

Galaxy ngc1365 from Snake Valley last year in the SDM. First time i have seen the spiral arms right up to, and around the bend

Thor's Helmet in an 18" obsession. Saw as much detail as in any photo of this object posted on IIS.

[GrahamL]

M31 with a humble pair of 20x80 binos .. a dark sky with a hint of skyglow
from a small town 20 kms away drowning out just a few of the foreground stars..I'd looked at it plenty of times beore through my scope .. but never appreaciated how large it is .

[Astro78]

Hmm much to explore I see after reading some replies.

Will never forget and was fully wow'd by seeing a distinct green Orion nebula but also one particular fireball which broke into two and bright Red stands out.

That meteor hitting Jupiter would have been THE BEST!! Damn...

[dannat (Daniel)]

the pleiades through 7x35 binos - i still enjoy that object

47tuc through a 66mm scope

have seen thru bigger scopes but nothnig replaces those first few views

[Lester]

For me Omega Centaurus has no competition with the same scale and brightness. I have enjoyed viewing it with 16" Newtonian and 14" SCT.

Also scooting around within the LMC is a great experience, seeing many different and varied objects come into view.

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Originally Posted by Astro78

Hmm much to explore I see after reading some replies.

Lots to look at up there. Hard to cover it all in a couple of lifetimes unless you have a lot of idle time and very clear skies Keep at it.

Originally Posted by Astro78

Will never forget and was fully wow'd by seeing a distinct green Orion nebula but also one particular fireball which broke into two and bright Red stands out

That one is right up there. If you observe it at dusk before it gets fully dark you often see this green tinge, particularly in bigger scopes. I have seen the green tinge in an 8" scope, several times at dusk.

In a big scope (14" plus) under dark skies you actually see a lot of pink in M42 as well.

Originally Posted by Astro78

That meteor hitting Jupiter would have been THE BEST!! Damn...

Unfortunately we can't turn back the clock and replay that one. That will never happen again in our lifetimes.

Cheers,
John B

[Paddy (Patrick)]

Too, too many wonderful things, but I've never recovered from my first glimpse of Omega Centauri through a 250mm Newtonian at a star night 10 years ago.

I still love cruising the Magellanic Clouds and the fields of galaxies around Fornax.

And then there's.....

[RB (Andrew)]

Like Mike said, the one that stands out the most to me is the Humunculus in Eta Carinae through Rod's 20" at Kulnura.
It looked like a neon sign and had a 3D look.
I almost fell off the ladder.

[allan gould]

M42 through a 24" dobsonian and my first view of NGC253 with a 10" SCT

[vash (Ashley)]

Mine would have to be one night my farther and I where out observing and I pushed over to Triffid nebulae, at first I thought my eye's had gone funny because I swear I could see the colours clearly, my dad had a look through and said wow it's red and blue, which confirmed what I had thought, It was amazing to see, this was through my 10 inch skywatcher.