Had a pretty good night observing on Monday night (bedtime 3am). Last night was even better. Conditions early for Jupiter weren't too good so I decided just to try DSO's.
A Nebulae night I thought. Called in on a few favourites. Lagoon Trifid Swan Eagle Tarantula etc then on to planetaries. Dumbell Helix Saturn. Then I decided I would try and find one or two planetaries I hadn't seen before.
Started with NGC6818 The Little Gem in Sagittarius. Very tiny blue dot in the 27 Pano. Using the 10 & 7 XW with the UHC Filter it was quite bright and very pleasing for the first on the list. Aptly named I might add it sure was a little gem
Second was NGC6302 The Bug in the tail of Scorpio. Well... for some reason I just couldn't find it!. Then whilst panning around I came across a very faint small circle in the 27 pano. Popped in the 10 & 7 XW'S and what a great little planetary!! Seemed to be transparent in the centre with a very defined outer circle ring. Looked on my chart I was using nothing listed in this area. ....... It's quite a thrill to stumble upon something as small and not be identified to me on a chart. Checked this morning on other charts and found it was NGC6337 also confirmed it with an image on the net.
Third was NGC1535 in Eridanus. This was a very interesting one, blue with a brighter centre core and a very faint outer circle glow.
My last was NGC246 in Cetus. Well... I must have spent at least half an hour searching for this one. I knew I was in the right spot but I couldn't see a ring shaped object anywhere. I kept passing over a small group of stars with some nebuosity every time using the 27 Pano so I thought I would try the DGM NPB filter and low and behold !!! The group of stars are part of this ring nebula. I put the UHC on the 10 & 7 XW and could see the nebula was not a perfect circle it had a breakaway at one edge there was also some transparency and the stars were quite bright in and around this very interesting planetary. Its one to go back to and spend time at the EP to take in more detail.
I'm now thoroughly hooked on Planetaries
There are hundreds out there so I can compile a list for every night conditions allow me to observe.
Finished off with Galaxies 55 and 253 and by this time Orion had risen over our rooftop. We had another half hour with M42 .
AN AMAZING EVENING
By this time it was 2am.....time to catch up on some sleep
Barb
Anyone interested in Planetary Nebulae this is a good site
www.blackskies.org/index1.html
Images of the planetariesI found last night are :-
NGC6818
http://www.blackskies.org/images/ald...6818_Alder.jpg
NCG6337
http://www.blackskies.org/images07.htm
NGC1535
http://randybrewer.net/images/Digita...es/NGC1535.jpg
NGC246
http://www.astrosurf.com/jwisn/ngc246.jpg
