Will I be able to see galaxies?

[DJVege]

...with my 5" MN56?

I was just wondering, when you guys image galaxies etc.. Can you actually see them in your telescope or on screen (if you're using a webcam) before you take the shot?

My problem at the moment is that the skies aren't dark enough for me to find stuff easily, so I just point and hope, and do a little searching.

[erick (Eric)]

In Sth Qld, M31 should be no problem. Find a spot with dark skies to the north and go looking around midnight in the next week or so while the Moon is absent.

[citivolus (Ric)]

I'll usually take a 30 second high ISO shot for composition, and reposition the scope until it looks right. With some objects like M42 you can get away with less, but it is rare that you will see a galaxy or DSO through the camera on short exposures. Depending on where you are in Brisbane, you may or may not see the smudge of the galaxy visually through the scope. An MN56 is pushing it aperture wise for all but the brightest.

[acropolite (Phil)]

M31 is visible naked eye from a dark site and an easy binocular target from your latitude. I saw it for the first time at Astrofest this year (I've never been able to see it from Tas). The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) is also a fairly easy target. Don't forget the LMC and SMC as well.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

Depending on light pollution with a 5" scope you will be able pick up quite a lot of galaxies visually. Even in 8x40 binos the brighter non-naked-eye ones like Hamburger, Scluptor/S.coin, Sombrero, Southern Pinwheel M83 and few others are visible from a dark site.

[DJVege]

Thanks guys. I'll have a search this weekend. I'm also hoping to get a glimpse of the ISS and Mars.

I saw a satellite on Monday night, but I don't know which it was, and it was moving too fast to get the scope pointed at it, so just peeked at it through the binoculars. Less than 5 minutes and it was out of sight.

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by DJVege

...I saw a satellite on Monday night, but I don't know which it was, and it was moving too fast to get the scope pointed at it, so just peeked at it through the binoculars. Less than 5 minutes and it was out of sight.

You'll get used to these, they are all over the place, zipping through your field of view in the hour or two after sunset (and presumably before sunrise).

Look at some software like J-Pass:-

http://science.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/20/

and be surprised at just how many satellites pass over out heads every day. I just ran it - around 200 passes for Melbourne in the next 24 hours!

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Hey DJ,
If you want to know when Hubble, ISS, Iridium satellites and stuff pass over, go to www.heavens-above.com. Plug in your co-ordinates and you can print out a sheet of times, altitude, estimated magnatude etc.
I like to take my boys out satellite chasing in the early evenings. Great fun.
Cheers
Jeanette

[Terry B]

When I am imaging I can usually see the galaxies with a ~5 sec exposure with my CCD. I use this for composition and then take longer exposures.
As long as there is no moon I can see down to ~mag 11 galaxies with no problem at the eyepiece. Dimmer requires more effort.

[DJVege]

Thanks Eric & Terry B. I hope these clouds go away so that I can setup my scope on my HEQ5!!

Thanks Jeanette! Registering now!

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Hey DJ if you're still planing on coming out to Ron's place next weekend ie the 13th (and I can't recommend highly enough that you do! ) we'll find you some galaxies mate. Even if you haven't got the HEQ5 set up right for photography yet come along anyway and you can have a look through some scopes in the 8" to 16" range at a hole bunch of stuff.

Occasionally some really big scopes come along like the 25" dob of Willliam ("Argo Navis") or the 30" dob that belongs to Peter, both are "local" IIS members.

[DJVege]

Yep! Unless unforseen circumstances hit me, I'll be attending Ron's with Rowena this weekend!!

My rings should arrive today, so the HEQ5 should be ready for this weekend!!

[xelasnave]

Well you can see the large and the small magelan clouds and even M31 with no aid at all... sometimes I can see galaxies thru the view finder of the 300d but I have a very very dark site.

The silver coin is visable and I can make out the smudge of the Wirlpool gallaxy in the North which was a surprise..

I think as you gain experience you can recognise very small changes in the brightness of the sky...

When I started I found it difficult to find them but pretty easy these days..er nights... so hang in there...
alex

[DJVege]

Thanks Alex!!