PN to try for medium scopes in the evening

[Gem (Grant)]

Hi all

Used to be more of a "glob" man, but since getting the new scope I have managed to see quite a list of PN in a short space of time. All of these have been observed with a 9.25" scope in the backyard in town (Canberra) over the past couple of weeks. Give them ago! Some of the little known ones were surprisingly good...

NGC 6302 (Bugbear)
NGC 2867
NGC 3132 (Eight burst)
NGC 3242 (ghost of jupiter)
NGC 4361
NGC 3699
NGC 3918 (try blinking as you observe it for a great blue effect!)
IC 4406
NGC 5882
NGC 6072
NGC 6153
NGC 5979 (harder)
NGC 5189

Have fun!!!!

[Suzy]

Thanks Grant!

I'll go look those up for their descriptions and see which ones to pop on my current to-do list.
I like it when people do threads for things to see... it makes my job easier.

I enjoy your posts by the way, keep up the good work.
In fact, I'm off now to re-look at your finder scope thread which was so informative and interesting as I'm looking at getting a R/A correct view finder myself.
What did you end up getting and what do you think?

P.S.
Oh, and I don't even mind when you correct my constellation genetives like Scorpio. Aye... potato, patata.

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

Hi Suzy, keep an eye out for a copy of Planetary Pages by Kent Wallace. Kent's one of the treasures of modern amateur astronomy, and has compiled this collection of notes of 300+ planetary nebulae he observed through a C8. Although the print version is pretty hard to find, I seem to recall an excel spreadsheet with all the objects in it, but can't find it.
I think I got one of the last copies of it ever printed, but I still see it available second hand.
cheers,
Andrew.
Edit: I found a link to part of it here.
http://www.blackskies.org/PN_Files/monster.doc

[Suzy]

Whoa!
Thank you so much for that file, Andrew! All the pn's are beautifully reported on. I'll know which ones to go for and which to stay away from , all in one document. Fantastic.

[pgc hunter]

I've grown quite fond of these ones in Carina:

IC 2448 - size= 9" , mag= 11.1
IC 2553 - size= 9" , mag= 13.0
IC 2501 - size= 2" , mag= 11.3
IC 2621 - size= 5" , mag= 10.5

All are extremely tiny but have a high surface brightness and is fun to pump up the mag trying to tease out details if you get good seeing. They should all be visible in a 4" scope.

[Gem (Grant)]

Originally Posted by Suzy

In fact, I'm off now to re-look at your finder scope thread which was so informative and interesting as I'm looking at getting a R/A correct view finder myself.
What did you end up getting and what do you think?

Hi Suzy

In the end I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Celestron 6x30 finder that came with the scope! All my previous experiences with finders must have given me preconceived (sic?) ideas. I have an 80mm refractor lying around so I was all ready to make it the finder, but the 6x30 is good enough for now. I will upgrade down the path to a 50mm I think, but for now the 6x30 has proved me wrong!
Most of my previous observing experience was under dark skies (Wagga Wagga, Narrabri, etc...) so I was concerned that I would need a better finder under urban skyglow. However, I had never had a goto scope before! With a goto scope, the finder doesn't need to do quite the same amount of work. Each object is within a quarter of a FOV or better of the centre each time.
I must admit though... I do feel like I am cheating abit not having to get out the atlas for each new object...
Guess I am "old school"...

[Gem (Grant)]

Suzy,

I was using a 9.25" SCT for all the objects on my list, so your 10" should be fine for at least those ones (unless you have more sky glow).

[Suzy]

Thanks Grant.
I just got myself a Telrad with a dew shield plus thingy. Bintel R/A finder yet to come as they were out of stock. May even go GSO yet if I can't wait that long- I don't really want to pay shipping twice by changing companies.

It's great that you've got a finder that works comfortably for you.

I do feel like I am cheating abit not having to get out the atlas for each new object...

Show off.



*Apologies for going off topic everyone.

[Gem (Grant)]

Suzy,

Good to hear. I hope it comes in soon.
My budget is tight until next year... so the finder I have will do for now (since it seems adequate enough). I will try to get something better one day, but a camera will come first.
I am studying/stay at home dad at the moment, so until I go back to full time work I am doing more "window shopping" than real shopping!
I do have plenty of time on my hands to research things though - hence the high volume of posts at the moment!
Just wish the skies could clear up and the moon go away... as do we all...