Galaxy #2 - Page 2

Starkler (Geoff) · #21 14-03-2005, 12:37 PM

evo if you can get stars sharply focused in a 9 or 10mm eyepiece the seeing is ok . If they focus to a blob, or a dancing blob you wont be doing any useful planetary observing.

ving (David) · #22 14-03-2005, 12:38 PM

the only way i get the airy disc and defraction rings from my place is to put my 80mm aperture stop on. as they explain in the article, the smaller aperture is looking thru a smaller column of air so thats why i get it with the aperture stop i guess

this is the first time I've looked into seeing really.

evo · #23 14-03-2005, 12:42 PM

Thanks chaps - Why is it every answer seems to raise 2 new questions! I'll take in the great info you guys have provided and come back in a few days methinks!

Cheers, mike

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #24 14-03-2005, 02:25 PM

Hi Evo-Mike and Peter,

I can understand your excitement over finding a galaxy!

THE EXCITEMENT DOESN'T GO AWAY!!!

Last night I had a perfect seeing sky, large aperture scope, I am at high altitude, and have dark sky. So I already have a head start.

Although I have been looking through scopes for 20 years, last night was the first time I have solely concentrated on 'Virgo Galaxy Hunting'.

At first I scanned the area with a 30mm SuperView. At the first Galaxy spotted, I changed over to a 15mm Plossl EP and left it in for most of the night, because everywhere I moved the scope within the area I found more Galaxies. I stopped counting after 30 and just kept finding more and more.

This was not in the busiest section of Virgo. That will keep till tonight (if we get good sky).

But my point is: there are some fairly bright galaxies in the Virgo region you should be able to find even with moderate light pollution, and scan the area with a low power EP to find then first.

I got down to 6.5mm on some of the brighter ones but they were getting very faint.

As far as the excitement goes, I kept annoying my Missus with comments like 'Wow, you should see this one' and 'jeez, there's 5 next to each other, come and look'.

The excitement is what makes it worth it, whether you can only just make out Jupiters Moons for the first time or have found very, very distant groups of galaxies.

Be excited, like the rest of us. We are all still seeing things for the first time! and report them, some of us may not have seen them yet.

Congrats on finding the ones you did find.

evo · #25 15-03-2005, 09:53 AM

Very excited today. Another beautiful night last night. Clear skies, but plenty of light as usual. Anyhow, set out once again to have a shot at NGC5128. Again no joy after trying for a good 45 minutes.

Turned my attention to Virgo and M104. Took me about 1/2 hour and finally at about 12:30am found the bugger. Joy of joys!

Had a crack at finding some of the galaxies in the Virgo cluster. No luck until I stumbled on one very faint object. Was a little lost and I think it was actually M49 (NGC 4472) which is a bit of an outlier to the main galaxy cluster. Is this possible? Is this the brightest of the galaxies located around here? If anyone can help me appreciated!

Anyhow then managed to lose it, by which time I was exhausted and couldn't find either of the galaxies again. Spent the next 15 minutes just gazing naked eyes at the beautiful sky, picking off constellations, wondering why I hadn't done this years ago!

Regards, mike

toetoe (Peter) · #26 15-03-2005, 11:05 AM

I get excited when i find something with my great big powerful 4.5 Tasco, can u imagine the excitment when the time comes when i upgrade to something simular to you guys and gals.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #27 15-03-2005, 11:15 AM

Evo-mike,

This is off SEDS site:

M49 is one of the brightest Virgo Cluster member galaxies with its mag 8.5, which corresponds to an absolute magnitude of approximately -22.8, regarding its distance of about 60 million light years. It is one of the giant elliptical galaxies in this great cluster. 

Look here: http://www.seds.org/messier/m/m049.html

Sounds like what you saw. Well done.

If light pollution allows you, try searching the Fornax Cluster.

Peter,

Don't worry about being in a hurry to upgrading your Tasco, my old 4.25" gave me magnificent views. I actually miss it.

ving (David) · #28 15-03-2005, 11:21 AM

i need a laptop

well done on finding galaxies... its quite fun hunting them hey?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #29 15-03-2005, 11:28 AM

David,

Laptop????

Notice the recent spurt of Galaxy sightings are on Dobbers!

Me, Geoff, Evo-mike. And Peter's 4.5" Tasco too!

Any message there? Hint, Hint.

ving (David) · #30 15-03-2005, 12:45 PM

well I need it to take my cartes du ciel outside so i can spot the galaxies... or rather know where they are. my palm software doesnt incleude alot of objects

CosMos (Rich) · #31 28-03-2005, 06:29 AM

Evo, NGC 5128 is difficult under a light polluted sky in an 8". I remember looking for it with an 8" under such conditions, the limiting mag. must have been about 4. I never had a finderscope but once on the field, it took a good minute or so for the galaxy to start appearing. The first thing I noticed was the dark lane as it was darker than the background light pollluted sky. After a while, the tenuous glow grew larger. Sky conditions really affect this galaxy. If you get a chance, look for it under a reasonably dark sky with 7x50 binos. A small bundle of delight.

MiG · #32 28-03-2005, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ving
the only way i get the airy disc and defraction rings from my place is to put my 80mm aperture stop on. as they explain in the article, the smaller aperture is looking thru a smaller column of air so thats why i get it with the aperture stop i guess

this is the first time I've looked into seeing really.

I'd say that having the diffraction limit 2.5 times lower than your usual 200 mm aperture is more of a factor than anything to do with the turbulence cross section.

RAJAH235 · #33 28-03-2005, 10:57 PM

Evo, A simple way of testing the "seeing" is to, > on a DARK night at a Dark site, pick a constellation & take note of the # of stars & mags. Then, from where ever you are, on any night, you can just count how many stars you can see in the same constellation. Gives a quick result.
HTH.

L.

evo · #34 29-03-2005, 08:43 AM

Thanks for the replies CosMos and Rajah235. I look forward to taking your sound advice when the skies eventually clear up!

Best wishes, Mike

Striker (Tony) · #35 29-03-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Notice the recent spurt of Galaxy sightings are on Dobbers!

Thats cause we only have to push a button to find it.....lol