observing report: 13th Oct.

asimov (John) · #1 13-10-2005, 09:33 PM

G'day.

With all this mars madness going on I haven't actually looked thru the eyepiece the last two times I've had a scope out! Too busy trying to get decent photo's

So last night after taking about 7 vids of mars (which turned out terrible due to bad seeing) I decided to have a gander visually at a few objects.

Looked at M42 first with my newly aquired 35mm ultima & the 12.5" newt. Simply stunning views. Screwed on the UHC-S filter & again stunning views, a lot more of the nebula was visible & I had to pan around to see it all. I then decided to try something 'different' & get right in there amongst the trapezium with a mag of 640X

(5mm barlowed) The image held up well at this mag!! The trap was spread out nicely, taking up the whole FOV. Just outside the usual 6 stars of the trap are 2 fainter ones, just visible for me at this mag.

Next object was the crab nebula. As usual, just a blob really...although I reckon I wasn't far off from actually seeing some detail!

Tried an assortment of mags. Best view coming from the 20mm TV plossl.

Did the usual scanning around with low mag.

Looked for the horse-head.....no luck.

At about 4.30 I decided on a mars visual. Earlier in the evening the seeing was 4/10 but by now it was 8/10 with mars too low in the nth-west to do another imaging run

Tried all sorts of things to get a better view on mars. Best views was using: 3 holed aperture mask with one hole closed/5mm EP giving 318X with the contrast booster on. I can tell you, I saw detail just like in Mikes or rumples or videoguys or birds pictures!!

My next imaging run of mars will be using this idea & see what comes of it!

atalas · #2 13-10-2005, 09:50 PM

Nice report John , boy 640 X ! you must have a great mirror there mate . Never seen eight stars in the trap before , that would be a real buzz ! but there is no way my C11 would do that

still I'm going to try for that eight no harm in that .

Louie

asimov (John) · #3 13-10-2005, 09:56 PM

Hi louie.

I'm not sure if the 2 I saw are part of the trap officially? Both were just outside. I'll try & sketch what I saw & post it perhaps.

atalas · #4 13-10-2005, 09:59 PM

We'll have to look that one up John they might be ,been many years since I done any study mate

Louie

davidpretorius · #5 13-10-2005, 10:03 PM

top report mate, i am still at 4 stars in the trap

asimov (John) · #6 13-10-2005, 10:12 PM

Study????........Never heard of the term!

I'm with you on that one.

Starkler posted a sketch awhile back giving the positions of these 2 other stars. In one of my threads here somewhere!......Take yonks to find it no doubt

Bump the mag up Davo. Wots your highest power EP??

asimov (John) · #7 13-10-2005, 10:41 PM

Hmmm, according to the map I just found, the 2 stars outside the trap are not part of it. the 2 I saw were out further..Just a bit further out than HH.

Starkler (Geoff) · #8 13-10-2005, 11:55 PM

Yep stars A-F should be visible in the 8 incher when seeing is average or better.
The others take some serious aperture to see.

atalas · #9 13-10-2005, 11:55 PM

Hey john at what mag are those fainter ones in that sketch ? they look like they would be bellow 12th mag .

Louie

atalas · #10 14-10-2005, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starkler

Yep stars A-F should be visible in the 8 incher when seeing is average or better.
The others take some serious aperture to see.

Hi Geoff, I have seen E and F on good nights with a 4" Tak refractor and a bit easier in a 5" Tak newt , I could see E on most nights in the 4" . Just one of those things you do every time Orion is around I guess.
I will definitely try for these others in my C11 next Kulnura meet,a dark sky should help.

Cheers

Louie

asimov (John) · #11 14-10-2005, 12:11 AM

From memory, You need some serious aperture like a 16" plus to see those 2 Louie....mag 14 is that right Geoff?

asimov (John) · #12 14-10-2005, 12:13 AM

My mistake......their both about 16 mag louie.

davidpretorius · #13 14-10-2005, 12:22 AM

6mm = 208 x

toucam slightly more say 5mm = 250.

asimov (John) · #14 14-10-2005, 12:32 AM

At 208X you should easily see six. I see six at 106X. Then again I've got an extra 2.5" of aperture, but I wouldn't think that would make much difference?

I must note all this! What mag. I can see 6 stars in the trap using a 6" refractor & for the newt etc etc!

asimov (John) · #15 14-10-2005, 01:40 AM

The more I think about it, the more I can't remember where these 2 stars are in relation to the trap!

I guess I'll just have to look at them again one night & this time sketch or photograph what I see!

It could have been these 2 in the pic.....