MyCn 18 Bingo !!

[Tamtarn]

Last night although conditions weren't crash hot I thought it was time I took the Dob out as I hadn't used it for about two months.

One object that had eluded me for some time was the Planetary Nebula MyCn 18 in Musca. My problem was I didn't have a very good map. I used my Atlas of the stars this time and tried again and Bingo I found it

It's a fascinating object although it's very small. Using averted vision it's almost as though it's pulsating as it changes form the more you look at it.

I felt very satisfied and look forward to studying it again



This image was taken by Hubble

Barb

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Congrats Barb! Yep, it always feels good when you find something new. Well done on finding it

I've never seen it

[Dennis]

Well done! You dobbers that push-to, use star charts and go star hopping, never cease to amaze me. I am in awe of your patience and ability to read star charts - alas, early in my astronomy journey, I succumbed to the dreaded GoTo!

Cheers

Dennis

[Rodstar (Rod)]

What is the RA and Dec of this beauty? I tried to track it down at SPSP, but couldn't find it.

[Tamtarn]

Hi Rod

SkyMap Pro ......... RA 13h 40m 5s .......... DEC -67deg 25' 21"

It's called the Hourglass nebula

Hope this helps

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Thanks Barb. I will try for it in the next few nights.

We couldn't find it in SkyAtlas 2000 or in 33South's software at SPSP. She's a little beauty in the Hubble shot. I'll let you know how it looks through 20".

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Thanks David. I will try for it in the next few nights.

We couldn't find it in SkyAtlas 2000 or in 33South's software at SPSP. She's a little beauty in the Hubble shot. I'll let you know how it looks through 20".

Love to hear how it looks through the 20" Rod.

Here's a map from SkyMap Pro 11

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Thanks Barb, that is a great help. I will report the results in the coming days!

[astroron (Ron)]

It's in the Argo Navis data base.

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Originally Posted by astroron

It's in the Argo Navis data base.

Thanks Ron. Where did you find it in the Argo database? I tried to find it at SPSP under planetaries in a guided tour of Musca, and under "Hourglass nebula" in popular targets, but couldn't see it.

[astroron (Ron)]

Rod it is in miscalanious planetarys under Mycn 18.
I never use the guided tours I just use the particular objects,and also popular deep sky. you can also go into the argo navis user group website and down load various files such as the leyburne list and other interesting things like planetaries. cheers Ron

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Originally Posted by astroron

Rod it is in miscalanious planetarys under Mycn 18.
I never use the guided tours I just use the particular objects,and also popular deep sky. you can also go into the argo navis user group website and down load various files such as the leyburne list and other interesting things like planetaries. cheers Ron

Thanks Ron. I'll check my Argo tonight.

I use the tours function a lot, particularly for double stars in a particular constellation. It truly makes the task very simple indeed.

[astroron (Ron)]

Originally Posted by Rodstar

Thanks Ron. I'll check my Argo tonight.

I use the tours function a lot, particularly for double stars in a particular constellation. It truly makes the task very simple indeed.

Rod I have had a couple of nights when I used the tour it is a good fun program.
Did you get a look at mycn18Y

[Rodstar (Rod)]

Dear Ron (and Barb),

Yes, I did successfully locate MyCn18 on the Argo Navis in the Miscellaneous PN menu, but the night I tried to hunt it down the conditions were terrible, so I can't say I have had a good view of said object yet.

When my scope returns from SDM in a couple of weeks, I will have another go, and report the results.

[Tamtarn]

Thanks Rod .... Look forward to reading your report on how it looks through the 20"

[Qakka]

G'day Barb,

Well done observing it visually, as I reckon it would have be pretty tough.
I also managed to find it the other night and took a GSTAR image of it.
http://www.hwy.com.au/~sjquirk/images/gstar/mycn18.html
I could easily see the 2 loops on the PC monitor and the LRGB image reveals the red colour nicely.
Cheers, Qakka

[iceman (Mike)]

Excellent image Steve! What a great and interesting object.

[Tamtarn]

Just noticed your post Qakka.

Terrific images....You've brought out the colour nicely. Although very small you can definitely see the two loops .......... Well done

Barb

[Qakka]

Thanks guys,

It will be interesting to hear what the bigger scope observers will get to see of this little fella!

Qakka

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

My word it's tiny.
Well done Barb on tracking it down.
Definately on this months must find list.