Blinking with OIII

[dennislowe]

Anyone use the technique of blinking with an OIII filter to help ID PN's. If so can you recomend a test object so I can get an idea of what I am looking for. I will be using a 200mm F6 Newtonian.
Thanks. Dennis.

[dhumpie]

I have done heaps of blinking with my old Lumicon UHC to identify starlike PN. When you move the filter in and out of the field, the stars dim but the PN does not. For starters you can try one of the starlike PN's like the blue planetary in Crux or the other one (very bad with NGC numbers) at the foot of the false cross. I am at work so I don't have access to my star maps....

Darren

[mickoking]

Originally Posted by dhumpie

I have done heaps of blinking with my old Lumicon UHC to identify starlike PN. When you move the filter in and out of the field, the stars dim but the PN does not. For starters you can try one of the starlike PN's like the blue planetary in Crux or the other one (very bad with NGC numbers) at the foot of the false cross. I am at work so I don't have access to my star maps....

Darren

IC 2448 is the planetery in the false cross (I think) and yes it is a good test coz I used the blinking technique to find that object. Planetaries are quite obvious in OIII filters.

[RAJAH235]

FWIW, I've found a very light tap on the tube helps. It 'moves' all the image & your 'rods' will pick up the fainter objects, slight movement. Averted vision also helps...
L.

[dhumpie]

You should see me when I am at the ep....I look like the headless horseman only I am not riding a horse I use my "jedi" dark cloak everytime I observe. It really helps bring out the extra details in objects.

Darren

[Starkler (Geoff)]

I use the same technique when hunting faint galaxies brother Jedi

It certainly helps if the only light reaching ones eye is that comming from the eyepiece.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Hartung used a small prism behind the eyepiece. The PN would appear star like; the background stars would smear into a spectra.

[dennislowe]

Thanks to all. Ill give the filter a run on my next dark sky trip.
Dennis.

[dhumpie]

I agree Geoff! Dark jedi cloak plus UHC filters and I am ready for some serious planetary hunting!

Darren

[dennislowe]

Originally Posted by mickoking

IC 2448 is the planetery in the false cross (I think) and yes it is a good test coz I used the blinking technique to find that object. Planetaries are quite obvious in OIII filters.

I have not seen IC 2448 yet. However on the night of the 18th I did find NGC 2867 from my back yard, with plenty of light pollution and a bright moon on the horizon. That was a bit of a surprise, and I am sure I would not have been able to ID it without the filter.
Dennis.