You know, I still haven't installed Stellarium!
In regards to that fuzzy blob I now believe it was either the Horsehead Nebula or M42, both near Orion's belt, which I'm pretty sure now is what I was looking at.
Horsehead Nebula it ain't. that is a very small faint object. M42 sounds like it. Great Nebula in Orion and the dust lanes can be just visible in naked eye in suburbia witha bit of dark adaptation. Even better in binocs and better again in a scope.
It is the central section in the sword of Orion, the belt is the three lined up stars below it, Alnitak, Anilam and Mintaka. Orion is upside down to us in the Southern Hemisphere.
Get STELLARIUM !!!! it's FREE !!!
Then turn on Constellations and you will see it so easy. One of the best ( and not because it is free but because it is so good ) programs anywhere for the budding astronomer. With a big scope you can sometimes discern faint colours on a good night.
Don't be fooled by the M43 label, that is another nebula almost hidden inside M42. You will not see the pink colour but you should see grey 'clouds' around the bright stars.
Me thinks someone is playing games with us all
First he tells us it was in the milky way in the East, now we are in Orion Which is in the West.
Just hope he doesn't want to find his way to Brisbane,he would finish up in Perth
Enough said
Cheers
Antony, I don't believe I nor anyone else is in a position to help you further unless you help yourself first by doing just a couple of basic things mentioned herein this thread (re Stellarium/& or actually using your newly purchased planisphere) or at the very least understand where north, south, east and west are.
Hi Ants , what scope were you using ?
I have a 15 and 26mm eyepieces and in my different scopes I get ,,, for example ,, different fields of view ,,, different brightness ,, different clarity ,,, eg mate ,,, lots of vairables here , I think you are trying to pull one over here on lots of nice people that just want to help ? You ,,, Come clean here .?? .
Brian.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mbyrr
Any suggestions what the fuzzy thing I saw high in the north-east last night?
It was next to 2 other star-like objects in a line, barely seeable with the naked eye (at least in suburbia). I saw it with the 15mm and 26mm eyepieces.
Oh yes , there is no shame in being ,, " Lost in Space " ,, we have all been there , but mate as said here a little common knowlege goes a long way into finding your way around thye night sky . .
I should no as up here in Darwin we dont se any stars for a good 5 months of the WET !!! and I am lost for the first few clear nights , .
The night sky dont wait for clouds to clear ..Its still there ...
Come clean ? and you will get a lot of help here .
Brian.
fuzzies welcome here , if the full moon dont glare them out ,,, tonight , Ants ?? . East of south ???
I think more on this thread and think old mate Ants here has seen the Great Orion Nebular ,,Beautiful M42 . . cool .in a .........
any telescope . mate .
Come back... Ants ...
Brian.
Sorry guys, I'm not trying to pull anything over on anyone. I may have gotten my directions mixed up to be sure, I mentioned the Horsehead because a mate of mine told me it was near Orion's belt which is 3 stars in a line, and it sounded right from memory (without remembering what I had said here). So it is just confusion on my part, wasn't my intention to upset or confuse anyone, so apologies for that.
Hi Ants , what scope were you using ?
I have a 15 and 26mm eyepieces and in my different scopes I get ,,, for example ,, different fields of view ,,, different brightness ,, different clarity ,,, eg mate ,,, lots of vairables here , I think you are trying to pull one over here on lots of nice people that just want to help ? You ,,, Come clean here .?? .
Brian.
I have the Bintel 8" dob. And I've only had a few opportunities for taking it out as it's been overcast here for weeks on end, a couple of nights ago was the first opp I had to take it out to take in the moon.
Also I have a genetic disposition for getting my directions and rights&lefts mixed up (yes, driving with me is interesting!). But hey...
Thats good , Ants .
Once you learn 1/2 a dozen bright srtars positions , the constalations will follow in time , go slow there is no rush, using a planesphere , and stellarium .
Oh yes the positions of South , North , East and West in relation to your observing site , I use land marks eg.tall trees , tall buildings that you can see at night , and realising that every thing in the night sky rises in the east and sets in the west , just like the sun and the moon. .ha ha lost in space ..
Brian.
Hi Ants , what scope were you using ? 
I get ,,, for example ,, different fields of view ,,, different brightness ,, different clarity ,,, eg mate ,,, lots of vairables here , I think you are trying to pull one over here on lots of nice people that just want to help ? 
Oh yes , there is no shame in being ,, " Lost in Space " ,, we have all been there , but mate as said here a little common knowlege goes a long way into finding your way around thye night sky . 
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. 
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mate . 
