Found my first galaxy!!

[carl37 (Carl)]

Hi all.

I just bought a 10" dob from a fellow Ice In Space member - it's my first telescope even though I have been interested in astronomy since I can remember (very slack on my part).

Anyway, after the obligatory week of bad weather Melbourne has really turned it on with a string of clear nights.

Last night I was out and managed to find my first ever galaxy (apart from the MW, LMC and SMC of course) - NGC253! I've got Sky Safari on my phone and using it to get to the general area, I searched around a bit and then there it was - a beautiful elliptical smudge - confirmed by checking the surrounding stars on Sky Safari. I was amazed by how bright it was, actually, considering I'm in highly light polluted skies.

I also saw many nebulae and clusters, but NGC253 was the highlight of the night for me. As you may be able to tell I was very excited!

Just wanted to share.
Carl

[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

NGC253 is a great galaxy, one of the highlights of the night sky.
Easy to find detail in it when the conditions are right.
It is one of the easiest to track down. Locate Deneb Kaitos which is an easy naked eye star, then move in a general southerly direction with your finder and you will find 2 prominent triangle sof stars. 253 lies just past the second one. Once you have done this it is very easy to find again.
Congratulations once again!

Malcolm

[Varangian (John)]

I told you that was a good scope and will be for many years . Congrats Carl You should change your sig!

[Scorpius51 (John)]

It's a buzz when you find your first galaxy outside the 'local group' (MW, LMC & SMC) - and continues to be! It is even more so when it is achieved manually through star-hopping, rather than with a GoTo.

It is rather humbling, too.

John

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Excellent ! you have just observed light that has been travelling for 10,000,000 years ., its a buzz for sure .
My 1st was NGC 5128 or Centarus A , looks like a 'Cheese burger' , and it should be one of the next you search for , as it is bright and easy to find .
Good luck Carl .
Brian.

[Terry B]

Well done and have fun hunting for more.

[carl37 (Carl)]

Signature changed John!!

Originally Posted by Varangian

I told you that was a good scope and will be for many years . Congrats Carl You should change your sig!

[carl37 (Carl)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Excellent ! you have just observed light that has been travelling for 10,000,000 years ., its a buzz for sure .
My 1st was NGC 5128 or Centarus A , looks like a 'Cheese burger' , and it should be one of the next you search for , as it is bright and easy to find .
Good luck Carl .
Brian.

Thanks Brian. The night after my first observation I found Centaurus A as well. I could even see the dust lane. I am officially hooked!!!

[alistairsam]

Well done Carl
It's a nice feeling

What eyepieces are you using and where are you viewing from?

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Galaxy hunter now ?? , it gets really addictive really fast , but extra enjoyable , Centarus A is 20 million light years away ,, man ( we, homo sapiens ) were not even around here on Earth when the light you seen left this galaxy ,and then to enter your eye/brain after all that time .
Cool as .
Hooked I am as well .
Brian.

Originally Posted by carl37

Thanks Brian. The night after my first observation I found Centaurus A as well. I could even see the dust lane. I am officially hooked!!!

[carl37 (Carl)]

Originally Posted by alistairsam

What eyepieces are you using and where are you viewing from?

Hi Alistair. I'm just using ordinary GSO Plossls, mainly the 25mm and 9mm. Not great, but they still work fine.