The Great Galaxy Hunt

[desler]

I must be getting better at this, found M104 the Sombrero Galaxy last night.
Hopped around the triangle created by spica, Algorab and Porrima, then hunted for the 4 star pointer.

Even with the 32mm wide angle providing 37x mag, with averted vision I picked up the faintest of hazes. Not bad from light polluted suburabn Werribee. More Magnification, up to 200x didn't really improve the view a great deal, still had to use averted vision and I figured transperency was pretty low due to the moon in the west. So off to bed for a couple of hours and a further look just before 5.00am.

Not that much better, but at least I can say I've seen it, can't wait to have a look from a dark sky site. Spent a little time trying to find M83 with no luck, By then Jupiter and it surrounding clusters was for the taking......ended up watching Jupiter and its tail of moons till daybreak.

Take care everyone, till next time.


Darren

[Starkler (Geoff)]

M83 is a tough one with LP. Give the spindle galaxy ngc 3115 a try

[goober (Doug)]

Hey Darren, good effort. If you're in Werribee, I'm guessing your looking back towards Melbourne which can't help. I saw them pretty well with my refractor a few nights ago, after the moon set. Transparency was excellent too - I was spotting magnitude 4.5 from the SE suburbs (that's rare).

[desler]

Thanks for the tip Starkler, it was already on my list, I'll just move it up a few places.

It's funny how it can be reasonably dark and clear outside with minumal wind and still either the seeing or transperency is not that good. There is always something to try and teach yourself. The learning curve over the last Month or so has been pretty steep, odd thing about this past time, I don't see it flattening out any time in the near future.

Clear, less light polluted skies for us all!

Darren