NGC 2294/2291/2289/2288/2290 Galaxies Gemini 12/12/10 56cm f5 dosonian telescope Field: 17′ Magnification: 354x Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:58 Black Canford paper White pen White pencil White oil pencil White pastel chalk Paint brush Blending stump This was quite a nice collection of galaxies in Gemini that viewed well in the 56cm dob. The brightest member … Continue reading Interacting or Not?
NGC 1555 “Hind’s Variable Nebula” Reflection Nebula Taurus 11/12/10 Ilford NSW Australia 56cm f5.0 dobsonian telescope Field: 29′ Magnification: 166x Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:60 Black Canford paper White pen White pencil White pastel chalk Paint brush This somewhat mysterious reflection nebula was discovered by John Hind in 1852. It began to fade in 1861 … Continue reading Hind’s Variable Nebula
NGC 5139 Omega Centauri Globular Cluster Centaurus 09/08/10 Ilford NSW Australia 76mm Televue Apo Refractor Field: 62′ Magnification: 48x Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:38 I always find NGC 5139 a bit much in large scopes, a more elegant view of this grandiose globular can be had in smaller instruments. As rain had been forecast I … Continue reading Glorious Omega Centauri
Hi all, Tonight I received one of my biggest and most pleasant surprises at the eyepiece. It wasn’t using a half metre + monster, nor from an especially dark site. Rather, it was using my nearly 30 year old 2” f/12 Tasco refractor, and from my home in Sydney! Over a year ago I purchased … Continue reading Revisiting Two Old friends
VY Canis Majoris Hypergiant Star Canis Major 11/12/10 Ilford NSW Australia 56cm f5 dobsonian telescope Field:12′ Magnification: 404x Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:67 Black Canford paper White pen While pencil Yellow oil pencil White oil pencil Red pastel pencil The hypergiant star VY Canis Majoris is not a particularly well known observing target, but it … Continue reading Hypergiant Star
Abell 21 PK 205+14.1 SH2-274 Planetary Nebula Gemini 12/12/10 Ilford NSW Australia 56cm f5 dobsonian telescope Field: 29′ Magnification: 166x with Oxy III filter Sky quality meter reading: 21:55 Black Canford paper White pastel chalk White oil pencil Soft white pencil Paint brush Blending stump After three months of dismal wet new moon periods I … Continue reading Gazing at Medusa
NGC 4517 Galaxy Virgo 28/03/06 Ilford NSW Australia 41cm f4.7 Dobsonian telescope Field: 23′ Magnification: 210x Sky quality: N/A Black Canford paper White pen White pencil White pastel chalk Blending stump Paint brush NGC 4517 is a really nice edge-on galaxy around 12′ x 2′ in size. In the 41cm dob this galaxy looked very … Continue reading To the Edge
NGC 7293 Planetary Nebula The “Helix” Nebula Aquarius 09/08/10 Ilford NSW Australia 56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope Field: 29′ Magnification: 166x with Oxy-III filter Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:52 Black Canford paper White pastel chalk White pen Soft white pen Cotton bud and paint brush for smudging I have observed the Helix nebula a number of … Continue reading Beauty of the Helix
NGC 5194/5195 (M-51) The “Whirlpool Galaxy” Interacting galaxies 24/05/06 Ilford NSW Australia 41cm f4.5 dobsonian telescope Field: 23′ Magnification: x210 Canes Venatici Black Canford paper White pen White pencil White pastel chalk Blending stump Paint brush What can I say about the Whirlpool Galaxy? At my location Messier 51 is at a little over +47 … Continue reading Down the Whirlpool
Abell 72 PK 59-18.1 Planetary Nebula Delphinus 07/08/10 Ilford NSW Australia 56cm f5.0 dobsonian telescope Field: 27′ Magnification: 218x with OxyIII filter Sky Quality Meter reading: 21:65 Black Canford paper White pen White oil pencil White pastel chalk Soft white pencil Paint brush George Ogden Abell’s classic catalog of planetary nebulae contains 86 objects which … Continue reading Fading Planetary Nebula
