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My first M-object
- Macros42
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19 years 5 months ago #12800
by Macros42
Steve
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"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen" -- Albert Einstein
My first M-object was created by Macros42
My Collins Gem Stars book describes the Ring Nebula as disappointing with amateur telescopes. Well, I'm not disappointed because I actually found it tonight. The first Messier that I found
No pics I'm afraid - I'm a beginner
Took me an hour to find it but I think I've finally cracked this tracking down malarky What delayed me was seeing a double star in the viewfinder and then wondering where the hell "1 Lyr" was - should have been halfway between that double and Vega! Finally realised that I wasn't looking at 2 Lyr at all - but 1a and 2a. Once I copped that it was a piece of cake to find 2 Lyr and then move up (down) to Sulafat and Sheriak - and hey presto - there's this big grey blob staring at me
Yes, it's 3:15, I'm cold, a little drunk, and happy
No pics I'm afraid - I'm a beginner
Took me an hour to find it but I think I've finally cracked this tracking down malarky What delayed me was seeing a double star in the viewfinder and then wondering where the hell "1 Lyr" was - should have been halfway between that double and Vega! Finally realised that I wasn't looking at 2 Lyr at all - but 1a and 2a. Once I copped that it was a piece of cake to find 2 Lyr and then move up (down) to Sulafat and Sheriak - and hey presto - there's this big grey blob staring at me
Yes, it's 3:15, I'm cold, a little drunk, and happy
Steve
--
"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen" -- Albert Einstein
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- dmcdona
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19 years 5 months ago #12801
by dmcdona
Replied by dmcdona on topic Re: My first M-object
Well done Steve. Its no mean feat finding M57. At mag 9.5 its a little bugger to find visually.
Glad you're getting to grips with star-hopping. Only a hundred more M's to find... Then you can start on the NGC/IC's...
I'm just after packing up myself - to the dawn chorus. Bagged a few goodies tonight. I need to do some astrometry but I may have gotten a couple of the Uranean (?) moons, possibly Triton, and almost certainly Pluto (no teapot yet Bill). The dawn beat me to Mars but I bagged Jupiter, the moon and a couple of sunspots. Oh yes, and one 'M' object - 101
Keep it up and keep us posted.
Cheers
Dave McD (sober but also tired and happy )
Glad you're getting to grips with star-hopping. Only a hundred more M's to find... Then you can start on the NGC/IC's...
I'm just after packing up myself - to the dawn chorus. Bagged a few goodies tonight. I need to do some astrometry but I may have gotten a couple of the Uranean (?) moons, possibly Triton, and almost certainly Pluto (no teapot yet Bill). The dawn beat me to Mars but I bagged Jupiter, the moon and a couple of sunspots. Oh yes, and one 'M' object - 101
Keep it up and keep us posted.
Cheers
Dave McD (sober but also tired and happy )
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- dave_lillis
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19 years 5 months ago #12805
by dave_lillis
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
Replied by dave_lillis on topic Re: My first M-object
Nice one Steve,
I find the ring nebula one of the more stunning objects in the sky, it looks like as does in the photos except for the colour.
I find the ring nebula one of the more stunning objects in the sky, it looks like as does in the photos except for the colour.
Dave L. on facebook , See my images in flickr
Chairman. Shannonside Astronomy Club (Limerick)
Carrying around my 20" obsession is going to kill me,
but what a way to go.
+ 12"LX200, MK67, Meade2045, 4"refractor
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- ftodonoghue
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- Red Giant
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19 years 5 months ago #12806
by ftodonoghue
Cheers
Trevor
Replied by ftodonoghue on topic Re: My first M-object
I saw the ring nebula for the first time last night too..Kerry astronomy club had an observing session and I got to see it through an 8.75" dob...Should be on the list with saturn as a definite object for introducing people to the joys of astronomy
Cheers
Trevor
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- Seanie_Morris
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19 years 5 months ago #12807
by Seanie_Morris
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re: My first M-object
I have yet to actually find the Ring Nebula myself, its that difficult! Of course, I have seen it with a goto, but on a manual sweep of the sky, I couldn't get it with either the 70mm refractor, or my 8" reflector... Probably the sky conditions were not the best on the night with the 8".
Seanie.
Seanie.
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
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- Macros42
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19 years 5 months ago #12819
by Macros42
Well it did take me an hour and a lot of persistence. I was near giving up tbh. But I'm glad I stuck at it. According the Messier handbook you can see it in any skies. At 1:30 am last it was fairly high up in the sky as well so light pollution was minimised.
Next on the list is M13
Steve
--
"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen" -- Albert Einstein
Replied by Macros42 on topic Re: My first M-object
I have yet to actually find the Ring Nebula myself, its that difficult! Of course, I have seen it with a goto, but on a manual sweep of the sky, I couldn't get it with either the 70mm refractor, or my 8" reflector... Probably the sky conditions were not the best on the night with the 8".
Seanie.
Well it did take me an hour and a lot of persistence. I was near giving up tbh. But I'm glad I stuck at it. According the Messier handbook you can see it in any skies. At 1:30 am last it was fairly high up in the sky as well so light pollution was minimised.
Next on the list is M13
Steve
--
"Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen" -- Albert Einstein
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