tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65940888285172805282024-03-06T00:31:15.265-08:00Galaxy LogHASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-35139938216949632832018-04-05T10:30:00.003-07:002018-04-05T10:30:19.054-07:00New Galaxy Log video!<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9emkcXzCLQHASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-60556837796897355762015-03-09T21:55:00.002-07:002015-03-09T21:55:41.921-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">New scope for Galaxy Logging. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">An Astrozap 6" f/4.4 </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC8_e119_VpXk7s2GdIcAQcgmXcTPi40O_BtamcMydKeYslWN8EO1kI_4b9ZwfYvWDL1J3n3TML_0lOwPFuX4v7GRCuUqFVXSsONCR9qqwvSuQN6R2m-WJ0RDjf3vzJS0MBbMN85fLapf/s1600/Astrozap6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNC8_e119_VpXk7s2GdIcAQcgmXcTPi40O_BtamcMydKeYslWN8EO1kI_4b9ZwfYvWDL1J3n3TML_0lOwPFuX4v7GRCuUqFVXSsONCR9qqwvSuQN6R2m-WJ0RDjf3vzJS0MBbMN85fLapf/s1600/Astrozap6.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-9207168363690388762015-03-09T21:52:00.004-07:002015-03-09T21:52:47.073-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">Galaxy Log is back with GL 03.2015<br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9NAzIrmawA">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9NAzIrmawA</a></span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-13897902862875230802014-07-27T14:58:00.001-07:002014-07-27T15:00:43.127-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The July GL 2014 is posted with something new called Galaxy Log NearView. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">From the video:</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello galaxy observers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Galaxy Log is going through a
change, and my wish is you’ll get more out of the videos and the joy of
observing these greatest of objects.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What you’ll see with this month’s galaxies is something
we’re calling Galaxy Log NearView.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The images will be a close representation of the eyepiece
view through the various telescopes. This will be done using notes and some
modest sketching to adjust the photo image of the galaxy so that it looks near
the actual view at the eyepiece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Thank you and enjoy the new Galaxy Log.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0RF6cTzpog"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0RF6cTzpog</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZex8WDL7_xhHYkdYC83A3wdACK4ca10H7N1_sfB0OuM6bbucd-8F-FkvPR1OZF5AtTZQHznRiG7uS_XdoMuGU45RX2I_qo2JSzcF2AlobYLjxMILd-63XakmOQCDe-u44oYS9t_A5ZEEA/s1600/m102+NV+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZex8WDL7_xhHYkdYC83A3wdACK4ca10H7N1_sfB0OuM6bbucd-8F-FkvPR1OZF5AtTZQHznRiG7uS_XdoMuGU45RX2I_qo2JSzcF2AlobYLjxMILd-63XakmOQCDe-u44oYS9t_A5ZEEA/s1600/m102+NV+7.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #fff2cc;">M-102 NearView with a 7.1" f/6 refractor</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-69547625174237714622014-06-19T22:08:00.001-07:002014-06-19T22:08:26.329-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">June 2014 Galaxy Log posted</span><br />
<span style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">https://www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565</span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-56870324069326717202014-04-02T22:10:00.003-07:002014-04-02T22:10:56.326-07:00<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">When I arrived at one of our
dark sites called Ds-2 around 8:00 PM and got out of the van, that nasty wind
was gone with only a gentle breeze. A CAS member (Lou) was already well into
setting up, but I had to say “we should have gone to our darker site (called the
Edge)”. Oh, well better safe then sorry I guess. Even so the sky conditions were
quite good (seeing also).</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I had the 8” f/9 refractor and
the 4” f/10 refractor (needed some GL notes). </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">My initial CGE two star mount
alignment proved to be off a bit. So I redid it with terrific results and the
mount work perfectly through the night.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Lou’s 17.5 inch dob is a
marvelous set-up, and provided terrific views. He should be very proud of that
scope, but hey it’s a Telekit with a Zambuto mirror! He also has the complete
line-up from 14mm to 3.5mm Delos, which match his scope perfectly.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Lou’s views of a number of
objects like M-82 (and dimming SN), M-51, Ngc 2371/2372, and the Eskimo nebula
to name a few were outstanding.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">As for my night the 8”
refractor was hitting on all cylinders, with a first view of M-82 and the SN.
Using a 9mm X-Cel LX (200x) gave a very fine view of the galaxy and SN. This is
when I borrowed the 8mm Delos (225x) from Lou. The view just blew me away and
showed just how good this Beast of a refractor could optically perform. The
match of this eyepiece to this high-end refractor was nothing short of
perfection. The galaxy showed vivid detail, and the SN standing out very well.
The clarity and contrast (black background sky) was off the charts. And I’m
thinking this is just Ds-2, and the Edge (we should have gone) is darker of
course. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I returned Lou his eyepiece,
and went onto other galaxies in the area like Ngc 3675 which gave a very nice
view. Also Ngc 2841 (a favorite), which looks like a distant M-31 in the
eyepiece. The interacting galaxy Ngc 3690 (GL 04.2013) in my 7mm Pentax (257x)
and Meade 5.5mm UWA (327x) showed some nice detail, including a bright stellar
nucleus. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Some other galaxies in the area
were Ngc 3998 and next to it Ngc 3990. Ngc 3998 showed a round disc and an
intensely bright stellar core. The small 3990 was slightly elongated with also a
nice though less bright stellar nucleus. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Did some Galaxy Logging with
both the 8” and the almost forgotten 4” refractor. Hey, the Celestron Omni 4”
f/10 refractor is really a good scope and highly recommended, but when you have
a 17.5” dob and 8” refractor to view through, it kind of remains as a secondary
observing scope. I will say it certainly did its job for Galaxy Log, and a 4”
refractor can indeed show fine views of many galaxies. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Showed Lou a medium power view
of M-5 (a favorite), and a must see when in that area of the sky.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Back to galaxies and a nice
pair in Canes Venatici Ngc 5311 and Ngc 5313. I think these are going to be
future GL video “stars’. In Bootes Ngc 5611 was a nice find, and that also could
be a future GL object.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Did some deep viewing with a
trio of galaxies in Bootes as in Ngc 5598, Ngc 5601, and Ngc 5603. With a AT 8mm
WF the two brighter 13th mag galaxies were easily visible, but I used the Meade
5.5mm UWA and a ES 4.7mm UWA (393x) to glance at the almost 15th mag Ngc 5601,
which looked like a dim fuzzy star. </span></div>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Verdana; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 6pt;">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">As the night was getting closer
to the end, plus some high clouds were coming in. With the 4.7mm still in the
scope, I gave a quick look at M-57 as Lyra was rising in the east. I then swung
the scope back over to the west to view M-63 and M-106, both providing views to
end a great night.</span></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-55272037624626364492014-03-16T19:59:00.006-07:002014-03-16T19:59:49.036-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">March 2014 Galaxy Log video is posted.</span><br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2lS8NK6nU"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bd2lS8NK6nU</span></a>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-76251190603999834792014-01-31T21:10:00.001-08:002014-01-31T21:14:49.622-08:00<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><span class="790263404-01022014">I</span>t was a
bit nippy (actually damn cold)<span class="790263404-01022014"> at one of our dark
sites (EL 1350 ft.)</span>, but the warm feeling of getting out and enjoying the
night kept<span class="790263404-01022014"> me and another CAS</span> going later
then both of us intended.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">The thrill of a new scope no matter of size was also
a driving force, and the Vixen 5" f/5 reflector is a fine scope with really
excellent optics.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">First catching M-42 (naturally) brought out a very
nice small scope view of this great object<span class="790263404-01022014">.</span> <span class="790263404-01022014">A</span> quick
view of M-35 with Ngc 2158 in the background was also very nice, but I had to go
for M-82 and the SN<span class="790263404-01022014"> (supernova 2014J)</span>.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">The view using a 10mm UWF (65x) was better than I
thought it was going to be. The SN stood out well within the heavily mottled
galaxy.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">I moved on to the February and March small scope
Galaxy Log video, which the 5" gave a very nice view using powers up to 138x.
More details to come in the videos.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">At this time I needed to get the 6"<span class="790263404-01022014"> f/6.5</span> refractor going which it didn't
mount-wise<span class="790263404-01022014"> with GoTo</span>. The extreme cold was
just too much, so manual was it for this scope.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">Did some galaxy logging for the mid-sized
scopes<span class="790263404-01022014"> with the 6"
refractor.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="790263404-01022014" style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">So as we were nearing the end of our night is when
things got a bit more serious with the supernovas (M-82 and M-99).</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">I put both the 5" reflector and 6" refractor on M-82
and used various magnifications, including <span class="790263404-01022014">nearly
identical</span> power<span class="790263404-01022014">s</span>. The 5" reflector
did very well, but the difference of the larger refractor was<span class="790263404-01022014"> quite</span> evident.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">Josh<span class="790263404-01022014"> (the other CAS
member)</span> was at this time observing M-82 and the SN<span class="790263404-01022014"> with his 25" f4 dob</span>. I will say the view was as
good or better than most images. The color<span class="790263404-01022014"> (pale
reddish-orange)</span> of the SN was quite striking when compared to the nearby
whitish field star. The detail in the galaxy and the SN being so bright gave it
a surreal view. One of the grandest views in a scope I've seen.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">The view of M-99 <span class="790263404-01022014">was
very impressive</span>…arms and<span class="790263404-01022014">
faint</span> SN<span class="790263404-01022014"> (2014L)</span>!</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">Went back to the smaller scopes, and the 6" using a
5.5mm UWF eyepiece (180x). The color in the SN (a p<span class="790263404-01022014">astel</span> oran<span class="790263404-01022014">ge</span>) was evident. Here the galaxy's mottling and
dark lane with the bright SN (though not the<span class="790263404-01022014"> view
of the 25"</span> of course) was awesome.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">I even said to Josh if I was going to have a
refractor up here tonight, and though the 6" refractor is a fine scope, I wish
this view was through the 8"<span class="790263404-01022014"> f/9</span> refractor
(The Beast). I'm quite sure this would have been (along with the view of M-42
from West Virginia) the best of the Beast. </span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">This is a terrific
supernova is a great galaxy to observe in almost any scope.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Arial;">Side
note:</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="790263404-01022014" style="color: #ffe599;">Missed the SN (2014G)
in Ngc 3448. Plain forgot about it. I'm blaming the cold. </span></span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-52153053339973297542014-01-12T06:11:00.003-08:002014-01-12T06:11:54.353-08:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">January 2014 Galaxy Log video is posted.</span><br />
<span style="color: #fff2cc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iORgrrhBo2E</span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-22073509423816179892013-12-01T21:12:00.004-08:002013-12-01T21:13:12.173-08:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">Galaxy Log video 12.2013 is posted</span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnES0PyC_A">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnES0PyC_A</a>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-5331095169379587132013-11-14T21:13:00.004-08:002013-11-14T21:14:03.123-08:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">A terrific night at my local (less than 2 hour drive) darkest site with my 4” and 8” refractors.<br /><br />As I pulled in the site, and got out of the van I looked NW towards the low riding Big Dipper, and a nice bright meteor went through the handle. I thought to myself that could be a sign of an excellent night.<br /><br />As I gazed up at the rest of the sky as darkness was settling in, it was apparent that the transparency was quite good. The Milky Way was very vivid, with the major star clouds looking like mottled cumulus clouds. Even some dark nebula in the Sagittarius region was seen.<br /><br />Out of the van came the 8” (Beast) first to be set up. So after the mount was calibrated to the sky, I just hit M-92 in the hand controller as first object to make sure all is fine, but to take in a great <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=deep&Number=6073268&Forum=,,All_Forums,,&Words=&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Main=6073268&Search=true&where=&Name=8942&daterange=&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#" id="FALINK_3_0_2">view</a></nobr> of a terrific glob.<br /><br />So as the scope was <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=deep&Number=6073268&Forum=,,All_Forums,,&Words=&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Main=6073268&Search=true&where=&Name=8942&daterange=&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#" id="FALINK_1_0_0">tracking</a></nobr> M-92, I got the 4” f/10 refractor set up and also put on some heavier clothes on this cool September night on the mountain.<br /><br />Now I must admit I bought some new glass, so with M-92 in the center of a 42mm wide-field eyepiece (43x), I changed it out for a new E.S. 4.7mm UWF (383x). The view was great as the glob fill the eyepiece with myriads of tiny stars, with the core of the glob intensely bright of resolved stars. This is a very fine eyepiece that is very Nagler-like, but better eye relief. I found this eyepiece having similar quality and eye relief of my newer Meade 5.5mm UWF, with stars pinpoint right to the edge of the field..<br /><br /><br />I next went into Draco as a good test for this eyepiece and the interacting faint pair Ngc 6621/6622. The large refractor showed this duo pretty well as a double lobed object, with Ngc 6621 showing the larger of the two and a faint stellar nucleus. Ngc 6622 was a faint round glow.<br /><br />Most of my work this night was across the meridian to the east and the Fall constellations.<br /><br />I put the 42mm eyepiece back in and swung the <nobr><a class="FAtxtL" href="http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=deep&Number=6073268&Forum=,,All_Forums,,&Words=&Searchpage=1&Limit=25&Main=6073268&Search=true&where=&Name=8942&daterange=&newerval=&newertype=&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#" id="FALINK_2_0_1">scope</a></nobr> to M-31. The view was poster-like, with the galaxy showing a extremely bright core and dark lanes (spiral arms), with Ngc 206 (star cloud) showing in the SW region of the galaxy. M-32 and M-110 enhanced the overall view.<br /><br />Next I did some views for upcoming Galaxy Log, even though these particular galaxies are set for the large scope (12.5” plus). The view for Galaxy Log will be described through the 22” dob, but the 8” refractor showed this faint pair. The thing that caught my eye here using the 4.7mm eyepiece was three very faint stars to the NE with magnitudes of 14.7, 15.4, and 15.6, which showed me that this eyepiece does quite well in light transmission, again Nagler-like.<br /><br />While in the area I caught a real nice view of M-76 (Little Dumbbell) using 12mm to 7mm eyepieces (150x – 257x). <br /><br />It was around this time I heard a crashing to the wooded area on the western side of the lot, and a distinctive grunt or groan. Yep, a black bear, so I grabbed my large metal baseball bat and yelled loudly and pounded the bat on the ground. I added a nice size rock to throw into the woods, and I could hear him run like hell out of the area. Interesting.<br /><br />Now back to the rest of the universe, and some more galaxies. <br /><br />Hit a neat galaxy in Cetus for next month’s Galaxy Log video, which became one of the views of the night. Some interesting detail seen.<br /><br />Ngc 877 area was next with this galaxy showing in a 12mm eyepiece as an oval glow, with a slightly brighter center, and a 13 to 14 mag star off its SE edge. Ngc 871 directly west was a fairly bright elongated glow. Using a 5.5mm eyepiece (327x) showed Ngc 876 as a very faint ghostly glow to the SW of Ngc 877.<br /><br />Around this time I put the 4” refractor to work with just pointing it at M-31. Not the view the 8” had a bit earlier of course, but still quite good. <br /><br />So from there I swung the 4” refractor to M-33 with a 12mm SWF eyepiece (83x). Quite a spectacular view, with two spiral arms seen, as well as a couple HII regions, in particular Ngc 604 to the NE of the center region.<br /><br />Now back to the main scope and Ngc 750/751 area with a 14mm SWF (129x). Here it shows this interacting pair quite well, with 750 the brighter of the two. The faint Ngc 761 to the north shows as elongated glow with a brighter center. Inserting a 7mm UWF made each galaxy stand out a bit more. Slewing a bit SW to center Ngc 736, which showed as a fairly bright round disc and bright core. Ngc 740 is a very faint edge-on, which was hard to see here with a 10th mag star just to its east. Inserting a 5.5mm UWF eyepiece helped a bit. <br /><br />Back into Aries and a faint trio led by Ngc 1024. Best view here was with a 7mm UWF (257x). Ngc 1024 showed as having a bright oval central area surrounded with a very faint elongated haze. Ngc 1029 to its SE was a small streak, and just to the north a small glow looking like a faint out of focused star is Ngc 1028. Inserting the 4.7mm UWF eyepiece showed 1028 and 1029 a bit more prominent.<br /><br />With the 4” refractor I hit the Double Cluster (WOW!!!), and also a couple galaxies for future Galaxy Log’s, with all very nice views. A good 4” refractor can make a nice DSO scope for sure, and proof is in the eyepiece.<br /><br />I finished this terrific night with the 8” refractor with galaxies like Ngc 1023 (another beauty), Ngc 1465, M-74 and the bright supernova. Swinging the big refractor back over to the western sky for Ngc 7331 (with Ngc 7335, 7337, 7340), and one final look at the supernova in Ngc 7250, which is fading away. Still a great view though.<br /><br />Nice way to end a sensational night with two fine scopes and the beauty of very clear dark starry skies, that continues to reveal the wonders of deep space to me.</span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-25965595139376667352013-09-30T20:40:00.001-07:002013-09-30T20:40:12.898-07:00<span style="color: #ffd966;">October 2013 Galaxy Log video is posted.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8nMFSLvTCw"><span style="color: #ffe599;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8nMFSLvTCw</span></a>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-81841664919934964942013-09-08T20:52:00.003-07:002013-09-08T20:53:25.986-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">A night of Beast, Bear, and Beauty</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;"> A terrific night at my local (less than 2 hour drive) darkest site with my 4” and 8”
refractors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">As I pulled in the site, and got out of the van I looked NW
towards the low riding Big Dipper, and a nice bright meteor went through the
handle. I thought to myself that could be a sign of an excellent night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">As I gazed up at the rest of the sky as darkness was
settling in, it was apparent that the transparency was quite good. The Milky
Way was very vivid, with the major star clouds looking like mottled cumulous
clouds. Even some dark nebula in the Sagittarius region was seen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Out of the van came the 8” (Beast) first to be set up. So
after the mount was calibrated to the sky, I just hit M-92 in the hand
controller as first object to make sure all is fine, but to take in a great
view of a terrific glob.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">So as the scope was tracking M-92, I got the 4” f/10
refractor set up and also put on some heavier clothes on this cool September
night on the mountain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Now I must admit I bought some new glass, so with M-92 in
the center of a 42mm wide-field eyepiece (43x), I changed it out for a new E.S.
4.7mm UWF (383x). The view was great as the glob fill the eyepiece with myriads
of tiny stars, with the core of the glob intensely bright of resolved stars.
This is a very fine eyepiece that is very Nagler-like, but better eye relief. I
found this eyepiece having similar quality and eye relief of my newer Meade
5.5mm UWF, with stars pinpoint right to the edge of the field, with excellent
contrast.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I next went into Draco as a good test for this eyepiece and
the interacting faint pair Ngc 6621/6622. The large refractor showed this duo
pretty well as a double lobed object, with Ngc 6621 showing the larger of the
two and a faint stellar nucleus. Ngc 6622 was a faint round glow.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Most of my work this night was across the meridian to the
east and the Fall constellations.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I put the 42mm eyepiece back in and swung the scope to M-31.
The view was poster-like, with the galaxy showing a extremely bright core and
dark lanes (spiral arms), with Ngc 206 (star cloud) showing in the SW region of
the galaxy. M-32 and M-110 enhanced the overall view.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Next I did some views for upcoming Galaxy Log, even though
these particular galaxies are set for the large scope (12.5” plus). The view
for Galaxy Log will be described through the 22” dob, but the 8” refractor
showed this faint pair. The thing that caught my eye here using the 4.7mm
eyepiece was three very faint stars to the NE with magnitudes of 14.7, 15.4,
and 15.6, which showed me that this eyepiece does quite well in light
transmission, again Nagler-like.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">While in the area I caught a real nice view of M-76 (Little
Dumbbell) using 12mm to 7mm eyepieces (150x – 257x). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">It was around this time I heard a crashing to the wooded
area on the western side of the lot, and a distinctive grunt or groan. Yep, a
black bear, so I grabbed my large metal baseball bat and yelled loudly and
pounded the bat on the ground. I added a nice size rock to throw into the
woods, and I could hear him run like hell out of the area. Interesting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Now back to the rest of the universe, and some more
galaxies. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Hit a neat galaxy in Cetus for next month’s Galaxy Log
video, which became one of the views of the night. Some interesting detail seen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Ngc 877 area was next with this galaxy showing in a 12mm
eyepiece as an oval glow, with a slightly brighter center, and a 13 to 14 mag
star off its SE edge. Ngc 871 directly west was a fairly bright elongated glow.
Using a 5.5mm eyepiece (327x) showed Ngc 876 as a very faint ghostly glow to
the SW of Ngc 877.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Around this time I put the 4” refractor to work with just
pointing it at M-31. Not the view the 8” had a bit earlier of course, but still
quite good. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">So from there I swung the 4” refractor to M-33 with a 12mm
SWF eyepiece (83x). Quite a spectacular view, with two spiral arms seen, as
well as a couple HII regions, in particular Ngc 604 to the NE of the center
region.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Now back to the main scope and Ngc 750/751 area with a 14mm
SWF (129x). Here it shows this interacting pair quite well, with 750 the brighter
of the two. The faint Ngc 761 to the north shows as elongated glow with a
brighter center. Inserting a 7mm UWF made each galaxy stand out a bit more. Slewing a bit SW to center Ngc 736, which
showed as a fairly bright round disc and bright core. Ngc 740 is a very faint
edge-on, which was hard to see here with a 10<sup>th</sup> mag star just to its
east. Inserting a 5.5mm UWF eyepiece helped a bit. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Back into Aries and a faint trio led by Ngc 1024. Best view
here was with a 7mm UWF (257x). Ngc 1024 showed as having a bright oval central
area surrounded with a very faint elongated haze. Ngc 1029 to its SE was a
small streak, and just to the north a small glow looking like a faint out of
focused star is Ngc 1028. Inserting the 4.7mm UWF eyepiece showed 1028 and 1029
a bit more prominent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">With the 4” refractor I hit the Double Cluster (WOW!!!), and
also a couple galaxies for future Galaxy Log’s, with all very nice views. A
good 4” refractor can make a nice DSO scope for sure, and proof is in the
eyepiece.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;">I finished this terrific night with the 8” refractor with
galaxies like Ngc 1023 (another beauty), Ngc 1465, M-74 and the bright
supernova. Swinging the big refractor back over to the western sky for Ngc 7331
(with Ngc 7335, 7337, 7340), and one final look at the supernova in Ngc 7250,
which is fading away. Still a great view though.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzp3fTuP2pU0ckP0BcJVU_C0jqQjdwBjrKjHehpjHrscCnthgmIJ3BhHMRQajCWsfPaYY_b6lXXa7klVPUT0xB_7N8TJ1ds8RcA1Ka1PN3JqhvPubDKn3kfcXypmPeNmvpxagxHKUzzkN/s1600/beast+and+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSzp3fTuP2pU0ckP0BcJVU_C0jqQjdwBjrKjHehpjHrscCnthgmIJ3BhHMRQajCWsfPaYY_b6lXXa7klVPUT0xB_7N8TJ1ds8RcA1Ka1PN3JqhvPubDKn3kfcXypmPeNmvpxagxHKUzzkN/s320/beast+and+4.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #ffe599;">Nice way to end a sensational night with two fine scopes and
the beauty of very clear dark starry skies, that continues to reveal the
wonders of deep space to me.</span></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-34085330223396024592013-09-02T08:47:00.003-07:002013-09-02T08:47:50.045-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599;">September Galaxy Log video is posted </span><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4EK9sSgAEg"><span style="color: #fff2cc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4EK9sSgAEg</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Now you can double your September galaxies with the September 2012 Galaxy Log video.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffe599;">Would like to read about some personal observations of these galaxies. Post them here.</span><br />
<br />
<br />HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-33513486065988874592013-08-20T21:56:00.003-07:002013-08-21T08:53:52.773-07:00<div style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;">We posted a new video as a special edition of supernova</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
<div style="color: #fff2cc; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzzw_LrtH4" style="color: #fff2cc;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ajzzw_LrtH4</a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-56806460113225512472013-08-16T21:36:00.001-07:002013-08-16T21:40:39.601-07:00<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were able to both image and view (with sketches) the bright SN in Ngc 7250 and M-74.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />The observations and sketches were done by my wife and I using our 6" f/6.5 refractor and 22" f/4.5 dob.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
She sketched Ngc 7250 using the 22" dob, and I sketched M-74 in the 6" refractor.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
We are in the process of doing a special video for Galaxy Log with the images taken from the HASB observatory and the sketches. Stay tuned.</span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #ffd966; font-size: large;"><br /></span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-19056555812857615852013-08-05T21:55:00.002-07:002013-08-16T21:37:49.377-07:00<div class="content">
My wife Sheree and I arrived at our darkest local site on Sunday night (8/4) at dusk under a very
clear and tranquil (very light gentle breeze) skies.<br />
<br />
As darkness settled in the Milky Way was awesome, giving a heavily mottled
look, and expanding into southern Ophiuchus and eastern Scorpius. M-13 and easy
naked eye target.<br />
<br />
We had the ES 6" f/6.5 refractor and the 22" f/4.5 Telekit dob<br />
.<br />
Then the issue started for the 6" refractor's Celestron AS CG5. Seems like an
issue in the RA drive. This was the start of a bit of a frustrating night.<br />
<br />
Now the 22" was letter perfect in collimation (something I strive for), and
the early on images showed that. Since we added what I call a shroud baffle
(it's a piece of heavy black fabric that Sheree made, that fits around the upper
end of truss poles), seems to have increased contrast at the eyepiece of this
big scope. The Astrosystems shroud is a bit more shear then I like, and use
another down by the mirror box also. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I first observer Ngc 6217 in UMi at low power just to take in a first
galaxy. Nice bright stellar core with a bit of arm structure was very
evident.<br />
<br />
Worked a bit more with the big refractor's mount, but there's an issue, so
manual would have to be the way to go tonight. Great view of M-13 (with August
GL's Ngc 6207).<br />
<br />
Then it started to cloud a bit, but would dissipate, but was the harbinger to
come. <br />
<br />
Did the SN in Ngc 7250 which was a great view in the 22" (with Ngc 7248 to
the west). The galaxy was nice and bright in the 11mm T1 Nagler (an old friend
of the 22"), with the supernova standing out very well. <br />
<br />
I "found" it also in the 6" refractor, and Sheree took a little time to
sketch it. Tough to do as the mount was not cooperating real well.<br />
<br />
Did some Galaxy Logging for large scopes with the 22" for September, since
It's in the same area of the sky as Ngc 7250.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately around this time the sky went to crap, and stayed that way.<br />
<br />
I was not happy at all, for the night looked so promising early on.<br />
<br />
So we packed up the two big scopes, and went home.</div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-81646541933316826892013-08-01T08:20:00.002-07:002013-08-01T08:20:27.998-07:00The August Galaxy Log video is posted.<br />
<br />
EnjoyHASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-8451922389480708782013-07-17T21:22:00.001-07:002013-07-17T21:23:27.471-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A neat
interacting system in Draco is ARP 81 or Ngc 6621/6622 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is from
a report a couple years back from our best local site, using my 8” f/9
refractor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">ARP 81 (Ngc 6621/6622), which I've observed before in the 8"
from Cherry Springs. <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pa.</st1:place></st1:state>
<br />
<br />
Using a 14mm Denk (129x) the big scope slewed to this interacting pair. At this
power the object(s) looked like a single elongated galaxy with two faint
nuclei. <br />
<br />
Inserting the Pentax 7mm (257x) showed them as a definite galaxy duo immersed
together. Ngc 6621 is the larger and brighter of the two sporting a brighter
core around a faint elongated wisp. Ngc 6622 is a bit fainter, but stood out
well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We will do this one in a future Galaxy Log video for the large
telescopes.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9qSZOwaK9VjxQCWFilxzfghG2bvEvMR85Q6oBapQ3wsvg08LvBrMv_XiFC-v-xQHupqTTqSsv_F66xHCXifrBuKXmnivH-Xa-KzfHmXwXcn4H92oX0jiD8cvJxpCgoaI3fZj-9dWxXB4/s1600/ngc6621wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN9qSZOwaK9VjxQCWFilxzfghG2bvEvMR85Q6oBapQ3wsvg08LvBrMv_XiFC-v-xQHupqTTqSsv_F66xHCXifrBuKXmnivH-Xa-KzfHmXwXcn4H92oX0jiD8cvJxpCgoaI3fZj-9dWxXB4/s320/ngc6621wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-63492914524396012652013-06-16T11:23:00.002-07:002013-06-20T21:47:54.135-07:00<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday night fights, under Friday night lights.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well had a nice short, but sweet night at a good dark site with the 8” f/9 refractor (The Beast).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First view of the night was with Ngc 5005 in Canes Venatici, which the big refractor centered in my 24.5 SW (73x). Inserting a 12mm SW (150x) the view was just beautiful with the galaxy exhibiting a large very bright elongated disc, and a stellar nucleus. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slewing the scope to the SE and 5005’s compadre Ngc 5033, which is another large spiral, though a bit dimmer overall. It showed a large broad oval mottled disc with a large elongated core and stellar nucleus. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next was M-63, which in the 24.5mm SW looked like a wide-field photo image. Really stayed with this view longer than usual before going up with the 12mm SW. At 150x the galaxy was a large heavily mottled oval disc with a bright stellar nucleus.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Into Ursa Major and a nice bright edge-on galaxy Ngc 5308. Here with the 12mm SW the galaxy was a very nice bright high surface brightness streak. I then inserted a 5.5mm UWF (327x). The first thing I said was “WOW”, for this edge-on was very striking at high power, showing a very bright core area and stellar nucleus, and the ends really stretching out on both sides of the core. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next was Hickson 68 in which I first located with the 24.5mm SW. Moving up in power with the 12mm showed Ngc 5350 as a round disc with a slightly brighter center. The pair Ngc 5353 and Ngc 5354 is striking. Ngc 5353 is a bright elongated oval, and Ngc 5354 is bright, but much more round in shape. Also NW of the pair is the small faint Ngc 5355 which showed a small bright surrounded by a faint haze, and east of the pair was also Ngc 5358 that’s just north of a 12th magnitude double star. The galaxy was a faint small slightly elongated disc. Both Ngc 5355 and 5358 were a bit more pronounced with the 5.5mm UWF at 327x.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before I left this group I slewed to the NE and the wonderful spiral Ngc 5371. I just put in the 24.5mm SW for this view. This nice spiral sits of the edge of a ring of 10 to 12 mag stars, which gives the overall appearance of the largest diamond ring in the cosmos. The beautiful spiral being the “diamond.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Did some quick views of Ngc 5907 and Ngc 6503 at just 73x, as I took a 5 minute or so coffee break. Both were quite nice in that large FOV.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ngc 6181 in Hercules was next, and was best with a 9mm SW (200X). Here the galaxy showed fairly large oval mottled disc with a bright slightly elongated core.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A fainter galaxy in Hercules was Ngc 6485. With the 9mm SW the galaxy showed a round faint disc with a brighter core. The galaxy sits in a triangle of 9.5 to 12<sup>th</sup> mag stars.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
While in Hercules I took some quick peeks at M-13 using 73x to 327x and the views were of course stunning. A large refractor on this object is a perfect match.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Back to before I took that coffee break I observed the very elongated spiral Ngc 5297 and it’s very faint companion Ngc 5296. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I used the 9mm SW (200x) and 5.5mm UWF (327x) to view them. Ngc 5297 was situated just to the SW of a nice 9<sup>th</sup> mag yellowish gold star. The galaxy showed a faint little stellar nucleus in a larger core region with the ends of the galaxy stretching NW to SE. Then just to the SW of the core area of Ngc 5297 was the small Ngc 5296, which was just a faint smudge. I was enamored by this view I decided to sketch them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, I was not very please with the original sketch at all. So I decided to take my notes and the bad sketch to actually sit down at home to capture the essence of my view which is seen below. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: Ngc 5296 is seen just to the right of Ngc 5297, between the larger galaxy and a faint star. Click image to ENLARGE.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyUzS34R1Bpav5jdywCrSaEegb-787T-w0qvsGyZEyQBj10SrFpzmdD4FyZylCrNzTVfm-P_FypXlqB2uDBLJke_zfC-O9z8VxMVDKJcwCpj4njpBX50YzKds73LnmeiO9gtBRyFX2Qg9/s1600/Ngc+5297F+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyUzS34R1Bpav5jdywCrSaEegb-787T-w0qvsGyZEyQBj10SrFpzmdD4FyZylCrNzTVfm-P_FypXlqB2uDBLJke_zfC-O9z8VxMVDKJcwCpj4njpBX50YzKds73LnmeiO9gtBRyFX2Qg9/s320/Ngc+5297F+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh the fight was right before midnight in the woods nearby the parking area of the site. It was between a pair of foxes that were definitely not happy with one another per their screaming at each other. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Clear Dark Skies,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Karl</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-29257858120469093512013-05-31T08:50:00.000-07:002013-05-31T11:44:11.841-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">June 2013 Galaxy Log will be released this weekend, and with some interesting galaxies, including a good challenge for some of the owners of larger scopes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A constellation that one of our galaxies is in Bootes, has lots of interesting galaxies, though many may require mid-size and larger telescopes to be seen well. Nevertheless it's a terrific area of the sky that is chock full of galaxies.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of them is a nice edge-on galaxy Ngc 5529, which we'll discuss in detail on a future Galaxy Log video. This is a favorite in my 22" dob, and have viewed it in the past with a 6" refractor.</span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-20716454047517753402013-05-15T20:56:00.000-07:002013-05-16T12:01:33.816-07:00<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Terrific night of observing from one of our dark sites called Ds-2.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Had my 12.5" f/4.8 dob for this night, and did some galaxy logging and more.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This nice size dob or what I call the "baby of the big dobs", is an easy set-up and most times only needs a tweak to get collimated.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">After set-up, I just put in a 20mm wide-field eyepiece (76x), and got a terrific view of the Leo Trio.</span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">From there as the center of the Virgo cluster was just pass meridian, I switched out eyepieces to a 12mm wide-field (127x), which still has wide enough FOV, but at the same time makes it far easier to see the smaller galaxy members, and the larger members much more impressive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Heading to eastern Virgo and the spiral Ngc 5174. With a 10mm UWA eyepiece the galaxy showed a bright core region in an oval low surface brightness disc, though some mottling was seen. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I headed north and a trio of 8th magnitude stars with a group of galaxies. Ngc 5171 is the brightest, and a small round galaxy in the 10mm, so I inserted a 5.5mm UWA eyepiece (277x). At this power Ngc 5171 showed a bright small core, and just NE was a faint slightly oval glow which is Ngc 5179. </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">North of this pair was a faint small fuzzy spot which looked like an out of focused star, which is Ngc 5176. Also a tiny elogated galaxy Ngc 5177 was seen right next to Ngc 5176, and was a bit tougher to see. South of these four galaxies is Ngc 5178, which was just a faint small ovalish disc, with just a slight brightening near center.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Next was a pair of trio's of galaxies. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Ngc 5576 with a 7mm ultra wide-field showed a fairly bright oval disc with a bright stellar nucleus. Ngc 5574 just southwest was a elongated small disc, and the most interesting galaxy just north of Ngc 5576 is an almost edge-on galaxy Ngc 5577, which showed as a faint streak, brighter in the core area.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I also observed to the northwest of this trio, another trio led by Ngc 5566, but I will discuss this trio in an upcoming or future Galaxy Log video.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Now something a bit larger and brighter is the great edge-on Ngc 5746.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Best view here was with a 10mm ultra wide-field (152x) and a 7mm ultra wide-field (218x) eyepieces. The galaxy is large, pointing north to south with a large central bulge and a visible thin dark lane that was more evident with the 7mm. A WOW view!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Also just southwest of this great galaxy is Ngc 5740 which showed as an oval disc with a bright core. Kind of reminded me of a fainter version of the nice galaxy Ngc 5248 in Bootes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Swung the 12.5" dob north to grab some quick views of some favorites with a 12mm wide-field eyepiece in the focuser like Ngc 4485/4490, Ngc 4460, Ngc 4449.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Took a bit of a coffee break and then on non-stop for the rest of the night.</span> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Hit some galaxies in Hercules including a pair for the June 2013 Galaxy Log video, and another in Lyra for an upcoming video.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Over to Draco and a favorite interacting pair Ngc 6621/6622 which looked very good with the 7mm ultra wide-field eyepiece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">First locating this pair with a 20mm wide-field eyepiece it looked at first glance like a edge-on galaxy with two separate cores. With the 7mm eyepiece the larger side is Ngc 6621 which has larger faint envelope surrounding a bright core, and with a slight separation Ngc 6622 which is on the southeast edge of Ngc 6621. Ngc 6622 is a bit fainter and small.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I finished the night with some more close to home objects like M-4, M-8, M-13, M-20, M-27, and M-57, though as usual I close the night with a galaxy, so Ngc 5907 in Draco with the 12mm eyepiece was a good choice with it's razor thin shape and small or near stellar nucleus. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-30587182480800433982013-05-08T21:06:00.001-07:002013-05-08T21:08:54.293-07:00<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This past Saturday
night was an exceptional one for some spring galaxy observing. My daughter
Jillian and a fellow CAS member (Dan) were bringing in the
photons.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Jill had her ES 5"
f/6.5 refractor, Dan had a 4.7" f/8.3 refractor, and I had my ES 6" f/6.5
refractor and 12.5" f/4.8 dob.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of the first
views in Leo with Jill's 5" and my 12.5" were Ngc 2903. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Her best view came
with a 8mm Ethos (a great match for this scope), which showed the galaxy's
bright core and mottled oval disc. In my 12.5" the galaxy showed some nice
structure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dan I believe around
that time was looking at M-106, which looks great with most telescopes in dark
skies. His view was quite good.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Some of the other
highlights in Jill's 5" refractor was a wonderful view of M-81 and M-82. With
M-82 in the 8mm eyepiece showed lots of mottling and that dark lane cutting
through the minor axis of the galaxy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">She also observed some
galaxies for upcoming episodes of the Galaxy Log video series, which she's excited
about.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">My 12.5" provided
some terrific detailed views of M-51, Ngc 4565, Ngc 5248, M-82 with a 5.5mm UWA
was photo-like.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Dan showed me in the
4.7" a real nice view of M-64, plus M-104 with both showing there famous dark
areas or lanes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The 6" refractor was
not forgotten, and gave us some terrific views which included the duo of Ngc
4485 and Ngc 4490, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Many other galaxies
of the night were bagged, as well as some nice star clusters and nebula of all
types.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Truly a fun night
with my daughter and long time friend Dan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can't wait for the
next clear moonless night.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwqtvf6pRr7FTALUsSbM_Gy7sxNrGK83xVpu2sUl9mrD1_2XQD8urOk7LEhvaEGxSqYZB3LRhZEKT-5hnP8iaW3UUz_IGqfqjAKYTamOT5NIkM9QLXMq5Ybf2UdlaWaTKIKH-FxLwGsgV/s1600/telescope%2520dadme_preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwqtvf6pRr7FTALUsSbM_Gy7sxNrGK83xVpu2sUl9mrD1_2XQD8urOk7LEhvaEGxSqYZB3LRhZEKT-5hnP8iaW3UUz_IGqfqjAKYTamOT5NIkM9QLXMq5Ybf2UdlaWaTKIKH-FxLwGsgV/s320/telescope%2520dadme_preview.jpg" width="309" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">
</span></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-77639398863608386722013-04-28T10:49:00.000-07:002013-04-28T10:49:01.347-07:00May 2013 Galaxy Log video is posted.<br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565">http://www.youtube.com/user/GalaxyLog4565</a>HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6594088828517280528.post-40471564147215177582013-04-15T21:20:00.000-07:002013-04-17T12:39:50.549-07:00<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A couple weeks ago I
had a very nice night with just my grab-an-go DSO scope, which is a 4" f/10
refractor. One of the many views I enjoyed was the M-105 trio, so I sketched
what I was seeing in a 12mm wide-field eyepiece.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The trio consist of
the round elliptical M-105, a elongated lenticular galaxy Ngc 3384, and a
fainter small spiral Ngc 3389.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I also looked back
at my records of observing M-105 and friends, in which I've seen this group in
most of my scopes I've owned over the years, including one of my favorite scopes
the 8" f/9 refractor. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A few years ago my
wife drew this trio as she viewed through the eyepiece of the BIG refractor.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I find it fascinating to compare the two drawings, and as usual there is no substitute for aperture,
in particular of scopes of the same type.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I must say though
that a view of the M-105 trio is a must while your visiting the wonderful galaxy
loaded constellation of Leo.</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGs_c_TDEd4BWUHbHmhOX-pKmX-B7jmUznSAlTscTo0cj2VwvcI8TLXTbX4hZ9277EuMPoAF9WO5g7b329nzUF939rja3k5amjCMtx9YUZHEmpuLKsqSY7uRMRJBwD4x0tDLogGtnWUIJ/s1600/M-105+final4+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhGs_c_TDEd4BWUHbHmhOX-pKmX-B7jmUznSAlTscTo0cj2VwvcI8TLXTbX4hZ9277EuMPoAF9WO5g7b329nzUF939rja3k5amjCMtx9YUZHEmpuLKsqSY7uRMRJBwD4x0tDLogGtnWUIJ/s320/M-105+final4+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ3isvs462sFlqNRRLkC9TbU1zpTEh5nVvl6JH8Zm_OtcgKx7f6wTZAZPMdd3DVNgGI1Fr2Kc2RQvyNrFAwZCdB4mZo9QwgSb7hizgriY-kwwU7gNEIQKZKf8Jj6CpFy2EZaIX2nXQ5xh/s1600/M-105final8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZ3isvs462sFlqNRRLkC9TbU1zpTEh5nVvl6JH8Zm_OtcgKx7f6wTZAZPMdd3DVNgGI1Fr2Kc2RQvyNrFAwZCdB4mZo9QwgSb7hizgriY-kwwU7gNEIQKZKf8Jj6CpFy2EZaIX2nXQ5xh/s320/M-105final8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZhydaZC_-R-yC4mi9G7QFqYm8Qbw6p16I1hjrf_slkjxMb4f1VduR03LnStWJQY1HLTRTqAj0uSKuzqVsIATst7hdaqHtGMP3XYMP7Q1SFI37h7UyqKXruyTWVAYDpqLh4gKvdJsxmU0/s1600/Reds+and+the+Beast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ZhydaZC_-R-yC4mi9G7QFqYm8Qbw6p16I1hjrf_slkjxMb4f1VduR03LnStWJQY1HLTRTqAj0uSKuzqVsIATst7hdaqHtGMP3XYMP7Q1SFI37h7UyqKXruyTWVAYDpqLh4gKvdJsxmU0/s320/Reds+and+the+Beast1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
HASBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10545548752785944659noreply@blogger.com1