#50 Summer Observing Plans, 2014

With spring galaxy season officially ended (for me it finally ended last night, when I logged a tiny, faint one in Bootes), it is time to bring on the summer milky way and all of the awesome areas of sky contained within. Last summer I enjoyed quite a lot of clear skies, and was able to begin and finish detailed deep sky observations of Lyra and Cygnus, as well as nearly finish Cassiopeia.  The summer constellations are "up there" a lot longer than those of any other season, thanks to the increasing level of darkness creeping back into our lives.  Combined with generally nicer weather, many of us spend entire nights observing in July, August, and September.  I have already observed most of the summer sky with my previous 8" scope, and I am now having another go with my 12".

My summer plans include observing all of the NGC and IC objects in Aquila, Delphinus, and Sagitta, and also getting a start in Sagittarius.  Hundreds of deep sky objects await, many of them completely new to me.  I have also included all of the open clusters from other catalogs shown on Uranometria 2000, as well as the occasional globular cluster and planetary nebula.  My main goal, however, is the NGC list.  Double stars are not forgotten, as I will go back and review some of the best ones seen previously, along with several I could not split with the 8", or could not find back in the day.  Refer to my earliest blogs for exactly how I go about setting up my observing lists. It's an old-fashioned way, but keeps me entertained for hours on cloudy nights and weekends.

I've already had a good start in Aquila, logging four open clusters last night, including 6709.  There are also three (less impressive) clusters in the immediate vicinity.  However, by star hopping to them from 6709 I got to see a lot of lovely star fields, and got to know another small part of the sky very well.  On previous nights I viewed oc 6755 and 6756, along with other open clusters, a few globulars and planetaries, a variable star and a double.  Since I spent April, May and June hunting down (mostly) faint galaxies, it is pure joy to behold the wonders of the Milky Way once again.  I especially like viewing open clusters, and the 12" has revealed them to me in ways only that level of aperture could.  6709, for example, is a minor treasure in my scope, and I spent a very long time last night enjoying the sight.  I began at 43x, and slowly worked my way up to 200x, stopping off for lengthy views at 60x, 83x, 100x, 125x, 150x, and 187x.  Each view gave a new perspective, and it was like arriving amidst the cluster in a spaceship, having begun some distance away. Once deep inside the cluster, I pulled away again and enjoyed low power views.  Believe me, this is a fun way to spend a night!  Afterwards, once the notes are in the logbook, I go back and compare what I saw now with what I saw years ago with the 8".

My wife and observing partner, Deb, has her own method of tracking down deep sky objects.  Deb now has about a year of solo observing under her belt, after assisting me with sketches at the eyepiece for decades.  She started with our Astroscan 4 1/4" RFT, locating all of the Messier objects to boost her driving and hunting skills. Once she had completed that project, she upgraded to an Orion Starblast 6".  That is one fine little telescope, with some of the sharpest views of stars and deep sky objects I have ever seen.  It more than holds its own against all the super expensive 5" refractors that come out to the observatory to observe. It's only drawback is that it does not accept 2" eyepieces. 

Right now Deb is completing her NGC globular cluster project.  Previous to this she took on Spring galaxies. Her next project, just currently getting underway, is finding open clusters within a specific size and magnitude. Basically she observes a large selection of objects in one category (galaxy, open, or globular cluster) and does a comparative study.  She observes each object with the same three eyepieces, comparing size, brightness and ease of finding and seeing the object.  So she is now an expert observer of galaxies and globular clusters using a 6" reflector.

Because we travel to the observatory in one vehicle, and because my 12" scope takes up a lot of the cargo room, Deb is limited to a 6" aperture, though she is often more than happy to take a peek through the 12". Sometimes we have fun by observing the same object at the same time in both scopes, comparing the views.

As always, I am interested in hearing about other observing methods.  Just remember to have a peek at what else may lie around that deep sky object you are looking at, especially if it lies in the Milky Way.  Star chains, small but colourful double stars, tiny asterisms... it's fun to be surprised by uncateloged, undiscovered wonders, too. Happy summer observing!

Mapman Mike

#30: Cassiopeia Deep Sky: Prelude

     If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know by now that I am interested in observing as many NGC objects as I can.  The fact that I am in no real hurry, but will take my time observing each one, is a dead giveaway that I will never complete my project.  Even if I lived in New Mexico and had nearly year round access to great skies, my project would never be completed in my lifetime.  If I was interested in a mere glance at an object, and carried out marathon NGC observing sessions during clear nights, I might have a chance.  But as I have already indicated in an earlier post, this is not my idea of observing.  Of course there are many objects, faint galaxies for example, that do not require much observing time once located.  But there are so many wonders that repay long looks, using different eyepieces, and even involving some sketching, that observing more than 5 or 6 in one night is a challenging task for me.

     I have chosen several constellations to view as the seasons pass.  For late summer I will move on to Cygnus and Cassiopeia.  Later in the autumn I will return to studies of Cetus, then back into Lepus.  During the winter I will continue with Monoceros, then on to Leo once more in early spring, and Bootes later on.  I always have planned sessions ready at hand, though I often enjoy just wandering about up there, too.

     The deep sky objects of Cygnus were briefly discussed in the previous post.  Now it's Cassiopeia's turn.  Like Lyra (now completed) and Cygnus, my focus is on the NGC and IC objects.  However, since a 12" mirror can do so much more under a dark sky, I have also included clusters from other catalogues.  Many are very dim and small, but a few promise just as much fun and adventure as some of the better NGC objects.

     Cassiopeia has a grand total of 36 NGC objects, along with 11 IC ones.  These 47 objects are my main focus of interest.  29 of the NGC entries are open clusters, including M 52 and M 103 (and, of course, oc 7789!).  I can also look forward to 4 galaxies (2 already logged) and 3 galactic nebulae.

    The IC list adds 4 more open clusters, 4 nebulae, 2 planetaries and another galaxy. 

    In the "other" category come no less than 59 open clusters from catalogues besides the NGC.  It would appear that a few objects were overlooked back in the day by Dreyer and company!  Many of these, due to their faintness and small size, will get just a quick glimpse.  However, any special ones noted will get as much viewing time from me as an NGC object.

     I can therefore look forward to 92 open clusters, 7 galactic nebulae, 5 galaxies and 2 planetary nebulae in this wonderful constellation (100 deep sky objects!).  Using Uranometria All-Sky Edition, my clipboard notes are fully prepared, my mirror collimated and my eyepieces cleaned.  All I need now is a much later moonrise time and some great skies for observing.  Check back in mid-September to see how I am doing with my Cygnus and Cassiopeia project.

Mapman Mike

#29: Cygnus: A Deep Sky Prelude

     With Lyra completed and summer constellations moving forward less and less each night due to shorter days, I have taken up the task of viewing the deep sky objects of Cygnus.  Later during the night I will switch over to Cassiopeia, but first I thought I would give an idea of what Cygnus has to offer for someone with a 12" mirror. 

     My first and primary goal is to view all of the NGC and IC objects.  However, Cygnus is loaded down with "other" objects as well, mostly open clusters from different catalogues.  I will briefly discuss each main category, beginning with the NGC.

     There are 57 NGC objects in Cygnus.  33 of them are open clusters.  While I have seen many of them with my previous telescope (8"), there are quite a few new ones for me to observe.  Things I have seen previously should look considerably different in my larger mirror.  In addition to the clusters, there are 9 planetary nebulae, 8 galactic nebulae and 7 galaxies.  M 29 and M 39 are also included in this NGC list.  Even this many objects could keep an observer happy for many viewing sessions.  It is doubtful I will get through them all this summer.

     There are 16 IC objects in Cygnus.  6 are galactic nebulae, 5 are galaxies, 4 are open clusters and 1 is a planetary.

     Finally come the other catalogues, mostly open clusters from Berkeley, Collinder and several others.  57 of these other objects are open clusters, many of them very small and faint, and truthfully probably worth just a quick glimpse.  There are 2 planetaries and 1 galactic nebula.  I have decided to largely pass on the PK planetaries, at least for this season.

     In total, I will be viewing 132 deep sky objects in Cygnus.  94 are open clusters, 14 are galactic nebulae, 12 are galaxies and another 12 are planetaries.  I have mixed in a number of double stars as well.  All of the objects are plotted and named on Uranometria All-Sky Edition, though the double stars are mostly unnamed in there.

     I already have a small start on Cygnus (see previous post), and am impatiently awaiting the time near last quarter moon when observations will get underway again.  With darkness falling a bit earlier now, even more time can be spent at the eyepiece if it is clear.  My next post will be a similar brief look at upcoming deep sky objects in Cassiopeia.
Mapman Mike

#26: Deep Sky Lyra, Part 1: Clusters and Nebula

     I have spent many happy hours observing in the constellation Lyra, first in July 1971 when I observed it over two nights from northern Ontario with my Tasco 4.5" Lunagrosso reflector!  I thought I had hit the jackpot when I found M 57, and again later with M 56, using those crappy .96 Kellner and Huygens eyepieces. 

     I returned with my Edmund 8" reflector in July 1978, also from a dark sky site in northern Ontario.  With such a big aperture and much better eyepieces, I enjoyed unrivaled views of both Messier objects, even resolving the outer edges of M 56 at higher powers. 

     In 1992, equipped with better books and maps, I once more found myself immersed in a study of Lyra, again with my trusty 8" reflector.  I was able to add two new NGC objects, the very challenging oc 6791, which the 8" managed to partially resolve at high power, and eg 6703, seen from my suburban backyard in Essex County, Ontario.  I was able to view the galaxy at up to 200x!

     Now comes July 2013.  Light pollution marches on.  Though I have doubtless observed the Ring Nebula many times since 1992, this marked my first official visit to Lyra in 21 years!  Equipped with the Uranometria Atlas, all sky edition, and a 12" reflector, this was a very different adventure.  There are a total of 29 NGC objects brighter than mag. 15 plotted on the atlas, along with 3 IC objects and one "other," an open cluster labeled Ste 1.  I also went after a few new closer and fainter double stars, and reviewed a number of old favourites.  However, this blog will only deal with the NGC and similar objects.

     Here is a breakdown of the NGC objects.  24 of them are galaxies, many of them very faint.  However, a small number of them are easily viewed in a 12" mirror, and should be better known by experienced viewers.  2 of the NGC located in Lyra are open clusters, including one that my object locator says does not exist (it does!).  There are two planetary nebulae, giving the famous Ring Nebula some company.  There is a single globular, an often overlooked showpiece (M 56).  The 3 IC objects are all galaxies.  For a mid-summer Milky Way constellation, Lyra has no less than 27 NGC-IC galaxies!  I was anxious and excited to locate them.  I only struck out on two, having success with the other 25!  I will continue for a few more sessions to try and locate the missing pair.  Details below.

     In this first of two blogs concerning deep sky objects in Lyra, I will discuss the non-galaxy objects.  In Part 2 I will tackle the galaxies.  

pn 6720--M 57:  This could possibly be the most famous Messier object of them all, and perhaps the most famous deep sky object of them all, too.  It is likely one of the most photographed NGC objects.  Since first seeing it with the 4.5" Tasco reflector, I have had a deep love for it.  It is stately, grand, strangely silent (it seems as if it should be accompanied by a low hum, or something similar), awe-inspiring and impressive in nearly any telescope.  Last night I observed it up to 300x in the 12", noting feathery texture on its huge surface.  I also had an opportunity to view it in a 4 1/4" Edmund Astroscan RFT reflector, at a much lower magnification.  It was tiny and certainly dimmer, but still majestic and impressive, especially with an ultrablock filter.  If a viewer is not impressed with M 57, then he is probably in the wrong hobby!   

 http://schickworld.com/Astronomy/Resized/M57-LRGBv2011S.jpg

pn 6765:  Located an easy star hop from M 56, Lyra's "other" planetary nebula is worth a look, at least with a 12" scope or larger on a dark night.  Located at 100x (15 mm eyepiece), at 67" and mag. 12.9 it is about 1/3 the size of M 57, though significantly dimmer.  At 125x (12mm) I used an ultrablock filter, getting good direct views.  Expecting a round or oval object, I was surprised to observe a slash, like an elliptical galaxy.  At times I thought I saw a central star, but this observation could not be repeated on subsequent evenings.  Located within a triangle of brighter stars (mag. 10-11), it was observed up to 200x, with better views using the filter.  The shape now reminded me of the body of an Astroscan telescope, being in two parts joined together, one of them round and larger, and the other much narrower, like a short neck protruding.  Is this a double planetary?  A puzzling but fun object to observe, and no doubt somewhat overlooked.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6765.jpg

     There are 3 open clusters in Lyra, 2 from the NGC, and one from Stephenson.  I will begin with the newest cluster.

oc Ste 1:  According to the newest edition of Uranometria, the area around Delta 1 and Delta 2 is now a very large and bright open cluster.  With a size of 40', use a low power eyepiece.  I loved the view with my 25 mm, giving 60x.  A dozen stars appear to be contained in a box by four brighter stars (Delta 1 is a deep, rich golden yellow), and another dozen lie outside the box.  I also viewed this at low power with the Astroscan 4 1/4", enjoying the views a lot.  The cluster is suitable for all apertures, even very small refractors.

oc 6791:  One of the best open clusters out there for larger scopes, so use at least an 8" mirror for this one.  Even the 12" does not fully resolve it, at least in my best sky.  First viewed in 1992 with the 8" scope, it took 150x back then to even begin to resolve it.  I can't wait to see this in my friend's 22" Dob!  At low power (and 12"), a large, hazy cloud of dim whiteness can be seen.  Official size varies between 10' and 20', depending on which information source is used.  I tend to go for the 20'.  There is certainly a very dense core to this cluster, but the haze spreads out beyond the main section.  At 125x it begins to resolve, and even more so at 150x.  Take your time and let your eye do its work, and very faint stars will pop out all across the object.  Think of it more like a tough globular and you will get a better idea of how to respond to it.  At 200x I enjoyed remarkable views, though there was still some haze back in there.  I observed it this year over many nights, and the cluster is a good indicator of how suitable the sky is that night for deep sky observing.  It is more difficult to resolve than many globulars, so be patient and wait for your best night.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6791.jpg

oc 6743:  Perhaps justifiably overlooked, nonetheless these are the objects I often enjoy tackling, for that very reason.  When I keyed in 6743 on my object locator keypad, I was informed it was non-existent.  Good thing Uranometria knows more than my keypad!  Though hardly a traditional cluster, and certainly not something you would proudly show your grandmother, the little group fits a familiar pattern for observing pros.  A bright star (mag 8) sits right in the middle of a very faint star cluster, dimming its members and hiding some, too.  Best at 150x, I counted 18 very faint stars surrounding the bright one.  I also used the cluster to star-hop to a nearby faint galaxy (eg 6740).

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6743.jpg

gc 6779--M 56:  The final non-galaxy deep sky object in Lyra is the 2nd finest object in the constellation (oc 6791 is 3rd).  Unresolvable in a 4", the 8" used to do a pretty good job with the outliers, but not so well with stars in the core.  This is a showpiece object, often overlooked by amateurs in favour of M 13 and other more popular globular clusters.  My 12" mirror gives a remarkable view, aided by an adjacent bright star that allows perfect focusing.  Up to 200x the cluster is still bright, and resolving all across the center, which breaks into uneven segments of stars and haze, with dark lanes separating them (the 8" showed some of this, too).  I found it harder to focus at 250x, though the object was still good at this range for an experienced eye.  It is a very compact group, but its overhead sky position gives it a huge advantage over brighter and larger globulars further south on the horizon.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6779.jpg

     This concludes Part One of my deep sky look at Lyra.  In the next entry, I will discuss the constellation's 27 galaxies!  Stay tuned, and come back often.

Mapman Mike

#14: Monthly Summary 1 (mid-March/mid-April 2013)

     With the moon now waxing, and the ten-day weather forecast predicting some form of rain every day for the foreseeable future, it is safe to say that dark sky observations have ended until after full moon on the 25th of this month.  I desperately tried to observe a few objects last night in Leo, but consistent clouds and haze made decent views impossible.  It is now time to summarize achievements during the past lunar cycle.  Despite many overcast nights, there were some remarkable successes since March 15th.  I got outside with the scope 8 times, and a few of those nights were near-perfect skies.  Many, however, ended early with incoming clouds.  Even worse was having clear skies predicted, staying up late only to find no such clear skies appearing.

     Despite some bad luck with weather a total of 19 new NGC objects were officially logged, many of them sketched as well as reported on with good old fashioned words.  One of the objects accounted for 4 of the new NGCs.  The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros has the following designations:  2237, 2238, 2239 and 2246.  The cluster itself, seen last lunar cycle, is 2244.  The nebula is vast and completely encircles the open cluster.  I could see nothing at all without a Skyglow filter, but with it and a low power eyepiece (28 mm) the emission nebula appeared as so much faint cloud interspersed among the rich stellar background.  So score 4 NGC right there!  I had hoped to also have a look at it with my Edmund 4 1/8" rft, but did not have the opportunity (more about this little scope soon).

     So besides the 4 galactic nebulae, I also viewed in detail this past month 5 open clusters, 9 galaxies and 1 planetary nebula.  One of those galaxies was M 65, and though I observed the entire Leo Triplet several times, M 65 was the only one so far to be officially entered into the logbook.  Sketches and verbal descriptions of M 66 and eg 3628 await better skies.  The Leo Triplet was easily the highlight of the observing month, with all three galaxies easily fitting into my 2" eyepiece at 43x, and just barely into my 1 1/4" 25 mm 60x eyepiece.  I now know that area so well that I can close my eyes in bed at night and still see it all clearly.  Two other worthy NGC galaxies lay within an easy star hop of the Triplet and were also seen on a few occasions, though not yet officially reported.  This is one of the great advantages of taking one's time when exploring the deep sky.  Once you have really explored and star hopped through an area over several nights, it will stay in your visual memory for a very long time.

     The Leo Triplet wasn't the only galaxy triplet observed this month.  NGCs 2872, 2873 and 2874, though much fainter and smaller, mark another worthwhile goal for 12" scopes or larger.  On my first attempt, only 72 and 74 were viewed, virtually touching.  72 is brighter than 74, though 74 extends further than its bright counterpart.  On a subsequent night I was able to see the third and very faint member, 2873, and it remains the faintest galaxy yet seen with the new scope.  And finally for Leo galaxies, the duo 2911 and tiny 2914 also make a worthy pair.  A nearby third member (2919) has yet to be found.  All three are an easy star hop from 6 Leo, a colourful double star.

     Monoceros is rich in clusters, though this month there were no real standouts.  oc 2353 was the best of the new ones, though I also liked 2252 (it looks like a Star Trek symbol to me) and 2364.  This last one is interesting because very little is said about it, and some photos show nothing at the site.  I definitely saw a cluster, however, and exactly where Uranometria puts it.  It is very small, and consists of 5 "brighter" stars in a curving line, with a field of very faint stars mixed in.  At lower powers the surrounding field is rich with stars, though the cluster itself is relatively barren.

     Of the non-NGC objects, my favorite was oc Collinder 106, a really huge affair that made for grand, informal sweeping.  Dense knots of stars can be found amidst its very bright and scattered field.  Two double stars also stood out this month.  8 Monoceros and 6 Leo are worth a stop if you appreciate doubles, and can easily be split in any modest telescope.  Other objects of interest are near each.

     Overall, I would have to say I was somewhat disappointed in how little I was able to accomplish in Leo.  Of the 9 galaxies officially logged, 8 of them are pretty faint, and a few are very faint.  They usually require some time to locate, see and reconfirm.   Early in the season I had hoped to complete about 5 pages from my extensive 32-page object list of the constellation this year.  I have yet to fully complete page 1!  With spring galaxy season nearly half over for Leo lovers, it will have to be very clear in May if I hope to reach my goal.

     With a little vacation approaching, I will be taking some time off from observing and blogging.  I will be back around the 1st of May, hopefully faced with 10-12 days in a row of clear skies.  May you have the same.

Mapman Mike

#13: More About Galaxies

     I said awhile back that 5 of every 6 non-stellar objects plotted in Uranometria 2000 are galaxies.  That only includes objects to 15th mag.  If we dip down to 17th or 18th mag, virtually every object past 15 is a galaxy.  They are difficult to avoid if observing faint objects.  Since this blog is currently concerned with the NGC catalogue (and much of the IC list), I will only discuss the main list at this time.  With over 7800 objects of all types in the NGC list, galaxies still reign numerically supreme.  It might be of interest to look at which constellations have the most NGC objects within their boundaries, and just what type those objects are.  Because I live and mostly observe at latitude 42 degrees north, I will only discuss those constellations which are visible from mid-northern latitudes.

     The constellation (north or south) with the most NGC objects is........Virgo!  Not a huge surprise to seasoned observers, I'm sure.  Virgo has 637 NGC objects.  And guess what?  636 of them are galaxies!  There is one lone globular cluster (gc 5634).

     Number two on the list with the most NGC objects is....Ursa Major.  There are 407 NGC objects.  Only two are non-galaxies!  There is a single very famous planetary nebula and one open cluster.

     Number three constellation is Cetus.  Some of it is a bit low in the sky for me, but it is all there.  Cetus has 383 objects.  There is one lonely and very low surface brightness planetary nebula (NGC 246).  The rest are galaxies.

     Number four on the list and close behind is Leo, with 378 NGC objects.   Every single one is a galaxy!  No relief here, though it is peppered with some lovely double stars and multiples.  I am currently beginning my extensive and hopefully exhaustive exploration of this early spring constellation.  It will take me many years.  To date, I have located 13 of its NGC galaxies, though I've officially logged only 9 so far (it`s been pretty cloudy).

     Number five is Eridanus, a constellation that winds from north to south, meaning that I cannot see all of it from my latitude.  With 315 NGC objects, it has one reflection nebula and one planetary nebula.  All the rest are galaxies.

     So, then, the top five constellations for northern latitude viewers contain a total of 2,120 NGC objects.  That`s about 2/7ths of the entire list.  And a whopping 6 of those objects are non-galaxies!  Let`s continue through the top ten NGC constellations.

Number six is Pegasus.  With 298 NGC objects, only 3 are non-galaxies.

Number seven is Coma Berenices.  293 objects.  It has 3 globulars.

Number eight is Draco.  287 objects.  2 planetary nebula.

Number nine is Pisces.  270 objects.  All galaxies.

Number ten is Bootes.  267 objects.  1 globular.

     We are now up to 3,535 objects, nearly half of the NGC list!  All are galaxies except for 15 objects!  I don't know about you folks, but I find this quite astonishing and somewhat amusing.  "Well," you say, "what about those rich milky way summer constellations?"  OK.  Let's look at Scorpius.  Lots of interesting objects there.  Scorpius has a grand total of 71 NGC objects.  There are some totally amazing ones, too.  However, there just isn't a whole lot of them compared to those galaxy constellations (Sagittarius has 77 NGC objects).

     After the top ten NGC constellations comes Hydra, Canes Venatici, Hercules, Andromeda, Aquarius, Cancer and Lynx.  All are very heavy with galaxies.  I am not trying to prove any point here, but merely stating some interesting (for me) facts.  And no, I did not count the objects myself from the atlas.  This website does it for me.  
http://www.nightskyatlas.com/constellations.jsp

I did, however, scan through each constellation's list to search for non-galaxies, so there is some original research involved.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Here are a couple of older sketches each depicting a galaxy I saw with my previous scope, the amazing Edmund 8":

My first attempt to scan some early sketches.

eg 4565, Coma Berenices.  112x.

15'.8 x 2'.1  Vis. Mag. 9.5.  Sur. Br. 13.2.

One of the showpieces of the heavens.

eg 4448, Coma Berenices.  72x.

3'.9 x 1'.4  Vis. Mag. 11.2.  Sur. Br. 12.9

The star field is at least as interesting

as the galaxy.  The scale for this sketch

is obviously not the same as for the one

above--I cropped this one a lot.

Happy galaxy hunting!

 

Mapman Mike





#10 Mirror Size

     I mentioned somewhere in an earlier post that if I had easy access to a truly dark sky, I would not require anything larger than an 8" telescope.  To any readers fortunate enough to have that dark sky on demand, along with an 8" scope, you have an ideal situation.  Or not.  It depends on what you are searching for, and how much you hope to see.  You won't be resolving any galaxies into millions of stars with it (nor with any other instrument).  A 6" scope would be quite nice in a great sky if an observer was after only the best and brightest of deep sky objects.  An 8" would be a big bonus for such a project.  For someone enamoured with the whole NGC list, however, a 12" scope in that beautiful dark sky would be darn near perfect.  A 14" objective would be a bonus. 

     I've owned a 3" reflector, a 4.5" reflector, an 8" reflector, and my current 12" Dob reflector.  Going from a 3" reflector to a 12" is not a bad upgrade.  One might think that going from a 3" to a 6" would double the light, and then double it again from a 6" to a 12".  Thus 4x the light gathering power belongs to the owner of a 12" compared to his neighbour with a 3" (refractor or reflector, makes no difference when merely gathering light).  However, this is not the case.

     In actual fact, even though my math is not exact to seventeen decimal points, upgrading to a 6" mirror from a 3" is already an increase of 4x the light-gathering power, not 2x.  7.1" sq. versus 28.3" sq. is 4x the light-gathering power.  Going from a 6" to a 12" increases it again by 4x, from 28.3" sq. to 113" sq. (pardon my non-metric calculations).  In my lifetime, I have increased my light gathering power by a whopping 16x.   I'm still not going to resolve M31 into individual stars with it, but the galaxy sure looks a lot brighter (and I can now see a few globular clusters in it!).

     When I observed with my 8" reflector, I had pre-cut cardboard circles on hand so that I could cover the top of the tube to see what certain objects looked like from a 4" objective and a 6" one.  With the holes cut away, it was also easy to actually see the difference between areas of different sized objectives.  I recently cut a new cardboard aperture to fit over the 12" tube, being 8" (off-centre).  That 8" hole now seems awfully small, with the huge amount of cardboard left over showing the full 12" circle.  Since upgrading from an 8" mirror to a 12", I have increased my light gathering power from roughly 50" sq. to 113" sq., or by about 125%.  It had not really struck me how much bigger that 12" mirror was until the cardboard cover was finished.

 A very rough 8" diameter hole cut from a 12" piece

of thick cardboard.  Black tape hides the bad cutting,
and keeps the circumference roughly even.  Not only
can I now see how objects compare at 8" and 12"

(roughly speaking), but I can really see how much

larger the 12" mirror is (more than 2x, or about 125%).

     We could push this discussion some more, discovering that a 16" mirror has about 201" sq., and a 22" one has around 383" sq.  These scope sizes and larger ones now regularly appear in amateur astronomers' inventories.  How long until we get one big enough to visually resolve Andromeda galaxy at a local star party?  Hmm, that requires around a 200" mirror.  Or maybe several 25" ones spread out and linked by computer on-site.  Maybe that day isn't really too far off after all.

Mapman Mike

#8 My Previous Telescope

      I mention in my intro to this site that I have had considerable experience observing the skies with a telescope.  Most of that was done with my previous telescope, the one with which I have logged the most hours.  Here is the original promo sheet that I got with it.  I was fortunate in that I was able to use the instrument spring, summer and fall in northern Ontario under pristine dark skies for many years.  That scope could pull almost any object out of a dark sky, and served me very well for over 30 years.  I recently sold it to help finance my upgrade to a 12" Dob.  The Edmund 8" was a thing of beauty, and I instantly fell in love with it at the Toronto shop where it was set up.  I was in university in 1978 and barely had a spare nickel to my name.  Student grants and loans saved my life back then, and I didn't mind cutting back drastically on food and beer for awhile to help pay for this.

     To date I have logged 540 formal observations, encountering over 660 NGC/IC objects, hundreds of variable stars, thousands of double and multiple stars, and many objects not listed as NGC.  Quite a few of the observed objects have been sketched, and if I am able to I will soon begin to share some of these remarkable past observations.  Scanning a sheet of black paper containing stars and galaxies drawn and painted on it is a new experience for me, and early results are not promising.

     The first time I got to use the 8" in a dark sky I thought I would lose my mind.  There were stars among stars among stars, and the background just seemed to resolve forever and ever.  My family had a cottage on Lake Penage, west of Sudbury, Ontario.  I had observed there for years with the smaller telescope I had previous to the Edmund.  Naked eye 7th magnitude stars were routine on a good night.  Spring galaxies soon fell one after another to the mighty 8" mirror, as did summer globulars, open clusters, and nebulae.  Star charts for amateurs had just recently graduated from Norton to the more comprehensive ones of  Will Tirion.  I was seeing many faint objects not even plotted on their maps!

     Alas, the 8" had its flaws.  The extreme tension required to hold the mount in place depended on a simple turnbuckle, which frequently stripped suddenly.  The telescope could fall over when that happened, and did on more than one occasion.  Plenty of spare buckles were always on hand.  The 40mm finder-scope was not the greatest, and the main focuser was considerably less than perfect.  Balancing the scope was tricky, and when a large eyepiece was plunked down, things went astray quickly.  The tube had to be loosened and repositioned when changing sky positions (and rebalanced).  But it had a working clock drive for most of its illustrious career, and that really enabled drawing at the eyepiece, as well as meditative viewing.  My wife would sometimes sketch for 30 minutes without ever requiring me to re-center the object.

     It was decently equipped for astrophotography, but other than some lunar and planetary work I was never interested in that aspect of astronomy (another subject for a future blog).  As I have been an avid photographer since the age of 13, this might seem somewhat perplexing.  Parting with the Edmund scope was not as hard as I expected.  I had it up for sale for about a week last fall.  There were no nibbles and I had just made up my mind to upgrade it with a better finder and focuser, and forego purchasing a new 12."  Then along came a buyer, who took it after one look (it is awful pretty).

     I am eager to revisit some objects logged with the 8" scope, now available to me with the 12", but I will mostly go on to different sights with the new one.  In my next post I will talk about those objects and why I gave this blog the name that I did.  Hope you come back.

Mapman Mike

#7 Planning Update

     Nothing like cloudy weather to get a lot of observing planning done!  I have a large number of fresh pages ready to go for Leo, should skies ever clear.  I observe from Essex County, Ontario, Canada.  We are surrounded by vast lakes that greatly influence the skies.  It is thus a very humid region, and weather is difficult to predict.  I came out from a concert in Detroit last Saturday night and it was completely clear.  However, a vast cloud bank could be seen sitting to the southeast.  Yup, that was my cloud bank.  By the time I arrived home in the extreme west of my county (right up against the Detroit River) it was completely overcast.  Clear in Detroit; cloudy in Essex County, Canada.  I will devote a future blog to detailing my nearby observing locations (I have five options).  I'll try not to depress you with how many cloudy nights we get.

     Today, however, I am only here to announce my completion of the herculean task of preparing notes for observing the constellation Leo in depth.  I have the specs on 460 objects written down on paper and lightly marked in pencil on the atlas, with 360 of them being NGC galaxies (I skipped most of the IC galaxies for now, and all of the other even fainter ones from different catalogues).  The other objects to be observed are double stars, variables or just plain  stars.  As I do not yet know the limits of my 12" mirror at my suburban location (I'm certain that in a dark sky in New Mexico there would be no limits), I am prepared to track down all of the NGC within Leo.  I may get to see 30% of them, or even less.  Maybe I'll see them all.  It's something I do not yet know.  Leo is high enough that I should be looking at the best part of my viewable sky.  Anyway, time will tell just how far I will get with spring plans.  I would love to hear from someone who has observed a lot in Leo, so if you are out there kindly message me.  Theoretically, every object I jotted down (I have 32 pages ready to be filled with exciting notes and sketches) should be viewable in my instrument.   Lucky for me I have a good friend nearby with a 22" Dob, just in case there are one or two I can't find with my instrument.  Something like "Copeland's Septet" should be an awesome galaxy group to see in a 22" Dob.  Are you listening, Randy?

     I came across another interesting named feature on the Uranometria charts for Leo.  Ever heard of the "Frosty Leo Nebula?"  Can't wait to see that one.  Reminds me of the "Red Rectangle" in Monoceros, which I am still hoping to see before the season passes.  Has anyone seen either of these?  Please share if you have.

     So, how many clear nights will it take me to see the 460 planned objects in Leo?  Good question.  I try to set up my observing pages so that one page approximates what I can search for and possibly see in one night (remember that I will have a different constellation awaiting for later in the night--I will soon prepare Lyra).  With 32 pages of Leo objects awaiting, I will thus need about 32 nights of clear, dark skies to finish this project.  If I am lucky, I will get 5 nights per season to observe, so I might get almost 1/6th of the way through Leo this year.  If I am very lucky, I might score as high as 8 pages/nights (average 14 objects per page).  Remember that I am not in a rush to finish this.  I may still be observing in Leo when I die!  I hope to carefully observe every chosen object, especially the 5 Messier objects within Leo.  A few other large, bright galaxies also await, and I know I will see some wonderful double stars, as well as many incidental stars of note.  I am partial to very orange stars, but almost any colour will do.  I do not spend a long time on very faint galaxies, unless there is something of particular interest.  I love edge-on ones, and can look at those for quite some time.  I am also excited at seeing several galaxies within the same field of view in my eyepiece--that is always quite a rush!

     As soon as I actually begin Leo, I will report back.

Mapman Mike

#4 Planning an Observing Session, Part 4

     So far in previous blog entries we have darted around the sky using brighter deep sky objects as our guides.  We have star-hopped in all directions from oc 2232 (or any other object of your choosing) using Method 1, not searching for anything in particular except for "what's out there."  This adds some randomness to an observing session, and can lead to little discoveries that can become your very own.  Next, using Method 2 we planned to view a series of specific objects immediately surrounding a brighter one (again, oc 2232).  There are too many observers who merely dart from one bright object to another, and I'm hoping that a few of them will learn to slow down a bit and explore beyond those irresistible bright target objects.

     Method 3 is for serious stargazers only, and requires patience and careful preparation.  My preferred method of observing is by constellation.  The whole, entire thing.  Single, variable, double and multiple stars.  NGC and a few IC objects.  Some non-NGC and non-IC objects.  The complete constellation in all its glorious detail, or as much of it as my current scope can find.  I always have one or two constellations chosen for each season, and I finally need a new spring project and one for summer.  I have began the onerous task of preparing Leo for upcoming sessions.  Since Leo has over 350 NGC objects in it (not counting IC and the other lists), I am not going to suggest that you begin with this one.  However, in future blogs I'll let you know how my planning and observing of Leo are coming along.  I've already spent about 8 hours preparing, but then there have been plenty of cloudy nights to work on it.

     I suggest beginning with a few smaller constellations, and the summer sky has some nice options.  Lacerta, Sagitta, and Vulpecula are good choices to try out Method 3 for the first time.  However, since I will be preparing Lyra soon, I will choose it as my example.  So, then, in easy steps:

     1)  Choose a constellation (Lyra).

     2) Gather your information sources.  I use Uranometria 2000, 2nd ed., revised (All Sky), and its complementary Deep Sky Field Guide.  I use Burnham's Celestial Handbook (Vol. Two required for Lyra) and Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects, by Luginbuhl and Skiff.  I also use the internet, including the Washington Double Star Catalogue.

     3)  Decide which objects you wish to attempt.  The owner of a 6" telescope will choose differently than the owner of a 10" scope.  Burnham's lists 3 1/2 pages of double stars.  Go through the list and mark in pencil which ones you would like to view.  Several will be too faint or too close to be of much interest to any except the owners of very large telescopes.  There is also a page of variables, including one of the most famous in the sky (Beta).  I like to choose variables based on several criteria, including interest to amateurs and  colour (T Lyra is mentioned as being "very red."  That always catches my attention.)  There are 4 NGC objects listed, including 2 Messier objects.  Luginbuhl and Skiff list 6 NGC objects.  Uranometria lists 28!

     4)  Once you have decided what to view, it's time to plot them on your atlas (Uranometria).  I use a fine point mechanical pencil.  All of the NGC (28) are listed on the Uranometria charts for Lyra.  There will be other types of objects, too.  If you are only planning to see some of them, underline (in pencil) which ones you are interested in observing, or lightly circle them.  If you think writing in pencil in a star atlas is Satanic, either get over it or purchase two copies--one to keep pristine, for whatever reason, and one that will detail your on-going voyage through the heavens.  The variables and major stars will already be labeled, too.  All you have to do is add in the names of the dimmer double stars, in their correct positions.  The positions listed in Burnham's are off a bit, but after a few stars are plotted you will figure out by how much and easily match the r.a. and dec. given with the actual star on the map (you should not have to draw any actual stars--they should already be there, just unlabelled).  I also circle the name/number of any star that I will be observing.  This is a fun way to begin knowing your way around Lyra.  With the atlas marked in pencil with the objects you wish to view, you are now ready to prepare your observing list on paper.

     5)  It is now time to prepare your observing list, the one you will take outside with you.  My Leo list will be long enough to make into a small book.  The Lyra list should be 4 or 5 pages.  Yours will depend to what depth you wish to explore the constellation, as well as the size of your mirror.  You may set up your list anyway you choose, but I recommend leaving room on the left side of the page to jot down the full object's name and any information you have about it.  Double stars will have magnitudes and separation distance, which is essential to know in the field.  I usually don't write down position angles, as I prefer to find that out myself at the eyepiece.  Variables will have their minimum and maximum brightness, and their period.  NGC objects will have sizes, magnitudes, and, for clusters, perhaps how many stars there are in it.  List the objects and their stats down the left side, saving the rest of the page for field notes.  Indicate the required chart number from your atlas, and leave diagram space on the right side for clusters, galaxies, etc.  I use a shot glass to draw blank circles on my field note sheets--bottom of the glass for smaller NGC objects, and the top end for larger ones.  I tend to begin observing a section of the constellation at a bright star or object, and star hop from there until I have seen and reported on everything in the vicinity (like Method 2, previous blog entry).  Then I go on to another location, seeing everything near it, and so on through the constellation.  If you have marked your atlas properly, you will be writing up your to-do list in the exact order you wish to peruse the constellation, and it will include a nice mix of objects..

     I currently have three constellations on the go.  Soon there will be five.  My main autumn one is Cetus; my winter ones are Lepus and Monoceros.  I am preparing a new one for spring (Leo) and summer (Lyra).  In this way, I always have hundreds of observing objects awaiting.

     Whichever method you use (Method 1, 2, 3 or a combination of them, as I do), you will soon learn to appreciate the less bright and flashy objects.  You will train your eye to see details you never thought were there.  You will gradually become knowledgeable about vast areas of the sky.  You will get to know your scope even better.  And you will still have lots of fun on cloudy nights, preparing your lists and transferring your rough notes into your official observing logbook.  If you have questions or comments, please feel free.

     In the next blog, I will talk about my newest telescope, and some of my early successes and failures with it.  Clear skies, and happy Vernal Equinox.

Mapman Mike