#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