Posts Made By: Daryl Crowley

I had no problem seeing the pair (Saturn & M1) in my 5 inch Mak at 65X to 90x, above that M1 is tough for my littl scope. I doubt I will have any clear skies this weekend and I also doubt I would be able to see M1 with Saturn on top of it. I traded off my nebula filter last year, and now is one of the rare times I may wish I still had it.

I have also seen M1 in my 15x70 binoculars. I know, hard to believe, but sure enough I could see it in the binoculars. This was of course prior to Saturn being so close.

Daryl

Wow, I really appreciate the response. But I must clarify that I don't consider all this a race or a competition. I do spend a lot of time revisiting objects and one of my main objectives is to commit to memory, the location of as many objects as I can. I do get a kick out of jumping from object to object for newbies (newer than me) without the use of a map. I can find most all of the Messier and a number of other objects by starhopping form memory. They seem to find it impressive, and it makes you "feel" clever.

I do try to spend a fair amount of time on each object as I can see more the longer I look, and of course some nights are better than others. But, with all that said, for me there is a thrill in seeing a new object for the first time. You can find it and see the for the first time only once! I will always have the urge to visit a new corner of the Universe for the very first time.

Thanks for all the input. I'm feeling much better now and I will certainly follow up on the suggestions for new DSO.

Daryl

Before the inevitable post comes where someone chews be out for expecting that everyone should take an interest in "my hobby" let me explain.

I don't expect everyone to share my passion for astronomy BUT astronomy is not quite like stamp collecting. We all live in the Universe and we are all part of it. I think everyone should at least have a basic appreciation and a basic interest and a general understanding of our place in the Universe. There are a lot of people that think the planets are all in tight little circles around the Sun because that's what is shown in books, and they have never bothered to read about the true distances. A lot of people think that galaxies are spread out in the Milky Way along with the planets and many don’t even know what a galaxy is. Most people envision the Moon orbiting about 10,000 miles away because that's the way it's drawn in books for reasons of scale. There is no interest to understand it. As I tried to explain to my father-in-law some basic stellar fact, he asked me in all sincerity if other stars also had gravity like the Sun! No kidding.

Now, I would expect that in a portion of the population. But I am amazed that something so incredible as the very existence of the Universe could be so insignificant to so many people who on the other hand have a unwavering interest in some as mindless as their favorite sitcom on TV.

Again, that so many people could care so little about the Universe of which they are a part, I don't judge, I just find it disappointing and amazing.

Daryl

I'm green. I also have a 127 but I had a haze of clouds last night. I'm so tired of no sky. I'm sure the first clear sky we will have in almost 2 months will come on the night of the full Moon!

I did have a couple hours back in early January, colder than hell, but I could push my 127 to 240X for sharpt views of Jupiter and Saturn and 308X, over the limit, was a lot sharper than I ever imagined it could be. I usually settle on about 120X for Jupiter and Saturn on "normal" nights for my sharpest views.

Daryl

I wouldn't have thought that I would have had to explain myself to that extent for the savvy folks on this site.

We ALL know about M101, M102, NGC5457, or WHATEVER your star map happens to call it! So....

My question stands, now that we can forget nomenclature and wondering if I am just an uninformed neophyte ;-)

I call it M102, so whatever you call it - Do you have the same trouble I have seeing it? Thanks.

Daryl

ps I also have read the speculations about NGC5866 but it is well removed and much fainter than 101-102-5457. NGC5322 seems a better candidate but it also is well removed and also does not bear on my original question.

I did manage to see 101/102 Saturday morning at 5AM. I was up getting around for a day of trout fishing and noticed the stars were out. I grabbed my 15x70 binoculars and made another stab at 101/102. It was near zenith and the sky was dark and seeing good. I could make out a faint smudge which I was able to verify that I was really seeing it in the binoculars. I didn't have time to cool my scope down but the binculars did the trick. It is many times harder than M33.

Daryl

I'm not sure if this is proper technique, nor can I provide any real measures of the effectiveness but I seem to have success in cooling my Mak down quicker by removing the diagonal and applying a cordless vacuum cleaner. I don't cover the hole but rather apply it at an angle so that warm air is drawn out. Someone may tell me I should not do this but so far I have found no ill effects and it does reduce the time it takes to get the warm air currents out of my scope.

Daryl

I'm not sure why the collector is pictured as a pig. I consider myself both. (Not a pig) I love to observe but I also keep my "hit" list and I like adding new trophies to it. I don't think the two extremes are mutually exclusive.

I can see an analogy here though. I shake my head when folks from here in the mid-west tell me they are taking a vacation out west. They are going to see, Yellowstone, Glacier, the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mt. National Park, and on and on... I tell them if you just want to see it, buy a book. You will be spending all your time in the car driving from place to place, then stop, pile out of the car, snap a few pictures, and off again to the next place. Then they come back and say, "I've been to the Tetons". And I say "No you haven't - your were just close enough to see them. If you had been there you would have climbed up in them and touched them and explored them. That's BEING there.”

But I think there is beauty in detailed observations and fun in seeing as many things as you can. I'm fine with being and observer and a collector.

Daryl

Daryl

When I asked why the collector was a pig, I wasn't offended or suggesting that anything was implied. I just wasn't sure if it was part of the joke and I was missing something. Some people say I am a pig but I doubt it has anything to do with my cataloging DSO.

I spend a lot of time studying the objects I view, and unlike some I like to research as much information as I can on each object. Part of the fun is thinking about size, distance and other components of the objects you are looking at. It helps with the wonder and awe of it all. On the other hand, I like filling up my log book too.

I have no problem with the cartoon, I like cartoons, keep it up. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing any of the humor;-)

Daryl

How do us guys in snow county do this?....

Because were tough, macho men who fear nothing and laugh in the face of an arctic gale... we're a little crazy too ;-)

Actually have don't know how you southern guys can stand the heat. Anything above 75 gets uncomfortable for me unless I'm in the water.

Daryl