I kept sticking my head out the front door to check and finally about 2130 the fog had settled and the sky was mostly clear. I hurriedly layered up, went to the garage and starting moving stuff out to my normal observing spot. Just on the off chance I might be able to get out, I had shoveled the snow in that area and though there was only about one inch of snow, I preferred not to set my stuff up in that.
So when all was said and done, I was up and running by about 2200. This was later than I had hoped to start, but the weather makes those decisions for us. The temperature was around 25° (F) but at least there was no wind. Humidity was high, so I put my dew heating straps on the
(Equipment used)
17.5 inch
Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm exit pupil)
XW 10mm (199x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm exit pupil)
XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm exit pupil)
(Treasure found)
The first order of business was to revisit a field from the previous evening, north of mag 4.0 Mu Eridani. During that session I observed
Quickly locating Mu Eri northwest of Rigel, I nudged north easily picking up
I next quickly took a look at the famous Flame Nebula northeast of Alnitak, the eastern-most belt star. With 110x and no filter it was quite apparent, as two sections separated by a very apparent dark lane. Both sections displayed ragged uneven edges, with smaller, intrusive dark lanes piercing their structure. They also exhibited varying brightness and density levels within their respective structures. Dropping in the DGM NPB filter, the view became even more entrancing. The filter significantly boosted the contrast and with it, the depth of the details already noted. Not as gloriously bright to the eye as M42, it was nonetheless a beautiful and memorable delicate structure.
About 2.5° SSW of the Orion Nebula complex, I went in search of this dim low surface brightness galaxy. Studying the field just east of a 10th mag field star, it took me a few moments to latch onto its very dim homogeneous out of round oval glow using 110x. Viewing with both 152x and 199x, though it was still ghostly in appearance, I didn’t find it difficult to see. However, if one was not looking for it specifically, it would be easy to pass over its low surface brightness glow. (New)
I now skipped over Canis Major and slipped into Puppis. This is one of the most beautiful open clusters in the sky and I stopped by briefly to take a quick look. At 110x it did not disappoint, as it dominated the field of view with myriad stars dazzling the eye. I have always been partial to more concentrated and rich clusters like this one as opposed to more “open” and scattered ones. Plus this one has a unique bonus.
The fine planetary is the unique bonus when one observes M46. A foreground object, it was quite prominent floating among the stars of the cluster near its northern side. At 110x without a filter it presented a large (for a planetary) round whitish orb that was clearly uneven in illumination. I did not push the magnification nor use a filter this time to glimpse its annularity. Its central star at mag 17.7 was clearly out of reach, though it does have a couple of brighter foreground stars involved.
Moving east from the previous objects, I located the field for this dim lenticular. Using 110x I just barely perceived it in the field of view as a small non-stellar pip. At 152x it presented a small and dim oval that was homogeneous to the eye. Moving to 199x, I caught glimpses of an intermittent stellar core, but overall the galaxy remained small and dim in the field. (New)
MCG -2-21-1 (Puppis, barred spiral galaxy, mag=13.7, size=1.0’x0.9’, SBr=13.4):
About 8.5’ northwest of the previous object I searched for this galaxy with 110x but could not located it. Moving to 152x it was only a suspected dim dust bunny just west of a small diamond of four field stars (12th and 13th mag). Dropping in the XW 10mm (199x), I confirmed its presence in the field as a small and very dim round homogenous fluff of light. Going ahead up to 283x it was more obvious yet remained a weak presence in the field. (New)
While I was in the area, I stopped by this previously viewed galaxy at the Puppis-Monoceros border. I last saw it in February of 2018 when pursuing the Type-Ia supernova SN 2018gv which had appeared in the galaxy. This time around, sans supernova, it was easily seen at 110x as a slightly large and somewhat bright homogenous thick oval. Also viewed at 152x and 199x it was quick obvious within the field of view, lying almost halfway between two stars of 8th and 9th magnitude.
MCG -2-22-5 (Puppis, spiral galaxy, mag=13.7, size=2.0’x0.4’, SBr=13.3):
Just over 4° east of the last object and next to the Puppis-Hydra border, I pinned down this with some difficulty. Not seen at 110x, and only suspected at 152x, it was confirmed using 199x. It presented as a very dim, thin homogenous flattened oval. A 13th mag field star was noted just at its eastern tip. (New)
I now moved into the little dog to pick up some additional galaxies in the area east and northeast of Procyon near the border with Cancer and Hydra. Its glow was just picked up at 110x, using 152x and revealed a small and dim rounded glow. Going ahead up to 199x I picked up a fleeting stellar core within its still small and dim disk. (New)
Picked up at 110x, this small and thin oval was slightly bright to the eye. Evenly illuminated across its disk, it was obvious at 199x lying just south of a 13th mag field star. It also displayed an elongated broadly bright interior along the major axis. (New)
UGC 4203 (Canis Minor, spiral galaxy, mag=13.4, size=0.6’x0.6’, SBr=12.2):
Just over 1° ESE of
UGC 4228 (Canis Minor, lenticular galaxy, mag=12.8, size=2.0’x1.3’, SBr=13.3):
Just 42’ ENE of the last object I picked up my next galaxy. This small oval was slightly bright and homogenous to the eye at 110x. Viewing with 152x it was an obvious presence in the corner of a right angle
About another 40.5’ east of UGC 4228 I just barely detected this small and very dim dust mote using 110x. Also observed using 152x and 199x it was more obvious in the field, but still remained a pretty dim and small homogenous round disk. (New)
Over 1.5° to the SSE and right at the border with Hydra I swept up this small but somewhat bright thick oval. Homogenous in appearance, it was not difficult at 110x. Viewed at 152x and 199x it was an obvious object within the field and now displayed a broadly brighter core region. (New)
Moving back to the northwest and just under 1° west of the border with Cancer, I notched my final object of the evening. After arriving at the correct field, its presence was only a fleeting suspicion at 110x. Though confirmed at 152x it was quite weak, Going up to 199x, while more apparent, it remained weak within the field as a dim and small homogenous oval. (New)
It was nearly midnight and the shroud on the scope was frosting up significantly (the finders remained clear though), my feet were getting cold despite the boots, and I was simply tired in general. So I moved my gear back to the garage and went inside to some pleasing warmth and relaxation. Checking the temperature, it was now 22° (F) outside. Still clear but I was done! Thanks for shivering along with me.