The three hour drive over was mostly uneventful, the highlight of which was seeing three young deer gallop across the highway about 50 yards ahead of me as I was coming down off the ridge line into the valley. Traffic was reasonably light for an early Sunday evening and the skies had cleared out nicely. Upon arrival at our dark site house I was pleased to see that my previously shoveled out area was clear except for a small area where some fresh snow had drifted in. That was quickly dispensed with after arriving just prior to 1800 hours.
I quickly moved my gear out and did a quick touch up to the collimation of the scope. I then headed into the house to relax a little bit and layer up before heading out closer to 1930 hours. Stepping back out to a glorious star filled sky, I quickly aligned the
(Equipment used)
17.5 inch
Ethos 21mm (94xx, 1.1° TFOV, 4.7mm exit pupil)
Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm exit pupil)
XW 10mm (198x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm exit pupil)
XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm exit pupil)
(Treasure found)
Easily seen with the naked eye, I quickly aimed my scope at this beautiful cluster. This was the first time out for my new Ethos 21mm so I wanted to try it out on this nice cluster before beginning my hunt. Easily swept up the cluster was a profusion of stars at 94x, dominating the 1.1° TFOV. Stars were many and tight, despite the poor seeing. Shifting the view just slightly to the southwest I easily picked up the small cluster
My first target was inspired by an image posted by member “ram” earlier in the day. Subsequently I see that Steve333 also posted one while I was out as well. The so-called Jellyfish Nebula is a supernova remnant that was discovered by Max Wolf in 1892. While I have found some magnitude listings (11th to 12th magnitude) for this object, these should be taken with a block of salt given the difficulty in calculating accurate visual magnitudes for large and very diffuse objects.
Aiming my scope at mag 3.5 Eta Geminorum I very slowly searched the field to its east using 94x and the 1.1° field of the Ethos 21mm. I did not expect to see anything extensive like the images show, rather hoped to spot the brightest section. After a bit, I suspected a somewhat large but very dim slightly curved bit of diffuse light. Dropping in the DGM NPB filter I was rewarded with this obvious slight curve of nebulosity. Ghostly in appearance, this small piece of the overall SNR was very obvious. It was perhaps almost 10’ in length and maybe 2' to 3' across. It responded well to the filter and I also picked up a very small knot of nebulosity detached from the main bit, near a field star. Trying the O-III filter, I found the view very similar between the two filters. After having affixed its location in the star field I removed the filter and could easily locate its dim presence without the filter. This told me transparency was at least pretty good this evening. (New)
Working on charts 13 and 23 in the IDSA, I filled the rest of my time in Lynx. My first target was this elliptical. Slightly bright at 94x, it was a small homogenous rounded glow. Using 152x elicited a stellar core from its center. It was more obvious but still fairly small to the eye. (New)
Located with 94x, this small oval sported a stellar core burning in the middle of its subtly bright disk. Taking a look at 152x and it was obvious in the field, though small. I detected a dim 14th mag field star off its eastern side. (New)
This small oval presented as slightly bright homogeneous envelope. Using 152x a stellar core was revealed and the galaxy was very obvious within the field. (New)
This object was swept up at 94x as a small and dim homogenous out of round glow. Taking a look with 152x, though dim, it was easy. An intermittent stellar core was also detected. (New)
Located 17’ northeast of mag 6.7 HD 64347 this spiral was a slightly bright small oval readily apparent at 94x. Even at 152x it remained a homogenous small oval that stood out well in the field. I tried for
About 7’ west of
Next was this little brighter but still quite small dust mote, which was picked up using 94x about 5.5’ west of the previous object. It was still in the same field of view as the previous pair. At 152x it was weak but still not difficult to discern. It remained diffuse and homogenous in appearance. (New)
Nearly 8.5’ WNW of
Almost 16’ southeast of HD 64347, I only caught a suspicion of this lenticular using 94x. Trying at 152x I confirmed the presence of a dim homogenous oval with an 11th mag field star off its western side. Using 199x it was easier, but still a weak presence in the view. (New)
Found with 94x, it presented a small and dim oval that exhibited non-stellar central brightness. Using 152x it was more obvious lying next to a 13th mag field star, and exhibited a broadly brighter core area. (New)
UGC 4035 (Lynx, elliptical galaxy, mag=13.1, size=0.8’x0.8’, SBr=12.6):
Seen at 94x, it was nothing more than a dim and very small round mote. Trying with 152x it was more obvious but remained small and dim. A tiny concentrated non-stellar brightness was glimpsed in its core. (New)
UGC 3957 (Lynx, elliptical galaxy, mag=12.9, size=1.2’x1.2’, SBr=13.3):
Nailed at 94x it was a small round glow that was homogenous to the eye. It lay next to a 14th mag field star. Then at 152x I detected a dimmer field star (15th mag) at one edge that gave the illusory affect of elongation. Going up to 199x, I put a little more separation between the galaxy and the dimmer star which then returned its appearance to its properly round shape. (New)
At 94x I found this galaxy slightly bright and subtly larger visually. I detected some very dim field stars involved with its disk along the northeastern side. Viewing with 152x it was a nice oval that displayed a stellar core. The two stars involved along the edge were more apparent, which gave it a curious triple star appearance with the core. (New)
UGC 4074 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=13.1, size=1.0x0.9’, SBr=12.9):
I found this spiral brighter than I expected at 94x. Overall it was small and round and homogenous in appearance. When viewed with 152x it remained diffuse and obvious within the field. (New)
As with the previous object, I found this one a little brighter using 94x than I anticipated. Appearance-wise it was an evenly illuminated small oval. Its appearance really didn’t change appreciably at 152x other than it becoming more obvious within the view. (New)
This double system forms a tight pair. Viewed at 94x it presented a combined glow. Then at 152x and 199x I could resolve two tiny round glows in contact. At times I thought I could detect a stellar core within
Located with 94x, this elliptical exhibited a homogenous round glow that was small in extent and subtly bright to the eye. Using 152x it remained diffuse and small, but easily seen. A 13th mag field star lay just to the southwest. (New)
Just 5’ to the northeast of the previous object I located this dim elongated glow. It was unseen at 94x, but picked up at 152x. Small in visible extent, at 199x a possible stellar core was glimpsed periodically. A mag 10.9 field star was just off its southern tip. A second galaxy sometimes labeled as
This barred spiral was only suspected in its field using 94x. Confirmed at 152x, it presented a dim small homogenous glow. Going ahead to 199x it was more obvious within the field but remained evenly illuminated. (New)
Subtly bright at 94x, this lenticular was small and rounded in shape, and generally homogeneous in appearance. Viewing with 152x it was more obvious, but remained a diffuse rounded glow in the field of view. (New)
Easily swept up at 94x, this galaxy presented a somewhat large and bright rounded glow. Sitting between two field stars (10th and 12th mag), it had a smooth evenly illuminated envelope. Using 152x, it was a strong presence in the field and remained a bright homogenous rounded disk. (New)
UGC 4107 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=13.0, size=1.5’x1.4’, SBr=13.7):
Located using 94x, this face-on spiral appeared as a slightly large and very ghostly glow within the glare field of mag 8.2 star HD 64556. Using 152x it remained a low surface brightness homogenous glow. Using 199x it was a very obvious round glow though it remained quite diffuse to the eye. (New)
UGC 4052 (Lynx, elliptical galaxy, mag=13.2, size=1.3’x0.8’, SBr=13.1):
This galaxy is actually a merged double system that in images displays two tiny bright cores within the same envelope. Located with 94x I found it to be a slightly bright and subtly large oval homogeneous glow. Also observed with 152x and 199x, it was quite obvious within the field and slightly large in visual extent. It remained evenly illuminated with no hint of the dual cores of its two components. (New)
UGC 4051 (Lynx, elliptical galaxy, mag=13.6, size=0.9’x0.6’, SBr=12.9):
About 3.5’ south of the previous object, I located this small homogenous oval. While easily seen it was dimmer than UGC 4052 to the north. Viewed with 152x and 199x it was an obvious presence within the field, though it remained and even diffuse glow. (New)
MCG +8-15-5 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=14.3, size=0.7’x0.3’, SBr=12.5):
My last object was this small and dim spiral. Interestingly I found that it was mislabeled as MCG +8-15-8 in IDSA, which is actually 14’ to the northeast. Anyway, at 94x it was just glimpsed as a very dim dust mote. Viewing with 152x and 199x it was still a weak presence, but obvious as a very small homogenous oval. (New)
I spent about three hours outside and that was enough for me. I was back in my recliner by 2230 hours and the temperature outside was 15° (F). So, tucked under a heated throw with a hot bowl of soup on my lap, I was warming up nicely. Overall it was a very successful outing, and I really enjoyed using the 21mm Ethos. I believe I've found my new finder eyepiece for the 17.5 inch. I appreciate you coming along for my chilly journey though the celestial Lynx.