this has been a surprisingly clear night to enjoy the Nova in Cassiopeia, and for the last revisit of the binocular galactic nebulae of the winter observing season already gone.
Views through the Leica 82mm
The first object to view has been the Nova in Cassiopeia with its red color, easily found when starting at the Harrington’s Airplane
The red color of the Nova has been just before the full dark adaptation much more saturated, if compared with the pale red two hours later with my eyes dark adapted, and less sensitive to the red color.
Here is a pic from another forum in Germany,
https://forum.astronomie.de/attachments ... pg.187852/
When already in this area of skies, I have revisited a double star with its C9 carbon star companion in the OSS 254 multiple. And again, incredibly red,
https://bestdoubles.wordpress.com/2013/ ... 1-bu-1153/
Views through the 10.5x70 binoculars (BA8) with the H-Beta Astronomik (12m) Profi filters
Orion
The first nebulae, as always, have been the M42/M43, the Orion Dagger
The Horse Head in the Orion Dagger has not been resolved, but no wonder at the low magnification od 10.5x.
Then I have moved north to enjoy the Lambda Orionis SNR Nebula Sh2-264 to view its very large extent with the dark patches.
Moving towards east, the stream 38 - 52 Ori into B36, and the Betelgeuse Nebula (LBN 908, MDW) have been seen, even if faint.
The Barnard’s Loop Sh2-276 could have been followed along its full extent from N-E, through N-S, down to S-E.
Confirmed also has been my older observation of the large diffuse “Rigel-South Nebula”, which may already belong to the nebular glows in Lepus. Not yet identified in the catalogs.
North off the Orion Belt, the LBN 934 became visible. This glow may belong to the Orion Molecular Clods A and B, surrounding the M42/M43, and M78.
See also the documentary sketch in download/file.php?id=18820&mode=view
Monoceros
My attention to Monoceros is mainly due to its molecular clouds, some of them looking like intruding from Orion, which is rich on the molecular clouds. These clouds look like a mix of the reflected light and of the faint HII emissions, and eventually decorated and interrupted with the dark nebulae.
The area around the Rosette Nebula has shown a glow across 3° towards N-E, which is known as an HII ring from the MDW survey.
Another glow has been extending west off the Rosette towards the Orion Northern Filament. This Filament seems to begin with the LBN 905, east off 47 Ori.
The Rosette Nebula Sh2-275 itself has been best seen later through the 15x85 binoculars with the OIII filters.
The X-Mas Tree Nebula Sh2-273 is, similarly to the Rosette Nebula, embedded in an even larger glow of 4° across, with the numerous catalogued bright nebulae, and with the extended MDW Survey glow. The MDW glow around the X-Mas Tree Nebula seems to merge at the
The core of the X-Mas Tree Nebula at the bottom of the Tree has been the brightest object seen. The MDW bow to the east was faint but still well visible.
Views through the 15x85 binoculars (BA8) with the OIII Baader (10nm) #2458395 filters
Gemini (and Orion)
The Sh2-248 and Sh2-249 are certainly the best nebulae you can see in Gemini.
The Jellyfish SNR Sh2-248 (
(The Sh2-249 (
A short jump in the NE corner of Orion has shown the bright Monkey’s Head Nebula Sh2-252. This is the obligatory nebula when hunting the Jellyfish, and also a good test object for the quality of night skies.
Auriga, and Taurus
During the past two years, I have spent quite a lot of time with the nebulae in Auriga, and especially when hunting the neglected Lynds, and the forgotten Gaze-Shajn (1955) nebulae, those G-S not included in the later catalogs.
My favorites in Auriga are the Flaming Star Nebula, and the Tadpoles Nebula, making a pair around the Flying Minnow (Mel 31), and a sort of “bicolor pair”. The Flaming Star Nebula shows its best, and its largest extent, through the H-Beta filters, contrary to the Tadpoles Nebula which lights up through the OIII filters.
And it has been the case again with the Tadpoles Nebula Sh2-236 (
The very large Spaghetti SNR Simeis 147 (Sh2-240), crossing the border Auriga-Taurus, has required a few trials to become visible as a very faint wide ring, and then I have been able to keep it and to follow its form.
This SNR is also bicolor, as it can be viewed both through the OIII and H-Beta filters, even if brighter through the OIII.
And two planetary nebulae to close the observing session
Encouraged with the both SNRs I have seen, I have turned the 15x85 binoculars with the OIII filters towards Canis Minor, to star hop to Medusa in Gemini. The Medusa Nebula Abell 21, has never been easy for my binoculars and for my eyes, even if I know the star hopping and its position by heart. And as many times before, the Medusa has again tried to challenge my patience, but finally I have won. But even then, it’s been difficult to keep it with direct vision: Very faint oval, one side brighter.
Feeling that I might deserve some easy to see planetary nebula, I have reclined in the observing chair and pointed the binoculars towards the Owl Nebula M97 high in the skies, and the Owl has rewarded me with its bright disc.
Date and time: 31st March, 2021, 20:00 – 22:00, local summer time
Place: Backyard in Erlanger Oberland
Observing conditions: M42 direct, and M36 and M38 averted with unaided eyes
Thank you for reading,
JG
