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Just before the eve of 2020, the sky opened, as if it had something to make up for November and December. Rather a dark night, still a bit damp and certainly not the best seeing.
So I took my 6 inch Achro out and made an impression of NGC 1893, an open cluster in Auriga with some surrounding nebulosity. NGC1893 is the "object of the month Januari" on the Dutch Astroforum I belong too.
The nebulosity became a bit more obvious with an UHC filter and magnification round about 50X ( with my Leica ASPH eyepiece). Below the impression of it. I started out with my 4.7 inch Evostar Apo doublet but eventually switching to the 6 inch I could tell the difference and so I stayed with the Achro.
Since I bought this telescope in summer It was the first time with this one under real winter conditions. Right above my head the Pleiades shone brilliantly and I even saw some nebulosity in the cluster, using my Baader blue RGB filter. (thanks to JG. for this suggestion) After detecting it the first time ( disbelief among fellow LP-observers), it is easier since.
The Orion nebula stood out very nicely, beautifully detailed at 40x-80X with UHC filter. Since seeing was rather poor I could not make out more than the usual four stars in the Trapezium. The horizon was rather light polluted, with even M41 barely visible, so I decided not to go any lower for Sharpless 2-308. Sorry for that. The nebulosity of NGC2244 was lost in the city lights too. But never mind, straight above my head NGC1893 was a joyful sight!
Hereby the sketched ( and improved with Paint) impression:
Best wishes for 2020!
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX. GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets). Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5. Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS,*Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40 Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt. Amateur astronomer since 1970.
Very nice observation and sketch John, hopefully more good skies are coming your way.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885 EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102 Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss The only culture I have is from yogurt My day was going well until... people
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
I have just read your report and seen your sketch, John.
It is much too cold for me here to try to sketch at the telescope.
I am glad for you that you had the opportunity to get out.
Happy New Year !
Very nice sketch of NGC 1893, John! Interesting that you noticed a difference (improved) with the 6" achro compared to the 4.7" apo.
Thanks!
I could tell the difference in three ways:
1- In the Orion nebula there is an area called the Huygenian area. My 102mm Mak shows it as a bright area with a tiny bit of lightblobs in it. My 102 mm refractor shows some blobs in it. My 120mm frac shows blobs and some veiling in between. The 150mm frac shows the veils a bit more explicit. (look at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4970 ) 2- On limiting magnitude stars I often use the Pleiades, although not really fair since the Pleiades have some nebulosity around them. The presence of 2.9 Alcyone makes it even more difficult. In the 120mm the 11.3 and 11.5 stars were rather difficult that night. The 11.9 shimmered through, as well as the 12.0 In the 150mm the 11.3 and 11.5 were quite obvious. The 11.9, 12.0 observable. The 12.2 with averted vision. 3 M1 seemed more pronounced in the 150mm than in the 120mm.
All in all reason enough to take the 150mm for these kind of objects. Sorry to say, but the 120 apo loses this little game. Aperture rules here.
Of course these values applied to that night only. On a really dark night, even my Vixen 102 mm shows them all.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX. GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets). Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5. Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS,*Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40 Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt. Amateur astronomer since 1970.
Very nice sketch of NGC 1893, John! Interesting that you noticed a difference (improved) with the 6" achro compared to the 4.7" apo.
Thanks!
I could tell the difference in three ways:
1- In the Orion nebula there is an area called the Huygenian area. My 102mm Mak shows it as a bright area with a tiny bit of lightblobs in it. My 102 mm refractor shows some blobs in it. My 120mm frac shows blobs and some veiling in between. The 150mm frac shows the veils a bit more explicit. (look at viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4970 ) 2- On limiting magnitude stars I often use the Pleiades, although not really fair since the Pleiades have some nebulosity around them. The presence of 2.9 Alcyone makes it even more difficult. In the 120mm the 11.3 and 11.5 stars were rather difficult that night. The 11.9 shimmered through, as well as the 12.0 In the 150mm the 11.3 and 11.5 were quite obvious. The 11.9, 12.0 observable. The 12.2 with averted vision. 3 M1 seemed more pronounced in the 150mm than in the 120mm.
All in all reason enough to take the 150mm for these kind of objects. Sorry to say, but the 120 apo loses this little game. Aperture rules here.
Of course these values applied to that night only. On a really dark night, even my Vixen 102 mm shows them all.
Awesome analysis John! Thanks for taking the time to explain in detail. Need a larger scope in urban skies, as I've also found out when looking for dim open clusters/asterisms from home. My 127mm F/8 Newtonian could just pick up these objects, while the 114mm F/8 Newt couldn't.
Scopes: Reflectors, refractors, and 1 catadioptric. Ranging in aperture from 50mm to 150mm.
After having seen NGC1893 four times by now, you will not be surprised that I can see more nebulosity and details than the first time. I suppose I should be making a new sketch, but I was saved by the incoming clouds. Well not really, one of those clouds decided to release all her water right above my head. It was the one and only shower of the whole day! Everything wet. When I had saved and dried my 150/750 refractor inside, it became clear again! I went out a second time, this time with bino's, a wiser decision.
Earlier this evening I had wandered in Orion, Taurus and Auriga of course. Cloudhopping. In Perseus I found 9th magnitude Comet C/2017 T2, a small cottonball, not far from the Double Cluster. Quite a nice sight though.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX. GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets). Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5. Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS,*Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40 Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt. Amateur astronomer since 1970.