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Here is my first submission towards a Messier Award.
I've decided not to use historical observations and reacquaint myself with the
whole set of Messier objects observable from this latitude using my 18 inch reflector.
Only 97 objects are observable from my latitude and some of those are marginal a few degrees above the north horizon. I need to set up my scope outside my property on the "street" to see low in the north. I won't exactly be dodging traffic. The street here is a large dead end patch of grass.
To qualify for my Messier 35, this first instalment of 37 objects were all observed last night in a 4 hour Messier "Half Marathon."
I had not observed some of these objects for a couple of decades.
Thanks for the submission Joe and congrats on nabbing the 37 objects that you saw. Now I know why I started getting bags under my eyes a couple of years back when I was doing the M110.
-Michael Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50 Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl Camera: ZWO ASI 120 Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs Latitude: 48.7229° N
This is my second submission for the messier award. My first submission included 36 of the southern hemisphere winter objects around the galactic core. This submission of 50 objects combines some observations made in early September, late December, and most of them during a long night three nights ago on Feb 6/7. All observations made from my dark sky home, "34 south," located near young NSW [148E, 34S] Transparency was probably about 6/10. Not the greatest night out here and many of the galaxies observed at lower altitudes were nothing more than smudges.
My backyard has a considerable slope which limits the location of the 18" dob. When observing from the "lowlands" of my backyard, I have a shed and some trees blocking my SW to North.
This now leaves 10-11 possible objects, a couple that I simply missed, most of which are at declinations of 42 -50 degrees north that I will mop up during favourable short observing windows this year.
I can't imagine what you can see from your dark location with that 18" reflector. Bravo!!!
Jim
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), ZWO OAG, 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, ASI 220mm mini , 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/
Well done Joe. I applaud your efforts at the Messier objects from down there.
Alan
Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
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"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
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