Some Tips on Galaxy Observing from Light Polluted Locations

[helicon]

While nothing beats dark skies, some of us live in the shadow of urban and suburban glow. Should that stop us from viewing galaxies from home?

No.

Now that it is Spring the constellations full of galaxies become increasingly prominent. In this grouping it's easy to include the following - Virgo, Leo, Coma Berenices, Canes Venatici, Ursa Major and Bootes. Just focusing on this area of sky one sometimes gets the sensation that just panning around will yield results.

First of all, it is important to develop and maintain dark adaptation. This is best achieved by throwing a dark towel over your head while at the eyepiece or wearing a large hoodie. The increased contrast, even with a bright sky background, will enable you to catch the fleeting glimmer of a galaxy.

Another tip is to use medium powers to darken the sky background and once again, increase contrast.

Keep in mind that those galaxies with higher surface brightness will be easier to see. For example, M81 and M82 in Ursa Major are easily visible even from backyard locations with even a small instrument, whereas a faint, larger object which may even have a higher magnitude can be difficult, such as M101 in Ursa Major which is large but faint.

Another point is targeting galaxy groups which will increase your odds of success, for example the Leo Triplet or galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Having a good resource such as The Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas which has inset maps to help you star-hop to your desired targets also is helpful.

I have found that from home I was able to locate galactic objects down to about the 11th magnitude with my 10" reflector. For anything fainter, darker skies were required. Anyway, I hope this provides hope for urban and suburban stargazers who may be tipping their toes in the water with regard to the hunting of these faint denizens of the night.

Good luck with the search, and for more detailed information I will point to the article "Why Can't I See That Galaxy" by Alan (KT4HX) which covers this topic in more detail...

https://theskysearchers.com/viewtopic.php?t=3848

[Makuser]

Hi Michael. A very well written and informative guide for observing the "faint fuzzies" when one has to deal with light pollution. Thanks for posting this Michael and the link to Alan's thread is also most useful.

[Gordon]

I have added this to our Beginner's Forum Must Reads! https://theskysearchers.com/viewtopic.php?p=7751#p7751

[Michael131313]

Thanks very much Michael. You have in inspired me. :sprefrac:

[messier 111]

merci monsieur Michael .

[kt4hx]

Very nice introductory guide Michael, and appreciate the link to my article as well. Galaxies are the most numerous type of DSO up there, and can be more challenging for those dealing with increased levels of light pollution. They range from bright and fairly easy to eye popping faintness. Their light must overcome the sky glow that most of us have to deal with on a regular basis. Plus intrusive ground lighting finding its way into our observing position that robs us of our precious dark adaption and contrast through the eyepiece. Using tricks such as stringing up a tarp to block lights, an eye patch over the observing eye when its away from the eyepiece, or using a dark cloth over the head when observing, can all help to boost our dark adaptation and regain some of the precious contrast needed while observing.

Galaxies are challenging and rewarding visually, but there is another aspect to their pursuit. That is the contemplation of the time and space that their feeble light has traversed to reach our eye in that given moment. What was it like on Earth at the time that light left its origin, and how much has changed here and in the universe over that course of time. Those are all part of galaxy observing with our mind's eye.

[Mike Q]

Limiting stray light coming in from odd angles has always helped me out a bit. I made a foam "light shield" for both my 16 and 10 inch dobs. It does seem to help