Messier 35

[Mike Q]

1 Sept 2024, time 2145. Scope Orion XX16G, eyepiece ES 9/100 @200x, M30 Globular Cluster. The center is core is seems to be nicely compact and filled with stars. I was able to make out a half dozen chains of star coming out from the center. I also noticed this cluster does not have a name. It kind of reminds me of the Maserati Trident. Sounds like a good name for it.

I lost the sky before i could get more in. This one takes me to 99 of 110.

[Graeme1858]

Nice description Mike. Maserati Trident has quite a ring to it! Some call it the Jellyfish Cluster.

[Mike Q]

Nice description Mike. Maserati Trident has quite a ring to it! Some call it the Jellyfish Cluster.

The wife said it looked like "that guys trident". I knew she meant Neptune, but Maserati Just sound better

[Mike Q]

Well while i was away I did manage to add a couple while i was down a Richie Park. Since I was on the road all i had was the 4 inch and the results were a bit underwhelming but here we go. These were done late October, i believe it was the 26th

M33....the lack of surface brightness makes this no fun at all in a 4 inch. You can tell where the arms should be, but i couldnt make them out. It really is just a faint fuzzy in the 4 inch.

M103, same night same equipment. Not the best cluster, kind of loose, reminds me of an arrowhead for some reason.

It has not been a very productive time away, but that puts me at 101 out of 110.

[Bigzmey]

Good to see you back, Mike!

[Mike Q]

Good to see you back, Mike!

Thanks

[Mike Q]

22 March 2025. Finally getting back to my Messier Challange after a long winter break. My session started around 8:45pm with the following objects viewed. All objects were viewed with the Orion XX16G.

M1, the Crab Nebula. This is a one and done item for me. Its really nothing more then a hazy spot using a AT 13mm 100 degree eyepiece at 140x.

M93, open cluster in Puppis. Using a ES 24/82 degree the cluster looks like a collection of star chains and double stars.

M78, bright nebula in Orion. Using the AT 13/100 it looked like 2 stars in a hazy spot.

M50, open cluster. A nice brightish red star is the star of the cluster. I used both the AT 13/100 and the ES 24/82 on it.

M41, open cluster in Canis Major. The ES 24/82 showed a bunch of star chains.

M105, elliptical galaxy in Leo. The good old Leo Triplet. This fits nicely in a 20/100 eyepiece at 90x.

M91, spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices. Even with a 20/100 it is really just hazy spot. I know i am looking at a galaxy, but i completely understand why it was called a nebula without stars.

I had to go back through my list as my math and list was not jiving up. I reported M53 twice which messed up my count.

As of tonight i am at 108 out of 110 objects viewed.

[Bigzmey]

Good progress on the Messiers, Mike. What two are left?

[Mike Q]

Good progress on the Messiers, Mike. What two are left?

M74 and 77. Truth is i have probably looked at them back in my dont write stuff down days. I will have to see when they will come back around, but i am sure it will be a minute till i can bag them

[helicon]

Probably will have to wait until September to bag those two unless you get up really early in the morning in late summer.

[helicon]

M77 because of its high luminosity and great size is idealized by astrophysicists

[Mike Q]

M77 because of its high luminosity and great size is idealized by astrophysicists

I am looking forward to wrapping up this Messier campaign and moving on to something different