TheSkySearchers

Tonight is the clearest night sky for ages! So I got comfy in the sun lounger with my binoculars and aimed at Sadr. After studying Stellarium earlier I knew that with Sadr at 11 o'clock, about a degree in from the edge of view then M29 would be bang in the centre of view. A small group of 8 or 9 magnitude stars turned out to be a bit too optimistic! But it was fun taking in the view of proper astronomical dark sky again.

So here's an image I captured just over a year ago with my 600D:


Moving on to NGC6939 and NGC6946, again after playing with Stellarium earlier I had an idea in my head of where they were. I found Cepheus above his Queen and picked out Alderamin. With a star hop up to Kabalfird and placing it on the edge of my view at about 7 o'clock, C12, the Fireworks Galaxy, NGC6946 should be centred in my field of view. I knew I had positive identification of where I was looking using the two pairs of stars above and below the location of C12. But the galaxy was not visible.

So here's an image of C12 I captured last November on the 5th, fireworks night in the UK! It was a windy night so the quality was not great. It's a great looking face on with dense spiral arms. So named due to the large number of supernovae seen within. Definitely going to give this one another go when I get my SCT set up again.


I had a quick look for NGC6939 to no avail but I did spend some time just taking it all in. Ending with a look at M13.

Thanks for the targets Alan. Perhaps a bit small for my binoculars but it was good to get out there!

Regards

Graeme

Fine images Graeme, and thank you for the submissions. I didn't select the targets for your binoculars! Your 9.25" on the other hand should do nicely however.

kt4hx wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:07 pm Fine images Graeme, and thank you for the submissions. I didn't select the targets for your binoculars! Your 9.25" on the other hand should do nicely however.

Unfortunately I've not had access to the 9.25" for a few months now. We had the builders in at home so we have been staying in our caravan. I've missed the AP but I have rediscovered the fun that can be had with binoculars!

We're home again now so I should be able to give the September DSO Challenge a good go with the telescope. I'll probably have a look with the binoculars too while the camera is soaking up the photons!

Regards

Graeme

Nicely done Graeme, loved the description of "how we got there".

Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 02, 2021 4:50 pm

kt4hx wrote: ↑Wed Sep 01, 2021 7:07 pm Fine images Graeme, and thank you for the submissions. I didn't select the targets for your binoculars! Your 9.25" on the other hand should do nicely however.

Unfortunately I've not had access to the 9.25" for a few months now. We had the builders in at home so we have been staying in our caravan. I've missed the AP but I have rediscovered the fun that can be had with binoculars!

We're home again now so I should be able to give the September DSO Challenge a good go with the telescope. I'll probably have a look with the binoculars too while the camera is soaking up the photons!

Regards

Graeme

I am sure you've mentioned that being the case before, but like many things, it slipped my mind. But that is good that you are back home and you can have a go. Binoculars are fine instruments indeed, and no observer worth their salt would be without them at hand.