New Year, new scope, new Messiers
1/12/2016
Finally weather cooperated and I was able to take my new Celestron C8 on the maiden voyage, which is also 1st session of 2016. Yay!
Seeing was not too great with patchy clouds forming and disappearing. Also, C8 - Twilight I combo appears to have a wobbling issue which I need to address. So, high power double-stars splitting was out of question and I went for
Old friends first. Orion nebula (M42, M43) - well-defined, wings nicely fit in 20 mm
So the scope passed the test now on new targets.
M50 -
M48 -
M93 -
Ursa Major was rising so
M40 - dim double star with separation about 1'.
M108 - galaxy, now we talking! - elongated smudge well defined no need for averted vision, DGM galaxy contrast filter helped to define the shape. Failed so many times to see it with smaller refractor last summer.
M97 - owl planetary, large for planetary, somewhat dim but clearly visible. Best view with 15 mm, DGM NPB filter improves contrast, but no eyes visible, OIII - not good here.
By that time Jupiter had cleared skyline - nice sharp view with 20 mm (no reducer, 100x), 3 bands are visible but too bright. 10 mm (200x) - Jupiter starts to boil. Not a night for planets.
Finally, could not pass the opportunity to see Leo's triplet. It was Leo's duo to me this time. M65 and M66 were well defined in the same 20mm
At the end I am quite pleased with C8's light gathering power. Now galaxies becoming a fair game for me.
Clear skies!