Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
- Peter802
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Great and useful article Alan.
Thank you for taking the time out to share this knowledge.
Thank you for taking the time out to share this knowledge.
Clear Skies.
Regards,
Peter
Regards,
Peter
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Thanks for your kind words Peter. I hope the article proves useful for you during your observing opportunities.

Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- Peter802
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Hi Alan.
It certainly gave me some food for thought. And did put some light on to my failures!!!!
Thank you
It certainly gave me some food for thought. And did put some light on to my failures!!!!
Thank you
Clear Skies.
Regards,
Peter
Regards,
Peter
- helicon
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
I just re-read the article. Thanks again Alan. The impetus was trying to do some galactic observing with my relatively new 5.1" Newt, which is now my grab-n-go.
-Michael
Various scopes, 10" Zhumell Dob f/4.9, ES AR152 f/6.5, AWB 5.1" Onesky newt, Oberwerk 25x100 binos, two eyeballs. Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Various scopes, 10" Zhumell Dob f/4.9, ES AR152 f/6.5, AWB 5.1" Onesky newt, Oberwerk 25x100 binos, two eyeballs. Camera: ZWO ASI 120
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Thank you Michael. Hope you find your new GNG scope a lot of fun. As you well know, no matter the
Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- turonrambar
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Hello kt4hx,
This the first time I have read your article. I know I’ll read and study your article for a long time.
Your article taught me and reinforced what I have learned in the past. Thanks for a great article
OnMessier ’s DSO ’s list and his work. Your observing tips and tricks sure adds to your article and
must come from years of experience.
turonrambar
This the first time I have read your article. I know I’ll read and study your article for a long time.
Your article taught me and reinforced what I have learned in the past. Thanks for a great article
On
must come from years of experience.
turonrambar
SkyQuest XX12g f/4.9 Dobson
LX-850 SL f/8 12”
Canon T3i 60D Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection
Nine Eyepieces, Laser and Cheshire Collimators, Prime Focus Camera T-Adapter, Eyepiece Projection Camera Adapter
SynScan WiFi Adapter, SynScan's Software, Stella's router and software on my iPad
ASCOM 6.3 SP3 on Windows 10 Professional
ETX125, LX200 f/10 8” GPS, Meade 6” f/4 Newton Reflector on an Equatorial Mount
LX-850 SL f/8 12”
Canon T3i 60D Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection
Nine Eyepieces, Laser and Cheshire Collimators, Prime Focus Camera T-Adapter, Eyepiece Projection Camera Adapter
SynScan WiFi Adapter, SynScan's Software, Stella's router and software on my iPad
ASCOM 6.3 SP3 on Windows 10 Professional
ETX125, LX200 f/10 8” GPS, Meade 6” f/4 Newton Reflector on an Equatorial Mount
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Thank you Kip and I'm very happy that you find the article useful. For those folks starting out, there is an understandable tendency to place too much reliance upon DSO magnitude. While for very compact DSOs that can be a bit more realistic, with extended objects like galaxies, relying too heavily on its integrated magnitude can give one a misleading impression of their visibility.
Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
I see I missed your comment here Steve, my apologies. I appreciate your kind comments. Indeed there is a lot of information that could be in a primer for those getting ready to start. So much so I fear it might scare some folks away!


Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- dagadget
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
kt4hx wrote: ↑Tue Dec 24, 2019 12:57 am Thank you Kip and I'm very happy that you find the article useful. For those folks starting out, there is an understandable tendency to place too much reliance upon DSO magnitude. While for very compact DSOs that can be a bit more realistic, with extended objects like galaxies, relying too heavily on its integrated magnitude can give one a misleading impression of their visibility.
This article was an awesome read and it also points out why I have always had better success with my 8 and 11 inch

Astro-Tech AT 152EDT Ioptron GEM 45 Mount AKA FracZilla
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Thanks David. For these denizens of the deep, aperture and dark skies are indeed your friend. There are some brighter ones of course that can be seen in smaller apertures, and often visible even from areas of significant LP - or at least their brightest portion, typically the core. But there are far more that simply cannot overcome higher levels of sky glow and many more yet that are out of reach of small apertures. Given that they are far and away my favorite category of DSO , there is little wonder that I favor using my 17.5 inch at our dark site. It does in fact open up a whole new universe for me. 

Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- dagadget
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
If I had a 17.5 I would also have a Skyshed Pod to keep it in at the darkest site I could access. so far I have looked through a couplekt4hx wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:27 pm Thanks David. For these denizens of the deep, aperture and dark skies are indeed your friend. There are some brighter ones of course that can be seen in smaller apertures, and often visible even from areas of significant LP - or at least their brightest portion, typically the core. But there are far more that simply cannot overcome higher levels of sky glow and many more yet that are out of reach of small apertures. Given that they are far and away my favorite category of DSO, there is little wonder that I favor using my 17.5 inch at our dark site. It does in fact open up a whole new universe for me.![]()
Astro-Tech AT 152EDT Ioptron GEM 45 Mount AKA FracZilla
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David
- kt4hx
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
Thanks. I have no problems keeping it in the garage and rolling it out. The wheel-barrow handles make that easy enough even for this 65 yr old. I would imagine there will come a time when it will become more of a chore, but barring unusual circumstances, I don't see that for some time yet. In the meantime I enjoy the simplicity of thedagadget wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:10 amIf I had a 17.5 I would also have a Skyshed Pod to keep it in at the darkest site I could access. so far I have looked through a couplekt4hx wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:27 pm Thanks David. For these denizens of the deep, aperture and dark skies are indeed your friend. There are some brighter ones of course that can be seen in smaller apertures, and often visible even from areas of significant LP - or at least their brightest portion, typically the core. But there are far more that simply cannot overcome higher levels of sky glow and many more yet that are out of reach of small apertures. Given that they are far and away my favorite category of DSO, there is little wonder that I favor using my 17.5 inch at our dark site. It does in fact open up a whole new universe for me.![]()
DOB 12's and soon I will be looking through a 13.1 Looking forward to that.

Alan
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob
ES AR127 f/6.5 & ED80 f/6 on Twilight-II || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian on Twilight-I
ES 82° 24mm, 18mm !! Vixen LVW 65° 22mm !! TV Ethos 100° 13mm
Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm, 5mm + barlows
DGM NPB Filter || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow Filters || Baader HaB Filter
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"The eternal silence of these infinite spaces frightens me...." (Blaise Pascal)
- dagadget
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Re: Why Can't I See That Galaxy?
wow you can roll it out using the wheelbarrow handles. That sounds exceptionally nice. Thekt4hx wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 3:13 amThanks. I have no problems keeping it in the garage and rolling it out. The wheel-barrow handles make that easy enough even for this 65 yr old. I would imagine there will come a time when it will become more of a chore, but barring unusual circumstances, I don't see that for some time yet. In the meantime I enjoy the simplicity of thedagadget wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 2:10 amIf I had a 17.5 I would also have a Skyshed Pod to keep it in at the darkest site I could access. so far I have looked through a couplekt4hx wrote: ↑Sat Jan 04, 2020 3:27 pm Thanks David. For these denizens of the deep, aperture and dark skies are indeed your friend. There are some brighter ones of course that can be seen in smaller apertures, and often visible even from areas of significant LP - or at least their brightest portion, typically the core. But there are far more that simply cannot overcome higher levels of sky glow and many more yet that are out of reach of small apertures. Given that they are far and away my favorite category of DSO, there is little wonder that I favor using my 17.5 inch at our dark site. It does in fact open up a whole new universe for me.![]()
DOB 12's and soon I will be looking through a 13.1 Looking forward to that.dob under a dark sky. TypicalSQM -L readings are around 21.3 to 21.5 (usually toward the higher end of that range), but have been as good as about 21.7. So I cannot complain in the least.![]()
Astro-Tech AT 152EDT Ioptron GEM 45 Mount AKA FracZilla
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David
Celestron C11 Carbon Fiber CGEM II Mount AKA Cloudzilla
Sky Watcher Mak Cas 180 Ioptron IEQ 30 AKA MoonZilla
Home Made 8 inch Newtonian Reflector on Rocker Box AKA Scopezilla
Celestron 4 1/2 114 mm Newtonian Telescope 910 F/L GT Mount AKA Frankenscope.
David