TheSkySearchers

***** Transcribed from my threads on the other site 110 observations *****

Continuation of my Messier 110 journey. The end is kind of in sight.

*****

#1 - #72 - Eyes to the Sky, Starting the Journey! & On to the next level, Messier 70 certificate! viewtopic.php?f=89&t=4766

*****


I just realized I had not typed up the results from my latest Messier/Planetary session, back in June. My club also had an outreach event last night, Jupiter, Saturn, M17 (Omega Nebula), M13 (Hercules Cluster), M16 (Eagle Nebula), M57 (Ring Nebula), C14 (Double Cluster) & M27 (Dumbbell Nebula). Looks like M17 is a new one for the list, so #80. I was using my C8, I'll add those details in a separate post. We have another public outreach this Saturday, besides showing off the planets I will have a list of Messiers I still need and see if I can chalk up 4 or 5 more.

Here it is, #73 - #79, plus Jupiter & Saturn.

Jupiter
Messier Object: NA
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 21:00 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Telescope Name: Skywatcher
Telescope Model: 120ST
Telescope Size: 120mm
f-ratio:f5
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Edge-On Planetary
Eyepiece mm: 12.5mm/3mm/6mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: fuzzy in 3mm, good at 6mm, nice at 12.5 for C6R. Impressive 3mm in 120ST - very surprised.
Comment:First use of the Orion Edge-On Planetary EPs. I bought the set, hoping for good views of Mars, Jupiter & Saturn during this time of opposition. I'm impressed so far.

#73
Messier Object: M5
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 21:00 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Edge-On Planetary
Eyepiece mm: 12.5mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Bright central core. Stars visible to the edge of the cluster. Or & BP about equal. 2 or 3 stars visible on the edge of the cluster.
Comment:

#74
Messier Object: M21/NGC 6514
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 22:53 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: good structure. Central core of circular stars easily visible. 6514 has a few stars visible
Comment:

#75
Messier Object: M23
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 22:59 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Large number of stars, to many to count. Nice tight formation in the BP 10 fov.
Comment:

Saturn
Messier Object: NA
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 23:05 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Telescope Name: Skywatcher
Telescope Model: 120ST
Telescope Size: 120mm
f-ratio:f5
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Edge-On Planetary
Eyepiece mm: 12.5mm/3mm/6mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: fuzzy in 3mm, too low on the horizon. Good at 6mm, excellent at 12.5. Very happy with the Orion purchase. ES 18 very good contrast, excellent EP as always.
Comment:

#76
Messier Object: M22
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 23:19 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: very feint, not much discernable structure. Just able to pull out of the background.
Comment:

#77
Messier Object: M24
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 23:25 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: I see it, the pattern matches Sky Safari Pro 6. Not real impressive. Just several stars
Comment:

#78
Messier Object: M28
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 23:30 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Feint in the ES, better in the BP. Feint, ball shaped. Very few discernable stars.
Comment:

#79
Messier Object: M107/NGC 6171
Date: Jun 15, 2018
Time: 23:30 EST
Location: Sussex, NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Baader Planetarium Hyperion
Eyepiece mm: 10mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Extremely faint. Only central post kind of visible. No discernable structure, just a faint smudge.
Comment:


*****

Here is #80 from our club's public viewing event last night. For next week's event, I plan to have an observing plan that should knock a few more off my list.

#80
Messier Object: M17
Date: Jul 13, 2018
Time: 22:15 EST
Location: Wallkill River National Wildlife Refuge Owens Station Crossing, Wantage NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good/Excellent
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: C8
Telescope Size: 203mm
f-ratio:f10
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Nebulosity just on the edge of vision. Averted vision brought a tiny bit out.
Comment:

*****

Catching up on earlier observations, from 2 Sep 18.

#81
Messier Object: M102
Date: Sep 2, 2018
Time: 21:25 EST
Location: Sussex NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Q70/38
Eyepiece mm: 38mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Barely visible with ES 18/82, more detail with or Q70/38. No visible stars, just oblong smudge.
Commentew controller at 100%, kept up with the dew just fine


#82
Messier Object: M109
Date: Sep 2, 2018
Time: 21:50 EST
Location: Sussex NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Q70/38
Eyepiece mm: 38mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Dot, no real definition in Q70/38. ES82/18 bigger fit, no real additional detail.
Commentew controller at 100%, kept up with the dew just fine


Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner
Messier Object: NA
Date: Sep 2, 2018
Time: 22:00 EST
Location: Sussex NJ USA
Viewing Conditions: Good
Light Zone/Bortle Zone: 5.5
Telescope Name: Celestron
Telescope Model: CR150HD
Telescope Size: 150mm
f-ratio:f8
Eyepiece model: Explore Scientific 18/82
Eyepiece mm: 18mm
Eyepiece model: Orion Q70/38
Eyepiece mm: 38mm
Mount: Skywatcher NEQ-6
Observation: Faint (greenish?) dot. Averted gaze brings it into view. Star hopped from Capella with Q70/38. ES 82/18 locked it in.
Commentew controller at 100%, kept up with the dew just fine

***** End of Transcription *****

I have had several observation sessions both individually and with our group, but since I didn't do observing plans and randomly poked around in the sky for interesting things to show our guests, nothing else to report. Time to get back in the saddle and do things right, and finish the rest of the 110!

Clear skies!

Good progress Mike! Did you have a chance to catch any of fall galaxies?