Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Aug 15, 2004 2:54:35 GMT -6
[glow=green,2,300]M57 ...No Longer Elusive[/glow]
There are some things in amateur astronomy that one would expect to be behind them, seeing the moons of Jupiter, spitting doubles and checking off easy Messier objects. I have had the hardest time here in the Heart of the City in snagging M57. But last night...15 August 2004, I was successful and can rest.
The following is an account of the search...
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The night looked like a good one, clear and quite transparent. With household chores behind me for the night, and aching a bit, I decided that M57 would be caught this evening. I set up in my little corner of the sky, and started the search.
I used my binoculars to orient myself first and the conditions were good. I first Focused on Vega, moved to the double-double and made the transition to the Lyrae stars. Located the two major stars where M57 hides...and started the pan.
Using a low powered eyepiece, I started from one bright star and made my way to the other. Nothing...damn! Ok...Patience...so I start again. This time more slowly, using averted vision, and I made out some sort of a smudge. I thought perhaps debris of some sort on the eyepiece or on my eye, so I blink to wash and squeegee my eye, and it was still there. So I cable move the tube ever so slightly and the grey smudge stayed in formation with the other stars.
HOORAY!!!! I finally targeted M57! ;D
A ghostly image at best, my modest 4.5" could not make out the finer details, but I could just....just barely make out the central star, or so I think. I tried to kick up the power, but it was not to be. This was the best I am going to get here in the heart of the city.
This is about what I was able to see in the eyepiece.
Smiling, I gazed upon it for some time, before the Earth decided to move the object behind trees and out of my grasp.
I can now check it off, and proceed to other more elusive Messiers with Chicago streetlights focused right into my face.