Post by atomant on Feb 21, 2012 16:05:32 GMT -6
Crisp, clean, bone-chilling Winter skies is best time to observe open clusters.
Unfortunately, this mild winter has seen few and far between.
Break finally came this past weekend. With invite from Paulie, headed out to Conway Observatory in Lowell, IN, just an hour from ChiTown.
I picked up a used Orion 6in Newtonian over the holidays.
Had a trial run during last month's warm spell at Adler.
Was anxious to try it under darker skies.
I was not disappointed.
At f/5, exposures would be short and sweet.
Armed with the Nikon D5000 entry level DSLR, a bunch of hand warmers and large McD's coffee, off to the tour, we go.
Note the image scale of the objects.
Bookending the sky, we start with a cluster at the tip of the bull's horns, Pleiades, M45.
Usually, the harbinger of Winter, this large open cluster is heading down toward the Chicago light dome.
120sec @ iso1600, 750mm
At the opposite side of the sky, we have a loose open cluster, Beehive, M44, ringing in the coming Spring.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Naked eye objects. Also very cool views with binoculars.
High powered telescopes don't do justice to these two.
As you can see, the 6in Newt at 750mm focal length barely fit them.
There's also open clusters that fit not just one, but two in a scope view. The most famous, Double Cluster, is one.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
At the foot of Gemini [see Dave F video], we find the giant M35 and the wispy ngc2158.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Next is series of open clusters in Auriga, starting with the one inside the "baseball plate", M38 and it's tiny companion, ngc1907.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Moving along, we find M36.
Not sure what that little fuzz at the right is?!?
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Winter's answer to Summer's M11 Wild Duck Cluster, M37.
Just very sweet!
30sec @ iso 1600, 750mm
Not to confuse with M37, in Orion's club is the "37" Cluster.
Can't see it, check out cropped shot.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
And you thought the ET Open Cluster was freaky.
Toward the big dog, Canis Major, we find a few more baubles.
M41, is a hop from Sirius.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
A skip and a jump toward the tail, we find Paulie's new fave, ngc2362.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
cropped
Finally, back toward the center of the Winter Circle, we have the grand Orion's Sword.
Space junk flyby too.
180sec @ iso1600, 750mm.
Head out with a pair of binoculars or grab-n-go scope, enjoy these wintry sparkles.
Next up, Spring galaxies!!
Joe spotted this with his 15x70mm binoculars two years ago? at Indy Beach. M81/82. Gotta like the cigar!
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Unfortunately, this mild winter has seen few and far between.
Break finally came this past weekend. With invite from Paulie, headed out to Conway Observatory in Lowell, IN, just an hour from ChiTown.
I picked up a used Orion 6in Newtonian over the holidays.
Had a trial run during last month's warm spell at Adler.
Was anxious to try it under darker skies.
I was not disappointed.
At f/5, exposures would be short and sweet.
Armed with the Nikon D5000 entry level DSLR, a bunch of hand warmers and large McD's coffee, off to the tour, we go.
Note the image scale of the objects.
Bookending the sky, we start with a cluster at the tip of the bull's horns, Pleiades, M45.
Usually, the harbinger of Winter, this large open cluster is heading down toward the Chicago light dome.
120sec @ iso1600, 750mm
At the opposite side of the sky, we have a loose open cluster, Beehive, M44, ringing in the coming Spring.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Naked eye objects. Also very cool views with binoculars.
High powered telescopes don't do justice to these two.
As you can see, the 6in Newt at 750mm focal length barely fit them.
There's also open clusters that fit not just one, but two in a scope view. The most famous, Double Cluster, is one.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
At the foot of Gemini [see Dave F video], we find the giant M35 and the wispy ngc2158.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Next is series of open clusters in Auriga, starting with the one inside the "baseball plate", M38 and it's tiny companion, ngc1907.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Moving along, we find M36.
Not sure what that little fuzz at the right is?!?
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
Winter's answer to Summer's M11 Wild Duck Cluster, M37.
Just very sweet!
30sec @ iso 1600, 750mm
Not to confuse with M37, in Orion's club is the "37" Cluster.
Can't see it, check out cropped shot.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
And you thought the ET Open Cluster was freaky.
Toward the big dog, Canis Major, we find a few more baubles.
M41, is a hop from Sirius.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
A skip and a jump toward the tail, we find Paulie's new fave, ngc2362.
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm
cropped
Finally, back toward the center of the Winter Circle, we have the grand Orion's Sword.
Space junk flyby too.
180sec @ iso1600, 750mm.
Head out with a pair of binoculars or grab-n-go scope, enjoy these wintry sparkles.
Next up, Spring galaxies!!
Joe spotted this with his 15x70mm binoculars two years ago? at Indy Beach. M81/82. Gotta like the cigar!
30sec @ iso1600, 750mm