[Chaos-l] [Medoc-mountain-men] last night

[Mark Montazer]

I was discussing my scope and recent entry into astronomy with Robert
when I slewed to the Ring Nebula. I remarked that my scope was modest,
as I couldn't make out the central star. Robert was quick to point out
that it was incredibly dim and even he had yet to see it in his long
observing experience. Had I not known that, I might have passed off
the moment where we all saw it in Allen's scope, as a common event.
The knowledge and experience you guys bring with you certainly helps
me better appreciate what I'm observing.

I had my usual struggles with alignment, then realignment, then
kicking out the power cable, and then starting all over. :)  I finally
got things settled down and had a great 7 hours of observing. I even
got to try out my new cot before the long drive home this morning.

I took a number of pictures last night, not many were noteworthy, but
I did manage to get an hour on the Triangulum Galaxy. It probably
needs 3-4 more hours of exposure, but the core is well defined and the
arms are starting to show up nicely. Here's a link to the image:

http://www.astrobin.com/full/20700/

Also, regarding the meteor activity last night, I think it might have
been the Gamma Piscids (which seem to be elusive):

http://meteorshowersonline.com/showers/gamma_piscids.html

Mark





On Sat, Sep 22, 2012 at 9:53 AM, Robert Nielsen <robertnielsen at nc.rr.com> wrote:
> Allen,
>
> I can definitely back you up on the central star in the Ring Nebula last night.  It is the first time I have ever seen it ... in my life.   Thanks for giving me the opportunity with that nice new mirror you have.    I think it was a combination of that and the better-than-the-CSC-predicted seeing last night that made it possible.  I was continually using my 13mm eyepiece in my scope, which is more magnification than I usually use at Medoc.
>
> And not to be picky, but the "lobed" planetary nebula we saw last night was NGC7027 ... thanks to John Raymond for pointing that one out a few weeks ago in an e-mail.   I was amazed that in addition to seeing the lobes and the dark line between them, you could actually see the shape of the larger lobe (just like in pictures).   Absolutely incredible!
>
> It was a good night for planetaries.   And a good night in general ... with the folks that were there.   That group always seems to find interesting objects for us to investigate.
>
> Like the "special" object Alexey and Michael found ... I'll let them explain ...
>
> Robert
>
> On Sep 22, 2012, at 9:02 AM, "Allen Davis" <starstorm151 at embarqmail.com> wrote:
>
>> 08  A brief report.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks to Robert Nielsen, Mark Montazer, Michael and Sandi, Jason, Alexey,
>> and Jim Palermo for coming.  WE had another good night.  The milky way was
>> great even with the moon up.  Some moisture at ground level, but basically
>> the clouds stayed away.
>>
>>
>>
>> The planetary nebula were great..  NGC 7029 and NGC 7008 really were
>> standouts.  The two lobes of 7029 visible with separation and and an amazing
>> amount of detail.  I was able to pump up the power on 70029 with the 3.7
>> Ethos to 687x.  The "fetus nebula" reminded me of 2001 a space odyssey.you
>> know me and my movies.
>>
>>
>>
>> And low and behold, I swung over to M57 with the 3.7.  And sitting there
>> slightely off center was a star....THE STAR...the central star.  It first
>> blinked in and out for me, but Jim said it was there and steady, and the
>> next time I looked..it was there and you could look AT it.  The first time I
>> can honesly say I have seen it in many  many years, and the first time it
>> was OBVIous.  This with the moon still above the horizon.
>>
>>
>>
>> Back me up guys!!!!!  allen
>>
>>
>>
>> E. Allen Davis
>>
>> starstorm151 at embarqmail.com
>>
>>
>>
>> "M'Illumino              "I am enlightened
>>
>> D'Immenso"              by the immensity."
>>
>>
>>
>>   -Ungaretti               -Ungaretti
>>
>>
>>
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