More adventures witht he 50mm and others . . .

[Greg Stone]

This morning was the kind of session I love - no real agenda, no set up - and I was very well rested. The last is because I went to bed at 8 pm, too exhausted to take advantage of the clear skies - and right after about 90 minutes of napping. I didn't get up until about 1 am, so I felt great.

Adding to the cheerfulness was this little note from Paul, who wasn't able to make the Sunday night "star hoppers" session because he's doing some missionary work in Honduras:

. . . Honduran charts have really come in handy!
Where I am staying here in Honduras I have access to the roof where last night I saw Canopus!
and this moening Alpha Centauri! Spectacular sky with mountains just far enough back not to interfere with the view!

That's terrific. I've prepared charts before for folks going on trips, but too often either events or weather or light pollution cancels out any star gazing. Good to know that isn't the case for Paul.

Temperature was a balmy 42 when I started this morning and skies were both steady and clear - average to above average on both counts. First out was the 50mm. I'm really enjoying putting this little scope to the test. This morning it began the session by delivering a charming rendition of Castor - as a double. I could not see the 9th magnitude, more distant "C" companion. I used the 6mm Plossl to achieve a nice split, but I have trouble holding my head in position for that eyepiece. I found I could split it just as well with the 18mm Meade and a 2X Shorty Barlow.

I switched to Algieba and found the same combination worked wonderfully - just a charming white star with tangerine companion.

These two encouraged me to go after Porrima, high in the ssw. Not wih the 50mm, of course, but with the 80mm/ 8-inch combination. I had some success. With the 2.5mm Nagler in the 80mm I got a very clear figure eight. With the 5mm in the C8 I got a dancing "8" that wasn't nearly so satisfactory. The two stars also aligned themselves roughly north/south - leaning a bit to the east - hmmm, that would be a PA of about - well really, close to 0 or 180 depending on which is the primary - I'll have to check and see if that's right - right now I'm tired and need to go back to bed.

OK - just checked and it's PA is around 23 which is in keeping with my "roughly north-south leaning a bit to the east" description. So I feel confident saying I saw a figure 8 - I know that ocunts as a split by some definitions, but I reallyw ant to see black skies between the stars, so I'll try again another night. ( I think if I had had a 100 refractor I could have split it - it was that close. I really got to get some Bob's Knobs for the C* so I can fine-tune the collimation easier.)

Once in this general vicinity I decided to go galaxy hunting. I stumbled pretty quickly upon some of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, though I still don't know this territory well enough to name what I found from memory. I was reminded of the last time I cruised this area mapless and was fooled by M53 and the Black Eye Galaxy. So this time I went to the charts, took a quick peek as to where these two should be, and quickly found M53 which has a chain of fairly bright stars leading down to it. Examining it with the C8 I don't know how I could think it was anything except a globular cluster - but then, my mind was sure I was in galaxy territory, so I saw what I expected to see. I also found M64, the Black Eye Galaxy, a bit northwest of it. I studied it trying to discover from where it derived its name without much luck.I know it has a dark, dusty area near the center, but while I kept seeing things I thought might be dark lanes, I saw nothing with certainty. Have to try again another time - be a nice task for the 15-inch with its recoated mirror - when it comes back.

Having moved to this general territory I couldn't resist using the 50mm to take a look at Cor Caroli (I love the sound of that name!) the "Heart of Charles," a favorite and easy double. It was high overhead, but I found it quickly and while I first checked out the split with the 18mm eyepiece (33X), it was really quite easily split - and charming - with the 32mm. (19" gap)

I need to make a list of "best" objects to see with the 50mm. Mizar, Cor Caroli, Albireo, M42,yjr zytrapezium, Nu Draconis, Algieba, the Beehive and Pleiades are some obvious choices. Other stuff you can see, but not well. Other suggestions most welcome. This list is far from comprehensive and I hope to grow it.

M13 was quite nice this morning, but while it looked sort of like a pudding at 66X, I could not resolve individual stars in it. Both it and M3 would make th elist though, and I suspect M5 as well. Facorit eopen clusters aren't that impressive. M35, for example, doesn't do as well as M37 - my vote would be for M36 as the best of the group in that vicinity.It's small, but bright. The Double Cluster was a disappointment. In a way the most satisfying sight with the 50mm for me this morning was M51. I could clearly see that there were two objects - but to be honest, I think a beginner would skim right over it and even if I pointed it out to them, they would stare and see nothing. Observing galaxies with such a tiny scope is definitely an acquired taste. The only ones that belong on a beginner's list that I've seen so far with this small scope are M31, M81 and M82.

I tried to split the Double Double and with no success - even with a 3.5mm Nagler. (171X)

At this point my tea was cold, my hands were cold, and it was time to come in. But I had had a great two and a half hours. Interesting. My tea in its insulated mug seems to last exactly as long as I last on any given night. That is, once it gets cold, I'm cold - and, of course, when the temperature is 20 that happens much more quickly.

[Rotorhead]

Nice report, Greg. And it must be fun to know how much you have enhanced your student's trip to Honduras. Good work!

As to your little scope, I am amazed at how well it is performing for you. Last night, I was working with two targets that might be worthwhile in a small scope. One was M47, which has big, bright stars, and the other was tau Canis Majoris, the first bright star above the rump of the Dog. It is a nice bright star surrounded by a loose cluster of fairly large white and blue-white stars. And in that vicinity, M41, the Heart of the Dog, is a large cluster with many bright stars and enough smaller ones that the view in a small scope would be like stars in a nebula. I'll try to think of others.

I know what you mean about having an observing span about equal to your thermos' capabilities... I've observed three of the past four nights, and can't muster more than three hours at the ep despite the gorgeous skies. It has been an inspirational run of clear skies, though.

[Greg Stone]

As to your little scope, I am amazed at how well it is performing for you. Last night, I was working with two targets that might be worthwhile in a small scope. One was M47, which has big, bright stars, and the other was tau Canis Majoris, the first bright star above the rump of the Dog. It is a nice bright star surrounded by a loose cluster of fairly large white and blue-white stars. And in that vicinity, M41, the Heart of the Dog, is a large cluster with many bright stars and enough smaller ones that the view in a small scope would be like stars in a nebula. I'll try to think of others.

I know what you mean about having an observing span about equal to your thermos' capabilities... I've observed three of the past four nights, and can't muster more than three hours at the ep despite the gorgeous skies. It has been an inspirational run of clear skies, though.

Thanks for the suggestions, Bob. I haven't tried any of those targets with this scope because they;re below my tree line - but, of course, the beauty of this scope is it's highly portable - the ultimate grab 'n go. In that respect I'm now giving it a try on a photo tripod with a head that raises up. This arrangement allows the observer to be seated in any comofrtable chair and bring the scope tot he perfect level. It won't do on a windy night, but otherwise should work fine.

As to thermos - your's is bigger than mine and last longer I have an insulated mug and at 20 degrees or below it lasts about 45 minutes - about the same as me - at 40 degrees it makes if for about 2.5 hours. I seldom observe longer that, though as you know, I frequently work both end of the night.

Addendum -3/11/10

I did get out early last night for about 90 minutes before the clouds came in. Went next door and used the 50mm to observe the suggested objects - thanks again for the ideas. For me they were all fun, but when I think about showing them to newbies, it's hard to find stuff that will generate enthusiasm.

In that respect M41 makes the grade as an impressive object in the 50mm - I could easily see about 10 stars. M47 is a step down from that, I'm afraid, while the cluster around Tau is just too faint - it's in the "oh - you're right - I see it" category - but the half circle of bright stars you can't avoid on the way to Tau ( the one just east of Wesen) was nice. To be fair to the little scope, the transparency was down a notch, and, of course, these are fairly low even at their highest.

Hmmm. . . I can't get a wide enough field to enjoy the Hyades - though the "house" asterism in it is fun and fits nicely. Coma Berenice might work - I'll have to try it. . . and the Coathanger is a very nice fit at low power - I think that would go in the "wow" category. I looked at it the other morning.

The 50 mm light grasp is indeed a severe limit. It means the scope does fine on the Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, and bright doubles that split by at least 4 seconds. After that it's hard scratching to find objects that would excite a beginner exploring with this scope. If you make a scale that goes from "wow" to "Observable" to "yes, i can see it" = most popular deep sky objects fall into the "observable" category. That includes the Double Cluster, for example. At this aperture things don't just become smaller versions of themselves - sometimes they change entirely. With nebulae there's no comparison between M27 and M42 - M42 should blow the socks off a beginner using this scope. M27 will have them admitting they see it, but with little enthusiasm. With star clusters so far only M45 and M44 have fallen in the "wow" category. Globulars won't be resolved, so they fit on the "observable" list in most cases.

That said, I'm a lot more excitable and still interested inperosnal exploring with it, so suggestions continue to be welcome. I get a "wow" out of detecting M51 with it - but that's because I'm amazed I can see it at all with this scope - not because it's at all impressive in it. I love doubles, so I was transfixed once again with Almach last night. On bright double with that the smaller aperture actually calms them down and makes them more attractive - at least to me.

Boy - six nights in a row of observable skies - that, I'm sure, is the best I've had in the past year! It was almosta relief this morning to get up and find us completely socked in.