| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/02/08 12:57 PM |
| Attachment |
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Binocular Icons No 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
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Hello everyone,
I decided to start a little project around binocular deep-sky observing. I have planned to observe and sketch a few beautiful binocular targets. Targets that are within reach of most backyard skies. I call them: Binocular Icons.
Binoculars are widely spread. Most people have a pair at home. Fewer people know that they can be used to admire the heavens as well. However, binocular astronomy has a very low threshold. Binoculars are very straightforward to use. The image is errect. And the low power is very convenient to look up objects. Even kids learn quickly how much fun it is to use them. Binoculars are very portable and offer instant enjoyment. They are excellent travel companions because of their compact size and weight.
About the making of the sketches: These Binocular Icons are intented for the occasional observer, who wants to spend a few spare minutes under the stars. For the ease of prolonged gazing and sketching, I on the other hand needed a mounted solution. Otherwise I would have come short of hands. I decided to use a mirror mount. It allows me to observe and sketch in a more relaxed position. The pair of bino's that I use is the Bresser 8x56 Spezial Jagd. There is nothing special about them. But they offer adequate eye relief for people like me who wear glasses while observing.
I hope you don't mind that I post these sketches in the forum.
Binocular Icons Number 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
The famous M81 and M82 form a nice duo in a pair of binoculars. First try to locate the star 24 Ursae Majoris. With that star in the center of the fov, M81 should be visible near the western edge of the field. M82 can be glimpsed at about 40' to the north of M81. M81 is the brighter one of the two. It looks like a small glowing patch of light. Its center appears to be a tad brighter. M82 is rather weak, but the cigar shape is clearly present! I find it amazing that at a distance of 13 million lightyears, this duo is recognizable in a simple pair of binoculars.
Observing data:
Date : March 31, 2008
Time : around 21.30UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8x56
FOV: 5,9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 2,5/5
Nelm : 5,0
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with PhotoPaint, based on a raw pencil sketch.
| Sol Robbins |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 04/02/08 02:00 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
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Nice one Rony.
That is how they look in my finderscope.
| bobdes |
| (member) |
| 04/02/08 09:32 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
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Nice Rony, looks great.
Bob
| frank5817 |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/02/08 09:57 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
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Rony,
Very nice wide-wide field binocular sketch. They really look impressive so close together. I have never seen them this well at such low power. The star field really looks great too. Excellent - Rony
Frank
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/03/08 03:56 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M82.
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Sol, Bob and Frank : your comments are much appreciated! Thanks!
| starquake |
| (member) |
| 04/07/08 09:53 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M8
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Wow, that's an excellent bino sketch. I've just sketched this two some days ago too (not in a binocular tho, but with nearly 1° fov):
I wonder if there's such a large aperture binocular available that would show their third companion, the NGC 3077. It's in the opposite side of M81, in nearly the same distance like M82. A relatively faint GX.
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/08/08 05:13 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M8
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Thank you, starquake.
Your beautiful sketch is an interesting reference to compare with the binocular view. Thank you for sharing!
| CarlosEH |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/15/08 04:22 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M8
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Rony,
Thank you for your wonderful observation of M81 and M82 using your new binocular setup. Binoculars are a great way to enjoy the heavens as they show wider fields than most telescopes. I look forward to your future observations using your binoculars.
Ferenc- An excellent observation of M81 and M82 as well. Your web site contains many fine observations.
Carlos
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 04/21/08 06:23 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icons nr 1 : The galaxies M81 and M8
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Carlos, Thank you for the kind words.
I look forward to your observations!