| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/08/08 05:08 PM |
| Attachment |
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Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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How far can one see with a simple pair of binoculars? One way to find out is to go hunting in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. The Virgo Cluster lies 60 million light years away. At least four galaxies can be framed in the same field of view. Let’s start at Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis). From there it’s a 5° star hop to the west and a little to the south, until Rho Virginis pops into view. Rho is very easy to recognize, as it is the only bright star in the fov and it is surrounded by three fainter stars. Our first target is M60, a small smudge of light, 1° north of Rho Virginis. Our next target is the giant galaxy, M87. Return back to Rho, and sweep 2° to the west, until 20 Virginis is centered in the field of view. M87 can be found 2° north of 20 Vir. M87 looks like a small star out of focus and lies next to a faint star. With patience, the core of M87 looks stellar to me. Now shift your gaze 1° to the west of M87. Two faint minute spots of light, M86 and M84, can be found if you observe with care. Now you can try to keep these four galaxies in the same field of view, as shown in the sketch below. The brightest star is Rho Vir.
Before you leave the Virgo Cluster, try to find M49. Return to 20 Vir and look 2° south for M49. M49 and M87 can also be kept in the same field of view together with 20 Vir.
Have fun!
Site : Bischofshofen, Austria
Date : May 3, 2008
Time : around 21.30UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8x56
FOV: 5.9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 3/5
Transp. : 4/5
Nelm : 6.0
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with PhotoPaint, based on a raw pencil sketch.
(You may need to adjust your monitor settings in order to see all of the four galaxies.)
| Acheron |
| (scholastic sledgehammer) |
| 05/08/08 05:55 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Man, I had to use averted vision to see something!
A+ for the realism
| BobinKy |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 05/08/08 07:42 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Rony--
This series keeps getting better and better. Once again, your text led us by the hand--and your sketch confirmed what to look for. Truly amazing.
Thank you for sharing your work.
| xfile101 |
| (scholastic sledgehammer) |
| 05/08/08 08:48 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Rony,
I have been probing the Virgo cluster as of late (first real time at figuring out which object I'm looking at) and I want to thank you for pointing out some markers, it will certainly help me figure out what I'm looking at. Oh yeah and the sketch is pretty good too as usual
| WadeVC |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 05/08/08 11:54 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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RONY!
STOP IT!
Your continued excellent sketches make me fall out of my seat! LOL
Seriously though, that is just simply spectacular...the subtleness of the galaxies and the beautiful rendering of the star-field are magnificent!!
| frank5817 |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/09/08 12:34 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Rony,
I never would have guessed you could pick out galaxies this well with your setup but it makes a lot of sense. I am a hand held binocular user and your hands off method really does the trick.
Frank
| rolandlinda3 |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 05/09/08 09:36 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Great Rony. Do I assume you are using that setup with the mounted binoculars? IF so, looks like it really is a winner for sketching applications. Roland
| Charles Laird |
| (super member) |
| 05/10/08 12:02 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Excellent, excellent!! THAT is what things look like. So many renditions are far too bright. Very good work.
Charles
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/12/08 03:49 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Thank you all for the compliments!
Frank and Roland : a mounted solution does help a lot with the detection of these galaxies. And the nelm was 6.0.
| CarlosEH |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/13/08 01:30 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Rony,
An outstanding observation showing the value of patience and persistence. You have captured this faint galaxies in your latest observation. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/14/08 03:37 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Thank you, Carlos!
It was a pleasant observation.
| David Castillo |
| (scholastic sledgehammer) |
| 05/15/08 04:02 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Rony, that sketch is fantastic. I have to look long and hard to get 1/2 that detail with my binos. Can I ask how long it took to produce such a nice piece of art?
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Dave
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 05/15/08 04:19 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 10 : Virgo Challenges.
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Hello Dave,
Thank you for the compliments.
About the sketch : I do take my time to observe in a relaxed way. Most field sketches take 45 minutes to one hour to complete. The digital reproduction takes about 60 minutes to complete.
What set-up do you use to observe, Dave? Is it comparable with my equipment?