F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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We finaly nailed it. Yesterday evening 3 of us went to out to our dark place over te border in the Netherlands. Some clouds but most of the time very clear at least until 02:00 am.
One of hour targets was M57 and surrounding stars.
Stefan (Stefan Rostyne on this forum) took a closer look at M57 with his N5T6 in my 18".
"I can see it" he shouted
"Not possible" I replied...
But he was right. I took a look and after a while i could really spot the central star.
Just like David Knisely told me once. High mag over 400X, rather good seeing and indeed now and then she peeked through...not constantly, but now and then, but definately there.
Also a another very experieced member took a look and acknowledged the central star.
I've tried it then my Pentax 10 and TV2. Same result!
We actually saw it. For all of us , the very first time...
quite a thrill...
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
Edited by F.Meiresonne (08/02/08 07:49 AM)
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Treehopper
sage
Reged: 07/29/08
Posts: 215
Loc: Upstate NY
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Wow, congratulations to all three of you! That is no small feat, to be sure! Well done!
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Tim
Third oak on the right, and straight on 'til morning.
Meade ETX-125PE (NGC7000 Edition)
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
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DeepSpaceTour
Post Laureate
Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 3023
Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
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Yup Freddy, that's how I see it through the Discovery 17.5" peeking in and out of direct vision,some nights better than others,the last time I observed M-57 was through the 8Ethos and 2X big barlow and the Antares 1.6X barlow,absolutely stunning view.Try detecting the little Galaxy I-1296 right next door,now thats awesome!!!
Clear skies.
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Bill
-17.5"F/5 Discovery TD /Dob driver/ArgoNavis
Kendrick dew control/Obsession Alt bearings
-Antares 152-F/6.5 refractor on HEQ-5 Pro
-25x100 Binos
-15x70 Binos
-Collimating tools "LOTS"
- TV ep's *8-Ethos*13-Ethos*31T-5*
- 2" Barlows
- Pelican1600
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Achernar
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3720
Loc: Alabama, USA
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Congratulations! Seeing M-57's central star is very difficult due to the effects of seeing making the star very hard to see. The fact that the central "hole" is itself glowing gas can make the star very hard to spot, and high powers are a must to make the star stand out.
Taras
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10-inch F/4.5 Discovery Dob
6-inch F/8 Homebuilt Dob
4 1/4-inch F/4 Homebuilt reflector
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stevecoe
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2129
Loc: Arizona, USA
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I could get flashes of the central star in my 13" f/5.6 Newtonian on a good night at 330X. It would never hold steady, but there were short moments when the star would wink on and then off. I rated those night 7/10 or 8/10 on the Pickering scale. Glad to hear that you got to see it, a real observing challenge.
Clear skies;
Steve Coe
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150mm 6" f/8 Celestron Refractor on Sirius Mount
80mmED 3" f/7.5 Orion Refractor
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
New Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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bper
member
Reged: 02/22/08
Posts: 42
Loc: Yakima Washington
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Congratulations on this. The one time I saw it many years ago was through a 30" scope at a professional observatory. Our astronomy club was invited to use it for the night. I don't remember the power, but it was up their, I would say 300 to 400.
I have tried a number of times with my 13" dob and have not been successful yet. I'm afraid now my eyes are getting to old to do it. You need young eyes, crisp skies and great optics. This is really a feat to be proud of with an amateur scope.
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Bruce Perrault
The Cowiche Astronomer
Yakima Astronomical Society
Goldendale Observatory State Park
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lymorkiew45
sage
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 323
Loc: Anaheim
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I've seen it in my 12", the longest I could hold it was about 1-2 seconds before it vanished, that's with 600X and averted vision, and about 1 second with direct vision, I could also see the extremley faint and small right triangle of 14.9, 15.3, and 15.7 magnitude stars to the SW. I could also glimpse the tight 15th mag. double star to the nebula's South and a very difficult 16.1 magnitude star a few arc sec further S with exteame averted vision, the central star is difficult, but not impossible. These field stars are good benchmarks that tell you if you have a chance with the central star that night...clear skies 
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Control Yourself, let others do as they will, this does not mean you are weak, control your heart, obey the principles of life, this does not mean others are stronger. *Lung Ying Mor Kiew motto*
Starfinder 16 EQ, and dob
DS-10
Orion XT 12i
Z12
All the Lanthanum superwides!
Orion ultrablock filter
9mm Nagler type 6
15mm, 25mm, 35mm Ultrascopics
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
Orion Lazer Colimator
30" dob planned out in far future!
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payner
sage
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 233
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
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Wow, Freddy (et al.), congratulations! That is one feat I have not made yet, but I will try tonight; although my Bortle 5 skies may not be accommodating. I have a C14 and it seems this should be large enough to see it if seeing and light pollution are not the limiting factor.
Has anyone observed the central star from skies with similar rated light pollution?
Randy
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CGE1400 w/XLT & FT MicroFocuser
Russian-Intes MK 91 Rumak
Takahashi FS-128
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Well, indeed seeing was good yesterdayevening and the skies clear. I spotted Ursa minor and i was able to see just about m5.5. That is very good over here.
At home only 13 miles from our dark spot i can get to m5 on the best nights. I'll try at home but i doubt i will see it.
Also the central star could only been seen very shortly blinking in and fading away again. Surely we could not see it for seconds...
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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payner
sage
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 233
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
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Well, last night turned out to be spectacular with transparent, steady skies and an unbelievable lack of humidity. I turned the C14 on M57 and observed patiently; it wasn't long until I was rewarded as the 15th magnitude white dwarf began to reveal itself, blinking on and off like a distant lighthouse beacon. The star was disk-like and cream in color. It would be visible for 1 to 2 seconds at a time. I was observing with both a 7 and 10mm Pentax XW. Very exciting stuff. Freddy, thanks for posting as this prompted me to take a look last night.
Randy
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CGE1400 w/XLT & FT MicroFocuser
Russian-Intes MK 91 Rumak
Takahashi FS-128
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Thats great news Randy,
What was your magnification?
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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payner
sage
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 233
Loc: Bluegrass Region, Kentucky
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Hi Freddy: Magnification in the 10 and 7mm oculars was 391x and 559x, respectively. I did not try lower magnification to test the lower limit; I may do that when the next night like last presents itself (actually tonight is suppose to be as good, but alas work beckons early tomorrow morning). It would be interesting to see what the lower limit would be.
Randy
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CGE1400 w/XLT & FT MicroFocuser
Russian-Intes MK 91 Rumak
Takahashi FS-128
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lymorkiew45
sage
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 323
Loc: Anaheim
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I saw it last night using 300X magnification, twinkling in and out of resolution, every few moments or so, I have also managed to glimpse the second star in the ring, which is much fainter, and only blinks about 20% of the time with averted vision at 600X...clear skies... 
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Control Yourself, let others do as they will, this does not mean you are weak, control your heart, obey the principles of life, this does not mean others are stronger. *Lung Ying Mor Kiew motto*
Starfinder 16 EQ, and dob
DS-10
Orion XT 12i
Z12
All the Lanthanum superwides!
Orion ultrablock filter
9mm Nagler type 6
15mm, 25mm, 35mm Ultrascopics
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
Orion Lazer Colimator
30" dob planned out in far future!
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John Fitzgerald
In Focus
Reged: 01/04/04
Posts: 1253
Loc: AR
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I saw it at TSP 2006 in George Koepple's 22" Dob. It was fading in and out on me even at that aperture. I have not been able to confirm the CS in a 15" from my dark site, but I am still awaiting one of those spectacular nights.
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?
Observing since 1966
Messier Cert #898
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walt r
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/13/07
Posts: 2416
Loc: Doylestown, PA
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After reading Freddy's success I tried two nights nights ago. It was clear for my location but not as transparent as I've seen and the seeing was average. I keep upping the magnification and using AV to try to glimpse the CS. With a N7T6 in a 2.8x Klee barlow (814x) the Ring fills half the FOV. A few times I think I saw a star pop in but could not reliably repeat the sighting.
Did I see it? Well I won't bet that I did as it could have been averted imagination just as easily.
To Freddy, congrats on a tough one.
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Walt
Obsession 18" f/4.45 #1370 AN/SC
MK67 Deluxe 6" f/12 Mak-Cass, Super Polaris GEM, JMI MicroMax DSC
DIY 60mm f/6 Achromat
Cookbook 245 CCD
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Octavarium
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 62
Loc: East Haven, CT
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Excellent. I only hope one day I will be able to see it...even if through someone elses scope.
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Meade ETX-125PE
Series 4000 plossol eyepiece/filter set
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Bill Weir
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 892
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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Very nice. So, with those conditions did any of you see IC 1296?
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar II ED Doublet
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2007, 171.
So far in 2008, 115
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drshr
sage
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 207
Loc: Australia
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I have had some great nights seeing of late. Trained my 14" on to M57. Tried hard for several nights. Failed to see that central star. 14" should do it so I guess time for a re coat. 
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Doc
14" F5 DOB.
6" f5 Achro.
TMB/APM 105mm F6.2 CF APO.
"In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe"
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 3247
Loc: Cattaraugus Co., NY
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Don't be in a hurry for a mirror recoat. The central star was not visible in my scope last week. Atmospheric conditions usually control the views.
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Ted
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MessierScott
super member
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 187
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Quote:
Don't be in a hurry for a mirror recoat. The central star was not visible in my scope last week. Atmospheric conditions usually control the views.
Sooooooo true!
In the 20-inch, there are times that cannot be seen at all no matter how hard I try, or how high crank up the magnification.
Then there have been a few times where it stands out easily to be seen.
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Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror, Feathertouch focuser, GO TO & tracking
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator
ASKC Dark Sky Site
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F.Meiresonne
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/22/03
Posts: 2956
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Quote:
Very nice. So, with those conditions did any of you see IC 1296?
Bill
Nope, one of my fellow observers mentioned it at the time we were busy with M57, but he could not see it. He's very experienced but anyhow we could not spot it.
Seeing was good that evening and that was probably the most important that evening for spotting the central star
I am just come back from the Provence in France where i enjoyed one night with very good seeing(never saw the GRS on Jupiter so good...), unfortunately, i could not observe there with the 18 incher, does not fit in my car together with my family... 
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Freddy Meiresonne
Obsession 18 inch #1638
Orion Optics 8 inch F/4.5 -1/8 wave optics -Vixen GP-E
20x80 Helios Stellar Binos
10x60 Helios Quantum 4(= Obie Mariner)
10x50 Helios Nature sport plus
8x40 Helios Nature sport plus
Eyepieces in use :Pan 35,24,19, N13T6, Pentax 10 XW, N9T6, Ultrascopic 7.5, TV2, baader ortho 12.5 and 9 mm
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Van Robinson
journeyman
Reged: 04/30/08
Posts: 6
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Both stars in M57 visible with direct vision in 82" at McDonald Observatory at 1297X.
IC 1296 visible in separate fov.
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 4288
Loc: Inner Solar System
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I'm sure I've seen it a couple of times.
What I saw was more like a faint denser spot of illumination within the central haze. It wasn't a hard stellar point, more like a small faint blob. Is that how it looked to you guys? On one occasion I did seem to see a sharp twinkle in the center; but the other times, it's been the blob. It fades in and out.
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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Rick Woods
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 4288
Loc: Inner Solar System
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Quote:
Both stars in M57 visible with direct vision in 82" at McDonald Observatory at 1297X.
IC 1296 visible in separate fov.
Show-off!
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- Rick
14" LX200GPS
8" Meade 826C
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nytecam
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/20/05
Posts: 4813
Loc: London UK
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Congrats to all the central star spotters  I've only see it with Lowell Ob 1m where it was really bright  It however raises a query - as the star is very blue [I think] is its detection, with modest scopes, age dependent through yellowing of the cornea  eg any seniors seeing it?
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Nytecam 51N 0.1W
Meade 30cm LX200+ETX-70+DS-2090+C8+Ha+CaK PSTs SBIG SGS+homebuilt spectrographs
Starlight SXVF_M9/Lodestar/Canon 300D DSLR/Fuji E550
My observatory build-ETX-70 imaging-spectro page
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 6778
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
Congrats to all the central star spotters I've only see it with Lowell Ob 1m where it was really bright It however raises a query - as the star is very blue [I think] is its detection, with modest scopes, age dependent through yellowing of the cornea eg any seniors seeing it?
There are many people in their 60's and 70's who have seen it. Again, the main factors (other than just having enough aperture to reach the magnitude needed) are using high power (over 300x) and waiting for great seeing. If the seeing isn't rock-solid, the central star usually won't be visible no matter how big the scope is. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
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Silicon Owl
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 943
Loc: Waimea, Hawaii
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I have never seen it in my 18" despite a few attempts (using high mag) though a young friend of mine (age 13 at the time) claimed to see it easily, he was a pretty good observer and I believe him. The one time I have seen it, and the second star, was with a 60" scope atop Mt. Lemmon belonging to the Steward Observatory, University of Arizona.
Maybe something to that age bias.
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Andrew Cooper
Personal Website and CN Gallery
Handmade 18" Dob / NS11GPS / 6" RFT / 90mm APO / TV-76 ...and a twin 10m
"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." --Sarah Williams
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Lamb0
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/25/07
Posts: 668
Loc: Fairbury, Nebraska
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I've seen it in a 20" f/5 @ 318X using the 8mm Ethos. In the same scope, my 5-8mm Speers-WALER required ~6.7mm (about 382X), although the central star was never seen with 5mm and 8mm Hyperions. In a different scope, also a 20" f/5, the 5-8 SW performed similarly, a 6.4mm Orthoscopic, as well as a 12mm (unknown brand) and 15mm TeleVue Plossl succeeded with a 2X TeleVue Barlow. Contrast matters for this task! Dig out those Orthos, and TeleVue Plossls and Barlows.
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John "Have eyepiece - will travel!"
8" f/5 Dob w/2.14" sec in a 12" alum tube 'The Mortar' - w/PCorr 2° TFoV @ 36.5X ~70% illum *NICE*
Typical eyepieces: 32 Burg, 24 Pan, 20T5, 5-8 SW, Others ALL 2": Pcorr, 2X PwrMt, Ast H-b, Lum UHC + OIII
60mm $50 Walmart Special in training - aka "Backpack Observatory"
Minolta Activa 12x50 , Steiner 15X80
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