Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Cloudy Nights - Official Forums of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User   You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1616 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253       #2047144 - 12/12/07 09:50 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   There are both experienced and newcomers on this forum, but many may not have tried observing NGC 253 with assisted optics (astrovideo). If you are equipped with either a MallinCAM Hyper (color or B&W) or the latest Stella CAM product, then I highly recommend observing this object live on your monitors. It is truly an amazing object and underrated because it is generally considered too far south for most northern hemisphere observers. It typically gets overlooked. However, using a 7, 14, or 28 second integration period with AGC set about 1/3 scale, this object will fill your monitor screen. The arm detail and slight pinkish nucleus area, which is very complex/busy, is a wonder to behold. I would like to hear from those who try it and have observed it before with assisted optics. The link below is a sketch of it during my first observation of it. Since then, we displayed it at the Jacksonville night observing session last month using a 6 inch refractor on a Losmandy mount. It was also beautiful on that setup--only missing some arm/nucleus detail that we could see in Virginia using our 12.5 Dob. Small or large telescope--unlike M31--you can see the gentle swirl of the arms clearly using astrovideo tools. Let me know what you see. If you post a frame or sketch, please include the link or a smaller sized file on reply. We would love to see it. Roland and Linda Crozet VA the Link: http://www.cloudynights.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=12054&password=&sort=2&thecat=500 Post Extras:       Chris Schroeder Postmaster Reged: 12/11/04 Posts: 5098 Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2047324 - 12/12/07 11:15 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice sketch Roland -------------------- Chris Mallincam Color Hyper Plus 10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT M102ED S.V., ZS 80FD 10th Anniv, ZS 66SD, PST POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Posts: 519 Loc: Louisiana Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: Chris Schroeder]       #2047990 - 12/13/07 09:23 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, If I ever get all the parts needed to use my new HyperStar on the CPC1100 (missing the T to C adapter), and if it ever clears down here in Louisiana, I plan on observing NGC 253. This all should occur during the next full moon. I will keepyou posted. Jack -------------------- Orion ED80 Coulter CT-100 Celestron 6" f/8 Refractor 8" Newtonian/Cassegrain on Byers 812 Mount Classic C-8 Celestron 11" CPC 100 with HyperStar Tricked-out 17.5" AstroSystems TeleKit Life Member and ALCOR - PAS New Orleans Waning Moon II Observatory Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1616 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #2048306 - 12/13/07 11:51 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jack, the internal structure of this object is quite amazing. If you view it with a lot more aperture than I have....and record it or grab some frames...I would love to have copy. Roland Post Extras:       skyguy88 member Reged: 11/13/06 Posts: 62 Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2049394 - 12/13/07 07:32 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   NGC 253 is a real spectacle. Another noteworthy object is the edge-on Galaxy NGC 891. Bill McDonald Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Posts: 519 Loc: Louisiana Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2049861 - 12/13/07 10:53 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Roland, See the thread on the Observing Forum. Here is a post I made relative to NGC 253: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showthreaded.php/Cat/0/Number/2008679/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/vc/1 Jack -------------------- Orion ED80 Coulter CT-100 Celestron 6" f/8 Refractor 8" Newtonian/Cassegrain on Byers 812 Mount Classic C-8 Celestron 11" CPC 100 with HyperStar Tricked-out 17.5" AstroSystems TeleKit Life Member and ALCOR - PAS New Orleans Waning Moon II Observatory Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1616 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #2049908 - 12/13/07 11:16 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice single frame shot Jack. Now I just have to get that pad for you and get you to study/sketch the image the next time you have a chance to observe it!! Roland Post Extras:       Mike Harvey professor emeritus Reged: 03/01/04 Posts: 589 Loc: Orlando, FL. Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2049918 - 12/13/07 11:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   With the 28" and MHC, NGC 253 has mesmerized me! The last two times I've had the big scope out, I've spent (literally) HOURS studying all the detail. The "3-D" effect of the star and gas clouds rising above the galactic plane has to be seen to be believed. I can also clearly see some of the 'jets' of material blowing out perpendicular to the plane. The nucleus itself is swirling with knots of dust and the spiral arms littered with reddish Ha and bluish H II regions. I have yet to find a photograph that can truly match what I'm seeing. Mike Harvey Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 1616 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Astrovideo Seasonal Target--NGC 253 [Re: skyguy88]       #2049954 - 12/13/07 11:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   You are certainly right about 891, Bill. It is on my list of to-do's for an upcoming study/sketching session with my astrovideo. I have tackled about 3 or 4 edge-ons and find them fascinating. The astro-video tends to give pretty good clarity around the boundaries of dust lanes through the edge-on view, so I am looking forward to it. Roland Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 0 registered and 0 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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