· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article    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] Forum Archives · Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Binoculars Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 ronharper Pooh-Bah Reged: 02/14/06 Posts: 1276 two stellar observations       #2094587 - 01/04/08 12:56 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   New Year's night was was crystal clear, and, wonder of wonders, the outdoor skating rink a quarter mile away, the pillar of fire, was shut down. 10th magnitude stars should be easy picking for a 16x70, but these have issues. Imbedded in M78, 4 degrees above Alnitak in Orion's belt, are the two stars that illuminate the nebula by reflection. Though a scope they look like eyes, and with the fuzzy nebula, it reminds me of a Troll Doll. I finally saw them in my bino, after many tries. Would you believe there are 48 other known stars in this stellar birthplace? I've never noticed but two, no matter how big the scope. Alnitak itself has a close, bright companion that is a popular scope target, but the dim distant one is uninteresting at high enough power to split the tight pair. 16x to the rescue! Next to the 2.6-mag primary, the 10th mag companion, although 58 arcsec away, was a delicate thing. Crowing, barking for sure, but also hoping to inspire! Hey, my eyes still hurt. Ron Post Extras:       RichD professor emeritus Reged: 11/08/07 Posts: 564 Loc: Derbyshire, UK Re: two stellar observations [Re: ronharper]       #2094761 - 01/04/08 04:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hi Ron Your report reminds me of my last trip out - a while ago now due to terrible murky weather here.It was very clear and i managed to see the main dark lane in M78 with 100mm binos. I find this object to be very easily affected by conditions - one night can look as clear as another, but the detail visible in M78 can vary hugely. -------------------- Clear skies Rich Post Extras:       ronharper Pooh-Bah Reged: 02/14/06 Posts: 1276 Re: two stellar observations [Re: RichD]       #2095261 - 01/04/08 11:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rich, The existence of a dark lane is news to me. Thanks for the information. You must mean the separation between M78 and one of the dim neighboring nebulae, which I have never looked for. I'll try it next time I get a chance. Ron Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 4 registered and 8 anonymous users are browsing this forum. Moderator:  EdZ  Print Thread Forum Permissions       You cannot start new topics       You cannot reply to topics       HTML is disabled       UBBCode is enabled Thread views: 283 Jump to *International Year of Astronomy 2009* -----   Global Coordination   Cornerstone Projects   Special Projects   Special Task Groups   Global Activities   National and Regional Activities   IYA 2009 in Africa   IYA 2009 in the USA*Announcements and News* -----   Cloudy Nights Announcements   Discussion of CN Articles, Reviews, and Reports   Beginners Forum   Celestial Events   Light Pollution*Equipment Discussions* -----   ATM, Optics and DIY Forum   Binoculars   Binoviewers   Cats & Casses   Classic Telescopes   Equipment   Eyepieces   Mounts   Observatories   Reflectors   Refractors    Celestron SkyScout and Meade mySky   Video and Electronically Assisted Astronomy*Astrophotography and Sketching* -----   Beginning and Intermediate Imaging   Film Astrophotography   DSLR & Digital Camera Astro Imaging & Processing   CCD Imaging & Processing   Solar System Imaging & Processing   Sketching   Astro Imaging/Sketching Contest *Observing* -----   NEO   General Observing   Planetary and Solar System Observing   Lunar Observing   Deep Sky Observing   Double Star Observing   Solar   Variable Star Observing and Radio Astronomy*Telescope Specific Forums* -----   Celestron NexStar    NexStar GPS / CPC Telescopes   Questar Forum   Meade ACF/RCX / LX / GPS    Meade ETX*Other* -----   Science of Astronomy & Space Exploration   AstroWebsites   Space Rocks*Speciality Forums* -----   AstroArt   Astronomy Software & Computers   Stellar Media   Astro Outreach, Clubs and Star Parties*CN Feedback and Vendor Announcements* -----   Vendor and Group Announcements CN Forums Home

Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics