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 Astrophotography and Sketching >> Sketching Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44       #2307497 - 04/05/08 06:38 PM Attachment (95 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   M44 in Cancer is a typical binocular object. With a total magnitude of 3.1 the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe was known since antiquity. And indeed, at a distance of 520 lightyears, the cluster is faintly visible as a large nebulous patch to the naked eye. With a simple pair of binoculars the patch resolves into a beautiful V-shaped open cluster measuring more than 1° across. Several multiple stars are visible at low power. The binocular view is perfect for such a large object. Most telescopes don't offer a wide enough view to show the cluster in it's 'natural environment'. While studying the object, I got the impression of a deeper darkness behind the cluster, compared to the overal background brightness. Could this be an optical effect created by the contrast between the cluster stars and the background? I don't know if it shows in the sketch. The bright star in the lower left part of the sketch is Delta Cancri. The one in the upper left corner is Gamma Cancri. Observing data: Date : March 31, 2008 Time : around 20.30UT 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. -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Edited by rodelaet (04/06/08 06:47 AM) Post Extras:       frank5817 Post Laureate Reged: 06/13/06 Posts: 4034 Loc: Illinois Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: rodelaet]       #2307570 - 04/05/08 07:20 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, Wonderful sketch. This binocular view is indeed perfect for this open cluster. Isn't it great the way a new viewing tool allows you to re-discover all the great celestial wonders all over again. Frank -------------------- my gallery Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: frank5817]       #2308394 - 04/06/08 07:00 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you, Frank. You are right about 'rediscovering' the celestial wonders. All kind of memories come back when I sketch these 'classics'. But there is more to it. The binocular views has its limitations. That's for sure. But binoculars allow us to see the deep-sky in a whole different perspective. Especially the milky way regions offer amazing vistas in small binoculars. I hope that the summer time will bring many clear nights. -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       Rogerio sage Reged: 09/01/07 Posts: 221 Loc: Salvador; BA; Brazil Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: rodelaet]       #2308402 - 04/06/08 07:16 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, that's an impressive view!!! Very, very realistic. I t make me don't miss my scope for a while. Nice description too. Rogerio -------------------- 8'' F6 Dob - ATM 8'' F8 Dob - ATM Pentax PFC WPII 20X60; Nikon Action EX 8X40 24Pan; 16T5Nag; 10Rad; 7XW Meade TX 2X and 3X Post Extras:       xfile101 scholastic sledgehammer Reged: 12/08/07 Posts: 758 Loc: Ocean Gate, NJ Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: Rogerio]       #2308568 - 04/06/08 09:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   This is a wonderful cluster and is probably best viewed with binoculars, IMHO. You have rendered this cluster brilliantly!! -------------------- Orion XT8I Celestron 114EQ Firstscope Meade 70mm Astroscan Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: xfile101]       #2309450 - 04/06/08 04:46 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rogerio and Frank, thanks for the kind feedback! -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       Jeff Young Post Laureate Reged: 08/04/05 Posts: 4084 Loc: Ireland Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: rodelaet]       #2313079 - 04/08/08 10:29 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony -- Very nice sketches (this one and Icon 1). You have incredible patience to get all those field stars positioned! Cheers, -- Jeff. -------------------- Nikon 18x70s / UA Millennium                                       Colorado: Solarscope SF70 / TV Pronto / AP400QMD                       Coronado SolarMax40 DS / Bogen 055+3130 APM MC1610 / Tak FC-100 / AP1200GTO                        Tak Mewlon 250 / AP600EGTO Post Extras:       Mark9473 Post Laureate Reged: 07/21/05 Posts: 3183 Loc: 51°N 4°E Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: Jeff Young]       #2315827 - 04/09/08 04:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, no image or picture I've ever seen comes this close to the actual binocular view I enjoy so much. Thank you for sharing! -------------------- Mark Leica 8x20; Vixen 8x42; Swift 8.5x44, 10x50 and 20x80; TS 7x50; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60 WO Megrez II 80 FD + Baader 90° T2 Amici Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: Mark9473]       #2317974 - 04/10/08 04:56 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jeff and Mark, thank you for the kind words! -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       CarlosEH Post Laureate Reged: 01/19/05 Posts: 4092 Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County... Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: rodelaet]       #2328060 - 04/15/08 04:10 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, Thank you for posting the finest observation of the Beehive Cluster (M44) that I have ever seen. You have captured this magnificent open cluster very nicely. It appears to glow in your observation. Carlos -------------------- Post Extras:       WadeVC Carpal Tunnel Reged: 12/02/05 Posts: 2831 Loc: Lodi, California, Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: CarlosEH]       #2337619 - 04/19/08 02:48 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, I absolutely LOVE that rendering! The Praesepe is one of my all-time favorite OC's, as well as one of the very first DSO's that I found when learning to star-hop. I always make time to take in this magnificent cluster when it is in the night sky; and your sketch definitely does this beauty justice! -------------------- Orion XTi10 f/4.7 Orion XTi8 f/5.9 Meade NGC 70mm f/10 Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars My Sketch Gallery My Astronomy Blog A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top. Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: WadeVC]       #2348975 - 04/24/08 12:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you, Carlos and Wade, for the kind words! I look forward to your observations. -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       KennyJ Reged: 04/27/03 Posts: 12749 Loc: Lancashire UK Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: rodelaet]       #2352984 - 04/26/08 10:45 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony , Your sketches are absolutely superb ! Keep them coming ! Kenny -------------------- If everyone is thinking the same thing , no-one is thinking - General George S.Patton Zeiss 7 x 42 BGAT Captain's Helmsman 7 x 50 Nikon 10 x 42 Superior E Swift Audubon Kestrel 10 x 50 Helios 15 x 70 Observation Strathspey 20 x 90 Televue 76 APO Zeiss 85 Diascope Helios 102 f5 refractor Various eyepieces barlows tripods mounts etc. Panasonic Lumix DMC - TZ5 digital camera Post Extras:       RichD professor emeritus Reged: 11/08/07 Posts: 536 Loc: Derbyshire, UK Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: KennyJ]       #2353478 - 04/26/08 04:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   that is a wonderful sketch. Very much like a short-exposure photograph, it's so accurate. -------------------- Clear skies Rich Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 2 : The Beehive Cluster, M44 [Re: RichD]       #2355238 - 04/27/08 03:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Kenny and Rich, Your comments are much appreciated, thank you! -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 3 registered and 2 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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