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 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - M65.       #2357978 - 04/28/08 06:11 PM Attachment (37 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   When the constellation of the Lion culminates, I always shift my gaze to the M66 Group of galaxies. While these galaxies are fairly easy to see with a small telescope, they offer a challenge for small binoculars. Under the mag 5 sky of my backyard, I can only detect M66, which has a total magnitude of 8.9 . M65, with a magnitude of 9.3, remains invisible. Last weekend, I was fortunate to observe from a darker site near the High Fens (Hautes Fagnes in Belgium). That region offers a nelm of 6.0, which is not a bad value for my standards. When I set up my gear, I could not resist to hunt for M66 and M65. Aiming the 8x56 is very easy, as Theta and Iota Leonis border the northern and southern edge of the binocular field of view. I noticed the oval glow of M66 immediately near the center of the fov. And with averted vision, I could finally spot the faint glow of M65. It was a memorable sight, while I realized that the light produced by this duo of galaxies traveled more than 25 million light-years to reach my eye. At that moment, I forgot that I was 80 miles from home. I actually felt at home, under this familiar sky full of shiny stars… (you might need to adapt your monitor settings in order to see the galaxies at all) Site : Sourbrodt, Belgium Date : April 26, 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. -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Edited by rodelaet (04/29/08 05:36 PM) Post Extras:       BobinKy Carpal Tunnel Reged: 04/27/07 Posts: 1672 Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: rodelaet]       #2358052 - 04/28/08 06:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony-- WOW! Your Binocular Icon project just keeps getting better and better. Terrific sketches accompanied by outstanding narratives take us there. Thank you for sharing your personal work and talent. Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: BobinKy]       #2360171 - 04/29/08 05:42 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you, Bob! I'm very glad that you like the sketches. -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       frank5817 Post Laureate Reged: 06/13/06 Posts: 4034 Loc: Illinois Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: rodelaet]       #2360441 - 04/29/08 08:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, These galaxies look just great. I can even see the field stars I use to locate them under less than ideal conditions. I was carefully examining this sketch trying to find a hint of NGC 3628. Beautiful work Rony. These binocular sketches are awesome. Frank -------------------- my gallery Post Extras:       rolandlinda3 Carpal Tunnel Reged: 01/24/06 Posts: 2223 Loc: Crozet VA 22932 Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: frank5817]       #2360831 - 04/29/08 11:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Nice catch. I tried to see M65 nearly overhead in a suburb of Dallas last week. Other than a slightly whiter area than the background milky sky, it was not really observable. Roland -------------------- Roland Sketches in members galleries: rolandlinda3 Inspirational stories/sketches at: www.christworksministries.org Post Extras:       starquake member Reged: 02/02/08 Posts: 172 Loc: Nádasdladány Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: rolandlinda3]       #2361242 - 04/30/08 06:16 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Wow, that's a beautiful sketch! Actually, I really like that you don't try to display the galaxies brighter than what you've really seen. I see this mistake on so many sketches (sometimes even I find myself pushing the pencil harder than I should (so I need to erase and retry again and again until I find the correct shade)). I really respect this! -------------------- "At night astronomers agree." /Matthew Prior/ "Astronomers, like burglars and jazz musicians, operate best at night." /Miles Kington/ 10x50, 114x900, 300x1500 My astronomical sketches: Graphite Galaxy Don't take my words too seriously, I might be wrong. And sorry for my English. Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 9 : The duo of galaxies, M66 - [Re: starquake]       #2368266 - 05/03/08 03:58 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Frank, Roland and Ferenc, Thank you very much for the kind words! -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. 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