· 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 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 15 : Messier 106       #2408754 - 05/20/08 04:09 PM Attachment (33 downloads) Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   M106 has something to offer in any aperture. This galaxy is one the easiest objects when it comes to detecting spiral structure. Small scopes allow to examine the elongated form of the galaxy’s halo and they show some nice features of its mottled core. With growing aperture the increase in details is significant. But how about a pair of binoculars? I did the test with M106 near zenith during a clear spring night. Finding M106 does require some preparation. First try to find (with the naked eye) 3 Canum Venaticorum, near the border with Ursa Major. Then locate the star with the bino’s. With 3CVN at the northern edge of the binocular field, M106 should be visible at the center of the view. Take your time to discover this galaxy. At first M106 looks like a common 8th magnitude star. With prolonged gazing, your eyes should pick up the soft glow of the galaxy’s halo. It will take averted vision and patience, for the halo’s elongated form to become obvious. It is oriented in a mere north to south direction with a sudden brightening at the center. For observations like this one, a mounted pair of binoculars can make a big difference. (The brightest star on the sketch is 3 Canum Venaticorum) Site : Butgenbach, Belgium Date : May 5, 2008 Time : around 23,00UT Binoculars : Bresser 8x56 FOV: 5.9° Filter : none Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window Seeing : 2,5/5 Transp. : 4/5 Nelm : 6.0 Sketch Orientation : N up, W right. Digital sketch made with Photo Paint, based on a raw pencil sketch. (Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.) -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Edited by rodelaet (05/20/08 04:11 PM) Post Extras:       frank5817 Post Laureate Reged: 06/13/06 Posts: 4082 Loc: Illinois Re: Binocular Icon 15 : Messier 106 [Re: rodelaet]       #2409197 - 05/20/08 07:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Rony, Splendid rendering of M-106 with binoculars. To the right about a half a degree and down just several minutes you have included a group of stars that I frequently stumble across when star hopping to M-106. These drawings are very accurately drawn and would make excellent scope side finders for these objects. Most remarkable sketching here. Frank -------------------- my gallery Post Extras:       cildarith Carpal Tunnel Reged: 08/26/04 Posts: 2357 Loc: San Diego, CA Re: Binocular Icon 15 : Messier 106 [Re: frank5817]       #2409785 - 05/21/08 12:33 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Very nice work, Rony! -------------------- Eric 6" f/6 Parks Newtonian 10x50 Bushnell Binocs CN Sketch Gallery||MinDat Mineral Gallery Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 15 : Messier 106 [Re: cildarith]       #2411297 - 05/21/08 05:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Frank and Eric, Thank you for the kind words! -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       jdavalos member Reged: 08/24/04 Posts: 69 Loc: Guadalajara, Méx 20.30N\103.20... Re: Binocular Icon 15 : Messier 106 [Re: rodelaet]       #2416806 - 05/24/08 10:19 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey man! you're doing a great work! I think it would be great if you continue sketching objects (maybe all messier's) and then put them on a book (or ebook if you like to share it for free). This kinda work, could help many starters to get a better idea about what they're going to find through binoculars or telescopes. I remember when I started to look with my 10X50 inexpensive binoculars waiting to see images like on astronomy and sky and telescope magazines. Well, after all, you are doing the hard work and this is just an idea. Greetings and congratulations again. Jorge. -------------------- Post Extras:       rodelaet Post Laureate Reged: 04/28/06 Posts: 3063 Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium) Re: Binocular Icon 15 : Messier 106 [Re: jdavalos]       #2417550 - 05/24/08 07:23 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thank you very much, Jorge! The e-book idea is nice. The individual sketches can be found at my webpage. See my signature. Clear skies, -------------------- Rony My Astronomical Sketches My Binocular Sketches Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 2 registered and 4 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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