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Anonymous
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With clear and relatively dry skies last night I went out even with the nearly full moon. I also didn't insist that my family turn off every light on the backyard side of the house given that I could already read under that giant spotlight at the zenith!
I've had my 10" Dob (first scope) for about 9 months now and am still learning how to find things, and to see them when I do.
I could see M31 and 32, but not M110, and didn't bother trying for M33, which is hard enough in my suburban backyard. So I decided to not try for any new-to-me galaxies or nebulae, and instead try for new clusters, in particular M36, 37 and 38. Oh, I did stop by M15 just to see if I could do it under these conditions, and the Double Cluster was still great.
It took a while but I did find M37, after "stumbling" across M36. I don't know how good M37 would be under a dark sky - I hope to find out next week at our club's dark sky site - but it was one of the loveliest, err, I mean kickass things I've seen. I never did find M38, but after nearly breaking my arm patting myself on the back over 37 I went in to celebrate with a cold one.
I guess my point here is that I'll never let the moon keep me inside again. Galaxies might not be in reach but clusters sure are.
BTW - The dark sky site I mentioned is in Harmony, Florida, not far from Diznee (like the Simpsons I don't want to be sued for copyright infringement). A list of observing dates is on our website at http://www.cfas.org/
If you're down on vacation please stop by. You can actually see the Milky Way on a good night, something I didn't think possible in Florida.
Dave
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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The moon almost always keeps me inside except for last night. I looked at M31, 37, and The double Cluster. M31 looked so washed out, I gave up after looking at the rest.
Planets and the moon were the order of the night, so I concentrated most of my time there. And I don't normally view planets. I'm a DSO guy too.
It was so bright out last night, I didn't even bother turning off the outside Christmas lights.
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Jacques
sage
Reged: 08/11/02
Posts: 372
Loc: Belgium
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Well Dave, I'm a deep sky nut too. Believe me, after 2 weeks of cloudy nights (what's in a name?)and I do mean cloudy, I'm not whining bout the timing of mother nature. Clear sky, full moon washes everything out, but hey, at least it's clear. Had some fun on OC's, didn't even bother for galaxies. You just wait for a moonless night for viewing M37. It's one of my absolute favorites and will blow your head off and there's plenty of where that came from, all begging to be observed.
Have fun and lemme know how you liked it.
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Sky-Watcher 102/1000 achromat
Celestron 150/1200 achromat
Orion XT10i (250/1200 dob)
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Blair
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/07/03
Posts: 1163
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M39 in Cygnus still was detectable and its triangular shape still well defined in my 11X70mm Binocs. M29, apparently, isn't popular, but I could detect it as well, but probably because I know where it is as it needs much more power than 11X to give a decent view. Albireo looked very nice at 11X.
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Darren
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/17/03
Posts: 885
Loc: 44N, 79W (Newmarket, Ont., Can...
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Under a near full moon I don't go near DSO's. I just get disappointed in comparison to how they look under moonless nights. But there's still Saturn, and if you wait long enough, Jupiter as well. Nice doubles in winter too, especially Sigma Ori. If the moon's in the first quarter, I still go for the brighter DSO's. M42, even under a half-full moon, is spectacular, as is M35.
And lately, the only time it's been clear is when the moon is at (or near full). I have a theory that the wavelengths of the reflected moonlight disrupts the cloud patterns and drives them away.  So I'll take what I can get.
And Jacques is right about M37. On a moonless night, from a really dark site, it's a beauty. It's pretty small though, so don't be afraid to bump up the power. (90x is pretty good).
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Clear nights ... dark sites,
Darren
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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During those nights, bright planetary nebula can be observed. Of course, it's not the good time to look for faint one but for bright one, we can have good view.
Esquimau (NGC 2392) can be a good target. With high power and a good collimation, it can show many small details.
Also, , sometime bright sky is better to see colors. with large scope IC418 is pinkish (NP in lepus, just under orion).
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Jacques
sage
Reged: 08/11/02
Posts: 372
Loc: Belgium
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That's right Darren. Even with a 4" refractor at 133x or 160x I'm swimming in the countless stars of M37. M35 is a real stunning gem too like you stated. And yes, there are some really interesting winter doubles out there for "moony" nights and brighter panetaries too like Darren states (the blue snowball in Andromeda or the cat's eye in Draco aren't too low around this time, even the blinking planetary in Cygnus still can be catched).
Have fun guys/gals!
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Sky-Watcher 102/1000 achromat
Celestron 150/1200 achromat
Orion XT10i (250/1200 dob)
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Jacques
sage
Reged: 08/11/02
Posts: 372
Loc: Belgium
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Oops "...brighter planetaries too like Darren states" actually is like Diabolo states. Must catch more sleep and do less observing. NOT!!
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Sky-Watcher 102/1000 achromat
Celestron 150/1200 achromat
Orion XT10i (250/1200 dob)
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David A Rodger
sage
Reged: 08/12/03
Posts: 393
Loc: North Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Moonlight is when I go looking for neat doubles and triple stars. I can also estimate variables. Some of the brighter star clusters stand up to moonlight quite well. But I avoid nebulae (both gaseous and planetary) and galaxies until the moon is gone.
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Orion Intelliscope 12
Orion 100mm ED refractor
Tele Vue NP-127 refractor
Celestron CPC 1100 SCT
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Brighter asteroids can also be a suitable target for moonlit nights. From my light-polluted balcony in N.VA I can get asteroids to about 11th mag or so fairly easily in my 4.5-inch. The problem with asteroids is getting a good detailed chart, but some programs now plot them accurately. It helps to pick ones that are passing close to brighter stars (within 10-20 arcminutes or so) so you can find them and detect the movement within about 2 hours.
Asteroids can be really fun and addictive when you get going on them. Great for learning to star hop and for learning the sky in general. But I like hunting for objects, and it maybe more people these days don't want to be bothered with that aspect of observing, which is understandable. To me, though, it's half the fun.
Dave, I used to live in Kissimmee- great area for observing, as you don't have to go far for great skies. I observed regularly at Three Lakes Wildlife Mgt. Area- 30 min. from St. Cloud down Canoe Creek Road (Vermont in St. Cloud). Also Bull Creek, east of Holopaw on 192. I remember one night looking at the Milky Way's billowing clouds from Bull Creek- a really sublime experience looking outward straight into the heart of our galaxy. (No moon that night!) You're in a great place for observing.
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