Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Last night was a good observation session in regards to planetary nebulae and my first time "seeing" them.
After the moon set at around 12:30am the conditions were as fallows from my backyard in a red light pollution zone:
Transperancy 8/10
Seeing 7/10
cloud cover was 100% clear
Last night I dedicated myself to find observe as many planetary nebulae as i can find. So, that was the first time i've seen the objects.
Objects observed:
NGC 6543 (cat's Eye nebula) in Draco
M57 (the ring nebula)
M27 (the dumbell nebula)
The satrun nebula
The blinking planetary in Cgynus
the Blue snowball
and an oval shaped nebula in aquila, cant remember the NGC designation.
Not too many objects, but i still had a lot of fun finding and observing them especially since it was my first time seeing them .  
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
Edited by Alpha Orionis (07/31/09 08:15 PM)
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HellsKitchen
sage
Reged: 09/05/08
Posts: 356
Loc: Melbourne Australia
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Planetary nebulae are fun aren't they?
Well done finding those on your fist time
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S 38º 00' E 145º20'
Custom 12" F/4.6 dob
10" GSO dob
Intes M500 Mak
4.5" Meade Newtonian
Set of Vixen LVWs + TV barlows + powermates
Astronomik 0III, UHC, H-beta filters
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Bill Weir
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/01/04
Posts: 1297
Loc: Metchosin (Victoria), Canada
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You saw IC 5146, the Cocoon Nebula from a heavily light polluted area? That's interesting. It's usually only found on challenge lists. What filter were you using?
Bill
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6'' Orion SkyQuest
12.5'' f/5 Custom Truss Dob
William Optics 80mm ZenithStar ED II
f/5 25" newtonian on a giant GEM, any time I want
Observing sessions grand total for 2008, 121.
So far in 2009, 92
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Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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no, i dont think i saw the cacoon. it was some kind of nebula in the general location though, but after looking at the stellarium i think i saw one of the ngc nebulae around there.....i do think i saw a star cluster or something where the cacoon might of been.......maybe i saw ngc 7008?????
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
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peter k
super member
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 172
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Cocoon is very unlikely from a red zone. Open cluster NGC7209 is about a degree away, and can be mistaken for the Cocoon under light polluted skies, or from darker skies with too little magnification or aperture.
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ensign
member
Reged: 12/16/08
Posts: 39
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An observing buddy (with lots of observing experience) says that he can't stand planetary nebulae. To quote him "They're like galaxies - except without the reward."
I think he's talking about the difficulty of picking out smaller planetaries from a star field - everything looks like a star.
I've tried "blinking" a filter (both UHC and OIII) between my eye and the eyepiece to see what remains in view but find this process frustrating since I wear eyeglasses and need every millimeter of eye relief that I can get.
Walter Scott Houston in "Deep Sky Wonders" talks about a trick for finding planetaries using a visual spectroscope. If you use one of these at the eyepiece, apparently stars will show a continuous spectrum where planetaries won't. So I have a Rainbow Optics visual spectroscope on order. I'm hoping to see lots more planetaries once I have a "planetary finder" in my eyepiece case.
Does anyone have experience using a visual spectroscope to find planetaries?
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- Mike
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Modified 10" Sky-Watcher Dob
William Optics Megrez 110/EZTouch
Nagler Type 4 - 12,17,22
Pentax XW - 10,7
William Optics UWAN 28
Siebert Observatory class 40
Other assorted items too numerous to mention
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 942
Loc: Utah
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Congrats Alpha Orionis! Some wonderful objects you've seen there.
I haven't seen IC 5146 but I haven't tried and the skies out where I live are a little bit better than SLC (orange to yellow border). Seen the rest of them both in the backyard and at dark sites. I would recommend NGC 7027 in Cygnus and NGC 6445 in Sagittarius, NGC 6818 Little Gem, NGC 6309 in Ophiuchus, NGC 6572 also in Ophiuchus and . . .
Well, forget it. Here is a link to the Best PN's by Season I love observing PN's and when I can sneak out details I find that very thrilling. Hope it helps.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Maine
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Yup, when galaxies get scarce PN's can fill in the hours.
Mike, after you use that spectroscope for a few sessions how about a minireview on the ep forum. I'm very interested in that.
Jim
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Vixen 140 refractor
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8275
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
An observing buddy (with lots of observing experience) says that he can't stand planetary nebulae. To quote him "They're like galaxies - except without the reward."
I think he's talking about the difficulty of picking out smaller planetaries from a star field - everything looks like a star.
I've tried "blinking" a filter (both UHC and OIII) between my eye and the eyepiece to see what remains in view but find this process frustrating since I wear eyeglasses and need every millimeter of eye relief that I can get.
Walter Scott Houston in "Deep Sky Wonders" talks about a trick for finding planetaries using a visual spectroscope. If you use one of these at the eyepiece, apparently stars will show a continuous spectrum where planetaries won't. So I have a Rainbow Optics visual spectroscope on order. I'm hoping to see lots more planetaries once I have a "planetary finder" in my eyepiece case.
Does anyone have experience using a visual spectroscope to find planetaries?
Too bad about your friend (I LOVE planetary nebulae). I have used the spectroscope, but quite frankly, an OIII filter works better. The Rainbow Optics spectroscope did allow me to see the OIII "image" of the Ring nebula in a 12 inch Portaball while the other stars were streaks, but the light efficiency is so low that for fainter objects, it was tough to do this. I usually take my glasses off when doing the filter "blinking" technique for locating planetaries, and by inserting my Lumicon Multi-filter selector, I can do blinking without worries. Planetaries (especially the bright ones) often show interesting interior detail at very high power, which is more than many galaxies do. Many also show a nice bluish-green color (a couple even show *red* (IC 418 and Campbell's Hydrogen Star), so there is that. I also tend to use rather high power on many of the small planetaries (400x to as high as 720x), and when the seeing cooperates, some interesting structure is sometime seen. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
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Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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really? i enjoy both galaxies and planetary nebulae. the first time i saw m51,m81 and m82 under a yellow light pollution zone (SPOC) (waay better than my red) I was amazed!
the one thing that i never observed (after the initial "checkup") is the moon. i just dont find it in me to be fascinated by the moon's craters, idk....i prefer galaxies, planets, all kinds of nebulae. Also, i dont know why people fuss so much over double stars, i consider them "boring"....but to each their own  and besides, i've only been in this hobby a few months now....so things change
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
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Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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ok so i went out again tonight.
added to the list are:
ngc 7008 (the fetus nebula) kinda faint, had to use averted vision to make out the "ear" shape.
NGC 7027 fairly bright, but small...an easy starhop from deneb
and added a galaxy: NGC 7331 in pegasus. a bright galaxy, far more impressive than NGC 891, which i didnt even "see"
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 629
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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In the July issue of Sky & Telescope Sue French discribes the planetary NGC 6765 in Lyra. I had a difficult time seeing this object with my 10" SCT (at a very dark obverving site); best view was with an OIII filter. Object is elongated and very dim. I never noticed a "bar" crossing the object. Any else view this planetary?
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lymorkiew45
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 735
Loc: In the dark, and way out there...
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Yes I ahve seen NGC 6765 many times, and it was from the SF bay area. It is quite faint, but easily visible through my 12" scope. It looks like a small faint face on elongated galaxy, with a somewhat brighter center, with a faint star touching it's edge, at magnitude 12.9, and 35 arcseconds, that is quite an accomplishment, as very few people have seen this object, or even know it exists...clear skies... 
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Jorgen
Starfinder 16 dob: Zambuto Optics! 
DS-10
Orion XT12i: The optics are special! 
Z12
All the Lanthanum superwides!
Orion ultrablock filter
9mm Nagler type 6
15mm, 25mm, 35mm Ultrascopics
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
Orion Lazer Collimator
40" Webster: Under Construction 
http://cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html?1
20 years in Southern Dragon Kung Fu, or dragon style embellished in magical arms.
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1532
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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Wow! That is pretty dang good for one night in a red zone! Were you star hopping to them? I really like planetary nebula and am very much wanting to search more out and scrutinize them. Now if the bugs, clouds, and mosquitoes will ever go away I can get to it!
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 629
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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Jorgen--at what power with your 12" were you able to really "see" NGC 6765 & did you use a filter? I had to push my 10" past 300x before any real detail came into view.
Ron
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Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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i cant seem to find ngc 6765......
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8275
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
i cant seem to find ngc 6765......
It isn't too far from the globular M56, although there aren't too many good guide stars to it. There are two widely-spaced 6th magnitude stars to its northeast, and I like to make a nearly right triangle with them and NGC 6765 to find it. In my Nexstar 9.25 inch SCT, my description of it reads:
Very very faint, marginally visible in NPB filter. Myabe 30" arc across, oval N-S. 297x is limit on power, shows elongation N-S, no central star seen. 168x shows just a patch with uncertain shape (bar-like?).
Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
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Alpha Orionis
super member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 101
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah
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yea, i was star hopping using stellarium. first centering a bright "visable" star using my rigel finder, then using the 8x50 finder scope to identify the starfield and zero in on the location. granted, these were pretty bright and easy to find nebulae, i still had a little trouble with ngc7008. it wasnt like any of the others, which were bright and small, it was faint and larger, but i could still make out the "earlobe" structure using averted vision. the others were great direct vision objects, especially the bluesnowball.
*sigh* my skies are bright, and getting brighter thanks to new developments being built to the south and SW, and a new shopping thingy to the north. i remember when we moved here 5 years ago, the sky was much much darker than it is now, but i was a foolish 15year old kid and had no interest in astronomy then. and now that i have good equipment, the skies turn against me. dang fastest growing city in utah *end rant*
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Astronomical Observation Equipment:
Zhumell Z12 Deluxe
Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ
10x50 Bushnell Binos
A good Pair of eyes
Home Observation site:
Salt Lake City
Edited by Alpha Orionis (08/06/09 03:50 PM)
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lymorkiew45
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 735
Loc: In the dark, and way out there...
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I was using 300X on my 12", and it appeared quite faint even in this aperture. It is quite small, and elongated in a N-S orientation, with a somewhat brighter center, but not much. I reackon from darker skies, it will show more detail, but this object is unknown to many observers, and requires you to know exactly where to look for it, it is quite a challenge from the city, but I have seen it...clear skies...
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Jorgen
Starfinder 16 dob: Zambuto Optics!
DS-10
Orion XT12i: The optics are special!
Z12
All the Lanthanum superwides!
Orion ultrablock filter
9mm Nagler type 6
15mm, 25mm, 35mm Ultrascopics
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
Orion Lazer Collimator
40" Webster: Under Construction
http://cleardarksky.com/c/SanJoseCAkey.html?1
20 years in Southern Dragon Kung Fu, or dragon style embellished in magical arms.
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BillFerris
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/17/04
Posts: 2909
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Here's an observation with my old 10 inch: NGC 6765. At high magnification (2mm exit pupil), an OIII filter revealed more nebulosity at the southwest end of the object. Dark, transparent skies are a must.
Bill in Flag
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Grand Canyon Adventure
Lowering the Threshold
18" Obsession
4.5" Meade 4500
10x50 Swift Audubon
Cosmic Voyage
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