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molniyabeer
Confused and Asleep
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2554
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Last night we had one of our better nights up on Figueroa Mountain, CA. The sky was clear, pretty transparent, temps were warm and winds were calm. After some eye candy for friends early on and bagging a few more of the Herschel 400, I realized it had reached 3:00 in the morning and Orion was rising. On a whim, I decided to try for the Horsehead Nebula. Orion was still pretty low, and there is a hint of sky glow in that direction so I wasn't confident I'd find anything. But... with an H-beta on my 24 Hyperion in my 16" LightBridge I caught the sucker! It was most easily seen with averted vision and a light tap on the tube. Two of three others with me were able to see it as well, so either we all convinced ourselves based on desire or we actually did see it.
After the Horsehead, I swung over slightly to the Flame. A friend had said that the Flame did well with an H-beta filter as well. However, I found it brighter and more contrasty without. The main dark lane was clearly framed by three patches of light.
To cross check my earlier observation, I went back to the Horse without the H-beta and could not see anything there.
So, a great night capped off by a "notch in the belt" object. These are the kinds of nights that keep me dreaming of the next new moon.
Clear skies.
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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rathbaster
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/21/08
Posts: 540
Loc: East Bridgewater, MA
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Congratulations!
-Joe
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Bridgewater State College Observatory
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2637
Loc: Arizona, USA
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It is fascinating that an object that photographs so easy is so difficult to see. That you needed to wait for a great night and use a speciallized filter to get it is a testament to it's difficulty. Not to mention that it is a bit "underwhelming" once you see it.
But, contradulations on a great find;
Steve Coe
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TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8275
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
Last night we had one of our better nights up on Figueroa Mountain, CA. The sky was clear, pretty transparent, temps were warm and winds were calm. After some eye candy for friends early on and bagging a few more of the Herschel 400, I realized it had reached 3:00 in the morning and Orion was rising. On a whim, I decided to try for the Horsehead Nebula. Orion was still pretty low, and there is a hint of sky glow in that direction so I wasn't confident I'd find anything. But... with an H-beta on my 24 Hyperion in my 16" LightBridge I caught the sucker! It was most easily seen with averted vision and a light tap on the tube. Two of three others with me were able to see it as well, so either we all convinced ourselves based on desire or we actually did see it.
After the Horsehead, I swung over slightly to the Flame. A friend had said that the Flame did well with an H-beta filter as well. However, I found it brighter and more contrasty without. The main dark lane was clearly framed by three patches of light.
To cross check my earlier observation, I went back to the Horse without the H-beta and could not see anything there.
So, a great night capped off by a "notch in the belt" object. These are the kinds of nights that keep me dreaming of the next new moon.
Clear skies.
The "Flame" nebula (NGC 2024) is a mix of emission and a little reflection nebulosity. As such, it tends to be better in either a narrow-band nebula filter or a broad-band one. The OIII provides a little contrast gain, but hurts the brightness, while the H-Beta provides even a dimmer view. 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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molniyabeer
Confused and Asleep
Reged: 01/08/05
Posts: 2554
Loc: Central Coast, California
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Thanks, guys. Steve, you are right in that it has nowhere near the visual oomph of say, M42, but the satisfaction of finding a difficult object definitely makes it worth the hunt.
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Steve
16" Meade LightBridge (Beowulf)
10" Hardin DSH, StarMax 127mm Mak, PST H-a
Oberwerk 11 x 70 binocs, Tasco 10 x 50 binocs
Santa Maria Clear Sky Clock
Figueroa Mt Clear Sky Clock
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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2101
Loc: Arizona
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I love looking at the Horse Head! Great job on your find!
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 629
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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That "Flame" (NGC 2024); isn't that the same as the "Tank Trap" nebula? And if so, what the heck is a tank trap?
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Achernar
Postmaster
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 5024
Loc: Mobile, Alabama, USA
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NGC-2024 has also been known as the tank trucks nebula. As for tank traps, these are obstacles that are set in the expected paths enemy tanks are expected to come. The tanks will either be channeled into anti-tank mine fields, or within range of troops with anti-tank missiles or even tanks of their own. Or the tanks get stuck in them, which makes them a sitting duck for an artillery or aerial attack, against which a tank's armor offers absolutely no protection, especially the roof. Tanks get stuck often, which is one reason why wheeled fighting vehicles are making a comeback. They are less apt to get stuck and can go faster too. If you recall those steel structures set in the beaches of Normandy during D-Day, those were tank traps.
Taras
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15-inch F/4.5 Dob under construction
10-inch F/4.5 Discovery Dob
6-inch F/8 Homebuilt Dob
4 1/4-inch F/4 Homebuilt reflector
A whole bunch of eyepieces, filters and other accessories....
Two curious cats
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 629
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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Thank you for that info. I kept trying to visualize some type of "trap" inside the water "tank" of a toilet!
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wfj
sage
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 259
Loc: California, Santa Cruz County
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Looking at the Flame / "tank trap" / "tank tracks" / <your name here> nebula is a good indication of dark enough skies to find the Horsehead in. But not a clincher, especially if is low in the sky
Last Saturday night in dark sky (Mercy Hot Springs, near D.A.R.C.) I had a fine view with a 12.5 f/4.8 with a 18mm, but looking for the Horsehead by adding an Ultrablock only got me the notch, even with AV no chess piece. Not enough contrast.
With California's San Joaquin Valley, schmaltz accumulates at times, near the horizon. Perhaps in a few months ...
Oh yeah, and why imagers get it easier is because you can expand the contrast easier - if you compare contrast ranges you can see this right off.
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NGC007
super member
Reged: 06/02/05
Posts: 109
Loc: England
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Must get me one of those H-Beta thingymajigs!
Clem
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CPC 1100.
Ethos 17
Earthwin Power/Filter Slide
Giant Moonlite Focuser
Canon 10 x 42L image stabilised binoculars
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