nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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Towards the end of my viewing session last night I spent some time trying to locate this object and I didnt find it.
Is this object possible from a red zone and what exactly am I looking for? I'm sure I went right by it without realizing it. I was thinking it would look like a different colored star in my eyepiece at 25mm.
Thanks
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
Hyperion 13mm (With 28mm Tuning Ring)
Orion Sirius 25mm
Meade Series 4000 Plossls 32mm 6.4mm
Orion Shorty Plus 2x Barlow
Telrad
OPT OIII Filter
ND Moon Filter
80a Blue Filter
Smart Seat III
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1248
Loc: Estonia
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Fuzzy star is what you're looking for. It isn't necessarily blue. I can't see much color in it at all. You might be astro-colorblind like me :P
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Achernar
Postmaster
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 5029
Loc: Mobile, Alabama, USA
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I can see it easily from my red zone front yard, when I can find it. It can be a bit of a challenge to find by star hopping, but digital setting circles make the task simple. It's very bright but small, but once you get to the right spot it's peculiar blue color sets it apart from surrounding stars. Use high magnifications for the best view.
Taras
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15-inch F/4.5 Dob under construction
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Jack Tripper
sage
Reged: 05/10/09
Posts: 349
Loc: Canada
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I'm positive you can see it from a red zone. I viewed it last night EASILY from Mag 3.5 Skies (white zone), albeit with an 11" at about 75x. However, it is considered one of the brightest planetaries, and it's so blue! Great object with a great name.
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Celestron CPC 1100 
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Tim L
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/17/08
Posts: 565
Loc: Austin, TX
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Hey Tom,
I get it from my red zone, also. I start at Pegasus, then move to the three stars iota, kappa, and lambda Andromeda (they make a slight curve). From iota, about 1/3 the distance to omicron is the star 13 And. The blue snowball is close by, should be in the same field at low power.
Good hunting!
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Tim
Zhumell Z10 dob
Meade 60mm refractor
Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit
Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2400
Loc: 50N - too far north!
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Quote:
I can see it easily from my red zone front yard, when I can find it. It can be a bit of a challenge to find by star hopping, but digital setting circles make the task simple.
I observed it last month and, using star hopping (with a combination of 8x50 finder and Telrad) I found it an absolute swine to track down. Having eventually found it it was definitely blue to my eyes.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing - NEW website
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JakeSaloranta
sage
Reged: 09/18/08
Posts: 237
Loc: Sisu, Sauna, Sibelius...
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Quote:
Is this object possible from a red zone and what exactly am I looking for? I'm sure I went right by it without realizing it. I was thinking it would look like a different colored star in my eyepiece at 25mm.
I doubt it will show any color from a "red zone". Slightly non-stellar with small magnifications. Make sure you're at the correct position. Here's my "finder chart":
/Jake
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Man in a Tub
Not Retired!, But a little cranky!!!
Reged: 10/28/08
Posts: 2059
Loc: San Francisco, CA
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Late last year, a heart asterism involving the Blue Snowball was reported in this forum by Philipp. When I checked it out, I was surprised that I could easily see NGC 7662. It is indeed one of the brightest PNs. Of course with my binoculars, it is merely a star-like object. The charts submitted in the thread are useful for finding the Blue Snowball. The heart asterism really helps too!
Philipp's Heart Asterism near NGC 7662
Clear skies
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Todd
Brunton Eterna 15x51 ° Garrett Optical Signature Series 15x70
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nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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Hey thanks everyone
Would this be a fairly accurate representation of how she looks with low magnification?
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
Hyperion 13mm (With 28mm Tuning Ring)
Orion Sirius 25mm
Meade Series 4000 Plossls 32mm 6.4mm
Orion Shorty Plus 2x Barlow
Telrad
OPT OIII Filter
ND Moon Filter
80a Blue Filter
Smart Seat III
Edited by nobody special (10/12/09 02:53 PM)
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 620
Loc: Northern Arizona
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It is rather stellar like until you get some magnification on it & depending on aperture being used YMWV . Reviewing my log & using an "A" through "D" scale , I have it as such : AR5 , class "C" at 95x for best view , Although in the SN8 it is rather a class "A" object at 162x , showing nice color & structure with sparkles . It indeed is one of the nicer planetary nebs & an 8" scope should do a great job on it , but you do need to push the magnification .
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
Edited by starrancher (10/12/09 02:58 PM)
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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For the past several years in my 8-inch, I usually pick up the Blue Snowball while scanning around with my 24.5mm SWA at just 49x. It shows up real nice in the field. Its got that teal-ish kind of color to me so Toms picture posted above is pretty close. Its rather small but prety bright. If your not sure what your looking for or haven't seen it before in another 'scope, its fairly easy to pass right over. Pan slow and keep your eye out for that small blue dot.
Clear Skies to All!
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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nobody special
sage
Reged: 12/30/08
Posts: 405
Loc: Connecticut
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Quote:
For the past several years in my 8-inch, I usually pick up the Blue Snowball while scanning around with my 24.5mm SWA at just 49x. It shows up real nice in the field. Its got that teal-ish kind of color to me so Toms picture posted above is pretty close. Its rather small but prety bright. If your not sure what your looking for or haven't seen it before in another 'scope, its fairly easy to pass right over. Pan slow and keep your eye out for that small blue dot.
Clear Skies to All!
Awesome Dain thanks! the battle is knowing what to look for it makes life alot easier once you know the answer.
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Tom
Orion XT8 Classic
Hyperion 13mm (With 28mm Tuning Ring)
Orion Sirius 25mm
Meade Series 4000 Plossls 32mm 6.4mm
Orion Shorty Plus 2x Barlow
Telrad
OPT OIII Filter
ND Moon Filter
80a Blue Filter
Smart Seat III
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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No doubt about that Tom! This is a neat little planetary though. Even though the info I provided above, I would still even recommend this cool little object to any beginner. I think once a beginner gets a decent or near accurate description ( especially if it comes from us! ) of the object, its a bit easier to locate. And of course we have cool little pictures ( like you've posted Tom ) that helps a beginner out quite well.
Clear Skies to All!
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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Feidb
super member
Reged: 10/09/09
Posts: 128
Loc: Nevada
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It's great in a 16". Tiny, but I almost always see blue, even under mediocre skies. If I remember right, it didn't take magnification well, the few times I tried. However, I can't get to my notes to check.
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Present gear:
16" Meade LightBridge
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1 1/4" 18mm Russell Optics Bertele
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1 1/4" X 2" 32mm Edmund Scientific war surplus Erfle
Tirion star atlas (white stars, black background) hand-laminated
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drshr
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/08
Posts: 675
Loc: Darwin, Australia
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Finding it is best done at 50x. Less power makes it look stellar. More power narrows the field.
I showed it to a beginner last night. Placed it bang centre of field. 50x and 150x side by side in a 203mm and 120mm refractors. They still couldn't see it!!
Visual astronomy is definitely an acquired skill.
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Doc
14" F5 DOB.
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 953
Loc: Utah
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Tom,
Went and looked at my notes from the first time I found this and it was in my XT8 using the Pocket Sky Atlas. I've seen each fall since then. My notes say to slow down when I get to the 3 stars that go N. to S. basically and as I turn west go to the next bright star and go straight down.
Can I recommend Tom Trusock's Deep Sky Wonder article on Andromeda from 2004? You can find it on the site here located here. NGC 7662 is about 1/2 down when you scroll and he provides a really good broad and narrow map for it, and a fun guide as well.
One your in the area where NGC 7662 is located observe the field and put in the filter and see if that stands it out more as a ball compared to stars.
BTW, if you like Tom's Small Wonder's guide he has a BUNCH of them and you can find them here at Small Wonders I think it is one of the most overlooked or perhaps I should say least discussed topics for newer members. I enjoy using his guides still, especially when I need a break from my current project. Clear Skies and good luck.
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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
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