· 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 Announcements and News >> Beginners Forum Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Donnie D super member Reged: 03/21/08 Posts: 121 Loc: Madison, Mississippi Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time       #3435298 - 11/07/09 08:25 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Tonight I got my Meade DS2114 set up ahead of time. Got my netbook with Stellarium out. My new book arrived yesterday "Night Watch" and it is really good. Tonight I was able to located some favorites: M25, M22 (fuzzy ball), Cass Dbl Cluster looked great, M8 Lagoon, I could start to see some nebulosity faintly, and finally M11, the Wild Duck. I was just in AWE ! With averted vision I could make out a thick luminous patch, but then, I decided (rarely) to get out the 10mm (if I remember, it is still on scope while I write this) and when I used the higher power of course the background really turned very dark, however upon refocusing which was very tedious "and" cupping my hands over eyepiece to block out as much light, I was just absolutely amazed. It is such a beautiful sight. I am thinking that I was able to so this with such a small (114mm) scope is so amazing. My dark site is my backyard and it rates about "yellow" on the Dark Sky Finder chart. Thank goodness my neighbors did not turn on their back yard flood lights. I can say that I really enjoyed myself. However, I guess I took time to plan my seeing. With the Netbook running stellarium and my new book - it all when hand in hand. Since I am still so very new at this, all of the books and software really help to give me an idea of what to look for and where to find it. The Meade DS2114 sill has a somewhat fair to poor GOTO. But then again, I don't know what to compare it to, since this is the only scope I have ever had any experience with. I have been out every night this week looking !! My time of viewing was from just at sun down until about 7:15pm. thanks for every ones help here. Donnie -------------------- Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 MEADE DS2114 Post Extras:       nirvanix professor emeritus Reged: 06/07/07 Posts: 623 Loc: Saskatoon, SK Re: Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time [Re: Donnie D]       #3435317 - 11/07/09 08:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great for you Donnie! I also use a netbook running Stellarium and Night Watch as my two main sources for targets. They sure make it easy to get around the night sky. M11 is a pretty sight. Some DSOs definitely look better with the power turned up. -------------------- Scopes: 10" dob, 4" apo, 4" achro EPs: SPL 3mm 6mm 9mm, UWAN 16mm, SWAN 33mm Loving-kindness and clear skies to all. Edited by nirvanix (11/07/09 08:39 PM) Post Extras:       Tim L professor emeritus Reged: 12/17/08 Posts: 563 Loc: Austin, TX Re: Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time [Re: nirvanix]       #3435334 - 11/07/09 08:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Awesome, Donnie! Sounds like a good night. The fun thing about astronomy is there are always new targets right over the horizon! -------------------- Tim Zhumell Z10 dob Meade 60mm refractor Zhumell 1.25" eyepiece and filter kit Zhumell sky-glow, UHC, and OIII filters Post Extras:       earthbot1 super member Reged: 08/27/09 Posts: 173 Loc: Central Virginia Re: Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time [Re: Tim L]       #3435365 - 11/07/09 09:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Sounds like a great night! -------------------- Nexstar 8 Meade/Celestron EPs Bushnell 90mm Mak-Cass Post Extras:       Donnie D super member Reged: 03/21/08 Posts: 121 Loc: Madison, Mississippi Re: Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time [Re: earthbot1]       #3435425 - 11/07/09 09:49 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I can say that is has taken a considerable amount of work and dedication to research and find objects. Things don't just pop out at you for DSO's. The first two weeks with this thing (DS2114) was a challenge (and it still is), but it is all about learning and developing new skills. I am saying this to any newcomer out there. Just keep working at it even if you learn and see only one object per week, then before you know it, you will have a library of things to enjoy. By the way, my friend Martin has not shown up this weekend. I hate that he is missing all of this. He bought the scope and pretty much just left it with me. Donnie thanks again for all the support here. I hope that I will be able to learn enough to be able to help some folks here, but I am still at it. -------------------- Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 MEADE DS2114 Post Extras:       shams42 sage Reged: 01/05/09 Posts: 216 Loc: Pittsboro, NC Re: Found M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) first time [Re: Donnie D]       #3435434 - 11/07/09 09:52 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Congratulations! M11 may be my favorite object. It's so beautiful. -------------------- 10" Deep Space Observer dob 6" C6 SCT LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm Nagler 13mm T6 Panoptic 24mm Canon 12x36 IS binoculars Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 10 registered and 6 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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