Telescope Reviews: M101 & M51

I got home after 10pm last night from a business dinner. When I stepped out of the car into the driveway, I was struck by how transparent the sky was. Looked like one of those clear August nights. I spent a few minutes just gazing up and noticed how easy it was to pick out the stars around the end of the big dipper handle. I checked several on the charts and Naked Eye mag was between 5 and 5.5. This was placed almost at zenith.

So, after finally getting home from work and checking in and making sure the kids were all set, I got relaxed and decided to go out for a bit. Front yard stuff here, so no hope of seeing any comets. I have to look up at 45-50° just to see over the trees.

I mounted a pair of 25x100s and a pair of 22x100s. I spent about 30min just observing the area around the end of the big dipper handle. Alcor/Mizar was nice and Mizar B came in real easy. Iota (13") and Kappa (38") Bootes, both like Mizar with a faint B star, also came in real easy.

I followed the string of stars from Mizar over to M101 and BAM, it was right there. No questioning if I was seeing it, it stood right out. That happens only rarely, although I think the 100mm apertures helped a lot.

M51 was real easy also. Both components of this double galaxy stood right out. Each was a faint shape and the main part had a definite core.

Pretty nice for just a brief period. Bagged elusive M101. Nice night.

edz

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