I've been off CN for a couple of years. Lately I've been reading a couple of threads in the reflector forum.
Interesting topics about mirror baffle, mirror thikness, quality of primary and secondary, tube currents, etc.
No doubt that many of these factors may influence the views, but I'm curious to know what is the best view you ever had through a reflector (of planets or DSO) and which factor you think was responsible for the above average views you got that time (cooled off mirror, quality optics, very good seeing or transparency...)
I'll start:
Jupiter in my 10 inch Dob
Main reason (which I think but could be wrong): Good seeing with steady high altitude air. Planet high in the sky (winter).
Best view of a planet: Jupiter at 456X due to superb seeing conditions So many details a drawing would be impossible plus albedo shadings on Ganymede
Saturn at 1123x due to superb seeing, in which "spokes" shadings were seen on the rings, and the C ring went down almost to the disc of the planet.
Uranus at 493x due to excellent seeing, in which a transitory white stripe was seen by a few of us.
Best view of a galaxy: M51, wherein the dark lane in the bridge was visible, the "D" shaped bright area around the companion and 3 fingers of faint extension and a feathered spiral stucture extending from the main galaxy on the side opposite the companion. Spiral pattern and clumps in the spiral arms all visible. Superb transparency, a very dark night, and good seeing conditions all together.
Best view of a globular cluster: M15 fully resolved to the center into tiny little pinpoints all the way across the field and even as it exited the field. Superb seeing conditions and excellent eyepiece.
NGC104 in which the predominant color of the cluster was yellow due to the high density of red giants. Superb seeing and larger aperture (18")
Best view of a planetary nebula: NGC7009 (Saturn Nebula) with center oval details, outer glow and satellite "pods" visible at 493X. Excellent seeing and transparency.
Best view of faint stars: O/A/B giant stars in NGC206 in M31--superb seeing and darkness
Best view of a star cluster: NGC7789 on a night of superb seeing and transparency
Best view of a nebula: M20 on a night of great darkness and transparency: the blue area completely surrounded the emission part and the center stars in the emission art formed a long "L". Superb seeing, transparency, and darkness
M17>M16 where nebulosity was tracked from one nebula to the other--excellent transparency and darkness
M17 with the nebula completely filling a 42' field and the "swan" only a portion of the visible nebula.--superb transparency, seeing, and darkness.
NGC6888 where the large oval was filled from one end to the other with ropy tendrils and a tendril in the center made the nebula outline look like a Greek theta. Fantastic darkness and transparency.
The Veil nebula wherein the Witches broom handle looked like a tubular-shaped filligree of silver--superb seeing and transparency.
NGC2359 in which 4 extensions from the center bubble could be seen and thin striae of nebula covering the center bubble. Fantastic transparency.
M27 in which ropy "berms" of nebulosity could be seen surrounding the long oval part of the nebula--excellent transparency and seeing, allowing for a high power view.
M76, where the outer ansae joined to make it look like a 2-handled beer stein. Amazing transparency and very high power due to good seeing.
Eta Carinae in which the homunculus in the center appeared gold in color against a rose colored outer nebula (dark skies and 18" aperture)
I could go on and on. Too many things to list.
Factors of importance: Transparency, Seeing, Darkness, collimation of the optics, cooling of the optics. When they're all good----MAGIC!
All views were in the 12.5" except where noted.
Edited by Starman1, 16 August 2018 - 04:06 PM.