After a suggestion last week, I tried the California nebula with my ST80 and a Meade narrowband filter. And it was there! I had to try a couple of different nights to get things clear enough. As it was, it didn't seem as dark as it sometimes gets here (~5.5 instead of 6+). I used a 32mm Sirius Plossl for 12.5x and could only see it by slowly sweeping the scope across where it was supposed to be. I tried the same eyepiece in a 6" f5 scope and got the same small contrast variation in background brightness when sweeping across the field. That nebula is big. I certainly wouldn't pick it up without knowing to look at it. I'm glad it turned out that I didn't need the H-beta filter after all. Thanks for the suggestion Darian.
Charlie
P.S. My wife really thinks I'm nuts when I get up at 3:30 like that.
Charlie
P.S. My wife really thinks I'm nuts when I get up at 3:30 like that.
Fort Lewis Observatory: (37.238, -108.052) ~2360m (7744 ft.) elevation.
Darkness - typically 6.5+
Scope - Meade 16" LX200; f6.3 focal reducer
Focus - JMI Smart focus
Camera - SBIG ST-10XE; (~.5"/pixel)
Guiding - AO-8 and/or Meade 5"/DSI/PHD
http://www.fortlewis.edu/observatory
