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Deep Sky Solar System (Part I)?

Started by ronbee, 12/12/2003 06:27AM
Posted 12/12/2003 06:27AM Opening Post
At first glance, the title seems contradictory ;-). Here's some background. I've been having lots of fun from my previous home backyard country sky observing many DSOs with passion. I was addicted to DSOs. It was great to not have to astro-commute (though dark skies when I get further out is pure heavenly). After moving back to the city and trying a few DSOs (both with my 4-inch TV-102 Light Cup and my 8-inch Newt), it was well, disappointing. Objects that used to look great, now look sort of bland, except for M42 ;-). The only other choices are: double stars/variables or astro-commuting. So while bruting over my new predicament and feeling sorely dejected, fate brought me to a whole new rejuvenation. Indeed, over two years ago when I was looking for a telescopes, the general advice was that there are only a handful of solar systems objects to watch and tons of DSOs, especially when the planets aren't in sight.

I've just finished my new Moon book and have read several planetary observing books. While confiding what I've read with my Light Cup, here's what transpired.

Light Cup: "Well have I got a new gospel for you! Ready?"
Ron: "Go on, I'm half listening".
Light Cup: "There are 'deep sky objects' to be found right in the solar systems!"
Ron: "Yeah right [eyeball rolling]! You've got to do better than this."
Light Cup: "Let's examine the characteristics of visual DSOs:
- static (except for occasional supernova), nothing ever changed.
- faint and fuzzies
- what goes around comes around again every year ;-).
True new galaxies and other things are being discovered."
Ron: "True"

...continue to Part II
Posted 12/12/2003 06:30AM #1
... continued from Part I...

Light Cup: "Now let's examine the solar systems and we can see some similarities:
o static (Moon is pretty much dead)
o faint and fuzzies (those tiny rilles, jovian white ovals can be faint and fuzzies :-()
o the Moon and planets certainly comes around every year.
o planetary nebula w/w central star - lunar crater with central peaks o planetary nebula, central star not seen - various planets and lunar crater without central peaks
o irregularly shape nebula - lunar mares, basins, faint comets without tail, sunspots
galaxies - oval, round lunar craters (haven't found needle shape object to match yet :-(), faint comets without tail, some sun spots look just like a galaxy if you reverse black/white your sketch or photo.
o open clusters - jovian/saturian moons in closed varying formation, lunar secondary craters
o supernova - brightening core of the comet ;-), flashes on Mars, comet crashing into Jupiter"
Ron: "Gotcha. There ain't no constellation in the solar systems!"
Light Cup: "Well there's the various lunar basins ;-)."
Ron: "Wait justa dog'on minute! You're twisting everything!"
Light Cup: "Go sleep on it ;-)".

In the night, a revelation came to me: the solar systems is not consisted of only a handful of objects as I was told but thousands of objects. How? Each features on the Moon is an object, each features on the planets is an object, each sun spots/prominence on the Sun is an object. The Light Cup just gave me a different but refreshing pair of eyes to see distinctly.

So is this indeed a new revelation ;-) or just some deeply perverted misguided dream during my sleepless night :-(?

Ron B[ee]
PS - This does not mean we should not try to continue to watch DSOs, double stars and variable stars, no way no how ;-).