Herschel Question

Hi all, I am getting ready to start my Herschel observing list from the AL. At current my largest scope is a Skywatcher 120 Achromatic refractor but I am thinking of upgrading to a C8. Unfortunately due to budget constraints it'll have to be a used scope. My question is, would a C8 be sufficient to complete the Herschel? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Clear, dark, steady, skies to you,

David

David,

Big question is do you have or can reasonably get to dark skies?

David Simons

I don't know if a C-8 in your suburban skies will be enough. Its more a matter of the darkness (or lack threreof) of your skies than your aperture. I know a fellow in our local club that did 800 Herschel objects on a Ceravolo 145mm Mak-Newt. He was observing from our club's observatory with skies that are from 5.8 - 6.3. (75% >6.0).

Gary Weber

David, according to the AL's write-up (http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/herschel/hers400.html) all objects are visible in a 6 inch or larger scope, under mildly light-polluted skies (NELM 5.5 at zenith). However, I just finished the list, using a 13 inch scope under similar skies. I think that some of the objects will present a challenge in a 8 inch unless you observe under quite dark skies.

IMO what is equally important is to have really good charts. Either use Uranometria 2000 or Millennium Star Atlas, or print up detailed charts from some software package like The Sky or something similar. In some fields you will need the detail to positively identify your target. Sky Atlas 2000 is definitely not sufficient.

Good luck!
Doug

A few of them will be tough unless you have a very good VLM. I was unable to log NGC 6118, perhaps the most difficult object on the list, through 17 and 20 inch classical Cassegrains at sites with VLMs of a bit better than 5 and 5.5 but finally bagged it with Phil Harrington's 8" Criterion Dynascope at Stellafane.

The legendary observer Jay Reynolds Freeman observed the entire H400 with a 55mm fluorite refractor some years ago.

Dave Mitsky