Thomas, Inge,
Thanks for very inspiring reports!
As a matter of fact, I was also out to my dark place on March 20/21. I observed with my C8 with F6.3 reducer. GOTO let me to look at some 30 galaxies (plus the Ghost of Jupiter) and also spend some, sometimes considerable, time with each of them. To the question of seeing details in galaxies with 8 inches: For the first time, I saw the spiral structure in M51 - an awesome sight! (Took me perhaps 25 minutes to soak in all the details.)
The second amazing observation was of NGC 2403, a galaxy in Camelopardalis. I looked at it for a rather long time trying to understand what I saw. The effect was at the limit of my vision, and in the end I logged: There seem to be curved dark lines [ in the fabric of the galaxy ] between the two stars [ a couple of 10m stars in the foreground ]. I was hugely surprised when I saw tightly wound dark lanes on the photo of this galaxy in NSOG!
I finished the session with panning slowly along the Markarian chain - a totally mind-blowing sight! One of the strongest experiences a man can get.
Dmitri
Thanks for very inspiring reports!
As a matter of fact, I was also out to my dark place on March 20/21. I observed with my C8 with F6.3 reducer. GOTO let me to look at some 30 galaxies (plus the Ghost of Jupiter) and also spend some, sometimes considerable, time with each of them. To the question of seeing details in galaxies with 8 inches: For the first time, I saw the spiral structure in M51 - an awesome sight! (Took me perhaps 25 minutes to soak in all the details.)
The second amazing observation was of NGC 2403, a galaxy in Camelopardalis. I looked at it for a rather long time trying to understand what I saw. The effect was at the limit of my vision, and in the end I logged: There seem to be curved dark lines [ in the fabric of the galaxy ] between the two stars [ a couple of 10m stars in the foreground ]. I was hugely surprised when I saw tightly wound dark lanes on the photo of this galaxy in NSOG!
I finished the session with panning slowly along the Markarian chain - a totally mind-blowing sight! One of the strongest experiences a man can get.
Dmitri
