I was out last Saturday with my relatively new 5" achromatic refractor (achro), an Explore Scientific AR127. I took advantage of the moon rising late to observe and draw some deep sky objects. One of them was M35. I also went looking for nearby NGC 2158. I couldn't quite see it at 26X (Celestron Ultima 31mm) or 103X (Baader Hyperion 8mm). So noting that this complex was in nearly the best position it could be (close to zenith) and really wanting to see if I could see NGC2158, I went for 206X (inserting a TV barlows lens). Much to my surprise, it worked. I was able to see a grainy haze with individual stars winking in and out. I also tried this on Cluster NGC 2420 and found that the view was better at 206X than 103X. Ditto with NGC 2392 (the Eskimo Nebula).
I've had this experience before with M11 the Wild Duck Cluster. The question I have for y'all is this: From way back in the late 60s reading Edmund catalogs, I had always thought that deep sky objects (DSOs) should be viewed at low to mid power. Yet for a few of them, it appears that high power seems to work even to the point of making them "brighter." Is this correct, or should I stick to low or medium power for some DSOs.
Thanks for your response....
Mark Costello
Matthews, NC
I've had this experience before with M11 the Wild Duck Cluster. The question I have for y'all is this: From way back in the late 60s reading Edmund catalogs, I had always thought that deep sky objects (DSOs) should be viewed at low to mid power. Yet for a few of them, it appears that high power seems to work even to the point of making them "brighter." Is this correct, or should I stick to low or medium power for some DSOs.
Thanks for your response....
Mark Costello
Matthews, NC
Mark Costello
Matthews, NC, USA
"I hear you're mechanically inclined. Did you ever do anything with perpetual motion?"
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