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The Bug Nebula: NGC 6302

Started by Rod Kaufman, 07/18/2015 04:06AM
Posted 07/18/2015 04:06AM Opening Post
Big and bright, it reminds me of a termite. The Bug nebula, now crawling at the bottom of Scorpio...
After spending two nights during the new moon week in July at the LAAS site in Lockwood valley, I observed some interesting objects. With SQM readings varying from 21.15 to 21.40 and seeing rated at 3-4/5 and transparency 4-5/5, the summer sky was good enough to offer some fine views of deep sky splendors.
While bottom fishing in Scorpio, don't forget to check-out another fine planetary nebula, NGC 6337, 40" in diameter and appearing pale blue in the eyepiece, it appears brighter than its listed 12.3 magnitude. Pop in an 0111 filter to discern NGC 6357, a large emission nebula embedded in an open cluster. Leave the 0111 filter in place and observe NGC 6334, a large and complex emission nebula with four large components. I used a 31mm ES 2" 82 AFOV eyepiece with my 16" f4.5 dob to see it. With the 0111 filter still in place, IC 4628 arcs across the field, reminding a bit of the cap of Thor's Helmet.
While observing in Ophiuchus, don't forget to observe NGC 6369, the little ghost nebula, reminiscent of the ring nebula in Lyra. A notable galaxy in the same constellation is NGC 6384, appearing big and bright in my scope.
Suffice it to say that I hit just about any globular cluster visible from my latitude along with planetaries in Cygnus and Aquila. I started the evening with views of galaxies in CV until the other constellations rode a bit higher in the summer skies.
Wishing you clear, dark and steady summer skies...
Posted 07/20/2015 03:19PM #1
Thanks for the report and suggestions! :-) I have an OIII filter but haven't tried it out yet. Maybe I can pick something up on the C8? My 10" is still at the coater.

~ Charlie Stevenson

8" f/5.7 String Telescope - 1st Scope Build; 2nd Place Stellafane 2016 Optical Award for Newtonians 12.5" and Smaller
10" f/4.5 Newtonian (June 2015) mirror refigured by Optic Wave Labs P-V WaveFront 1/14.24, Strehl Ratio 0.993 (Aug '15)
Criterion RV-6 seems to be circa 1973 (June 2015) [For Sale]
Celestron C8-A XLT (January 2015) [For Sale]
Celestron PowerSeeker 70AZ (Christmas 2014)
Aldrich Astronomical Society member since 2015
http://astro.charleskelleystevenson.com/
Posted 07/20/2015 09:48PM #2
Great descriptions, Rod, That same night I trekked over to my big dobsonian and looked at the usual suspects and always at least one obscure one that I never visited before. Globulars M9, 12, 10, 14, 13, 92 all spectacular or course. Omega (Swan M17) glorious with the NPB filter. NGC6888 Crescent filled the field and showed same structure same as the picture in Burnham’s p796. M27 great using the NPB - that filter is unusually pleasing in that he intentionally allows just enough white leakage to have the stars look good without getting snuffed too badly. Great balance between enhancing the nebl yet seeing the stars too. Veil 6992, 6960 absolutely spectacular and glorious twisted filaments all over. Central star in Ring (no filter) very easy (it IS a huge Dob). My "new" object was NGC 6567, a bright but very small planetary in Sagg "Nice!, Small, dead-reckoning essential to have found it though." Tom Dey

29-inch Dob in a dome
36-inch upgrade soon
LUNT 80/80 solar scope
FLI 6803 cam
APM 100mm APO Binos
JMI RB-16 Night Vision Binos
Zeiss 20x60 IS binos