Astromart

December 14, 2007 07:23 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

NGC1275

Ah, Inge, I would love to have been around! All I can see here is clouds (but I'm heading South tomorrow). I have seen 1275 in ST80, it was not spectacular, except that it's quarter of a billion light years away.

Dmitri

December 25, 2007 12:07 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

(OT) Dmitri's visit to South Florida

Posted By Dmitri Kulginov

Ivan got ahead of me with this, I'd like to thank him for this wonderful experience!

Mars showed an immense amount of detail, only the best photos can compete. Also, it was turned to us with its most dramatic side, Syrtis Major being in the middle. The seeing was incredible, Floridans are so lucky (maybe that's why they have mosquitos and alligators). Blue filter also showed some clouds at the terminator.

I'm still not sure about splitting Sirius, but three of us saw an ever so tiny star eight o'clock from Sirius (mirrored, 22:30 local time), with the separation somewhat larger than Rigel's, I'll double check this when I get home.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all fellow astronomers!
Dmitri

December 30, 2007 11:54 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

(OT) Dmitri's visit to South Florida

Posted By Dmitri Kulginov

I'm back to Sweden, and it is clear tonight, after a month of continuous rain (I'm told). When we came back from a ballet performance, I set up my 10cm refractor and spent half an hour looking at Mars. The seeing was mediocre, the best magnification was 160x with my new 5mm Nagler. I could see only an irregular grey/bluish belt in the South (Daedalia/Solis), North polar cap with a dark lining, and moderately bright clouds at the terminator. That was it - big difference from Florida! Setup took half an hour in the cold, I was freezing during the session, the eyepiece dewed and eventually froze. . . But the sky was crisp and dark, M42 looked great at high power. In the end I looked at 17P/Holmes in 10x and 15x binoculars. The 15x70 bino also easily showed NGC 1907 near M38.

Dmitri

January 7, 2008 05:46 PM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

Elusive features in diffuse nebulae

Posted By Dmitri Kulginov

Tarantula nebula is just totally incredible at 500x!!! Rather unimpressive at medium power - like a tight knot that loosens up at high magnification.

Dmitri

February 12, 2008 09:24 AM Forum: Deep Sky Observing

A neglected jewel in Orion

Posted By Dmitri Kulginov

Inge,

That must be Eta Geminorum (which is a wonderful, rather difficult double star). I have seen 2174 in 80mm, it must be a good binocular object.

Dmitri

February 21, 2008 06:33 AM Forum: CCD Imaging and Processing/Solar System