I had a great time on Saturday night at the South Jersey Spring Star Party. Attendence was sparse, but it was a good bunch of people, including Paul Rini (of eyepiece fame) who is a nice guy to observe with.
I brougt my AP 160EDF on my AP 900GTO mount - I was the only refractor there. The closest to a refractor was an Oberwork 100mm Binocular. Had a great night of observing with many objects, but I want to mention two views that were highlights.
The first was the bright C fragment of comet Schwassmann-Wachmann - it was pretty close to Zeta Hurcules and easy to find. The head looked a bit squashed which was interesting and the comet was so fast moving across the star field.
The other, to me, amazing view was of the M86 (NGC4406) area of the Virgo cluster. Using the Baader Mk.V Binoviewer, 1.25X glasspath compensator and a pair of 24mm TV Panotics, I and others identified at least 6 galaxies in the field of view with a possible 7th and 8th! I can't positively claim the 7th and 8th because I am not sure I spotted them before checking the positions out on the star chart, but I think I did.
The trio of M86 (4406), M84 (4374) and 4388 was easy and the close pair of 4438 and 4435 framed above them in the field of view. Almost in the exact center of the trio 4387 was visible with averted vision. I think that I could occasionally see 4413 and possibly 4425, but I can't positively claim them - I feel I did but it was close. For my own accounting I will therefore claim 6.5 galxies in a single field of view.
I'm pretty happy about this as the Virgo galaxies are just about completely invisible from my home, no matter what size scope one cares to use.
Philip
I brougt my AP 160EDF on my AP 900GTO mount - I was the only refractor there. The closest to a refractor was an Oberwork 100mm Binocular. Had a great night of observing with many objects, but I want to mention two views that were highlights.
The first was the bright C fragment of comet Schwassmann-Wachmann - it was pretty close to Zeta Hurcules and easy to find. The head looked a bit squashed which was interesting and the comet was so fast moving across the star field.
The other, to me, amazing view was of the M86 (NGC4406) area of the Virgo cluster. Using the Baader Mk.V Binoviewer, 1.25X glasspath compensator and a pair of 24mm TV Panotics, I and others identified at least 6 galaxies in the field of view with a possible 7th and 8th! I can't positively claim the 7th and 8th because I am not sure I spotted them before checking the positions out on the star chart, but I think I did.
The trio of M86 (4406), M84 (4374) and 4388 was easy and the close pair of 4438 and 4435 framed above them in the field of view. Almost in the exact center of the trio 4387 was visible with averted vision. I think that I could occasionally see 4413 and possibly 4425, but I can't positively claim them - I feel I did but it was close. For my own accounting I will therefore claim 6.5 galxies in a single field of view.
I'm pretty happy about this as the Virgo galaxies are just about completely invisible from my home, no matter what size scope one cares to use.
Philip
