M81 & M82, Bode's Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy

Description from Starry Night Pro:

M81 and M82 are perhaps the most famous pair of galaxies in the sky and both can be seen in the same low magnification field of view. Both are spiral galaxies but M81 is nearly face on, while M82 is edge on. The contrast offered by these two galaxies is one of the visual delights of the night sky. M81 and M82 are separated by only 150 000 light years. Tens of millions of years ago, the larger (and ten times as massive) M81 passed close by its smaller neighbour, inducing a round of starburst formation in M82. It also led to the birth of over 100 globular clusters, and disrupted the appearance of M82, so much that it is sometimes classed as an irregular galaxy instead of a spiral galaxy. While quite faint in visible light, M82 is the brightest galaxy in the sky in the infrared region.

30 x 30 sec unguided with the Rebel XT @ ISO 800 through the ST80, riding piggyback on the LX200. Processed with Nebulosity. It's pretty noisy--I could have used many more exposures.

M81 & M82, Bode's Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy

Third time around for this pair of galaxies. Had a nasty gradient background that I haven't seen before. The scope was awful close to the roof of the observatory--I wonder if that might have had anything to do with it.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 30 x 2 minutes
Camera: Modified Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D)
Scope: Astro-Tech AT80ED 80mm APO refractor, AT field flattener
Mount: Meade LX200
Guider: Meade LX200 @ f/3, Meade DSI
Filter: Astronomik CLS
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M81 & M82, Bode's Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy

It's time once again to take a shot at this pair of galaxies off the Big Dipper. Best one of the lot, for sure. I'm definitely liking the AT6RC on the CI-700.

Heritage Park Observatory, Cedar Park, TX
Exposure: 60 x 180 sec (3 hours) @ ISO 800, 10 flat, 20 dark
Camera: Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D) (modified)
Scope: AT6RC, AT2FF field flattener
Mount: Celestron CI-700/Skywalker
Guider: Zenithstar 66, Meade DSI
Filter: None
Software: PHD Guiding, Nebulosity, Photoshop

M81 & M82, Bode's Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy

Shot this from the Eagle Eye Observatory in the AT80EDT on the LXD650, guided with the ST80. 25 x 150 seconds. That's the irregular galaxy NGC3077 in the lower right.

A little nicer than last time, but shooting with the moon just three days past full didn't help.

100 Objects

The family & I took advantage of that great weather and went to Canyon of the Eagles an the Eagle Eye Observatory last night. This is the time of year for staying up late for a Messier Marathon, and I nearly made it. I managed to view 100 out of the 110, not a bad night's work. I really should have tried last month, but the weather wasn't cooperating, so there were a couple already below the horizon at sunset. I pooped out about 4:00 a.m., so I missed some early morning ones, but in between I saw a trove of goodies. I didn't make notes, but I recall the Sombrero Galaxy (M104), the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) and Bode's & Cigar Galaxies (M81/82) as particularly stunning.

Those Dam Astronomers

I think last night was the first good friday night since before Christmas at Mansfield Dam. A little chilly, but practically no wind. The sky was pretty steady and transparent, making it a nice time to get out. I worked on some starhopping skills with my old 6" dob before returning it to Barry. Managed to jump right to the Double Cluster and M81/82. The crescent moon never disappoints in that scope either. Got my first look at Saturn this time around--the rings are closing rapidly. I'll start shooting pics as son as it's a little higher earlier.

Didn't shoot any astro pics last night myself, but gave lots of free advice to John--I hope some of it was useful! I did shoot pics of other people shooting pics though--see them here.

Messier Half-Marathon

A little background from Wikipedia:

The Messier objects are a set of astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier in his catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters first published in 1774. The original motivation behind the catalogue was that Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets. He therefore compiled a list of these objects.

The first edition covered 45 objects numbered M1 to M45. The total list consists of 110 objects, ranging from M1 to M110. The final catalogue was published in 1781 and printed in the Connaissance des Temps in 1784. Many of these objects are still known by their Messier number.

Because Messier lived and did his astronomical work in France in the Northern Hemisphere, the list he compiled contains only objects from the north celestial pole to a celestial latitude of about –35°. Many impressive Southern objects, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are excluded from the list. Because all of the Messier objects are visible with binoculars or small telescopes (under favorable conditions), they are popular viewing objects for amateur astronomers. In early spring, astronomers sometimes gather for "Messier marathons", when all of the objects can be viewed over a single night.

Well, that's just what I attempted Saturday night from Canyon of the Eagles. Trouble was that the weather--which started out great--turned to mush and the completely overcast by about 1:00 a.m. As a result I only made it through the first 45. Still, I saw a lot of things I hadn't seen before and want to go back and photograph.

Trudy & Ian came along for the first time. The boy had a pretty good time running around. He & Trudy wound up watching movies on the iBook in the tent after it got dark, but he did come look through the scope a couple of times.

Object Name	Start Time	Notes
M74	8:39:11 PM	very faint
M77	8:43:15 PM	ok
M33	8:53:56 PM	large faint patch
M31	8:59:57 PM	not bad for low in sky
M110	9:00:09 PM	averted vision
M32	9:00:34 PM	compact
M52	9:02:22 PM	nice, easy
M103	9:13:01 PM	pretty!
M34	9:16:19 PM	big
M45	9:23:53 PM	hello ladies! Better in ED80. Some nebulosity visible
M79	9:28:02 PM	medium dim
M42	9:28:50 PM	great in ED80; a,b,c,d,e & f easy with 13mm Nagler in 10"
M43	9:34:00 PM	yup
M78	9:34:27 PM	dull
M1	9:44:11 PM	3D-like, maybe texture with ultrablock?
M35	9:49:56 PM	too big for 10"
M37	10:22:24 PM	nice
M36	10:24:33 PM	meh
M38	10:26:40 PM	ok
M41	10:28:55 PM	yup
M93	10:29:32 PM	ok
M46	10:38:39 PM	cool w/neb in cluster
M50	10:39:33 PM	ok
M48	10:40:32 PM	ok
M47	10:40:49 PM	ok
M44	10:51:41 PM	bah
M95	10:55:40 PM	nice
M96	10:56:04 PM	nice
M105	11:05:58 PM	nice
M81	11:24:33 PM	love 81 & 82
M82	11:25:23 PM	love 81 & 82
M97	11:31:14 PM	dim
M108	11:34:51 PM	slim
M109	11:47:35 PM	texture w/ averted vision
M40	11:50:37 PM	why is this even on the list?
M106	11:55:14 PM	definite shape
M94	12:07:50 AM	hints of spiral?
M51	12:19:07 AM	not bad. definite spiral, no bridge
M53	12:30:36 AM	ok
M3	12:36:36 AM	nice. tight center, loose edges
M85	12:37:43 AM	hazy w/ bright center, like picture
M98	12:41:44 AM	unremarkable
M99	12:45:53 AM	something w/averted vision
M100	12:48:53 AM	faint, no detail (pity)
M86	1:01:39 AM	84 & 86 together ok
M84	1:01:39 AM	84 & 86 together ok

Star Hoping

That's when you point the telescope at the sky and hope you see something.

Like last night. I didn't want to set up the LX200, so I took the little 6" dob into the back yard with my red flashlight and Star Atlas. I did pretty good on M81 & M82, but totally failed on the Leo Triplett. To be fair to myself, the transparency was only so-so, 6 inches isn't a whole lot of aperture, and my star-hopping skills are practically non-existant.

Meanwhile, here's a new design at CafePress!