Deep Sky Winter Observations Mid-January - March 2018

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

From mid-January 2018 until March 2018, I did simple "deep-sky winter observations", often with binoculars, which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here.

 

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

My observations ranged between the Orion in the East to Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Hercules in the West. I mostly "hunted" for objects that can be observed with binoculars.

Overview Map

The following map (January 2018) shows approximately the sky area that I primarily browsed during my observations:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

And here an inverted map for February 2018 with marked possible targets:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

Observations started early, often briefly after sunset. In March, this was, of course, a little bit later than in January...

Observation Location

Most of the observations were conducted in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

A few observations were conducted in Kellinghusen and Erkerode (both located in Germany).

Devices Used

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. This is certainly one of the reasons why I found some of the deep sky objects that I wanted to observe only sometimes or not at all.

The sky above Kellinghusen is considerably darker, and the one above Erkerode is in any case better than the one above Mühlhausen.

 

Observation Overview

Date
2018
Observed Objects Details, Remarks Further Observations and Remarks Devices Used Eyepieces Used
Jan 14 GE: M42/43 (Orion Nebula)
OS: M 35, M 45 (Pleiades), Mel 25 (Hyades), Mel 20 (Mirfak Cluster), NGC 884/869 (Perseus Double Cluster)
Skymax-127/102 used with different magnifications: M 42/43 was nice, especially in the 127 for the pointed wings; both telescopes showed the Trapezium well, no really big differences between the two telescopes....
TS-Binoculars: M 35 was beautiful as never before, M 42/3, M 45, Hyades, Alpha Persei Cluster, Perseus Double Cluster
  TS binoculars, Skymax-102/127 not documented
Feb 4 GE: M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy)
OS: M 35, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20,
NGC 884/869
Skymax-102 and 127 on M 31: no major differences detectable, focusing worked better on the 127; M 31 was similarly bright but smaller in the TS binoculars
TS-Binoculars: M 31, Mirfak Cluster, Perseus Double Cluster, Pleiades, Hyades, M 35 (faint, more a guess...)
Eye: Betelgeuze for the first time consciously seen "yellow-red"...
  TS binoculars, Skymax-102/127 not documented
Feb 5 G: M 31
GE: M42/43
OS: M 35, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20, NGC 884/869
Skymax-102 and 127 compared using M 42/43 and M 35:
M 42/43: Different eyepieces tried, Trapezium tested, actually no differences on the trapezoid in contrast to what Mr. Kloß wrote.... Most likely differences in the nebula structure and contrast...
M 35: appears with more contrast in the 127, otherwise hardly any differences...
TS Binoculars: Viewed again all "standards", at the end also found M 31. M 35 better recognizable as a "nebula" than the day before.
  TS binoculars, Skymax-102/127 used different eypieces
Feb 12 G: M 31
GE: M 42/3
OS: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, NGC 884/869
All objects seen well in the telescope.
Afterwards, some were photographed with Atik Infinity: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 42/43 (see special page)
Using the StarSense module was successful in my 2nd attempt (after problems on Feb, 8), the camera also worked well. Explorer 150PDS GT with StarSense module (also with AI) not documented
Feb 13 G: M 31
GE: M 42/3
OS: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20, NGC 884/869
All 10 objects seen well in binoculars   TS binoculars  
Feb 21 GE: M 42/43
OS: M 35, M 37
Everything seen well.
Afterwards, some were photographed with Atik Infinity: M 35, M 42/43, Half Moon (see special page)
  Explorer 150PDS GT (also with AI) not documented
Feb 22 GE: M 42/43
OS: M 45, Mel 25
Infinity 76: M 42/43, M 45, Mel 25
Skymax-102/127: M 42/43
  Skymax-102/127 not documented
Mar 14 GE: M 42/43,
OS: M 41, M 93, M 50, M 45
Explorer 150PDS: M 42/43, M 41, M 93, M 50
Ditto with Atik Infinity: M 42/43, M 41, M 93, M 50, M 45 (see special page)
Binoculars: M 42/43
  TS and LT binoculars;
Explorer 150PDS (also with AI)
24 mm
Mar 18 GE: M 42/43
OS: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20, NGC 884/869
Skymax-102 (24 mm): M 42/43 (super, extended), M 45 (sparkling)
Binoculars: M 42/43, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20, NGC 884/869, M 35, M 36-38 (the center cluster was the smallest and somewhat lower, the right one the largest, the left one in between); all OCs seen very well
Kellinghusen TS and LT binoculars;
Skymax-102
24 mm
Mar 19 GE: M 42/43
OS: M 41, M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, Mel 25, Mel 20, NGC 884/869
Skymax-102 (24 mm): M 42/43 (super, extended), M 41 (nice, large)
Binoculars: M 42/43, M 41, M 45, Mel 25; M 35, M 36-38 - everything as nice as the day before; M 41 added; Christmas Tree cluster NGC 2264 not found…
Erkerode TS and LT binoculars;
Skymax-102
24 mm
Mar 20 OS: M 44, M 67 Cancer: M 44 (nice, many stars), M 67 (faint) Erkerode TS and LT binoculars  
Mar 24 GE: M 42/43
OS: M 41, M 44, M 47, M 48, M 50, M 93
All in all, not very good conditions because of the Half Moon; M 41 worked best, M 47, 48, and 50 were OK; M 44 quite nice; M 93 partly not found Not seen/found: M 67, M 46, M 93 (partly), NGC 2360, NGC 2362 Explorer 150PDS GT with StarSense module 24 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations done in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau, except for where noted otherwise
G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula

 

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details
Name Constellation Type Bino* 150PDS GT/S SM-102 SM-127 Remarks**
M 31 Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda G yes yes yes yes a glow in binoculars, not much better in the telescope...
NGC 884/869 Perseus Double Cluster Perseus OC yes yes     seen well in binoculars, with "oval" of stars
Mel 20 Alpha Persei Cluster (Mirfak) Perseus OC yes       seen well in binoculars, very extended
Mel 25 Hyades Taurus OC yes       seen well in binoculars, very extended
M 45 Pleiades Taurus OC yes yes     seen well in binoculars
M 42/43 Orion Nebula Orion GE yes yes yes+ yes M 42/43 seen well in binoculars; seen very nicely in the telescope when the sky was dark
M 35   Gemini G yes yes     M 35 seen well as a glow in binoculars under a dark sky; seen well in the telescope
M 36   Auriga OC yes yes     M 36 seen well as a glow in binoculars under a dark sky; seen well in the telescope
M 37   Auriga OC yes yes     M 37 seen well as a glow in binoculars under a dark sky; seen well in the telescope
M 38   Auriga OC yes yes     M 38 seen well as a glow in binoculars under a dark sky; seen well in the telescope
M 44 Praesepe Cancer OC yes yes     M 44 seen well in binoculars, ditto in the telescope
M 67   Cancer OC yes yes     M 67 seen as a glow in binoculars; also seen in the telescope; later not seen because the moon was too bright
M 41   Canis Major OC yes yes     M 41 seen as a glow in binoculars; seen well in the telescope
M 46   Puppis OC   yes???     M 46 probably not seen/found
M 47   Puppis OC   yes     M 47 seen in the telescope
M 93   Puppis OC   yes     M 93 seen in the telescope
M 48   Hydra OC   yes     M 48 seen in the telescope
M 50   Moneceros OC   yes     M 50 seen in the telescope

G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula
*) TS binoculars, sometimes also LT binoculars; **) the remarks do not refer to photos taken with the Atik Infinity; +) also in Kellinghusen and Erkerode

 

References

Books

On this Website

 

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28.12.2020