Deep Sky Observations with eVscope May/June 2020

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

Since the end of January 2020, I own an Unistellar eVscope telescope for observing and taking photos of deep sky objects. On this page, I collect information about first observations from May 2020 to June 12, 2020, which might be of interest to other beginners. The photos that were taken during the observations are shown elsewhere on this site.

Notes:

See page Overview of the Unistellar Pages for just that!
I present the first five observation sessions, including photos, on page Unistellar eVscope - Observations.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

In May 2020 (up to June 12), I observed various sky areas. A map therefore does not make much sense here...

Observation Time

The observations in this phase started at the beginning of May 2020. They typically took place shortly after dusk (after 10 p.m., later even after 11 p.m.), when it was sufficiently dark for a successful star alignment.

Observation Location

Most observations took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

Coordinates: 49° 15' N , 8° 43' E
Coordinates (dec.): 49,25° N, 8,72° E

Some observations also took place in Erkerode near Braunschweig (Germany):

Coordinates: 52° 12' 27.2" N 10° 42' 52.9" E
Coordinates (dec.): 52.207556° N, 10.714696° E

Equipment Used

When observing with the eVscope, I only needed the eVscope and my iPhone. I also used my laptop for running SkySafari (for DSO) and Stellarium (for coordinates) in parallel to the observations.

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. For astro photography, however, light pollution is not as disturbing as for visual observations. In Erkerode the sky is a little darker, but trees and obstructions disturbed the observations.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2020	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
May 5	G: M 63, M 81, M 82, M 101, M 106, M 108, NGC 3877 PN: M 97 Moon	Order (from about 10 p.m.): M 97, M 108, M 82, M 81, M 106, M 101, NGC 3877, M 63; moon; M 51 could not be observed because it was too close to the zenith	Nearly full moon	New app version 1.0.3; M 97 was a Unistellar task
May 10	OC: M 37	M 37; very hard to observe and photograph (probably only "Live View" mode)	3 days after full moon, M 37 too low	M 37 was a Unistellar task
May 15	KS: M 3, M 5 G: M 61 (mit SN 2020jfo), M 64, M 94, M 104	Order: M 61 mit Supernova 2020jfo, M 104, M 3, M 5, M 64, M 94 (and some misses: NGC 5466, NGC 5053, M 51)	After waning half moon; sky was initially rather bright	M 61 with SN 2020jfo was a Unistellar task
May 16	GC: M 13, M 92, NGC 6229 G: M 65, M 66, M 96	Order: M 65/66, M 96, M 13, M 92, NGC 6229 (searched in vain for NGC 5053, 5466 with SkySafari coordinates)	Observed from 10:20 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; sky was initially rather bright	Hercules high up in the east...
May 17	GC: M 53, NGC 4725 (+ NGC 4712), NGC 5053, NGC 5466	Order: M 53, NGC 4725 (with NGC 4712), NGC 5053, NGC 5466	Observed from 10:30 p.m. to 11:50 p.m.; sky was initially rather bright
May 21 Erkerode	GC: M 5, M 10, M 12, M 14, M 53, M 107 G: M 64, M 85, NGC 4559, NGC 4565, NGC 4631	Order: M 53, M 64, NGC 4565, NGC 4559, NGC 4631, M 85, M 5, M 12, M 10, M 107, M 14	Observed from 11:00 p.m. to 0:30 a.m.; sky was initially rather bright; new moon
May 24 Erkerode	G: M 51, M 63	Order: M 63, M 51	Observed from 11:15 p.m. to 11:30 p.m; clouds came and disturbed M 51, and maybe even M 63	M 63 was a Unistellar task
May 29 Erkerode	GC: M 4, M 5, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 13, M 14, M 19, M 22, M 28, M 62, M 80, NGC 5634, NGC 6366, NGC 6535 OC: M 6, M 11, M 18, M 21, M 23?, M 25, M 26 GN: M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20 PN: IC 4593, NGC 6210, NGC 6572 SC: M 24	Order: M 19, M 9, (M 62 n.f.,) M 80 poor, M 4 fair, M 5, NGC 5634, IC 4593 (White Eyed Pea Nebula), NGC 6210 (Turtle Nebula), NGC 6366 (Pos), NGC 6535 (Pos), NGC 6572 (Blue Raquetball Nebula), M 12, M 10, M 14, NGC 6366 (Pos, repeated), M 22, M 28, M 17 (Omega/Swan Nebula), M 18, M 16 (Eagle Nebula), M 25, M 20 (Trifid Nebula), M 8 (Lagoon Nebula), M 21 poor, (M 23 n.f.,) M 24 (Small Sagittarius Cloud), M 11 (Wild Duck Cluster), M 26, M 19 (repeated), M 6, M 62, M 4, M 80, M 13 (n.f. in a further attempt) Pos: I had to enter position data; Stellarium is better than SkySafari with respect to the position data.	Observed from 11:15 p.m. to nearly 2 a.m.; some objects were very low at the horizon or disturbed by trees.
May 31 Erkerode	GC: IC 1276, M 3, M 5, M 13, M 14, M 107, NGC 5897, NGC 6366, NGC 6517, NGC 6535, NGC 6539, NGC 6712 OC: Cr 350, IC 4665, IC 4756, M 11, M 23, M 25, M 26, NGC 6633, GN: M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20 PN: NGC 6210, NGC 6537, NGC 6567, NGC 6572 SC: M 24	Order: M 3, M 5, NGC 5897, M 107, NGC 6366, M 14, NGC 6517, NGC 6539, IC 1276, NGC 6535, Cr 350, IC 4665, NGC 6572, NGC 6633, IC 4756, M 11, M 26, NGC 6712, M 25, M 23, M 24, NGC 6567, NGC 6537, M 13, NGC 6210, M 16 (Eagle Nebula), M 17 (Omega/Swan Nebula), M 20 (Trifid Nebula), M 8 (Lagoon Nebula)	Observed from 11:20 p.m. to 1:50 a.m.; some objects very low or disturbed by trees
Jun 1 Erkerode	GC: IC 1276, M 9, M 14, M 19, M 28, NGC 6235, NGC 6284, NGC 6287, NGC 6293, NGC 6342, NGC 6356, NGC 6366, NGC 6440, NGC 6517, NGC 6539 OC: M 23 GN: M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20 PN: IC 4634, NGC 6445, NGC 6537	Order: M 19, NGC 6293, NGC 6284, NGC 6287, IC 4634 (Rose Nebula), NGC 6235, NGC 6342, M 9, NGC 6356, NGC 6366, M 14, NGC 6517, NGC 6539, IC 1276, M 23, NGC 6445 (Little Gem Nebula/Box Nebula), NGC 6440, NGC 6537 (Red Spider Nebula) , M 8 (Lagoon Nebula), M 16 (Eagle Nebula), M 17 (Omega/Swan Nebula), M 20 (Trifid Nebula), M 28	Observed from 11:20 to 1:15 a.m.;some objects very low or disturbed by trees
Jun 7	GC: M 53	M 53	Observed from 11:00 p.m. to 0:45 a.m.; somewhat disturbed by clouds	M 53 was a Unistellar task
Jun 11	KS: M 5, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 13, M 14, M 56, M 92, M 107 OS: M 11, M 26 G: M 51, M 101 GN: M 16, M 17 PN: M 27, M 57	Order: M 3 (poor), M 51, M 92, M 13, M 101 (, M 57 (Ring Nebula), M 56, M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula), M 12, M 5, M 10, M 14, M 9, M 107, M 11, M 26, M 16 (Eagle Nebula), M 17 (Omega/Swan Nebula)	Observed from 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.	M 16 was a Unistellar task from June 12 on...
Jun 12	KS: M 3, M 5, M 56 OS; M 29, M 39 G: IC 2574, M 51, M 81, M 82, M 101, M 102, M 106, M 108, M 109, NGC 4236 GN: NGC 7000 PN: M 27, M 57, M 97, NGC 6826	Order: M 3, M 5, M 57, NGC 6826, M 81, M 82, NGC 4236 (very faint, not really visible), IC 2574 (very faint, not really visible), M 102, M 101, M 51, M 106, M 109, M 108, M 97, M 27 (disturbed), M 56, M 29, M 39, NGC 7000 (too large)	Observed from 11:00 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.	NGC 4236 und IC 2574 very, very faint and more or less invisible ; NGC 7000 too large for recognizing anything (only characteristic background stars)

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, P = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, SN = supernova, SC = star cloud

List of Observed Sky Objects

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

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Remarks
Cr 350		Ophiuchus	OC	Very large and sparse star cluster; it is not concentrated and not well seprated from its background; too large for the eVscope.
IC 1276		Serpens	GC	Appears with a reddish tint because of its large distance and the dust of the Milky Way.
IC 2574	Coddington Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	This time very faint, practically not recognizable
IC 4593	White Eyed Pea Nebula	Hercules	PN	Is turquoise and has a bright core, which cannot be recognized in the eVscope.
IC 4634	Rose Nebula	Ophiuchus	PN	Has a point-symmetric, s-shaped structure, but is so tiny that none of this can be detected in the eVscope; the nebula itself is difficult to find, but in the end, the colour helps.
IC 4665		Ophiuchus	OC	Can already be seen with the naked eye as a faint glow; too large to be seen well in the eVscope.
IC 4756		Serpens	OC	Consists of few, inconspicuously scattered stars and is rather an object for opera glasses or binoculars; for the eVscope, too large.
M 3		Canes Venatici	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones
M 4		Scorpius	GC	From Central Europe the most resolvable globular cluster, but difficult to observe because it is located far south.
M 5		Serpens Cauda	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones, larger than M 3
M 6	Butterfly Cluster	Scorpius	OC	Forms a cluster duo with M 7, but not in the eVscope...
M 8	Lagoon Nebula	Sagittarius	GN	Emission nebula (NGC 6523) and open star cluster (NGC 6530)
M 9		Ophiuchus	GC	Small globular star cluster
M 10		Ophiuchus	GC	Forms a pair with the globular star cluster M 12
M 11	Wild Duck Cluster	Scutum	OC	Is located in the Scutum cloud, a special section of the Milky Way; therefore the photos are full of stars.; therefore the photos are full of stars.
M 12		Ophiuchus	GC	Forms a pair with the globular star cluster M 10
M 13		Hercules	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the largest ones, larger than M 5
M 14		Ophiuchus	GC	The third of the three bright globular star clusters in Ophiuchus, but different in character from M 10 und M 12.
M 16	Eagle Nebula	Serpens	GN	Star cluster M 16 embedded in the Eagle Nebula IC 4703
M 17	Omega/Swan Nebula	Sagittarius	GN	One of the most beautiful emission nebulae; in the reversiong telescope, some people recognize a swan...
M 18		Sagittarius	OC	More a less a "sub par" star cluster
M 19		Ophiuchus	GC	Famous for its oval shape
M 20	Trifid Nebula	Sagittarius	GN	Is called Trifid Nebula because it consists of three parts.
M 21		Sagittarius	OC	Open star cluster that is given little attention to
M 22		Sagittarius	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the largest ones, larger than M 5
M 23		Sagittarius	OC	Large open star cluster (nearly moon size)
M 24	Small Sagittarius Cloud	Sagittarius	SC	Part of the Milky Way, too large for the eVscope
M 25		Sagittarius	OC	A "classical object for binoculars"
M 26		Scutum	OC	One of the more inconspicuous star clusters
M 27	Dumbbell Nebula	Vulpecula	PN	Somewhat faint, but nice
M 28		Sagittarius	GC	Smaller than the nearby M 22
M 29		Cygnus	OC	Pattern created from a few stars
M 37		Auriga	OC	Nice, very dense open star cluster; was a Unistellar task
M 39		Cygnus	OC	Few stars
M 51	Whirlpool Galaxy	Canes Venatici	G	Nice spiral galaxy with connected satellite galaxy; sky cloudy this time; was a Unistellar task.
M 53		Coma Berenices	GC	One of the smaller globular star clusters
M 56		Lyra	GC	One of the smaller globular star clusters
M 57	Ring Nebula	Lyra	GN	Ring nice to see
M 61	with SN 2020jfo	Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, small and fine spiral in the eVscope; on May 6, 2020, the new supernova SN 2020jfo within it was discovered; was a Unistellar task.
M 62		Ophiuchus	GC	Is located near the horizon, therefore hard to observe
M 63	Sunflower Galaxy	Canes Venatici	G	Nice, elongated spiral galaxy, somewhat larger
M 64		Coma Berenices	G	Impressive spiral galaxy with unique look, somewhat larger
M 65		Leo	G	Thin, elongated spiral galaxy, spiral hard to see; part of the Leo triplet (with M 66 and NGC 3623); with M 66 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope
M 66		Leo	G	Elongated spiral galaxy, spiral visible; part of the Leo triplet (with M 65 and NGC 3628); with M 65 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope
M 80		Scorpius	GC	One of the fainter globular cluster, but nevertheless worthwhile; located almost as southernly as M 4.
M 81	Bode Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	Nice spiral galaxy; the spiral is not very conspicuous in the eVscope
M 82	Cigar Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	Elongated irregular galaxy (cigar), dirsturbed by an encounter with M 81
M 85	with NGC 4394	Coma Berenices	G	Elliptical galaxy that can be seen together with the galaxy NGC 4394 in the same field of view of the eVscope
M 92		Hercules	GC	Nice globular star cluster, smaller than M 13, but brighter core
M 94		Canes Venatici	G	Small spiral galaxy, the spiral appears more like a nebula
M 96		Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, forms a pair with M 95, but too far away for the eVscope (40').
M 97		Ursa Major	PN	Small green dot with two dark spots; was a Unistellar task
M 101	Pinwheel Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	Spiral galaxy, seen face-on, similar to M 99 and M 100, but much larger than both; quite impressive in the eVscope
M 102	Spindle Galaxy	Draco	G
M 104	Sombrero Galaxy	Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, seen nearly edge-on; the dust ring and the bright nucleus led to the name; very impressive in the eVscope.
M 106		Canes Venatici	G	Larger and bright spiral galaxy with bright core
M 107		Ophiuchus	GC	The faintest of the Messier globular star clusters in constellation Ophiuchus, is located fairly southernly
M 108		Ursa Major	G	Barred spiral galaxy, nearly seen edge-on
M 109		Ursa Major	G	Barred spiral galaxy
NGC 3877		Ursa Major	G	Spiral galaxy, nearly seen edge-on
NGC 4236		Draco	G	Spiral galaxy; very faint
NGC 4559		Coma Berenices	G	Spiral galaxy
NGC 4565	Needle Galaxy	Coma Berenices	G	One of the most prominent and famous edge-on spiral galaxies in the sky
NGC 4631	Whale Galaxy, with NGC 4627	Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy seen edge-on; above it, there is a compagnion, the elliptical dwarf galaxy NGC 4627.
NGC 4725	with NGC 4712	Coma Berenices	G	Small spiral galaxy with even smaller neighbor galaxy NGC 4712 (spiral galaxy)
NGC 5053		Coma Berenices	GC	Very loose globular star cluster near M 53 (1°)
NGC 5466		Bootes	GC	Rather loose globular star cluster
NGC 5634		Virgo	GC	The only globular star cluster in the constellation Virgo; small in the eVscope
NGC 5897		Libra	GC	Extremely loose structure, only a very low star density even at the center
NGC 6210	Turtle Nebula	Hercules	PN	Rather bright; has a white central star, which is regarded as easy to observe (not in eVscope).
NGC 6229		Hercules	GC	Small
NGC 6235		Ophiuchus	GC	Rather small and little compressed
NGC 6284		Ophiuchus	GC	Rather small
NGC 6287		Ophiuchus	GC	Small
NGC 6293		Ophiuchus	GC	Small, but larger than its neighbors
NGC 6342		Ophiuchus	GC	Rather small
NGC 6356		Ophiuchus	GC	Small, but larger than its neighbors
NGC 6366		Ophiuchus	GC	Rather faint, but fairly large and loose
NGC 6440		Sagittarius	GC	Small
NGC 6445	Little Gem Nebula/Box Nebula	Sagittarius	PN	Very small in the eVscope
NGC 6517		Ophiuchus	GC	Small, has some star chains in its neighborhood
NGC 6535		Serpens	GC	Small
NGC 6537	Red Spider Nebula	Sagittarius	PN	Very small, has a white dwarf at its center
NGC 6539		Serpens	GC	Somewhat larger, has some star chains in its neighborhood
NGC 6567		Sagittarius	PN	Very small
NGC 6572	Blue Raquetball Nebula	Ophiuchus	PN	Small and cyan
NGC 6633		Ophiuchus	OC	According to Stoyan on par with M 11 and M 16
NGC 6712		Scutum	GC	Somewhat larger and nice
NGC 6826	Blinking Planetary Nebula	Cygnus	PN	Bluish spot...
NGC 7000	North America Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Much too large for the eVscope; can only be verified using characteristic stars

G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, HII = HII region (emission nebula in other galaxies), SC = star cloud

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2014). Deep Sky Reiseatlas, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2014
Ronald Stoyan (2014). Deep Sky Reiseführer, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2015
Erich Karkoschka (2016). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag
www.kosmos.de/buecher/ratgeber/astronomie/einsteiger/6598/atlas-fuer-himmelsbeobachter?number=15147