Deep Sky Spring Observations April 2020

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

In April 2020, I did simple "deep-sky spring observations," which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany)..

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

I observed in various sky areas as shown in the sky map below.

Overview Map

The following inverted map shows approximately the sky area that I primarily browsed during my observations (and some of the observed objects):

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

Observation Time

The observations were done in April 2020.

Observation Location

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

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49.25° N, 8.72° E

Devices Used

I used the C8 on the AZ4 mount, the PS72 on the AZ Pronto mount, and the Skymax-127 also on the AZ Pronto mount.

General Conditions

In Mühlhausen/Kraichgau, the sky was not particularly dark.

Observation Overview

Date 2020	Observed Objects	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
Apr 4-6 MH	GN: M 42/43	Orion: Apr 4: Observed with SM-127, photographing the Orion Nebula was difficult (hitting the target, focusing), but I got a result Apr 5: Observed with SM-127; Orion nebula (focusing difficult), but results with RX100 M4, visually, the nebula was hardly visible because of the moon ; moon with RX100 M4 and also purely visually, but already very faint... Binoculars (LT, OM): Venus and Pleiades, in the Pleiades only the biggest stars ("carriage") visible Apr 6: Observed and photographed with PS72 and SM-127. PS72: Half-Venus seen well with 24, 16, and 4 mm (108 x); at the end with less "color"; also observed and photographed M 42 with RX100 M4 (with and without zoom) SM-127: again observed and photographed with RX100 M4 the now nearly full moon	Attempts to photograph the Orion Nebula M 42/43 with small telescopes and a normal camera,	PS72 on AZ Pronto, Skymax-127 on AZ Pronto	32 mm
Apr 23 MH	G: M 65, M 66, M 95, M 96, NGC 2903 Venus	Leo: Observed NGC 2903 (very faint), the pair M 65/66, M 95, M 96, and NGC 3628 (eVscope only) in parallel to the eVscope; all the galaxies were rather faint (Astrid saw them better than me); M 65 and 66 could be seen in the same field of view. Overall, all the galaxies were very faint despite new moon; probably, the PS72 would have found none of them... The eVscope found all the galaxies, but had some problems with the Enhanced Vision mode (at most with NGC 2903)	Comparison of the C8 with the eVscope based on some Leo galaxies; new moon, but the sky was still fairly bright. Venus crescent photographed with C8	C8 on AZ4	C8: 40, 26 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations done in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (MH); G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, P = star pattern, DS = double star

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*	PS72	SM127	C8	C8R	Remarks
M 42/43	Orion Nebula	Orion	GN		yes	yes			Made photo attempts with the Sony RX100 M4
M 65		Leo	G				yes		Faint, observed together with M 66 in the same field of view
M 66		Leo	G				yes		Faint, observed together with M 65 in the same field of view
M 95		Leo	G				yes		Faint
M 96		Leo	G				yes		Faint
NGC 2903		Leo	G				yes		Very faint

*) LT = 10 x 25 binoculars, TS = 10 x 60 binoculars; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, P = star pattern, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, MW = Milky Way, C = comet

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2023). Deep Sky Reiseatlas (5. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-949370-04-5)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=608
Ronald Stoyan (2021). Deep Sky Reiseführer (6. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-938469-72-9)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=603
Erich Karkoschka (2022). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag (EAN: 9783440173602)
www.kosmos.de/de/atlas-fur-himmelsbeobachter_1074889_9783440173602