Deep Sky Observations with eVscope 2 December 2021/March 2022

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

Since the beginning of December 2021, I own an Unistellar eVscope 2 telescope for observing and taking photos of deep sky objects. On this page, I collect information about observations from December 5, 2021 to March 20, 2022 (after the repair by Unistellar), that is during a phase where my eVscope 2 was not in correct condition (primary mirror under tension). In this phase, I used the newly released app version 1.5.0. The photos that were taken during this phase are be presented elsewhere:

First Experiences: First experiences (during observations) with my Unistellar eVscope 2
First Experiences (Collimation Test): Experiences with a "test procedure" for the collimation of my Unistellar eVscope 2
First Experiences (Photo Comparison): Direct photo comparison between the Unistellar eVscope and eVscope 2
First Experiences (After Repair - Part 1) and First Experiences (After Repair - Part 2)

Notes:

I exchanged this first eVscope 2 for another new one in March/April 2022.
See page Overview of the Unistellar Pages for just that!
I present the first four observation sessions, including photos, on page Unistellar eVscope 2 - First Experiences.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

In December 2021 to February 2022, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):

Map: Section of the sky with the observed objects (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations in this phase started in December 2021 and ended in March 2022. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful star alignment. In December, this was already after 5:30 p.m. In March this was already about two hours later...

Observation Location

The first observation sessions took place in Erkerode near Braunschweig (Germany):

52° 12' 27.2" N 10° 42' 52.9" E
52.207556° N, 10.714696° E

Some of the observations took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

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

Equipment Used

When observing with the eVscope 2, I only needed the eVscope 2 and my iPhones or iPad. Partly, I also observed with my original eVscope in parallel in order to perform some comparisons.

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" (SQM 20.5) 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. For astro photography, however, light pollution is not as disturbing as for visual observations. The sky quality is a litttle bit better in Erkerode.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2021/22	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
Dec 5 Erk	OC: M 2, M 15 PN: M 27	Order: M 2, M 15, M 27; M 57 did no longer work because of clouds	Focused with Bathinov mask; telescope was poorly collimated (after it was sent to me)	Collimation attempts failed because of "operator aborts" and clouds...
Dec 10 Erk	OC: NGC 869, NGC 884 GC: M 2, M 15 GN: NGC 6960 PN: M 27, M 57, M 76 G: M 31, M 33, NGC 7317 Moon	Order: Collimation (2x), M 57, M 27, collimation, M 27, moon (almost half), NGC 6960 (Eastern/Western Veil Nebula the same! -> error in eVscope data base), M 2, M 15, NGC 7317 (Stephan's Quintet), M 31, M 33, Perseus Double Cluster (H = NGC 869, then Chi = NGC 884), M 76 (missed at first attempt)	Focused with Bathinov mask	Collimated the eVscope 2 (2x), no recognizable effect; collimated the eVscope 2 once more (M 27 before and after collimation) with more success
Dec 20 MH	PN: M 27	Order: iPad: Collimation, M 27, collimation, M 27 iPhone: M 27	iPad: 6:20 p.m. -7:00 p.m.; iPhone: 7:00 p.m. - 7:10 p.m.; SQM nearly 19	Session goal: compare the eVscope 2 with the eVscope Otherwise mainly a collimation check...
Dec 21 MH	OS: M 45, NGC 869, NGC 884 KS: M 71 G: M 31, M 33, NGC 891, NGC 7331 GN: M 42, M 78, NGC 1977, NGC 2024 PN: M 27	Order: Collimation, M 27, M 71, M 33 (Triangulum Galaxy), M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy), NGC 869 (h Persei), NGC 884 (chi Persei), NGC 7331, NGC 891, break, M 45, M 42, NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula), NGC 1977 (Running Man Nebula), M 78	iPhone: 6:40 p.m. - 8:25 p.m., after supper once more from 10:45 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.; SQM 19.2-19.3	Session goal: compare the eVscope 2 with the eVscope, particulary later at M 42 Images appeared too faint on the iPhone 7 (eVscope 2), because the screen was set too dark; after making the screen brighter, the images of both eVscopes resembled each other...
Jan 6, 2022 MH	G: M 31, M 33, NGC 891 PN: M 27 Moon	Order: Moon (crescent), M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M 33 (Triangulum Galaxy), NGC 891, M 27 (clouds)	5:50-6:11 p.m.: Taking photos (screenshots) when focusing, collimating, and moving the focus wheel at the eVscope 2. 6:20-7:10 p.m.: Afterwards, I observed a few objects with theVscope 2, until clouds appeared.	Primarily, I was taking photos (screenshots) when focusing, collimating, and moving the focus wheel at the eVscope 2.
Jan 24, 2022 MH	OC: M 45 GN: B 33, M 1, M 42, M 43, M 78, NGC 1977, NGC 2024 G: M 33, M 74, M 77 Jupiter	Order: Jupiter, collimation, M 45 (Pleiades), M 33 (Triangulum Galaxy), collimation, M 33, M 74, M 77, M 1 (Crab Nebula), M 42 (Orion Nebula), M 43 (De Mairan's Nebula), M 78, B 33 (Triangulum Galaxy), NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula), NGC 1977 (Running Man Nebula)	Observed from 7:10 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. (with supper break), SQM 19.7-20 eVscope and eVscope 2; both iPhones, iPad	After some collimation attempts (Jupiter, Algenib, Aldebaran) on both telescopes, my aim was to compare both telescopes directly at identical DSO.
Feb 5, 2020 MH	GN: M 42, M 78, NGC 2024	Order: M 42, M 78, NGC 2024 (with clouds), abort...	Observed from 8:30 p.m. until about 9:30 p.m. (then suddenly clouds appeared), SQM 19.9 Supper break during the observation of M 78 (long EV time, poor look).. eVscope 2, iPhone 7	This was mainly about test photos at different focus settings to see how stars in particular look at smaller and larger misfocus. This should help to see afterwards if old photos have an inaccurate focus. I only collimated a bit, so the photos are not optimally collimated. This should also help in judging photos afterwards, but probably does not help much... Problem: Tracking error with M 42, EV rarely got beyond 30 seconds, duration time stopped (same problem as Mr. Deeg had with M 42).
Mar 19, 2022 MH	GN: M 42, NGC 1977, NGC 2024 G: M 33	Order: M 42, NGC 1977, NGC 2024, M 33 (except for M 42 everything too dark, darker than on the iPhone screen)	eVscope 2 (first test after repair), iPhone 6s, SQM 14.7 (19:15) - later SQM 19.2-19.5	Focusing with Bahtinov mask (7:20 p.m.); Sirius did not work, but Rigel was found... Latest with Flame Nebula clouds appeared, therefore change to M 33; afterwards getting even worse, clouds and and finally some rain drops appeared (abort)
Mar 20, 2022 MH	OC: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, M 50 GN: M 42, M 78, NGC 1499, NGC 2244, NGC 2264 G: M 95, M 96, M 105, NGC 2903	Order: NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula with Alnitak), SQM 17.8-18.3 (up to 10 min, 18.9 at the end), M 78 (19.2-19.5), M 42 (19.5-19.6), Rosette Nebula/NGC2244 (19.6), NGC 2264/Christmas Tree Cluster (19.6), M 1 (19.7), M 35 (19.7), M 45 (19.8), M 36 (19.8), M 37 (19.7), M 38 (19.7), California Nebula/NGC 1499 (19.7-19.8), M 50 (19.7) NGC 2903 (19.6), M 105 (19.6), M 95 (19.5), M 96 (19.5)	eVscope 2 (second test after repair), iPhone 7, from about 7:15 p.m. on...	Alnilam for focus and collimation, Alnilam 5-6 min for triangular 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

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
M 1	Crab Nebula	Taurus	GE	More distinct with longer exposure times...
M 2		Aquarius	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones
M 15		Pegasus	GC	Supposedly, it is the best globular cluster in autumn, bright core.
M 27	Dumbbell Nebula	Vulpecula	PN	Nice, test object for the collimation
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	G	Too large for the eVscope's field of view
M 33	Triangulum Galaxy	Triangulum	G	Very faint, details recognizable only after longer duration in EV mode
M 35		Gemini	OC	Large and nice open star cluster
M 36		Auriga	OC	Nice open star cluster, smaller than M 35
M 37		Auriga	OC	Nice, very dense open star cluster
M 38		Auriga	OC	Nice open star cluster, larger than M 36, not as dense as M 37
M 42	Orion Nebula	Orion	GN	Larger section and apparently more details than with the eVscope
M 43	De Mairan's Nebula	Orion	GE	Part of M 42
M 45	Pleiades, Seven Sisters	Taurus	OC	Too large for the eVscope 2's field of view
M 50		Monoceros	OC	Nice large open star cluster with many fine and some bright stars
M 57	Ring Nebula	Lyra	PN	Ring clearly visible
M 71		Sagitta	GC	According to Stoyan, an unusually loose globular star cluster.
M 74		Pisces	G	Nice spiral galaxy, but in the eVscope just a faint dot/glow...
M 76	Small Dumbbell Nebula	Perseus	PN	Small, colorful, rectangular (found in second attempt)
M 77		Cetus	G	Spiral galaxy, a bit more to see than with M 74, but in the end just a soft dot in the eVscope
M 78		Orion	GE	Faint, but identifiable using two stars; around new moon, I was able to see more details
M 95		Leo	G	Small barred spiral galaxy, relatively faint, but the bar is visible. Forms a pair with M 96, but too far away for the eVscope (40').
M 96		Leo	G	Spiral galaxy, forms a pair with M 95, but too far away for the eVscope (40').
M 105		Leo	G	Bright elliptical galaxy; can be seen together with the galaxies NGC 3384 (elliptical) and the smaller NGC 3389 (spiral) in the same field of view in the eVscope.
B 33	Horse Head Nebula	Perseus	DN	Always a challenge; more details after 10 minutes of exposure
NGC 869	h Persei, part of the Perseus Double Cluster	Perseus	OC	Both clusters together are too large for the eVscope 2's field of view
NGC 884	chi Persei, part of the Perseus Double Cluster	Perseus	OC	Both clusters together are too large for the eVscope 2's field of view
NGC 891		Andromeda	G	Seen from the side; nice but faint
NGC 1499	California Nebula	Perseus	GN	Nothing to see...
NGC 1977	Running Man Nebula	Orion	GR	The Running Man Nebula includes the reflection nebulae NGC 1977, 1973, and 1975 as well as the open star cluster 1981; a dark nebula has the shape of a running man; needs long times in Enhanced Vision mode
NGC 2024	Flame Nebula	Orion	GE	Rather faint reddish nebula next to Alnitak; not easy for the eVscope 2
NGC 2244	Open star cluster in Rosette Nebula	Monoceros	OC	Nice to see (did not find the embedding nebula, the Rosette Nebula)
NGC 2264	Christmas Tree Cluster/Conus Nebula	Monoceros	OC	Saw only the star cluster.
NGC 2903		Leo	G	One of the brighter spiral galaxies; unclear why Messier missed it...
NGC 6960	Western Veil Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Found NGC 6992, instead...
NGC 6992/5	Eastern Veil Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Rather faint
NGC 7317	Stephan's Quintet	Pegasus	G	Part of Stephan's Quintet, a group of small galaxies. In the eVscope 2 it is even smaller than in the eVscope...
NGC 7331	With NGC 7335, NGC 7337, and NGC 7340	Pegasus	G	The galaxy NGC 7335 and one smaller galaxy can be seen on the photos.
Moon			M	Nearly full moon
Jupiter			P	Only for focusing...

G = galaxy, GaC = galaxy cluster, 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)

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