Deep Sky Observations with eVscope July to October 2021

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 observations from July to October 2021, which might be of interest to other beginners. In this phase, I used versions 1.3, 1.4.1, 1.4.2, and 1.4.3 of the Unistellar app. The photos that were taken during this phase are presented elsewhere.

Notes:

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

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

From July to October 2021, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated, M 2 and M 15 are not indicated):

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 in this phase started in mid-July 2021. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful star alignment. In mid-July, this was after 10:30 p.m.!

Observation Location

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

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

One observation took place in Sumène (Haute Loire, France) close to Saint Julien-Chapteuil:

Coordinates: 45° 2′ N, 4° 4′ O
Coordinates (dec.): 45.04° N, 4.06° E

Two 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

Equipment Used

When observing with the eVscope, I only needed the eVscope and my iPhones or iPad.

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 much better in Sumène (SQM 21.3, I measured 21.1).

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2021	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
Jul 17 MH	OC: M 11 GC: M 5, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 14 GN: M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20 G: M 51	Order: Moon (0 dB, 2.8 and 2 ms) M 16, M 17, M 51, M 20, M 11, M 14, M 8, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 5	Bathinov mask (checked again later), took a darkframe twice. Observed from about 10:30 p.m. to briefly before 0:30 a.m.. Collimation did not appear optimal (stars often looked like "triangles")... As far as I remember, no crashes and WiFi aborts (I was on our terrace, as was the eVscope). Used my iPad this time.	Further test with the new app version 1.3 that offers the new large image format (will no longer be mentioned). Half moon; SQM was 19.85 at the end (00:30 a.m.).
Jul 18 MH	OC: M 11, M 21, M 23, M 24 (SC), M 25, M 26 GC: M 13, M 22, M 28, M 92 GN: M 8, M 16, M 17, M 20, NGC 6960 PN: M 27, M 57 G: M 101	Order: M 16, M 17, M 20, M 16 (better), M 8, M 11, M 25, M 24, M 23, M 21, M 22, M 28, M 26, M 27, M 57, M 13, M 92, M 101, NGC 6960 (Western Veil Nebula)	Collimated my eVscope, although it was only little decollimated. Observed from about 10:30 p.m.to about 01:00 a.m. Despite a proper looking collimation, some stars appeared still like "triangles". As far as I remember, no crashes and WiFi aborts (I was on our terrace, as was the eVscope). Used my iPad this time, and my wife later her iPhone.	One day after half moon; SQM was 19.8 at the end (00:01 a.m.) - all in all, the sky seemed brighter than on the day before.
Jul 29 Sum	OC: M 11 GC: M 5, M 13 GN: M 16 PN: M 27, M 57 G: M 101	Order: M 13, M 101, M 81, M 57, M 27, M 5, M 13, M 11, M 16	Focused the eVscope using the Bahtinov mask; observed from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.; operator used iPad (DE), observers used iPhones (FR, EN). Presented only some "highlight" objects...	The eVscope would not access M 92 (probably too high in the zenith); did not find M 17 at the end, probably too low on the horizon... SQM reached 21.1 at the end.
Aug 20 MH	OC: M 11 GC: M 10, M 13, M 92 GN: M 16 PN: M 57 G: M 51, M 101, Abell 2151	Order: M 11 (for comparison), then collimation & Bahtinov, M 11 (for comparison), M 16, M 13, M 92, M 15 (in clouds), Abell 2151 (NGC 6041) - SQM 18.7 - M 51 - SQM 18.4- M 57, M 10, M 13 - SQM 18.3 - M 101 - SQM 18.35 at ablut midnight	Main goal: Improve the collimation verbessern; M 11served as "before/after" test object; iPhone Abell 2151 in Hercules was a further target; the remainder was "just for looking". The sky was bright (almost full moon) and partly cloudy, which made finding some targets difficult. Actually, not a night for observing - and it was not intended for that purpose...	Abell 2151 (with RE 16 04 35, DE 17 43 09 from Mr. Deeg; he used the coordinates of NGC 6041, about center...). ) as he stated, but it is more at the bottom...
Aug 25 MH	GC: M 13 PN: M 27, M 57	Order: M 13, M 57, M 13, M 57, M 27 (in clouds)	A test-wise fight with the clouds; only M 13 seems to be quite good.... (just under SQM 20 in best moments); iPhone 7	Abell 2151 could not be accessed using Mr. Deeg's coordinates (still stored in the iPhone...), the eVscope missed it for two times.
Aug 31 MH	P: Jupiter, Saturn GC: M 13, M 56, M 92 PN: M 27, M 57 G: Abell 2151, NGC 7317, NGC 7331	Order: Jupiter, Saturn, Abell 2151 (NGC 6041; 3 locations), M 13, M 92, M 56, M 27, M 57, NGC 7331, NGC 7317 (Stephan's Quintett), Jupiter	Observed from 10:30 p.p. until about 0:35 a.m.; SQM approx. 20.1; iPad Main goal: repeat Abell 2151; was fairly low at the horizon and in the West	Played around with the exposure for Jupiter (surface or moons...) Abell 2151 could be accessed using Mr. Deeg's coordinates (newly entered into the iPad)
Sep 8 MH	OS: M 11, M 29 KS: M 3, M 10, M 13, M 14, M 56, M 71, M 92 GN: M 16, M 17 PN: M 27, NGC 6210 G: M 51, M 101, NGC 6207	Order: M 3, M 13, M 16, M 17, M 27, M 51, M 101, M 92, NGC 6210 (PN), NGC 6207 (galaxy), M 56, M 29, M 11, M 71, M 10, M 14	Observed from 9:30 p.m. until 11:00 p.m. using the new app version 1.4.1; iPad; SQM 20	Despite of SQM 20, the objects appeared relatively faint, and the EV mode often aborted. No idea why - maybe it was due to the new app version (stricter criteria?)... Partly again a certain fiddling around, until it worked (starting already with the field detection)...
Oct 7 Erk	OC: M 11 GC: M 13 GN: NGC 6960, NGC 6992/5 PN: M 27, M 57 G: M 31, M 33	Order: M 13, M 57, M 27, M 31, M 33, M 11, Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992/5), Western Veil Nebula (NGC 6960)	Observed with new app version 1.4.2 from 10:15 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.; iPad, iPhone; SQM 20.5 to 20.7.	eVscope focused Again some technical issues...
Oct 9 Erk	GC: M 13 PN: M 27, M 57 G: M 31, M 33, M 51, NGC 672/IC 1727, NGC 7317, NGC 7331, NGC 7332/7339, NGC 7479	Order: M 33, NGC 672/IC 1727, NGC 7331, NGC 7332/7339, NGC 7479, NGC 7317, M 31, M 13, M 51, M 27, M 57	Observed with new app version 1.4.2 from 9:08 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.; iPhone; SQM 20.55...20.59, later SQM 20.65...20.61.	eVscope focused Image quality poor despite a dark sky At the end "presentation" for two Persian girls...
Oct 16 MH	OC: IC 4665, M 11 GC: M 13, M 92 GN: NGC 6960, NGC 6992/5, NGC 7000 PN: M 27, M 57	Order: M 11, M 13, M 92, M 57, M 27, M 16, IC 4665, NGC 6992/5, NGC 6960, NGC 7000	Observed with new app version 1.4.2 from 7:45 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; SQM about 19 (a little more than half moon)	eVscope focused Presentation for a starfriend from nearby, who soon took over as the "operator".
Oct 19 MH	GC: M 13, M 92 PN: M 27, NGC 7293	Order: M 13, M 92, NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula), Jupiter, Saturn, M 13 (confirm error with manual coordinates), NGC 7293, M 27, NGC 7293, M 27	Observed with new app version 1.4.3 from 7:40 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., SQM about 18.5 (nearly full moon)	eVscope focused Session goals: confirm error with manual coordinates, see user alerts for EV mode aborts, find the Helix Nebula
Oct 23 MH	GC: M 2, M 15, M 30, M 72, M 75, NGC 6934 OC: M 73 GN: IC 5070, IC 5146, NGC 7293 PN: NGC 7009	NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula, 21 min), NGC 7293 (ditto, about 11 min) , M 30, M 75, M 72, M 73, NGC 7009 (Saturn Nebula), M 2, M 15, NGC 6934, IC 5070 (Pelican Nebula), IC 5146 (Cocoon Nebula), Moon	Observed with new app version 1.4.3 from 8:45 p.m. until 10:30 p.m., SQM about 19.3 and later 19.2 because of the moon.	eVscope focused Session goals: find the Helix Nebula, find diverse globular star clusters

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
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 5070	Pelican Nebula	Cygnus	GNE	Large reddish nebula, can be guessed without post-processing...
IC 5146	Cocoon Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Small reddish nebula with embedded open star cluster Cr 470
M 2		Aquarius	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones
M 3		Canes Venatici	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones, smaller than M 5
M 5		Serpens Cauda	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones, larger than M 3
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, brighter than 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 Cluster	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 15		Pegasus	GC	Supposedly, it is the best globular cluster in autumn, briught core.
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 reversing telescope, some people recognize a swan...
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	Nice, but sometimes faint or in clouds; also photographed for comparison with the eVscope 2
M 28		Sagittarius	GC	Smaller than the nearby M 22
M 29		Aquila	OS	Pattern created from a few stars
M 30		Capricornus	GC	According to Stoyan, a typical globular star cluster that cannot be resolved in small telescopes. In the eVscope this is manifested by the very bright core.
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 42	Orion Nebula	Orion	GN	Photographed for comparison with eVscope 2, somewhat fuzzy...
M 51	with NGC 5195	Canes Venatici	G	Nice spiral galaxy with connected satellite galaxy NGC 5195
M 56		Lyra	GC	One of the smaller globular star clusters
M 57	Ring Nebula	Lyra	PN	Ring clearly visible
M 71		Sagitta	GC	According to Stoyan, an unusually loose globular star cluster
M 72		Aquarius	GC	According to Stoyan, one of the more inconspicuous globular star clusters
M 73		Aquarius	OC	According to Stoyan, one of the more obscure Messier objects, but worth visiting
M 75		Sagittarius	GC	According to Stoyan, following M 54, the farthest away globular star cluster in Messier's catalogue, which explains its low brightness and size.
M 92		Hercules	GC	Nice globular star cluster, smaller than M 13, but brighter core
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; this time rather faint
NGC 672	mit IC 1727	Triangulum	G	Galaxy pair Holm 46
NGC 6041	Abell 2151, Hercules Cluster	Hercules	G, GaC	Cluster of galaxies 500 million light-years away with 300 galaxies; visible galaxies are tiny in the eVscope.
NGC 6207		Hercules	G	Small galaxy close to M 13 in Hercules; small but nice
NGC 6210	Turtle Nebula	Hercules	PN	Rather bright and turquoise; has a white central star, which is regarded as easy to observe (not in eVscope).
NGC 6934		Delphinus	GC	According to Stoyan hard to resolve; it is, however, possible with the eVscope.
NGC 6960	Western Veil Nebula	Cygnus	GN	I was able to catch at least a glimpse of NGC 6960 with the eVscope, although all this is far too large for the eVscope's field of view.
NGC 6992/5	Eastern Veil Nebula	Cygnus	GN	I was able to catch at least a glimpse of NGC 6992/5 with the eVscope, although all this is far too large for the eVscopes field of view
NGC 7000	North America Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Too large for the eVscope, nebula not really recognizable...
NGC 7009	Saturn Nebula	Aquarius	PN	Very small, reminds of the planet Saturn with its "ears".
NGC 7293	Helix Nebula (Eye of God)	Aquarius	PN	Extremely faint and barely detectable under the existing sky conditions, a little better later...
NGC 7317	Stephan's Quintet	Pegasus	G	Part of Stephan's Quintet, a group of small galaxies. In the eVscope it is very small. It is located close to the galaxy NGC 7331.
NGC 7331	With NGC 7335, NGC 7337, and NGC 7340	Pegasus	G	Originally faint, but confirmed with a Stoyan drawing; better seen in August and September 2020; the galaxy NGC 7335 and two smaller galaxies are on the better photos.
NGC 7332/39		Pegasus	G	Double galaxy
NGC 7479	Superman Galaxy	Pegasus	G	Can be seen well as a barred spiral
Jupiter			P	If I want to see moons, I cannot see the stripes - and vice versa... Better with app version 1.4.3.
Saturn			P	Small, but the ring can be recognized
Moon			M	Close to the full moon

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