Astronomy | GXR · GR · RX100 M1 · RX100 M4 · RX10 M3/4 · TZ202 · X Vario · M240 · General | Photos | Conf. Places | Calendars | Art
Deep Sky Winter Observations January/February 2021
Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References
In January and February 2021, I did simple "deep-sky winter observations," which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau.
Conditions
Sky Region and Objects
In January and February 2021, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are 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 were done in January and February 2021, mostly directly after sunset.
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 TLAPO1027 on the Star Discovery mount, the C5 on the AZ-GTi and AZ Pronto mounts, and the Skymax-127 on the AZ Pronto and the Star Discovery mounts. I also used the Sony RX10 M4 on the AZ-GTi and AZ Pronto mounts.
General Conditions
In Mühlhausen/Kraichgau, the sky was not particularly dark.
Observation Overview
| Date 2021 |
Observed Objects | Details, Remarks | Further Observations and Remarks | Devices Used | Eyepieces Used |
| Jan 10 MH |
OC: M 35, M 37, M 45 GN: M 42/43 |
Comparison C5 - Skymax-127: M 42/43: C5 mostly with 2" zenith mirror and eyepieces (26, 40 mm); SM127 with 24, 25, 32 mm - both tubes on par M 45: C5 with 40 mm, SM127 with 24 mm: C5 shows M 45 more or less completely (nice), SM127 only a section (nice as well, but not the same...) M 35: C5 with 26 mm, SM127 with 24 mm - both tubes in par >> nice bent star chain M 37: C5 with 26, 40, 16 mm, SM127 with 24 mm - SM127 better initially; C5 on par after I had added a dew cap (to prevent stray light) >> M37 small, like a nebula at small magnifications Comparison C5 - TLAPO1027 |
Overall, the C5 did well (mostly used with 2" accessories),
but the Skymax-127 is at least on par.
The TLAPO1027 refractor was somewhat disappointing at M 42 compared to the C5 - I expected it to be better... |
C5 on AZ Pronto, Skymax-127 on AZ Pronto and Star Discovery, TLAPO1027 on Star Discovery | 40, 32, 26, 24, 16 mm |
| Feb 11 MH |
OC: M 45 GN: M 42/43 |
M 42 (several times, 1 s), M 45 (1 s) | Photos taken with the Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto | Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto mount | --- |
| Feb 12 MH |
OC: Mel 25, M 35, M 45, M 50 GN: M 42/43 , M 78, NGC 2024 |
1) Order: Constellation Orion (start photo), M 43/43 (two
times), M
45 (Pleiades), Mel 25 (Hyades), M 35, Alnitak (NGC
2024, Flame Nebula; nebula invisible), M 78, M 50;
all exposed with 1second
2) M 42/43 exposed with 5, 10, and 30 seconds |
1) Photos taken with the Sony RX10 M4 on AZ-GTi (GoTo
with handbox) with angle bracket for camera, exposed for 1 second
(2) Photos taken with the Sony RX10 M4 on AZ-GTi (GoTo with handbox) with angle bracket for camera, exposed 5, 10, and 30 seconds | Sony RX10 M4 on the AZ-GTi mount | --- |
| Feb 13 MH |
OC: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 45, M 50 GN: M 42/43, M 78 |
Order of observations: M 42/43: observed several times, got better over time M 45: only a part visible in the eyepiece M 35, M 36, M 37 (compact), M 38 M 78: very faint "NGC 2044" was not accepted by the mount control; nothing to see around Alnitak, which I used instead... I was in error, I wanted to see NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula)! But there was nothing to see as well... M 1: not found M 50: initially hidden (too low), later found with some effort (tested with Sirius for the GoTo error; then I was able to find it...) |
Crescent of the moon just visble (the dark area as well)
Starting at about 7 p.m. with C5 on AZ-GTi (handbox, 2 star alignment
using Rigel and Castor), f/6.3 reducer/corrector and 24 mm eyepiece After 15 minutes tracking test, M 42/43 was lost in the eyepiece, but I was able to get it back by issuing a GoTo command for M 42/43 (it was nearly at the center after that); seemed to be wrong or no tracking??? |
C5 auf AZ-GTi, f/6.3 reducer/corrector, 1.25" visual back | 24 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 | TLAPO 1027 |
C8 | C8R | C5 | C5R | RX | Remarks |
| M 35 | Gemini | OC | yes | yes | yes | yes | Nice, saw a star chain | ||||||
| M 36 | Auriga | OC | yes | Nice | |||||||||
| M 37 | Auriga | OC | yes | yes | yes | At low magnification like a nebula, smaller than M 35, most compact of M 36-38 | |||||||
| M 38 | Auriga | OC | yes | Nice | |||||||||
| M 42/43 | Orion Nebula | Orion | GN | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | Orion Nebula nice, my objective was in part to compare several of my telescopes. | ||||
| M 45 | Pleiades, Seven Sisters | Taurus | OC | yes | yes | yes | yes | Nice, "rich field" with 40 mm at the C5 (2"); only a section wiuth the SM127 | |||||
| M 50 | Monoceros | OC | yes | yes | Found after some GoTo issues... | ||||||||
| M 78 | Orion | GN | yes | yes | Very faint (photographed quite OK) | ||||||||
| Mel 25 | Hyades | Taurus | OC | yes | Large | ||||||||
| NGC 2024 | Flame Nebula | Orion | GN | no | Nothing to see, only Alnitak... |
*) 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
On this Website
- Overview of Observations
- DSO List (Collected from Books)
- TS Optics Photoline 102/715 Information (4" Refractor)
- Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA Information (5" Maksutov-Cassegrain)
- Celestron C5 OTA Information (5" Schmidt-Cassegrain)
- Sky-Watcher AZ Pronto Mount Information
- Sky-Watcher Star Discovery AZ GoTo Mount Information
- Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi AZ GoTo Mount Information
|
made by  on a mac! |
| 28.04.2024 |  |