Deep Sky Observations with eVscope December 2021/January 2022

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 starting at the end of December 2021 and ending at the end of January 2022, which might be of interest to other beginners. In this phase, I used version 1.5 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 sold my eVscope on March 15, 2022.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

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

Observation Time

The observations in this phase started at the end of December 2021. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful star alignment with the eVscope. In December and January, this was possible already after 5:30 p.m.

Observation Location

All 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, I only needed the eVscope and my iPhone.

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" 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.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2021/22	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
Dec 20 MH	PN: M 27	Order: collimation checked, M 27, collimation?, M 27 (up to 15 min, but elongated stars)	Observed with new app version 1.5.0 from 6:10 p.m. until 7:10 p.m., SQM nearly 19	eVscope focused Session goal: compare the eVscope with the eVscope 2
Dec 21 MH	GC: M 71 GN: M 42 PN: M 27	Order: collimation checked, M 27, collimation, M 27, M 71, break, M 42	Observed with new app version 1.5.0 from 6:15 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. and from 10:45 p.m. until 11:30 p.m., SQM about 19.2-19.3	eVscope focused and a little bit decollimated Session goal: compare the eVscope with the eVscope 2, particulary later at M 42
Jan 24 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 with new app version 1.5.0 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, the aim was to compare both telescopes using identical DSO.
Mar 15				I sold my eVscope

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
B 33	Horsehead Nebula	Orion	DN	Better to see when exposed longer
M 1	Crab Nebula	Taurus	GE	Seen well
M 27	Dumbbell Nebula	Vulpecula	PN	Nice, test object for the collimation
M 33	Triangulum Galaxy	Triangulum	G	Very faint, details recognizable only when longer exposed
M 42	Orion Nebula	Orion	GE	Too large, somewhat blurry, Trapezium washed out
M 43	De Mairan's Nebula	Orion	GE	Part of M 42
M 45	Pleiades, Seven Sisters	Taurus	OC	Too large for the eVscope's field of view
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 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	Two stars like eyes; bright when longer exposed
NGC 1977	Running Man Nebula	Orion	GR	Better to see when longer exposed
NGC 2024	Flame Nebula	Orion	GE	Rather faint reddish nebula next to Alnitak; better to see, when longer exposed
Jupiter			P	As attempt for collimation

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)

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