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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
About four years ago, I observed the last of the Herschel 400
with my 7" Dob. After completing the project, I rewarded myself by ordering a 12.5" scope, and I expect eventually to observe all of the Herschel 400 with that scope as well. The difference between the two sets of observations is striking. The first time around, I was intensely goal-oriented, eager to complete the entire list, which I did in a little over a year. This time, I have been at the job for over three years, with no end yet in sight. The difference is partly due to circumstances; my 7" Dob was mobile, so that I used it in city, suburbs, and country, whereas my 12.5" Dob lives in the country, where I can only get to it on weekends and during vacations. Also, in both cases, I enhanced the observing list with other objects; the first time around I observed the union of the Messier list, the Herschel 400, and the RASC 110. This time, I am observing all of those, plus the Caldwell list and Steve Gottlieb's list of the best IC objects -- both filtered with respect to my latitude. But the biggest difference is attitude. The first time around, finishing the list was a goal. This time, the observing list is primarily an aid or accessory. Unlike some people, I find that if I go out to observe without an agenda, I end up frittering my time away, and enjoying myself less than I might. The Herschel 400 enhances my pleasure by providing a convenient answer to the question "what should I observe next?", but I am in no hurry at all to finish it. Yesterday, I was editing and colating my observing notes from the night before, and I was particularly struck by how much I have grown as an observer, and by how much more I can see with a 12.5" scope than I could with a 7" scope. It is true that the Herschel 400 can all be seen with a fairly small scope -- many of them quite easily -- but it does not follow that a small scope is sufficient to show them all to full advantage. Here, for instance, are comparative notes for two rather interesting objects: the planetary nebula NGC 7008 and the open cluster NGC 7044. In the latter case, it seems obvious that the observation with the 7" scope was erroneous. There is no way that I can reconcile what I recorded with reality; I must have observed some nearby asterism instead. NGC 7008: 09/17/98 7" Dob: Truly large oval about 1', very faint for planetary nebula, just to side of faint companion. 08/30/03 12.5" Dob: Exotic planetary nebula off 2 moderately bright stars, the brighter of those just off side of nebula, slightly enhanced by UHC filter. Elliptical, elongated 15 degrees counterclockwise to line between stars, 1.2' x 0.8', striking bright blob at far end of ellipse from stars about 0.2' around, hint of symmetric concentration on near end of ellipse but much fainter, central star readily visible, with hint of a second star inside. NGC 7044: 09/17/98 7" Dob: Ill defined cluster at 32X. At 105X, 9 stars in 3' triangle, no sense of other stars not seen. 08/30/03 12.5" Dob: Surprising open cluster showing as a subtle bright patch at 151X with no stars visible directly but many peering through with averted vision, at least a dozen but impossible to count. About 3' and slightly elliptical, assuming that tail of much brighter stars is not part of the true cluster. Presumably quite rich to show as a nebulous patch, with even the stars seen with averted vision just the tip of the iceberg. A pleasure to see an open cluster like this with such a big scope, reminiscent of M37 or M11 seen through a very small scope. How gratifying to be seeing the same old objects, yet still be seeing so many new things! - Tony Flanders |
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
"Tony Flanders" wrote in message
... Unlike some people, I find that if I go out to observe without an agenda, I end up frittering my time away, and enjoying myself less than I might. Not to turn this into yet another GT/Anti-GT thread, but you raise an interesting point. I too find that observing lists make the night more enjoyable. As Shawn use to so often claim [paraphrased], "Most DSO's look like crap, so the hunt is a lot of the joy of astronomy". In my case, I find having a list and GoTo or DSC's makes the night a _lot_ more fun. At least from the standpoint of viewing as many "crappy" looking objects as possible in a single session. Using just the Dob and SA2000 with a list is also enjoyable, but I prefer using a computer aided scope to do the survey work, and then the Dob to learn to find the good stuff, without whiz-bang aids. That way, on nights without a plan (which is most nights), at public outings, or remote sites, I can visit my repertoire of favorite objects without needing anything but SA2000, a red light and memory. Nights I like to to relax, take in the eye candy and listen smooth jazz. Days are reserved for metal, hard labor and stress (and I like that too). In both cases, there are goals, and that makes all the difference to a guy like me. I can be a real slug, but only for a (very) limited time, then I have _got_ to do something. Life is too short to just sit idle and let others have all the fun. :-) -- -Stephen Paul |
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
Ritesh,
What kind of new 14.5" scope are you getting? I, too, have an Orion XT8 that performs very well (and which I intend on keeping), but I have a 16" Custom Truss Tube Dob from NightSky Scopes on order. I hope to have it in March. Jason "Axel" wrote in message om... How gratifying to be seeing the same old objects, yet still be seeing so many new things! Interesting post and quite a stark contrast in the descriptions. I'm hoping for a similar quantum leap in detail going from my 8" to a 14.5" shortly. I could never get motivated to do the Herschel 400 because I dismissed most of the galaxies as being likely to be uninteresting with an 8" scope. I'm sure the task will be much more enjoyable with the new scope! Ritesh -----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =----- http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! -----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =----- |
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
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#5
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
What kind of new 14.5" scope are you getting? I, too, have an Orion XT8
that performs very well (and which I intend on keeping), but I have a 16" Custom Truss Tube Dob from NightSky Scopes on order. I hope to have it in March. Jason Hi Jason, mine's also a custom truss from NightSky Scopes! Jim was somewhat reluctant to make it the longer f/5.4 focal ratio I wanted, but he agreed to do it for a bit extra. R.F. Royce made the primary for me. I placed the order for the structure back in March or thereabouts, so it should be nearly done! I think I'll just drive over to Louisiana and pick it up personally. I'll be sure to post details on its mechanics, as yours will no doubt be very similar. I'm not sure if I'll hang on to the 8" tube Dob. The somewhat better portability isn't much of an advantage for me because I can't view from my condo, so I have to pack it all in the truck and drive somewhere anyway. What's custom on your 16"? Ritesh |
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
Stephen,
If you remember, you and I were trying to find M83 from our nice Northern Latitude here, where it's low in the sky and typically in a lot of light pollution. We never would have found it without GT although we did try. It was *barely* visible even after the GT. It would have been a near impossible find without being sure of the spot. Mike. "Stephen Paul" wrote in message ... "Tony Flanders" wrote in message ... Unlike some people, I find that if I go out to observe without an agenda, I end up frittering my time away, and enjoying myself less than I might. Not to turn this into yet another GT/Anti-GT thread, but you raise an interesting point. I too find that observing lists make the night more enjoyable. As Shawn use to so often claim [paraphrased], "Most DSO's look like crap, so the hunt is a lot of the joy of astronomy". In my case, I find having a list and GoTo or DSC's makes the night a _lot_ more fun. At least from the standpoint of viewing as many "crappy" looking objects as possible in a single session. Using just the Dob and SA2000 with a list is also enjoyable, but I prefer using a computer aided scope to do the survey work, and then the Dob to learn to find the good stuff, without whiz-bang aids. That way, on nights without a plan (which is most nights), at public outings, or remote sites, I can visit my repertoire of favorite objects without needing anything but SA2000, a red light and memory. Nights I like to to relax, take in the eye candy and listen smooth jazz. Days are reserved for metal, hard labor and stress (and I like that too). In both cases, there are goals, and that makes all the difference to a guy like me. I can be a real slug, but only for a (very) limited time, then I have _got_ to do something. Life is too short to just sit idle and let others have all the fun. :-) -- -Stephen Paul |
#7
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A Second Pass over the Herschel 400
"Tony Flanders" wrote in message
. .. When in doubt in difficult terrain, reversing your route is almost always the right decision. Wasting 45 minutes going up and down a wrong trail is as nothing compared to what might have happened if you had left the streambed. This is a classic example where technology is *not* a substitute for old-fashioned skills and common sense. Trusting the GPS might well have killed you. Well, we were teens at the time and old fashioned skill and common sense eluded us. :-) That said, I believe the GPS could have really helped us. Especially since we _did_ leave the streambed and became hopelessly lost, with no choice as late afternoon approached evening, but to go upward. And, as usual, it was raining. The moral of that experience was to not take the road less traveled without either, A) more experience, or B) a GPS lock on your position of origin. We had decided at the last minute to not head straight up to the A-Trail, but rather to take a left hand turn at the base and go around and up. If we had the GPS, we could have, and would have, gone back after getting lost. (We didn't even have a compass, just a topo map). So, by the time we had realized we were in real trouble, going upward was the most sensible solution. OTOH, we saw a part of the mountain that others rarely do. A beautiful green meadow area, making a corridor through densely populated forest, was the most memorable. But soon it seemed more like marsh and the water got waist deep. We had to hold the trees along the edge to traverse our way across while remaining out of the water. One tree in particular was a little weak at the roots and when I grabbed hold to swing around, it let go. Thankfully Bruce was there to pull the tree off and help me back on my feet. I was completely submerged, and would have drown. In case you missed it, we had less in the way of experience, than we had in exuberance and energy. Ever since, I've not been a big fan of traveling without reliable technology or skill. |
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