Grey Night Sky

Pretty happy from tonights observations........JUST made out M51 in
UMa.......sad I know but the LP here is pretty damn awful........not just
from Dundee (UK) but from nearby houses, flats, TESCO supermarket and next
doors security light.

In fact looking through the ep the night sky isnt black but more a grey
colour.......and the milky is completely invisible.......M44 is barely
visible to naked eye and M31 isnt.......

My scope is very basic.....a 130mm Newtonian parabolic f 650mm........but
very easy to store and setup...and I can resolve Castors triple star system
with it.........but the DSO books I keep reading say I should see M51
easily- its a very faint smudge of cloud.......and also M101........which is
a no-go........got the right spot but just no galaxy........
Same for NGC2419.....right place no gc.......I am pretty sure I am looking
at the right place as I am using Cartes du Ciel, wikisky and Philips Star
Atlas........and the same star hopping technique enabled me to just about
see M51......

Guess once my little girl is better I will make that trip into the Highlands
for true dark skies and get to see what difference it makes!

--
M
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"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security
will deserve neither and lose both."
[Benjamin Franklin]

"War is delightful to those who have had no experience of it."
[Erasmus]

"A collision at sea can ruin your entire day."
[Thucydides]