Began: 2/9/13 7:41 PM
Finished: 2/10/13 1:10 AM
Seeing: II. Mostly stable
Transparency: Clear
Site: Leeville

Today/tonight was forecast (correctly) to be a good night for astronomy so I decided to pack up and head for green sky conditions leaving my orange sky behind. An hour and twenty minutes later I was in green sky teritory.

What fun! Constellations jumped out and grabed you, I could see all sorts of faint fuzzies that have been elluding me for a while now. Well worth the time and effort. I’ll be making this trip several more times. Next time, however, I think I will make it around 2am or so to observe during the morning hours instead of the evening hours, as I have already observed quite a bit of the early-mid evening Messier objects visible this time of the year.

I didn’t expect the trip to be this successful and was able to observe all but one of the objects on my list, so I started observing things I could find on my star charts. That morning was church and then a birthday party for one of my daughters, so when I exhausted my list, I decided to head home.

With this session complete, this places me at 50 of 110 Messier objects observed!

  1. M31 a Galaxy in the Andromeda constellation (also named Andromeda Galaxy, NGC224, UGC454,Andromeda A,Andromeda Galaxy) observed at 7:41 PM - I was able to see a glow with my naked eye from this dark site! I then of course viewed with the binoculars and various EPs. - with my *, C8/VX (ES 82/24mm*)
  2. M33 a Galaxy in the Triangulum constellation (also named Triangulum Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy, NGC598, UGC1117,Pinwheel Galaxy,Triangulum Galaxy,Triangulum Pinwheel Galaxy) observed at 7:52 PM - I finally spotted it! All it took was good conditions in a dark sky area. I could easily identify it as a galaxy but I could not see it’s spiraling arms. 24mm gave the best view, I believe. - with my UltraView 10x50, C8/VX (Z 30mm), C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  3. M42 a Open+D Neb in the Orion constellation (also named Great Orion Nebula, Orion A, NGC1976,Trapezium) observed at 9:02 PM - Much more nebulocity seen than usual. - with my C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (Z 30mm), C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm), UltraView 10x50
  4. M109 a Galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation (also named NGC3992, UGC6937) observed at 9:52 PM - Had to use averted vision for a bi then I could look directly at it but didn’t get any more detail. The 18mm gave the best view. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  5. M85 a Galaxy in the Coma Berenices constellation (also named NGC4382, UGC7508) observed at 9:59 PM - Caught rising, only 17° elevation. Could easily see it was a galaxy but couldn’t tell it was a spiral. 18mm seemed best, marked to revisit later in the session. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  6. M102 a Galaxy in the Draco constellation (also named Spindle Galaxy (duplicate of M101?), NGC5866, UGC9723) observed at 10:04 PM - Too early, did spot it with averted vision, was 18°. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  7. M95 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named NGC3351, UGC5850) observed at 10:09 PM - This was a fun one with the 12mm EP. Wish it weren’t so cold, I’d sketch it. 24mm was bright enough that I jumped. Using averted vision provided a little more detail to the galaxy. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  8. M105 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named NGC3379, UGC5902) observed at 10:17 PM - This one was fun because with my 18mm and 12mm EPs, I could easily observe 3 galaxies! Had to look the other two up: NGC 3384 and NGC 3389. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  9. NGC3384 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation observed at 10:17 PM - Didn’t set out to observe this object, but when looking at M105, I spotted it. Also spotted was NGC3389. This trio was quite an enjoyable view! - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  10. NGC3389 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation observed at 10:17 PM - Didn’t set out to observe this object, but when looking at M105, I spotted it. Also spotted was NGC3384. This trio was quite an enjoyable view! - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  11. M96 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named NGC3368, UGC5882) observed at 10:30 PM - Very easy to see but still can not see spiral arms. 24mm and 18mm were both good views. I tried a UHC filter but didn’t notice a difeference. Maybe made it worse. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm)
  12. M65 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named Leo Triplet, NGC3623, UGC6328,Leo Triplet [1]) observed at 10:38 PM - Nice! I could see a longish (oblong) galaxy with good definition. With the 24mm I couldn’t help but notice M66 to the left. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  13. M66 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named Leo Triplet, NGC3627, UGC6346,Leo Triplet [2]) observed at 10:43 PM - Just a short hop from M65. It too was good detail. Not quite as large and averted vision provided more detail than with M65. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  14. NGC3628 a Galaxy in the Leo constellation (also named Leo Triplet [3]) observed at 10:47 PM - While looking at M65 and M66, it was easy to see this galaxy as well. I had to refer to the star charts to figure out what it was. Here all three make the Leo Triplet. It was quite a bit dimmer than M65 and M66. I only saw it when I began moving from M65 to M66. With averted vision I could see it was a long galaxy. The 18mm gave me the best view, but my 24mm was a very close second. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm)
  15. M85 a Galaxy in the Coma Berenices constellation (also named NGC4382, UGC7508) observed at 11:02 PM - No change but I did notice another galaxy there, it was NGC 4394! - with my C8/VX (GR 18mm)
  16. NGC4394 a Galaxy in the Coma Berenices constellation observed at 11:05 PM - Spotted while looking at M85 for a second time. - with my C8/VX (GR 18mm)
  17. M102 a Galaxy in the Draco constellation (also named Spindle Galaxy (duplicate of M101?), NGC5866, UGC9723) observed at 11:11 PM - My second look of the day at M102. Can no see it directly. My 12mm provided a good view. - with my C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  18. M102 a Galaxy in the Draco constellation (also named Spindle Galaxy (duplicate of M101?), NGC5866, UGC9723) observed at 12:52 AM - 3rd view of the session and I can now see that it is oblong but no other details. - with my C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  19. HR286 a Star in the Ursa Minor constellation (also named SAO209, HD5914) observed at 11:20 PM - Was able to split it with all three. There was a large size difference between the two stars. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  20. ASCC1275925 a Star+Var Star+Dbl in the Orion constellation (also named β Ori, 19 Ori, HD34085, HIP24436, Rigel) observed at 11:28 PM - Split with 18mm and 12mm but the 12mm was a bad view, the stars were not nice pinpoints of light, not yet sure why. - with my C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  21. HR3208 a Mult in the Cancer constellation (also named ζ Cnc, 16 Cnc, SAO97645, HD68257) observed at 11:36 PM - Was able to split with 24, 18 and 12mm EPs. The size between the two stars is very close. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  22. M101 a Galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation (also named Pinwheel Galaxy, NGC5457, UGC8981) observed at 11:55 PM - Could barely make it out with averted vision. Can see 2 or 3 stars with a little cloud dust. Can not see spirals. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  23. M1 a SNR in the Taurus constellation (also named Crab Nebula, Taurus A, NGC1952,CM Tauri,Crab Nebula,Crab Pulsar,Taurus A) observed at 12:00 AM - Easy to see, no stars seen though. Could not see anything that would remind me of a crab. A lot of nebula material. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  24. M81 a Galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation (also named Bode’s Galaxy, NGC3031, UGC5318,Bode’s Galaxies (Nebulae) [1]) observed at 12:08 AM - Round blob of nebulosity! - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  25. M82 a Galaxy in the Ursa Major constellation (also named Cigar Galaxy, Ursa Major A, NGC3034, UGC5322,Cigar Galaxy,Ursa Major A) observed at 12:20 AM - I like M82 quite a bit as it has a distinctive oblong shape with multiple stars surrounding it. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  26. NGC6543 a P Neb in the Draco constellation (also named Cat Eye Nebula) observed at 12:32 AM - The Cat Eye Nebula. When viewing with my 24mm, it could be mistaken for a star, although it looks a bit larger. When using higher magnifications it becomes apparent it is not a star just due to its size, but I could not see anything that reminded me of a cat eye. I could not magnify it large enough. It was a very bright light and did not fade out towards the edges like a lot of nebulas. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm)
  27. NGC2392 a P Neb in the Gemini constellation (also named Clown Nebula, Clown Face N.,Eskimo Nebula) observed at 12:40 AM - Larger than NGC6543 and you can see a bright center that fades out toward the edges like nebula’s typically look like. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm)
  28. M13 a Globular in the Hercules constellation (also named Hercules Globular Cluster, Great Hercules Cluster, NGC6205) observed at 12:55 AM - This is one of my favorite sights in the sky. I looked at it with my 24, 18 and 12mm EPs and also found it with my binoculars. The view just keeps getting better and better as you zoom in. Near perfect focusing is required though to really get a good picture. - with my C8/VX (ES 82/24mm), C8/VX (GR 18mm), C8/VX (GR 12mm), UltraView 10x50