[Lvas] Observer's Challenges For July and August

[Fred Rayworth]

Roger,

 

I'm glad you were able to get out. As you know, my night out Saturday didn't turn out so hot. Still waiting...

 

I'm crossing my fingers for this weekend. It'll probably be Redstone as I don't want to hassle with the park people up on the mountain.

 

As for NGC-6822, I started looking for it in Spain in 1988, and have tried about a dozen times since, but no luck until last Saturday night. If I'd known it would have been that hard to see, I might have looked a bit closer before. In fact, Saturday, I almost missed it. It was nothing more than a slight increase in speckles in the background. It was larger than I expected, but so dim I had to use averted vision over and over again. My friend Jim saw it too, but it took him a few passes to see it. I was expecting something brighter and more defined. No wonder I never saw it before!

 

NGC-6822 is a REAL challenge!

 

Fred


 


From: drivester at hotmail.com
To: lvas at lvlug.org
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:39:04 +0000
Subject: Re: [Lvas] Observer's Challenges For July and August



Fred and all,
 
It was pretty amazing, but I was able to observe last night from my backyard with my 4-inch. I spent most of my time on M-2, and decided that I would use the information and sketch that I obtained last month for M-27.
 
With the potential of rain and thunderstorms this weekend it was amazing when I walked out shortly after sunset to see a sky worthy of setting my scope up. Before beginning my session I could easily see all of the stars in the little dipper and overhead was at least a 5.5 magnitude limiting naked eye. It was still fairly hot and humid.  
 
I spent a large portion of my time trying to see NGC-6822 with poor results. I tried to make myself believe that that I could see a slight glow with field motion slightly south-east of  PN NGC-6818. Ambient lighting reduces the contrast too much for objects with little concentration and extremely low surface brightness such as NGC-6822. 
 
PN 6818 is easily seen with almost any scope. I have some pretty good notes from an 80mm f/15 refractor many years ago. 
 
Fred, I used your notes in an attempt to help me locate N-6822. I made a field sketch drawing of a small chain or grouping of field stars between the PN and the galaxy....still no luck. I was looking at the precise spot and could not see any brightening at all. This has and continues to be a difficult object for me.
 
If I had thought that the skies were going to be so nice I would have made plans to go to a dark site. 
 
I called another observer and friend at the last minute and he was not home. I too don't like to observe out in the country by myself. 
 
NGC-6231 in Scorpius was unfortunately below the trees near my southern horizon. 
 
Roger
 
 
 
 
 

 
    The moon and stars to govern the night.....   Psalm 136:9



 




From: rayworth1969 at hotmail.com
To: lvas at lvlug.org
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:08:01 -0500
Subject: [Lvas] Observer's Challenges For July and August



All,
 
I'm starting to collect any observational notes, drawings, or photos you all may have for our two objects, M-27 and M-2. We are going to do a double report this time to cover both months.
 
Last call will be next weekend just in case by some miracle, the weather gives us a break. However, if any of you have managed to get any observations, please send me what you have and I'll incorporate it into the report.
 
I managed to get M-27, but we got kicked out of the observing site before I could get to M-2. Hopefully, some of you all had better luck!
 
Please don't be shy and send me your stuff!
 
Fred Rayworth
 





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