[Lvas] FW: A Preview

Wed Feb 18 06:34:15 PST 2009

LVAS all, 

This e-mail will be sent to a number of amateurs in the southeast, as far west as Nevada, and a few others scattered elsewhere.

Before the weekend it is my intentions to send my first of which I hope can be a regular monthly object critique, or critical review of selected deep-sky objects. The first object to be reviewed will be the Crab Nebula, or M-1.

This particular object I have been working on since 1995 but have yet to complete. The primary reason is that I need a few more observations from other observers with a variety of scopes and sizes. This is also true of many other objects that I have been working on over the past twenty years. 

My particular interest in this object (M-1) occurred after years of observations. I never noted seeing any embedded stars within the nebula until looked through an observing friends 14.5-inch reflector. I immediately noticed a "shimmering" of faint stars within the nebula that of which I had never seen before with my 10-inch. The stars I saw are reported as being 13.5 to 14th magnitude. They should be resonably easy with my 10-inch but I have been unable to see them from my moderately light polluted backyard.

This object will have information from myself, quotes from the following book's and book authors, and observers. If you are interested in participating in the next "observing project" or the next object of review, I would certainly encourage you.  This is the intended purpose...to have participation from serious or otherwise amateurs from different parts of the country sharing information, ideas and to promote amateur astronomy. 

This concept of sharing information is designed to be fun and learn at the same time. If you chose to participate I will list your name as an observer, with your notes, which will include telescope, magnification, and anything else you would like to share. 

References for the Crab Nebula will be from the following sources:

James Mullaney "Celestial harvest". Jim has made it known over the years that in  his "Finest Deep-Sky Objects" ... M-1 should have been included. I have corresponded with Jim for quite a few years now starting with letters and stamps almost 20 years ago. Jim has just completed a new book. The book is titled "Cambridge Double Star Atlas" with cartography done by none other than Wil Tirion. It is scheduled to be released next month by Cambridge University Press. Go to their site for more information. Many have expressed the difficulty of finding some double stars...this will solve that problem.  

Tom Lorenzin "The Amateur Astronomer's Field Guide to Deep Sky Observing"

James Muirden "How To Use An Astronomical Telescope"

Fred Rayworth...A very skilled observer from Nevada using a16-inch reflector.  

Brian Skiff and Christian Luginbuhl "Observing Handbook And Catalog Of Deep-Sky Objects.   

Myself...Roger Ivester: I do not make any claims to being anything other than a amateur with 40 years of interest in astronomy. It has been only in the last 20 years that I have been a devoted and serious student. 

I have been able to accumulate a minimum of 500 3x5 note cards of the Messier objects using several different telescopes. All have been sketched at least one or two times...some five or more.

I have over 600 pages of "catalogued" deep-sky object notes in journal books.

600 3x5 note cards and sketches of Jim Mullaneys "Finest Deep-Sky Objects" of which was my first deep-sky reference book. I remember showing Jim some of my early deep-sky sketches, especially double stars. They were not really that good at the time, but Jim was kind and always said good things. I have improved slightly over the years.

Maybe 500 or more 3x5 note cards of selected double stars and other deep-sky objects, plus multiple books of sketches.

Why am I telling you this?  It's certainly note to be boastful, but to let you know that I have a lot of information that is sitting on the shelf...doing nothing. I want to share and continue to "revisit" and catalog "new objects" with the help of others.

If you are not interested in receiving this information please let me know. 

The Following objects will be: 

M-84 and M86...there are a total of nine galaxies within a 1° field when centered on M-84. This is actually one of my favorite groups and possibly my best sketch also as it contains all nine galaxies.

If you have time to observe the following faint galaxies it would be good.
NGC 4284 and NGC 4290 in Ursa Major. These galaxies were discussed previouly with "spurious" object M-40.  

 Best regards to all... Roger Ivester 

    I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how he could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.      Abraham Lincoln

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