[Lvas] Suggestions for Future Observer's Challenge

[roger ivester]

Rob and all,
 
If you can imagine this, at one time I became absolutely obsessed with the Cocoon Nebula. I attempted from my backyard for many years with my 10-inch with no luck, using a variety of filters. Maybe a true dark site would have helped.

 

Tom English brought an orange tube C-8 over on two occasions. I used my 10-inch. We could see the dark lane fairly easily but not the Cocoon itself. I have attached a picture. Notice the dark lane.     

 

A couple of years ago I talked with Jim Dire about this object and he said that it was best seen with a 20-inch or larger telescope. I have never talked with anyone "personally" that has ever observer the Cocoon. This is going to be one interesting object, and maybe best suited for John Heller's 25-inch scope.

 

Has anyone reading this e-mail ever observed the Cocoon?

 

My notes are very sparse on the ring-tail galaxies so I am very excited about doing some work on these objects. As I have mentioned before, my southern sky is not very good from my backyard, so I will go to a dark site for these galaxies.  

 

I have always found IC-342 to be difficult to locate, but then fairly easy once you have found it. It seems to be obscured within a very rich star field and the surface brightness is very low. This will be a good one for critical review. 

 

Rob, again...just an excellent list of objects.

 

roger
 

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



 
> Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 07:28:19 -0700
> From: scopegeek at gmail.com
> To: lvas at lvlug.org
> Subject: [Lvas] Suggestions for Future Observer's Challenge
> 
> Morning Guys,
> 
> Here are some suggestions to consider for future Observer's Challenge 
> objects:
> 
> * I had already suggested NGC 253 and 891
> * IC 342 - Spiral Galaxy
> * NGC 6543 - Planetary Nebula - Cat's Eye Nebula
> * IC 5146 - Emission Nebula - Cocoon Nebula and Dark Nebula
> * NGC 6888 - Emission Nebula - Crescent Nebula
> * NGC 7331 - Spiral Galaxy - Stephans Quintent
> * IC 405 - Reflection and Emission Nebula - Flaming Star Nebula
> * NGC 4631 - Irregular Galaxy - Whale and Calf
> * NGC 6992/6995/6960 - Supernova Remnant - Veil Nebula
> * NGC 4889 - Coma Galaxy Cluster
> * NGC 4565 - Barred Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berinices w/ dark lane
> * NGC 4038/4039 - Irregular Galaxy - Ringtail Galaxy
> * NGC 7293 - Planetary Nebula - Helix Nebula
> * NGC 5128 - Galaxy - Centaurus A
> 
> Most of these objects can be observed in a 4-inch telescope.
> 
> As a separate effort, I may create another challenge for smaller 
> telescopes. Some folks have mentioned that they would like to 
> participate in a challenge but have smaller scopes that can't pull out 
> the features we've been highlighting. So, I may create a "Small Scope 
> Challenge" based on Sue French's /Celestial Sampler/.
> 
> Anyway, the above are just some suggestions to consider. I thought the 
> objects have some features that are often overlooked by the casual 
> observer. I consider the Challenge to be a joint effort, and look to 
> this group for suggestions/guidance in selecting suitable objects that 
> we'll all enjoy observing and reporting on.
> 
> I'm thrilled that something we're doing is well received and being used 
> by a few other clubs. I hope we can continue this for quite awhile. It 
> has greatly improved my focus and enjoyment of observing. Each month, I 
> can't wait to get out and observe our challenge object.
> 
> Take care.
> 
> Rob


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