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Friday 13 June 2008

Some observations from TSP

Here are some observations from TSP. Of course, I did sketches too, but these aren't scanned in yet. The observations here were put together using the Deepsky software I bought at TSP. The software is good, once you have sussed out how to use it, and I like the Logbook feature (used to make the observation notes below).
You can upload your observations to a blog but this is the downside - you have to have an account with Astronomy Blogs. That's no problem because it's free and it doesn't take long to sign up but I use Blogspot (Blogger) and want to continue to use Blogspot for my blog. So, a choice would be nice. Besides Astronomy Blogs has problems - missing pages, 'funny' dates (my uploaded observations came out dated 12/31/1969 which is a month before I was born - WTF??!) and doesn't seem to be very active and I don't see it lasting. Still, I can cut and paste my observations from there to here or my main site if I want to.

Object: NGC 6572 - Emerald Nebula, PK 34+11.1

Deepsky Catalog: NGC 2000
Date Observed: 13/06/2008 19:45:28
Object RA: 18h 12.10533m
Object Declination: 6d 51.2155'
Object Type: PlnNeb
Constellation: Oph
Magnitude: 9
Size: 0.1
Locate Method: Star Hopping
Observing Location: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX, USA
Primary Equipment Used: 36" Dobsonian
Power/Magnification Used: 232x
Transparency/Seeing: Deepsky Extremely Clear / Deepsky Mostly Stable
Detailed Observing Notes: Bright blue PN with a dense bright centre (central star?), surrounded by fainter halo. Beautiful object.

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Object: NGC 4216
Deepsky Catalog: NGC 2000
Date Observed: 13/06/2008 19:39:47
Object RA: 12h 15.90433m
Object Declination: 13d 8.985'
Object Type: Gx
Constellation: Vir
Magnitude: 10
Size: 8.3
Locate Method: Star Hopping
Observing Location: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX, USA
Primary Equipment Used: 36" Dobsonian
Power/Magnification Used: 232x
Transparency/Seeing: Deepsky Extremely Clear / Deepsky Mostly Stable
Detailed Observing Notes: A superb view with the 36". 4216 is very large, very bright and elongated, with a bright compact core.
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Object: NGC 4206
Deepsky Catalog: NGC 2000
Date Observed: 13/06/2008 19:20:47
Time Observed: 23:00Local
Object RA: 12h 15.27917m Object Declination: 13d 1.438333'
Object Type: Gx
Constellation: Vir
Magnitude: 12.1
Size: 5.2
Locate Method: Star Hopping
Observing Location: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX, USA
Primary Equipment Used: 36inch Dobsonian
Transparency/Seeing: Deepsky Extremely Clear / Deepsky Mostly Stable
Detailed Observing Notes: NGC 4206 is an elongated edge-on galaxy. It is in the same f.o.v. as NGC 4216 through the 36" at 232x, but is smaller, fainter and lacks a bright core.
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Object: NGC 3190 group/Hickson 44
Deepsky Catalog: Hickson Catalog of Compact Groups of Galaxies
Date Observed: 03/06/2008 20:13:47
Locate Method: Star Hopping
Observing Location: Prude Ranch, Fort Davis, TX, USA
Primary Equipment Used: 36" Dobsonian
Power/Magnification Used: 232x
Transparency/Seeing: Deepsky Extremely Clear/Deepsky Mostly Stable
Detailed Observing Notes: A nice group of galaxies. NGC 3190 is the brightest member with a prominent dust lane and its elongated.
NGC 3187 is faint, round and evenly bright
NGC 3185 has a slight brightening towards the centre.
NGC 3193 is round with a dense core and a fuzzy halo.