Category: emission

Dark Nebula Nexus

M20

M20 – The Trifid Nebula
Sketch by Kiminori Ikebe

Mr. Ikebe observed and sketched this view of M20 using a 50 cm Dobsonian at 220X.

M20, The Trifid Nebula, is a famous and beautiful target for astrophotographers and visual observers alike. The red emission nebula contains a young star cluster at its center, and is surrounded by a blue reflection nebula that is most noticeable at the northern end. It’s distance is not well agreed upon, and is listed anywhere from 2,200 light years (Mallas/Kreimer) to 9000 light years (Jeff Hester). Its magnitude estimate is also wide, and is listed from 9.0 (Kenneth Glyn Jones) to 6.8 (Machholz). Part of the magnitude difficulty comes from the very bright triple-star system at the heart of the nebula.

The dark nebula that crosses the Trifid was cataloged by Barnard and listed as B 85. The object was originally cataloged by Charles Messier in 1764, when he described it as a cluster of stars.

Marbled Milky Way Magesty

NGC 6604
NGC 6604
Sketch and details by Eric Graff

Object Name: NGC 6604
Also Known As: H.VIII.15, Cr 373, C1815-122
Object Type: Open Cluster + Emission Nebula (Sh2-54)
Constellation: Serpens (Cauda)
Right Ascension (2000.0): 18h 18.0m
Declination (2000.0): –12° 14′
Magnitude: 6.5
Size: 6′ (some sources say 60′)
NGC Description: Cl, lRi, lC
Discovery: William Herschel, 15 July 1784

Date/Time: 4 July 2008 • 09:05 to 10:30 UT
Location: Oakzanita Springs (4,010 ft. elevation), San Diego Co., California, USA
Telescope: Parks Astrolight EQ6 • 6″ f/6 Newtonian Reflector
Eyepiece/Magnification: Parks 15mm Gold Series Plössl • 60x • 52′ FoV
Filters: Lumicon UHC, Lumicon OIII
Conditions: Clear, calm, 62°F
Seeing: Pickering 4-5
Transparency: NELM 6.3; TLM 14.0

If you sweep 1.6° north and slightly west of M16 you’ll chance upon a tight knot of five stars in a glittering field awash with hundreds of stars and marbled with complex swirls of bright and dark nebulosity. This small group (and undoubtedly many of the fainter stars that surround it) comprises the open cluster NGC 6604. The nebulosity (which I found remarkably easy to detect, even without filters) is the southernmost section of a large, but faint, HII region catalogued as Sh2-54. The 7th magnitude lucida of NGC 6604 is an O8 type star that is also an eclipsing binary (of the Beta Lyrae type) designated MY Serpentis. In spite of its spectral type, MY appears yellowish in the eyepiece; this is because the cluster (and nebulosity) is buried deeply in the Great Rift of the Milky Way, severely dimming and reddening its light.

In order to concentrate on the nebula itself, Eric notes: “I sketched the object(s) and a couple dozen of the brightest field stars and background nebulosity. Then, due to the extreme richness of the field I got out printed DSS negatives and started circling the stars I could see (which still took a fair amount of time). These were transferred to the sketches over the weekend. “

Gossamer Stellar Ghost

The Veil Nebula

The Veil Nebula, NGC 6992
Sketch and Details by Rony De Laet

The Veil Nebula

The Veil Nebula in Cygnus can be a tricky object to observe, especially without an OIII filter. This supernova remnant is a delicate complex of faint light that encompasses a 3° field. Starting point for this observation is Epsilon Cygni. From there, go 3° south to find 52 Cygni. A small pair of binoculars can show both Epsilon and 52 Cygni in the same field of view. Now try to move both stars near the western border of the field in order to see the brightest part of the Veil (NGC 6992-6992) in the middle of the eyepieces. I had to use averted vision and a lot of patience to reveal that part of the nebula. The other section, NGC 6960, behind 52 Cygni was not visible at all. I believe that the bright 52 Cygni outshines the weak glow of that part of the Veil. I did have the impression that Simeis 229 or Pickering’s Triangular Wisp could be noted as a tenuous brightening of the sky. Or is it maybe the combined light of an unresolved group of stars at that spot? Detecting the Veil Complex is an interesting exercise, which I should repeat later on the year under darker skies. I do strongly recommend the use of a mount to go after the Veil Nebula. The steady view will allow your eyes to study the star field in greater detail.

Site : Bütgenbach, Belgium
Date : July 1, 2008
Time : around 23.15 UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8×56
FOV: 5.9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 3,5/5
Transp. : 4/5
Nelm : around 5.8
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Photo Paint, based on a raw pencil sketch.

Star Child

Nebula

Nebula
Watercolor by Ashley, age 10 and Details by Deirdre Kelleghan

This beautiful watercolor painting of a nebula has won a prize in the ESO’s Catch a Star 2008. The artist, a young lady, is a pupil in Saint Andrews Junior College in Blackrock, Co Dublin Ireland.
I was delighted with every Irish entry this year,each child will get a certificate of merit.
I am particularly proud of Ashley’s work. Well done Ashley !!!!!

Saint Andrews is a school member of the Irish Astronomical Society

Deirdre

Deirdre Kelleghan
President
Irish Astronomical Society 1937 – 2007
Public Relations Officer IFAS
http://www.deirdrekelleghan.com/
Oscail do Shuile D’iontas na Cruinne
Open Your Eyes to the Wonder of the Universe
http://homepage.eircom.net/~irishas/index.htm
http://www.irishastronomy.org/

Mobile 0872893828

A Double and a Trifid

M20

M20 (The Trifid Nebula)
Sketch by Eiji Kato

M20, The Trifid Nebula, is a famous and beautiful target for astro-photographers. The red emission nebula contains a young star cluster at its center, and is surrounded by a blue reflection nebula that is most noticeable at the northern end. It’s distance is not well agreed upon, and is listed anywhere from 2,200 light years (Mallas/Kreimer) to 9000 light years (Jeff Hester).

The dark nebula that crosses the Trifid was cataloged by Barnard and listed as B 85. The object was originally cataloged by Charles Messier in 1764, when he described it as a cluster of stars. William Herschel assigned catalog numbers to 4 different parts of the nebula (H IV.41, H V.10, H V.11, and H V.12).

Sparkling Winter Blossom

NGC 2174

NGC 2174
Sketch and Commentary by Bill Ferris

NGC 2174 is a truly spectacular nebula; one belonging on every amateur’s “must see” list. My sketch captures a 109X view in the 18-inch Obsession. The emission nebula ranges throughout the 45′ diameter field of view. The bright star near the center is 7.6 magnitude HD 42088. A clump of seven 8th through 10th magnitude stars blazes immediately to the north and east. Another 60+ stars are scattered across the field. A UHC filter enhances the breadth of the nebula. An OIII filter seems to give the dark rifts more oomph. The brightest portion of NGC 2174 surrounds HD 42088. From here, prominent branches extend to the north and southwest. More subtle patches of fluorescing gas are strewn about the field. What a magnificent object! You’ll find NGC 2174 in the northern-most reaches of Orion. 4.6 magnitude Chi2 (62) Orionis shines just 1.5 degree to the west.

Gardens of The Ethiopean Queen

A faint nebula in Cassiopeia

 Hello,

This object was brought to my attention by Sue French (Celestial Sampler). While Cassiopeia dominated the zenithal region of the sky, I tried my luck. The nebula was visible at x15 as a small patch around the star Burnham 1. How nice! The nebula showed even more details at x36. It was a pleasing sight in my little scope. The associated star cluster, IC 1590 remained invisible with the used set-up. Here is my impression.
Date : December 28, 2007
Time : around 17.30UT
Scope : Skywatcher 102/500
Vixen LV Zoom at 14mm
Power : x36
FOV: 85′
Filter : Lumicon UHC
Seeing : 3/5
Nelm : 5.2
Temp : -5°C
Elevation : 800m ASL (Bisschofshofen)

Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with PhotoPaint, based on a raw pencil sketch.

Rony

Thor’s Helmet

Thor’s Helmet

Thor’s Helmet, NGC 2359
By Rony De Laet

The plan for the evening was to observe and sketch Messier 50. I was trying to starhop from Sirius to M50. Gamma Canis Majoris would be an easy reference in between. From there, M50 could be found a mere five degrees North. Instead of using the finder, I love to pan the scope with a low power eyepiece. Much to my surprise, the milkyway (so near to the horizon) was clearly visible in the eyepiece. The area East of Sirius appeared to be very fascinating. While working my way up to M50, I stumbled upon an unexpected fuzzy object. Most open cluster appear fuzzy at low power, but this one was different. I tried a higher power to resolve the object, but without result. There aren’t that much nebulae around, visible with my small aperture, so I guessed it had to be Thor’s Helmet, NGC 2359 ! How exciting! Bad news for M50, which would have to wait for another occasion. Armed with a UHC filter, I started to sketch the nebula. It took me quit a while to understand the view my eyes were showing. At first I saw a bar, or no, a hook. Then with a lot of patience, the hook resolved into a more complex structure. The observation was very rewarding, and I hope to revisit the object under a darker sky soon. Here’s the sketch.

Date : February 9, 2008
Time : around 22.00UT
Scope : Skywatcher 102/500
Eyepiece : Plössl 15 mm
Power : x33
FOV: 90′
Filter : UHC
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 2,5/5
Nelm : 4,8
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with PhotoPaint, based on a raw pencil sketch.