FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Saturn and M1

["Mike Mello" <mmello@xxxxxxx>]

Tom, I couldn't agree more! I also enjoyed a stunning view of Saturn and M1
at Vekol this past Monday night. Seeing was very good and I was easily able
to easily frame both objects  using a 12mm Nagler Type 4 eyepiece.
Theoretical FOV for this eyepiece in the Ceravolo is ~23'. The sky was jet
black between both objects and I too couldn't get over how beautifully M1
glowed even with Saturn so bright in the same field. A few of us had
observed this pair on Saturday evening and we could barely detect M1 that
night owing to very poor seeing conditions. I was amazed at how much the
view improved a few nights later under much improved seeing. In a purely
aesthetic sense it was as if Saturn were illuminating the M1 "cloud".

-Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Polakis" <polakis@xxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, January 01, 2003 10:42 AM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Saturn and M1


>
> Reading observing reports on this list while under the clouds in Michigan
> gave me observing withdrawl - so much so that I spent New Years Eve at
> Vekol.  It was a good change from the full sensory assault of Midwestern
> night clubs.  After going through some galaxies in Cetus and Pisces with
my
> 20-inch scope, I pointed it at Saturn.  Seeing wasn't so great, but I was
> very surprised by the ease with which I could see M1, which was only 17'
> away.  Saturn passes in front of the Crab Nebula this Saturday night.
>
> As had been speculated on this list, a UHC filter was helpful in
> suppressing glare from Saturn.  It also gave it an unnatural, colorful
> aura, so I preferred the unfiltered view.  I couldn't get over how bright
> the Crab looked next to a 0-magnitude object.  It should be easy to watch
> Saturn superimposed on the nebula, but I would highly recommend viewing it
> from a dark site.
>
> This event should provide a good contrast test for telescopes.  Does your
> Ultra Extra High Contrast Multicoating with 98.4% transmisson perform
> better than the neighboring scope's Premium Grade Exotic Megacoating,
whose
> transmission is a dismal 98.2%?
>
> Tom
>
> ---
>
> Tom Polakis
> Tempe, AZ
> Arizona Sky Pages
> http://www.psiaz.com/polakis/
> --
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>


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