Deep Sky Observing

[Vectisbirder]

Hello, is anyone else on here a deep sky observer? Deep sky is my observing speciality and I use a 12" reflector for my observing - purely visual only though.

[caladina]

what deep space stuff do you get to see with your 12 ?, i was in the belief that you need to long exposure for getting enough light in to see the deep space nebula
i'm guessing that galaxies, star clusters and bright compact nebula are seeable?

i have been intreasted in deep space stuff, particularly coliding galaxies and super nova and thier remnants but i live in london and not got the skys to warrant big equipment

when i had time i used to veiw saturns rings and jupi's moons with a small refractor
i also had so bins' that showed up globular clusters and some of the brightest M' stuff

do you have a motor drive for youre scope to keep in rotation with the Earth

[Vectisbirder]

My 12" allows me to see a lot of galaxies, nebulae and clusters, etc. In visual deep sky observing, it's aperture that counts, although you can still see a lot with smaller scopes.
I don't have a drive on my scope, although I can get along without one if I don't use very high magnifications.

[jimmer]

Yes I do some deep sky observing with a twelve inch and anything else that is going on up there regards Jimmer

[Les E]

HI All,
Im a keen deep sky observer,I have a 12"newtonian on a Dobsonian mount,its very difficult to say what my favourite objects are (theres just to many)but amoung them must be the M51 Whirlpool Galaxy.It was the first galaxy to be seen in its spiral form by Lord Rosse in the mid 1800's using his giant 72" reflector at Birr Castle in Co Offaly in central Ireland.This telescope was the largest in the world right up till 1908 when the 200" Mt Palomer opened in the USA.It just goes to show what good quality modern amateur reflectors are as my fairly cheap Revalation 12 with good seeing has revealed the spiral structure of M51.
Regards and clear skies Les.

[Vectisbirder]

The Revelation series are good scopes Les. Anyway all modern optics will knock the spots off instruments of old due to the better figuring of modern mirrors and lenses and, of course, modern coatings.

[nytecam]

I'm a deepsky addict but due to severe light pollution here in SW London I use CCDs to 'see' faint stuff via my boot-sized 70mm f/5 refractor like the Andromeda galaxy pic attached taken last October and Horsehead and Flame Nebula in Orion taken last January - no LP filters used

[Vectisbirder]

Nice pics, Nytecam.