Monthly Archives: September 2013

All, Featured, Gear, Tips & Tricks

Astronomy Observation Session Checklist and Tips

I live in a white/red zone so my skies only show the major stars of the constellations, so I have to drive to a dark sky site whenever I want to observe DSO’s. It seems every time I drive out to a dark sky site for astronomy sketching and observation, I always end up forgetting to bring something. Last night, I forgot to bring my observer’s chair. The night before that, it was my blending stump. So I came up with a checklist for me to go over before each trip.

I only bring 1 telescope at a time so I will only check off items under the ‘Dob’ or ‘Newt’ categories.

Category Item
Dob OTA caps
Dob Mount
Dob Altitude Handles
Dob Focuser adapters/caps
Newt OTA cap
Newt Mount
Newt Suppression pucks
Newt Focuser cap
Accessories Eyepieces & caps
Accessories Flashlights
Accessories Observer’s chair
Tools Sky Atlas
Tools Laser Collimator
Tools Allen key & screwdriver
Sketching Clipboard
Sketching Pencils
Sketching Blending stump
Sketching Sketch templates
Sketching Reading light
Attire Eyeglasses
Attire Jacket & Hat
Attire Gloves
Optional Laptop
Optional Binoculars
Optional Camera
Mandatory Coffee

At the end of the observing session, I use the checklist again to make sure I did not forget anything. If I am alone at the site, I also drive over and light up the spot to  check for any garbage I might have left behind.

Common Sense Tips

They may not applicable to you, but these obvious ones are my pre-requisites:

  1. Make sure the weather forecast is favourable.
  2. Ensure my car has enough gas for a round trip.
  3. Fully charge my mobile phone’s battery.
  4. Tell someone where I’m going and when I will be back.

Are you an amateur astronomer who has to drive to a dark site to observe like me? Care to tell us what you have on your checklist, if you have one?

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 92: One of the oldest and brightest globular clusters

Messier 92 is one of the oldest and brightest globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy. Due to its close proximity to the more spectacular M13, it is often overlooked. Tonight, M92 was one of my primary targets.

This was my 6th straight night of observation during what has been an amazing week for stargazing. I was back at the DRAACO dark sky site and it looked even darker than last night except there was a little bit of a breeze. I even brought my binoculars for use between breaks.

Last night, my finder scope’s objective did not dew but its eyepiece did. This time, I made it a habit to keep the eyepiece cap on between use and it helped delay dew formation.

Object #12: M92
Location: DRAACO, Orono, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 28, 2013 9:20 PM
Constellation: Hercules
Seeing: Excellent
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 83.3 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Faint but dense globular cluster with many individual stars resolvable.

Messier 92

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 2: Messier’s First Globular Cluster

Charles Messier’s first globular cluster in his catalog, M2 was a challenge for me because I was not familiar with the Aquarius Constellation. I had to borrow Arnold Brody’s large sky atlas because it showed more faint stars that I could hop than The Evening Sky Map was showing. This has made me even more comfortable with my finder scope and now have a better understanding of its footprint in the sky.

This was my 6th straight night of observation during what has been an amazing week for stargazing. I was back at the DRAACO dark sky site and it looked even darker than last night except there was a little bit of a breeze. I even brought my binoculars for use between breaks. Tonight’s primary targets were M2 and M92.

Last night, my finder scope’s objective did not dew but its eyepiece did. This time, I made it a habit to keep the eyepiece cap on between use and it helped delay dew formation.

Object #11: M2
Location: DRAACO, Orono, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 28, 2013 8:55 PM
Constellation: Aquarius
Seeing: Excellent
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 83.3 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Globular cluster with a bright center and faint arms radiating from the center.

Messier 2

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 15: The Great Pegasus Globular

This was my 3rd time at the DRAACO site and for the first time, there were other DRA members there. The seeing conditions were excellent and was the best I’ve had yet. It was great to be among other astronomers for a change.

Object #10: M15
Location: DRAACO, Orono, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 27, 2013 9:30 PM
Constellation: Pegasus
Seeing: Excellent
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 62 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Grey cluster of tightly packed stars. I was able to resolve many individual stars. The center was bright with well defined “arms”.

Messier 15

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Featured, Observations

Durham Region Light Pollution and where to find a Dark Sky Site

Light pollution map of Durham Region.

When I first started observing with my telescopes, I had an idea what light pollution meant, but did not realize its impact on visual observation especially on Deep Sky Objects (DSO’s). I thought I could observe anywhere I wanted  as long as it was a cloudless sky. I live in the Durham Region after all. Not so fast.

I spent an entire week hunting for the M13 and the Andromeda Galaxy to no avail. Why? Because my sky was brighter than these faint objects. I eliminated most of the local light pollution from my backyard by turning my kitchen lights off, my cell phone, light shields for my telescopes, and used a blanket over my head to block out my neighbour’s lights. After 15 mins of dark adaptation, I still see nothing of these objects.

It turns out that there is a ‘light dome’ high above my sky. The light pollution map above represents the intensity of this light dome super imposed over a map of Durham Region and eastern Greater Toronto Area (GTA). In the order of brightness level:

  • White – Entire sky is grayish or brighter.
  • Red – Milkyway at best very faint at zenith.
  • Orange – Milkyway washed out at zenith and invisible at horizon.
  • Green – Some dark lanes in milkyway but no bulge into Ophiuchus.
  • Yellow – Zodiacal light seen on best nights.
  • Blue – Low light domes on horizon.
  • Grey – Faint shadows cast by milkyway visible on white objects.
  • Black – Gegenschein visible. Zodiacal light annoyingly bright.

I live a suburb of Oshawa in a red zone and within a few minutes of a white zone in the core of the city. By driving to an orange zone 20 minutes away, I was able to see some of the Milky Way’s ‘spilled milk’ look across the sky whereas it was not at all visible from my backyard. I finally found M13 and it didn’t take long for it to ‘pop’ out of my eyepiece. If you want to know the light pollution map in your area, check out Dark Sky Finder by Jonathan Tomshine: http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/ and you will find some dark sky sites around the GTA area within an hour’s drive.

In the Durham Region, I do most of my DSO observations from Long Sault Conservation Area which is just outside the grasp of the red zone. Sometimes I use my local club’s DRAACO observatory which is well within the orange zone. It is well worth the drive for a great night of visual observation and sketching.

All, News

Please do not axe the Sky at Night: Did you sign the Petition?

A petition started by Karen Barker went viral in the past 3 days. It was a petition stop the BBC from discontinuing the popular astronomy show ‘Sky at Night’.

The Petition: We started as a group of Open University students, who were made aware that the BBC was planning to cancel The Sky At Night.  This is something to which we strongly object.  Since starting the campaign to save S@N, the BBC has stated that it is still in discussions about the future of the programme.

As of Sep. 26, 2013 at 2:10 PM EDT, there were over 27,000 signatures. Mine is one of them.

Click Here To Sign It Too

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 33: Triangulum Galaxy

The evening started out mostly clear at around 7 PM. By the time I reached the DRAACO observation site, wispy clouds have taken over almost half of the sky. Visibility was on and off from clear, hazy, to cloudy. I used the September SkyMaps again but my intended targets were covered by clouds so I found these alternate targets instead. Sky conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the night. My finder scope did not dew up, thanks to my new dew shield.

Object #9: M33
Location: DRAACO, Orono, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 26, 2013 9:40 PM
Constellation: Andromeda
Seeing: Poor with 50% cloud cover
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 62 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Difficult to resolve the structure. Star field was rich. It was a dark grey dim blob.

Messier 33: Triangulum Galaxy

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 51: Whirlpool Galaxy

The evening started out mostly clear at around 7 PM. By the time I reached the DRAACO observation site, wispy clouds have taken over almost half of the sky. Visibility was on and off from clear, hazy, to cloudy. I used the September SkyMaps again but my intended targets were covered by clouds so I found these alternate targets instead. Sky conditions continued to deteriorate throughout the night. My finder scope did not dew up, thanks to my new dew shield.

Object #8: M51
Location: DRAACO, Orono, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 26, 2013 9:00 PM
Constellation: Ursa Major
Seeing: Poor with 50% cloud cover
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 83.3 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Two distinct objects both faint and dark grey with brighter cores. One is larger. They appear to be connected.

Messier 51: Whirlpool Galaxy

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 81: Bodes Galaxy & Messier 82: Cigar Galaxy

When I arrived at Long Sault Conservation Area, there were parts of the sky where it was very clear. The eastern part of the Milky Way was easily viewable but from zenith westward, it was washed out with clouds and light pollution. I printed off “The Evening Sky Map” ahead of time and planned on taking M2, M39, and M92 by highlighting them with pink highlighter before driving. But I could not tell which ones I highlighted through the red flashlight! Also, I installed my new dew shield on my finder scope but I threw it out of alignment. I was too lazy to line it up and instead picked M81 and M82 from the Sky Map by rough aligning and panning… and I found it within 2 minutes without the finder scope! I was at awe to see 2 distant galaxies in 1 eyepiece! They appeared very similar length wise, but one is flatter. By the time I finished with the sketch, the clouds have taken over 30% of the sky. I was so satisfied with tonight’s short but sweet session, so I packed it in.

Objects #6, #7: M81, M82
Location: Clarington, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 25, 2013 10:00 PM
Constellation: Ursa Major
Seeing: Below average with cloud patches
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 62 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Two patches of very dim smudges. One looks like a galaxy that is flat and edge on. The other more oval. Found it difficult to reach focus. Very low in the horizon.

Messier 81: Bodes Galaxy & Messier 82: Cigar Galaxy

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet

All, Messier Certificate, Observations, Sketches

Messier 31, 32, 110: Andromeda Galaxy and Companion Galaxies

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Objects #3, #4, #5: M31, M32, M110
Location: Clarington, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 23, 2013 9:35 PM
Constellation: Andromeda
Seeing: Above average with gibbous moon starting to rise
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 62 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: I should have sketched this before M13. Seeing above average but waning gibbous moon had started to rise while obseving these. M31 was a faint dark grey smudge. Dark lanes were not noticeable. M31 appeared close by looking like a faint star. M110 was a small faint smudge visible with averted vision.

Messier 31, 32, 110: Andromeda Galaxy and Companion Galaxies

On September 17, 2013, I officially started the pursuit of my Messier 30 certificate. It is an exciting awards program for astronomy club members and a way for amateur astronomers to keep track of their observations. The Messier 30 is the first milestone in AstronomyForum.net‘s certificate program. The Durham Region Astronomy Association also has one.

View Updated Spreadsheet