Category Archives: Messier Certificate

A log of my observations in pursuit of my Messier Certificates.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Messier 13: Great Globular Cluster in Hercules

It was an excellent night until the moon rose but I was able to observe 4 objects tonight.

Object #2: M13
Location: Clarington, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 23, 2013 8:45 PM
Constellation: Hercules
Seeing: Excellent
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 83 x @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Dark grey mainly circular ball of stars. Faint but I could resolve two “arms”. I could see individual stars in the cluster.

Messier 13: Great Globular Cluster in Hercules

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

 

Messier 45: The Pleiades

Object #1: M45
Location: Oshawa, ON
Date/Time: Sep. 18, 2013 11:45 PM
Constellation: Taurus
Seeing: Below average with a full moon
Telescope: D=305 mm F=1500 mm
Magnification: 24 mm @ 82° AFOV
Notes: Bright white group of stars with a hint of baby blue. Background was too washed out to resolve any wisps. Too big to fit in FOV.

Messier 45: The Pleiades

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