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(IAAC) OBJECT: M82, INST: 16" f/4.59 Newtonian (dob)



Observer:  Todd Gross
Your skill:  Intermediate 
Date and UT of observation: 10/28/97 0815 GMT
Location & latitude: 22 miles west of Boston, Ma. 42.3N
Site classification: Suburban
Limiting magnitude (visual): 5.2 (estimated) 5.0 (est) in vicinity of object
Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best):  5
Moon up (phase?): Yes, 20%
Weather: Clear
Instrument: 16" Newtonian-dob w. 96/99% coatings f/4.59
Magnifications: 69x, 170x(binoviewer), 267x
Filters used: 
Object: M82
Constellation: Vicinity of Ursa Major
Object data:  Galaxy

M82 is particularly good in suburban skies because of it's 
high surface brightness. It is further enhanced over smaller 
scopes by being able to show the dark lanes clearly at higher 
power with less straining. 

M82 is a streak of light cigar-shaped, roughly 10 arc 
minutes long. It is very complex looking but one can 
definitely make out three distinct dark lanes criss-crossing 
the galaxy at 45 degree angles, slicing it up into roughly 
4 parts... somewhat triangular in shape. 


Needless to say, at low power, the object is framed 
beautifully with M81, a spiral galaxy of roughly equal 
size (but much fatter) 


- Todd
_________________________________
BOSTON TV METEOROLOGIST TODD GROSS
Weather/Astronomy Home Page: http://www.weatherman.com
Administrator, Meade User Group: mapug@shore.net & NE Weather Watcher Mail
List, wxobs-sne@shore.net
IRC Channel Operator: #Weather, #Sciastro (Undernet)      //     Originator
of the NE.WEATHER newsgroup
_________________________________
Email: toddg@weatherman.com    Work Phone# (617)725-0777