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(IAAC) OBJECT: Barnard 33 (HORSEHEAD NEB.); INST: 16" Dobnewt f/4.59
Observer: Todd Gross
Your skill: Intermediate
Date and UT of observation: 11/29/97
Location & latitude: 22 miles west of Boston, Ma. 42.3N
Site classification: Suburban
Limiting magnitude (visual): 5.0 (estimated) 4.7 (est) in vicinity of object
Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best): 6-7
Moon up (phase?): No
Weather: Clear
Instrument: 16" Newtonian-dob w. 96/99% coatings f/4.59
Magnifications: 62x,124x
Filters used: H-beta
Object: Barnard 33, the Horsehead nebula
Constellation: Orion
Object data: Dark nebula
Personal "rating" (at this aperture): D+
Did it!! Two nights running under slightly light polluted suburban skies,
the only way to see the infamous Horsehead nebula was with somewhat
averted vision, using an H-beta filter. Best at 60-120x, any more and I was
too magnified, any less, and the light pollution drowned it.
Object is elusive at first, but with dark adaptation and averted vision (and
relaxing, looking at other things in the field) the bar of nebulosity is
noticeable, running across the field, just missing one of the three brighter
stars in the field at 124x. Rising up from that bar is the dark area
while ill-defined blotch, which does look like some sort of head gazing to
it's left
(right in a star diagonal, I'm sure). At 62x, I have to edge the bright
star in Orion's
belt out of the field of view to bring out the nebulosity. Interestingly,
the flame
nebula nearby was not detected with the H-beta filter! Also, without the
h-beta no
nebulosity was detected on the horsehead.... in these light polluted skies.
- 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