[Prev][Next][Index][Thread][Search][Objects]

(IAAC) Obj: IC 2149 - Inst: TV-102 (102mm f/8.6 APO refractor)



----

Observation Poster: Ron B[ee] <ronby@home.com>

Observer: Ron B[ee]
Your skills: Beginner (< one year)
Date/time of observation: 11/14/01 12:00am
Location of site: 117h 9m W (Lat 32h 43m N, Elev 2000 ft)
Site classification: Exurban
Sky darkness: 5.5-6.0 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 3 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: TV-102 (102mm f/8.6 APO refractor)
Magnification: 22x, 110x, 146x, 176x, 220x, 293x
Filter(s): none
Object(s): IC 2149
Category: Planetary nebula.
Class: 
Constellation: Aur
Data: mag 10.6  size 9" x 7"
Position: RA :  DEC :
Description:
Tonight, horrible seeing has returned, but was quite transparent.  I could 
easily see omega Aurigae and much fainter stars.  There was some wind as well.
Stars were twinkling widely near the horizon and somewhat near the zenith.

I've always been intrigued by the DSO designed with IC number.  Tonight, the 
keen eye TV-102 Light-Cup iced the first one: 10.6 mag IC 2149 and without
any filter!  This is the teeniest PN beheld by the TV-102 thus far: 9" x 7"!

Looked stellar at 22x (40mm Pentax XL).  At 110x and 146x (8mm and 6mm TV 
Radian), it looked like an unfocused star.  At 146x, the PN was framed nicely
by a 4-star trapezoid: 10.6 mag GSC 3361:819, 10.6 mag GSC 3361:264, 10.9 mag 
GSC 3361:1662 and 11.7 mag GSC 3361:134.  At 176x (5mm Tak LE), I could see
only the 11.3 mag central star with direct vision; with averted vision, I could
see the nebulosity that surrounds it.  With 220x (4mm TV Radian), I could now 
clearly see it as PN with brighter central star seen.  It showed bigger 
nebulosity at 293x (3mm TV Radian) with still a bright central star.  Gray 
color at all magnification.  The picture I found below illustrate what I saw.
http://icplanetaries.com/notes8.html

When I first got my 4" APO, I thought this sort of IC DSO was more in the realm
of small aperture fairy tales than reality. Boy, am I glad I thought wrong ;-)!

Ron B[ee]

--
Optional related URLs: 
** This observing log automatically submitted via the Web from:
  http://www.visualdeepsky.org/enter-log.html
To stop receiving all 'netastrocatalog' lists, use the Web forms at:
http://www.visualdeepsky.org/subscribe.html