As I know we all have our favorite DSO... looking in my star charts I remember M46 In Puppis. I viewed this object when living in Las Vegas NV. The contrast of the round nebula and star cluster in the back ground I find to be striking indeed. Now that the winter constellations are in position,I wil be looking forward to seeing this Fantastic sight again Rick.... Clear Dark Skies

Hope I can remember this one when it gets a little later in the year. I'd like to see if I can pick out the planetary (NGC 2438) hanging out near the cluster. Thanks for the reminder!

I have easily seen the planetary in M46 smaller dimmer version of M57. A scope of 8' aperture will show it well. Rick.... Clear Dark Skies

8 foot eh? You must have gotten a new scope. Can I use it?

do ya know if a 6" dob would see it?
clear skies

Its magnitude is listed as 10.8 so you should be able to see it fairly easily if you have good skies.

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrienrick

As I know we all have our favorite DSO... looking in my star charts I remember M46 In Puppis. I viewed this object when living in Las Vegas NV. The contrast of the round nebula and star cluster in the back ground I find to be striking indeed. Now that the winter constellations are in position,I wil be looking forward to seeing this Fantastic sight again Rick.... Clear Dark Skies


Rick, I recorded in my log book observing M46 last February 19th, and I remember it was a delightful sight in my 8" dob. It had a twinkling glow and was quite widely dispersed, with many dim stars. I recorded that both M46 and the adjacent M47 could be seen in binoculars that clear night, though M46 was quite dim. There is an interesting reddish star very close to M46 that must have caught my eye because I made a note of it in my log. Landrew

The planetary showed up well in a 3,5" Vixen refractor under mountain skies.

insomnia

M46 is one of my favorites also. I have seen it many times over the years, first time with my old 8" dob. Last time I saw it was my excellent January 4, 2003 observing session. The cluster and the planetary nebula are just so bright through this aperture, it blows your socks off. The surrounding starfields are very, very rich, and several other interesting targets for large and small apertures lie nearby. One of my favorite regions of the sky. I can't wait to explore this region under the limiting magnitude 7 skies of the Chiefland Star Party in Florida in about another week and a half. Pray for clear skies!!!!

Madcow; Do you plan on attending the Winter Star Party in the Florida keys? I recently lived in West Palm Beach for 3 years, but moved here to Las Cruces NM for clear skies. Rick.... Clear Dark Skies

QUOTE: Originally posted by adrienrick

Madcow; Do you plan on attending the Winter Star Party in the Florida keys? I recently lived in West Palm Beach for 3 years, but moved here to Las Cruces NM for clear skies. Rick.... Clear Dark Skies

No, I don't. The WSP usually falls on a workweek, and I can't afford to miss a whole week of school. Its a little far away, and the skies aren't all that dark from what I have heard. Who cares if the seeing is good? I didn't buy this telescope to look at planets.

QUOTE: Originally posted by MaddCow

I didn't buy this telescope to look at planets.

Duh! LMAO! I'm prayin' for clear skies for ya at Chiefland!

Thanks Rick. More stuff to find if I can keep track of it all. I guess these were on the "Mitsky" list for the month. I hope Friday nite is clear. Thats my next available night.
cooltech

QUOTE: Originally posted by DougDob

QUOTE: Originally posted by MaddCow

I didn't buy this telescope to look at planets.

Duh! LMAO! I'm prayin' for clear skies for ya at Chiefland!

I don't see why the WSP is so much more popular than Chiefland... Chiefland features dark skies AND good seeing. Guess it has to do with the WSP being held on a beach, but I don't go to a star party to watch the waves roll in. I am thinking about joining the Chiefland Astronomical Village club to get year-round access to those dark skies. The only problem is the 6 hour drive.

I check puppis out alot! there are a few nice targets to check out, but I have a slight advantage living in Florida, ??? I was wondering how hard it is for everyone else seeing has the farther north you are; the lower in the sky it is.

Jerry

I love objects where you get "two for the price of one". Last night I observed M35,
which has a smaller open cluster right on its edge. I think M46 is even more
interesting because they are different types of objects. Thanks for the reminder!

Best wishes

Rick

QUOTE: Originally posted by Starchaser

I love objects where you get "two for the price of one". Last night I observed M35,
which has a smaller open cluster right on its edge.

Edit

Rick


That would be the far more distant and older NGC 2158. This stellar aggregate is visible as a faint, powdery mass through small apertures (I've logged it with my 80mm Orion ST80 achromat).

http://www.skyhound.com/sh/archive/jan/M_35.html

http://www.seds.org/~spider/spider/MWGC/n2158.html

Dave Mitsky