I went out side last night about 10:30 and the sky was good.  I remembered that Omega Centauri is supposed to be visible in the southern sky at about that time, so I got my binoculars out to search.  I found it almost immediately.  I got excited and got out my little scope (my husband is out of town and I can't lift the big one).  After about 3 minutes of searching I found it in my little scope.  I was SO excited!

Now I can't wait for my husband to get home so he can help set up the scope (wait that didn't sound right)...anyway, I can't wait to share it with my husband when he gets home (there that sounded better) 

Happy Observing!

Tina

Yep!  'tis quite a glob!

 Tina - Shame on you for looking at heavenly bodies when your husband is not at home . If you think Omega is nice in a small scope, wait till you see it in a larger one. I observed it several times since moving out here in NM last spring and it's a fantastic sight in my 10". It's one of those "gifts" that southern state dwellers are offered that isn't observable in the northern half of the country.

   Clear, dark skies, Mr Q
 

Have you seen the latest research that indicates that Omega Centauri may not be a globular cluster after all?  Apparently astronomers have found a black hole at its core which suggests that the OC is actually the remains of another galaxy in the process of merging with the Milky Way.  Whatever it is, I'd sure love to get a look at it someday.

Envious am I.  Viva Tuscon!  A land where Astronomy is understood and cherished and Energy Hogs are slaughtered on their own despicable altar of Light Pollution.

Thanks for sharing your excitement of viewing the great Omega with those of us who live too far north.

L

Zachsdad--

  That is very interesting stuff!!  Where did you read that?  That would make OC that closest neighboring galaxy, would it not?  Very close!

cyberpatzer:

That is very interesting stuff!!  Where did you read that?  That would make OC that closest neighboring galaxy, would it not? 

From what I understand this is an intermediate sized black hole like the one discovered in Globular Cluster G1 in the Andromeda Galaxy.

Try this link for more information but your search engine should bring up a lot of articles on this:

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/news/releases/2008/0402.html

L

On source was right here on the site;

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=6807

and in the latesest issue of Astronomy there is a tidbit about the blackhole in the Astro News section.

Even with all the LP i have here surrounding me i was able to see it low on the horizon tonight . First time this year to see it . I imaged it 6-4-06 . Not very good but i do have it on my website : http://home.grandecom.net/~r.hodges/ . The last image on the "DeepSpace" page .