h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Listing of the Messier Objects viewed by Austin Morris between 1st Jan and 31st Dec 2003.
AM

7 Jan 2003. 20X50 binoculars. Clear and below freezing.
M45 Orion Nebula. M45 Pleiades.
Tried to pick out M78 in Orion. Possibly ??

Running total 3

I found M78 in Orion with my 10/50 binoculars last night as well.

Don't you mean M42 The Orion Nebula?

Ooops! yes I do.

10 Jan. B****y Freezing. Three inches of snow. Didn't stay out for long. Very clear but not too dark with neighbour's lights on. with cold after twenty minutes.
Used the new scope and got into M42 and M43.
Also got a better view of M78.

With the 20x50 binnies. M44 Praesepe. The Beehive. A lovely sight.
Saturn and Jupiter very bright. Still using Saturn to try to find the M1 but just can't make it out. Too much light around.
Went out 10 minutes early this morning on the way to work and caught Venus. It's like a small lantern hanging in the sky at present. I could just make out it's cresent.

26 Jan. Quite clear and not too cold.
M52 and M103 open clusters in Casseopeia.
M35 Open cluster in Gemini

Clear night on 31 03 03. Using 20X50 binnies.
Picked out M36 M37 and M38 in Auriga. Open clusters.
Got into the cluster of galaxies between Virgo and Coma Berenices but couldn't positively ID anything as yet.
A.M.

Clear night but some fast moving cloud. Using the binnies found M13 in Hercules. Globular cluster appeared as a fuzzy patch. First time I've seen that .
A.M.

On 28 April with binnies. 11.30 pm
M92 the other Globular cluster in Hercules.

Good aren't they

Yes, they are! I was surprised to be able to pick them out, they are larger than I thought they would be. I've never seen them before. I tried for them with the telescope a couple of nights ago but it got too cloudy just after I started, but I'll get them yet. Tonight looks hopefull.
I've been trying for the five faint ones in Leo and the clusters of galaxies in Virgo and Coma-B. Rich pickings, but although I can make them out with binnies I can't really ID them. I was going to turn the scope on them but haven't had a clear enough night yet.
Trouble is, I think that unless I can get the ones in Leo this month before the moon is right up, Leo will be heading for the horizon by next month.
Hey ho..







o in enithj

I think you're right. Best get looking for where those M objects are. I have tried looking for the ones in Leo and didn't find anything that time. Perhaps now and finding a dark site...

25 May. Quite clear and dark. No neighbours lights on at 2am.
M57 Ring Nebula in Lyra, with the 'newt. I could make it out but no colour to speak of.
M56 Globular cluster in Lyra.
M29 Open cluster in Cygnus.
M39 Open cluster in Cygnus.

A good night for a change.

Sunday 29th 2 am
It has been remarkably clear for the last couple of nights.
Latched onto M71 Cluster in Sagitta.
M27 Dumbell Nebula in Vulpecula. This one took some doing. I had been trying to see this with the binnies Friday night but couldn't be sure of it. Dragged the newt out tonight and got it with a low magnification after about 3/4 hour dark adaption. Luckily by 2 am most of the house lights in the neighbourhood were out.
Also just as a surprise I had packed up the scope and noticed that Cassiopeia was well up above the local rooftops. Had another look with the binnies and an old friend appeared... Andromeda Galaxy!! So.. M31 to boot.
Also... over the two nights I've encountered no fewer then 7 satellites and over the total time observing counted five meteorites. All heading in various directions. It's all happening up there folks!