what is your most fascinating naked eye night sky object?

Post by **VinSnr** » Fri May 15, 2009 1:09 pm

Hi guys....

What is your most fascinating naked eye night sky object ever? Please state where you saw it too.

Please dun say the moon hor....

[smilie=cool.gif]

kayheem · Post by **kayheem** » Fri May 15, 2009 3:14 pm

It was many years ago when I first picked up astronomy. I saw a faint cluster and wondered what it was. Much later, I managed to view it using an old 7X35mm bino and found it very pretty in the bino.

Eventually I got to realize it was the Pleiades Cluster.

superiorstream · Post by **superiorstream** » Fri May 15, 2009 3:51 pm

Hi,kayheem and VinSir and everybody
I think the most facinating naked eye objects in astronomy are naked eye visible comet.No two comet looks the same and travel the same path and even those that come back regularly like Halley will give very unpredictable display.Also different photographic tech will review different secrets of the comet.Surprises are frequent like Homes sudden flareup recently.Some,like lulin look like a devil's eye staring down at us.
Also comets(those visible to the naked eye) are said to bring bad luck and historically seem to be "true".They seem to be the warning sign from heaven(and tell us to get prepared) and that made observing them even more interesting.
Scientifically these are the deep space traveller that collect and review to us what gases are there filling the void spaces between us and the stars.Thanks for reading.

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Fri May 15, 2009 4:11 pm

Many, many years ago, I went trekking in Mount Kota Kinabalu. For the final ascent, we had to leave at 3am to catch the sunrise at the peak. It was totally pitch black and the only lights we see are those climbers further up the track. I looked up at the sky and saw a fuzzy patch. I took down my specs to clean it - thinking it was oily... but no matter how I cleaned it, the fuzzy patch remained, whereas the other stars were pinpoint. Then I suddenly realized it was a comet!

Impressive...

jiahao1986 · Post by **jiahao1986** » Fri May 15, 2009 7:14 pm

Tachyon wrote:Many, many years ago, I went trekking in Mount Kota Kinabalu. For the final ascent, we had to leave at 3am to catch the sunrise at the peak. It was totally pitch black and the only lights we see are those climbers further up the track. I looked up at the sky and saw a fuzzy patch. I took down my specs to clean it - thinking it was oily... but no matter how I cleaned it, the fuzzy patch remained, whereas the other stars were pinpoint. Then I suddenly realized it was a comet!

Impressive...

Which comet was that Andrew? Comet Halley?

wintertriangle22 · Post by **wintertriangle22** » Fri May 15, 2009 9:31 pm

Hale-Bopp comet was visible after sunset few years ago with nice view through binoculars .Probably the best comet in recent years

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Fri May 15, 2009 10:05 pm

jiahao1986 wrote:
Tachyon wrote:Many, many years ago, I went trekking in Mount Kota Kinabalu. For the final ascent, we had to leave at 3am to catch the sunrise at the peak. It was totally pitch black and the only lights we see are those climbers further up the track. I looked up at the sky and saw a fuzzy patch. I took down my specs to clean it - thinking it was oily... but no matter how I cleaned it, the fuzzy patch remained, whereas the other stars were pinpoint. Then I suddenly realized it was a comet!

Impressive...
Which comet was that Andrew? Comet Halley?

Nope. It was Hale-Bopp.. [smilie=embarrassed3.gif]

Sam Lee · Post by **Sam Lee** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:31 am

Comet McNaught for me ...
I cannot explain the feeling when observing the comet from Hunters Valley in Aussie NSW .. seriously exhilarating.

jiahao1986 · Post by **jiahao1986** » Sat May 16, 2009 8:49 am

Tachyon wrote: Nope. It was Hale-Bopp..

Hehe, you said many many years ago so I thought it was 20+ years ago. Yeah Hale-Bopp was impressive, and there have been no great comets like Hale-Bopp visible for Northern Hemisphere since 1997, sigh... [smilie=depressed.gif]

Tachyon · Post by **Tachyon** » Sat May 16, 2009 10:45 am

jiahao1986 wrote:
Tachyon wrote: Nope. It was Hale-Bopp..
Hehe, you said many many years ago so I thought it was 20+ years ago. Yeah Hale-Bopp was impressive, and there have been no great comets like Hale-Bopp visible for Northern Hemisphere since 1997, sigh...

Fear not! There are other things to observe... like solar eclipses, that are equally memorable!