Malcolm , maybe you can share your 30mm eyepiece shootout on Sombrero galaxy ;)The trip started off on a wet note, as it rained the moment we crossed over to the JB customs checkpoint. The weather forecast for weather over at Mersing was a bit iffy too, but the rain finally stopped when we reached Mersing town.
After the usual makan at the KFC, we headed to the chalet, there the weather was hot and suuny, and the construction process began .
The Imagers :
Many…lots, too much to list, including 2 of the imaging setups that were from the Starfinder Society at KL.
The Visual observers
-Takahashi Mewlon 210 on Half Hitch Alt-az
-TAL100rs Achromat on CG4 non-motorised mount
The first night started off pretty well with the sky staying clear especially for the south direction . The second night started off even better, with the sky staying clear from 9pm or 10pm onwards all the way till dawn. There are too many targets that we viewed over the past 2 nights, hence I shall only list the ones that are deserving of special mention.
4945 , Centaurus galaxy, a few degrees away from the ever popular Omega Cent globular cluster, lies this object that was listed in my star chart. Even through the 8” mewlon, it was so faint and large that it almost merged into the colour of the sky in the eyepiece. The galaxy is cigar shaped and at the time of viewing there is a bright star at its 6’oclcok position to help “guide” our eyes to it.
5128, Centaurus A / Centaurus radio galaxy. The most famous of the well known galaxies in that region, maybe as well known as Southern Pinwheel galaxy (M83) . In the 4” refractor, It looked like a hamburger , with averted vision, the fat middle dust lane is visible.
5189, Planetary neb in Musca/Crux border. The trees at mersing were kind of blocking the south view, had to move my scope a few times to a suitable spot to locate it. Oddly shaped and spiral-looking like PN. Thanks Samuel for the suggestion!
6453 , globular cluster , Scorpius. For years this object has bugged me. It’s a globular cluster located in the line of sight of M7. We managed to find it like on the outer 30 % rim of the cluster. It was like the palest and faintest globular I’ve ever seen, as if the globular cluster decided not to shine and wanted to be a faint planetary nebula instead.
6144 , globular cluster. Its close proximity to Antares makes it easy to miss . With careful positioning it can be framed with M4 and Antares in the same FOV. Faint but not as faint as 6453. Imagers capturing the Rho Ophiucius region will always capture this mini globular.
4038 + 4039, Antennae galaxies, Corvus/Crater border. This target appeared as a heart shape , or like two doughnuts leaning on each other. Faint! needs averted vision
6522 + 6528 . Two globular clusters near Alnasl (gamma Sagittarii) One appears brighter than the other.
6397, globular cluster , Ara. Alvin decribed it as a GC with irregular shape and some brighter stars froming arms like a spiral, very apt description.
6992 + 6960 , Veil nebula loops, Cygnus. we tried on first night but the sky wasn’t good enough, thankfully on 2nd night we bagged this target using the 4” refarctor and UHC filter. The smiling loop seems brighter than the witch’s broom .
7293 aka Helix nebula, Aquarius. I know its big, Ive viewed it before in the past, but starhopping to it is a pain. Looks better with either UHC or OIII filter.
The Sunday morning dawn brought an unexpected surprise, Zodiacal light, (just like the August 2014 trip ). The light cone slants upwards and to the right towards Aquarius. This makes it the second time ever some of us have seen this phenomenon at Mersing. After that when the sun rose, there were some extensive crepuscular rays.
Some images to share :
First major "first light" of the TAL
Setting up
Solar Observation
Sunday Dawn
3shot- Panorama of Miky way tompanging on Guohui's Vixen polarie, thanks !
Regards,
Junwei
