Some of my first few sightings

[simei-sky]

It was nice to see a couple of things since I bought my scope, Orion 127Mak.

My better view of the sky is towards South from a open space near my block.


1) Saw the moon and I was surprise to see it in 3 Dimensional image, i.e the craters slope rather then a flat image.

2) Jupitar: can see the 2 rings but not come across the "storm ring" yet. Oh the 4 moons was pretty too. I saw a black dot on Jupiter itself together with the 4 moons, was it the fifth moon or something else?...

3) At Centaurus, I saw NGC 5139. It was just a "cotton ball" I saw it with 63X amd 100X but not like what I saw in pictures of a cluster of stars, is it the limit of the scope or the external factors? When I use mag:200X, wah, very hard to track the movement cos the cotton ball blends well with the back ground!

4) At Scopius, I saw M6 (but have yet to figure the butterfly shape) and M7. As for M4 near Antares, still figuring it out!

5) At Sagittarius, I think I saw M8 and M20. But not so sure cos I didn't see the "red glow" as seen in pictures surrounding it. Tried mag 63X, 100X & 200X. Any advise on how to see the red glow or is there a limitation, scope or external factors.

6) At Crux, I manage to see a cluster on the "left" side of the left star/point cross. Then further to the right/point star, another cluster. So when they say jewel box of the Cruz, does it mean the clusters around the Crux or a specific cluster?


7) At about 7pm, I saw a very bright star already towards the West side. Not able to make out if it is Canis Major(Sirius) or Orion (Betelgeuse or Rigel). Pointed my scope to it to see if I can see a double star if it was indeed Sirius. But it seems very hard to see as it was flikering "hard" and the lights from the HDB. What is the best Mag to see a double star?

Well, all in all, it was indeed a pleasure!

[weixing]

Hi,

2) Jupitar: can see the 2 rings but not come across the "storm ring" yet. Oh the 4 moons was pretty too. I saw a black dot on Jupiter itself together with the 4 moons, was it the fifth moon or something else?...

It should be one of the Jupiter moon's shadow.

3) At Centaurus, I saw NGC 5139. It was just a "cotton ball" I saw it with 63X amd 100X but not like what I saw in pictures of a cluster of stars, is it the limit of the scope or the external factors? When I use mag:200X, wah, very hard to track the movement cos the cotton ball blends well with the back ground!

Don't use too high magnification, especially you are using non-tracking mount. Try around 100x and by using averted vision, you should be able to resolve the outer part of the globular cluster into individual stars.

At Scopius, I saw M6 (but have yet to figure the butterfly shape) and M7. As for M4 near Antares, still figuring it out!

For M6, try the lowest magnification for your scope and should be able to figure out the butterfly shape.

At Sagittarius, I think I saw M8 and M20. But not so sure cos I didn't see the "red glow" as seen in pictures surrounding it. Tried mag 63X, 100X & 200X. Any advise on how to see the red glow or is there a limitation, scope or external factors.

You won't see be able to see colour of deep sky objects... except a few. It's the limitation of our eye... we can't see colour of dim objects.

So when they say jewel box of the Cruz, does it mean the clusters around the Crux or a specific cluster?

The Jewel Box cluster is the name for that open cluster that you saw on the "left" side of the left star/point cross.

At about 7pm, I saw a very bright star already towards the West side. Not able to make out if it is Canis Major(Sirius) or Orion (Betelgeuse or Rigel). Pointed my scope to it to see if I can see a double star if it was indeed Sirius.

Yes... that is Sirius. I mistaken it as Venus a few days ago when it shine brightly at the evening sky... then realise later Venus is still a "morning star"... :oops: :oops: Anyway, Sirius is another very difficult double... I think more difficult than Antares.

What is the best Mag to see a double star?

Usually, the highest magnification you can go. For your scope, should be around 200x - 250x.

Happy observing and have a nice day.

[klutz]

Yes... that is Sirius. I mistaken it as Venus a few days ago when it shine brightly at the evening sky... then realise later Venus is still a "morning star"... Anyway, Sirius is another very difficult double... I think more difficult than Antares.

So ka!....