Observing Objects in the Summer Milky Way

On the evening of October 27, 2014, Joe Masi, a Science Teacher at Sacred Heart High School, and I had our first successful observing run at the newly renovated Kohout-Dingley Observatory in Kingston, MA. This observing session was the first since the installation of the new Celestron 11 telescope mounted on a Losmandy Equatorial mount. Due to the unstable weather here in New England this fall, we have been challenged with finding a clear night to start getting acclimated to the new telescope system. 

Observing with the 11" Telescope.

Joe and I figured we could do a dry run of with equipment before having the students present. I arrived at the observatory shortly before sundown. The waxing crescent moon was hanging in the western sky. As I waited for Joe and total darkness to arrive, I thought I would get a glimpse of the moon through the C11 for the first time. The full disk of the moon (due to earthshine) fits nicely in the field of view of the 23 mm Axiom 2" eyepiece. The optics displayed fine detail in the moon's terminator, especially when steady pockets of air passed allowing good seeing. When Joe arrived at the observatory, I still had the moon in the eyepiece which allowed him a chance to get a good look at the moon as well. Joe was just as impressed with the optics performance as I was.

As the sky became darker, we configured the telescope and mounting system so we could utilize the Gemini 2 GOTO system. Once we completed the two-star alignment method with the GOTO system, our goal was to slew our way up through the summer Milky Way. The first targeted object was M8, the Lagoon Nebula. The object was so slow in the sky; the nebulosity was faint due to the murkiness of the horizon. The next object of choice was M11, the "Wild Duck" open star cluster in the constellation of Scutum. We then observed common deep-sky objects in the summer Milky Way such as M57, The "Ring Nebula" in Lyra, and M27, the "Dumbbell Nebula" in Vulpecula.

NGC 869 and 884, "Double Cluster 

in Perseus"Imaged by Tristan and Alek, 

from the Plymouth Community 

Intermediate School

I noticed the constellation of Pegasus was getting higher up in the sky and knew we could get a good view of M15, a nicely condensed globular cluster that rivals M13, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules. Joe very impressed with this deep-sky object commented on how bright the cluster was. As we winded down our observing session, we ended with a nice view of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the double open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884 Cluster in Perseus. As Joe sat in the observing chair comfortably, he could detect the difference in the colors of some of the stars.

Content with this successful dry run, Joe and I then closed up the dome and parked the new telescope system. This observing session inspired us to introduce the students in the school's astronomy club and science classes to this newly renovated observatory with its new state-of-the-art instrumentation.

Read More

Telescope or Telescope Binoculars - What's The Difference

The basic difference between binoculars and telescope binoculars is their intended use. A pair of field binoculars are generally used for magnifying a set object that is relatively close and within a certain field of vision. However, telescope binoculars are made specifically for stargazing and possess a much larger focal length than traditional binoculars.

Orion BT100 Premium Binocular Telescope

Why Use Telescope Binoculars vs Telescope

The truth is that a person can see more of the night sky with a good pair of binoculars than with an inexpensive telescope. And another thing is it can be easier to peer through telescope binoculars with both eyes open than through a telescope with one eye closed.

Viewing the stars and planets through a telescope for any length of time can certainly tire your eye muscles and actually cause focusing problems. As a matter of fact, there are more and more amateur astronomers looking into the benefits of telescope binoculars because of their ease of use. These stargazing binoculars can be mounted on a tripod for additional stability, and a better view of the cosmos.

How Telescope Binoculars Work

Firstly, these binoculars are designed specifically for stargazing and feature a wider aperture opening which allows more light to enter the lenses. This provides for a brighter field of view and the object being observed. The prisms on telescope binoculars are different in that they are better suited for astronomy. Their prisms actually absorb less light making the viewed object stand out and appear brighter. They are especially useful when viewed in low-light conditions.

How to Select the Right Telescope Binoculars

There are a number of different kinds of binoculars on the market today that can be used for astronomy. But one thing to insist on is that your desired telescope binoculars have what is called a Porro prism. This prism is geared for low-light viewing and is ideal for stargazing.

The more common prism utilized in binoculars is called a roof prism and is not conducive to good nighttime viewing. But technological advancements have allowed for the upgrading of optical and lens capabilities and improved viewing quality. Despite these upgrades, you will still benefit by using the Porro prism binoculars. Their quality is better for astronomical uses and generally costs less.

Stabilize Your Telescope Binoculars for Better Stargazing

When selecting telescope binoculars, make sure they have the capability to be mounted on a stable object, preferably a tripod. When looking at smaller objects in the skies, any movement of your binoculars will result in a blurred or shaky image.

Whether you are stargazing with telescope binoculars or a standard telescope, a fixed placement will enhance your viewing experience. It is really worth the cost of purchasing a tripod and avoiding all the frustration that comes with constant re-focusing on your desired celestial body.

Telescope binoculars are an alternative to the traditional telescope and can increase your stargazing pleasure. If you prefer viewing the night skies with both eyes open, this is the perfect choice for you!

William Wilson

Article Source: Telescope or Telescope Binoculars - What's The Difference?

Read More

Observing the Summer Milky Way with Binoculars

Late summer is one of the best times of year to observe the full brilliance of our home galaxy, the Milky Way.

The Milky Way used to be visible on every clear, moonless night, everywhere in the world. Today, however, most people live in places where it's impossible to see the Milky Way because of overall light contamination caused by lights left on all night long. Seeing the Milky Way requires a special effort for most people, but it's well worth the effort. 

Milky Way with North America Nebula and Comet Hale-Bopp Image by Michael Petrasko, 

Muir Evenden and Tom Lucia

To see the Milky Way, you'll need to travel far from any city, to a rural area. Even in a rural farming country, there are still a lot of bright lighting fixtures that wipe out the night sky. I am fortunate to live in a dark area on Cape Cod where there are no street lights of any kind to hinder my view of our galaxy.

The clearest skies appear just after a cold front passes through. This time of the year in September, this happens more often. Even then, you need to spend some time under a dark sky before your eyes become fully adapted to the darkness. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes for human eyes to become fully sensitive to faint light.

What does the Milky Way look like? Not like any of the photographs you see online because those are made with cameras that accumulate light in ways the human eye cannot. What you will see is a faint, whitish glow, stretching in a huge arc from the southern to the northeastern horizon. It has a mottled effect, kind of like a fluffy cloud. There are brighter areas, especially down toward the core of the galaxy in the southern part of the sky. There are also darker patches, where nearby clouds of interstellar dust block the light from beyond.

Orion 9x63 Mini Giant Astronomy Binoculars

The most obvious of these dark nebulae is the Northern "Coal Sack", just below and to the right of the bright star Deneb in the constellation Cygnus. Just below Deneb is one of the brightest parts of the northern Milky Way, worth examining with binoculars. This is the North America Nebula, famous in pictures for its resemblance to the continent of North America. Under a very dark sky seeing with my 9x63 Orion astronomy binoculars, I am just able to see the "continent" feature.

One thing you won't see in the Milky Way, either in binoculars or with the naked eye, is any color. Images register the reddish glow of hydrogen gas, but the light is too faint to trigger the color receptors in the human eye, so all you'll see are shades of grey.

In the northern range of the Milky Way's arc, you'll see the constellations Cassiopeia and Perseus. When you look in that direction, you're looking outward from the spot within the disk of the Milky Way toward its outer edge, and the stars are far less dense than when you look inward toward Sagittarius.

On a clear dark night, it's easy to see the grand sweep of the Milky Way galaxy and discover all of the deep-sky treasures it possesses.

Read More