Messier List
My log of the Messier objects that I have observed without the aid of a GOTO mount.
8/9/2010 – M29, M13
7/9/2010 – M3, M94
7/2/2010 – M4, M20, M21, M57, M80
8/9/2010
Scope: Stellarvue 80BV
Focal length: 750mm
Eyepieces: 22mm Panoptic, 9mm Nagler, 7mm Nagler
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Messier 29 (M29) – Found the cluster with the finder and then with the 9mm. Both the 9mm and the 22mm showed the 6 brightest stars. The 9mm revealed 2 more faint star and the 7mm brought out 2 more. Here is a sketch. I spent a fair bit of time on this one trying to get a sketch that represented what I seeing in the eye piece.
Messier 13 (M13) – Since I was having trouble locating the other targets on my plan I decided to point the scope towards something a bit brighter – M13 the Great Cluster in Hercules. It was easy to find nearly directly overhead. The bright core was easy to see with the 22mm Pan and the 9mm Nagler. The 9mm showed a few details of individual stars and with the 7mm I was able to resolve a few more individual stars closer to the core.
7/9/2010
Scope: Stellarvue 80BV
Focal length: 750mm
Eyepieces: 22mm Panoptic, 9mm Nagler, 7mm Nagler
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Messier 3 (M3) – From the bright star Arcturus I slowly worked to the west with the 22mm Panoptic until I was able find the fuzzy globular cluster. I could not resolve any individual stars at 22mm, 9mm, or 7mm. Just a faint fuzzy object with a brighter core. Going to have to revisit on a night that is darker and more clear.
Messier 94 (M94) – I was very surprised to be able to find this. I scanned between the two stars that make up the constellation Canes Venatici with the 22mm Panoptic. Very faint, small, with a faint border around a bright core.
7/2/2010
Scope: Stellarvue 80BV
Focal length: 750mm
Eyepieces: 22mm Panoptic, 9mm Nagler, 7mm Nagler
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Messier 4 (M4) Very faint but it was easy to find by centering on Antares and slowly moving the scope to the west using the 22mm. The 9mm brought out more detail of the bright core and was able to resolve individual stars around the core.
Messier 20 (M20), the Trifid Nebula, and Messier 21 (M21), an open cluster. This was one of my favorite targets of the night. Both M20 and M21 could be seen in the same FOV of the 9mm Nagler. I was able to resolve the dark lanes that separate the Trifid Nebula.
Messier 57 (M57), the Ring Nebula, is found in the constellation Lyra about halfway between the stars Sheliak and Sulafat. M57 resolved as a fuzzy bluish thick walled bubble with the 9mm.
Messier 80 (M80) Was also fairly easy to find by centering on Antares and slowly moving the scope up to about half way between Antares and Acrab (Beta Scorpii) in constellation Scorpius. It has a bright core, but I could not resolve individual stars to the core. Also tried with the 7mm Nagler.
