M27 The Dumbbell Nebula

Last night I was able to observe and take pictures of M27, known as The Dumbbell Nebula. About 1300 light-years away this planetary nebula is seen within the constellation Vulpecula. It was Charles Messier himself who discovered this nebula in 1764 and it was the first planetary nebula ever.

Of all pictures made I took three for stacking purposes, al three with different exposure time and ISO values. After stacking with DeepSkyStacker the result was edited using CS4.

Finding Uranus

You need to have some patience to find Uranus (magnitude 5.9). Below my starchart I used once the goto put the scope into postion for Uranus. The chart is an exact copy (North down, east left) when you look into the finderscope 9x50. Using the chart will guide you towards Uranus.

Uranus with Titania ans Oberon

Using my AZ-EQ6 GT I was able to locate Uranus. This is my first time ever I could observe Uranus. Low above the ESE horizon in the constellation Pisces, When enlarging the picture I got Uranus together with two moons Titania and Oberon (via Stellarium0.14.3). Both pictures are edited using CS4

Small Moon

F10 TAL200K Klevtsov-Cassegrain

After 3 months thinking time and testing I made finally my decision and choose for the TAL200K. This is a Klevtsov-Cassegrain type telescoop with a primary mirror reflecting the light into a secundary mirror and corrector. The 8" aperture with focus length 2000mm (f/10 ) is Russian made and thus very robust.

Weather Summary for August

Higher temperatures and less rain compared with last year August.

Gnomonics or the art and design of sundials

As many things also the art, design and the science of sundials (which is being described as gnomonics) can be exciting. 

So when visiting next time a city, town, ... make sure to look around and have an eye for sundials. 

Chicago §USA) - Adler Planetarium

Salzburg (Austria) - Marketplace

Izegem (B) - Marketplace

Barcelona (Spain) - Montjuic Castle

Rovinj (Croatia) - Market place with fontain