Re: finding a galaxy

Eric wrote: 
Mark S. Holden wrote:


Eric wrote:

I dont have much of a scope, just a Celestron 114gt. I've had fun with it
but never seen anything other than planets (and of course the moon). so
the other night i set out to see a galaxy, nebula anything other than the
planets. I was trying for some things just below Cepheus but I couldnt
get anything to show up, i could see lots of pinpoint stars scattered
around but thats about it. Are these types of objects beyond the reach of
my equipment? for example one of the things i was looking for was M39 -
should i be able to see that? Can someone recommend some easy to find
deep sky objects, fairly high in the night sky (I'm surrounded by tall
pines) at 47N 122W? at say 11-12pm Pacific time that would be in reach of
my 4.5 inch newt?
Thanks
Eric


M31 is pretty easy to find, even with binoculars.

If you wait a couple months or stay up late, M42 is also easy to find.

Use something like a 40mm eyepiece so you can see more of the sky at
once while you're looking.



I've got a 25mm EP i was using. I'll go look for M42, are any of these
visible with the naked eye? (so i can be sure where to point)
Seeing here isnt that great at times, soon, when the rain comes, it will be
downright poor.
Thanks,
Eric


Currently, M42 isn't apt to clear the trees until after 2:30am.

A 25mm eyepiece is fairly wide field in your scope, but a 32mm or 40mm one will show more of the sky at once.

At a dark sky location, I can see something faint and fuzzy when I look at M31 with just my eyes. M42 is easier to locate because it's right in the scabbard under Orions belt.

< http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/2001/12/images/b/formats/large_web.jpg >
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