Galaxies (M51)

[DSOseeker]

I was hoping someone here could help me a little. I purchased the Orion 10" XT dob about 6 months ago. I am new to the board and the hobby so my questions may be a little daft. This is not my first telescope; I have a 3" Bushnell 'deepspace' reflector, and a pair of Orion 10x50 bino's, that I've used for 2 years. So far, I love the scope. I would say it is my first true 'instrument' and I really enjoy the way stars jump into site that are otherwise unseen. But, I am having trouble with Deep Space Objects, particularly M51. It has been my objective for 5 sessions now and I have yet to see a hint of something that I can sincerely say wasn't my imagination. I have a great Star map (Sky Atlas 2000.0 2ed Desk Edition Laminated) and after 5 sessions I am darn sure I am looking in the right spot now. It's funny because I have spent hours peering into Clusters in Corvus that have a lower magnitutde than the Whirlpool. Will I ever see structure in M51 with my scope? I am now where near frustration, just ready to ask for help. For EP's all I have are 10mm/20mm Orion Sirius Plossl's, and a 7.5mm Orion Ultrascopic for Planets. Moreover I use the 20mm, but I have been trying with the 10mm as well. Are my skies too polluted? Is there something about the nature of Galaxies that is hindering me from seeing them? Should I upgrade my eyepieces? When I put M51 in the FOV of the 20mm, I see stars that seem to form a spiral, but there is no clear center. I cannot figure out what I am doing wrong. I have enjoyed this scope tremendously, honestly I could stay with the Planets, Moon and Clusters for years to come and probably be fine with it. I just don't know many people personally who are into Astronomy so I have been totally winging this thing from the get-go. So far I have used maps, money and my mind to open up the Heavens with relative success. Just wondering why M51 has been such a bugger for me.

Thanks to anyone who can help,

DSOSeeker

[seeker372011]

hang in there DSO seeker with a 10 inch and your 20 mm Plossls you will certainly be able to see galaxies..

I dont know about M51, it is not well located for me, so I cannot speak from experience, but for example M104, you should have no trouble finding unless you have very poor skies...I can see M104 even with binos -from my suburban backyard

and surely M31 should be no problem? ( i'm guessing you are a northern hemisphere observer)?

[DSOseeker]

Yes. I guess I should have mentioned I do my observing from the Northeastern US (Suburban Wash D.C.). I guess I am trying to figure out if I've actaully found it and that is all there is to see. Without being able to 'see what I see' I know there is no way for someone to tell me that I have indeed found it. But, what should it look like to me? Should I see the center as a larger 'patch' of stars? If I am seeing it, it seems to take up more than what fits in the FOV of my 20mm. I had so so skies last night. Tonight is supposed to about the same. I plan on trying again.

DSOSeeker

[Dave Mitsky]

Most galaxies and diffuse nebulae require darker skies than those of suburban D.C. I suggest that you join a local astronomy club that has a dark observing site for member use.

M51 is easily visible through a binocular or small telescope from a site with a good visual limiting magnitude. Through a 10" aperture, M51 and its companion galaxy NGC 5195 will appear as two round glows of differing size. Some hint of spirality may be evident if the site is truly dark.

Sketches often more accurately portray what is actually seen through an eyepiece that do photographs and digital images.

http://skytour.homestead.com/files/M51X.jpg - done with a 10" Newtonian

http://members.leapmail.net/~ericj/m51.html

http://astro.geekjoy.com/sketchgallery/dee...y_sketches.html (http://astro.geekjoy.com/sketchgallery/deepsky_sketches.html)

Dave Mitsky

[DSOseeker]

Thanks Dave,
Those are really helpful. OK... back to the drawing board (pun intended). I must not be seeing what I thought I was. In my minds eye I had the actaul size of M51 as being much larger in my 60x 20mm. I will be back out there tonight to try again. It's a perfect target for me right now so I will remain tenacious. Thanks for the guidance. I agree about the Astronomy Club, I have a good club that has a Dark Sky site about 20 Minutes from my house. It's just really hard to get 'out'. I have three children under the age of 6 and they require a lot of my time. My Wife and I have been making due with what we can see and enjoy by just dragging out the dob. Believe it or not, Wash DC isn't that large of a city and the suburban area I live in is quite rural. However I did see a Light pollution Map in 'Backyard Astromomy Guide 2nd Edition' and it should most of my area is heavily affected. I'll report back with my results. These sketches were just what I needed to see...

Thanks Again Dave!

DSOSeeker