Cant Find M51

[rsp34424]

I wasn't sure if i should put this in the question and answer forum or here but since it says Astronomical Observing i thought it best to put this here. I have been trying for the past 4 clear nights to locate M51. So far i have had no success what so ever. I have looked all over in the area where i have been told it should be and nothing. I am using a Meade 80EQ-AR refractor and i have found and seen m31, m13, m57, m20, and m8 so i shouldn't have a problem seeing m51 so i don't know if ive skipped over it or what. So if anyone has any help or advice i would greatly appreciate it.

Russell

[redshifter]

What instrument are you using in your search?

[RickJ]

It will be much fainter than the objects you listed but very visible in an 80mm scope from a dark MOONLESS location. Trying to see it will a bright moon will be difficult. While its listed magnitude is about the same as M57 it covers about 50 times the area so that magnitude is spread much more thinly than in the case of the Ring Nebula making it much fainter. I've attached a simple star chart of the area. Note it is just to the side of a line from Alkaid to Cor Caroli and is about 3.6 degrees from Alkaid. Note the triangle of about 5th to 6th magnitude stars also below Alkaid. It lies along one side of the triangle.

Rick

[aurora]

Also note that you will not be able to see much other than the two galactic cores (the main one, and the dwarf galaxy). So don't expect to see a big spiral in the sky with an 80mm scope. You would just be looking for two small fuzzy patches in your field of view.