Antihue, Chile

Teri Smoot

Well, I finally had a chance to look at the southern skies. And, due to a limited time for observing, I only did things visually (and primarly focused on some eye candy type things). I was using a 14.5" RCOS (yep, a premier imaging platform) as my primary scope. I mostly observed using a TV 35mm Pan though also used a TV 11mm Plossl for some things (again, note, the observatory was primarily set up for imaging and had a limited eyepiece collection). I also looked at lots of stuff visually and had my 15x50 IS Canon binos as well.

Conditions: Had rained all day but cleared out nicely by 10:00 pm. Very dark with a bit of sky glow to the south. My observing buddy said he had measured the sky at 21.4 using his meter and that last night was pretty typical. I would say that the conditions were about the same as Shingletown (or perhaps a bit better) with just the small light dome in the south. [Interesting note; as we were driving up, Dan said that if objects were in the skyglow to the south, he just waited a while till they were higher in the sky to image -- it made sense and I agreed but didn't quite connect this to my experience since I really can't wait on things in the south. After we had started observing though, it came to me that his south pole is the equivalent of my north pole. And, yes, if I wait a while things around the north pole get very high in the sky. This north/south switch was also apparent when we looked at Orion. Dan said that the first thing Northerners do when they come down here is look between their legs since Orion is "upside down". Again, I knew this but really didn't experience it till I saw old O Firsrion with his sword pointing towards the zenith instead of towards the ground. The sky down here is the same but it looks different.]

Objects: Started with M42. Mostly to get the mount aligned, collimation and focus checked, et al. Orion was higher in the sky than we normally get and the views of the nebula were great. I don't think I've ever seen M43 so distinct. Saw 5 (for sure) or 6 probably) of the stars in the trap (and remember, I'n not really a visual observer). Nebulosity was great. Tendrils with dark and light patches. Based on this view, this was better than I've ever seen M42 in Placerville.

Then moved on to the southern hemispere.

First object: NGC253 (Silver Dollar Galaxy in Sculptor) -- Yes, I know we see the is in the North. But it never gets very high. Down here, I could easily see the dust lanes/arms of the galaxy. Not lots of contrast but there for sure. Through the scope, it looked similar to the pictures I've made. Very impressive and an indication of a good night to come.

Second object: NGC3372 (Eta Carinae nebula). My only reaction is "wow". This was the highlight of the evening. Using the 85 pan, I could easily see the nebulosity with a large dark lane in the middle and lots of smaller lanes wrapped up in the nebulosity. There are two sides of this nebulosity. One side fit in the FOV of the 35 pan. By panning the scope though could go to the other side where the nebulosity was dimmer but even more spread out. To get it all (I'm not sure I even did), I probably had to move across several fields of view (probably about 8-10 overall). Very impressive with LOTS of smaller open clusters spread around the area. I didn't have an atlas and wouldn't even have tried to id them all. I also scanned this area with my 15x50 IS's. It reminded me of the Saggitarius area of the milky way. Everywhere you look there is something else to see. After soaking the photons in the 85 pan, I tried the 11 mm Plossl on Eta Car itself. The homoluus nebula (spelling????) was very visible. It looked like an hourglass with one side brighter than the other. I saw an orangish color to it and think I saw some "ripples" in the nebulosity radiating from the star itself. When this guy blows, it will really be neat! Later in the evening when this area was higher, I came back and could even seen the "h" nebula in the 85 pan.

OC NGC3532 -- This overwhelmed the RCOS. Looks like lots of the large OC's when viewed in large scope. Lots of stars with no character. However, in the bino's, it came alive. Kind of looks like a large diamond with lots of stars in pretty big area. Don't quite know of Northern Hemisphere equivalent. Maybe like wild duck but stars much brighter.

NGC2070 (Tarantula Nebula) -- This again was beautiful. It really does look like a Tarantula. Lots of filamentary nebulosity in the area. Some suggestions of blue in the nebulosity. Tendrils and dust patches clearly visible. There is a very nice little OC just to the right and down from the nebula (and, I know, right and down don't make sense but I was new with scope and just enjoying sights as I scanned). [Note, this is in the LMC. Both the LMC and SMC's are easily visible. In fact, my guide Dan said they were real clouds but I insisted they were in the right place for the LMC and SMC. He looked again and agreed. They are big and bright but not terrible interesting -- as least where I looked. They weren't much better in the binos either.

Southern Cross & alpha and beta Centauri -- found these mostly to orient myself in the sky. Looked for the coalsack. Saw it later when sky was darker. This needs to be naked eye object. A very dark area about the size of the constellation Crux. When looked at through the scope (or Bino's), though, it wasn't really empty!

OC NGC4755 (The Jewel Box) -- Very beautiful OC. Kind of like a small version of the Christmas Tree Cluster but the stars were much more colorful. The little red star in the center looked like a ruby in the sky.

GC NGC104 (47 Tuc) -- Wonderful glob. It filled the eyepiece of the 85 pan. Its not as dense in the center as some of our Northern Hemisphere globs but is larger than any of them. M13 and M3 have their magic but the attaction of this cannot be denied. I think its probably a better view. Also a naked eye object and looked very nice in the binos. 11mm eyepiece was too much for this. What is neat is that the stars are resolved almost to the center but they are everywhere.

PN NGC3132 -- Kind of blue around bright central star. Nice but not M27/M57. More like the Eskimo maybe but not very sharp. [Note, this might be a very nice object to image though.]

NGC2264 -- Yep, I know we get this up north too. But its always low and I wanted to look and compare (I always get it in the "junk" in my southern sky). Lots of nebulosity apparent as well as enjoyed the Christmas Tree.

NGC5139 (Omega Centauri) -- Very large globular but not very concentrated. As I looked at it, it kind of seemed to move like an ant's nest. (It kind of seemed that there were dark lanes -- very small -- between the stars and then they would move as seeing moved.) This was larger than 47 Tuc I think but not as nice. [And, again, I know this is theroetically visible in Placerville but I've never seen it. I think it only gets a degree or so above the horizon.]

GC NGC2808 -- Small condensed globular. Kind of looks like the top got cut off. Surrounded by a few stars and doesn't resolve even with the 11 mm. I sense it is in an area where there are lots of dark clouds and I may be seeing it through them (haven't researched this though).

PN NGC3918: Small planetary. Pretty inconsequencial. Maybe a bluish tint. Pretty but no eye candy. [Note, based on the two PN's I looked at, I suspect I need either a different/better EP or maybe a filter. I really wasn't impressed with either.

Finally, tried (probably unsuccessfully) to split the pup. Maybe got it but doubt it.

Finally, went back to Eta Car and just enjoyed. Packed in at 2:00 am.

Everyone must get down here and enjoy this sky someday.

Teri Smoot