McNeil's New Nebula

Clear skies for the first time in over a week here, allowed me to
observe Jay McNeil's new cometary reflection nebula this evening
with 36" RC at 200x at George Observatory south of Houston, Tx.

I estimate it is visually around 13th magnitude. This object is very
small,
requiring fairly high power. It is definitely elongated. No sign of
imbedded
illuminating star as my limiting visual magnitude was only 15.1.

B Wilson

Thanks for this info Barbara. Iv'e been wondering how bright this
object is. Do you think it could be seen with an 18 inch in light
polluted skies? I'll relay this info to my buddies at WSP.




"Barbara Wilson" <[Registered users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<eoIXb.4496$[Registered users can see links. ].pas.earth link.net>...

Darren:
Think so, if they work at it slowly and carefully. The observational
clincher for me was seeing both components of the double star adjacent
to Jay's nebula, because there are lots of bits and pieces of nebulosity
in the area. No filter used or required, WSP skies are not much
brighter than the skies at rural location of the George observatory.
Barbara

"Darren Drake" <[Registered users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:a0b4d9e8.0402150757.279c8057@posting.google.c om...

very
of

Tried for the nebula with a 24" f/4.5 at 228X. View nebula near postion , but
belive it may have been seen the stars near the nebula, sky condition were not
the best.

John D. Sabia

Last night in a 25" under decently dark skies (80 miles west of Austin) with
good transparency and average seeing, at 88x it was invisible, at 218x
discernible but difficult with direct vision, obvious with averted vision.
Not a whiff of the star. Just out of curiosity I dropped UHC and O-III
filters on it. As expected, they both wiped it out.

I'd skeptical about seeing it in an 18" except under very dark skies. I
guess we'll find out shortly, when reports from WSP start coming in.

Jim

"Darren Drake" <[Registered users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:a0b4d9e8.0402150757.279c8057@posting.google.c om...
news:<eoIXb.4496$[Registered users can see links. ].pas.earth link.net>...

Second try at this nebula with 24" scope under greatly improved skies on Feb
15, 2004 EST. Transparency best I' ve seen in many months. Temp 6 degrees F, RH
77 %.

l stiIl question if it was glimpsed with averted vision at 228X.

John D. Sabia

As expected I had no luck at all with my 18 inch here in the light
polluted skies in the Chicago suburbs. I could barely make out M78.
There is no substitute for dark skies. Question: about how many
magnitudes dimer than M78 does it appear?


[Registered users can see links. ] (SabiaJohn) wrote in message news:<[Registered users can see links. ].com>...

I thought this object was discovered with a 3inch refrctor ?
jerry




Jim Chandler wrote:

"Barbara Wilson" <[Registered users can see links. ]> wrote in message news:<eoIXb.4496$[Registered users can see links. ].pas.earth link.net>...

Jim Ster and I viewed this object Thursday night (2/12)at Fiddletown
in our respective 22" dobs. I thought it was a bit fainter than 13th
magnitude. Thanks to Bill Ferris for providing the link to the photo.
Clear skies,
Shneor Sherman

Jerry Warner wrote:

Jay McNeil made the discovery while processing a wide field image of M78 he had
made with a 3-inch Takahashi FTC-76 and ST-10XME CCD from sububan Paducah, KY
(NELMZ~4.5).

One of the defining aspects of this era in amateur astronomy is that the
technology and equipment available to the backyard observer is capable of
overcoming challenges that would have seemed insurmountable in generations
past. Whether observing in moderate light pollution with a small aperture scope
and a CCD camera; under pristine skies with moderate aperture; or under
moderately dark skies with big aperture, McNeil's nebula is within reach.

With a new Moon weekend just days away, here's hoping Ma Nature sends out a
much needed dose of clear skies to observers across the globe.

Regards,


Bill Ferris
"Cosmic Voyage: The Online Resource for Amateur Astronomers"
URL: [Registered users can see links. ]
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