Humbling Experience

[starquest]

Neal, thank you for the suggestions, especially on "push-to" system. Where did you get the azimuth circle and digital inclinometer?

[cloudsbite]

Don't be too hard on yourself. It gets better with more time and practice.
I think that M57 isn't as easy to find as one may think. With my XT 8 and a 25 mm EP, the ring doesn't just jump right out at me at all. I have to use fairly decent magnification to tell that it's a nebula and not just a star. This may just be me, and it's been a while since I've targeted the Ring, but it seems like it's located in somewhat of a hole. That is, there isn't anything around it very close.
One huge thing I would suggest is that you invest in a Telrad and if you're wanting to hunt down Messier objects, buy the two charts for that that go along with the Telrad. I can't begin to tell you how much frustration will ease and your time at the EP will be a lot more rewarding. The time spent hunting for your targets will greatly decrease while your time actually observing them will greatly increase.
Also, "Turn Left At Orion" is a valuable resource. I own a copy and refer to it most every night that I'm out. But, I would suggest getting Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas. I got mine at Books-A-Million, but you can find it on Amazon.com.
And if DSO's are what you're wanting to see, make sure your eyes are prepared for it. Thirty minutes to an hour of being in the dark is needed for your eyes to become dark-adapted. Use averted vision also. Get a flashlight that has a red lense. Red light doesn't affect your vision like whit light does. Nothing like getting your eyes adapted to the dark and then have someone throw on a flashlight or turn on the headlights to their car!

[AndrewD]

When I lived in downtown Laconia, I had some rather frustrating nights.Luckily I had a goto mount so,the basic frustration came from not being able to actually see what it was that I was pointing at. Keep working at it and soon you will be navigating the skies like a pro!.
Andrew

[TILLIBOBS]

I got set up last night as the sky was fairly clear and I wanted to see Saturn. I had to wait until after midnight for the sky to darken, and, even then, I could only see one bright star with the naked eye.With a 10mm EP I could see lots of stars but couldn't find Saturn. I tried Stellarium, but it was showing so many stars that it became confusing so I packed it in at 02.00 and went to bed. Can't wait for winter and those lovely dark skies!

[cliffc321]

Hi - I am still new to this as well and also use an 8" dob for observing. The Ring is one of only a couple of Messiers I have observed through my scope, and I had a difficult time finding it both times I observed it just a few days apart. The two things that helped me be successful were my 8X50 RACI finder and my Pocket Sky Atlas.

My approach was to find Vega and center it in my Telrad finder (roughly similar to your red dot finder), then I moved to my 8X50 and started identifying the various stars in Lyra. This was not easy for me! I couldn't see those stars naked eye due to LP and seeing conditions. Then I kept getting confused exactly which stars I was looking at. By moving between the finder and my Pocket Sky Atlas I was slowly able to start identifying the stars I was seeing. The various double stars indicated in the Atlas are what helped me figure out exactly where I was looking and the correct direction to move through Lyra. I kept wanting to look from Vega lower toward the horizon in the East to get Lyra. Holding the Atlas up over my head and orienting N with N I figured out I should be looking to the South of Vega. Bingo! Once I found Sulafat and Sheliak, I moved the scope (still using the finder) slowly between them where I noticed a faint oblong shaped smudge. Centered the finder on it and there in the eyepiece was a small, pale, ghostly smoke ring.

Keep at it. A good star atlas will help you immensely.

[starquest]

Cliff, thank you for the words of encouragement. I will have to get a copy of the Pocket Sky Atlas. It must be a good guide because it has been mentioned alot in the forum. I will have to try your approach. What EP did you use whiole you were searching?

[cliffc321]

Yep - I think you will find the Pocket Sky Atlas very useful. I used a 2" 30mm GSO for 40X that came with my scope. It gives a reasonably wide field. After I got tuned in I went to my 1.25" 12.5mm for 97X mag. Sky conditions were bad, so I lost view when I tried a 9mm.

With the less than stellar viewing conditions I had averted vision helped to get a bit better definition, but it was still a pretty dim ring.

I am having your experience with M27 (Dumbell Nebula). I've tried to find it twice, but no love yet. Stick with it. Soon we'll both be old hands at this.

[starquest]

Thanks to all and have a great weekend and clear skies!