Got it at last!

[Michael Steen]

OK, so to you seasoned pros out there this will seem like a nothing achievement, but to me it's a big deal.
Having been a lifelong fan of "armchair astronomy" but relatively new to the observing game, I've been, for the past couple of seasons, on a hunt for M31--Andromeda. I knew, of course, that it would never resemble the photos, but I've been poking around, using the guide stars of Cassiopeia to find it, with no real luck.
Then, at the end of last night's viewing (with binoculars and SkyWindow), Cass was getting higher in the sky, and I saw the great square of Pegasus looming above the trees. "Great" is the word; that thing's HUGE! Well, down at the lower left I saw--FINALLY--the constellation of Andromeda stretched out toward the north, and Mu Andromedae was just visible with averted vision. I knew M31 was just above it, so, with bated breath, I slewed the mirror to the spot and BINGO, there it was. Sure, a fuzzy blob. Sure, nothing like the grand Hubble photos. But MINE ALL MINE! After two years of poking around, I not only found it, but I know just where it is now and how to find it again.
This, of course, is the great joy of amateur astronomy and of "rolling your own" without a GoTo computer. I'm not disparaging the GoTo crowd, of course. But finally putting those scattered pieces together well enough to say with certainty, "That's gotta be it" brings a great deal of satisfaction.
Tonight's skies promise to be clear and sharp, and the 10" Dob is coming out to do its part in the great Andromeda hunt.
Sorry for rambling, but I just had to "show off."

[powerwindows1985]

I had the same reaction when I finally found M81/82 after about 6 months of searching, and I anticipate the same reaction when I finally find the Helix Nebula that I Have been trying to find for over a year. The fun is in the hunt.

[Carlos_dfc]

Great stuff Michael

If you're getting the Dob out tonight, then you could maybe try for m31's two satellite galaxies as well - m32 and m110 - one above, and the other below, m31

Use the lowest magnification at your disposal if you're using the Dob - and don't be surprised that m32 and m110 are a lot further away from the central core than you'd expect, from looking at the pictures.
m110 will be an oval-shaped fuzzy patch, but m32 apears much more concentrated than m110 - often appears like an out-of-focus star in a telescope at low power.

Then if you're feeling confident about fuzzy-hunting - why not try for m33, the Triangulum galaxy. If you can find mu andromeda, then 'Mirach' will be easy.
From m31, imagine a line down to Mirach - then extend that line the same distance again, and you're in the right area for m33 - don't expect it to be anything like m31 though, it's far more diffuse, and looks like a faint wisp of cloud - if you think you've found m33, you can confirm by looking to see of it appears to be within a 'trapezium of roughly 8th mag stars - low power needed agin, m33 is also quite big, and by making diffuse objects appear smaller in the eyepuece, helps them to stand out better (which is why binocs are so good for faint fuzzies)

Also - go left grom Mirach - to 'Almach'
High power needed for this star - it's a nice double star - similar to Albireo, except it's a tighter double, and the orange star of Almach is a deeper orange then the orange of Albireo - the blue is a bit paler.


Powerwindows
Not sure if you know - but timing is the key to seeing the Helix.
It's at quite a low declination (somewhere around -20 IIRC) which puts it in the murk above the horizon, unless you catch it at it's highest point - as it crosses the meridian, when it's due south.
Even though it's only mag 6 or something, the Helix has a low surface brightness because it's fairly large (almost half the diameter of the Moon) and it's light is spread out.
So low power, to make it appear as small as poss in the eyepiece, and so, easier to see.
And the best time at the moment works out at around 1am if you are in 'daylight saving' time - midnight if your time-zone doesnt use DST

[powerwindows1985]

Thanks for the info carlos. I started looking for it around 1:30 and gave it up around 3:00. Need to start a little earlier.

[admin]

great stuff here!

"This, of course, is the great joy of amateur astronomy and of "rolling your own" without a GoTo computer. I'm not disparaging the GoTo crowd, of course"

lol...I still want goto :P

[JimBa151]

Congratulations Mike! I can only imagine the excitement you felt when you finally caught that image . Andromeda has been my first intended DSO also, but several efforts have yet to produce with my 10x50 binocs. I knew when I got my 114 EQ that it would take some time to get used to the mount. When I do get it up and running... I'll be headed straight for Mu and Nu, trying to catch up with Yu !

[EVERYTHING]

Well congratulations on finding it! After 2 years, must've been a long time to suffer looking for it.

[JimBa151]

OK, I guess I'm finally in the club... Got the Andromeda Galaxy via my trusty 10x50 binocs ). Interestingly, I recognized it from a viewing at some other time and place, I think my brother may have shown it to me when I was younger. But this time I found it on my own, making it something very special.

Only been seriously looking at this hobby since April of this year, and (as Mike pointed out) every little step has been rewarding. Reading the sky maps, studying and then identifying constellations has been a lot of fun. Getting an inexpensive scope and observing/learning moon features has added another level of enjoyment. For months, living in an urban environment has sent me running to state and city park areas in search of dark sky, often with plenty of residual light pollution just enough to irritate me. Just in the past week, however, I have found a new satisfaction in "staying home". I now watch the moon from various vantage points on my property, moving the small reflector around to peek between trees, nearby buildings, etc. I also purchased a "ClearView", roofless observatory-style tent and put it up on my flat, attached garage roof. Here, with the nearby streetlight glare blocked by the tent walls, I rest in a comfortable recliner with my 10x50's and explore a small area of dark sky overhead. This is how I found M31... right in my own backyard. Shortly afterwards, I was gazing into a dark section of sky between Cyg and Aql, and not far from Delpninus, got my first look at Sagitta. I had been avoiding "small constellations" in my beginner frinzy ... and now I became facinated by the discovery of one I had not even targeted! A little more exploring led to an accidental stumble into Brocchi's Cluster (Cr399)... a beauty that rates inclusion in any respectable binocular guidebook. All this in one night, in a small area of dark sky over my garage roof... It just keeps getting better .

[Theodora Voon]

great stuff here!