Telescopes are in some ways like time machines. They reveal galaxies so far away that their light has taken billions of years to reach us. We in astronomy have an advantage in studying the universe, in that we can actually see the past.
/ Sir Martin Rees /



In memoriam Halton C. Arp (1927-2013).


My astronomy sketches. Hover mouse over image for the inverted look. For fainter objects, take a look at the black-on-white original, sometimes it reveals more details.


Need advice? Want to discuss an observation? Feel free to contact me at flovro gmail*com.

ÚJ! Amennyiben elérhető, a ikonra kattintva magyarul is olvashatod az észlelést.


Show me the newest sketches!
By type: open clusters [67] globular clusters [14] diffuse nebulae [3] dark nebulae [0] planetary nebulae [27] variable stars [18] binary stars [23] asterisms [2] galaxies [119] quasars [1] planets [2] minor planets [1] comets [5] Sun [0] Moon [5] other objects [8]
By catalogue: Messier 1-50 [20] Messier 51-110 [18] NGC 1-1000 [17] NGC 1001-2000 [21] NGC 2001-3000 [32] NGC 3001-4000 [25] NGC 4001-5000 [18] NGC 5001-6000 [22] NGC 6001-7000 [40] NGC 7001-7840 [35] IC 1-5386 [1] other catalogues [71] uncataloged [10] [25]
By constellation:



NGC 1807 + NGC 1817 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 5h 11m Declination: 16° 31'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2008.01.31 18:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 1° Magnification and filter(s): 45x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

I've started a big enterprise when I decided to sketch these two open clusters: during the long process of drawing I've restarted from scratch once and decided to abandon at least 3 times. NGC 1807 was the easier case: a handful of bright 9-11m stars give the most of the cluster, which has a figure in the middle of the field theat resembles me of a flying kite. The really hard case is the NGC 1817, seen on the right side of the image. It also has brighter stars, however its real image is shaped by the many stars fainter than 12-13 magnitudes. During sketching many stars emerged by using averted vision which made it even harder, especially when after sketching a couple of dots on paper, and turning back to the eyepiece one tries to pick up the line. On the other hand this double-cluster is a beautiful and easy target, that should be observed with lower magnifications.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]

Saturn (Planet)
Right ascension: h m Declination: ° '
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2008.02.19 21:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 17' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A closer look (Iapetus cannot fit on this sketch). I've marked a possible seventh moon with a questionmark. But I've seen it only for a moment with averted vision.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]

Saturn (Planet)
Right ascension: h m Declination: ° '
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2008.02.19 21:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 17' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Overview of Saturn and 6 (!) of its moons near the 97% Moon. Unbelievable! The moons from left to right are:
  Iapetus (10.9m)
  Rhea (9.5m)
  Enceladus (11.5m)
  Dione (10.2m)
  Tethys (10.0m)
  Titan (8.2m)


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]

NGC 7640 (Galaxy)
Right ascension: 23h 22m Declination: 40° 54'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2008.11.18 19:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 23' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 6/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Faint but still very spectacular spiral galaxy with an estimated brightness of about 12.3m. As I almost never read or view pictures of the objects I want to observe (so the photos in my memory will not change the picture I really see with my own eyes), because of its very asymmetrical shape I first thought that it must be an irregular galaxy, similar to the objects in Halton Arp's compilation of peculiar galaxies. Even its core area seemed to almost fall out of the galaxy itself. However, later on by examining astrophotographs it turned out that what I believed to be its core is in fact a bright foreground star and the real galactic core is in fact located in the brighter little densities near this "fake core". At smaller magnification levels (67x) the shape of the galaxy is easier to see, however by increasing the magnification, the sofar homogeneous arms start to show many details, especially with averted vision near the core. I measured its size as 4.5'x1'.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
This sketch was featured on Astronomy Sketch of the Day on Dec 6, 2008.

NGC 7662 (Planetary nebula)
Also known as: Blue snowball
Right ascension: 23h 26m Declination: 42° 35'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2008.11.18 19:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 15' Magnification and filter(s): 250x + UHC filter(s)
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

The planetary, also known as Blue snowball nebula looks planet-like even on powers as small as 45x, with a charming cyan colour. I think this is the planetary, that looks nice even is a theatre-binocular. Naturally, a filter is unneccessary to view it, however I've found that by using a UHC filter its size expands, especially to the Northeast, where a dark blue thin arc shows up. Finding this planetary is not hard at all, but it's a bit tricky, because the viewfinder displays it just like a bright star which you are unable to find on your maps. It has a perfect circular shape of a diametre of 0.6', with a brightness of about 8m.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
Click here for a colour version of this sketch.

NGC 404 (Galaxy)
Also known as: Mirach's ghost
Right ascension: 1h 10m Declination: 36° 46'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2009.11.23 23:45 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 15' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This galaxy, also know as Mirach's ghost, not surprisingly is located near the bright star Mirach of the constellation Andromeda. Some have reported difficulties seeing this object, because although it's fairly bright, the glowing of the nearby Mirach easily outshines it. For me, it was visible easily from the start, but after I've increased the magnification to 250x, I was finally able to examine the structure of the galaxy without Mirach in the FoV. You may need eyepieces with good anti-glare coating to disturbing light rays. The galaxy itself is very small, round, with some suspectedly brighter details at its Northern corner, albeit this may be the result of an optical error only. SQM reading: 21.0 m/arcsec2, 9°C.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]

Almach (TVICS)
Also known as: Gamma Andromedae, Gamma And
Right ascension: 2h 6m Declination: 42° 24'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2012.09.25 23:20 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 14' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 2/5
SQM: 20.12 m/as2 Temperature: 13°C
Humidity: moderate Wind: moderate
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
Position: 1 - very easy, many bright stars nearby
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A nice binary star, not that close to eachother, but with large difference in brightness. The colour is best noticeable with fresh, non dark adapted eyes. The primary member has a golden colour with a touch of green while the companion is deep blue with a very little purplish tint. The strong moonlight combined with moderate humidity is not a favorable condition for observation, perhaps that's why the field is lacking faint stars.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]

NGC 7686 (Open cluster)
Also known as: Herschel H69-8
Right ascension: 23h 31m Declination: 49° 14'
Constellation: Andromeda
Date/time: 2015.12.30 18:45 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 15' Magnification and filter(s): 150x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 3/5
SQM: 20.96 m/as2 Temperature: -6°C
Humidity: low Wind: breeze
Sight: 1 - nothing spectacular
Difficulty: 2 - easily visible, some dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
Location: Talpa Minor Observatory
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Somewhat unimportant open cluster with 2 very bright stars in the middle, and a dozen of fainter companions around and in between. Averted vision doesn't reveal more members.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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