In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual.
/ Galileo Galilei /



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:



M1 (Various/other)
Also known as: Crab nebula, NGC 1952
Right ascension: 5h 36m Declination: 22° 1'
Constellation: Taurus
Date/time: 2011.01.28 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:

Huge, bright supernova remnant (the originator star exploded in 1054 A.D.), with many details visible. I detect faint stars around and on the object's body. Though object to sketch, so I'm quite happy that I finally decided to give it a go. SQM reading: 20.89m/arcsec2, -12°C.


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

M3 (Globular cluster)
Also known as: NGC 5272
Right ascension: 13h 43m Declination: 28° 20'
Constellation: Canes Venatici
Date/time: 2009.04.25 21:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 31' Magnification and filter(s): 100x
Seeing: 4/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A very bright globular cluster with a very high number of separated star members. It's core brightens up very quickly. An interesting feature is a small bright stripe, built up by stars that cannot be separated with the eye. The background is grainy even far away from the core, and it is obvious that many of the bright field stars belong to the cluster gravitationally.


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

M10 (Globular cluster)
Also known as: NGC 6254
Right ascension: 16h 57m Declination: -4° 6'
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Date/time: 2008.05.27 23:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 50' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 5/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A large, bright globular cluster in the Ophiuchus, only 3 degrees away from M12, therefore on an ideal night, this two together may be an interesting object for binocular-owners. Splits fine to its stars, which look quite the same, with matching brightness and spectra, with a bit brighter membere here and there. Because of this homogeneousity, it reminds me on M13, although it's smaller and fainter. Towards East I've noticed two brighter arms leaving the core area, resembling the tongue of a snake.


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

M12 (Globular cluster)
Also known as: NGC 6218
Right ascension: 16h 47m Declination: -1° 57'
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Date/time: 2008.05.27 22:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 52' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 5/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

M10 and M12 of the constellation Ophiuchus are a pair of globulars nearly identical by size and luminosity. The latter is the brigher and less homogeneous: a globular that splits greatly, consisting many exceedingly bright members, which make it look more interesting than M10. It looks a little bit oval, elongated in the E-W directions. Its visible size is smaller than that of the M10, but both of them are easy targets, that can be noticed even in the 8x50 finderscope.


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

M13 (Globular cluster)
Also known as: NGC 6205
Right ascension: 16h 42m Declination: 36° 28'
Constellation: Hercules
Date/time: 2008.05.29 22:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 55' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

The famous globular cluster of the Hercules constellation, perhaps the most represented globular in the press by far. A very easy object for any type and size of telescope, with a large diameter and high surface brightness. Even its position is easy, and especially nowadays it's again greatly visible on the late evening sky (on the Northern hemisphere at least). Splits fine even with small scopes, but reveals its real face with larger aperture: a globular full of separated, lone, bright stars. Behaves well on high magnification, I've increased powers upto 250x, and it kept revealing more and more of its members. For the first look, I've noticed that it looks a bit like a huge turtle, swimming from West to East, with the globular as its shell, and four star-paths as its legs.


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

M27 (Planetary nebula)
Also known as: Dumbbell nebula, NGC 6853
Right ascension: 20h 0m Declination: 22° 43'
Constellation: Vulpecula
Date/time: 2008.06.10 23:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 1° Magnification and filter(s): 71x + UHC filter(s)
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A huge planetary nebula in the constellation Vulpecula. The UHC filter enhances the contrasts somewhat, but it is a wonderful sight even without it. The shiny central part resembles the core of an apple to me and has a direction of N-S. Its far from being homogeneous: in its Southern half a brighter area can be observed. On the Western and Eastern sides of this core are two fainter areas that complement it to a whole "apple". The Western one of these looks much brighter.


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

M34 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 1039
Right ascension: 2h 42m Declination: 42° 47'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2008.01.25 18:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 47' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Shiny, large size open cluster with four brighter stars in the middle of it. It's not too dense, therefore it may not be easily detectable in the finderscope. For me the real essence of it are the high number of double stars, however not all of these are real binaries in real.


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

M35 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 2168
Right ascension: 6h 10m Declination: 24° 21'
Constellation: Gemini
Date/time: 2012.12.30 18:00 UT
Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
FoV: 47' Magnification and filter(s): 60x
Seeing: 6/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 19.67 m/as2 Temperature: -5°C
Humidity: dry Wind: none
Sight: 4 - lots of details, very interesting, unique look
Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A very nice, large open cluster, covers half the FoV, nicely separates from its stellar neighborhood. I count 8 brighter and dozens of fainter stars in the cluster. There are two especially nice features: one of them is the stellar arc between two brighter stars in the middle of the sketch, and the other one is the nice trapezoid of stars right above this arc. Full moon is getting closer and closer to the cloud-covered horizon preventing me from further observation.


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

M36 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 1960
Right ascension: 5h 37m Declination: 34° 9'
Constellation: Auriga
Date/time: 2011.12.20 22:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 42' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 2/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Very spectacular object that is easy to spot, clearly stands out from its background. Large cluster with about a dozen bright stars dominating the view. Their colours are slightly different, some of the brighter stars are strongly orange coloured. Finished just after midnight, Central European Time, so it's 12.21 already, hooray, it's my birthday! :D

SQM reading: 20.82m/arcsec2, -6°C, slightly humid weather with NELM getting worse by every moment.


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

M37 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 2099
Right ascension: 5h 53m Declination: 32° 33'
Constellation: Auriga
Date/time: 2012.01.20 23:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 45' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Very nice cluster that is well populated with faint little stars that are very identical in both brightness and colour (bluish gray), with maybe one or two brighter stars in the middle. I can notice several star paths in the cluster. Very difficult to sketch.

SQM reading: 21.06m/arcsec2, -2°C, very strong wind.


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

M38 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 1912
Right ascension: 5h 30m Declination: 35° 52'
Constellation: Auriga
Date/time: 2012.01.20 22:45 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 42' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

At this level of magnification it fills the FoV. Huge cluster with well balanced amount of bright and fainter stars all around. Easily visible with tiny telescopes or binoculars, looks wonderful together with M36 and M37 in scopes with huge FoV.

SQM reading: 20.97m/arcsec2, -2°C, strong wind, humid air, conditions far from ideal.


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

M39 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 7092
Right ascension: 21h 32m Declination: 48° 29'
Constellation: Cygnus
Date/time: 2012.06.23 0:00 UT
Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
FoV: 50' Magnification and filter(s): 43x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 4/5
Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Sparsely populated, very large and very bright cluster, already visible with my tiny finderscope, nicely sitting in front of the Milky Way. Contains about a dozen bright stars with various luminosity. Has a fuzzy background to the NE thanks to out galaxy. This is my first sketch from Lipótfa, a tiny village surrounded by the Zselic Starry Sky Park - one of Europe's first Starry Sky Parks.


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

M41 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 6h 47m Declination: -2° 47'
Constellation: Canis Major
Date/time: 2013.03.02 18:30 UT
Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
FoV: 52' Magnification and filter(s): 60x
Seeing: 8/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 21.32 m/as2 Temperature: 4°C
Humidity: dry Wind: none
Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Sparsely populated, large open cluster just under the bright star Sirius. It can be detected with the unaided eye as a faint little spot. It contains about a dozen bright stars and about two dozens of fainter companions.


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

M42 + M43 (Diffuse nebula)
Also known as: NGC 1976 + NGC 1982
Right ascension: 5h 35m Declination: -5° 27'
Constellation: Orion
Date/time: 2008.01.24 19:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 45' Magnification and filter(s): 71x + UHC filter(s)
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This sketch of the beauty of the Orion was born in poor conditions as at the time of the process an almost full moon was rising, that painted the background lightgray. The UHC filter helped a little to enhance the sight.


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

M44 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 2632
Right ascension: 8h 41m Declination: 19° 48'
Constellation: Cancer
Date/time: 2010.02.16 01:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 1° Magnification and filter(s): 45x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 2/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Huge, bright open cluster in the middle of the Cancer constellation. It's so bright that it can be easily noticed with the naked eye on a sky that has a NELM of at least 4-4.5 magnitudes, as a faint fuzzy spot. It's actual diametre when viewed in a telescope is twice as large as that of the full Moon, therefore it's best viewed in a wide field telescope like a short rafractor, finderscope or binoculars. I've some sentimental feelings about this object, because it was the first deep space object I've ever observed with my own telescope (a 114/900 newt back in 2001). It has some dozens of relatively bright stars with white or a bit bluish colours, some of them forming spectacular triangles. The weather conditions were not favorable for sketching, I measured -11°C when I finished this session.


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

M45 + Moon occultation (Open cluster)
Also known as: Pleiades, NGC 1432, NGC 1435
Right ascension: 3h 48m Declination: 24° 12'
Constellation: Taurus
Date/time: 2010.02.21 19:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian Scope
FoV: 1° 1' Magnification and filter(s): 45x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

I was very fortunate that we had a clear night when this rare event occured, we had only a couple of such evenings this winter sofar. The 50% Moon was on the Southern side of the Pleiades. The star you may notice near the Moon was visible only for about 5-10 minutes, before it was covered by our little brother.


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

M46 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 7h 42m Declination: -1° 51'
Constellation: Puppis
Date/time: 2013.03.02 20:00 UT
Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
FoV: 1° 2' Magnification and filter(s): 60x
Seeing: 6/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 21.36 m/as2 Temperature: -8°C
Humidity: low Wind: none
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This open cluster is made of plenty of faint stars. Many visible with direct vision, but the majority of even fainter stars are visible only with averted vision. It separates well from its background, but it's definitely not an easy object just next to the much brighter M47.


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

M47 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 7h 37m Declination: -1° 31'
Constellation: Puppis
Date/time: 2013.03.02 20:30 UT
Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
FoV: 57' Magnification and filter(s): 60x
Seeing: 6/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 21.36 m/as2 Temperature: -9°C
Humidity: low Wind: none
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Large, loose open cluster with many faint members, near the much fainter M46 open cluster. This object has fewer stars, yet it still looks a lot brighter. I'm getting frozen now.


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

M48 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 2548
Right ascension: 8h 14m Declination: -5° 47'
Constellation: Hydra
Date/time: 2010.02.21 20:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 47' Magnification and filter(s): 45x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This large, moderately bright open cluster can be detected easily in a 50mm finderscope or binocular. When looking through the telescope I see countless number of stars that are very similar both in colour and luminosity. I can also detect some foggy background which may be miriads of unresolved stars. The conditions were not perfect to sketch this cluster because the 50% Moon caused a low NELM (SQM reading was 17.33 towards the Moon and 19.46 opposite the Moon, -3°C, low humidity).


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

M50 (Open cluster)
Also known as: NGC 2323
Right ascension: 7h 3m Declination: -8° 20'
Constellation: Monoceros
Date/time: 2008.02.12 20:15 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 22' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This rarely mentioned Messier object looks like a diffuse, large spot even through the finderscope. On a low/moderate magnification a view of solid, dense open cluster appears in front of our eyes. A very nice member of the cluster can be found around 9' north from the middle of the cluster: a red giant of a color-index of 1.7, catalogued as HD 52938. With its 7.82 magnitude luminosity its also the brightest star of the cluster. Interestingly, because of its shiny red colour, I wouldn't think that this star is nearly 2 magnitudes brighter than the other stars in the centre of the cluster, which look like they're the brightest by far.


Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
This sketch was featured on Astronomy Sketch of the Day on Jan 14, 2009.
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