This sight... is by far the noblest astronomy affords.
/ Edmond Halley /



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 1023 (Galaxy)
Right ascension: 2h 41m Declination: 39° 7'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2010.01.03 19:45 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 11' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 2/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This galaxy shows an almond-shaped bright core and an ellipse-shaped body, with some brighter bulge around the core as its only special feature. The NELM was quickly getting worse because of the rising Moon, so I'm absolutely sure it would show a much larger size under a truly dark sky, but this time I estimate dimensions of only 2'x0.5'. SQM readings (just to give you an idea how much the Moon adds to light pollution): 19.95m/arcsec2 (Moon slightly below the horizon) down to 19.58m/arcsec2 (Moon slightly over the horizon) just within a 30 minute timeframe.


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 ]

NGC 1342 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 3h 32m Declination: 37° 26'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2009.01.24 18:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 30' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 6/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Interesting, large size open cluster with faint stars of variable magnitude: contains about 10 brighter and 20 much fainter stars. Nicely extrudes from its backround. Its cumulate size and brightness can be easily described if I say that even the finderscope shows this object as a small faint spot. The picture drawn by its stars reminds me of a horsefish.


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 ]

NGC 1502 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 4h 8m Declination: 62° 20'
Constellation: Camelopardalis
Date/time: 2008.01.26 19:30 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 7.5' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Despite its small size, this cluster can be found easily. When looking through the finderscope, it is sitting at the end of a very long path of bright stars. It consists only a small number of stars, yet the majority of these are quite bright with magnitudes somewhere between 7 and 11. Besides the 10 bright members, there are stars of at least the same number, within magnitudes 11 and 13.


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

NGC 1513 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 4h 10m Declination: 49° 31'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2008.02.11 19:40 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 18' Magnification and filter(s): 167x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

First I wasn't even sure that I'm sketching the right object, this open cluster looked so insignificant to me for the first look, but after looking up images in a internet database about it, it became clear, that my time wasn't just wasted and I sketced the right thing. Around halfway between lambda and mu Per, a handful of stars, that can hardly be called bright, make up this cluster. On a magnification of 71x it looks as if there were two rings of stars that are bound to eachother. On 167x an almost regular hexagon is the most notable part of the cluster, made up of six stars of similar luminosity and colour, of magnitudes 12-13. Although not too spectacular, because of its easy location it might worth to search and take a look at it.


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

NGC 1528 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 4h 15m Declination: 51° 13'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2008.02.12 19:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 25' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

I've had the opportunity to look at this beautiful, dense open cluster on "moonless" nights. Then it seemed to have a quite diffuse background. This effect was missing now, although I've seen it as a fuzzy, foggy spot even through the finderscope, thanks to its relatively high gross luminosity of around 6.4m. Although it's a splendid view even in moonlight, its real character can be seen only on really dark nights.


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

NGC 1545 (Open cluster)
Also known as: Collinder 49 (Cr 49)
Right ascension: 4h 21m Declination: 50° 15'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2008.02.11 19:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 40' Magnification and filter(s): 71x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This cluster is not too dense and not at all spectacular, for me its only charm was the northern star of the triangle made up of three bright stars with its nice red/orange colour. Its environs are moderately rich in stars, its boundaries are hardly noticeable, because it perfectly fades into its surroundings.


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

NGC 1662 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 4h 49m Declination: 10° 58'
Constellation: Orion
Date/time: 2009.11.24 00:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 30' Magnification and filter(s): 100x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

A very spectacular little open cluster in the great Orion constellation. It has only a handful of stars, but they are very different in colour, with brightness in the 9m range. The most interesting part is the paralelogram in the middle. SQM reading: 21.0 m/arcsec2, 9°C.


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

NGC 1664 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 4h 52m Declination: 43° 42'
Constellation: Auriga
Date/time: 2014.03.08 20:45 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 36' Magnification and filter(s): 100x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 2/5
SQM: 17.95 m/as2 Temperature: 6°C
Humidity: moderate Wind: gusts
Sight: 4 - lots of details, very interesting, unique look
Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
Position: 1 - very easy, many bright stars nearby
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Faint, large open cluster with member stars of very similar brightness. Sparsely populated, yet it features many spectacular stellar paths. A really nice object, should make a great target on a better evening. In the Eastern corner of the FoV I can see a really nice, perfectly square pattern of stars. The Half Moon is near the Auriga constellation, and sometimes stormy wind gusts make observation harder.


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

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 ]

NGC 1907 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 5h 29m Declination: 35° 20'
Constellation: Auriga
Date/time: 2012.01.18 23:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 18' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 3/10 Transparency: 2/5
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Very near the M38 cluster lies this little gem. Often ignored as its famous neighbour grabs all the attention, but it still worth observing this tiny cluster. Dominated by some dozens of stars, but a foggy background can also be seen. The 250x power is a bit of an exaggeration, but I found this the best to see all the details.

SQM reading: 20.61m/arcsec2, -5°C, extremely humid, terrible seeing.


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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

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 ]

NGC 1245 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 3h 15m Declination: 47° 3'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2014.12.23 23:00 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 31' Magnification and filter(s): 100x
Seeing: 4/10 Transparency: 3/5
SQM: 21.02 m/as2
Humidity: low Wind: breeze
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

This open cluster consists faint stars in a stellar-rich neighborhood. This doesn't make its observation easier, yet it separates quite well from its environment. It has a fuzzy background and a quite small angular diameter.


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

NGC 1444 (Open cluster)
Right ascension: 3h 51m Declination: 52° 42'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2015.11.12 23:10 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 9' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 4/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 21.09 m/as2 Temperature: 6°C
Humidity: dry Wind: none
Sight: 1 - nothing spectacular
Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
Position: 4 - hard, complex starhopping needed
Location: Talpa Minor Observatory
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Tiny, featureless open cluster. At small magnification the most remarkable part is the tight binary in the centre of this sketch. By increasing power, this binary is no longer that spectacular, however the stellar path running down at the Eastern side of the cluster is more pronounced with the four stars nearly in-line. This won't be anyone's favourite open cluster I guess. ;)


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

NGC 1501 (Planetary nebula)
Also known as: Herschel H53-4
Right ascension: 4h 8m Declination: 60° 58'
Constellation: Camelopardalis
Date/time: 2015.11.12 23:40 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 16' Magnification and filter(s): 214x + UHC, O-III filter(s)
Seeing: 4/10 Transparency: 4/5
SQM: 21.14 m/as2 Temperature: 6°C
Humidity: low Wind: none
Sight: 4 - lots of details, very interesting, unique look
Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
Location: Talpa Minor Observatory
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

I was very surprised when I looked into the 21mm (71x) eyepiece I use for searching objects, because I expected a tiny fuzzy stellar sight: instead a small, round, well-defined spot greeted me. Increased my magnification to 250x, however - most probably because of the below average seeing - the planetary nebula was much better looking when I stepped back from my 6mm TMB Planetary II to my 7mm of the same type, providing a modest 214x magnification. This is a very easy target even without filters, however I found that it appears much brighter compared to the sky background with a wide transmission UHC filter. An O-III was also fine, but somehow the UHC view was a bit neater for me. It resembles the M57 Ring Nebula, except that it is a bit fainter, smaller, and the central part of the muffin shape is not as dark, but closer to the outer regions in surface brightness. Can be found relatively easily by following the path of Kemble's Cascade, as it sits near one of its end, close to the nice open cluster NGC 1502.


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

NGC 1169 (Galaxy)
Right ascension: 03h 05m Declination: 46° 27'
Constellation: Perseus
Date/time: 2017.10.20 21:15 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 15' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 7/10 Transparency: 3/5
SQM: 21.25 m/as2 Temperature: 6°C
Humidity: high Wind: none
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 5 - almost invisible, total dark adaptation, very dark skies and averted vision is a must to see the object
Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
Location: Talpa Minor Observatory
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

At the edge of direct visibility, very tiny galaxy. The shape is very difficult to see because of the low surface brightness. It isn't smooth, and it looks like it has TWO stellar cores. I suspect a little tentacle on the Northern side. At 71x it looks like a defocused star. At 250x it looks better but it's still best to view with averted vision. This is a fine example that one must always believe his eyes: I never check objects beforehand but decide on what to observe on the spot, based on my list of previously unobserved objects. I've checked later on astrophotographs and it really has a dual stellar core - probably one of them is a foreground star.


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

NGC 1184 (Galaxy)
Right ascension: 03h 20m Declination: 80° 51'
Constellation: Cepheus
Date/time: 2017.10.20 22:15 UT
Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
FoV: 15' Magnification and filter(s): 250x
Seeing: 5/10 Transparency: 3/5
SQM: 21.40 m/as2 Temperature: 6°C
Humidity: high Wind: none
Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
Position: 4 - hard, complex starhopping needed
Location: Talpa Minor Observatory
Observer: Ferenc Lovró
Description:

Moderately bright, highly elongated to the SSE-NNW. Surprisingly large and spectacular. Especially on its Western side I suspect a well defined central bulge. The two ends are very sharp and react well on averted vision: the galaxy clearly grows. Nice galaxy, perhaps I should try again on a night with less humidity in the atmosphere.


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

Username:
Password:



Articles

About me
My equipment

DIY - Cheshire Eyepiece
DIY - Apodizing mask

Messier Marathon 2013 Tavasz [magyarul]
Messier Marathon 2015 Tavasz [PDF]NEW!


Advertisement


All text and images are ©opyright of Ferenc Lovró. All rights reserved worldwide.

[2158860]