Some sketches done with an affordable 5" Tabletop Reflector

I Picked up a Zhumell Z130 for a review. It has flaws, but for the money it's absolutely terrific. A review on AstronomySource will happen eventually. For now, here's four sketches from tonight.

2021 April 2 - Roughly 9:00 PM EDT. Cool -- 45 degrees F or so. Clear transparent skies. No moon. BAD seeing conditions. No phone available for precise timing unfortunately. Need a watch to keep with my astronomy gear.

M42 - Orion Nebula
Zhumell Z130 (5" f/5 Newtonian)
15mm Goldline + 2.5x Barlow, UHC Filter

Z130 (15mm GL + 2.5x Barlow)
Messier 46 cluster & NGC 2438 nebula

Both the cluster's stars and the nebula are very faint, but the PN is certain w/ averted vision in the view w/ UJC filter. Stars drawn without UHC, Nebula drawn with it. Without the UHC, the neb is juuuussssttt barely visible, suspected, but the UHC view confirms it.

M35 + NGC2158 (Z130, 15mm Goldline)

The cluster takes on its familiar irregular torus shape. NGC 2158 is suspected in the proper place. Consistently barely visible.
Satellite pass thru M35. And another a couple min later, different direction.

I could just barely make out the Messiers (M66 & M65) in the Leo Trio. I only suspected them at first, but w/ heavy breathing, rocking the scope back and forth slightly, averted vision, and concentration, I become more confident that I had seen them. They are tough, subtle smudges in my skies with the Z130.

Z130. M81 & M82 in Ursa Major. 15mm Goldline

M81's bright core is easy to see, with only a small amount of extra disk (?) visible. M82 is dimmer but always seems vaguely mottled or grannular. It's surprising always how subtly yet visibly the mottled patchiness of M82 is (even in smaller scopes). Showing that it is a starburst galaxy.

Satellite pass thru fov.
AND ANOTHER SECONDS LATER!

Fingers are freezing! Time to pack up (Probably about 10:20 PM EDT)


 

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