TSP Advanced Observing Program

By Larry Mitchell – Houston, Texas

RULES AND REGULATIONS

The TSP Advanced Observing Program was initiated to educate and challenge observers to locate and observe those objects they might have considered too difficult, if not impossible, to find beforehand. We are all better telescope technicians and observers than we think we are, and with a small degree of confidence and patience along with good optics, almost anything is possible.

There is no better place to push the visual limit than under the dark transparent West Texas sky. Too often observers stop at the “NGC Limit” and never try to locate objects that begin with names like Abell, Minkowski, Zwicky, 3C, MCG, or MAC, etc. For want of a better title I call it Name Intimidation, which is nothing more than becoming overwhelmed by the seemingly exalted difficulty of the object merely due to its name. If I were to ask someone to find Markarian 1376, they might not even make the attempt, but if I then told them it was also known as NGC5506 and that it was a bright galaxy in Virgo, they might decide to give it a try. Many of these objects just sound difficult, and most can easily be seen with average sized telescopes in the 12 to 18 inch aperture range. – You Do NOT Need a 36 inch Telescope To Visually Observe These Objects.

TSP 2012 Advanced Program: Anything Abell
The listed Abell objects are best located by careful and precise star-hopping. It is imperative that the observer know exactly where in the field to look when the object is located, especially if it turns out to be “light challenged” in their particular telescope. Many of the planetaries are small at low power and faint and in a rather large field of view, so try both low and high magnifications and with and without Nebula Filters. By using a combination of averted and direct vision and knowing precisely where to look, along with a microcosm of patience, chances are the target(s) will be seen….Give the sky a chance to come to you. The standard rule is if you are being honest with yourself and you think you see the object at least three times, then you probably really did see I – Log it and go on to the next object. But first please take a moment to contemplate what you have just seen.

All of the objects listed have an interesting story to tell, and this is what differentiates each from all the other “faint-fuzzies” of similar appearance. Each star chart has some notes about the object. Please read and reflect about the wonderful event that is taking place right before your eyes, millions of years ago and millions of light years away, and how you are one of the very few people on Earth who is fortunate enough to have ever seen it.

Because the Galaxy clusters are hundreds of millions of light years distant, many of these objects are faint and somewhat difficult to observe. Many of the clusters have brighter galaxies, usually near the core, and these make a great starting spot for “galaxy hopping”. The challenge is then to identify the fainter members. The Abell Planetary Nebula range from Easy to Difficult, but all should be visible in moderate sized telescopes, with patience and good sky conditions. The Anything Abell program is certainly well within the range of almost everyone who desires an Advanced Observing Pin from the Premier Observing Star Party…..the TEXAS STAR PARTY.

  1. Any telescope may be used or any combination of telescopes.
  2. Location by Star Hopping is Preferred – The only way to know where an object is in the heavens is to go and find it – Star Hop and be Educated…
  3. An Advanced Observing Pin will be awarded to those who successfully observe any 20 of the listed objects during the Texas Star Party.
  4. Observation programs from previous years may be completed for appropriate pins.
  5. Observations may be turned in to Larry Mitchell anytime during the star party. I am usually found on the upper field hanging out with the 36” telescope, and I will try to make myself available at the afternoon talks.

 

To those of you who only complete part of the list, but who have worked hard at it, you have successfully completed the spirit of the program. You have improved your observing skills, learned something about the night sky and hopefully enjoyed yourself. And you can always get that observing pin next year. Many people have enthusiastically expressed how amazed they were at themselves, and that they had no idea they could locate and observe these “types” of objects themselves.

THIS IS WHAT THE PROGRAM IS ALL ABOUT

 

I hope you enjoy this challenge and that it gives you a new sense of enjoyment and confidence in your abilities to successfully view this magnificent universe that we all live in, and that we Astronomers are privileged to be able to see visually.
Good Hunting – Good Observing – Good Times

 

TSP 2012 Advanced Program: Anything Abell

Download this year’s observing list (Adobe Acrobat(PDF) version)

Or download this ZIP file containing this year’s program (and prior years) in SkyTools(STX), SkySafari(SKYLIST), Excel(XLS), and plaintext(TXT) format

 

Check out our Observing Program archives for previous year lists!