So on Wednesday, January 29th, I was able to pack up and head out to my dark sky site. I've had a few people wonder how I load up everything into the back of my Subaru Ascent. This picture shows the car loaded. It is different than summer when I would have my 2" memory foam mattress stowed behind the front seat with a camping air pad. I'd also have my portable CPAP but since it is winter, the latest I stay out is about 12:00 am to 1:00 am. 

So here you can see the mirror box which is covered. That is my parka that I lay across it carefully to transport it. Truss poles on the side. Battery on the right, which runs the dew heater if I need it. My Pelican cases are on the right holding my Telrad, my Stellarvue Finderscope, eyepieces and my Catseye and Howie Glatter Collimation tools. My observing chair is there, the one I built that I use to sit on when I sketch and my 3 step step ladder. It all fits and fits well. 

It had snowed the past weekend, but I figured by Wednesday most of it would have melted because it was warming up. I also use a Utah Department of Transportation website to see what conditions look like. This is what I saw looking at the site: 

This is near where I turn off this highway to drive out to my dark site. There is snow on the site of the road but the desert is looking nice and clear. So I made the decision to head out. 

Well, I drove out and had a wonderful drive after I got out of all the new development that has gone on on my route out. There are a lot more homes, townhomes and high density housing and the traffic that does with it. and got out to the main Forest Road, FR 005, this is what I saw: 

The snow was frozen, there was no mud. It really was just a fine powder and the only negative was it flew up as I drove. Usually it is dust that flies up and covers the back window, today it was just the fine powder snow. I kept going out, heading further out the road for the 5-6 miles.

 

At the end of FR 005 or Benmore Rd, you can turn either left or right. Going left will take you to the Vernon Reservoir. They have camping spots there and Forest Service toilets.  It isn't bad but I only go there IF I really need to.  Instead, I turn left to head further out. Here is what the road heading west looked like (above). 

After about a half to three quarters of a mile, you turn left unto FR006.  This is what the road looked like. I had to admit that I was discouraged by now. I was worried what the site would look like. I wasn't worried about getting stuck, that wasn't happening and the Subaru Ascent handled the conditions just great as it always have.  

I kept going but instead of going to my spot at the of FR006, what I call Top of the World, I took the first right after a cattle guard to a spot I use to call Juniper Grove. I now call it simply FR 006 Site 1. In the summer of 2015 the Forest Service cut down most of the Juniper in the area to avoid if a fire were to happy that cheatgrass, a non-native and destructive plant takes over. This damages native habitat for the sage grouse in the area. So now it is far more open as you can see in these pictures as I pulled in. 

  

The snow was about a half inch thick and you can see deer tracks walking through the area. I decided I wanted to observe even though the snow would reflect starlight and the Milky Way impacting views so I cleared a spot. I also had a new acquaintance coming out to observe with his 8 inch dob. I haven't asked permission to use his name, so I won't but her arrived after I did. While waiting I decided to set up and cleared a spot. 

You can see here where I started to clear a spot. By the time I got done, the snow was cleared, the frozen ground was there and I was able to set up. By now my new acquittance had shown up and after he got set up and I did, he was kind to take pictures for me. I usually don't post images of myself but here is this one next to the scope. 

You can see how I bundle up. I have my Merino Wool base layers on, legs and body. Then I have outdoor fleece pants and a pair of wool pants. On top is a fleece sweatshirt, thick merino wool seater. Over that I put my hunting bibs and then my parka. I have my baklava on and my hat on that. My hands are covered with gloves. My hand only got hold but a pair of chemical hand warmers cured that for the evening. 

With the snow on the ground and Venus shining brightly above, the SQM L at this site, which is usually in the 21.6 to 21.8 range, was at 21.39 while Venus was up.  It goes to show the impact of snow on the ground as light from Venus and the Milky Way really impacts the darkness of the site. 

So facing this challenge and a couple of others, I began by sharing with my my observing companion the views of some of the brighter objects in the winter sky. We started with Messier 42, the Orion Nebula and I let him take in the sights of that in the 17.5. Contrast was amazing even with the lower SQM L reading. The dob showed off the quality of the mirror by the view it gave. From there we went through a variety of objects, Messier open clusters, Tau Open Cluster, the Crab Nebula which showed filaments and other sights. M31 and M32, and eventually M33. Later that evening we even observed several of the Messier's galaxies in the Ursa Major. I spent time with the Owl Nebula observing and taking some notes. 

I made notes of my observations and recording them.  We ended that night around 11:30 pm and packed up and went home. The temperature was at 18 degrees F at that time. I was done and so was my observing companion. During the night we had discovered we had a lot in common. That perhaps was the best part of the evening. Working through some challenges and making a new friend who I can invite to go observing with. I invited him next time since we live in the same city, to come by and load up my 14" dob and use that to view the sky. The Zambuto mirror needs some time under the stars! 

So based on my observations, notes I took and taking a second look on my second night, I sketched the following: 

1. Messier 81 and Messier 82 as seen in the 17.5 F/4.4; Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.43, Paracorr Type II; 27mm Panoptic, 22mm Nagler T4; 10mm & 14mm Pentax XW.   Just a beautiful view this night of these two wonderful galaxies. It was late, around 11:30 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. M81 had its dust lane showing easily. Brighter parts could be seen also. M82 has a bright inner core and arms were seen visually and the dark lane separating the outer arms from the core region! Wonderful view that night. 

2. Messier 97 The Owl Nebula, a Planetary Nebula in Ursa Major. Observed around 12:15 a.m. to 12:45 a.m. Antoniadi II, SQM L 21.49; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; OIII and UHC filters; 22mm Nagler T4 and 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 

One of my favorite planetary nebula to observe because of its brightness. The central star was easily seen and observed. The two dark nodules are evident and in observing it I realized that the nodules reminded me a darken M27 or dumbbell shape.  

3. Messier 101 the Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major. Lakeside/Grassy Mountain and FR 006 Site 1 on 1/29 and 1/30/25.  SQM L 21.48 and 21.69. 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 26mm Nagler, 22mm T4 Nagler, 27mm Panoptic; 14mm & 10mm Pentax XW. 

Messier 101 showed itself with faint arms that with steady observing, averted vision showed it's details. Arms were evident and H2 regions.  Bright inner core region. 

4. Messier 108 Galaxy in Ursa Major. Observed both 1/29 and 1/30/25, FR006 and Lakeside/Grassy Mnt; SQM-L 21.46 & 21.69; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm T4 Nagler, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 

Wonderful view of M108 on both nights! Bright inner core, dark lane and mottling very evident. Wonderful view of this bright galaxy. It has been sometime since I have visited and sketched it. 

5. NGC 246 The Skull Nebula a Planetary Nebula in Cetus.  Lakeside/Grassy Mnt., SQM L 21.69; 17.5mm f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm T4 Nagler, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW; OIII and UHC Filter. 

I had been working the Hickson Galaxies (see below) and took a break from their faintness and headed over the NGc 246. The PN sticks out and is easily observed. Large and faint it showed the skull like feature. Brighter portions combined with the dark splotches really make this 8th magnitude PN a wonder to observe in a large dob! 

6. NGC 253 the Sculptor or Silver Dollar Galaxy. Again after working on so many Hixon's I wanted to view something bright and with detail. Well this was an easy hop and NGC 253 showed itself in full glory.  Bright inner core and mottling, light and dark throughout. Wonderful view! 

So on the first night,  I spent time looking at a lot of winter wonders, allowing my new companion plenty of time viewing through the much larger scope. As he observed I took some notes and enjoyed allowing him to view and use the scope a view times. Because of the snow on the ground and the light from Venus, I scraped looking for Hickson's and Abells. 

We went home and I got home at 1:00 a.m. and pulled into the garage and went to bed. I didn't unload the next morning but made a conscious decision. The night before I had had the feeling that I might encounter snow as the storm last weekend had hit the southern part of the Wasatch Front, leaving a lot of the north not covered with snow. 

So I decided to head north Thursday night and head out by Lakeside. There is an old observing spot there which is good for summer, but it is usually really fine dust. I now go to the Grassy Mountain area and go up the road there to a trailhead where you can park and hike to the peak. 

Here is what it looked like on Thursday: 

Turning off the dirt road that would lead to the old Lakeside Observing site. The dirt road leads out to the Grassy Mountains. 

Unlike the day before, there was no snow here and the roads had dried out. 

Approaching Grassy Mountain. Note the pull out to the right. That is where I pulled over and set up. 

After setting up, collimating and letting the mirror cool to ambient temperature, I enjoyed the twilight and then the night as it came on. I aligned the finder and Telrad on a hill, then as twilight came, on Venus. 

With that I started in Cetus as it was positioned well for observing after dark. Here are the Hickson's I hunted down that evening. 

1. Hickson 3 in Cetus; 1/30/25; 7:05 pm; Antoniadi II, SQM-L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type 2; 10mm Pentax XW, 22mm T4 Nagler. 

Very challenging observation. Two of the brighter and larger galaxies are easily seen. The 3rd one, the largest round one comes in with averted vision. No structure is seen, faint fuzzies are a great word to describe these and other Hixon Galaxy groups. Not all, but many). 

2. Hickson 4 Galaxies in Cetus. 1/30/25. Grassy Mnt./Lakeside.  7:35 p.m. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.69; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 7mm Pentax XW. 

This was a hard observation. The large galaxy in the middle is visible as is the narrow one above it. Next to the narrow one is another galaxy and it almost looked like an extension of the narrow one. It was hard to see and I only glimpsed it with averted vision. The third galaxy, another small round one to the left of the large one in the middle and the one below were hinted at. Again no structure is to be seen. 

3. Hickson 6 in Cetus. 1/30/25; 7:47 p.m. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm & 7mm Pentax XW. 

Another faint trio. The first two larger galaxies are easily seen and held with direct vision. The smaller one below them shows up about half the time with averted vision. There is a fourth member but I was never able to tease it out and did not observe it. 

4. Hickson 9 in Cetus. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25 

Each of these were seen as very, very faint galaxies. The main one was held with direct vision, the others took averted vision. There is a small one just above the main fuzz ball next to star, and another down and just to the left.  Two more under the inverted triangle which were very faint with low surface brightness. 

5. Hickson 13 in Cetus. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Very faint but steadily seen with direct vision. These were the only members I observed.  

6. Hickson 15 in Cetus;Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Extremely faint galaxies here. No structure again. Four are easily observed and I made them brighter in the sketch. There is one in the bottom near a star that was very, very hard to see and I can only say I believe I hinted at it with averted vision and tapping the eyepiece. Nice set though and it takes time to tease these out. 

7. Hickson 24 in Cetus. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Extremely faint galaxies here with two faint fuzzies. 

8. Hickson 31 in Cetus; Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

With the 22mm T4 Nagler I detected them as very faint smudges. Increasing the magnification showed 2 slightly brighter smudges with NGC 1741 the main one not split but it perhaps made NGC 1741 brighter (the galaxy next to it). NGC 1741b the galaxy to the left and up from NGC 1741 is just a faint smudge. IC 399 which is above and to the right is just a faint round faint fuzzy. 

9. Hickson 14 in Cetus; Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

The two main galaxies are easily discern and seen. The third small round faint fuzzy is seen fleeting as it fades in and out intermittedely and only with averted vision. No structure. 

After looking at the Hixon Galaxy groups in Cetus, I moved on to Abell Planetaries to just see what I could do with some of them. 

10. Hickson 16 in Cetus. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Perhaps the best of the Hickson's I observed this night. All four galaxies were easily seen with direct vision. NGC 838 the main one showed a bright inner core, possible stellar nucleus and some structure in arms. I included that in the sketch. NGC 833 the upper left one was bright, strong inner core region. NGC 835 is also bright but no concentration and pretty much diffused. NGC 837 upper right is bright, had a bright inner core and is similar in appearance to NGC 833. Nice observation.  

By now Cetus was getting to low so I moved up to two more Hickson groups in Eridanus. 

11. Hickson 23 in Eridanus: Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Extremely faint again. NGC 1215 (center and largest) is visible with direct vision and stellar core. Brighter core and perhaps some extensions seen. NGC 1216 to the upper right of 1215 is faint, core seen and seen with averted vision. NGC 1214 below 1215 to the bottom left and core is seen, some brightening around the nucleus. Another group that I enjoyed observing this night. 

12. Hickson 24 in Eridanus. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25

Very faint pair and only saw these two with averted vision. No structure seen. 

I now moved on to trying to get some Abell Planetaries in. 

1. Abell 23 in Puppis. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. 1/30/25, OIII filter. 

Needed averted vision and the filter to see the entire planetary nebula. Round, no CS seen, somewhat brighter in the middle and can be held with averted vision. 

2. Abell 25 in Monoceros. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. OIII filter. 1/30/25

At first this was undetectable. Then I picked up hints with averted vision. This one doesn't hold and fades in an out but it was observed. Faint. No structure, no CS. 

3. Abell 31 in Cancer. Grassy Mnt/Lakeside. Antoniadi II; SQM L 21.7; 17.5 f/4.4; Paracorr Type II; 22mm Nagler T4, 10mm, 7mm & 5mm Pentax XW. OIII and UHC filters. 1/30/25

This is a very large and dispersed planetary nebula. OIII pops it right out! Two loves for the planetary, the right is smaller, more condensed and brighter. The left is brighter near the CS and then fades out. The bottom part of the PN seems to form more of a crescent moon shape which I tried to capture after using averted vision and tapping of the eyepiece. This was a nice observation! 

This was by far one of my most productive observing sessions since starting up again. I fell right into my pattern.  The first night we had a lone coyote that would serenade us a couple of times. The second night I had a pack just as night set in set up a howl and then it was peaceful, quiet. Winter is cold, it was 18 degrees the first night and 19 degrees the second night but well worth the time out under the stars! 

Where I am at New Scope Research

In my research, I have discovered that the Obsession 22" UC has some issues and IF I go that way, 

1. Collimation Shift while using the scope. Many report that the Obsession UC's shift collimation during the night as they are used. I don't want to spend my observing session having to always pull out my Howie Glatter TuPlug and 2" laser collimator and collimate. 

2. Light coming into the focuser. The light baffle that comes with the scope doesn't block all light coming in. I know with both my 14" and my 17.5"  I had to make new baffles to make sure I block out any additional light across from the focuser. This isn't a deal breaker for me because there are times at some of my dark sites, I don't attach the baffle and I don't see the difference when I do put it on. A couple of sites  I do need the baffle. 

This is one solution a couple of owners have done: 

Protostar Flockboard UTA baffle for stray light shielding. This comes in handy when viewing from the bright neighborhood as all the houses have an assortment of outdoor lighting. The stock semi-circle kydex baffle peaked at 11", this one is 15" and goes all the way around. For viewing in heavy light pollution, this should cut down on spurious lights quite a bit! I followed another person's post on here when following this one. Needed 73" x 16" of flockboard from Protostar (they shipped very fast) and used some 1/16" rubber fender trim for the top edge and velcro around the seam and base to attach to the scope.

In several posts I read it is mentioned that the reason they don't think a single ring on a Ultra Light is good on the OTA is the traditional model protects the secondary from dew. I'll be honest. I have a 1000 Oaks Dew Controller and each of my secondary mirrors has a dew heater strip. I have only used the ones on the secondary 4 times in 16 years. Simply put, where I observe I don't get dew/frost on the secondary. If I order one, I would include this to be safe. I have needed it for my eyepiece and my finder and Telrad, but the secondary is good. Then the only thing I need to watch is to provide light shielding. 

3.  In some instances there is the dreaded "altitude drive cable unspooling" which IS a major pain. To solve this issue  one owner installed a single M6 thumbscrew as a stop for the lever so it can still go far enough back to use smoothly in manual mode, but not too far back to unspool. Spare parts + 10 minutes to drill and tap. He hasn't had it happen again since  he put this in. Here are some images showing that modification. 

This was another solution a UC15 owner had: 

 I had this issue on my UC15 and simply added a lightweight second spring alongside the existing spring. By lightweigt, I mean something you would find inside click ball point pen. It maintains a light tension on the cable to allow manual slewing with no cable derailment no matter the position of the disengaged drive lever.

3. Boundary layer fans for the front of the scope. I like this mod, and may actually do something similar on the 17.5. However, I don't find an issue cooling a mirror here in northern Utah too often. Usually I can get them at equi"librium before I start observing. 

"Installed some non-invasive boundary layer fans by using 3 small 40mm Sunon Maglev fans; these clamp on and can stay installed even for transport and with the dust cover on. Installed 3 in a triangle pattern to help dissipate the boundary layer evenly during early viewing." 

4. Another concern is the rocking of the scope between 30 degrees and 45 degrees, the unsteadiness of the scope and the loss of collimation. Here was one solution: 

Full Length Teflon Bearings

This teflon bearing is a bit different than most dobs - I got it and it was the entire length of the bearing. This caused a variety of problems - from loss of collimation, to problems with accuracy on my Argo Navis. The entire dob would rock when it was positioned between 35 to 40 degrees, which was disconcerting to say the least. I talked with Dave Kriege and the decision was made to remove the Teflon strips and fashion 2 4" sections to be attached to the ends of each bearing, secured by contact cement. It was a relatively simple fix, but the improvement it made was HUGE! The scope is rock-solid steady now, and collimation moves < 0.5mm from flat through the arc to vertical! I didn't have a tool to measure the exact shift, but it was barily anything - certainly nothing to complain about.

 So the Obsession 22" UC is a wonderful scope for views, all users agree on that save one. However, the scope holding collimation, stray light into the focuser and the the dreaded altitude drive cable unspooling and the rocking from 30 degrees to 40 degrees or so are resolvable issues. It just takes tinkering. EVERY scope I have owned require some tinkering to make them work as I want them. I need to find the weight and find out for me if I can load and unload this scope on my own from the back of my Subaru Ascent. 

My next review tomorrow will be on the Waite Renegade 20" or 22" telescope. 

 

Review of New Telescopes

 I am going to be evaluating based on reviews and communications I have with the builders on the following builders to pick one to build for me a 22 inch dob.  I love my 17.5 inch and I have put a lot of work into making that dob work for me and I'll keep using it. However, I want to push my observing to the next level and to do that I need a larger dob.  

The increase will be around .45 to .47 if I have done my math right, so not a huge increase but for some of the more fainter items I am getting into, that can make or break what I see. So far I have narrowed my search to these builders: 

a 22" New Moon Telescopes; A Waite Renegade 22" telescope; an Obsession 22" UC, and a 22" DocTelescope.  

I will be evaluating each here but will post images of them here in the blog. Look for me to update my post as I learn more about the pros and cons of each builder.  

New Moon 22" Dob: 

I'm not sure if Ryan at New Moon is still doing the UC concept in picture two, but that is the one I would be most interested in. Love this buld! 

Waite Renegade 20" or 22" Dob

Love the look and design of this one.  

DocTelescopes (Made in Italy): 

I am VERY intrigued an interested in learning more about this scope. I really like it! 

Obsession 22" UC Telescope

I will share what I learn as I research and communicate with each builder. I will then share my decision and why I made the decision I made. 

I'm adding a couple more to the list to look at: 

SpicaEyes Telescopes 

LINK

Taurus Telescopes

LINK

 Well, I am getting better and feel better today. Felt a lot better after a good 12 hour sleep last night and a nap this afternoon. I feel about 85% like me which is a huge improvement. So I wanted to share a digital sketch I did based off a sketch I did in October 2018 of NGC 1360 The Robin's Egg Planetary Nebula.  

Here is the original sketch: 

Here is the digital version based on my observing notes and the sketch above: 

I still personally prefer the raw sketch but the digital one was easier to add the color as when I did the original, I did not have color chalk pastel with me. The digital shows more of the spiral structure my notes had in it. I would love to hear which you think is better. 

Interesting Video on Humans Colonizing Proxima Centauri B (Sci Fi)

 Okay, not observing nor astronomical related, and there are errors in the narration, but I found the following two videos very interesting on humans colonizing Proxima Centauri B.  Enjoy! 

Video 1 

 

Video 2