Podcaster: Shane and Chris
Title: Actual Astronomy: Observing Lists and Eyepiece Cleaning
Organization: Actual Astronomy
Link : https://actualastronomy.podbean.com/ ; https://www.deepskyeye.com/
Description: The Actual Astronomy Podcast presents Observing Lists and Eyepiece Cleaning. In this episode we talk about a few observing lists Chris is working on for the RASC Observer’s Handbook and Calendar plus some Wide Field Wonders. Shane details his cleaning process for eyepieces including.
Bio: Shane and Chris are amateur astronomers who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and performing outreach where they help the eyes of the public to telescope eyepieces.
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Transcript:
Observing Lists and Eyepiece Cleaning Episode 464 of the Actual Astronomy podcast. I’m Chris and joining me is Shane. We are amateur astronomers who love looking up at the night sky and this podcast is for everyone who enjoys going out under the stars.
Did you get any observing in Shane?
My little counterweight arrived!
Bought a semi-truck snow brush to clear snow from the rails
Sadly where the roll off rails enter the observatory freezing rain and snow accumulate behind the wheels, builder can fix it but we need warmer weather.
A lot of folks wrote about why the 7-inch wasn’t up in the observatory…this is why since it eats up so much room it is difficult to work in there.
A couple notes on the RASC publications I’m involved with. Due to our postal strike here in Canada we have to delay giving out a copy of my RASC Observer’s Calendar which I edit each year. The good news if you are in the states there is a bundle sale for the Observer’s Calendar and Observer’s Handbook, $44 and with the exchange favouring our American friends it is nearly a buy one get one free situation.
I’m mentioning this since in the next bit I’ll reference both.
Observing Lists:
This year in the Observer’s Handbook you’ll find my text and Randall’s chart for Perseus.
Each year we focus on a different constellation or region of sky and chose Perseus this year because I’d accomplished lots of observing in Perseus in 2023. I won’t read the text since I think with the exchange people should just buy the Handbook.
I’m not sure what constellation we’ll select for 2026, but I need some good skies before I can make a selection.
I’ve also been chatting with a listener, Tyler, about the Wide Field Wonders list published in the RASC Observer’s Handbook. He has worked through most of the objects with his Takahashi 76DCU, that’s no small feat. Some objects like Simies 147 are very tough, requiring dark and transparent skies.
Tyler has offered to help with some revisions, he writes:
Hi Chris,
I am thankful to have some great skies! On a night of good transparency, I can get sixth magnitude stars from my backyard in northwest Arkansas. I am in a neighborhood, but there’s a lot of rural land around. I can also go to my family’s ranch forty-five minutes away, and the skies there are significantly better. I still need to get a good measurement of limiting magnitude there, but you can see detail in the milky way without any dark adaptation at all!
I have seen everything on the list except a handful of nebulae south of -10 degrees declination. The one Achilles heel of my observing sites is the southern sky—I’ve got some pretty big light domes to the south.
Simeis 147 was not easy, but I was able to see two or three of the very brightest sections from my backyard when it was at zenith on a night of excellent transparency. The witch’s head has definitely been the hardest for me (in part, no doubt, because it’s getting into the southern light domes). I really had to work to see that one, even at my dark site.
I think the Wide-Field wonders list is well set up to teach intermediate and advanced observers how to make the transition to wide field. There are a lot of great resources and lists for galaxy hunting, and nearly all the great galaxies are in the NGC catalog. There are a lot less resources for wide field observing, as well as a baffling assortment of catalogs and designations.
Here are few things I like about your list:
It introduces you to a wide variety of object types (including asterisms!)
It introduces most of the key major catalogs
The object + subobject format is great. What I mean is that, under the object Stock 2, there are three subobjects: both components of the double cluster and the chain of stars connecting the double cluster to Stock 2. This format teaches you to look at the entire field, as well as introducing an iterative process. I have been really enjoying revisiting my favorite objects to find new details. I know you can do this with galaxies too, but it feels especially productive with larger wide field objects.
There is something for everyone. I started working on it when all I had was a Maksutov with a one degree field, and the handful of objects I was able to see convinced me that I wanted more (and I bought a refractor.)
Most of these objects are ones you won’t know about unless you go out of your way to look for them
The objects you chose are really fun
I have a few ideas for small tweaks to a few of the entries (which you can take or leave!):
NGC 206 – One of my favorite objects, but also a little small. What do you think about replacing this item with Mel Bartels’ Andromeda Shelf Integrated Flux Nebula (https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/552011-super-wide-angle-m31-sketch/)? According to Mel, it is one of the easiest integrated flux nebulae in the sky, and I found it pretty easy. You can’t really observe the Integrated Flux Nebula without seeing the entire expanse of Andromeda, which definitely fits the spirit of the list. NGC 206 could stay on the list as a subobject.
Basel 1 – This object sits in a really cool field, but for me, didn’t bring quite as much “wow” as a lot of the other clusters on the list. Since it is right next to B111, maybe it could become a subobject of B111?
Stock 2 – I recently learned that the dark nebula B201 is right next to the double cluster. (And I made my first observation of it earlier this month.) This might be another challenge subobject to add.
California Nebula – I just learned there is a small oval dark nebula within the california nebula, but I haven’t seen it yet. May be a fun challenge subobject to add.
Just a question to think about: Are there any other catalogs or object types you think aspiring wide field observers should know about? Or any other observing techniques or strategies?
What objects do you want to include that you haven’t observed yet?
Thank you so much for putting this list together. I have had so much fun working through it!
Clear skies,
Tyler
Thanks Tyler, I already replied and agree with the suggestions especially for how the subobjects are handled for consistency they should be contained within or near larger objects.
Since I am going to make some edits, if people want the original list they may wish to purchase an OH at RASC.ca. If people do buy it, or buy the bundle and get the almost 2 for 1 price, and it can work, please put “Actual Astronomy Podcast” in the company name.
Marie Newnham put in a tons of new things people can observe, from Lunar Rays, Libration features, Carbon Stars and, my personal favourite, when objects close to the southern horizon culminate. This is Marie’s list and only available in the RASC 2025 Observer’s Calendar. She will work on these again for 2026 but it would be great to get feedback from people.
Eyepiece Cleaning:
Concluding Listener Message: Please subscribe and share the show with other stargazers you know and send us show ideas, observations and questions to actualastronomy@gmail.com
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