First go at the Veil

For reasons that now escape me, I was under the mistaken impression that NGC 6992 was a difficult target. So I hadn't even bothered to give it a go until last night. There were high clouds drifting through, but I recorded NELM 6.5 between them, which is a first for me here in Ireland (the humidity normally greatly compounds what little light pollution I have, yeilding between 5.0 and 6.0 NELM).

Anyway, I had fired up the 16" SCT on the AP1200 for the first time this fall (we spent the summer selling up in California), and after a quick collimation with a 12T4, I dropped in the Pan 41. My Lumicon DeepSky filter normally lives on the big Pan to provide a more aesthetic background, so I left it on. Took a look in the eyepiece, expecting to have to hunt around. No, there it was, from field-stop to field-stop, clear as day.

I took the DeepSky off and had another go. Certainly less contrast, but still an obvious, direct vision target. Next up was the 4" doublet (FC-100) with the DeepSky back on. Once again, obvious, direct vision target. Even without the DeepSky, it's still visible in the FC-100 (although at this point you nearly need averted vision).

Back to the 16", the filiamentary structure was quite visible, although it looked more like fishnetting than the striations normally seen in astrophotos. I swapped out the DeepSky for a UHC and even more detail became available. The fishnet effect lessened, leaving a view *very* similar to black-and-white photos (such as the Sloan DSS photos in blue -- although with a bit less detail).

I also had a go at a couple of planetaries: NGC 6543 and 6210. The Cat's Eye Planetary was a blue-gray egg with an easily-visible central star in the 12T4 (~390X). The central star was even more prominent in the 26T5, but the nebula itself was featureless at all magnifications. NGC 6210 wasn't much to look at: no structure, no prominent shape, no color, no central star.

-- Jeff.

AP600EGTO / C9.25 (Colorado)
AP1200GTO / 16" LX200GPS OTA / FC-100 (Co. Louth)

Wow Jeff, First of all, that's some equipment you have there ! :shock: It was a great night last night, it was lovely and clear alright. Tonight looks good too with very transparent skies



Second of all, the veil is visible under very good skies as a minimum, I'll give it a go with my 20x90mm binos tonight...

Keith..

Thanks, Keith.

Yeah, my CSC is predicting an even better night tonight as well. I think I'll have a go at the other side (NGC 6960) and perhaps even some of the stuff in between.

-- Jeff.

The veil is surprisingly visible in a big scope, I found that the O3 filter enhanced it a fair amount. Nice observing!.

Hey Dave. How goes?

I did check out the other side (Witch's Broom, NGC 6960) the next night. Liked it even better (it's much more etherial, and the bright star in the middle really sets it off). Also nabbed Pickering's Triangle in between.

Still have only DeepSky & UHC filters. Need to dig up an OIII.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

Yes, the Veil is spectacular when viewed with a Lumicon UHC filter....it knocked my socks off, as it was the first time I'd seen something look just like the photograph!