2024-04-29

Conditions tonight were uncertain. The forecast would flip back and forth repeatedly. As dusk came, I noticed a window of opportunity and took it.

09:40PM

Third attempt, I finally got it! I was debating whether I should even attempt it tonight, as it was getting so low on the horizon that I assumed that I would not have been able to see it well.

Brighter, AV was not required for detection and does not seem to help much at all. The shape is very triangular, and there is a very noticable gradient from the brightest southern point of the triangle progressing to north. If I didn't know better, I could easily confuse this for a comet. I'm going to mark this down for a revisit, even though the view of it tonight was decent, it might be fun to sketch in the future.

[1] NGC 2261, Hubble's Variable Nebula (ID)

[2] ../images/2024-04-29_NGC2261.jpg

09:53PM

Not sure if I get better results with or without the Ultrablock filter. With the filter, AV isn't needed and the object seems to stand out more and is a little more defined; however it also appears dimmer and seems to shrink a little in size.

Without the filter AV is almost required but I can get a little more size out of it.

As I was finishing up and ready to turn to the NGC 4038, I noticed a cloud front covering half of Corvus and nearing my current target. I'll have to follow up with NGC 4038 next time.

[1] NGC 4361, PN G294.1+43.6 (ID)

[2] ../images/2024-04-29_NGC4361.jpg