October 5, 2010 – M108, M81, and M82

Perfect night for observing! Clear, dark, cool, low humidity….

 

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• M108 – 1.5 degrees from Merak in UMa, between Merak and M108 is a mag 7 star that I used to locate. Found it — faint oblong (flat) smudge. I panned over to see M97 again as I did yesterday…..still there.
• M81 and M82 (Bode’s Nebulas) – I knew this would be difficult to find these since they are so far away from any bright stars. Here’s how: M81 and M82 are about 6 degrees from 23-UMa. Extend the line that  Upsilon UMa and 23 UMa forms for about 4 degrees in the direction of 23 UMa — there you will find Sigma1 and Sigma2 UMa. Follow the line that these double stars make (from Sigma1, the orange star, to Sigma2) to a mag 4.5 star about 4 degrees away. This star makes a small arc with two dimmer stars….follow that arc to M82 and M81 — they both fit in the 25mm EP (FOV is about 1 degree). M82 is flat, and M81 is round. They are galaxies.

 

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