Has anyone seen the Vulture Head Nebula?

[akarsh]

Hi

Has anyone seen the "Vulture Head Nebula" visually:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4196142/Main/4181606

If so, I'd appreciate some observation reports, to gauge whether or not this is within the realm of possibility with my 18".

Regards
Akarsh

[Steve Gottlieb]

It's been on my list for awhile, but never got around it. I don't believe I've run across observing reports, but I'm also curious.

[Polaris B]

I'm curious, too. Even good images of this are relatively rare. I tried collecting data from the 'burbs with an 80mm refractor, and after 3 hours I can stack and stretch to the utmost and just see a noisy outline of it. This is a reflection nebula that for all but the largest scopes would show as dark, I'd bet. I'd love to be proved wrong.

Val

1005

[Jim Chandler]

I looked at this last night with the 30" f/4.5. Even allowing for the poor conditions (75% humidity, sporadic thin high cirrus clouds), it didn't show much. A large, irregular area of nebulosity bracketed by two bright stars was obvious, but the dark areas which delineate the eagle head were not detectable, only a faint uniform nebulosity. I plan to try it again on a better night.

Jim

[akarsh]

Wow, Jim, that is really impressive. It is amazing that you were able to detect this object even.

Where was this observation made from? I was going to reserve this object for a visit to west Texas or something, but I don't know if I'll get to do that during the winter when Taurus is high up.

Regards
Akarsh

[Jim Chandler]

Wow, Jim, that is really impressive. It is amazing that you were able to detect this object even.

Where was this observation made from? I was going to reserve this object for a visit to west Texas or something, but I don't know if I'll get to do that during the winter when Taurus is high up.

Regards
Akarsh

West Texas, Davis Mountains, 5200'. I looked at it again night before last, under better but not great conditions, and had the same result. Just a large, very faint nebulous area, no detail. I'll keep it on the current list and hope for a night of exceptional transparency.

Jim

[akarsh]

Wow, so this is from some of the best skies. I think I will try this when I get a chance to get to that ranch you mentioned earlier.