1 Attachment(s)
Molecular Cloud MBM 54 around NGC 7497 visually
After many failed attempts to see any of the IFN, I finally could catch the first one for me - MBM 54 around NGC 7497 with my 27-inch, I also tried this object with my 4" binocular with much larger field but I could not see anything.
To my surprise (I had no detailed chart with me) I could see the around 15' long glow very quickly and without any problems as a faint, but steadily visible nebula streak NW of NGC 7497. Transparency was good but not perfect as many of you may have in Oregon or Texas.
My interest is similar observations. I know the large list of Mel Bartels but I don't hear of any positive observations from Germany. Could you catch some IFN, perhaps together with Mel at the OSP?
27", 113x, NELM 7m0+, Seeing III
Attachment 3638
Positive observation with 14 inch
Hi Uwe, Hi everybody
I started an attempt last December. With my 14 inch Dobson I could spot MBM 54 as a faint glow northwest of NGC 7497 at 65x. It was only visible with adverted vision and knowing the exact position. At 40x I could spot it again but it was more difficult, because of the very low contrast between the sky background and the object itself. Conditions were good, meaning that is was clear with very good transparency so that SQM-L average readouts in this sky region where 21.7. In January I gave it another try with same result. Conditions were even better. Observing sites were Sierra de Segura (Spain at 1700m asl) and Canary Islands (2200m asl), which are very good sites with Bortle 2.
I made a sketch which can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/gp/106029581@N02/BPb47F
Oliver