Taurus and Auriga
Supernova Remnant
RA: 05 39 06
Dec: +27 59 55
800px-S147_SH2-240_GeorgesAttard_Apod1012020.jpg
By Georges Attard - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/inde...curid=97460188
For some basic information about this object, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeis_147
Last month while observing under a transparent, high altitude dark sky - with no light pollution - I gave Simeis 7 /Sh2-240 / the Spaghetti Nebula my best shot. I’d never seen it before, although I’ve probably only given it a good effort a handful of times, and never under a really dark sky. I felt optimistic this time because I was using my new 30-inch f/2.7 scope, and given the excellent condition of the sky I felt my time had finally come to see at least the brighter wisps.
Nope!
With and without my filters I was unable to detect the slightest trace of this 3-degree diameter sphere of exploded star stuff and shock wave effects. I spent at least 30 minutes scanning the area of this SNR, which is almost exactly the same size as the Cygnus Loop, and not once did I even suspect any nebulosity.
Like every other time I failed to see it, I realized that the sky wasn’t as transparent as I thought. The sky was very dark – 21.79 SQM - but it was obvious that some of the really faint objects I was revisiting from the night before did not have as much contrast when the SQM readings were about three-tenths brighter. Which shows, once again, that transparency is often more important than a dark sky when trying to see faint objects.
So, my question to those who have seen it – I know Uwe has! – is just how good was the transparency of your sky when you saw the Spaghetti Nebula best, and what filter and magnifications gave the best view? Are the brighter wisps visible in smaller scopes?
And for those, who like me, haven’t yet seen the Spaghetti Nebula - give it a go and let us know.