Easy To Find M81 & M82

[@rafaelalexie2417]

Now I know we all have access to star charts and Stellarium and things like that... but when someone like Jason talks to you and actually walks you through the process of finding something in the sky, it's amazing how quickly you learn. And, most importantly, how well you internalise this knowledge.

[@peter7624]

This is a great channel for the beginner or the returning amateur. Most of my observing life I've had to deal with street lights (besides when I lived in rural South Africa!) and the accompanying light pollution, so I've never actually seen this heavenly pair. Hoping to see them following your very comprehensive instructions!

[@smalloptics753]

@@peter7624 Thank you for your kind words.My friend, good luck with the hunt.All the best for the new year

[@shashwatpandey3746]

Thanks Jason!! For the enormous efforts you put into your videos!! I found your channel 2 weeks ago and they transformed me from a complete novice in visual astronomy to a quite confident person about astronomy! Thanks again!!! 👍

[@smalloptics753]

You're more than welcome friend🙂

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

Those two galaxies were the first targets I looked for with my new 6 inch dobsonian. Learned I really didn't like the stock finder scope and have since upgraded to a right angle finder scope. For me, finding those deep sky objects makes me appreciate observing them even more. Clear skies all.

[@Dann-md9eq]

How did you find ur 6 inch looking for these messier's? Is it good? Do you used cameras or only visually?

[@AstronomyAdventuresNB]

I've only done visual on 4 messiers. Bodes Galaxy, the Cigar Galaxy, the Globular Cluster in Hercules (M13), and the ring nebula. I found it good, but I don't have anything to compare it too (I have done the ring nebula with a 5 inch junk scope). I have yet to try it with my new eye pieces. I have yet to try any photography with deep sky objects. So far only the sun, moon, mars, and venus. But what I'm discovering is, I get better results using a cell phone adaptor to take pics through the eye piece with the cell phone, vs attaching my DSLR to the Dob. From what I've seen online, if you can afford an 8 inch Dob, go for that. But with the $260 Canadian I saved, I was able to buy some accessories that made using the 6 inch Dob more rewarding. Apologies for the essay of an answer.

[@ricardo___]

1:20 Surely this can't be the case otherwise M81, M82, and the Milky Way would form an equilateral triangle and the angular separation of the two galaxies would be 120 degrees?

[@geoinformaticservices1732]

Jason i have a lovely 70mm by 700mm reflector from bushnell its well built and great . I have bortle 5 skies But i seem to find no deep sky object except for orion Nabula and and plidies

[@StuartInTX]

Great video! These "Easy find..." videos are fantastic for people that are new to the hobby. Thanks so much. Would also like to see a highlight list of targets by season...i.e. look for Jupiter in winter, etc...although that may be too location specific.

[@dwaynerobertson383]

The fella that authored (co-authored?), Turn Left At Orion (GREAT book on N. American deep sky targets), said "Eventually, it occurred to me that all of the books in the world weren't as good as having a friend next to you to point out what to look for, and how to find it." Thanks, Jason! You're just like his buddy!! Straightforward videos, and well explained in very simple terms. I haven't even looked for deep sky objects - yet! - but when I do, I'll be referencing these videos every time, when I plan the targets I hope to view on those evenings.

[@rossbriannestein5054]

Wonderful video as usual.

[@brianlopez8970]

Great video as always brother.

[@andiejanecorby7482]

Thank you for another great video Jason.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you Andie, you're more than welcome.

[@kofdenhamsprings2701]

Thanks Jason. As usual, you make it pleasant to listen and easy to understand. Thank you. K

[@avt_astro206]

Very Nice Video Jason!! Some Great Targets This summer. Can't wait to see the objects in summer traingle! Since I cant View galaxies from my City!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello there my friend how are you... Yes me too :-)

[@AmatureAstronomer]

In my Bortle 6 sky, I cannot see these two galaxies through my 6" reflector or 4" refractor when my go to mount says I am looking at them. I must take a 4 second exposure to see them. Have been imaging them this winter. Pretty.

[@seanflewin9803]

Love your vids very helpful thanks

[@TheOuterLimitsAP]

I love the binocular method you stated here, I used it last night to find the elusive ring nebula! cheers

[@ianbass2872]

Cheers Jason, real easy way to find stuff. I am a total newbie but it should be easy for me to find. Keep up the great work.

[@10MIN_BTG_E30]

Great video thank you

[@JimmyBackbeat]

These two objects were some of the first objects that I started to reliably find from my own night sky exploration. Though I live above the 62° so they are center stage of the night sky for the months of darkness that I have. Right now the sky is back to daytime brightness through the entire night.

[@rustymullenix]

You rock. Thank you for all you do. I've learned a lot these last few months. God bless.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you my friend, you're more than welcome.

[@ogshotglass9291]

Thanks for this video! Even though I would credit myself as a seasoned observer, for some reason, galaxies like these have eluded me. I finally saw these two last night with my 50mm binoculars. It took a while to get out there to find them because of clouds. I was surprised that I could actually see them - just barely - with only just under 2 inches of aperture. Now with that aperture, it doesn't look impressive and actually much dimmer than the example you gave. It only looked like two uniform, shapely smudges barely discernable over the darker sky, with no visible cores whatsoever. When it stops being windy, I'll break out my 70mm (2.76-inch) telescope to take a look at them through that, and see what difference I might be able to spot, if any. I just wish I had a 1.25"-barrel 35mm eyepiece to give a comparable view to my 12×50 binos.

[@ronaldrowe5042]

Thanks Jason for the descriptive information. I'm fairly new to the Astronomy world and using a telescope. I have a Power Seeker 127EQ. I have watched so many of your videos on your channel and you have helped me learn so much about it. Thanks again Jason and can't wait to see what's next.

[@donloughrey1615]

Thanks Jason.

[@philgoben19]

Thanks Jason for you great video's. I am planning I trip near the Lincolnshire wolds next new moon in October 23 which is bortle 3/4 does light pollution really make that much difference. Phil

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Phil, your more than welcome my friend.. Light pollution makes a massive difference. If you take any telescope to say a bortle 2/3 skies it's like adding 2" to the aperture of the telescope.

[@jackieblank4249]

Hi there Jason. Thanks for the video n. . basick tips. I was useing Dubhe and Merak. No wonder I was having trouble finding m81.I got to go back n watch again.😅 clear sky's from the swamps.

[@geoffreyevans1549]

Thanks for a great vid Jason.can't wait for the skies to clear(stormy over Ainsdale tonight)

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you Geoffrey, wishing you clear skies soon my friend.

[@Jimbojamabo]

Could I see it my skywatcher heritage 130p with bortle 6?

[@davidscobey7737]

Hi, love your videos, got a quick question, why did you remove your last video about the hutac telescope. I bought one based on your review. Thanks

[@m7md.47]

Can you please answer me. Does more blue day sky mean more clear night sky? Your channel is my source and guide through my journey, and i would like to thank you so much for the work you are doing ❤

[@smalloptics753]

Hello friend, you're more than welcome..... Not necessarily for instance here in the UK we've been having lovely clear blue skies all day and the as soon as the sun sets the clouds have come rolling in.. I think a lot depends on the climate of your country.

[@m7md.47]

@Small Optics Thank you so much for the answer , and keep on the great work. You are an inspiration for all ❤️

[@Amradar123]

To me these and the other messier galaxies look like small grey blobs in my 8 inch dobson. With averted viewing some more details become visible, however. With visual observing of galaxies it is more about the idea of what you are seeing.

[@edufau815]

This is correct... unless you go to very dark skies, from where with an 8" you can already see structures in many of the objects...

[@oCalahad]

hello Jason ! i just recently got into visual Astronomy and adore your channel, i probably watched your whole channel is like 3 weeks. You helped me ALOT learning the hobbie. Thank you and keep up the great content !

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Calahad, that's great to hear you are more than welcome my friend thank you for watching.

[@nielsdebeijer5641]

Thank you mate!

[@smalloptics753]

You're welcome pal🙂

[@salahsana3481]

Good job

[@Moffster9lives]

What website is that for planning the nightsky?

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Niels, It's called Stellarium you can get it free from here... stellarium.org/

[@edufau815]

Two of the best galaxies to see from any sky, although it is always better to observe, not only these, but any galaxy, from skies as dark as possible... As a curious note about these, it is a curious cosmic couple of dance that have been dancing for more than a billion years, maintaining very close encounters that have configured their respective shapes and structures, M81 being especially affected, with its strong star formation activity and its irregular shape, although some studies suggest that in reality it could be a barred spiral seen edge-on... Currently they are 150,000 light-years apart, but in several billion years they will eventually merge into a single huge galaxy.

[@patrik9169]

Can i also see them with my 3inch telescope?

[@Krzysztof_Topolewski]

I got my first Newtonian telescope and I just can't stop watching your videos. Really I think I saw most of it. But I have a question.... Got the same sky-watcher 130/900 with the standard super 10mm and 25mm and Barlow 2x. But I want to upgrade optics. You told that plossl it's best choice but I really need your advice. I don't want to spend much cash (for now) so if you have some recommendations for 15mm, 10mm and something to watch planets it would be great. Thank you in advance

[@smalloptics753]

Hello there, at the moment for a great budget eyepiece I'm really liking the SV bony reds they have good eye relief and have a 60 degree fov you can pick them up for around £35 each and come in 20, 15, 9, and 6mm www.amazon.co.uk/Svbony-Eyepieces-Telescope-Accessories-Astronomical/dp/B07B8KVX7G/ref=asc_df_B07B8KVX7G/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309924713643&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12154157847223914546&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046372&hvtargid=pla-564220839758&psc=1

[@Krzysztof_Topolewski]

@@smalloptics753 actually I thought so... I saw your video about that eyepiece. Thank you, And btw, knowing that you have sky around 7 class in Bortle is pretty comforting. My place is in around 6. I thought that I need min 4 to see something more than planets

[@ammaargaming6192]

How to do astrophotography with non motorized eq mount? Can you make video on this?

[@smalloptics753]

I'll put it on my videos to make my friend..

[@ammaargaming6192]

@@smalloptics753 waiting broh... 😉

[@billducas]

This is the video I've been waiting for. Thank you so much. What EQ mount do you have for your 5 inch reflector?

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Bill, you're more than welcome. The mount is a EQ 2 and came with the telescope, it's cheap and cheerful but does the job .

[@lieutenantdaan8261]

I'm 40 mins away from winning a Celestron 114eq for less than 50 quid, I know its only entry level but still can't wait, currently running a basic ecoopro f360 with no eyepiece upgrade. SVBONYs in the post....

[@smalloptics753]

Fantastic! Good find.. Enjoy. 🔭🙂

[@hackeruman1471]

Hello! I have a question, how do I find messjer 16? Can you help me somehow?

[@Astro.Q]

Very nice mate I've got to edit my image of m81 just has the most god awful tooth ache to do anything of late.

[@smalloptics753]

Hey Astro.Q Sorry to hear that hope you're feeling better soon pal.. I feel for you I once had an abscess and the pain was something else.. Wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[@Astro.Q]

@smalloptics753 Thank you very much, mate. luckily, I got an appointment yesterday, and they pulled it out, so I'll be having a look at the sun today. Hopefully,

[@caioaam]

They don't appear in the south hemesfer right?

[@pablofleitas5967]

Yeah, from my latitude can't observe them. Perhaps closer to the equator.

[@Bogomil.Valkov]

Literally there couldn't have a better timing, the next object i was planning on observing was m81

[@smalloptics753]

Great to hear.. Happy hunting my friend 🙂

[@BrightonandHoveActually]

I thought this was going to be an edition of Secrets of The Motorway😁

[@smalloptics753]

🤣 Funnily enough I've seen more motorways than I ever thought I would when Google does not comprehend 😂

[@ramancity]

That first photo of the cigar Galaxy made me think they should have names it sauron's eye 😂

[@Dann-md9eq]

Hahaha ur right. Lemme find that galaxy and will like your comment if it really looks Sauron's eye haha

[@alcidesfirman5542]

I Just did an algorithm for attenuating images. it's based in Matlab software. the aim is making more realistic imaged as is observed with naked eye. if you want I would like to share it with you. let me now.

[@BB-fj5ye]

Can someone please talk me out on buying a 16 ' telescope. Or talk me into getting a 14 ' instead..

[@epickcrom5606]

I'm facing the same dilemma as you! I have a 10 inch dob currently and am trying to decide between 14 or 16 inch as my final upgrade. I will surely go with the 14 inch as it's twice the light gathering of the 10 inch, and more importantly for me, and maybe for you, the eyepiece when pointed at the zenith will be the right height for me, no stools or ladders needed! Observing while firmly on the ground is very important and something to consider. Plus the 14 is much cheaper than the 16, the difference between the two is only 0.3 magnitudes. Good luck!

[@ramancity]

Jason said bigger isn't always better especially if you live in a high bortle area. Cause bigger will captured light pollution as well.

[@smalloptics753]

Stay tuned Bob I'm doing a video on that very subject soon..

[@BB-fj5ye]

@@epickcrom5606 thank you this was actually reallyyy helpful! Now hopefully I can control myself from doing the same with my upcoming radio telescopes!

[@epickcrom5606]

@@BB-fj5ye Hi, wow radio telescopes? Enjoy!

[@bingobongo8309]

Nothing for me...i am gone!

[@smalloptics753]

Sorry to hear that Bingo😔

[@Cheapass-tro]

Test comment (Mine have been getting auto-deleted) and I suspect the word Facebook could be the culprit?

[@smalloptics753]

Hey buddy hope me seeing this has sorted it out..

[@Cheapass-tro]

@@smalloptics753 Hope so mate. Couldn't have been that word after all.