How To Find M13, M92, and Rasalgethi.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Good advice as always. 🙂 My late dad introduced me to astronomy when I was too small even to hold a pair of binoculars, and the most important thing I learned from him was the difference between looking and seeing. 18th and 19th century astronomers weren't spoiled by TV and KZbin, so expected to spend at least two hours at the eyepiece in dark conditions before beginning their night's serious observing. After sweeping faint objects for an hour or so, the eye gradually becomes accustomed to the task until something like M13 is (relatively!) dazzling. Many modern sky watchers look but don't see. The expectation is that money will buy instant success, but one thing that can't be rushed is night vision. Whatever gear you're using (including none at all), it takes time - at least an hour - of looking before you begin to see deep-sky objects properly. Yep. An hour. It sounds weird and ridiculous, but it's true. Training the eye to see is a bit like musicians learning the difference between hearing and listening. Anyone can hear the tune when a full orchestra plays, but it takes time to learn how to listen for and follow, for example, just the flute part. With time (and a conductor's critical ear) you can even pick out what the second violin is doing wrong! 😁 Finding faint objects in a crowded sky takes patience, too; video channels like Small Optics are an excellent reminder that good astronomy can't be rushed, especially since modern skies are rendered even more challenging by light-pollution. Slow down. Make yourself a flask of tea, coffee or cocoa and some sandwiches. Make a night of it. Faint objects are tricky to observe, so give yourself the best chance and try to get comfortable. Dress warmly. I'm based in the north of England, so sitting still for five hours on the year's only clear, cloudless night can be a brutal, frosty, miserable experience that somehow never comes across in slick KZbin videos... Don't forget: patience, gloves, and a woolly hat with a bobble on top are vital bits of equipment, too!

[@johnnyfearlesszrx]

I'm new to astronomy, and this advice is much appreciated. Thanks also to Jason for very informative videos.

[@rakitakhan]

I always wanted a telescope as a kid. I never got one. My parents for some reason bought me loads of gifts for Christmas and my birthday that cost more than a telescope. Usually crap that didn't hold my interest. I'm 59 now and I decided to finally get my own about a year ago. Just a Sarblue 70mm. I didn't want to spend much because I wasn't certain if I'd stick with it. OMG ! I'm thoroughly hooked. I've since bought a Sky Watcher 102mm Mak and A Seestar S50. My son also bought me a Celestron Starsense 130mm Newtonian. I'm having a blast ! I would still like an 8 or 10" Dob but I have a messed up back and it's very hard for me to lug these things around. I'm really enjoying astrophotography so I might try to save for something that's better than the S50. Thank you so much for the videos !

[@decibellone696]

I love how you tell folks what to expect. So many people have walked up to my telescope while I'm camping or out in the desert (I always invite folks to come have a look) and they say "is that it?" then I have to go into the difference between photographs and what your eye can see.

[@nickphoto831]

Your videos are always valuable to beginners! A year ago, I first use my telescope to observe M13 and I can tell that it's quite a faint blob. Now, I am able to photograph M13. Quite bright even in a 22 minute total integration time. So this one's a very easy target for seeing and photographing.

[@dff19707]

With your tips, I located Hercules and M13 with my 7x50 binoculars this evening. Fun!

[@smalloptics753]

Fantastic to hear my friend. Have a great weekend 🙂

[@aaron179]

I was able to see M13 tonight with my 8 inch dobsonian and it looked pretty good! I Also saw the ring and dumbell nebulas, pleiades cluster, and the planets. It was a very fun and successful night of telescoping! Got to show a friend all of these things for the first time and he was mindblown.

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Aaron, that's fantastic, I never get tired of those targets.. It's such a great feeling showing people all the amazing night sky objects for the first time isn't it? Take care friend, clear skies :)

[@oddessy357]

great stuff as always Jason glad you have recovered from your calf injury

[@Astronurd]

I was actually looking at M13 only a few days ago. I had it at about 70x but the almost full moon was washing out all my deep sky targets, some weren’t even visible. Oh how I cry for darkness.

[@mikoajkrefft8459]

About three months ago I was observing M13 with my 15x70 binoculars and it looked really nice. Recently I bought dobsonion 10 from Sky-Watcher and I can't wait to see this object by it. 😃

[@chrishurstmagic]

When I observe it in my 12” dob I use a set of binoviewers and it’s a stunning sight with hundreds of stars resolved in a 3D structure. Enjoy 😊 the views.

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Mikolaj, it will look spectacular through a 10" telescope.. Enjoy my friend 😀

[@fabianf5848]

@@chrishurstmagic what kind of bino viewers do u have? I have a 12 inch dob as well. I have been thinking of getting some bino viewers but not sure if it's worth it. And I heard u need a barlo lens as well. Is this correct?

[@bluewhalestudioblenderanim1132]

@@smalloptics753 the first time I spotted it was about a year ago as a final rarget for a night where opserved mostly galaxies with my big scope, expecting another dim gray elipsoid and it did look quite a bit brighter than I expected, apearing allmost milky in apearance, a very nice suprise at the end of a rather difficult night altho this was likely down to 1:being well adjusted to seeing dim things by that point 2:observing from a relatively dark site 3:using a quite large scope and 4:underestimating just how well I could see by than I did return to M 13 a couple of times to various results, recently being able to resolve the individual stars and observing it in sequence with M 5 in a slightly less favourable scenario whitch was just as interesting to see it realy takes some fine tuning to make the individual stars pop out of that blur, they're realy quite faint and packed close together meaning most of the stars I saw were around the edges

[@k.h.1587]

​@fabianf5848 binoviewers need more in travel than most newtonians traditionally had. But most nowadays have conformed to the fact that most people will be pissed if they can't reach focus with a dslr, so they shortened the light path to allow that, and include a 35mm extension tube for visual use. If your scope needs an extension tube for visual use there is a chance binoviewers will reach focus without a barlow. Most binos come with a thread in barlow lens to reach focus if needed. They are usually a 1.3-1.6x boost

[@croenan]

Love the videos, reminds me of when I was learning the sky a long time ago. Observational Astronomy is a bit of a dying hobby. Btw, for faint targets, be sure to suggest covering your head and eyepiece with a dark fabric, when you are just absorbing those photons.

[@wildyorkieoutdoors7271]

Great vid, your channel has helped me alot👏👏👏👏

[@rlmcnugsy1434]

I noticed your use of graphics there too. Nice one.

[@eiregonzo97]

Thanks for the vids! Seen m13 for the first time last night from my 8inch dob but now you have given me more cool things to look at in the constellation

[@smalloptics753]

Your more than welcome.. Happy hunting my friend 🙂

[@corrie20679]

Great video as usual!

[@rik94sivie]

I always enjoy your videos Jason. Lovely topics. Keep up the great work!

[@ECSCP]

Confirm :-). Watching your videos, I feel you love this hobby and I start to love it more. Great job. More videos about constellations and interesting objects to see, please ;-).

[@lucasmorawetz4934]

M13 is visible in my finderscope so its one of the easiest targets to find and i love that summer object

[@philbivins7133]

Subbed to your wonderful channel, as I am a total noob. Well done and very well explained, thank you

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you Phil, your more than welcome my friend 😊

[@jasonvictor9542]

Jason, another super super video, i like it when you show expectations compared to reality it really helps to stop the disappointment and wondering if your equipment is defective. Unfortunately here where i live have had very unsteady skies, as soon as i get another clear sky i have my next three targets.

[@joanlanuza1014]

I'll try to find them with my reflector. Thank you a million!! You are one of my most important ways to learn astronomy from 0❤️✨

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Just got my svbonny 68 degree 20mm plus a tmb planetary 58 degree 9mm eyepiece totally buzzing after seeing Jupiter on my first night!

[@bushcraftandastronomer.3775]

Hey Jason 3 interesting objects to find and observe in the legendary hercules! M13 I've seen and managed to photograph looks nice. Very interesting objects and the red gaint star what a size and VY canis majoris is one star that's huge. Our sun is small but will out live many stars. Last night here in very North of Scotland I saw the aurora northern lights and wow plus I photographed it with my Huawei p40pro and great shots. The northern lights is the greatest sight from mother nature and hoping tonight is clear for this big storm that's coming! Hercukes the legendary Greek hero and son.of Zues. Interesting on the myth of Hercules and I think doesn't look like Hercules the stars. Love the myths of the constellations. Take care my friend and stay safe too plus clear skies!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Bushcraft, do you know I have never seen the Northern lights must add it to my bucket list. Thanks pal, take care and have a great weekend 🙂

[@pauldegast7456]

Great video again Jason. The sound was fine. I could hear you well. I have never seen M92 but I really am going to try the clock method. That is a very smart trick. I love these visual tricks to find the deep sky objects. It makes finding them a lot easier.

[@smalloptics753]

Thanks Paul. Have a great weekend my friend.

[@martinsmerek9063]

I've seen M13 and M92 last Tuesday for the first time. Quite view! I'm still getting my star hopping technique right so they seemed like ideal targets for practice :) I'll give Rasalgethi a shot next time the sky is clear :) Thanks for these inspirational videos!

[@SpiderMan-x8h2l]

Using a Celestron Astromaster series telescope I was able to spot M13, it looked more like a grey fuzzy ball. I haven't tried M92 yet though. I then used a phone to capture M13 and it looked stunning. The Night Cap App is a very good astrophotography app for iphone.

[@gecko-sb1kp]

Australia is cold right now. A lot of dew. I got to see Jupiter tonight but not for long. We have a river between home and due east and the mist and fog rising from that thing is bad, But I got to see my baby. The Jewel Box in Crux to the south. I love looking at that. 6440 light years away and there it is. To live in southern Australia in the country away from city lights is a blessing. To someone into astronomy, well you know the rest...

[@smalloptics753]

Hello gecko, its on my bucket list to visit Aus I can't imagine a sky without Ursa Major, and I would love to see the targets you mentioned. Have a great weekend friend 🙂

[@gecko-sb1kp]

@@smalloptics753 Thank you Jason. I was all set to get up your way as well then Covid put an end to that. Love your channel and keep your cheery content coming to us. I'd love to see the Big Dipper some day...Thanks for the reply...:)

[@mikoajkrefft8459]

@Small Optics I know this video is not about cameras, but in the past you had viedos about svbony's cameras (sv105 and sv205). And here is my question. Would sv105 or sv205 work in dobsonion telescope? I would like to make some photos of objects from our solar system.

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Mikolaj, yes absolutely, it will work fine. Because these cameras only take video and short exposure photos so they are great for manual telescopes 🙂

[@mikoajkrefft8459]

@@smalloptics753 thank you Jason, also your viedos help me a lot, I really like to hear an opinion from someone who is also new in astrophotography 😀.By the way do you have in plans to make a review of svbony 6 mm 68 eyepiece?

[@ronm6585]

Thank you.

[@avatar123456789s]

this is really nice, i want more of these video's where you give and show targets

[@smalloptics753]

More coming soon my friend so stay tuned. Have a great weekend🙂

[@avt_astro206]

Great video, I observed these objects just a Few weeks ago! Rasalgheti is a Cool yet Overlooked double star!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Aventeesh, indeed it is. Doubles often get overshadowed by the more dominant targets but as you know they can be just as interesting and pretty. Take care my friend, have a great weekend 🙂

[@kevanhubbard9673]

M13 is easy but M92 a tad more difficult.I was up in the hills just north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park on Monday and just managed to detect M13 naked eye.My most impressive feat speaking of small optics was seeing M33 with my 5x10 Zeiss Mini Quick monocular which, assuming it's further than M31 distance accounts vary with these two,will be the most remote object I've seen with the 5x10 so M81 next?!

[@terrybennett8692]

Brilliant video Jason, just got my Skywatcher dobsonian, can`t wait to get out and look for these, had a Nexstar Mak for ages but found it such a hassle to set up, so looking forward to the simplicity of the dobsonian, btw, subbed your channel.

[@butchphaneuf9675]

Which one? I picked up the Skywatcher solid OTA 10" last year and love it! It pulled in M13 and M92 quite nicely, resolving a number of stars, particularly 13. It tends to be a little front heavy, so a magnetic counterweight at the mirror end on the bottom helps a good bit.

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Terry, thank you my friend, enjoy your new telescope 🙂

[@defmc1]

Great video Jason. Got my very first telescope last week and haven't had the clear skies to use it yet so I have been binge watching your videos. Thank you sir for the help. Oh, and subbed.

[@smalloptics753]

Thank you for your support my friend, enjoy your new telescope.

[@k.h.1587]

Do you live on the good or bad side of the tracks?

[@joonassarapuu5569]

Hey, I have a question for the video " How to use an Equatorial mount (Beginners Guide), ((posted one year ago)): what do I do when the polestar (Polaris) is on the other side of my house and I cant see it, how do I line my telescope up then?🤔😀

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Joonas, many apologies for missing your first comment my friend... I have the same problem.... For visual astronomy rough polar alignment will be fine (that's all I do). As long as your latitude is set correct and your telescope is pointing roughly North you will be fine for visual work. Precise polar alignment is only needed for astrophotography and if that is your aim then you will unfortunately have to travel /find a location where you can see Polaris to do a more precise Polar alignment. Hope this helps .

[@joonassarapuu5569]

@@smalloptics753 Thank you so much for that,really I want to be astrofotographer but I am not for that right now. This really helped my man(Friend).

[@leonmorgans4250]

Silly question. How will it be orientated compared to your stellarium image.? I thought everything is upside down and back to front.

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Leon, only through a telescope things are reversed. It all depends on location and season how constellations are orientated. Hercules is always upside down in the Northern hemisphere.

[@k.h.1587]

Always heard it pronounced ras-al-ghetti, like ras al goul for batman fans

[@pathogan4854]

Great video Jason I got a glimpse of Saturn through my Bresser 700mm skylux at about 22.15 ran into the house to get my eldest 2 by the time I got back out which was id say minute and a half if even the clouds had obscured my view 🥲I was not very popular with them hopefully il get another chance over the weekend ! I hope you have a good weekend , Clear skies !!

[@smalloptics753]

Hello Pat, it's usually the case, a similar thing happened to me the other week, it was a beautiful clear night got all set up for a night's viewing nipped in for a cuppa before starting came back out to a total overcast sky😂. Frustrating but there is always next time, patience is the key to enjoying our hobby to its full.. Have a great weekend my friend 😃

[@ericastier1646]

Maybe what i like most about these astronomy hobby talks, it's a useless occupation it doesn't produce anything except self enjoyment of watching beyond the galaxy.

[@rlmcnugsy1434]

I've been going nuts trying to find out what that noise was ... Jay - Is that your dog snoring in the background? Ha ha!

[@smalloptics753]

😂 Sorry, yes it will be he's my shadow and snores like a trooper 😂

[@k.h.1587]

I cant even see the whole keystone from home, light pollution

[@astromarcus]

First

[@smalloptics753]

Thanks for watching my friend 🙂