|
|
Why can't I find a certain object when I know it's there?
Home » Astronomy » Some Sky Savvy » Why can't I find a certain object when I know it's there?Don’t feel alone. This is all a part of the learning process. Perhaps the object you are looking for is fainter than your optics will allow. It could be the object is within your range, but sky conditions are not favorable—and other times you “can’t see the forest because of the trees.”
This is what happens when you use too much magnification. You may be looking directly at the heart of a star cluster or nebula—not realizing the object is so large it is over-filling the field of view! For a telescope user, the lowest power eyepiece you have will become your best friend. The much wider apparent field of view will help put larger objects into perspective and aid you in finding smaller ones.
Remember, it is light gathering ability that makes a deep space object visible—not magnification.
When you are studying a planet or the Moon’s surface—magnification is essential—but remember stability. Just like looking out over a hot surface during the daytime, the air might be invisible—but turbulent. This can be caused by your own optics being at a different temperature than the outside air, or it could be our atmosphere itself. Remember to be extra patient when using high power and wait on a point of “steady seeing.”
Related Some Sky Savvy Articles
- Sky Savvy - Introduction
- Why can't I find a certain object when I know it's there?
- Why should I take notes?
- Why should I keep on trying?
- Where do I go for help?
- What are the rewards of the hobby of astronomy?