Post by @dpnash@c.im

2026-03-04 01:59 UTC

@jkanev@fediscience.org @paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @W6KME@mastodon.radio @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org For context, Mr. Messier observed many of the 110 objects in the Messier catalog with a 4”/100 mm refractor. This is a reasonable starting point for seeing them distinctly under a completely dark sky, which he (and pretty much everyone else in the 18th century) had. Keep in mind that in many cases, what he saw was “faint fuzzy blob that looks kind of like a comet”. Seeing details in galaxies (in particular) requires a larger scope along with genuinely dark skies.

Replies (2)

@W6KME@mastodon.radio 2026-03-04 02:01

@dpnash@c.im @jkanev@fediscience.org @paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org My failure to see it could have many factors-my own eyesight, the quality of my instrument, the darkness of my dark sky. As well, as you say, galaxies simply don't look like pretty spirals in naked eye views.

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@jkanev@fediscience.org 2026-03-04 11:10

@dpnash@c.im @paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange @W6KME@mastodon.radio @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org Mmh, my thoughts went along those lines a bit too. If he could see them, why can't I, my telescope's better than his. I've red records of people who observed stars in broad daylight using telescopes, so I thought maybe a bigger lens might help? The pinwheel has magnitude 7.8 which doesn't sound too bad. But like I said, there was nothing, not even a slight hint of anything. Uniform blueness. That's why I was curious whether you'd seen it with your very nice setup. A dark sky, unfortunately, isn't an option for my any time soon.

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