This page contains multiple drawings
On most of these pages a larger rendition may usually be seen by
right clicking on the desired image and then left clicking on "view image".
 
 
 
 

Object(s): NGC 2261, Hubble's Variable Nebula Observer: Mark G.Birkmann Your skills: Intermediate (some years) Date/time of observation: 11-4-99  9:00 UT (3:00 am CST) Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700') Site classification: Rural Sky darkness: 3/4 some high thin clouds <1-10 Scale (10 best)> Seeing: 4 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Moon presence: None - moon not in sky Instrument: 40" f/5 dob Magnification: lowest power 125x Filter(s): OIII, H-beta, Orion Ultrablock Category: Reflection nebula. Class: E + R  e1 Constellation: Monoceros Data: mag ?  size 2' x 1' Position: RA 06h:39m 12s  DEC +08 :44' 00" Description: This nebula appeared to have 3 fairly distinct levels of brightness with the brightest being near the embedded star at the tip.  The star did not have a stellar appearance but was embedded in nebulousity.  Just behind the star is a small slightly darker lane that is connected to the edge of the nebula and goes about two thirds of the way across.  At the back edge of this brightest level nebulousity three features were seen.  First, a concave area was noted about one third of the way in from the edge.  Adjacent to this was a large dark lane that extended through the middle, dimmer level of nebulousity.  An extension of the brightest area of nebulousity went down the side about half way into the middle area of nebulousity.  The middle area of nebulousity  was fairly uniform in brightness and had a straight rear border that extended to the large dark lane.  The border continued on the other side of the dark lane but was a little farther back.  The next level of nebulousity was very faint and was only seen on the same side of the nebula as the bright extension into the middle area of nebulousity.  I hope to view this nebula again in a few months to look for changes.

 
 
 

Object(s): NGC 2261, Hubble's Variable Nebula Observer: Mark G.Birkmann Your skills: Intermediate (some years) Date/time of observation: 4-4-2000, 1:56 UT, (8:56 CDT) Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700 feet) Site classification: Rural Sky darkness: 3 <1-10 Scale (10 best)> Seeing: 3 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Moon presence: None - moon not in sky Instrument: 40" f/5 dob Magnification: 408x Filter(s):  Category: Reflection nebula. Class: E + R  e1 Constellation: Monoceros Data: mag ?  size 2' x 1' Position: RA 06h:39m 12s  DEC +08:44' 00" Description: The tip of this comet shaped nebula consisted of a star embedded in nebulosity. Next to this was a gap containing very faint nebulosity, followed by a band of very bright nebulosity.  This band appeared to contain two nearly stellar bright patches.  Next was a fairly large evenly illuminated area that contained a faint lagoon in the center and a faint bay on the back side.  This was followed by an area of extremely faint nebulosity with an indefinite border. Additional  notes: Five months after my last observation of NGC 2261 I was finally able to view it again. The nebula definitely appears to have changed. Some of these changes are an overall dimmer appearance, less broad and less extensive base of faint nebulosity, and a field star that was not seen the second time. These changes could be attributed to different observing conditions and the fact that drawings probably aren't capable of showing subtle changes such as these except in the hands of an observer much more experienced than I. Also, I was feeling a little rushed during this observation.  I started 7 minutes before the end of astronomical twilight and finished about 45 minutes later just as the end of the scope was about to hit the wall of the observatory. Some changes, however, I'm pretty confident about.  These include the dark lane adjacent to the star at the tip, the very bright lane next to the dark lane, and the central lagoon of faint nebulosity.  The feature I referred to this time as "the bay" appeared to be a little closer to the edge but was otherwise very similar to the previous observation. I'm still not entirely sure about the nearly stellar patches in the bright band but I saw them often enough I felt I should include them in the observation. I've been looking forward to making this observation all winter because I've never seen change in a nebula before.  Now I can't wait until next fall to view it again and see what changes it may have undergone.