To the group’s knowledge, has any one run across a formula for
determining whether you might be able to see an object or not? I realize
that there are factors like how well one sees, what the seeing conditions
are, how big and objective one is using etc.
If I made a simple little formula like 1/Mag/Object Size and I
applied the formula to M51 with Mag
9.6 and size 5.4’ that would produce a factor of .019. If I also applied the formula
to NGC 4236 with Mag 9.7 and size 18.6’ I would get a factor of .0055. I
have never been able to see NGC 4236. So is it valid for me (using a 12.5”
objective) to say that somewhere between .019 and .0055 is a cutoff as to
what I can see? I know this is
going to cut some of you wrong, because since I have gotten into astronomy I
have never seen soo many get soo excited over soo little.
Jim