by alter-ego » Tue Sep 02, 2014 1:56 am
Nitpicker wrote:
... But Omega Centauri has an angular size similar to a full moon, and so it appears in this APOD, smaller than it is. To unaided eyes in a darkish sky, Omega Centauri is quite faint and a bit fuzzy, indicative of the fact that it is not a single star or point source of light.
At first glance Omeg Cen. does appear smallish, but scaling it's size to the ~53° horizontal FoV, it measures ~½°.
On a side note, I was well outside Melbourne for two nights when Halley swung by. I remember the immense beauty of the Milky Way. The first-ever feeling that we lived truly in the outskirts of a galaxy. The Coal Sack stuck out like as if it was a cloud that was in my way, and, of course the Magellanic Clouds. I really enjoyed that trip with my telescope. The one thing, the ONE THING I regret not ever looking at was Omega Cen. I can't believe I didn't see it, or that I didn't put it on my list!!
I think that was a clear case of tunnel vision.
[quote="Nitpicker"]
... But Omega Centauri has an angular size similar to a full moon, and so it appears in this APOD, smaller than it is. To unaided eyes in a darkish sky, Omega Centauri is quite faint and a bit fuzzy, indicative of the fact that it is not a single star or point source of light.[/quote]
At first glance Omeg Cen. does appear smallish, but scaling it's size to the ~53° horizontal FoV, it measures ~½°.
On a side note, I was well outside Melbourne for two nights when Halley swung by. I remember the immense beauty of the Milky Way. The first-ever feeling that we lived truly in the outskirts of a galaxy. The Coal Sack stuck out like as if it was a cloud that was in my way, and, of course the Magellanic Clouds. I really enjoyed that trip with my telescope. The one thing, the ONE THING I regret not ever looking at was Omega Cen. I can't believe I didn't see it, or that I didn't put it on my list!!
I think that was a clear case of tunnel vision.