Constellations: Aquarius, Auriga, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Capricornus, Cetus (tail, not head), Corona Borealis, Cygnus, Gemini, Grus, Ophiuchus, Orion, Pisces Austrinus, Serpens Caput, Serpens Cauda, Taurus
Asterism: Keystone of Hercules, Teapot, Winter Circle
Stars: Aldebaran, η Aquila, δ Aqr, 88 Aqr, 98, Aqr, 99 Aqr, ω Aqr, φ Aqr, θ Aqr, Capella, Castor, ι Cet, Xi Cygni, Nu Cygni, Deneb, Deneb Algiedi, Diphda, Fomalhaut, Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Marfik (δ Ophi), Pollux, Procyon, Rasalhague, Sabik, β Scutum, Scutum Star Cloud, Sirius, Yed Posterior, Yed Prior
Messier Objects: M6, M7, M8, M10, M11, M12, M13, M20, M22, M45
Planets: Jupiter (+ Europa, Ganymede, Callisto), Neptune
Identified, not Observed & Not entered into Logbook or database: Aquila
Could not find: North America Nebula
Location: Site 15, Big Muise Island, Kejimkujik National Park
Date: 2021-10-05
Time: 9:00 PM - 4:45 AM ADT
Equipment: Visual, 10x42 IS Binoculars
Temperature: 15° C - 13° C
SQM: 21.74 - 18.56
Transparency: Very Good (4)
Seeing: Very Good (4)
This was another weekend with the Chapmans at our annual Big Muise Island Star Party.
Grus (The Crane)
Time: 9:21 PM
Equipment: Visual
S&T Chart: 78, 79
This was the first time this constellation as seen. The line of stars coming out of the southern point of our island caught my attention, especially the triangle at the top and the smaller triangle near the trees. Could not find δ Gru but did find σ Gru.
Pisces Austrinus
Time: 9:30 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual
S&T Chart: 76, 77, 79
Pisces Austrinus always catches my attention at the south end of our island, with α Fomalhaut always catching my attention first. I took a few minutes to locate the other 7 main stars in this fish.
The Teapot, M6 (Butterfly Cluster), M7 (Ptolemy's Cluster), M8 (Lagoon Nebula), M20 (Trifid Nebula), M22
Time: 9:42 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 67, 69
The Teapot was shining above the far end of the Lake so took this opportunity to find several of the Messier objects in its vicinity. Because it was high enough, I was able to find M7 (Ptolemy's cluster) - that beautiful open cluster of bright stars found near Kaus Australis. M6 (Butterfly Cluster) was found not too far from M7. Using an imaginary line going through the Teapot spout, I found M8 then M20 not too far away. Their familiar "binocular view" shape and star patterns made it easy to identify them. I used the star of the Teapot lid (Kaus Borealis) to go up at a 45° angle to find a Y-shaped group of stars then a little further out was the small fuzzy ball M22. Another successful session with the Teapot!
Corona Borealis, Keystone of Hercules, M13
Time: 9:53 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 52, 53
Corona Borealis was quite high in the sky and all 7 of its stars readily identified. I used it to locate the Keystone of Hercules which was now very close to the Zenith. Once found visually, used my binoculars to find the little grey fuzzy M13.
Ophiuchus, M10, M12, Serpens Caput, Serpens Cauda
Time: 10:02
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 54, 56
It was on this site that I first identified this constellation in 2017 and was amazed it took up a great deal of sky real estate. I know its components quite well and identified all the stars visually from its tip (Rasalhague) to its toes (Sabik, to Yed Posterior and Yed Prior). I also knew the constellation Serpens which I typically break into its two components - Serpens Cauda (the snake tail) and Serpens Caput (the snake head).
Ophiuchus has two Messier objects that I easily find with binoculars - M10 and M12. I use δ Ophiuchus (Marfik) and head into constellation, finding the small grey fuzzy M12 first. Another FOV inwards and M10 comes into view. Comforting to know how to find them.
Scutum Star Cloud, M11
Time: 10:15 PM
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 54, 56
Another of my favourite areas! The top of the Scutum Star Cloud has two stars (β Scutum and η Aquila) from which I can then find M11 ( the fuzzy grey 'golf ball') and its adjacent 7-star 'golf club'. The 4 stars of the constellation Scutum were easily found as well.
Cygnus, North America Nebula
Time: 10:15 PM
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 54, 56
Going up along the Milky Way, I came across Aquila then continued upward to Cygnus, following it from Albireo up to Deneb. Dave described how to find the North America Nebula using Deneb, ξ Cygni and ν Cygni. However, still no luck finding it.
Aquarius, Neptune
Time: 10:28 PM
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 75,76
I was able to locate all the stars in the 'bucket' of Aquarius - δ Aqr, 88 Aqr, 98, Aqr, 99 Aqr, ω Aqr, ψ Aqr and θ Aqr. Little blue Neptune was found about 3° away from ψ Aqr.
Capricornus, Jupiter
Time: 11:05 PM
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 75, 76
Capricornus always makes me smile. To me, it looks like the big grin a clown would paint on their face. Most of its main stars were located. Jupiter was visually located as one side of a triangle with Deneb Algiedi and Nashira. Using my binoculars I discovered Europa very close to the planet with Ganymede and Callisto close together and a little further out on the same side. Io was on the other side.
Cetus
Time: 11:23 PM
Equipment: Visual
S&T Chart: 4, 6
I recognized a star formation that I suspected was part of Cetus. I was correct but only the 'tail' portion was visible. ι Cet was furthest up in the sky; ß Ceti (Diphda) was also visible and quite bright.
Winter Circle, Pleaides
Time: 4:40 AM
Equipment: Visual
I woke up because "nature called" so decided to go out to the beach to see what I could see. And there it was - the Winter Circle! Starting with Orion and his contribution Rigel, then Canes Major and Sirius, Canes Minor and Procyon, Gemini's Pollux and Castor, Auriga's Capella and leaving Taurus to finish the circle with Aldebaran. I had to looked away from Taurus towards Perseus to discover the Pleaides, a.k.a. M45. Within the open cluster is a group of stars forming the shape of a mini-shopping cart. Another beautiful star formation with such beautiful nebulosity.