General Session - August 5, 2017

Sunspot
Time: 4:45 PM
Instrument: Binoculars 10/30 IS

A sunspot (AR2670) was found using solar filters (ND5) on the binocular lenses. 

Lyra
Time: 9:28 PM
Instrument: Visual + 10x30 IS Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 63

I was able to visually identify Vega. 

I then used my binoculars and in 1 FOV could easily see Vega, ε¹, ε², ζ¹ and ζ²; δ¹ and δ² had to wait until the next tie there was a clear sky.

Boötes
Time: 9:35 PM
Instrument: Visual + 10x30 IS Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 42, 44, 53, 55

Located Arcturus visually and attempted to identify the kite shape of the constellation. Could only identify ζ, η, ρ and Arcturus. The others were difficult to find naked eye.

Having found the Big Dipper in Ursa Major (UMa)a few moments earlier, I pointed my binoculars up from UMa t find what I refer to as the "Boötes extension" - θ, κ, ι, and λ. ι was easily seen but I had identified it earlier as HR 5360 - not sure which it was.

Summer Triangle
Time: 9:28 PM + 9:40 PM
Instrument: Visual 

Depending on the size of the sucker holes, all or a portion of the Triangle was visible.

Ursa Major
Time: not recorded
Instrument: Visual
S&T Chart Reference: 31, 32, 33, 43, F

During one of the instances of a clear sky, I was easily able to see all 7 stars of the Big Dipper visually and located Mizar-Alcor visually as well. I used my binoculars to view Mizar-Alcor. Clouds negated the ability to locate Polaris.

Cygnus
Time: not recorded
Instrument: Visual + 10x30 IS Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 62, 73, H

I was looking for Cygnus 16 but couldn't find it. However, I did find a double star that unfortunately I didn't realize it was Omicron Cygni. Looking closer, I had Cygni 30 on the upper left and Cygni 31A in the lower right of my FOV. I found them by locating Deneb and then δ Cygni. From the imaginary line between them, I looked a little above it and a little less than half way from Deneb. Success!

I will look on another evening when he Moon and clouds don't limit my "stare" time.