General Session - July 31, 2018 - August 1, 2018

Venus (in Leo)
Time: 9:24 PM + 10:24 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual 

Observation #1 @ 9:24 PM:
Venus was about 10º above the western horizon just below ν Virgo and Denebola.

Observation #2 @ 10:24 PM:
Venus was only 1º - 2º above the horizon and appeared red. Beautiful reflection of the planet on the Lake.

Mars
Time: 9:24 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual 
Mars showed up very red and very bright above the eastern shore of Hog Island in Kejimkujik Lake, approximately 10º above the horizon.

Saturn (in Sagittarius)
Time: 9:54 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 

On this night, Saturn was 3º - 4º above & NW of Kaus Borealis. I couldn't see the rings with the binoculars. Only saw the planet as slightly elongated in the middle latitudes.

Jupiter (in Libra)
Time: 9:54 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 

Used my binoculars to view Jupiter's moons and its proximity to α Librae, approximately 10º. Could only see 2 of the 4 Galilean moons; I later identified them as Callisto and Ganymede.

Meteor
Time: 10:18 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual
A meteor went through Aquila and last approximately 1 second. Not really brilliant but still quite bright.

M7 (Ptolemy's Cluster)
Time: 10:24 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

Noticed a patch of bright light sky just west of Kaus Australis. Used binoculars to identify the cluster. It's a beautiful open cluster, site bright and filled my 6.5º FOV. Seven to eight of the brightest stars looked like they foreman "H" albeit an artistic one.

Cygnus + Coathanger / Collinder 399 / Brocchi's Cluster
Time: 10:28 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 65

Found Deneb then identified Cygnus aka the Northern Cross. Followed the line from Deneb to Sadr to ν to Albireo. Used my binoculars to locate the double star Albireo:
   - β Cygni A was the large yellow-gold and
   - β Cygni B was the smaller bluish component in close proximity

I then put down my binoculars for a moment to visually locate Albireo and the possible location of the Coathanger. Put my binoculars up and there it was! All of the stars in the hanger and hook were visible.

Teapot + Saturn
Time: 10:30 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual
All of the Teapot was well above the horizon. Kaus Australis was about 8º - 10º above the southern horizon. All 8 stars of the asterism easily identified. 

Saturn was 3º - 4º above & NW of Kaus Borealis.

Scorpius
Time: 10:30 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 58 J

All of Scorpius was well above the horizon; theta was at least 10º above the horizon if not a little more. Could see Antares in all of its redness quite well. Could also identify most of the stars in the stinger and all of the stars in the constellation above Antares except nu and rho. Always seem to have difficulty identifying / locating theses two. 

Meteor
Time: 10:54 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual
A meteor was seen between Ophiuchus and Serpens Caput, in essence going up the laneway between them. It travelled from there to just past the height of the serpent's head before disappearing. 

M5 / NGC 5904
Time: 11:04 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 
S&T Chart Reference: 65, 57

Found M5 after locating Ophiuchus and Serpens Caput. Used the two stars δ Ophiuchus and μ Ophiuchus to find M5. Fairly faint fuzzy, but did see it and more readily using averted vision.