Constellation: Hercules, Libra
Asterism: Keystone of Hercules
Messier Object: M13 (Hercules Cluster)
Location: Site 13, Kejimkujik National Park & National Historic Site
With Others: Jerry Black
Date: 2016-09-19
Time: 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM ADT
Temperature: 15° C
Instrument: Visual + Binoculars 10x30 IS
S&T Chart Ref: 46, 57
Transparency: average (3)
Seeing: average (3)
No breeze and only the occasional cloud. Fog rolled in from the west and by 11:00 PM the observing session ended. NOTE: Attempted to find M5 located north of Zubeneschamalli but couldn't due to the fog.
Libra:
Time: 10:30 PM
Looked for Scorpio's Antares and Delta (δ) to get an orientation to begin looking for Libra. I was looking for α (Zubenelgenubi) and β (Zubenschemali) and found them readily, then began looking for other stars within the constellation. Was delighted I could find all of them and that the "weigh scales" were so easily recognizable! Once found, I could find them again using naked eye.
M13 (Hercules Cluster):
Time: 10:36 PM
M13 was readily found next to the Corona Borealis; however, the sky was such that locating and seeing M13 was not possible visually or with the binoculars. Disappointment.