Identified, not Observed & Not entered into Logbook or database: Constellations: Aquila, Cygnus, Lyra, Serpens Cauda
Location: SCO Date: 2019-09-27/28 Time: 10:05 PM - 2:30 AM ADT Instrument: Visual + Binocular 10x30 IS + SCO 16" Dobsonian (eyepiece unknown) Transparency: Good (34) Seeing: Good (3)
Time
Temp (º C)
SQM
11:02 PM
13
20.93
11:51 PM
7
21.10
1:28 AM
6
21.16
Clear skies, no clouds and virtually no wind with only an occasional breeze. General observing with Jerry, Blair MacDonald and Mark Dryden - the fellows with telescopes and me with binoculars. The southern horizon became more diffuse as the night wore on.
Pisces Austrinus Time: 11:00 PM - 2:30 AM Equipment: Visual S&T Chart Reference: 76, 77, 78, 79 Fomalhaut was the star that caught my attention (as per usual) so was able to also identify the following Pisces Austrini stars - ε, η, θ, ι, μ, β and δ. I'm always excited to see what is considered to be a "southern constellation" in my northern skies!
Taurus + Hyades/Melotte 25 Time: 11:50 PM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 14, 15 Located Taurus because of the brightness of Aldebaran and the nearby Pleaides. Using the binoculars, I looked more closely at the open cluster Hyades. What a lovely open cluster on such a beautiful night. I did not sketch it this evening. Just enjoyed viewing it.
M45 / Pleiades Time: 11:02 PM + 11:51 PM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 14, 15 I took the time to sketch the Pleiades star field.
There was a line of stars arching away from one of the nebula in the cluster. The stars were of varying brightness but were very clearly visible. The nebulosity around each of the primary stars were easily seen with binoculars.
NGC 869 + NGC 884 Time: 11:30 PM Equipment: Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 2, 13 I located the double cluster in Perseus near η Perseii. Both NGCs were very diffuse grey fuzzies with a denser and brighter core.
Summer Triangle / DAVe Time: 11:55 PM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars The 3 stars in the Triangle - Deneb, Altair and Vega - were easily located naked eye. Their related constellations - Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra - were easily picked out against the dark sky.
Ophiuchus, Serpens Caput Time: 12:05 AM Equipment: Visual S&T Chart Reference: 54, 56, 64, 65, 67 Ophiuchus was initially identified from the large curve forming the bottom of what I refer to as his cape but others may refer to it as part of the constellation Serpens. The snake's head (Serpens Caput) was very easily located and identified.
Perseus + Melotte 20/α Persei Cluster/Perseus OB3 Association Time: 12:55 AM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 2, 13 The triangular peak of Perseus was easily located. Mirfak and Melotte 20 were seen through the binoculars. Love Melotte 20! Also viewed were Algol, ε Perseii, and κ Perseii. Algol was at minimum earlier in the day so could not see the star brighten over time.
Auriga M36 / Pinwheel Cluster M37 / NGC 2099 M38 (Starfish Cluster) Time: 12:55 AM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 12 Visually found Auriga in the NE sky above Gemini.
M37 was found just a bit southwest of the imaginery line between Elnath (beta Aurigae) and theta Aurigae.
M36 was found northeast of M37, just about equidistant on the other side of the imaginery line. M36 and M37 could be seen in the same FOV.
M38 was found northeast of M36. Both of these objects could be seen in the same FOV.
Gemini + M35 Time: 12:58 AM Equipment: Visual S&T Chart Reference: 23, 25 Castor and Pollux appeared above the horizon lying on their side in the NE sky. I followed Castor's body to his toe (1 Gem) to view the small grey fuzzy M35.
Capricornus Time: 1:15 AM Equipment: Visual + Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 66, 68, 77 The "smile in the sky" was located and identified; all of its brightest stars were found visually. Algedi Prima (α1 Capricorni) and Algedi Secondi (α2 Capricorni) were easily seen as separate entities. Dabih Major (β1 Capricorni) and Dabih Minor (β2 Capricorni) were also seen.
M30 Time: 1:28 AM Equipment: Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 77 I purposefully set out to find this DSO. I used SkySafariPro to locate it and the stars around it. With binoculars, I first found Dabih Minor (β2 Capricorni) then ζ Capricorni. I then went about 3º away and found the cluster. 41 Cap was at 10 o'clock to M30 and was fairly faint compared to 41 Cap.
NGC 7293 / Helix Nebula (attempt to find) Time: 1:30 AM Equipment: Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 76, 77 This was the first attempt to find this. Having found Pisces Austrinus, this DSO was about 12º above Fomalhaut and ε Pisces Austrini. It looked to be about the same magnitude as M30. Couldn't find this at this time. May not have looked high enough towards Aquarius.
M34 Time: 1:45 AM Equipment: Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 2, 13 Found this open cluster using the Observatory's 16" Dobsonian. It had 6-7 central bright stars. It also appeared to have a ring of stars around the object as if it were a container. Also refer to Messier Catalogue - M034 (NGC 1039) - September 28, 2019
NGC7293 - Location in Aquarius
M34
M2 (Globular Cluster) Time: 2:04 AM Equipment: Binoculars S&T Chart Reference: 75, 77 This was my first attempt to find M2. With binoculars, it was nothing more than a grey fuzzy.
I located Aquarius, specifically looking for Sadalsud (β Aquaria). From there, I looked for a backwards & upsidedown "L" shape of 3x3 stars. When found, I looked for something like of bell curve of stars at 2 o'clock to the 3x3. When found, M2 was 2º away.
When I returned home, I was able to label the stars in these two formations.
