Asterisms: Teapot
Constellations: Capricornus
Messier Objects: M32, M69, M73, M75, M110
Located, but not Observed: M12, M33
Location: St. Croix Observatory (SCO)
Date: 2024-09-29
Time: 7:00 PM – 11:30 PM ADT
Equipment: 10" Meade SCT
Eyepieces: SvBony 10-30mm Zoom eyepiece (used 30mm)
Magnification: x83
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Very Good to Excellent (1)
| Time (PM ADT) |
SQM | Temp |
| 10:37 | 21.14 | 10° C |
We had an early arrival at the Observatory to set up and for Jerry to take a video of one of the Centre's scopes. Michael joined us around 8 PM. It was at 8:30 that we heard the owl hoot west of us. The peeping frog started up shortly thereafter in the south and serenaded us throughout the observing session with his owl friend interjecting occasionally. Heard one coyote howl north of us.
Because of what was on the southern horizon, I decided to focus on Messier objects around the Teapot and Capricornus. I had hoped to sketch the stars of Corona Austrinus but by the time we had set up it had partially disappeared in the horizon. First success? M75.
M75 / NGC 6864
Time: 8:48 PM ADT
M75 had a relatively bright core and was partially resolved at its edges; I could not discern any individual stars of the object. Its rim did appear to be quite wide. Interestingly, the stars south of the object were easily detected but couldn't see anything north of it. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M075 / NGC 6864.
M73 / NGC 6994 Cr 426
Time: 9:12 PM ADT
I had to wonder why Messier included this 4-star asterism. It appears that he saw a nebulosity around these stars that no has seen; the explanation given was the transparency and/or seeing may not have been perfect and therefore gave the illusion it was nebulous. I did not notice a colour difference but did notice a difference on their brightness. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M073 / NGC 6994 / Cr 426.
M69
Time: 9:28 PM ADT
I used Kaus Australis (star in the base of the Teapot asterism) from which to slew and find this object. There was enough time between cloudy sessions to sketch the object and the very bright star adjacent to it. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M069 / NGC 6637 - September 29, 2024.
M10 / NGC 6254 - Repeated
Time: 9:54 PM ADT
M10 was much larger in this scope and I could see more stars and had a better view of its nebulosity. It had a brighter core but its seemed diffuse rather than really dense. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M010 (NGC 6405) - July 2022 & September 2024.
M12
Time: 10:03 PM ADT
I wanted to find this with a larger magnification just as I had with M10. However, could not do so due to clouds intervening.
M32 / NGC 221, M110
Time: 10:03 PM ADT
These three were not in one FOV, but 2 of 3 isn't bad. M32 appeared as a bright str in the outer nebulosity of M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. Had to slew a bit to find M110 which appeared a smudge below M31. For more details re M32, refer to Messier Catalogue - M032 / NGC 221 - September 29, 2024. For more details re M110, refer to Messier Catalogue - M110 / NGC 205 - September 29, 2024.
M33 / Triangulum Galaxy
Time: 10:03 PM ADT
All evening when looking at this section of sky, the constellation Triangulum was easily identified. But, as the sky gods would have it when going to observe the galaxy nearby, they sent clouds in to obscure the whole area.
Packed up and left SCO at 11:00 PM. The clouds dictated a very early end to the evening.