General Session - June 5-6, 2024

Constellations: Leo, Ursa Major
Asterism: Big Dipper, Teapot
Stars: Adhafera (ζ Leonis), Alcor, Algieba (γ Leonis), Alioth, Alkaid, Alterf (λ Leonis), Alula Australis, Alula Borealis, Antares,Arcturus, Castor, Chertan (θ Leonis), Denebola (β Leonis), Dubhe, y Gem, Kaus Australis, Kaus Borealis, Megrez, Merak, Mizar, Muscida, Navi, Phecda, Pollux, Rasalas (μ Leonis), Regulus (α Leonis), ε Sco, Spica, Tania Australis, Tania Borealis, Talitha, Talitha Borealis, θ UMa, c UMA, ψ UMA, Zosma (δ Leonis)
Messier Objects: M7/Ptolemy Cluster, M19/NGC 6273, M22/NGC 6656, M62/NGC 6266, M80/NGC 6093

Identified, not Observed:
Boötes, Corona Borealis, Scorpius

Location: Site 15 on Big Muise Island, Kejimkujik National Park, NS
Date: 2024-06-5/6
Time: 9:30 PM - 1:15 AM ADT
Equipment: Visual, 10x42 IS Binoculars, SkyWatcher Evostar 80ED
Eyepieces: 40mm, 103mm zoom, 9mm
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)

We were a little later than expected by about 1 hour due to 4 road construction delays, one as long as 20 minutes. It was a pleasant paddle across the lake with only slight ripples but enough breeze to keep the flies off. As is the custom, we unloaded the canoe content onto the beach and had lunch before setting up camp under the trees. An afternoon swim and some time on the beach made for a wonderful afternoon and early evening. However, I may have had too much sun because I wasn't feeling well by the time dinner rolled around. Thankfully, I felt well by the time the skies started to darken.

Jerry and I were alone on the island this evening; our friends were expected around noon tomorrow. When I was on the beach earlier, I determined what to look for in this observing session. There was high cloud. No wind to speak of but at least the mosquitoes were gone! Spring Peepers were calling out at the south end of our island and frogs were responding on the shores of Minard Island opposite our site. The lake surface was like glass with only an occasional fish near shore breaking the surface.

Star Light, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight....

9:45 PM ADT (Visual)
- Arcturus was the first star

9:55 PM ADT (Visual)
2nd star was Spica (Virgo) then 3rd star Algieba (Leo)

10:07 PM ADT (Visual)
- 3 stars in the Dipper handle - Alkaid, Mizar (did not visually see the double), Alioth 

10:15 PM ADT(Visual) 
- Castor & Pollux showed just above the flat top of the pine tree on shore. Navi (Cassiopeia) was seen and quickly disappeared in the trees on the NW end of our island.

It was here that I decided to fire up the telescope. Alignment is still a skill I'm learning with this scope. In the first attempt, I used Castor and Arcturus. Thought I had it operational but then lost the connectivity between the scope and my phone. Bah. Humbug. It was also about this time that the sky got brighter in spurts; we attributed it to the fireflies or to lightning way off in the distance that may/may not be approaching us. Turns out it was the thunderstorm in St. John, NB that was lighting up our skies intermittently. (Note: we only had a slight drizzle overnight as a result of that storm passing through.)

10:39 PM ADT (Visual)
Slight occasional breezes. Fireflies are now frequently making their presence known in the trees. 
- all 7 stars of the Big Dipper were very easily located
- Leo's Regulus plus 5 stars of the 'sickle' were seen above the trees on the island across from us. 

Ursa Major
Time: 10:52 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual
S&T Chart: 32, 33
The Dipper was so clear on the NW horizon. After identifying Muscida, I decided to identify the remaining stars of the constellation especially since the bear was literally pointing down towards the horizon. The stars were so clear, I was able to do this visually; no binoculars were required. I used the star chart to identify the names of the stars I sketched. I remembered the Talitha and Talitha Borealis from the observations of the 2020 comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) while at Dr. Roy Bishop's cottage. 

It was here that I decided to make another attempt, this time with Antares in Scorpius and UMa's Dubhe. Success! And no lost connectivity. Consequently, I decided now was the Messier time. I knew there were three near Antares so had the scope go to Antares.

M19 / NGC 6273
Time: 11:33 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope
Eyepiece: SvBONY 10-30mm zoom 
S&T Chart: 56, 58
I began with the 30mm aspect of the eyepiece then gradually increased the magnification 5mm at a time. At 10mm, I saw the cluster east of Antares. The cluster had a dense core but not as dense as that of M62. A nebulous star field was discernible for a little distance from the core. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M019 / NGC 6273 - June 5, 2024.

M62 / NGC 6266 / Flickering Globular Cluster
Time: 11:54 PM ADT
Equipment: Telescope
Eyepiece: Tele Vue 9mm Nagler Japan
S&T Chart: 56, 58
Not changing the eyepiece from the previous Messier object, I slewed the scope from M19 towards ε Sco to find this cluster. It had a denser core than M19 but t was not as bright. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M062 / NGC 6266 / Flickering Globular Cluster - June 5, 2024.

It was while I was sketching M62 that three owls hooted - 2 Barred Owls sounded their recognizable "who-cook-for-you" whereas the third owl spoke a language other than English. I did not recognize its hoot - maybe a different genus of owl or maybe a youngster. The peepers started up again after a period of quiet. Then a coyote howled; we joked that it was complaining about the owl and peeper noise that made sleep impossible. The fireflies never disappeared and gave us smiles many times throughout this session.

M80 / NGC 6093
Time: 12:10 AM ADT
Equipment: Telescope
Eyepiece: Tele Vue 9mm Nagler Japan
S&T Chart: 56
This cluster is located above and on the opposite side of Antares in Scorpius from M4. It had a very dense core and was better seen with averted vision. For more details, refer to Messier Catalogue - M080 / NGC 6093. 

12:30 PM ADT
Two loons were calling out across the Lake as I was sketching M80. Love their call; it's such a soothing sound in the dark. The constellation Leo was just above the island across from our beach at a 45° angle to the horizon, making it look like Leo was doing a face plant. Boötes was still quite high in the sky with Arcturus very much evident.

M22 / NGC 6656 / Great Sagittarius Cluster
Time: 12:42 AM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart: 67, 69
I noticed the Teapot for the first time this evening. It was almost flat on the south horizon. Using the lid star (Kaus Borealis), I used my binoculars to locate the Y-shaped star formation and M22 adjacent and to its east. It appeared as a small grey fuzzy.

M7 / NGC 6475 / Ptolemy Cluster Time: 1:07 AM ADT Equipment: Visual, Binoculars, Telescope Eyepieces: 9mm, 10-30mm S&T Chart: 67, 69 I realized the Teapot was high enough on the horizon that I should be able to find M7. Found its location with averted vision with no aids, then used my binoculars to look at this glorious open cluster. With the 9mm eyepiece in the scope, I slewed the scope down about 15° to the area about 5° west of Kaus Australis. I discovered that only the core of the cluster could be seen at this higher magnification. I exchanged it for the zoom eyepiece and beginning at 10mm gradually increased it to 30mm - and that is when all of the cluster could be seen. Unfortunately....

I noticed the horizons were beginning to get murky and clouds were filling in our overhead view. I had pencil and clipboard in hand to begin sketching this wondrous object when the clouds completely covered M7 and the Teapot. Skies at the zenith were now more cloud covered with no hope of a large sucker hole to get any views of any other entity. Disappointment - but glad to have achieved what I did.