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2022-06-25

Condition: E7

Location: Terry Peak, South Tower: 44.32, -103.83

Ever since I started this hobby last December, I've been waiting to see the expanse of the Milky Way stretch across the night sky. Tonight, it was visible and it was worth the wait. I had tears rush to my eyes, similar to the reaction I had at seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time a few years back. I had to take some time to just soak it in.

11:01PM

Target: δ Corvi

Const: Corvus

RaDec: 12h31m -16°38

Scope: ST80

Setting: 75x

Double: AB: 200°

Image

Third attempt with δ Corvi, not sure why I'm having so much trouble. I know the sibling should be in the south-western quadrant, but I'm having trouble seeing anything there again. I played with various magnifications and tried stopped down and it didn't seem to help. At the end, I believe I found it by accident. I bumped the lens and a very dim point of light appeared in the south-western quadrant while the scope was settling, and it appeared to be the expected distance from the primary.

11:19PM

Target: γ Virginis

Const: Virgo

RaDec: 12h42m -1°34

Scope: ST80

Setting: 150x, 1/2 stop-down

Double: AB: 180° or 0°

Image

Very cool split. Both pairs seemed of similar size and brightness. Given the conditions tonight, I could barely see a full split between the two (I wasn't expecting that). I could not tell which was the primary and which was the secondary, because of that I'm recording both possible perceived angles. This might have been the coolest double star I've witnessed so far.

11:34PM

Target: α Librae

Const: Libra

RaDec: 14h52m -16°08

Scope: ST80

Setting: 60x

Double: AB: 330°

Image

** 2022-07 July