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2022-08-16

Condition: VG7

Location: Erik's Ranch: 45.49, -110.70

The first night at Erik's Ranch! Our cabin has a great view of the south, so I should be able to pick off some of those low targets on my list!

9:50PM

Target: 36 Ophiuchi

Const: Ophiuchus

RaDec: 17h15m -26°36

Scope: ST80

Setting: 57x

Double: AB: 135° or 315°

Image

Found from Θ Ophiuchi. I could hardly split them. Both are very similar in magnitude and I could not tell which was the primary, so I included both possible PA's. Both are white in color.

10:03PM

Target: ο Ophiuchi

Const: Ophiuchus

RaDec: 17h18m -24°17

Scope: ST80

Setting: 57x

Double: AB: 350°

Image

Sibling is noticeably less bright. Got a clean split.

10:16PM

Target: M 6, Butterfly Cluster

Const: Scorpius

RaDec: 17h40m -32°13

Scope: ST80

Setting: 36x

Image

So cool! Such an evident butterfly shape. My drawing doesn't come close to doing it justice. Possibly my new favorite.

10:26PM

Target: M 7, Ptolemy Cluster

Const: Scorpius

RaDec: 17h53m -34°49

Scope: ST80

Setting: 30x

Image

So vibrant, wasn't hard to find as it exploded into view in my finder-scope.

10:39

Target: M 69

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h31m -32°21

Scope: ST80

Setting: 36x, AV

Image

Very tiny, AV is required to detect the shape. Seems to be a slightly irregular shape, almost triangular.

10:44PM

Target: M 70

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h43m -32°18

Scope: ST80

Setting: 40x, AV

Image

Smaller and less bright than M69, AV isn't helping very much.

10:54PM

Target: M 28

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h24m -24°52

Scope: ST80

Setting: 50x, AV

Image

Was able to zoom in on this one a little more. I'm detecting a bit larger of a size, but only the center is brighter, the surrounding area seems to be a more subtle and consistent brightness.

10:59PM

Target: M 22

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h36m -23°54

Scope: ST80

Setting: 59x

Image

Popped in my finder-scope. Very easy to find. Large, and I'm seeing more definition within this cluster than many others with lighter and darker "splotches" of light. AV isn't necessary but really makes it "pop" with detail more than with most other clusters I've seen.

11:10PM

Target: M 25

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h31m -19°14

Scope: ST80

Setting: 21x

Image

Neat. A very "clean" looking cluster. Many diverse magnitude stars can be clearly seen.

11:14PM

Target: M 24, Small Sagittarius Star Cloud

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h18m -18°25

Scope: ST80

Setting: 19x

Image

Not as dense as clusters I've seen, but maybe that's why this one is called a "star cloud". Panning around, I can see that the stars in this area are more closely packed together than the surrounding areas. Best seen at low magnification, too much is lost with even a little zoom.

11:28PM

Target: M 23

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 17h56m -19°1

Scope: ST80

Setting: 33x

Image

Not much of a glow. But rather a bunch of "pin pricks" of light. Neat!

11:43PM

Target: M 20, Trifid Nebula

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h02m -23°2

Scope: ST80

Setting: 28x, AV

Image

Not seeing much "nebulosity". Can only detect a very little with AV. May need to revisit when I have the proper filters?

Target: M 21

Const: Sagittarius

RaDec: 18h04m -22°3

Scope: ST80

Setting: 28x, AV

A bit more apparent, but seems like a very small clump of stars. AV is required to make more stars in the midst of the cluster appear.