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2022-08-21

Condition: G6

Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

9:30PM

Got home from our trip to Erik's Ranch. Unpacked the car quickly then setup the telescope.

9:52PM

Target: ε Lyrae

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 18h44m +39°4

Scope: ST80

Setting: 150x, 1/2 stop-down

Double: AB: 350°, AB-CD: 170°, CD: 80°

Image

I could not see the primary companion without tapping the lens (B). The secondary companion (D) showed up but without a clean split, looked more like an extension of (C). Took a bit to find all 4. Pretty cool double-double.

10:03PM

Target: ζ Lyrae

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 18h44m +37°36

Scope: ST80

Setting: 57x

Double: AB: 160°

Image

Very easy split. Similar in color, but the sibling looks like it has a little more purple?

10:08PM

Target: β Lyrae

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 18h50m +33°22

Scope: ST80

Setting: 57x, 1/2 stop-down

Double: AB: 145°

Image

Another easy split. The sibling is more noticeably faint.

10:14PM

Target: M 57, Ring Nebula

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 18h53m +33°2

Scope: ST80

Setting: 40x, AV

Image

Very small. Just a subtle fat dot on a dark background. Looking directly at it will make it disappear! AV pops it back into view with a little definition. Getting some "irregularity" in the glow around the center.

10:26PM

Target: Otto Struve 525

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 18h54m +33°58

Scope: ST80

Setting: 57x

Double: AB: 345°

Image

Took a little to determine which nearby star was the sibling. Both are nestled between β and ν Lyrae.

10:32PM

Target: M 56

Const: Lyra

RaDec: 19h16m +30°11

Scope: ST80

Setting: 40x, AV

Image

Very faint. AV isn't required for detection, but is necessary to get an observation of the size and shape.

10:47PM

Target: β Cygni

Const: Cygnus

RaDec: 19h30m +27°58

Scope: ST80

Setting: 44x

Double: AB: 70°

Image

Cool pair! The primary is very orange / yellow. The secondary is a colder white, a little less bright.

10:45PM

Target: M 71

Cosnt: Sagitta

RaDec: 19h53m +18°47

Scope: ST80

Setting: 44x, AV

Image

I would have missed it if my star chart didn't tell me it was there. No "concentration" of light or glow, more evenly distributed and spread out.