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2024-04-13 Saturday

Condition: E5

Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

Clear and beautiful conditions tonight. Some isolated clouds would pass over head unexpectedly. The moon was at 33%, but I had quite a few bright targets that should still be visible.

09:14PM

Target: BM Geminorum (TYC 1913-1170-1)

Const: Gemini

RaDec: 07h22m +24.57

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 55x

Image

Found NE of Wasat. Orange with a touch of red. This is my second attempt. My first attempt on 4-10 I failed to find it.

09:28PM

Target: X Cancri (HD 76221)

Const: Cancer

RaDec: 08h56m +17.08

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 55x

Image

Beautiful! Like a burning ember. Yellow and orange. SE of M44.

09:34PM

Target: T Cancri (TYC 1397-648-1)

Const: Cancer

RaDec: 08h57m +19.45

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 55x

Image

If X Cancri was an ember, than this is a spark. A little more dim, but similar in color.

09:42PM

Target: U Hydrae (HD 92055)

Const: Hydra

RaDec: 10h38m -13.3

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 55x

Image

Quite bright, the color was evident in the finder scope too. Brass yellow.

09:51PM

Target: NGC 3242, Ghost of Jupiter

Const: Hydra

RaDec: 10h24m -18.38

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 110x

Image

Bright. The gradient remains consistent until the last 20% when it tapers off quickly. It feels very "fuzzy", even though the conditions are great tonight and my focus on the target is good, observing it is giving me an impulse to re-adjust my focuser. AV is not required, but seems to give brightness.

10:02PM

Target: Y Hydrae (HD 85495)

Const: Hydra

RaDec: 09h52m -23.07

Scope: AT102ED

Setting: 55x

Image

Yellow. S of ν1 Hydrae.

Ended the night with a quick look at the moon. As I was packing up I noticed my old nemesis δ Corvi to the south. On a whim I proceeded to split that star which gave me so much trouble two years back and got it pretty quickly. It might be time to let go of that old animosity and just enjoy Corvus for what it is.