Forecast lied

Photo copyright Fred Lum

45.7667 N

September 1/13

Again, the forecast was calling for rain.

Again it didn’t rain.

Set up scope, chair.  Got to be comfortable and stable to observe. (Orion 80 apocromatic refractor, on a portamount with Manfrotto legs.  Super portable and easy to set up and operate).

M22 globular again, this time in the scope.  With 14mm eyepiece, can start to resolve stars – just so pretty.  Such a jewel.

M71 globular – same magnification.  Could see why M. Messier would want to cross it off his “not comet” list.  Smudgy

*Fred joining me, camera at hand*

M27 – dumbbell nebula. Low mag (26mm) then higher mag – then OIII filter, just to play around with appearances.  I found the 14mm no filter the most pleasing.   Hourglass shape, tilted, blobby.

M11 – the Wild Duck.  I love looking at this – I get to it by scooting up Ophiucus to the West, so as not to get lost in the milky way.  Star hopping.  Like many other objects in astronomy, I don’t see the shape it’s named for.

M31 and M33 again tonight, this time with more magnification.  M33 lower surface brightness – something very satisfying about finding galaxies with a small scope.