Nu Scorpii: |
Date/time of observation: June 18, 2000 5:10 UT Sky darkness: 4 <Limiting magnitude> Seeing: 8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Moon presence: Great - full or very near object Instrument: Vixen 102FL f/9 GP mount Magnification: 153x,204x,368x Object(s): Nu Scorpii Category: Multiple star. Constellation: Scorpius Data: mag 4.3 & 6.8 Position: RA 16:12 DEC -19:28 The brighter(closer) pair, at 0.9" was split at 153x showing the typical "snowman". Reaching 368x using my 5mm Pentax smc ortho & 2x Meade barlow, the split was so obvious, I could swear I saw a fine line of darkness between the 2 disks! The colour of the A star was white, with the B star being noted as blue. Splitting this close double reaffirms my suspicion that this 4" refractor has excellent optics. Btw, the fainter pair, C & D, at 2.3" separation was so wide at 368x, you could drive a truck between them. ;^) Update: The correct separation for the closer pair is ~1.3". |
Observing Site: Casper, Wy. (suburban) Equipment used: Vixen 102 Fl. Seeing:7 out of 10 Limiting magnitude: 4.0 due to Moon Ngc 2215: located near 7 Monoceros at first glance at 85x, seemed like a sparse group of stars; using averted vision, a feeling of a richer cluster was sensed. Brightest members appeared to be of 10th magnitude. While I was in the area, a quick view of Beta Mon seemed mandatory. Ah yes, Nice split, nice double, but color contrast not that impressive to these old eyes. M50 in Monoceros: Nice open cluster with open being the key word. Brightest member listed at mag 7.8 Ngc 2309 in Monoceros: This 10th mag cluster escaped me tonight thanks to the brightening Moon. I'll have to return some other time. M79 in Puppis: One of my fav globulars, in my refractor at 77x, an 8.7 star to the north & a 9.4 star to the south seems to have this guy corralled for our enjoyment. At powers of 57x to 115x, no resolving of stars was achieved but, that's ok! I took a shot at IC 418, a 10.7 mag planetary in Lepus but no way tonight. I think I should be able to spot this one with dark skies but can I get good seeing & dark skies at the same time??? Ngc 2453 in Puppis: Well condensed open cluster, has a scissors shape to it at 77x. Brightest stars estimated at 9.5 to 10th mag. While I was there, I of course, had to try Ngc 2452 with, of course, no success. At around 12th Mag plus, this will more than test my abilities on the darkest of nights. |
Observing Report Feb. 15, 2000 |
