Astro Nut

click on thumb for a big picture
This is M22 found in Sagittarius This is one of the “EASY TO FIND GLOBULAR CLUSTERS“.
You can see it with a set of binos very easy.
From a dark site I rate this better then M13.
It is truly a spectacular globular cluster well worth the time to hunt down and study!

This drawning was done using my 10 inch DOB with a 15mm 84x

click on thumb for a big picture
I got some more scope time in last night.
It was not the best viewing but its better then nothing.
I have been looking for M10 and M12 in Ophiuchus for a couple of weeks now and last night I FOUND M10 I could not find M12 thru all of the ground haze!

M10 was discovered 1764 by Charles Messier.
and is a 7th mag globular cluster.
It is 14,300 light years away from us!

click on thumb for a big picture
Star Log 7 July 06
Once again the weather cleared up, it was a spectacular morning.
M31 the Andromeda galaxy is one of my favorite targets.
Easily found with binoculars from light polluted backyards
and is naked eye visible from a dark site
Object: NGC 224 - M31 - Andromeda Galaxy
Deepsky Catalog: NGC 2000
Date Observed: 7/7/2006 3:41:31 AM
Time Observed: 03:00UT
Object Type: Gx
Constellation: And
Magnitude: 3.5
Size: 178
Locate Method: Star Hopping
Object Rating: A
Primary Equipment Used: 10″ Dob
Power/Magnification Used: 15mm 84 pwr

click on picture for a big picture
Last night we had a bit of good weather so I got some scope time in.
Object: NGC 6779 - M56
Date Observed: 7/6/2006 8:28:39 AM
Time Observed: 01:30UT
Object Type: Gb
Constellation: Lyr
Magnitude: 8.3
Size: 7.1
Object Rating: B
Primary Equipment Used: 10″ Dob
Power/Magnification Used: PWR 84 / 15MM

From the backyard this a a VERY FF.
It is halfway between Lyra and Albireo.
I could not find it using my 32MM

Object: NGC 6838 - M71
Deepsky Catalog: NGC 2000
Date Observed: 6/3/2006 5:36:04 PM
Time Observed: 03:00Local
Object Type: Gb
Constellation: Sge
Magnitude: 8.3
Size: 7.2

Locate Method: Star Hopping
Object Rating: B
Primary Equipment Used: 10″ Dob
Power/Magnification Used: 15mm 86 pwr
Very faint from the back yard!

Man what a night.
I was not planing on going out last night.
But right before I went to be I peeked out the door and what a glorious site.
Sagittarius was there in view, a rare thing from my light polluted back yard.
So I packed up the scope and headed out to my dark spot.
I am gald I did
TAGED and BAGED
M54, M70, M69, M55, M7, M6, M4, M80, M11, M26, M16, M9
M31 M32 M110
This was the first time I could SEE Andromeda Galaxy with the naked eye.
I left just as Mars was coming up.

What a night

I had a very good night last night I was suprised at all of the targets I found!

MY LOGBOOK INFORMATION:
OBJECT ID: NGC 224 M31 -Andromeda Galaxy
Date/Time Observed : 8/23/2005 11:20:39 PM 11:00:00 PM
LOCATION : Back Yard Urban : Yes
Weather : Cloud Cover (%)5
SKY CONDITIONS -Transparency : Very Clear Seeing : Mostly Stable
Equipment : Celestron 10″ Dobson
Power: 97-195
Star Hopping
Notes: Could see it with the binos.
Looks very nice under low power

OBJECT ID: NGC 6618 M17 -Omega nebula
Date/Time Observed : 8/23/2005 11:18:13 PM 11:00:00 PM
LOCATION : Back Yard Urban : Yes
Weather : Cloud Cover (%)5
SKY CONDITIONS -Transparency : Very Clear Seeing : Mostly Stable
Equipment : Celestron 10″ Dobson
Power: 97-195
Star Hopping
Notes:

OBJECT ID: NGC 6656 M22
Date/Time Observed : 8/23/2005 11:13:58 PM 11:00:00 PM
LOCATION : Back Yard Urban : Yes
Weather : Cloud Cover (%)5
SKY CONDITIONS -Transparency : Very Clear Seeing : Mostly Stable
Equipment : Celestron 10″ Dobson
Power: 97-195
Star Hopping
Notes: Very nice cluster.
I found it with the binos and then hopped to it

OBJECT ID: NGC 6266 M62
Date/Time Observed : 8/23/2005 10:01:15 PM 11:00:00 PM
LOCATION : Back Yard Urban : Yes
Weather : Cloud Cover (%) 5
SKY CONDITIONS -Transparency : Clear Seeing : Mostly Stable
Equipment : Celestron 10″ Dobson
Power: 97-195
Star Hopping
Notes: I first found it with the binos.
It is a very nice cluster