I regret not being able to attend ECSP until Friday, but I made the best of it by rolling out my 15" f/5 Dobsonian. Both transparency and seeing were excellent. Despite my light polluted skies it was great fun scanning the skies. Here's what I saw.
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List: 24/10/31 Halloween 15"
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
(Comet in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 7:51:24?PM
Comment: The comet is still looking very nice, with the tail extending out of the field of view?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 57¡ã H 69%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6572
(Planetary Nebula in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 7:54:35?PM
Comment: I almost missed it this time because of using the 20mm Pentax at the low power of only 95x and it being so small.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 57¡ã H 69%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
IC 4665
(Open Cluster in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 7:56:34?PM
Comment: A beautiful, large open cluster that fits nicely in the 95x field of view of the 20mm Pentax?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
IC 4756
(Open Cluster in Serpens)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 7:58:16?PM
Comment: A large open cluster filling the field of view with stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6633
(Open Cluster in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 7:58:57?PM
Comment: A large, very interesting open cluster with several lines of stars running NE TO SW.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6709
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:00:39?PM
Comment: Nice open cluster of a few bright stars and many faint ones
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6755
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:01:58?PM
Comment: Large but sparce open cluster with very few members?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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NGC 6781
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:05:18?PM
Comment: Large and very faint, low surface brightness planetary nebula.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Vyssotsky 2-2
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:08:49?PM
Comment: A faint, 12.7 magnitude planetary nebula that blinks nicely with the 20mm Pentax at 95x with the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 20mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 2
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:19:04?PM
Comment: I compared my 11mm Type 6 Tele Vue Nagler to my 10mm Pentax XW. Pentax remain my favorite brand of eyepieces. They offer comparable or better performances than any others, are more comfortable and offer 20mm eye relief?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Saturn Nebula - NGC 7009
(Planetary Nebula in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:22:36?PM
Comment: Beautiful green color, elongated, but I could not see the "ansae".
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 72
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:24:04?PM
Comment: Extremely low surface brightness; I could barely see it?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Saturn
(Planet in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:26:37?PM
Comment: Saturn looked good, but not comparable to how I saw it last night with the Takahashi TOA 150. I saw moons Titan and Rhea on the eastern side and Tethys and Iapetus on the western side. I suspected seeing Enceladus near the tip of the western ring.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 15
(Globular Cluster in Pegasus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:40:56?PM
Comment: I often like to look at M 15 after M 2. In my opinion M 15 is more impressive with large telescopes, while M 2 is the more impressive in smaller ones.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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HD 1429
(Double Star in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:45:40?PM
Comment: Struve 24
5"
A real showpiece double star. The 7.7 magnitude primary is yellow and the 8.4 magnitude secondary is purple.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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HR 9074
(Double Star in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:48:08?PM
Comment: Struve 3050
2.8
A very pretty, tight pair of equally bright yellow stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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HD 200393
(Variable Star in Delphinus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:51:27?PM
Comment: Vivid red 6.6 magnitude carbon star lying 1600 light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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NGC 7006
(Globular Cluster in Delphinus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:53:56?PM
Comment: Although only 10.6 magnitude this is fainter than one might expect, with ?low surface brightness. The globular is very distant at 130.000 light years.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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HD 1429
(Double Star in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 8:59:48?PM
Comment: Struve 24
5"
Wonderful equal pair of white stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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NGC 7448
(Spiral Galaxy in Pegasus)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:05:29?PM
Comment: A faint, elongated galaxy a whopping 140 million light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Blue Snowball Nebula - NGC 7662
(Planetary Nebula in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:09:40?PM
Comment: Always a favorite PNe, looked fantastic with the 5mm Pentax at 380x.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Andromeda Galaxy - M 31
(Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:13:40?PM
Comment: M 31 looked awesome tonight using the 20mm Pentax at 95x. The dust lane showed nicely on the NE side of the galaxy.?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 32
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:15:01?PM
Comment: Small but very high surface brightness satellite galaxy of M 31.?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 110
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:18:07?PM
Comment: Normally challenge to see this low surface brightness 8th magnitude galaxy, but I saw it quite easily tonight.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Mirach - Beta And
(Variable Double Star in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:19:43?PM
Comment: Mirach is such a beautiful, gold star lying 197 light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Mirach's Ghost - NGC 404
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:20:56?PM
Comment: The transparency and seeing were so good tonight that I saw Mirach's Ghost quite easily.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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105 Piscium
(Star in Pisces)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:25:23?PM
Comment: A deep orange star near the galaxy M 74.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Messier 74
(Spiral Galaxy in Pisces)
Observed: Oct 31, 2024 at 9:26:40?PM
Comment: A large, low surface brightness galaxy best seen at low power. I found the 20mm Pentax at 95x best
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.36 70¡ã H 72%
Equipment: 15" f/5 1900mm , 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Some thoughts on the comet as it goes off in the blue
Well it has been nice run for the comet for the past weeks. It has dropped to magnitude 5.7 making it just barely naked eye or perhaps only by telescope. Easy find right now in Ophiuchus but on the way out and dimming. The other comet Atlas which was thought to possibly become a good comet has been eaten by the sun so one less comet. A lot of them end up like that.
I had a lot of fun over the past weeks trying to see it early morning (failure) and just after dark (successful). We looked at it last night and it certainly seems dimmer than days ago. Nice while it lasted. I don't think we will be around for the return! Probably last look at the star party.
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Northwest River Park Observing
As Robert H and I headed to NWRP at 6:00 pm I saw a thick layer of clouds low in the west. Surely enough, upon arrival those clouds blanketed the skies. Fortunately, it cleared for about 2 hours, but the sky was never cloud free. Nevertheless, we had a good turnout. It's always nice to get together with astronomy friends. I'm looking forward to ECSP next weekend. Here's a list of what I saw with my trusty Orion 10" Dobsonian.
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List: 24/10/26 BBAA NWRP
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
(Comet in Ophiuchus)
Hercules Cluster - M 13
(Globular Cluster in Hercules)
Double Cluster - NGC 869
(Open Cluster in Perseus)
NGC 957
(Open Cluster in Perseus)
Trumpler 2
(Open Cluster in Perseus)
Andromeda Galaxy - M 31
(Spiral Galaxy in Andromeda)
Dumbbell Nebula - M 27
(Planetary Nebula in Vulpecula)
Uranus
(Planet in Taurus)
Sculptor Galaxy - NGC 253
(Spiral Galaxy in Sculptor)
Mirach's Ghost - NGC 404
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Saturn
(Planet in Aquarius)
Blinking Planetary Nebula - NGC 6826
(Planetary Nebula in Cygnus)
Messier 2
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Messier 15
(Globular Cluster in Pegasus)
Ring Nebula - M 57
(Planetary Nebula in Lyra)
Albireo - Beta1 Cyg
(Variable Double Star in Cygnus)
Messier 32
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Messier 110
(Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda)
Pleiades - M 45
(Open Cluster in Taurus)
Merope Nebula - NGC 1435
(Bright Nebula in Taurus)
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26 Oct YRSP Observing Report
We had ?eight?amateur astronomers attend. Because we were so spread out, I'm not 100% sure how many members of the public attended. I know there were 6 vehicles and I believe approximately 15 people. Thanks to all of the amateurs who came out to support this event!
Unfortunately, after battling clouds & sucker holes most of us started to stow our equipment after 10 PM. The clouds dissipated & the sky cleared so Paul was gracious enough to 'host' several of us via his scope for about an hour. Thanks Paul.
I asked Ranger Charlie if the YRSP?web page could mirror what I post re: public parking. Three 'outreach' vehicles?parked in-between our eight 'amateur vehicles' and the site was a bit crowded. Between safety concerns & headlights in our faces, I'll work with the Park Rangers to see if we can mitigate this in the future.
Saturday Night, 30 November is our next?scheduled open observing?night at YRSP. Once again, thank you to all of the amateurs?who came out to support this event.
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The transparency & seeing may degrade some but tonight is a "Go".
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Yes you show up on our registration list. I see your information. Thanks for registering.
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I signed up last week but got only a transaction number. Will my name be on a list or something?
Michael Hall On Fri, Oct 25, 2024 at 8:06?PM Shawn Loescher via <shawn.loescher= [email protected]> wrote: Here is your reminder that registration for the East Coast Star Party will close on Oct 27th. On site registration exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis during the event. We have to close out the registration early so club members are able to procure the required items for ECSP attendees in time. Below is more information that was posted by club member Robert Bruce Powers about the star party. We hope to see many of you there.
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The East Coast Star Party (ECSP) Oct 31-Nov 3, 2024 at Chippokes State Park, only a 1.5 hour drive from Norfolk VA. We re-started this time honored event in September of 2023 and had an awesome time. Everything you need to know about the event including how to register is included at the link below. There will be over hundreds of dollars worth of raffle prizes distributed for those registered so come on out and claim yours. But mostly, join like minded amateur astronomers in enjoying the wonders of the universe on full display in a dark sky location away from city lights. With that much amateur astronomer experience concentrated all in one place for 3 days, you will be bound to learn something new ! All the cool kids are clicking right now at:?
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Here is your reminder that registration for the East Coast Star Party will close on Oct 27th. On site registration exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis during the event. We have to close out the registration early so club members are able to procure the required items for ECSP attendees in time. Below is more information that was posted by club member Robert Bruce Powers about the star party. We hope to see many of you there.
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The East Coast Star Party (ECSP) Oct 31-Nov 3, 2024 at Chippokes State Park, only a 1.5 hour drive from Norfolk VA. We re-started this time honored event in September of 2023 and had an awesome time. Everything you need to know about the event including how to register is included at the link below. There will be over hundreds of dollars worth of raffle prizes distributed for those registered so come on out and claim yours. But mostly, join like minded amateur astronomers in enjoying the wonders of the universe on full display in a dark sky location away from city lights. With that much amateur astronomer experience concentrated all in one place for 3 days, you will be bound to learn something new ! All the cool kids are clicking right now at:?
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(http://backbayastro.org/ecsp/registration.php)
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That is odd. I just emailed the permit to you instead.
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Still a no go.? Even logged off and then back in.? Same problem.? I guess the universe wants to keep its secrets from me today.
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Make sure your logged in to the NSN before clicking the link I sent you?
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Seems like it.? Your link put me right where it has been taking me, the event calendar.
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I think the NSN is still working out the kinks from the website upgrade. Try this direct direct link: .
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I think the link for the Cornland event is broken for me then.? Both on PC and my phone.? Clicking it just takes me to another window of the events calendar.? The other events link to their description page.? I'll keep trying though.
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The permit can be found on the NSN under each Cornland event. Look for it under the description of the event.
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Where could I find the permit?? I don't see it on the NSN site or the BBA website.
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Make sure you have a copy of the permit for Cornland printed out or on your phone and bring whatever you need to be comfortable while observing (chair, appropriate clothing, bug spray, etc) and that should be it.
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I agree Roy. I am amazed at what you read in astronomy books. You might think the authors have never done any observing in real life. That applies to the aperture in the city argument.
On Friday, October 25, 2024 at 10:10:47 AM EDT, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:
Nice list Kent. ?Quite a variety, a tour of the universe. ?Should also be enlightening if anyone thinks large aperture is not useful in a light polluted area. ?And coincidentally the APOD for October 24 was on one of your observed objects, the Helix Nebula.
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Roy
On 10/25/2024 8:54 AM EDT Kent Blackwell <kent@...> wrote:
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Besides Comet A3 (I so prefer that name), I also observed a few interesting planetary nebulae and a few spooky objects.?
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List: 24/1/24 25¡± A Few Spooky Objects
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
(Comet in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 7:05:47?PM
Comment: Even at dusk the comet already looked brighter than it did in the 15", even when it was dark. The comet is flanked by a bright 6.8 magnitude star on kne side and a pretty double star on the other.?
At 200x using the 16mm Nagler the wide tail looks like the exhaust flume of one of the Atlas rockets I've seen in numerous photos. The core is orange and elongated. There's a large coma around the core. The anti-tail was challenging, but visible ny rocking the scope back and forth.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6572
(Planetary Nebula in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:00:25?PM
Comment: So beautiful! Mark and I see it as emerald green, however he saw it blue with his right eye.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 11mm Nagler 6
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6633
(Open Cluster in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:03:34?PM
Comment: A beautiful open cluster of about 100 bright stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
IC 4756
(Open Cluster in Serpens)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:04:50?PM
Comment: A large open cluster of fairly bright stars, but with one bright yellow member?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6709
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:06:30?PM
Comment: A fairly small, kite-shaped group of about 20 brighter stars but many very faint members as well?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6738
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:08:10?PM
Comment: Lovely elongated grouping os stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6781
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:11:48?PM
Comment: Spooky object, perfect for observing one week before Halloween. Nicknamed The Cosmic Bubble, or The Snow Globe. Large, round planetary 12th magnitude planetary nebula with a dark area. NGC 6781 lies 5000 light years away.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
V450 Aquilae
(Variable Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:22:04?PM
Comment: A deep orange star near the planetary nebula NGC 6807.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6807
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:23:32?PM
Comment: A tiny, stellar planetary. I completely missed it until I blinked the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:25:48?PM
Comment: A faint, ghostly planetary nebula. I was able to see it without the filter, but only after seeing it with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:28:13?PM
Comment: A stellar 11.5 magnitude planetary nebula. Blinks well. Without the filter it's much fainter than a star next to it, but brighter with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Vyssotsky 2-2
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:31:13?PM
Comment: Like so many planetary nebulae in Aquila this is nearly stellar. I had to blink the filter to confirm?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Peimbert 9
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:36:20?PM
Comment: Using the 16mm Nagler and the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter I caught occasional glimpses of this 14.9 magnitude planetary nebula next to a 10.4 magnitude star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:09:04?PM
Comment: Bright, nearly stellar 11.5 magnitude PNe?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
ARO 155
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:11:09?PM
Comment: Fairly large, very faint planetary nebula. I was only able to see it occasionally using averted vision with the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:12:41?PM
Comment: Large, beautiful planetary nebula lying precisely between two stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
HD 176982
(Double Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:17:51?PM
Comment: 27.4"
Pretty little pair of yellow stars lying near NGC 6741, the Phantom Streak?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Phantom Streak - NGC 6741
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:20:18?PM
Comment: The Phantom Streak is regarded as a spooky object for the Halloween season. Actually, even at 200x its quite small, but is elongated in a "streak-like" manner?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 16mm Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 7492
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:31:57?PM
Comment: Extremely faint very low surface brightness globular cluster. I had to use lower power to even begin to see it?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Helix Nebula - NGC 7293
(Planetary Nebula in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:37:12?PM
Comment: Wow! This looked so much better than it did last night in the 15". The added light grasp of the 25" allowed me to actually see some structure of this exceedingly low surface brightness planetary?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Atom for Peace Galaxies - NGC 7252
(Spiral Galaxy in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:54:09?PM
Comment: I was able to only see the brighter core of this challenging galaxy with a most unusual nickname, Atom for Pease. NGC 7252 lies a whopping 220 million light years away!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Sculptor Galaxy - NGC 253
(Spiral Galaxy in Sculptor)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:04:37?PM
Comment: This normally gorgeous galaxy really suffers in light polluted skies. When viewed in a dark sky with large aperture it rivals M 31.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 247
(Spiral Galaxy in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:08:06?PM
Comment: A highly elongated galaxy. Very low surface brightness much like nearby NGC 253.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Skull Nebula - NGC 246
(Planetary Nebula in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:12:24?PM
Comment: Another spooky named object for the Halloween season. This planetary nebula is so beautiful in a dark sky. Even in light polluted skies it has an eerie look, with ghostly nebulosity surrounding several stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Neptune
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:15:40?PM
Comment: There's no mistaking the blue disc of tiny Neptune.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Saturn
(Planet in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:23:13?PM
Comment: Wow! Last object of the night, and ?as usual, one of the best. Robert H agreed!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Nice list Kent. ?Quite a variety, a tour of the universe. ?Should also be enlightening if anyone thinks large aperture is not useful in a light polluted area. ?And coincidentally the APOD for October 24 was on one of your observed objects, the Helix Nebula.
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Roy
On 10/25/2024 8:54 AM EDT Kent Blackwell <kent@...> wrote:
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Besides Comet A3 (I so prefer that name), I also observed a few interesting planetary nebulae and a few spooky objects.?
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List: 24/1/24 25¡± A Few Spooky Objects
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
(Comet in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 7:05:47?PM
Comment: Even at dusk the comet already looked brighter than it did in the 15", even when it was dark. The comet is flanked by a bright 6.8 magnitude star on kne side and a pretty double star on the other.?
At 200x using the 16mm Nagler the wide tail looks like the exhaust flume of one of the Atlas rockets I've seen in numerous photos. The core is orange and elongated. There's a large coma around the core. The anti-tail was challenging, but visible ny rocking the scope back and forth.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6572
(Planetary Nebula in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:00:25?PM
Comment: So beautiful! Mark and I see it as emerald green, however he saw it blue with his right eye.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 11mm Nagler 6
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6633
(Open Cluster in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:03:34?PM
Comment: A beautiful open cluster of about 100 bright stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
IC 4756
(Open Cluster in Serpens)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:04:50?PM
Comment: A large open cluster of fairly bright stars, but with one bright yellow member?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6709
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:06:30?PM
Comment: A fairly small, kite-shaped group of about 20 brighter stars but many very faint members as well?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6738
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:08:10?PM
Comment: Lovely elongated grouping os stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6781
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:11:48?PM
Comment: Spooky object, perfect for observing one week before Halloween. Nicknamed The Cosmic Bubble, or The Snow Globe. Large, round planetary 12th magnitude planetary nebula with a dark area. NGC 6781 lies 5000 light years away.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
V450 Aquilae
(Variable Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:22:04?PM
Comment: A deep orange star near the planetary nebula NGC 6807.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6807
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:23:32?PM
Comment: A tiny, stellar planetary. I completely missed it until I blinked the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:25:48?PM
Comment: A faint, ghostly planetary nebula. I was able to see it without the filter, but only after seeing it with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:28:13?PM
Comment: A stellar 11.5 magnitude planetary nebula. Blinks well. Without the filter it's much fainter than a star next to it, but brighter with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Vyssotsky 2-2
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:31:13?PM
Comment: Like so many planetary nebulae in Aquila this is nearly stellar. I had to blink the filter to confirm?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Peimbert 9
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:36:20?PM
Comment: Using the 16mm Nagler and the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter I caught occasional glimpses of this 14.9 magnitude planetary nebula next to a 10.4 magnitude star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:09:04?PM
Comment: Bright, nearly stellar 11.5 magnitude PNe?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
ARO 155
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:11:09?PM
Comment: Fairly large, very faint planetary nebula. I was only able to see it occasionally using averted vision with the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:12:41?PM
Comment: Large, beautiful planetary nebula lying precisely between two stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
HD 176982
(Double Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:17:51?PM
Comment: 27.4"
Pretty little pair of yellow stars lying near NGC 6741, the Phantom Streak?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Phantom Streak - NGC 6741
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:20:18?PM
Comment: The Phantom Streak is regarded as a spooky object for the Halloween season. Actually, even at 200x its quite small, but is elongated in a "streak-like" manner?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 16mm Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 7492
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:31:57?PM
Comment: Extremely faint very low surface brightness globular cluster. I had to use lower power to even begin to see it?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Helix Nebula - NGC 7293
(Planetary Nebula in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:37:12?PM
Comment: Wow! This looked so much better than it did last night in the 15". The added light grasp of the 25" allowed me to actually see some structure of this exceedingly low surface brightness planetary?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Atom for Peace Galaxies - NGC 7252
(Spiral Galaxy in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:54:09?PM
Comment: I was able to only see the brighter core of this challenging galaxy with a most unusual nickname, Atom for Pease. NGC 7252 lies a whopping 220 million light years away!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Sculptor Galaxy - NGC 253
(Spiral Galaxy in Sculptor)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:04:37?PM
Comment: This normally gorgeous galaxy really suffers in light polluted skies. When viewed in a dark sky with large aperture it rivals M 31.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 247
(Spiral Galaxy in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:08:06?PM
Comment: A highly elongated galaxy. Very low surface brightness much like nearby NGC 253.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Skull Nebula - NGC 246
(Planetary Nebula in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:12:24?PM
Comment: Another spooky named object for the Halloween season. This planetary nebula is so beautiful in a dark sky. Even in light polluted skies it has an eerie look, with ghostly nebulosity surrounding several stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Neptune
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:15:40?PM
Comment: There's no mistaking the blue disc of tiny Neptune.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Saturn
(Planet in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:23:13?PM
Comment: Wow! Last object of the night, and ?as usual, one of the best. Robert H agreed!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Besides Comet A3 (I so prefer that name), I also observed a few interesting planetary nebulae and a few spooky objects.?
?
List: 24/1/24 25¡± A Few Spooky Objects
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)
(Comet in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 7:05:47?PM
Comment: Even at dusk the comet already looked brighter than it did in the 15", even when it was dark. The comet is flanked by a bright 6.8 magnitude star on kne side and a pretty double star on the other.?
At 200x using the 16mm Nagler the wide tail looks like the exhaust flume of one of the Atlas rockets I've seen in numerous photos. The core is orange and elongated. There's a large coma around the core. The anti-tail was challenging, but visible ny rocking the scope back and forth.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6572
(Planetary Nebula in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:00:25?PM
Comment: So beautiful! Mark and I see it as emerald green, however he saw it blue with his right eye.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 11mm Nagler 6
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6633
(Open Cluster in Ophiuchus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:03:34?PM
Comment: A beautiful open cluster of about 100 bright stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
IC 4756
(Open Cluster in Serpens)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:04:50?PM
Comment: A large open cluster of fairly bright stars, but with one bright yellow member?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6709
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:06:30?PM
Comment: A fairly small, kite-shaped group of about 20 brighter stars but many very faint members as well?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6738
(Open Cluster in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:08:10?PM
Comment: Lovely elongated grouping os stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6781
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:11:48?PM
Comment: Spooky object, perfect for observing one week before Halloween. Nicknamed The Cosmic Bubble, or The Snow Globe. Large, round planetary 12th magnitude planetary nebula with a dark area. NGC 6781 lies 5000 light years away.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
V450 Aquilae
(Variable Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:22:04?PM
Comment: A deep orange star near the planetary nebula NGC 6807.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6807
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:23:32?PM
Comment: A tiny, stellar planetary. I completely missed it until I blinked the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:25:48?PM
Comment: A faint, ghostly planetary nebula. I was able to see it without the filter, but only after seeing it with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:28:13?PM
Comment: A stellar 11.5 magnitude planetary nebula. Blinks well. Without the filter it's much fainter than a star next to it, but brighter with the filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Vyssotsky 2-2
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:31:13?PM
Comment: Like so many planetary nebulae in Aquila this is nearly stellar. I had to blink the filter to confirm?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 60¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Peimbert 9
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 8:36:20?PM
Comment: Using the 16mm Nagler and the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter I caught occasional glimpses of this 14.9 magnitude planetary nebula next to a 10.4 magnitude star.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6803
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:09:04?PM
Comment: Bright, nearly stellar 11.5 magnitude PNe?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
ARO 155
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:11:09?PM
Comment: Fairly large, very faint planetary nebula. I was only able to see it occasionally using averted vision with the Lumicon OIII Gen 3 filter in place?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 6804
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:12:41?PM
Comment: Large, beautiful planetary nebula lying precisely between two stars?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
HD 176982
(Double Star in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:17:51?PM
Comment: 27.4"
Pretty little pair of yellow stars lying near NGC 6741, the Phantom Streak?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Phantom Streak - NGC 6741
(Planetary Nebula in Aquila)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:20:18?PM
Comment: The Phantom Streak is regarded as a spooky object for the Halloween season. Actually, even at 200x its quite small, but is elongated in a "streak-like" manner?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 16mm Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 7492
(Globular Cluster in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:31:57?PM
Comment: Extremely faint very low surface brightness globular cluster. I had to use lower power to even begin to see it?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Helix Nebula - NGC 7293
(Planetary Nebula in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:37:12?PM
Comment: Wow! This looked so much better than it did last night in the 15". The added light grasp of the 25" allowed me to actually see some structure of this exceedingly low surface brightness planetary?
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Atom for Peace Galaxies - NGC 7252
(Spiral Galaxy in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 9:54:09?PM
Comment: I was able to only see the brighter core of this challenging galaxy with a most unusual nickname, Atom for Pease. NGC 7252 lies a whopping 220 million light years away!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Sculptor Galaxy - NGC 253
(Spiral Galaxy in Sculptor)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:04:37?PM
Comment: This normally gorgeous galaxy really suffers in light polluted skies. When viewed in a dark sky with large aperture it rivals M 31.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
NGC 247
(Spiral Galaxy in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:08:06?PM
Comment: A highly elongated galaxy. Very low surface brightness much like nearby NGC 253.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Skull Nebula - NGC 246
(Planetary Nebula in Cetus)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:12:24?PM
Comment: Another spooky named object for the Halloween season. This planetary nebula is so beautiful in a dark sky. Even in light polluted skies it has an eerie look, with ghostly nebulosity surrounding several stars.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Neptune
(Planet in Pisces)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:15:40?PM
Comment: There's no mistaking the blue disc of tiny Neptune.
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
Saturn
(Planet in Aquarius)
Observed: Oct 24, 2024 at 10:23:13?PM
Comment: Wow! Last object of the night, and ?as usual, one of the best. Robert H agreed!
Location: Virginia Beach, VA SQM-L 18.38 55¡ã H 54%
Equipment: 25" F/5 3175mm, 22mm T4 Nagler
Seeing: 9
Transparency: 9
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Kent Blackwell
Shawn Loescher
