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Re: I will be missing the ECSP

 

Bob, I am sorry to learn about your wife's unfortunate fall.? I'll be praying for her recovery.??

I am still recovering from my prostate surgery, and will not be attending this ECSP either.? I hope to make it for the Saturday cookout, however.

I hope everyone has clear skies.

George


George Reynolds

"Solar System Ambassador" for South Hampton Roads, Virginia
Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)?


?


On Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 05:47:33 PM EDT, bob414 via groups.io <bob414@...> wrote:


?

?

?

I signed up for the party, but my wife, Lynne, fell.? She dislocated and broke her left ankle.? She is currently in an external fixation device and in Riverside rehab hospital in Yorktown.? She is scheduled another surgery to repair ankle April 1st.

?

Hope everyone has a great time, and Clear Dark Skies.? I will miss seeing everyone!

?

Bob Beuerlein

Re: Mark Ost at ECSP

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

I thought he¡¯d bring the big refractor.

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Kent Blackwell via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, March 27, 2025 12:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BackBayAstro] Mark Ost at ECSP

?

Mark Ost just pulled up to Chippokes State Park for ECSP 2025.
Re: Mark Ost at ECSP

 

Not gonna lie, that's actually pretty dang cool.
Mark Ost at ECSP

 

Mark Ost just pulled up to Chippokes State Park for ECSP 2025.

IMG_5351.jpeg

Re: Two good deep sky objects

 

They were quite surprisingly good for urban skies.

On Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 12:00:34 PM EDT, Ian Stewart <ian@...> wrote:


Both looked great here at SRSP last night. I hope you have a great ECSP sorry I¡¯m missing it.


On Mar 27, 2025, at 11:36?AM, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:

?
We'll have numerous deep sky objects to observe this weekend at ECSP, but there are two particularly well suited to small as well as larger apertures.
?
NGC 3115, aka The Spindle Galaxy in Sextans. The thin edge-on galaxy is quite a treat in modest to large telescopes.
?
NGC 3424, aka The Ghost of Jupiter in Hydra. An awesome planetary nebula with very high surface brightness. I observed it last night in Virginia Beach at 500. Look for the brighter central portion shaped much like the "CBS-Eye".
?
Kent Blackwell
Re: Two good deep sky objects

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

Both looked great here at SRSP last night. I hope you have a great ECSP sorry I¡¯m missing it.


On Mar 27, 2025, at 11:36?AM, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:

?
We'll have numerous deep sky objects to observe this weekend at ECSP, but there are two particularly well suited to small as well as larger apertures.
?
NGC 3115, aka The Spindle Galaxy in Sextans. The thin edge-on galaxy is quite a treat in modest to large telescopes.
?
NGC 3424, aka The Ghost of Jupiter in Hydra. An awesome planetary nebula with very high surface brightness. I observed it last night in Virginia Beach at 500. Look for the brighter central portion shaped much like the "CBS-Eye".
?
Kent Blackwell
Two good deep sky objects

 

We'll have numerous deep sky objects to observe this weekend at ECSP, but there are two particularly well suited to small as well as larger apertures.
?
NGC 3115, aka The Spindle Galaxy in Sextans. The thin edge-on galaxy is quite a treat in modest to large telescopes.
?
NGC 3424, aka The Ghost of Jupiter in Hydra. An awesome planetary nebula with very high surface brightness. I observed it last night in Virginia Beach at 500. Look for the brighter central portion shaped much like the "CBS-Eye".
?
Kent Blackwell
Re: Skinny Venus!

 

I want the thank Kent Blackwell for the sacrifice of one eye in order to make this happen. I enjoyed the view.

On Wednesday, March 26, 2025 at 06:45:17 AM EDT, Kent Blackwell via groups.io <kent@...> wrote:


We had a nice view of a very slender 1.3% Illuminated crescent of Venus yesterday afternoon at a small gathering in my backyard. I have never seen it so slender and so close to the sun.
Skinny Venus!

 

We had a nice view of a very slender 1.3% Illuminated crescent of Venus yesterday afternoon at a small gathering in my backyard. I have never seen it so slender and so close to the sun.
Re: I will be missing the ECSP

 

Best wishes for Lynne¡¯s quick recovery, Bob, and good luck with the surgery. ?I¡¯m sure it¡¯s quite painful for her, quite busy for you.?

Roy

On 03/25/2025 5:45 PM EDT bob414 via groups.io <bob414@...> wrote:
?
?

?

?

?

I signed up for the party, but my wife, Lynne, fell.? She dislocated and broke her left ankle.? She is currently in an external fixation device and in Riverside rehab hospital in Yorktown.? She is scheduled another surgery to repair ankle April 1st.

?

Hope everyone has a great time, and Clear Dark Skies.? I will miss seeing everyone!

?

Bob Beuerlein

Re: I will be missing the ECSP

 

I'm sorry to hear that Bob. I hope she recovers quickly. Hopefully we will see you in the fall instead.
I will be missing the ECSP

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

?

?

?

I signed up for the party, but my wife, Lynne, fell.? She dislocated and broke her left ankle.? She is currently in an external fixation device and in Riverside rehab hospital in Yorktown.? She is scheduled another surgery to repair ankle April 1st.

?

Hope everyone has a great time, and Clear Dark Skies.? I will miss seeing everyone!

?

Bob Beuerlein

Re: Venus inferior conjunction yesterday

 

Very impressive, indeed.
Venus inferior conjunction yesterday

 

Photo by Georg Klingersberger posted on Spaceweather. A little too close for visual. He used projection to get it. Nice work.

venus_strip2.jpg

Re: BBAA Skywatch

 

¿ªÔÆÌåÓý

The faces have changed, there are few funny looking (telescopes? cameras?) set up, the sky is probably worse, but the park and the ¡°feel¡± of Skywatch look exactly the same!? Thanks for sharing, Kent. Sorry I couldn¡¯t be there.?

?

Ted

BBAA Southwest

?

?

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Kent Blackwell via groups.io
Sent: Sunday, March 23, 2025 5:08 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [BackBayAstro] BBAA Skywatch

?

We had a good turnout Saturday night at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake VA. Here are some of the objects I enjoyed viewing with my trusty 2002 Orion Dobsonian telescope.

?

List: 25/03/22 BBAA NW River Park

Messier 41
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 7:56:43?PM
Comment: Even at dusk M 41 looked beautiful. I estimated at least 50 bright stars?
Location: NWvRiver Park?
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Jupiter
(Planet in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:01:25?PM
Comment: Jupiter looked a bit fuzzy at 120x. No shadow transits and no GRS tonight?
Location: NW River Park SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Uranus
(Planet in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:02:35?PM
Comment: Despite mediocre seeing conditions, Uranus remained interesting for its distinctive color, if nothing else?
Location: NW River Park SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Pleiades - M 45
(Open Cluster in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:03:59?PM
Comment: It's always a joy to see all the pretty multiple stars in the Pleiades
Location: NW River Park ?SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Kaffaljidhma - Gamma Cet
(Double Star in Cetus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:10:38?PM
Comment: 2.0"
This is worth observing if only for the difficult name to pronounce. Not only a close pair, but it also has a three magnitudes contrast?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Cetus A - M 77
(Spiral Galaxy in Cetus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:13:24?PM
Comment: Unfortunately M 77 was low in the western sky so dimmed by the atmosphere. Shawn Loescher confirmed the observation?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Orion Nebula - M 42
(Bright Nebula in Orion)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:19:32?PM
Comment: Wow! It's so good to see M 42 in a dark sky. Shawn Loescher and I both saw the 5th Trapezium star, but not the 6th. We could not see it in Jonathan Scheetz' 8" Celestron SCT either.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Flame Nebula - NGC 2024
(Bright Nebula in Orion)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:31:37?PM
Comment: Quite illusive, but Shawn Loescher and I were able to see faint nebulosity when rocking the scope back and forth.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Beta Monocerotis
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:33:24?PM
Comment: 7.2"
Beautiful, equal pair of 5th magnitude blue-white stars?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2244
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:35:07?PM
Comment: Incredibly rich 5th magnitude open cluster involved with The Rosette Nebula.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4?
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Rosette Nebula - NGC 2239
(Bright Nebula in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:37:50?PM
Comment: Not easily seen with just a 10" in suburban skies, but definitely visible, especially on the western side.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:54:58?PM
Comment: Rich open cluster. I showed it to visitors Mike and his young son Billie.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:59:29?PM
Comment: Fainter than nearby M 46, but more interesting because of the planetary nebula NGC 2438. Shawn Loescher and I barely saw it without a filter. The best view was with the Orion UltraBlock filter.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2438
(Planetary Nebula in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:00:36?PM
Comment: Although not as impressive as in the 25" it still jumps out at you when using the Orion UltraBlock filter?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2439
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:17:26?PM
Comment: Small, misty looking open cluster with one bright member. More stars became visible in the tiny cluster with averted vision?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 93
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:18:39?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, bright open cluster lying in a rich starfield. Shawn Loescher enjoyed seeing it as well?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2362
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:20:04?PM
Comment: One of my favorite open clusters. Gorgeous, tiny cluster only 8' in size, with the bright Tau CMa star in the center. Tau CMa is massive. The cluster and star are 5000 light years away. If the sun were placed here it would be 16th magnitude.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2360
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:22:04?PM
Comment: A very pretty, misty looking open cluster next to a 5.4 magnitude blue star?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 2353
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:26:58?PM
Comment: Large and rich 7th magnitude open cluster?
Location: Virginia Beach 20.34 58¡ã H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:35:30?PM
Comment: Slightly brighter than M 65
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 3628
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:38:12?PM
Comment: Lower surface brightness than M 65 and M 66, but all three fit in the same field of view of the Pentax 20mm at 60x.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

88 Leonis
(Double Star in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:40:37?PM
Comment: 15"
A pretty, 5th and 9th magnitude pair of stars. The primary is orange and the secondary is blue. Confirmed by Shawn Loescher.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

(8) Flora
(Asteroid in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:45:25?PM
Comment: This was hard to identify in the starfield, but the orange color was a giveaway of this 9th magnitude asteriod?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 96
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:59:49?PM
Comment: Small, bright 9.2 magnitude oval galaxy 32 million light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 95
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:01:52?PM
Comment: Faint, elongated galaxy 32 million light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 105
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:07:54?PM
Comment: Large and bright galaxy next to NGC 3373.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 3371
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:08:17?PM
Comment: Bright galaxy next to M 105.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

NGC 3373
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:13:15?PM
Comment: A large and faint elongated galaxy next to M 105 and NGC 2372, confirmed by Shawn Loescher and Jeff Thornton. Lies next to M 105 and NGC 3371.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 3
(Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:21:50?PM
Comment: Gorgeous, well resolved. Shawn Loescher, Sandy Paxton and Jeff Thornton enjoyed seeing it as well.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 53
(Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:25:38?PM
Comment: A small, but bright globular cluster?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Whirlpool Galaxy - M 51
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:34:04?PM
Comment: Low surface brightness but still impressive?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Owl Nebula - M 97
(Planetary Nebula in Ursa Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:45:02?PM
Comment: I showed this to Sandy Paxton, Shawn Loescher and Jeff Thornton. Sandy suspected seeing one of the Owl's "eyes" without a filter.?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Seagull Nebula - IC 2177
(Bright Nebula in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:00:43?PM
Comment: I was definitely able to see nebulosity as I rocked the scope back and forth in this huge area.. Best with the Pentax 20mm and the Orion UltraBlock filter.
Location: NW River Park ?20.34 58¡ã H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:10:21?AM
Comment: In the same field of view as M 65 and NGC 3628.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Re: ¡°LIVE - Giant Solar Storms¡± on YouTube

 

That¡¯s it ¨C thanks Jeff.
?

On 03/23/2025 9:26 AM EDT Jeffrey Thornton via groups.io <jeff7500@...> wrote:
?
?
On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 08:07 PM, Roy Diffrient wrote:
Chuck¡¯s Astrophotography
?
Hope this link works..
?
Jeff T.

Re: ¡°LIVE - Giant Solar Storms¡± on YouTube

 

Looks like the sun is doing it once again! I,v got to break out the solar scope and see this for myself..
?
Jeff T.
Re: ¡°LIVE - Giant Solar Storms¡± on YouTube

 

On Sat, Mar 22, 2025 at 08:07 PM, Roy Diffrient wrote:
Chuck¡¯s Astrophotography
?
Hope this link works..
?
Jeff T.
Re: ¡°LIVE - Giant Solar Storms¡± on YouTube

 

Seems it was a quickly evolving prom from what I read. Nice while it lasted. Thanks Roy for alerting us.

On Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 11:07:32 PM EDT, Roy Diffrient <mail@...> wrote:


I stumbled on a YouTube recording of the huge solar prominence we saw yesterday ¨C this is apparently from an amateur astronomer but he has way better solar facilities than any of us. ?It¡¯s listed as by Chuck¡¯s Astrophotography in Detroit, and the video length is about 35 minutes. ?No link available so if you¡¯d like to see, search YouTube for the title in the subject above. ?And btw the prominence is now gone.

BBAA Skywatch

 

We had a good turnout Saturday night at Northwest River Park in Chesapeake VA. Here are some of the objects I enjoyed viewing with my trusty 2002 Orion Dobsonian telescope.
?
List: 25/03/22 BBAA NW River Park
Messier 41
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 7:56:43?PM
Comment: Even at dusk M 41 looked beautiful. I estimated at least 50 bright stars?
Location: NWvRiver Park?
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Jupiter
(Planet in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:01:25?PM
Comment: Jupiter looked a bit fuzzy at 120x. No shadow transits and no GRS tonight?
Location: NW River Park SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Uranus
(Planet in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:02:35?PM
Comment: Despite mediocre seeing conditions, Uranus remained interesting for its distinctive color, if nothing else?
Location: NW River Park SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Pleiades - M 45
(Open Cluster in Taurus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:03:59?PM
Comment: It's always a joy to see all the pretty multiple stars in the Pleiades
Location: NW River Park ?SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Kaffaljidhma - Gamma Cet
(Double Star in Cetus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:10:38?PM
Comment: 2.0"
This is worth observing if only for the difficult name to pronounce. Not only a close pair, but it also has a three magnitudes contrast?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Cetus A - M 77
(Spiral Galaxy in Cetus)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:13:24?PM
Comment: Unfortunately M 77 was low in the western sky so dimmed by the atmosphere. Shawn Loescher confirmed the observation?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Orion Nebula - M 42
(Bright Nebula in Orion)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:19:32?PM
Comment: Wow! It's so good to see M 42 in a dark sky. Shawn Loescher and I both saw the 5th Trapezium star, but not the 6th. We could not see it in Jonathan Scheetz' 8" Celestron SCT either.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Flame Nebula - NGC 2024
(Bright Nebula in Orion)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:31:37?PM
Comment: Quite illusive, but Shawn Loescher and I were able to see faint nebulosity when rocking the scope back and forth.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Beta Monocerotis
(Variable Double Star in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:33:24?PM
Comment: 7.2"
Beautiful, equal pair of 5th magnitude blue-white stars?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2244
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:35:07?PM
Comment: Incredibly rich 5th magnitude open cluster involved with The Rosette Nebula.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4?
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Rosette Nebula - NGC 2239
(Bright Nebula in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:37:50?PM
Comment: Not easily seen with just a 10" in suburban skies, but definitely visible, especially on the western side.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 47
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:54:58?PM
Comment: Rich open cluster. I showed it to visitors Mike and his young son Billie.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 46
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 8:59:29?PM
Comment: Fainter than nearby M 46, but more interesting because of the planetary nebula NGC 2438. Shawn Loescher and I barely saw it without a filter. The best view was with the Orion UltraBlock filter.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2438
(Planetary Nebula in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:00:36?PM
Comment: Although not as impressive as in the 25" it still jumps out at you when using the Orion UltraBlock filter?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2439
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:17:26?PM
Comment: Small, misty looking open cluster with one bright member. More stars became visible in the tiny cluster with averted vision?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 93
(Open Cluster in Puppis)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:18:39?PM
Comment: Wonderfully rich, bright open cluster lying in a rich starfield. Shawn Loescher enjoyed seeing it as well?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2362
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:20:04?PM
Comment: One of my favorite open clusters. Gorgeous, tiny cluster only 8' in size, with the bright Tau CMa star in the center. Tau CMa is massive. The cluster and star are 5000 light years away. If the sun were placed here it would be 16th magnitude.
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2360
(Open Cluster in Canis Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:22:04?PM
Comment: A very pretty, misty looking open cluster next to a 5.4 magnitude blue star?
Location: NW River Park Chesapeake VA SQM-L 20.4 ?H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 2353
(Open Cluster in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:26:58?PM
Comment: Large and rich 7th magnitude open cluster?
Location: Virginia Beach 20.34 58¡ã H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:35:30?PM
Comment: Slightly brighter than M 65
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 3628
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:38:12?PM
Comment: Lower surface brightness than M 65 and M 66, but all three fit in the same field of view of the Pentax 20mm at 60x.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
88 Leonis
(Double Star in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:40:37?PM
Comment: 15"
A pretty, 5th and 9th magnitude pair of stars. The primary is orange and the secondary is blue. Confirmed by Shawn Loescher.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
(8) Flora
(Asteroid in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:45:25?PM
Comment: This was hard to identify in the starfield, but the orange color was a giveaway of this 9th magnitude asteriod?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 96
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:59:49?PM
Comment: Small, bright 9.2 magnitude oval galaxy 32 million light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 95
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:01:52?PM
Comment: Faint, elongated galaxy 32 million light years away?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 105
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:07:54?PM
Comment: Large and bright galaxy next to NGC 3373.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 3371
(Elliptical Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:08:17?PM
Comment: Bright galaxy next to M 105.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
NGC 3373
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:13:15?PM
Comment: A large and faint elongated galaxy next to M 105 and NGC 2372, confirmed by Shawn Loescher and Jeff Thornton. Lies next to M 105 and NGC 3371.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 3
(Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:21:50?PM
Comment: Gorgeous, well resolved. Shawn Loescher, Sandy Paxton and Jeff Thornton enjoyed seeing it as well.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 53
(Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:25:38?PM
Comment: A small, but bright globular cluster?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Whirlpool Galaxy - M 51
(Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:34:04?PM
Comment: Low surface brightness but still impressive?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Owl Nebula - M 97
(Planetary Nebula in Ursa Major)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 10:45:02?PM
Comment: I showed this to Sandy Paxton, Shawn Loescher and Jeff Thornton. Sandy suspected seeing one of the Owl's "eyes" without a filter.?
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Seagull Nebula - IC 2177
(Bright Nebula in Monoceros)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:00:43?PM
Comment: I was definitely able to see nebulosity as I rocked the scope back and forth in this huge area.. Best with the Pentax 20mm and the Orion UltraBlock filter.
Location: NW River Park ?20.34 58¡ã H 44%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9
Messier 66
(Spiral Galaxy in Leo)
Observed: Mar 22, 2025 at 9:10:21?AM
Comment: In the same field of view as M 65 and NGC 3628.
Location: Virginia Beach SQM-L 16.8 64¡ã H 38%
Equipment: 10" Orion IntelliScope ?f/4.6, 10mm Pentax
Seeing: 7
Transparency: 9

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