Treasure under the low Moon.

[cotterless45]

Unique night, what appeared very poor with a huge low Moon and twilight turned out to a delight with super seeing. Seeing Altair so high, I was soon lost in the horizon, sorting out Capricornus and Sagittarius and waiting for Neptune.

All the main stars of Lyra are doubles except gamma. Sheliak provides a stunning view of multiple stars, just a buzzing swarm.

The view of Cassiopeia was very pleasing, with Moon light blasting out the clusters, doubles showed up well at higher magnifications.

SHJ 355 showed a delicate triangle with the companion gently split at x160. Even better was Σ 59 . A packed field showing 25 Cassiopeiae and the bright pair of HV 82. This splits open to reveal an uneven pair. Really surprised to get this opposite the Moon.

It's useful to eyeball star hop with only bright stars out. Go straight down the middle of the Keystone and there's the Yeds in Ophuichus. Swing along them to the right to find M5 in Serpens, scarcely discernible.

Up above Pegasus NGC 7662 ( "Blue Snowball") at the apex of a triangle in Andromeda. This provided a riotous blue sight at above x150. Pegasus looks like a tilted dice, don't expect a map like straight square just now.

Up to NGC 6543 ("Cat's Eye" ) caught in the arch of Draco. Look for (Draco) Eltanin and Rastaban curling around the pole. Then over to Cygnus and "The Blinking Planetary". These planetaries are viable in low Moonlight.

It was lovely to see Pegasus climbing higher with Aries. The whole arc of Perseus was just lovely in the north , the arch of Andromeda pointing at a dim Algol.

Capella was shining brightly in the north, such a still and chilly few hours to catch the outgoing summer treasures and the preview of good targets to come, Nick.

[Piero]

Wow! What a lovely reading, Nick!

I am not familiar with many objects you observed, apart from the doubles in Lyra and some other target, but your reports these l reports always trigger a new curiosity to go out and observe!

Hopefully the weather improves this evening..

[jabeoo1]

That C6r sounds like a great performer in the right hands.  Thanks for the report. 

James 

[John]

Nice report as ever Nick

I was out last night but, as well as the bright Moon there were frequent and annoyingly positioned chunks of cloud around here seemingly everywhere I wanted to point my scope

I had to retire satisfied with some nice views of Saturn and having had my first view of Barnards Star in the cloud gaps

My original plans had included some of the targets that you highlight above - I'm glad Derbyshire was better than Somerset for you

[laudropb]

As usual a very readable and informative report. Still clouded out in dear old Scotland and I am starting to suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Thanks for posting.

[faulksy]

what a brilliant report nick, put my scope out around 9.30 as it was lovely, came out a hour later and it was clouded out, got a quick glimpse of the moon and that was it. your only down the road and you had a great night. glad you did though. cheers nick

[alan potts]

Great report Nick, I had a clear sky but it was too hot to mess with scopes. I checked the obsey at sunset and it was 45 degree C inside and 34 out, bear in mind it rarely gets to 34 in in any part of the UK.

I have to say though it crossed my mind to get up at 2 oclock because sleep was not that easy, I had a cold shower instead which seemed to work.

Alan

[Davey-T]

Excellent report Nick, not sure I'm in the same country, all I got was clouds.

Dave

[Saganite]

Lovely report Nick, it reads like Poetry !

[damnut]

great report Nick, reads so well. Just got the scopes out moon rising.

[Paul73]

Nice report Nick. I was out on Wednesday night but only had my little scope as we are on a campsite in Normandy. Good dark sky until the moon apeared. But, like you say, Saturn was nice and there are always doubles. Izar was splitting well at 100x. Cold pushed me inside after a short while.

Paul

[Special K]

Lovely report! Sheliak sounds interesting......must give that a proper look when going for M57 again. Great time of year for the Ring being practically at zenith. I could see it Thursday even with the little ED80 at 20x and no filter.

I'm amazed you could see the Snowball with that moon! Good going