№ 6 / Oct. 27, 2016 / Home / 1945 – 2150 JST / Clear skies / 15x70, 10x50

This night was an improvement over that of October 26^th: the skies were clear and the winder were calm. The ghost of the Milky Way was visible, and I could make out the fuzziness surrounding the Double Cluster in my peripheral vision. An initial impression was that M35, 36, 37, and 38 offer better views through the 10x than the 15x.

I saw three shooting stars: from North to South in front of M2, from South to North in front of M33, and from South to North in front of NGC 1528.

Kemble1 1 (AS/Cam)  -

Mel 20 (OC/Per)     -

M2 (GC/Aqr)         First sighting. A compact gray sphere, similar to M13. Seen through the the narrower FOV of the 15x binoculars, M2 occupies a relatively empty

                    patch in the sky, floating in splendid isolation. It's above a collection of five stars that reminded me of a shopping cart: HIP 106375 (handle),

                   HIPs: 106325 (upper inboard edge of cart), 106236 (rear-wheel), and 106161 (front wheel).  Seen through the 10x, M2 made me think that the binoculars had

                   gone out of focus. It is definitely better in the 15x

M11 (GC/Scu)       -

M13 (GC/Her)       Better in the 15x.

M31 (SG/And)       Bright and elongated. Better in the 15x.

M33 (SG/Tri)       A light gray area, bounded by stars HIP 7123, 7269A, and 7403. I didn't see a core such as M31 has, but I have no more doubts about its presence.

M34 (OC/Per)       Very nice

M35 (OC/Gem)       First sighting, and pleasant to behold. It appeared to be about the same size as M38, and one can resolve 5-6 stars with averted vision. Located in

                   a line with 5 Gem (to the left) and HIP 28969 and 1 Gem to the right. It looked like mist to me, and I thought the view through the 10x was better than

                   the 15x.

M36 (OC/Aur)       Using averted vision, I could resolve three or four stars.

M37 (OC/Aur)       I couldn't detect any light; to me it was a misty gray patch on the sky. It's not unattractive, but nor is it anything to write home about.

M38 (OC/Aur)       Appears to be the largest of the Messiers in Auriga; I saw neither points of light, nor a bright spot, but in clear, dark skies such as I had last

                   night, the cluster is an obvious patch of mist to the left of the face.

M71 (GC/Sge)       This was the clearest view I've had thus far. Sagitta was lower, allowing a longer and more comfortable look. To me, M71 is a smudge, or gray patch

                   just above and to the left of 9 Sge, HIPs 97818 & 97840; it didn't appear globular, but contrasted sufficiently to be noticeable.

M42 (DN/Ori)       Seen before calling it a night. It was still low in the East, but the nebulosity was plainly visible; in the 15x70, I saw 3 points of light, but

                   in the 10x only 2.

M45 (OC/Tau)       Without binoculars and using AV, I can only resolve 2 stars.

M92 (GC/Her)       Better in the 15x.

NGC 1502           A bright patch was visible in the haze.

NGC 1528           A hazy patch with a light at the center

NGC 663 (OC/Cas)   -

NGC 869 (OC/Per)   -

NGC 884 (OC/Per)   -

Stock 2 (AS/Per)   -

CONSTELLATIONS: And / Aql / Ari / Aur / Cas / Cep / Cyg / Del / Gem (Castor & Pollux) / Ori / Peg / Per / Sge / Tau / Tri

PLANETS: Mars