Wild Ducks

[Astralstroll]

Finally got to look at M11 last night. That was a treat I have been deprived of for far too long. In the end I had to put toe dob base on a low table in order to get enough elevation for viewing. Well worth all the effort.

[cotterless45]

Fabulous object, like a loose globular. You were lucky getting into Scutum this time of year.

Try M5 in Serpens Caput and M14, M10 ,M12 and M9 in Ophiuchus.

Nick.

[JamesF]

One of my favourites, definitely. I still remember the first time I saw it.

James

[Astralstroll]

Nick,

many thanks for the tips. I managed M14 too recently. However, I'm still having trouble with M9. More an issue of obstacles in the way than anything else I think. I had a look at M5 the other night to compare with M13. Never a dull moment when the skies are clear.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

M11 is great. I first almost mistook it for a globular when using 15x70 bins. Its flattened shape suggested it wasn't a globular, but otherwise its appearance is different from most other open clusters

[Astralstroll]

Couldn't resist another look at M11 this evening. A firm favourite at the moment!

[cotterless45]

Beautiful, got all set up, then cloud rolled in. Then got up at 3 this morning and the Milky Way was running through Cygnus, really nice out there, so went back to bed,

next time just wait for

clear skies,

Nick.

[andrew63]

Glad you got to view the cluster - it's one of the gems of the night sky...

andrew

[Astralstroll]

I thought I could almost see the Milky Way last night just before I packed up. I only get to see it on rare occasions where I live. The curse of light pollution! Still, it was a reasonably productive evening and the forecast is good for tonight as well!

[Andy_E]

My S/E horizon is fairly obstructed... going to have to wait a while to catch up with this little beauty!

[Astralstroll]

It will be worth the wait!

[laser_jock99]

M11 is a real treat indeed- if you can get to a dark sky site then you'll find it sits against a lovely backdrop of the Milky Way. Very nice at low power.

[Astralstroll]

I feel a dark sky trip in the offing!

[swamp thing]

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I feel a dark sky trip in the offing!

Good call, but the moon is getting intrusive now. Keep your eyes on the moon phase when planning dark sky forays. You don't wanna swap LP for moon glow.

[laser_jock99]

Good call, but the moon is getting intrusive now. Keep your eyes on the moon phase when planning dark sky forays. You don't wanna swap LP for moon glow.

Looking at the EXIF data for my photo I also note it was taken in September. So also take into account the long summer twilight when planning trips too.

[rory]

one of favourites too, like you say its like a loose glob or a tight open cluster .

ive not visited it this year , i managed a sketch of it last may ( i say sketch in the loosest possible terms )

[WaveSoarer]

It's one of my favourites, although I'll need to be patient for it to clear the trees in my back garden - which should happen later in the year. It has a real wow factor and it looks really rich in the EP.

[KevUU]

I was impressed in the ST80, and bearing in mind that M13 was "meh" with that I'm itching to get a look in the 8” now. Go away, rain!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Just had a peek at it with my 15x70s yesterday. Lovely object. When I first spotted it with bins I mistook its appearance for a globular, and was wondering why on earth I could not find it on my sky atlas

[AlexB67]

Thank you for this thread, every time I go out I want to add something new the list to look at all I need do is read this part of the forum M11 looks a nice one indeed to go for, just got to wait a bit for the sky to come around for good viewing from my garden to see that, been spending some time around that side of the sky recently with the M10, M12 bagged already, I knew something was missing in the middle

[goodricke1]

Turned the 8SE on it last night, at 150 mag and perfect skies - wow, just wow, totally jaw-dropping...

[AlexB67]

M11 is a keeper for sure