First light with st120 achromat

[Astro_noob]

Observing report

Scope

Skywatcher 120mm short travel achromat with 600mm focal length

Conditions for observing

The observations were performed indoors through glass on a reasonably cold evening (1-2 degrees C) with very little cloud cover. The moon was high in the south and around half full?

Notable views

Description

Orion nebula

With the 15mm BST explorer eyepiece the nebula was evident as a whispy ghost like semicirlce. There were 3-4 stars in a line trailing north to south and at least 3 in a small tight semicircle within the main body of the nebula. This may be the trapezium? Using different eyepieces (10mm and 25mm) brought out varying amounts of detail but the 15mm BST showed the subject best. It was noted during the viewing session that a UHC filter made the nebulosity stand out more at the expense of the stars, using the UHC filter made the trapezium dissapear.

M13

Obvious globular cluster due to its size however no detail present. The cluster took on the form of a roughly circular smudge flanked north and south by a star. Magnification produced no further detail and the UHC filter reduced the view to almost invisible.

Unknown globualr cluster

A little to the west of M13 above Lyra there was anoth smaller less obvious cluster. This was seen most easily by the 15mm BST and the UHC filter made the cluster less visible.

Jupiter

A considerable amount of flare on Jupiter and no surface detail but very obviously a planet due to size and shape. Magnification had no effect on surface detail other than increasing the apparent size of the planet. 3 (4?) moons were visible to the south-east of the planet.

Double (double) in Lyra

The double star in Lyra was very obvious next to the bright star (Vega). I could not discern additional stars. I tried to find the ring nebula with the telescope and with a pair of 10x50 binoculars however the nebula was not evident.

[Qualia]

Nice report, Astro and thank you for putting this up. I wonder if the unknown glob was M 92? It's around where you were and is a rich partner to the more direct experience of M 13. Maybe another night it'll be nice to get the scope outside and give a real test drive

[Astro_noob]

Thanks Qualia I have a 5mm bst on order so will revisit each if these in a few days and update. I will try to identify the unknown May well be m92 as you suggest.