Best of Draco.

[cotterless45]

After the cloud had gone it was return to the scope set up earlier, good to see most of the clear sky. There was a bright glow over most of the view, every light picked up and threw about glow in the moist air.
Just for a change , I went to look west over the rooftops. My garden faces east with good north and trees to the south. 

Draco is packed with binaries , but few viable deep sky targets. 
NGC 6543 (" The Cat's Eye Nebula" ) provided a lovely glowing contrast view up to x200. At x50 it's non stellar and blinks well. 

A few signs of M102 , NGC 4236 (+9.7) and NGC 4125 (+9.8). Binaries abound here and some are stunning,

Σ 1878 shows a shadowy secondary +9.2 to the +6.3 primary, at 4.2".
Σ 1654 gaves à pleasing +9.4 secondary at 3.7".
Eta Draconis is very difficult with a faint +8.2 companion at 4.8" to the bright primary glow of +2.8 . It took some time to pick it out of the primary flare.
Arrakis (μ) shows a lovely twin set of headlights of these +5.7 twins. "Walk without rhythm , don't disturb the worms !"
Epsilon Draconis gave an amazing yellow and blue.
39 Draconis is a seven star system, most obvious was the +8.1 secondary.
Σ 2199 I found quite easy with a clear 2" showing the slightly different +8 and +8.6 magnitudes.

A very difficult session , a few hours then long clouds spread in, ending those 
Clear skies !
Nick.

[FenlandPaul]

Nice report, Nick.  You seem to be getting some decent patches of clear sky at the moment.   I often overlook Draco despite its wealth of binaries; must make amends.

Paul

[Knighty2112]

I always have a peak a the cats eye when I'm observing. Need to concentrate more on some double stars too, so will plan out future sessions to include those too. Nice report Nick!  

[Tim]

There is a close set of three galaxies in Draco, well worth a peek at low mag, NGC 5985 being the prettiest

[wookie1965]

Just looked up SAO numbers so I can check the doubles out thanks Nick hoping for clear skies.

[alan potts]

Nice report as usual Nick, Draco is over looked by me for different reasons, I am not really sure of where it runs other its general location, few stars are really in your face but I have done most of the doubles with the help of the Meade SC goto.

Alan

[PeterW]

I used to think Capheus had nothing in it(like I think that there is nothing in Draco), but subsequently it's one of my favourite constellations, sometimes you look at a different place and find something new!

 

Peter

[niallk]

I love to try to tease out new detail in the Cats Eye ... I just keep returning to it time and again to see if seeing/transparency/darkness/higher power allows me to eek out a smidgen more

[cotterless45]

Sounds purrfect !