Unmissable NGC 2261 !

[cotterless45]

Ouch , down to minus five at midnight. But so clear , the frost took the humidity away but seeing was a bit variable.

Remembered a few hidden secrets in Monoceros . Big surprise to get NGC 2261 with very little contrast at an early 13.30. Very obvious and bright at x50. Its variability caused by matter around the star. Lovely cone .

An early start at 5.30 and some clusters in Perseus, NGC 1582 and NGC 1342. Even NGC 1023 showed up in the stars. 63 Gem gave a glorious view of its very faint companion , mainly by averted view, very faint.

Orion gave NGC 1981 and NGC 1662, I kept returning to the variable Nebula, lovely and to M50 in Monoceros. Zeta Cancri took some getting split , it didn't like 5.5mm at x216 , but split easily and cleanly at x240 with a Vixen 5mm LVW . 

Had a break every half hour to warm up, it's was so great out there , not only to catch the usual haul , but get onto the secret treasures. I put a covered hot water bottle in the ep case. Kept the eps and hands warm, under ,

clear skies !

Nick.

[wookie1965]

Brilliant Nick seeing was very variable here some things pin sharp others blurry. 

Edited December 5, 2019 by wookie1965

[mdstuart]

That variable nebula is a special object.

The skies were great in Bristol as well.

You must add a few galaxies in to the mix. I was looking at some in Eridanus. Loads of them to the right of Orion.

Mark

[Mark at Beaufort]

Brilliant collection Nick  and I admired the amount of time that you stayed out. I was only out for a few hours mainly to observe C/2017 T2 (Panstarrs) which I picked up with the 12" Dob and the 13mm Ethos.

By the sound of it I should have stayed out longer - the quality of the sky was rather good in Hereford. C/2

[Froeng]

Excellent! Love those sketches...

Regards, Frank