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NGC104 (Globular Cluster, in Tucana, Est. RaDec 00h24.1m, -72d05' )
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 22-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Harrisburg, PA, USA
Light pollution: none Transparency: good Seeing: excellent
Time: Mon Jun 10 06:00:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 654
Last week two fellow Astronomical Society of Harrisburg members (Tony Donnangelo and Ted Nichols II) and I traveled to Bolivia to attend the Southern Skies Star Party at the Inca Utama resort on Lake Titicaca. Saying that it was truly an eye-opening experience doesn't begin to adequately describe the trip. Although dealing with the stress of travel, sleep deprivation, fatigue, cloudy nights, and the high altitude (almost 13,000 feet) wasn't exactly fun, the overall experience was a very positive one and included many personal observing firsts.In addition to our binoculars and a small refractor (my 80mm f/5 Orion ShortTube 80) we had access to 10 and 22" Starmaster Dobs from the Alapacha Observatory plus a number of Newtonians and a 90mm ETX brought by other star party attendees. Tony and I made heavy use of the 22" Starmaster.Highlights included locating the closest extrasolar star (Proxima Centauri), splitting Beta Centauri with difficulty and Antares with ease, seeing the Small Magellanic Cloud and the great globular cluster 47 Tucanae (NGC 104) for the first time, observing the Homunculus Nebula that surrounds the massive star Eta Carinae, and having simply superb views of NGC 2808, NGC 3132 (the Eight-Burst Nebula), NGC 3372 (the Eta Carinae Nebula), NGC 3532 (the finest open cluster in the sky), NGC 4038/9 (the Antennae), NGC 4945 (a fine edge-on galaxy located near Omega Centauri, NGC 5128 (Centaurus A), NGC 5139 (Omega Centauri), NGC 6302 (the Bug Nebula), NGC 6231 and the rest of the Table of Scorpius, NGC 6397 (a fantastic globular in Ara), M4, M7, M8, M16, M17, M20, M22, M24, M83, M104, B86 (the Ink Spot), Baade's Window, the Pipe Nebula (LDN 1773), the Coal Sack, and so very much more. Watching the Milky Way arch from horizon to horizon through the zenith was a truly majestic sight.NGC 104, the second largest globular cluster, was easy to see with the naked eye and like NGC 5139 (Omega Centauri) was impressive through binoculars and small aperture scopes. Through the 22" Starmaster this mighty stellar conglomerate's hallmark feature, its highly concentrated nucleus, was simply striking. Many observers prefer 47 Tucanae over Omega Centauri because of this condensed core but I did not until we employed a 5.2mm Pentax SMC XL (over 500x). At this high magnification the stars of the cluster completely filled the field of view and the core dominated the field. See http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/ngc/n0104.html for further information on NGC 104.
M4 (Globular Cluster, in Scorpius)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: binoculars Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Mar 17 05:45:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 629
In 10x50 binoculars m4 looks like a true globular cluster.when viewed through any telescope m4 seems to lose its globular appeance to me.
M53 (Globular Cluster, in Coma Berenices)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 20-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Mar 17 04:45:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 627
M53 globular cluster is very small, even in a 20' dob.It was very hard to see individual stars in the cluster.
M13 (Hercules Cluster) (Globular Cluster, in Hercules)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 20-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Mar 17 04:30:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 622
The m 13 globular completely covered the field in the 20" dob. Numerous individual stars were seen.
M5 (Globular Cluster, in Serpens)
Observer: Michael Amato (e-mail: abigmick@aol.com)
Instrument: 20-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: West Haven, Connecticut, United States
Light pollution: none Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Sun Mar 17 04:15:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 621
M 5 globular showed very well. I notced two groups of stars that trailed away from M 5 on either side of it. It looked like some sort of disturbance affected M 5.
NGC104 (Globular Cluster, in Tucana)
Observer: Andrew (e-mail: rigg@optusnet.com.au, web: http://www.astronomy.xrs.net)
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia
Light pollution: light Transparency: fair Seeing: good
Time: Fri Mar 8 13:15:00 2002 UT Obs. no.: 615
An intense globular cluster containing billions of stars. Located in the southern constellation Tucana (the Toucan). In the 8" dob I was using this cluster was absolutely magnificant! It is sphereical with billions (try and count them!) of densly packed stars at its nucleus. Easily the best globular I've seen.
M56 (Globular Cluster, in Lyra, Est. RaDec 19h17m +30)
Observer: Thomas Godfrey (e-mail: choccy_bourbon@hotmail.com)
Instrument: 50-mm binoculars Location: Norwich, Norfolk, England
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: good Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 20 23:20:00 2001 UT Obs. no.: 570
With 10x50 binoculars from a suburban location, M56 wasn't easy. Once found it appears as a small fuzzy spot mid-way between Alberio and gamma Lyrae
NGC5694 (Globular Cluster, in Hydra, Est. RaDec 14h40m, -26d32')
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 17-inch equatorial reflector Location: Harrisburg, PA, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: fair Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Apr 28 07:12:00 2001 UT Obs. no.: 549
This rather small (2.2') and faint globular cluster was easier to see than I expected given it eleventh magnitude brightness and far southerly declination. No resolution was achieved using 118, 144, 202, and 259x. The best view of this fuzzball was at 202x.
NGC104 (Globular Cluster, in Tucana)
Observer: Serge (e-mail: astroguy@onaustralia.com.au)
Instrument: 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector Location: Perth, WA, Australia
Light pollution: light Transparency: good Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Dec 21 17:10:00 2000 UT Obs. no.: 540
Very beautiful and delicate! Critical focus is needed to resolve individual stars.
M22 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Vedran Vrhovac (e-mail: vedran_vrhovac@yahoo.com)
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Velika Gorica, Croatia
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: poor Seeing: fair
Time: Sat Aug 12 21:30:00 2000 UT Obs. no.: 1283
Afeter observing Moon I decided to take a quick look at M22. At 38x it appeared elliptical. Higher magnification (80x)showed me partial resolution near edges. Soon clouds came and I decided to finish my observations.
M13 (Hercules Cluster) (Globular Cluster, in Hercules)
Observer: Eero Holmstrm (e-mail: holmerkki@altavista.net, web: http://angelfire.com/music/holmerkki/index.html )
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Pernajan kirkonkyl, Pernaja, Finland
Light pollution: light Transparency: good Seeing: good
Time: Sun Apr 9 00:20:00 2000 UT Obs. no.: 529
A beauty. At 120x a great number of stars were resolved. Three strong branches stretched out from the center, and the cluster had a 3 - dimensional look somehow. No sign of the dark dustlanes, though.
M13 (Hercules Cluster) (Globular Cluster, in Hercules, Est. RaDec 16h41.7m, +36h28')
Observer: Dave Mitsky (e-mail: djm28@psu.edu)
Instrument: 15-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Harrisburg, PA, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: excellent Seeing: good
Time: Sun Jul 11 02:15:00 1999 UT Obs. no.: 462
Why am I bothering to log an observation of such a mundane deep-sky object you ask? Because it was the first DSO that my friend Roger Studer and I observed after driving some 750 miles so that Roger could buy a 15" f/4.5 Obsession Dob that had been listed on Astromart just two days previously. (I went along for the ride and to help Roger evaluate the telescope.) Our observing site was the "close" one that the owner used and was well over an hour to the west of Chicago. This was by far the longest I have ever traveled to observe for just one night. We also observed M17, M27, M51, M57, M82, the eastern (NGC 6992) and western (NGC 6960) sections of the Veil Nebula, Collinder 399, Albireo, V Aquilae and many others.
M13 (Hercules Cluster) (Globular Cluster, in Hercules)
Observer: Sean Wilkins (e-mail: spw7000@usa.com)
Instrument: 4.5-inch equatorial reflector Location: Elyria, Ohio, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: good Seeing: excellent
Time: Sat Jun 19 21:43:24 1999 UT Obs. no.: 493
I was sittin around the house one day and had planned out a night to take the telescope out and do some observing. So I did.I pointed what was almost the Zenith and looked at Hercules.M13 was the first object that came to mind.It was a splendor!I also observed M57,Alberio,The Veil Nebula and M92.
M13 (Hercules Cluster) (Globular Cluster, in Hercules)
Observer: Mike Pierce (e-mail: xtozaj@webtv.net)
Instrument: 03-inch refractor Location: Malone, Florida, USA
Light pollution: light Transparency: excellent Seeing: excellent
Time: Wed Jun 9 06:30:00 1999 UT Obs. no.: 459
Got a great low power ob of M13 in Hercules. I could not resolve individual stars with my small scope, but still got some resolution of M13 as a "fuzzy." I was able to stretch my magnification to the limit of my small refractor (144x), but my Barlow (2x), just isn't worth having!
M28 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 03:10:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 394
Very brite at 47x, easy. Partial resolution 134x with averted vision; clouds cover end of session.
NGC6638 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 03:00:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 393
Noticeable easily at 47x, with a grey glow.At 134x no details are visible with averted vision.
NGC6642 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:50:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 392
Pretty dim at 134x. Seems to be split. The 3/4 part of the split seems briter and more condensed with an impression of mottling and stellar nucleus with averted vision at 134x
M22 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:45:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 391
Visible in 6x30 finder. Very well resolved at 47xglittering in a moderately rich starfield. Two briter stars on southern edge of cluster. At 134x a sprinkle of briter stars over blue gray cloud of glitter. Seem to be a clump of dimmer stars in NE corner that appear to be a little detached from main mass of blue cloud
M69 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:30:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 390
Very brite at 47x. no detailed look possible due to clouds movin in.
NGC6624 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:20:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 389
Located near Sigma Sgr,which appears orange in color. A rich starfield, though some haze passes by. Much briter than 6528,6522,6558 and 6569 at 47x. No resolution at 134x. Also appears briter in the center than the above objects
NGC6569 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:15:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 388
Sort of brite. No resolution at 134x. Thicker in center, hint of sparkle. Located in rich starfield. Brite star in same field
NGC6569 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:15:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 387
Sort of brite. No resolution at 134x. Thicker in center, hint of sparkle. Located in rich starfield. Brite star in same field
NGC6558 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:10:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 386
Condensed but dim with no resolution at 134x. Appears a little brighter towards the center.Looks like a grey patch floating in a rich starfield
NGC6522 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 02:00:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 385
Seen in same field at 47x as NGC 6528, 6522 is the brighter of the two,both near Gamma Sgr. At 134x 6522 shows no stars but some mottling is seen
NGC6528 (Globular Cluster, in Sagittarius)
Observer: Larry Wade (e-mail: lab@capital2.com)
Instrument: 10-inch Dobsonian reflector Location: Belzoni, Mississippi, USA
Light pollution: moderate Transparency: excellent Seeing: fair
Time: Thu Sep 10 01:45:00 1998 UT Obs. no.: 384
Visible at 47X in same field as Gamma Sgr. Also seen in the same field is NGC 6522, which is the brighter of the two. At 134X, 6528 is a faint fuzzwith no stars or sparkle. Occasional thin cirrus clouds pass by in this view towards the south The sky is pretty transparent tonite. I can seeall four stars in the bowl of the Little Dipper. The dimmest is listed as mag 4.9 on a chart for limiting magnitude that I got from some S&T site off the net. A cold front just passed thru today, this is very clear for my moderately light polluted backyard which usually has mag 3.5 to 4.0 skies. The Milky Way glows brightly tonite.
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