Star Log 2022-08-30 3:00 AKDT (Fairbanks, AK, US)

I had to get up with the baby this morning at 2am, but I was rewarded afterwards with a good view of the southern sky, as well as some mild auroral activity. There was some wispy clouds toward the horizon, but not nearly as thick as the cloud cover I had observed in the day time. Having recently become interested in amateur astronomy, I was amazed how much additional detail could be picked up with just a simple pair of binoculars. I have some Bushnell 4x30 Powerview binoculars — I can't remember from where I got them.

I didn't take any photographs, but I have provided some Stellarium screenshots corresponding to some items I noticed. I set the light pollution setting in Stellarium to maximium, to more faithfully reproduce the brightness levels I observed. I find at this point that, looking towards the south and east, I position everything in my mind relative to Cassiopia, with its distinctive "W" shape.

=> Cassiopia

Something else that really jumps out at me is the Pleiades cluster, which is fascinating to view with the binoculars.

=> Pleiades

I remember close by a bright star in-between two dim stars, and then a lot more stars around it when I zoomed in with the binoculars. Looking later with Stellarium, I believe the bright star is Mirfak, part of the Perseus constellation.

=> Mirfak

I was interested also in this lower part of Perseus, where it sort of branches out at the bottom:

=> ε Per

Bright Capella stood out, part of the Auriga constellation.

=> Capella

I recall off to the right of Cassiopia, a good distance, is a bright star, which I think is Deneb:

=> Deneb

I caught some beautiful detail in some clusters towards the north-west sky, but I can't remember enough detail to be able to reproduce them for you in Stellarium.