2022-04-03

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Cabin: 44.31, -103.88

9:30PM

• Target: M 52[1]
• Const: Cassiopeia
• RaDec: 23h25m +61°42
• Type: Open Cluster[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x
• Image: ../images/2022-4-3_M52.jpg[3]

M52 was very difficult to see. Only really spotted it because one star seemed to have a larger 'blueish' glow than expected. When magnifying to 40x, saw very dim 'freckles' of stars clumped together.

=> [1] M 52 (ID) | [2] Open Cluster (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-4-3_M52.jpg

10:00PM

• Target: M 95[1]
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 10h45m +11°35
• Type: Spiral Galaxy
• Target: M 96[2]
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 10h47m +11°42
• Type: Spiral Galaxy
• Target: M 105[3]
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 10h48m +12°27
• Type: Elliptical Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 16x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-4-3_M95-M96-M105.jpg[4]

M96, M95, and M105 were very hard. I first attempted it by re-calibrating on Regulus, then slewing between κ and ι. Panning around a little, I could barely see elongated spots of deep blue. But it was hard to tell whether it was a trick of the eye. I re-calibrated on Regulus again, then set RA / Dec to M95's coordinates, this gave me a view with all three elongated spots again; confirming that it wasn't a trick of the eye.

=> [1] M 95 (ID) | [2] M 96 (ID) | [3] M 105 (ID) | [4] ../images/2022-4-3_M95-M96-M105.jpg