2022-08-21

• Condition: G6
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

9:30PM

Got home from our trip to Erik's Ranch. Unpacked the car quickly then setup the telescope.

9:52PM

• Target: ε Lyrae[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 18h44m +39°4
• Type: Star (Multiple)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 150x, 1/2 stop-down
• Double: AB: 350°, AB-CD: 170°, CD: 80°
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_EpsilonLyra.jpg[3]

I could not see the primary companion without tapping the lens (B). The secondary companion (D) showed up but without a clean split, looked more like an extension of (C). Took a bit to find all 4. Pretty cool double-double.

=> [1] ε Lyrae (ID) | [2] Star (Multiple) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-8-21_EpsilonLyra.jpg

10:03PM

• Target: ζ Lyrae[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 18h44m +37°36
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x
• Double: AB: 160°
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_ZetaLyra.jpg[3]

Very easy split. Similar in color, but the sibling looks like it has a little more purple?

=> [1] ζ Lyrae (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-8-21_ZetaLyra.jpg

10:08PM

• Target: β Lyrae[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 18h50m +33°22
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x, 1/2 stop-down
• Double: AB: 145°
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_BetaLyra.jpg[3]

Another easy split. The sibling is more noticeably faint.

=> [1] β Lyrae (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-8-21_BetaLyra.jpg

10:14PM

• Target: M 57, Ring Nebula[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 18h53m +33°2
• Type: Planetary Nebula
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_M57.jpg[2]

Very small. Just a subtle fat dot on a dark background. Looking directly at it will make it disappear! AV pops it back into view with a little definition. Getting some "irregularity" in the glow around the center.

=> [1] M 57, Ring Nebula (ID) | [2] ../images/2022-8-21_M57.jpg

10:26PM

• Target: Otto Struve 525[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 18h54m +33°58
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 57x
• Double: AB: 345°
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_OttoStruve525.jpg[3]

Took a little to determine which nearby star was the sibling. Both are nestled between β and ν Lyrae.

=> [1] Otto Struve 525 (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-8-21_OttoStruve525.jpg

10:32PM

• Target: M 56[1]
• Const: Lyra
• RaDec: 19h16m +30°11
• Type: Globular Cluster
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_M56.jpg[2]

Very faint. AV isn't required for detection, but is necessary to get an observation of the size and shape.

=> [1] M 56 (ID) | [2] ../images/2022-8-21_M56.jpg

10:47PM

• Target: β Cygni[1]
• Const: Cygnus
• RaDec: 19h30m +27°58
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 44x
• Double: AB: 70°
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_BetaCygnus.jpg[3]

Cool pair! The primary is very orange / yellow. The secondary is a colder white, a little less bright.

=> [1] β Cygni (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-8-21_BetaCygnus.jpg

10:45PM

• Target: M 71[1]
• Cosnt: Sagitta
• RaDec: 19h53m +18°47
• Type: Globular Cluster
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 44x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-8-21_M71.jpg[2]

I would have missed it if my star chart didn't tell me it was there. No "concentration" of light or glow, more evenly distributed and spread out.

=> [1] M 71 (ID) | [2] ../images/2022-8-21_M71.jpg