2022-11-22

• Condition: E6
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

I had a great gift given to me tonight. While setting up the scope and aiming my red dot at υ Persei, the brightest and most impressive shooting star I've ever seen flew right past my field of vision. It was slower than normal, lasting about 3-4 seconds and traveling from the south to the north. It must have been close, as I could see orange flames and sparks coming off of it.

I never knew shooting stars could look like that. It completely blew me away.

6:52PM

• Target: M 76, Little Dumbell, Cork, Butterfly Nebula[1]
• Const: Perseus
• RaDec: 1h42m +51°34
• Type: Planetary Nebula
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-11-22_M76.jpg[2]

Very faint and easy to miss. The center will "sparkle" sometimes when using AV. Seems to hold a very round and small shape.

=> [1] M 76, Little Dumbell, Cork, Butterfly Nebula (ID) | [2] ../images/2022-11-22_M76.jpg

7:10PM

• Target: η Persei[1]
• Const: Perseus
• RaDec: 2h50m +55°54
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 59x
• Double: AB: 300°
• Image: ../images/2022-11-22_EtaPersei.jpg[3]

The sibling is very faint, but does not disappear from detection. Primary is yellow / orange.

=> [1] η Persei (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-11-22_EtaPersei.jpg

7:16PM

• Target: Struve 331[1]
• Const: Perseus
• RaDec: 3h0m 52°21
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 59x
• Double: AB: 90°
• Image: ../images/2022-11-22_Struve331.jpg[3]

Quietly nestled between τ and γ Persei. The sibling is easily seen but noticeably less bright than the primary. Both appear blue / white.

=> [1] Struve 331 (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-11-22_Struve331.jpg

7:30PM

• Target: χ Tauri[1]
• Const: Taurus
• RaDec: 4h22m 25°38
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 59x
• Double: AB: 30°
• Image: ../images/2022-11-22_ChiTauri.jpg[3]

Again, the sibling is faint and riding just outside of the "glow" of the primary. Both appear white. Found by right ascending north from the Pleiades.

=> [1] χ Tauri (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-11-22_ChiTauri.jpg

7:45PM

• Target: 118 Tauri[1]
• Const: Taurus
• RaDec: 5h29m +25°09
• Type: Star (Double)[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 150x
• Double: AB: 230°
• Image: ../images/2022-11-22_118Tauri.jpg[3]

Found south of Elnath. Blue in color.

=> [1] 118 Tauri (ID) | [2] Star (Double) (ID) | [3] ../images/2022-11-22_118Tauri.jpg