2023-04-09

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

9:13PM

• Target: NGC 2903[1]
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 9h32m 21°3
• Type: Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, 57x
• Image: ../images/2023-4-9_NGC2903.jpg[2]

Easy to detect, could be seen in the finder-scope as I was aligning to λ Leonis. AV helps expand the size a bit, and can bring out patches of light near the center. Attempted a closer view at 57x, and could repeatedly see a speck of light at the center with AV.

=> [1] NGC 2903 (ID) | [2] ../images/2023-4-9_NGC2903.jpg

9:31

• Target: M 44, Beehive Cluster (Praesepe)[1]
• Const: Cancer
• RaDec: 8h41m +19°35
• Type: Open Cluster[2]
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 19x

Was ready to go in, and as I gazed up at the sky my eyes were drawn to the bright patch in the center of Cancer. Decided to turn the telescope to enjoy M44 again. Always a treat.

=> [1] M 44, Beehive Cluster (Praesepe) (ID) | [2] Open Cluster (ID)