Member Obs Logs

After arriving home late to clear skies, I decided I would do a bit of astronomy. After checking heavens-above the ISS was seen before taking the telescope outside. The first target in the still fairly light skies was the bright globular cluster of M13. Next up was M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, with its companion galaxy, M32 also visible. Another globular cluster, M71 and the Dumbell planetary nebula, M27, were then viewed, in the constellations of Sagitta and Vulpecula respectively. In nearby Lyra another globular cluster and planetary nebula were found, M56 and the Ring Nebula, M57. Next were some open clusters, M29 and M39 in the adjacent Cygnus followed by the double cluster in Perseus. the final deep sky object to be found was the M15 globular cluster in Pegasus.

Attentions were then switched as several solar system objects rose late on, with the first to be seen Jupiter and three of its moons, Io, Ganymede and Callisto. The Northern Equatorial belt was clearly seen along with the lack of its Southern companion. As I had recently aquired a new phone, complete with lousy camera, I tried to take a picture through the eyepiece and was surprised to photograph Jupiter with its huge, bright disc cleary visible. The last oblect to be found was the last quarter moon with some Earthshine, which was as good a sight as ever.

All in all, not a bad haul for one night.

Jamie Allen

Obs officer