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[timothy]

Hi All
Since I saw the dark lane by M42 i decided to try for B142 in Aquila, but no luck. Then I tried the California nebula, no luck again, I think I might need a filter for that one. So I looked up the Ring to console myself. There, Now I feel better. next I took a look at M2 in Aquarius. At 60x it has the typical bright nebulus look. So I bumped the power up to 120x and then 180x, where I started to get some resolution ( is it possible to get high magnification without the black background? )
While looking at my charts I started noticing the double stars, ssssssssssssso on to the doubles. I've cruised around Cassiopeia many times and never noticed Eta cass is a very close double, actually it is a binary, how cool is that? While I was in the area I took a look at the double cluster 869 and 884 in Perseus, this is always such a treat! Next was another binary Almach in Andromeda. I noticed on the map that NGC752 was right close there so I took a gaze at that OC for a while, very nice, I like it I like it.
To end the night I took a cruise through the Cygnus area of the Milky Way, what a beautifull area!
Oh, and I can't forget to mention the" Patti bridge" connecting the double cluster to stk2. and one more thing i forgot to mention, I saw a meteor shoot through my FOV tonight, WOW

CATCH A STAR

Tim

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Tim,

B142 and the Calif Neb are very difficult indeed, at least here in the big city. Even the ring (M57), is somewhat a challenge but doable.

The higher the mag, the higher the contrast...and ergo...dimmer the image.

I only had two occurances when a meteor shot thru my eyepiece, and the most recent time was at the last Chicago Astronomer Star Party October 9th! A really cool surprize!

It looks like you had a great swing through the cluster fields in your session. Always a great time for me as well.

What type of Star Map are you using to cruise the heavens?

Thanks for sharing.

[timothy]

Hi Joe
I have Nighthingych by Terrance Dickinson, Nortons star atlas- twentieth edition, and recently I got the Deepmap 600 from Orion. It's really handy, it folds up like a map, and has 600 DSO's. I also have Starry Night beginner That came with my scope, It shows all the Messier objects, and where all the planets and their moons are at and their names. also it shows where the brighter comets and asteroids are at. Enough to keep me busy for many blue moons to come.

Catch A Star

Tim