Rise early...

6/11

by Peggy Bernard

Was up early this morning 6/11, 0300 hours.

Seeing was EXCELLENT to SUPERB, nice and steady, not much moisture, and the Lagoon Nebula was ablaze as a naked eye object! Observed until 0430 when the sky got light.

Didn't do planets as there is a big tree in my backyard blocking the low south east. No moon either (didn't even see it - must be close to new). Also, I had a mild case of "Can't Find Stuff" as the sky is all different at 0300! Took me 15 minutes to find M31 and that is bigger than the FULL MOON! I also lost an entire constellation too. Sorry, maybe I'm a little bit of a blond airhead at 0300?

Report follows:

6/11/99 Observing, Tonopah, conditions Excellent, Moon - none, sky glow low, moisture content low, temperature cool 54 degrees. 10" DOB. No NGC's!

Began about 0300 hours 6/11.
Primary target - Scorpius.

Finished around 0430 hours 6/11.

New objects:

• M22 - NICE CLUSTER! BIG!
• M28 SMALL GLOBULAR
• M21 SMALL OPEN CLUSTER
• M25 SMALL OPEN CLUSTER
• M31 PEGASUS
• N32
• M110

OLD STUFF -

• M23 (REAL NICE OPEN CLUSTER)
• M20 TRIFID
• M8 LAGOON (THE ONE WITH THE BOAT PASSAGE IN THE MIDDLE!)

CAN'T FIND:

• SCUTUM - YES, I LOST AN ENTIRE CONSTELLATION!!!!! ANYBODY FOUND IT IN LOST AND FOUND? PLEASE RETURN IT IF YOU FIND IT AS THERE IS JUST A BIG BLACK SPOT IN THE SKY WHERE IT SHOULD BE.
• M16
• M17

Early morning observing is great. Try it, you'll like it!