M57 takes first prize in a crummy sky

by Jamie Dillon


Last night I was playing in the backyard under a sky with 4.5 limiting mag, seeing fair, 2/5. M3, M5 were fuzzing in and out. And no, it was the sky not my eyes. Stars short of 5th magnitude were coming and going in a disconcerting fashion. Did gaze at delta Lyrae, a multiple-star system that makes a captivating pattern. Jo came out and looked at the Double Double (first time for her) and we had a fine view of M57.

Spent some time nailing down the field for that globular Blanchard was talking about, some 5 deg E of M3. Was right on top of it, at 57x and 79x; couldn't get it to show. Top of the go-list now.

Went back to M57 before hitting the sack. Jumped out of the newly cleaned OIII. Was ravishing both with and without. This with the 6mm Radian, at 210x.

Saved by a planetary! Sure it's the fattest of all, but still...

Figured after reporting on Cone Peak a little grounding wouldn't hurt!