16x70 Binoculars First Light

I got myself a pair of 16X70 binoculars to use for observing of the night sky when for some reason the telescope cannot be used. I ordered them some time ago but delivery was delayed. Anyway yesterday was first light. Although it has a tripod adaptor, I hand held it throughout the session. In the early evening I observed the crescent Moon, Venus and Saturn. Venus, being very bright, caused some fringing.

Later when it got dark I went for DSOs. Among others I observed the M27 dumbbell, M31 Andromeda Galaxy, M11 Wild Duck cluster, The globular clusters M13 and M3, The Perseus Double Cluster, M103 and the Coathanger (Brocchi's Cluster). However, the best part was sweeping through the Milky Way in Cygnus and seeing the myriad stars. A number, seemingly without end, of suns each with its own history and hiding who knows what truths about the Universe.

Thin Crescent

This evening I saw the 1.29 day old moon as a thin crescent low in the Western sky at sunset.

A Dark Sky

I joined the local Astronomical Society on what now has become an annual boat trip in search of a dark sky. The trip took us some 25 miles West of the island on a moonless night.

The night started off with Venus blazing to the West just below Regulus with Saturn just to its East. Jupiter was already dominating the South horizon. As it grew darker, the spectacular view of the night sky unadulterated by artificial light came into view. The Milky Way stretched in an arc all the way from Sagittarius to Cassiopeia writhing in complex patterns of light and dark patches. It was especially wonderful in Sagittarius and Cygnus. Deep sky objects which are usually only visible in telescopes sprang into naked eye view. The M7 shone off the tail of Scorpius, the M8 Lagoon, M20 Trifid and M24 were visible in Sagittarius as was the M17 in nearby Scutum.

It is difficult to list all the objects observed with binoculars but as I hunted down globular clusters I observed the M3, M4, M13, M22. As time passed new constellations rose, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces, Aries with Mars in tow, Perseus, Auriga, Andromeda, Pegasus and Taurus. By then the boat had returned to port and the light pollution ended the magnificent spectacle.

With the limiting magnitude estimated at +6.5 the view of the heavens was magical and an experience I hope will be repeated.

Satellites

A casual observation in reasonable clear skies resulted in observing three artificial satellites in polar orbit. Two, one of which was Cosmos 1812, passing just below Albireo and the third just below gamma Lyrae. The highlight, though, was a bright meteor that streaked towards the North from Hercules with a yellowish tail and broke up in a stream of yellow/orange pieces in Draco.

The Milky Way

It atmosphere was unusually clear yesterday, allowing a good view of the night sky. I did not have my telescope available and so I enjoyed a good naked eye observation of the heavens.

The yellow half moon had just appeared over the Eastern horizon and the sky was still as dark as the light pollution would allow. A nearby streetlight was burnt out. From a dark spot the Milky Way stood out from Cassiopeia through to Cygnus and Aquila. It was especially bright in Cygnus and the rift was plainly visible. Among the highlights I could see in the sky were the deep red Herschel's Garnet Star (Mu Cephei) and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31).

It was magical being able to see the star studded sky in all of its majestic beauty.

Venus - Saturn Conjunction 2

Venus has now moved to the East of Saturn, now moving away from the ringed planet. They are still less than a degree distant from each other and make a magnificent sight in the Western evening sky.

Venus - Saturn Conjunction 1

Yesterday evening two planets were very close. It was quite a sight observing them within two thirds of a degree of each other in the Western sky just after sunset. The bright Venus with the fainter, yellowish Saturn just above it. At the same time, Jupiter shone bright in the Eastern sky.