A small select group from Macc Astro use an old school in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire for week-end observing trips, and I was very fortunate to be able to join Malc and the team for two night's, Friday and Saturday observing. I arrived on Friday afternoon to find the sky clearing, and with the prospect of doing some deep-sky with my 10" Dob, I was eager to set up and await for sunset.
Sunset at this time of the year is around 19:55hrs, which means that for astronomy, we now have almost nine hours dark sky observing, which is brilliant.
The sky's here are truly dark m+6.2. The milky way was very bright, with the NAN (NGC7000) together with the Cygnus rift very bright and clear.
I made an observing list, but unfortunately I didn't make any note's. I'll start doing this from now on!
61 Cygni.
Easy to split, and looks very similar to Albireo.
NGC6946.
This is a difficult galaxy which requires averted vision to see clearly. X50 the galaxy is visible against a starry background. Higher power x120 (10mm plossl) NGC6946 appears as a faint smudge of grey light. This galaxy is difficult.
M13.
Very clear and resolved at all magnification's used, x50 and x120.
I then took a break, and began looking at Jupiter, which was by now visible above the house. I then had a look at Uranus which was looking rather good despite the planets huge distance.
NGC884-869
X34 the double cluster looked magnificent. I have never seen so many stars in this cluster as I did tonight.
I can't really remember the objects I looked at afterwards. In future, I will record my observations.
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