Observing sessions in West Cork

I am coming to the end of a holiday near where I grew up, in West Cork. Although the weather has been poor in the Southwest, the astro gods were kind and there were some lovely clear nights. This is the first of four posts, with notes from four observing sessions. These sessions were also the first real test of a recently purchased 102SLT. I got this little short tube refractor secondhand and hope to use it as a grab-n-go rich field scope.

Good luck to those heading to Ballinskelligs, I hope these reports will whet your appetites.

Thanks for reading. Mike.


Session 1
Started: Saturday 25 July 2015 at 01:08
Finished: Saturday 25 July 2015 at 02:18
Seeing: III. Somewhat stable
Transparency: Clear
Session Notes: Beautiful, calm, clear night, with a quarter moon. Set up both scopes. The 102mm showed great, rich star-filled views under the dark skies. Albireo and the double cluster were delights. However, the first alignment picked one star incorrectly so the GoTo was way off, and the power plug kept getting dislodged, so the alignment and tracking was lost. I tended to switch back and forth between the two scopes which was inefficient. The C11 on the CG5 was fine, but I only managed six proper observations before it got too cold. After putting all the gear away, I spent 15 min just checking the magnificent sky visually, reminding myself of the less prominent constellations and picking out some really faint ones such as Vulpecula and Equuleus. A reasonable start to the West Cork observing in 2015.

ID: NGC6905
Type: P Neb; RA Dec: 202223+2006; Constellation: Del
Name: IV-16; Mag: 11.1; Size: 0.7x0.583
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 13mm Hyperion; Magnification: 215x.
Observations: Large disc, easily visible, but faint and without discernible colour. There were occasional hints of the central star. The field is very rich.

ID: BDS10362
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 203659+1202; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2701 AB; Mag1: 8.3; Mag2: 8.6; Sep: 2.1"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 8mm Hyperion; Magnification: 350x.
Observations: Very similar, deep yellow stars, close at 350x.

ID: M13
Type: Globular; RA Dec: 164142+3627; Constellation: Her
Name: M13; Mag: 7; Size: 16.6
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 13mm Hyperion; Magnification: 215x.
Observations: Fantastic, almost three-dimensional, ball of a myriad stars.

ID: NGC884
Type: Open; RA Dec: 022218+5708; Constellation: Per
Name: Double Cluster; Mag: 4; Size: 30
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Amazingly rich field, with the two clusters magnificent.

ID: M31
Type: Multpl; RA Dec: 004244+4116; Constellation: And
Name: Andromeda Galaxy; Mag: 4.3; Size: 189.1x61.7
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Huge and bright, with a stellar core. For the first time, I could see definite signs of the dust lanes.

Session 2

Started: Monday 27 July 2015 at 23:47
Finished: Tuesday 28 July 2015 at 02:42
Session Notes: Cool night with a light breeze from which I sheltered in the lee of the house. There was no escape from the 80% illuminated moon, the sky was a little hazy, and there were cloudy periods, but it was still a productive session. I used the 102SLT exclusively, having learned from the previous session that having two scopes is not efficient. I had put batteries in the mount and also powered it from the powerpack so there were no power interruptions - a great improvement. The powerpack needed time to recharge afterwards, so I assume that the mount drew its power preferentially from that source. Alignment was fine first time and GoTo was accurate over the three hours. I had earlier tightened the screws holding the gear for the azimuth movement and that eliminated the slop. This was the first real test of the SLT and it passed with flying colours. I only observed objects below about 60 deg. in altitude, so there was no problem with the scope hitting the mount, and I was able to observe comfortably sitting on a kitchen chair. I manually inputted the coordinates for the targets., which was easy and worked well. The setup worked smoothly and I concentrated on brighter, easier object in Delphinus and got through 19 before it clouded over completely. The highlight by far was the lovely double gamma Del.

ID: WDS20196+1300
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 201938+1300; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2664 AB; Mag1: 8.1; Mag2: 8.3; Sep: 27.6"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Yellow stars, very similar in brightness well separated at 33x. A bright golden-orange star lies nearby in a rich field.

ID: WDS20302+1925
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 203014+1925; Constellation: Del
Name: S752 AC; Mag1: 6.8; Mag2: 7.3; Sep: 106.5"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Widely separated even at 16x, these are very similar white stars.

ID: BDS10281
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 203112+1115; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2690 A,BC; Mag1: 7.1; Mag2: 7.4; Sep: 17.6"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: These matched pale yellow/white stars are very close at 16x. They are flanked by two much brighter field stars.

ID: WDS20368+1444
Type: Multpl; RA Dec: 203648+1443; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2703 BC; Mag1: 8.4; Mag2: 8.8; Sep: 66.2"
Name: STF2703 AB; Mag1: 8.4; Mag2: 8.4; Sep: 25.3"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Delicate triple of faint, yellowish stars, attractively close at 16x. The rich field includes very bright stars nearby both to the west and to the east.

ID: BDS10467
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 204339+1943; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2722 AB; Mag1: 8.3; Mag2: 8.9; Sep: 7.5"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Two pale yellow stars, moderately unequal and attractively close at 66x. The much narrower STF2721 [strike]STF 2725[/strike] is just 9' to the north.

ID: WDS20467+1607
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 204640+1607; Constellation: Del
Name: γ Del AB; Mag1: 4.4; Mag2: 5; Sep: 9"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Mildly unequal stars, but both very bright. This beautiful pair are golden and pale yellow. They are nice and close at 66X and STF2725 is nearby in the rich field. This brings back happy memories of observing from the front yard, using the small refractor, when I was in my teens. This was one of the targets, I often sought out.

ID: WDS20462+1554
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 204613+1554; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2725 AB; Mag1: 7.5; Mag2: 8.2; Sep: 6.1"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Mildly unequal yellowish stars, attractively close at 66x.

ID: BDS10640
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 205832+1626; Constellation: Del
Name: STF2738 AB; Mag1: 7.5; Mag2: 8.6; Sep: 14.8"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: moderately unequal double of white stars, close at 33x in a rich field.

ID: Toadstool
Type: Asterism; RA Dec: 210722+1618; Constellation: Del
Name: French 1; Size: 13
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Attractive little asterism. The toadstool has a clearly defined curved top (actually it has toppled over) and a wide stem formed by two stars.

Session 3
Started: Thursday 6 August 2015 at 00:56
Finished: Thursday 6 August 2015 at 03:40
Seeing: II. Mostly stable
Transparency: Clear
Session Notes: Cool night with a very heavy dew - had to use the hairdryer several times. Set up late and alignment and GoTo was fine. Worked through some of the brighter and easier targets in Capricorn. The 102SLT performed well, though the tracking seemed slightly juddery - did I tighten the main axis bolts too much? The reduction in brightness compared to the C11 is very striking, but the convenience is great and there's no problem with brighter targets. E.g. the Pleiades were lovely, even with a very bright, high moon at that stage. Finished by checking a couple of features on the moon. I must spend more time on Luna, and use the atlas I have at home. The very bright moon and heavy dew drove me indoors at about 3.30. A very satisfactory session, despite the late start.

ID: WDS20210-1447
Type: Multpl; RA Dec: 202101-1446; Constellation: Cap
Name: β Cap AB; Mag1: 3.2; Mag2: 6.1; Sep: 205.4"
Name: STFA52 AC; Mag1: 3.15; Mag2: 8.83; Sep: 226.1"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Nice triple, though the components are very wide even at 16x. Yellow primary, with a bluish secondary, and a much fainter third companion, at a similar distance. The field is rich.

ID: WDS20299-1835
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 202954-1834; Constellation: Cap
Name: ο Cap AB; Mag1: 5.9; Mag2: 6.7; Sep: 21.9"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Moderately unequal, pale yellow stars, very close at 16x, in a rich field that contains a super wide double (Rho Cap).

ID: WDS20484-1812
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 204826-1812; Constellation: Cap
Name: S763 AB; Mag1: 7.2; Mag2: 7.8; Sep: 15.9"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Midy unequal yellow stars, attractively close and bright at 33x. They form a right angle triangle with two field stars, one of which is a bright deep yellow star.

ID: WDS20501-2722
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 205005-2722; Constellation: Cap
Name: HJ5226 AB; Mag1: 7.2; Mag2: 8.8; Sep: 18.7"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Golden primary, well separated from a much fainter companion at 33x. The field contains a very bright orange star.

ID: WDS21124-1500
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 211223-1500; Constellation: Cap
Name: H147 AB; Mag1: 8.25; Mag2: 8.31; Sep: 4.2"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Similar, pale yellow stars, split by a hair at 66x.

ID: WDS21218+0202
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 212148+0201; Constellation: Aqr
Name: STF2787 AB; Mag1: 7.49; Mag2: 8.64; Sep: 22.4"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 20mm Plossl; Magnification: 33x.
Observations: Two white stars, quite unequal, well separated at 33x. Close to a string of relatively bright stars.

ID: WDS21238-0635
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 212351-0635; Constellation: Aqr
Name: S788 AB; Mag1: 7.65; Mag2: 8.27; Sep: 56.8"
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Attractive double of white stars that have a hint of yellow. They are mildly unequal and are well separated at 16x. They form a neat triangle with nearby field stars.

ID: M45
Type: Open; RA Dec: 034730+2407; Constellation: Tau
Name: Pleiades; Mag: 1.6; Size: 120
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 40mm Plossl; Magnification: 16x.
Observations: Magnificent rich, bright cluster, almost completely captured in the fov of the Plossl at 16x.

Name: Hyginus Rille
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Clearly visible, with a second branch on the other side of the small crater.

Name: Alpine Valley
Telescope: 102mm; Eyepiece: 10mm Plossl; Magnification: 66x.
Observations: Excellent view of the wide valley.

Session 4
Started: Friday 7 August 2015 at 23:10
Finished: Saturday 8 August 2015 at 03:25
Seeing: III. Somewhat stable
Transparency: Clear
Session Notes: Back to the C11 for this session on a calm clear night. The C11 and CG5 behaved very well, with control by AstroPlanner. It is so easy to align when you have a clear sky. Started in Sagittarius, but it was already getting to far west - must plan to spend more time there next year. After a look at the wonderful M22, I moved on to Capricornus. Worked through a long series of targets in Capricornus and Aquarius, both of which I have covered pretty well now, including a few pretty doubles. The seeing was quite mediocre so I did not take on any really difficult doubles. The 40% illuminated moon rose around 1.30, but did not become a hassle until 3am. The C11 has so much better light gathering than the 102 that it will definitely continue to be my main scope. The 102 is only suitable for brighter targets, or quick sessions when a brief opportunity arises. I finished off with a good look at the moon again and bagged a couple of more features. The views were excellent, e.g. Plato was very near the terminator and was spectacular. An excellent session!

ID: M22
Type: Globular; RA Dec: 183624-2354; Constellation: Sgr
Name: Great Sagittarius Cluster; Mag: 6.5; Size: 24
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Great ball of hundreds of tiny stars. Excellent at 50x, and at 133x.

ID: WDS20181-1233
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 201803-1232; Constellation: Cap
Name: Algedi AE; Mag1: 3.7; Mag2: 4.3; Sep: 381.2"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Far too wide at 50x, but still very fine because the two brilliant yellow stars are beautiful in the rich field.

ID: WDS20194-1907
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 201924-1907; Constellation: Cap
Name: σ Cap AB; Mag1: 5.4; Mag2: 9.4; Sep: 55.4"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Brilliant, deep yellow star, widely separated at 50x from a much fainter yellow companion. Rich field.

ID: WDS20210-1447
Type: Multpl; RA Dec: 202101-1446; Constellation: Cap
Name: β Cap AB; Mag1: 3.2; Mag2: 6.1; Sep: 205.4"
Name: STFA52 AC; Mag1: 3.15; Mag2: 8.83; Sep: 226.1"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Brilliant white star flanked by equidistant companions, the three forming an angle of approx. 120 degrees. The second star is fainter and white, the third fainter still and yellowish. Attractive despite being super wide at 50x, in a rich field.

ID: WDS20222-1647
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 202212-1646; Constellation: Cap
Name: HN138 AB; Mag1: 8.2; Mag2: 9.2; Sep: 3.2"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Moderately unequal golden stars, the secondary a bit paler than the primary, nicely split at 133x.

ID: WDS21474-1307
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 214727-1307; Constellation: Cap
Name: STF2826 AC; Mag1: 8.7; Mag2: 9.1; Sep: 4"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Mildly unequal pair, hint of elongation at 50x, nicely separated at 133x. the primary is pale yellow, the secondary white.

ID: WDS21537-1645
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 215341-1645; Constellation: Cap
Name: HJ615 AB; Mag1: 8.4; Mag2: 9.4; Sep: 12.4"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Moderately unequal pale yellow stars, well resolved at 50x.

ID: M30
Type: Globular; RA Dec: 214024-2311; Constellation: Cap
Name: NGC7099; Mag: 8.5; Size: 11
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 13mm Hyperion; Magnification: 215x.
Observations: Rather faint globular, than is grainy but not properly resolved. The best magnification was 215x. Three lines of very faint stars extending to the North made it look like Sputnik!

ID: WDS21075-0010
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 210733-0009; Constellation: Aqr
Name: STF2755 AB; Mag1: 6.88; Mag2: 9.86; Sep: 25.1"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Nice golden star, widely separated at 50x from faint bluish companion. The field is very rich.

ID: VSX1109
Type: Var Star; RA Dec: 224206-0506; Constellation: Aqr
Name: LP Aqr; Mag1: 6.3; Mag2: 6.6
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Fine, bright, copper-orange star. It is the A component of HN140.

ID: WDS22421-0506
Type: Multpl; RA Dec: 224206-0506; Constellation: Aqr
Name: HN140 AC; Mag1: 6.71; Mag2: 9.74; Sep: 160"
Name: HN140 AB; Mag1: 6.71; Mag2: 10.92; Sep: 61.9"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Lovely primary (VSX1109) with two faint and distant companions, both white. A much fainter double lies 17' due South.

ID: WDS23191-1328
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 231907-1327; Constellation: Aqr
Name: 94 Aqr AB; Mag1: 5.3; Mag2: 7; Sep: 12.6"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Very pretty combination of a brilliant, deep yellow star and a fainter, paler companion, nicely close at 50x. The double stands out in a rather sparse field.

ID: WDS23209-1833
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 232056-1832; Constellation: Aqr
Name: HJ3184 AB; Mag1: 7.29; Mag2: 8.39; Sep: 5.6"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Unequal binary, with a bright, golden primary and a much fainter, paler, almost bluish, secondary, nice and close at 133x.

ID: WDS23238-0828
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 232345-0827; Constellation: Aqr
Name: STF3008 AB; Mag1: 7.2; Mag2: 7.7; Sep: 6.7"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Attractive, mildly unequal, golden, yellow pair, standing out in the field.

ID: WDS23460-1841
Type: Dbl; RA Dec: 234601-1840; Constellation: Aqr
Name: 107 Aqr AB; Mag1: 5.65; Mag2: 6.46; Sep: 6.6"
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 55mm TV Plossl; Magnification: 51x.
Observations: Bright, yellow stars, mildly unequal, close at 50x and well separated at 133x. They totally dominate the very sparse field.

Name: Straight Wall
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Really well-illuminated.

Name: Pico
Telescope: 280mm SCT; Eyepiece: 21mm Hyperion; Magnification: 133x.
Observations: Standing out clearly on the flat floor.

Hello, Mike. I am very pleased for you to have had 4 extraordinary observing sessions with your scopes.

I personally love M31, M13, M22 and the Toadstool asterism in Delphinus. It has been many years since I last observed this dramatic asterism. I wonder what it would look like with mirror diagonals in place on my 6.2" apo.

I have one question for you though:

Are you sure Stf 2722 is only 9' from Stf 2725 which is in turn south of Gamma Delphini? I have just checked my Guide 8 program. It is more like 4 degrees north of Gamma Delphini.

Great report, though, Mike. We have only cloudy nights in Dublin for the last 3 weeks!

Clear skies,

Aubrey.

Cheers Aubrey, I have been lucky down here and the skies are absolutely wonderful - it's no wonder that I caught the astronomy bug as a kid.

You are absolutely right about STF2722 and STF2725 - well spotted. It should have said that STF2721 is 9' from STF2722 (I have corrected the post now).

Thanks,
Mike