Observations 13th July 2021

Hi everyone, 

I hope you and those close to you are well. 

Following on from all the wonderful accounts and photos of NLC on the forum, I decided to try and spot some on Tuesday night. To get a good vantage point I went to Three Rock for 11pm, but I had no joy

All was not lost though because before setting out I had set up my f/5 250mm Newtonian Reflector on a Dobsonian base in my back garden. So, by the time I returned the mirror had cooled just in time to welcome the ISS again. Thanks to the brilliant Astronomy Show, which I had listened to earlier the evening, I knew it would flying over Ireland just after 11:30pm. At 11:34pm it flew over the house, and I even managed to track it in the 32mm eyepiece for a few seconds. 

Following that, I observed Messier 57 in Lyra. Some of you might recall, I have observed this DSO during my last two outings - One from the Sugarloaf, and one from my back garden. Well, Tuesday's night observation was the clearest I've seen it from my back garden. The outer 'ring' was bright, and displayed a slight oval shape towards its SW side. The inner section was fainter, but easily seen. While in the vicinity I had to return to the 'double-double' and I split all four stars at 138X. 

I finished the session at 12am by returning to some nice asterisms in Cygnus. I'll say nothing more about them for now, as I hope to sketch some of them tonight while at Sugarloaf. 

Until then, all the best and many thanks for reading. 

Darren. 
 

Hello, Darren. 

I couldn't resist having a look of Epsilon Lyrae on Friday night because of your recent report. 
It such an amazing double - double especially when observed before the sky becomes dark as I did last night.
What impresses me most is to notice both doubles are almost perpendicular to each other. 
And of course my scope splits them both at a mere 112X with the tightest black gap between. 
Praise God for His mercies!
I have been splitting Epsilon Lyrae since the late 1970's and it's still a magnificent sight. 
I also could make out the colours of Zeta Lyrae even before the double - double. 
Golden-white and blue-white are its colours. 
Whereas all the stars of Eps Lyr are white.   

Sorry I wasn't at the Sugarloaf last night.
I was up too early for a church breakfast. 
I wil look forward to reading what folk did observe at the Sugarloaf.  

Clear skies from Aubrey. 

Hi Aubrey,

I was delighted to read that you managed to do some observing done last night from home. In saying that, you were missed at the Sugarloaf! 

Maybe next month?

In terms of the doubole-double, I completely agree with you about the position of each star, but I'm sure your fine scope displays the colours of Epsilon Lyrae (and Zeta Lyrae) much better than my one.

Clear skies,

Darren.