First set of sketches from Colorado (second half added)

M62 7/16/2009 22:40 MT; Pickering 5, NELM 7, SQM 21.5
10" DK

Pretty little globular, only a couple of degrees above the horizon at Blue Lake Road site on Hoosier Pass. Seeing not great at this altitude, though, producing sharp stars only at 100X. Very grainy with a well-condensed core at 100X; perhaps 100 stars resolved across core and halo in averted vision at 180X.

M19 7/16/2009 23:05 MT; Pickering 5, NELM 7, SQM 21.5
10" DK

Much smaller and somewhat dimmer than M62, but still with stars resolved across core and halo in averted at 180X.

Pal9 7/16/2009 23:15 MT; Pickering 5, NELM 7, SQM 21.5
10" DK

Quite small, dim smudge, but readily visible at 100X up to 340X. Globular due south of very bright, yellow-orange field star. One dim companion star appears to the E at 160X, with a dimmer one to the W at 340X. Both stars are very blurry at these magnifications, and could just be condensations within the globular (DSS image no help either).

Nagler 9T1 needs to be extended out of focuser to bottom of safety groove to reach focus. A short 2" barrel extender would help keep eyepiece parallel to optical axis.

M69 7/16/2009 23:30 MT; Pickering 5, NELM 7, SQM 21.5
10" DK

Similar to M62. Fleeting hints of what appears to be a dark lane separating core from halo to the S. (Confirmed on DSS image, although it's more of a dark spot to the SSE than a lane.)

M70 7/16/2009 23:40 MT; Pickering 5, NELM 7, SQM 21.5
10" DK

Much smaller and dimmer than M69 (in fact, much more similar to M19). Lovely composition, though, in a very rich field with a 4-star lollipop-stick asterism extending to the NNE.

M8 Lagoon 7/22/2009 22:30 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Lots to see under dark skies. The main dark lane now wraps around the brightest section in a U shape, with the second-brightest section across it to the SE. There's a prominent double in the middle of the dark lane (which I centered my sketch around). A second, much more subtle dark lane separates that section and the open cluster from further nebulosity to the ESE.

M4 7/22/2009 23:40 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Large but not very dense globular, almost more like a very dense open cluster. 100s of stars resolved at 100x. Strong linear asterism from SSW to NNE slightly to the E of center, with a weaker curved asterism more or less paralleling it to the WNW.

-- Jeff.

All very good Jeff.
M8 is fantastic!

Michael.

Michael --

Glad you like M8; I think that might be the longest I've ever worked on a single sketch (it took about 1 hour, although I think I could have done it in about 40 minutes on a paper with a bit more bite).

Can you see the glare around the bright field star below the GC on the Pal9 sketch on your monitor? I wonder if I've got it too subtle or not....

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

M80 7/23/2009 00:00 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Small dim globular. Grainy in averted at 100x, but no stars resolved. Grainy in direct at 180x, with 20 or 30 stars resolved in averted. Similar at 260x.

NGC6760 7/23/2009 00:15 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Small circular smudge at 260x in a very rich field. No stars resolved at either 180x or 260x, nor does it appear to brighten to the center. Looks more like a planetary than a globular.

NGC6781 7/23/2009 00:25 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Similar in size and shape to globular NGC6760, although this one's a planetary. Much dimmer though, and magnification (260x) doesn't really help. Larger exit pupil is the key here, with the 32Mk80 and UHC the clear winner. UHC accentuates brightness difference N to S, the feathered edge to the N, and the slight minima to center.

Jupiter 7/23/2009 00:35 MT; Pickering 7, NELM 7, SQM 21.7
10" DK

Shadow transit of Callisto in progress, right below a very well-defined, but not red at all, GRS. SEB darker at south edge, and extending above the GRS. Dimmer STB visible across disk. NTB much closer to NEB, and dimmer than STB. Hints of dark barges in STB. 260x was sharp only very rarely, while 180x was sharp perhaps 30% of the time. Perhaps my best view ever of the GRS, and the shadow transit was quite a bonus.

M16 Eagle 7/23/2009 22:40 MT; Pickering 3, NELM 7, SQM 21.6
10" DK

Fills field of 17T4, making it difficult to detect unfiltered. Much easeir in 32Mk80, but still rather subtle. Looks more like a fat and stumpy Christmas tree to me.

UHC makes a world of difference, introducing some variegation to the nebulosity and hints of dark lanes on either side of the body, thus giving it much more of an eagle shape. (One of the dark lanes turns out to be the pillars of creation.)

M7 7/23/2009 23:00 MT; Pickering 3, NELM 7, SQM 21.6
10" DK

Very bright central grouping surrounded (when slewing) by several much dimmer groupings. But even the bright central grouping barely fits in the field.

M20 Trifid 7/23/2009 23:15 MT; Pickering 3, NELM 7, SQM 21.6
10" DK

Very pretty with 3 of the 4 characteristic "clover leaf" dark lanes visible even unfiltered at 100x. UHC accentuates 3 and reveals a fourth. 180x more up-close and personal, but nebulosity notably dimmer, and UHC overpowers the view at this exit pupil (1.4mm). The seeing is abysmal, which may also be contributing the the degradation of the view at higher magnifications.

Subtle, but it's visible on my montitor alright.
I like your new sketches too. M20 is very good. Very fine subtle texture.

Michael.

Cool; thanks Michael.

-- Jeff.