Observations

My plan for the evening was to look at some double stars in Lyr. However, I ended up dodging clouds for much of the time I was outside. I spent some time scanning around with my relatively new 10x60 binoculars and I got some nice views of M-13, the Milky Way in Cyg (I could see some dark lanes), the Scutum star cloud, and especially of the Lagoon nebula. I could see the Lagoon from the end of my driveway and it was exceptionally bright and interesting in the binoculars.

At one point I noticed an interesting satellite moving through Hercules. It was moving from north to south (roughly) and I followed it in the 10x60 binoculars for a while. It varied in brightness from maybe 3rd or 4th magnitude to just barely visible with a period of perhaps 10 seconds (not measured).

NOTES

Using the 25mm (48x) eyepiece, and by carefully adjusting the focus, the cluster appeared as a granular fuzzball in a rich field. Using averted vision I could see a number of stars in and around the cluster. I got the impression that it was starting to resolve. It was very impressive. I also noticed that there appeared to be a lesser, secondary cluster off the side of the main cluster. It could be part of the same object or perhaps just a chance grouping of stars in the vicinity.

In the 10x60 binoculars the object was an obvious little ball of fuzz in an extremely rich field. The binoculars also gave a good view, although the object was a bit small.

NOTES

I found that the best view was with the 18mm. Using the 25mm the object is a bit too small. The nebula is located in a rich and interesting field. It is bright and easy to see with direct vision but I found that I needed to use averted vision to see the central hole. I seem to recall seeing the central hole better in the past but perhaps I'm remembering views with larger telescopes.

NOTES

This famous star is also a nice double. It is easily resolved with the 25mm (48x). The primary looks white with perhaps a yellowish tinge. The secondary is obvious and easily seen. It has a definite bluish hue compared to the primary.

I also noticed two other stars in the field of view that were close to the primary—they were not much farther away from it than the bright secondary. The bright secondary and these two other stars form a rough triangle around the primary. I don't know, offhand, if these other stars are part of the same system or just background (foreground?) stars.

NOTES

This is another bright, easy double. The Sky Atlas 2000 shows both stars separately (right on top of one another). It's a wide pair that's easily resolvable in the 25mm eyepiece (48x). Both stars appear white. Quite frankly, the double is almost "dull". The field is fairly rich and interesting, however.

This object is resolvable in the telescope's 8x finder. It is also resolvable in my 10x60 binoculars although I found it tricky to hold the binoculars steady enough to get a decent view.

NOTES

Easily resolved in the 25mm eyepiece (48x). The secondary is considerably fainter than the primary, making it a more challenging double than some of the others I've seen tonight. However, the secondary was still easily seen. Overall it was a nice object.