(Equipment used)
17.5 inch
Ethos 21mm (94x, 1.1° TFOV, 4.7mm exit pupil)
Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm exit pupil)
XW 10mm (199x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm exit pupil)
XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm exit pupil)
(Treasure found)
After aligning the finder scopes and main scope, it was about half an hour before true astronomical darkness, so I decided to warm my observing eye up with this fine cluster. Easily spotting M44 in Cancer with the naked eye, I quickly aimed the scope in its direction using the Rigel Quikfinder. Moving to the
I had already dropped in the 13mm Ethos (152x) in the focuser and now moved to it. The cluster was front and center in the view, presenting a beautiful array of shimmering embers scattered across a goodly portion of the 0.7° TFOV. The brightest star in the view, mag 7.8 HD 75700 marked the northeastern edge of the cluster field with the main body of cluster members presented a broad and gently sweeping curve from that star through the field’s center on toward the southwest. To the east and southeast, there was a slight void of lower stellar density that separated the main body from a NNE to SSW trickle of 10th magnitude and dimmer stars. Overall the cluster presented a feast of easily over 100 stellar jewels ranging from 7th to 15th magnitude. It was truly a feast for the eyes, presenting magnificently in the large scope.
I noticed in the IDSA that this galaxy was just 1.5° northwest of M67, so even though it was not quite truly dark, why not? I remained at 152x after leaving the cluster, and star hopped to the field using the
In the atlas, before moving back to M44, I noticed this galaxy just north of Delta Cancri. Since it was getting very close to astronomical darkness, I thought I would give it a go before moving on. Easily locating the field I studied it with 152x for a bit. After a few moments, I suspected the presence of a very small and dim round homogenous dust bunny. Dropping in the XW10 (199x) I confirmed its presence, though it remained weak. Even with the XW7 (283x), though more easily seen, it remained a weak diffuse rounded glow. (New)
Not much to say about this cluster. It is a winter and spring stable for many. A full half hour before astronomical darkness I was able to discern it easily with the naked eye. Through the
Starting at the western edge of the cluster and using a close-in chart of the cluster field showing the galaxies (made with Sky Tools 3), I started my slow hunt among the stars of M44. My first quarry was this diminutive mote just inside the cluster’s field. It was only a suspected presence at 94x, but confirmed using 152x. Even at 199x, it was nothing more than a very small and diffuse rounded dust mote. (New)
Immediately east of the previous galaxy and in the same
Continuing my very slow creep eastward, about 22.5’ from the last object, I studied the field near a tight triangle of three cluster members. Using 152x at best I only caught a brief suspicion of a dim mote at the appropriate location. Even at 199x it was not seen 100% of the time, but was definitely confirmed as a tiny rounded diffuse glow – clearly non-stellar. Even trying at 283x, it remained quite weak visually, but again, confirmed within the field. (New)
Another 18’ to the east, I searched for the next galaxy in the conga line. Suspected at 152x, its presence was confirmed with 199x as a very small and very dim rounded dust bunny within the field. (New)
Studying the field another 9’ to the east, this was another one merely suspected at 152x, lying just northwest of an 11th cluster star. At 199x and even more so at 283x it was confirmed as a painfully dim rounded tiny mote that formed a triangle with the aforementioned star and a dim 14th mag cluster star just to the galaxy’s NNE. (New)
I finally reached the eastern edge of M44, a north-south pair of 9th mag stars. Just to their north was an east-west pair of 12th mag stars with a 13th mag star just to their north. I studied the area just west of this 13th mag star for my final galaxy in the string of six. Using 94x, I was able to pick up its very faint slightly oval glow. Small in size, with 152x and intermittent stellar core was detected. Then viewed with 199x, its oval shape was more defined and the stellar core was steady within its small disk. (New)
Clouds were becoming an issue at this point so I wanted to quickly hit the last of the northern
Clouds were starting to become problematic, and in the moment I didn’t realize this would be my final object for the evening. It is one thing to battle clouds in nice weather, but doing so in the cold air of late winter was not something I wished to do. A combination of the three to four hour drive over from home and some general tiredness as a side effect from having my first COVID shot the previous day told me it was a good quitting point for the first evening here. So after a couple of hours, fatigue and clouds finally drove me from the field. So in I went, for some hot soup and to watch some TV with Mary, who was snuggled under her electric throw. Thanks for coming along on this first nights abbreviated journey. It was successful, but I hope the next evening will be even better.
***(A reminder to visit the