Location: Anza desert site,
Equipment: Celestron 9.25” Edge HD
While driving to Anza I saw near full Moon rising in the brilliantly blue sky over the Palomar Mountain, the white dome of the Hale Telescope on the mountain crest glowing in the summer sunlight. I wish I could take a picture, but I was on the mountain road with no shoulder to pull over.
Once off the pavement I had to watch for the wildlife. New litters of rabbits and ground squirrels were out, and they were constantly crossing in front of the truck. Also saw a few California quails. Threading their little legs and stretching their necks trying to cross the road fast but failing at that, they are so cute!
With bright Moon out this session had to be about
Lyra
Double Double (Eps 1,2 Lyr) – 5.2, 6.1, 5.3, 5.4, ab2.3”, ac209.5”, cd2.4”, all white. I have observed the Double Double a few times before, but never with my Stellarvue 102mm
I decided to stick around and split a few new doubles.
STF 2304 – 8.8, 9.8, 5.4”, orange, white – pretty colors, Edge 9.25” (94x).
STF 2327 – 8.5, 12.2, 19.6”, golden, white – nice contrast, Edge 9.25” (157x).
STF 2328 – 9.0, 9.5, 13.2, ab3.8”, ac54.2” – AB, pale yellow pair (157x), C, faint gray spec in a distance (261x). Edge 9.25”.
STF 2338 – 9.3, 11.2, 9.6, 13.0, ab12.1”, ac25.3”, ae51.9” – AB, yellow pair of uneven stars with white C wide apart (94x). Cranking up power reviles faint grayish E (261x), Edge 9.25”.
STF 2335 – 9.3, 10.7, 11.0, 13.5, 13.6, ab12”, ac25.3”, ad35.1”, ae42.7” – No components visible near yellow main at the lowest power (94x). Brining the power up to 157x resolves silverly C. At 261x grayish B is detected, and stepping up to 392x resolves faintest dots of D and E.
SLE 209 – 8.2, 12.0, 10.2” – FAIL.
STF 2344 – 10.1, 11.6, 1.5” – FAIL.
Two fails side by side. I knew STF 2344 was a challenge, but SLE 209 should be doable with 9.25”, unless secondary is IR. To break the bad streak, I decided to take a rest from doubles.
One simply can’t visit Lyra without looking at the most famous planetary nebula.
M57 – the Ring Nebula –
After the Ring Nebula I went for a short walk. The air was crisp, the valley and surrounding mountains were beautiful in the moonlight. Rabbits scattered on every step and lone coyote crossed the path in front of me some distance away. Upon returning to the camp, I had tea with muffin while enjoying the scenery. Rejuvenated I went back to splitting doubles.
STF 2352- 8.1, 10.6, 10.5, 12.8, ab15.9”, ac210.3”, ad37.6” – wide multiple with nice contrast. Bright golden main with dimmer brown component B sitting next to it, and silvery C in a distance (94x). Increasing power to 261x resolved faint grayish D. 9.25” Edge.
STF 2356 – 8.8, 9.2, 1” – tight white pair, touching split to hair split as seeing fluctuates. Edge 9.25” (261x).
STF 2358 – 9.8, 10.2, 2.5” – another tight pair of white stars. Clean split at 261x with Edge 9.25”.
STF 2359 – 9.1, 11.7, 9.8, 10.1, ab24.2”, ac137.3”, ae225.2”, B is brown, A, C and E are white. Wide group of stars near STF 2358, which is also designated as STF 2359 C, Edge 9.25” (94x).
ARY 59 – 6.5, 10.2, 53.5” – beautiful, richly colored golden main with small white sidekick. Edge 9.25” (94x).
HJ 1339 – 8.7, 10.1, 26.4”, golden, orange, Edge 9.25” (94x).
Wrapped up the session in Lyra around 00:30. Woke up around 05:00 to follow up on the planets. Mercury was too low to observe. Mars and Jupiter were close enough to appear as a pair. However, since two weeks ago Venus has fallen behind and Saturn speeded ahead, so the four planets were spread too wide to be perceived as a group. I guess the planets parade is over.
I leave you with another photo of Anza desert
