Deep Sky Spring Observations July/August 2020

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

Between July and October 2020, I did simple "deep-sky summer/autumn observations," which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau and in Erkerode (near Braunschweig).

 

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

In July/August 2020, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations were done in July to August 2020.

Observation Location

The observations took partly place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany) ...:

... and partly in Erkerode (near Braunschweig, Germany):

Devices Used

I used the TLAPO1027 on the AZ4 mount, the PS72 and the Skymax-127 on the AZ Pronto mount, and the C8 on the AZ4 mount.

General Conditions

In Mühlhausen/Kraichgau, the sky was not particularly dark. In Erkerode, it was a bit better.

 

Observation Overview

Date
2020
Observed Objects Details, Remarks Further Observations and Remarks Devices Used Eyepieces Used
Jul 11
MH
Jupiter, Saturn
GC: M 3
PS 72/432 and TLAPO1027: M 3 observed with about 100 x (4 mm at PS72, 7 mm at TLAPO); clearly brighter and more detailed in the TLAPO. Later, I observed Jupiter and Saturn.   PS72 on AZ Pronto, TLAPO1027 on AZ4  
Jul 18
MH
Jupiter, Saturn, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) We observed the comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on the Heiligenstein hill with the naked eye, all our binoculars, and the SM127 on AZ Pronto; the tail looked nicest in the binoculars. Also photographed the comet with the Sony RX10 M4 on a photo tripod.
Moreover, we observed briefly Jupiter and Saturn with the SM127 (32 mm, 10 mm).
Fotos SM127 on AZ Pronto, all our binoculars; Sony RX10 M4 on photo tripod 32, 10 mm
Jul 21
MH
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) Observed the comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) with view to Braunschweig/mistle tree (at the end of the street "Über dem Steinbruch", at the edge of a field) using TS binoculars and photographed it using my Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto (from briefly before 11 p.m. on); the tail was nicest in the bicoculars. After that, we observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS and LT binoculars (about 11:30 p.m.).   TS and LT binoculars; Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto 32, 10 mm
Jul 23
Erk
Jupiter, Saturn, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
GC: M 4, M 5, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 14, M 80, M 107
OC: M 11
We observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS and LT binoculars several times (beginning from 11 p.m.)
Observed globular star clusters from the balcony using the SM127, particularly in Scorpius and Ophiuchus: M 4 very faint, M 80, M 4 again, and very faint as well, M 107 not found, M 9, M 107 now faint, M 14, M 12, M 10, 107 again, very faint.
Finally, observed Saturn (ring) and Jupiter (1 moon to the left, 3 moons to the right) from the balcony (briefly before 1 a.m.).
TS binoculars: M 14, M 10, M 12, M 5 (no more found with SM127, to far in the West)
TS binoculars: chain on "nebulae" in the Milky Way, which I took for clouds first; wandered from top to bottom and saw 5-6 (or more) "nebula-like" objects: M 11 with a trapezium on top, below several nebulae (M 16-18?) of different sizes, perhaps M 24 and M 23 next to it, at the bottom a broad nebula stripe with many brighter stars in it, probably the Trifid Nebula M 20 and/or the Lagoon Nebula M 8.
  SM127 on AZ Pronto, TS and TS binoculars 32, 16, 7 mm
Jul 24
Erk
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)
OC: M 11
Observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS binoculars (about 11 p.m.). Briefly saw M 11 as a glow in binoculars, then clouds came and covered the sky...   TS binoculars  
Aug 5
Erk

GC: M 22
GN: M 8

TS binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22   TS binoculars  
Aug 6
Erk
GC: M 10, M 12, M 22
OC: M 11
GN: M 8
TS binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22, M 10, M 12, M 11, further "soft dots" below M 11, "soft dot" in a triangle above M 11*
LT binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22, M 11, "soft dot" in a triangle above M 11*
*) These were only stars in a triangle with 8 aql at the top (the other two stars have HD numbers)
  TS and LT binoculars  

Aug 7
Erk

GC: M 10, M 12, M 22
OC: M 11
GN: M 8
All objects seen with the SM127 and the TS binoculars; saw only M 8, M 11, and M 22 with the LT binoculars.   SM127 on AZ Pronto, TS and LT binoculars 24 mm
Aug 27
MH
GC: M 13
OC: M 11
SM: Cr 399

PS72 compared with TLAPO1027 using some DSO:
M 13 observed with 16/26 mm, also nice in the PS72, stars nearly resolved in the APO... Also nice with 7/10 mm = 60/70 x; somewhat brighter in the APO...
Cr 399 (26/40) = 16.6/17.85 > fine stars, a little larger in the APO
M 11 (26/40) = 16.6/17.85 > faint glow, a little larger in the APO (found via star chain at the end of constellation Eagle, trapezium) >> the more than half moon was already to bright...
(Also compared using the using the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn)
All in all, the TLAPO1027 was clearly better (details elsewhere)...

  PS72 on AZ Pronto; TLAPO1027 on AZ4 16/26, 10/16, 7/10 (PS/TL)

Oct 10
MH

GC: M 13, M 92

PS72 compared with TLAPO1027 using two DSO:
M 13 with different eyepieces; somewhat brighter in the APO at higher magnifications
M 92 with different eyepieces; somewhat brighter in the APO at higher magnifications

  PS72 on AZ Pronto; TLAPO1027 on AZ4 and AZ Pronto 26/35, 4/7, 16/10 oder 7; single: 7, 4, 26, 16; 2 x extender with 4 and 7 mm (TLAPO)
Oct 11
MH
GC: M 13, M 92 C8 (24 mm, 16 mm): M 13 nice and large; M 92 also relatively large and good to see   C8 on AZ4 24 mm, 16 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations done in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (MH); G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, P = star pattern, DS = double star

 

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO
Details
Name Constellation Type Bino* PS72 SM127 TLAPO
1027
C8 C8R Remarks
C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) --- C TS, LT   yes       Best with binoculars; observed with SM127; photographed with Sony RX10 M4
Cr 399         yes   yes     Nice in both refractors
M 3   Canes Venatici GC   yes   yes     Observed at magnifications of up to 100 x (4 mm for PS72, 7 mm for TLSAPO); clearly brighter and more detailed in the TLSAPO.
M 4   Scorpius GC     yes       Very faint in SM127
M 5   Serpens Caput GC TS           Only found with binoculars
M 8 Lagoon Nebula Sagittarius GN TS   yes       Only stars in SM127, nebula-like in binoculars
M 9   Ophiuchus GC     yes       Faint in SM127
M 10   Ophiuchus GC TS   yes       Faint in SM127
M 11 Wild Duck Cluster Scutum OC TS, LT yes   yes     Like a nebula in binoculars; identified via a "trapezium"; only observed with binoculars; faint in both refractors because of the moon
M 12   Ophiuchus GC TS   yes       Faint in SM127
M 13   Hercules GC   yes   yes yes   Nice in both refractors; large in C8
M 14   Ophiuchus GC TS   yes       Faint in SM127
M 22   Sagittarius GC TS, LT   yes       Faint, but large in SM127
M 80   Scorpius GC     yes       Faint in SM127
M 92   Hercules GC   yes   yes yes   Nice in both refractors
M 107   Ophiuchus GC     yes       Very faint in SM127; larger in C8

*) LT = 10 x 25 binoculars, TS = 10 x 60 binoculars; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, P = star pattern, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, MW = Milky Way, C = comet

 

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28.04.2024