Hi PGC,
Good to hear you had some clear sky again. As usual an interesting and informative read.
Re NGC 6804. My observing note in 1996 with 25cm is:
"x138 21'TF x181 15' TF. Mag 12.0 Size 62". Appears to have a lower S.B than 6781 (previous obs). Grows from indefinite edges, about 1' diameter with a modest central brightening, and possibly slightly elong in PA 90.Star off centre to NE, mag 12.5 to 13 est without UHC."
It is a bright and quite interesting PNe with 46cm. I did write it up in DSD in Aug/Sept 2008. Here is a brief relevant exerpt:
"At x247 in my 46cm, it is a fascinating object. The steely-grey disc is irregularly round, just over 1 arc-minute diameter and save for the feathery edges seems evenly illuminated. The progenitor star shines out weakly at centre and four other stars are involved — two of 14th magnitude on the west and northwestern edge are barely outside the halo, the 12th magnitude one just inside the northeast rim and another slightly fainter just outside.
Steve Gottlieb's notes from his site is:
18" (7/11/07): striking planetary at 450x, appeared elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, ~60"x45". Three stars are involved including the 14th magnitude central star. A mag 12.5-13 star is at the NE edge of the halo and a mag 14.5 star is at the W edge with a mag 15 companion close SW. The surface brightness is irregular and weakest on the SW side and slightly brighter along the E side, giving a "horseshoe" appearance.
17.5" (7/11/99): at lower powers appears moderately bright, irregularly round, ~1' diameter with several stars involved or nearby. At 280x, the view is very unusual with three stars involved and others nearby. The brightest is a mag 12.5-13 star at the NE edge. The mag 14 central star is visible with direct vision. Finally, a mag 14.5-15 star is at or just off the west side. The planetary is slightly elongated 4:3 SW-NE with an irregular surface brightness. The rim appears brighter along the E and NE side and weakest at the west edge. Nearby stars include a mag 13 star ~1.5' NE (nearly on a line with the central star and the star on the NE edge) and a mag 15-15.5 star close SSW of the star at the west edge.
13" (8/5/83): moderately bright, elongated WSW-ENE. Unusual appearance as four faint stars are very near or involved including the faint mag 14 central star visible with averted vision. A mag 13 star is at the NE edge 27" from the center, a very faint mag 15 star is at W edge and a similar star is just NW. The rim is possibly slightly brighter on the E edge.
Certainly an interesting object! Newt time you get a clear sky and a chance to take a look at it (in Victoria about every 3rd year), try without the filter and see if you can see the central star and the stars on and outside the disc.
Re NGC 6934 -- Delphinus has two GCs which considering is is such a tiny constellation punches above it's weight. The other one is NGC 7006 which is probably the second most distant Milky Way GC in the NGC catalogue. 6934 is in all other respects easily the more interesting of the two.
My notes from an observation at Bargo (nearly dark site) 1997 with 25cm are and goodish seeing:
"x181 17' TF. Mag 8.9 Size 5.9'. Small but fairly prominent cluster found to the N of a bright mag 7 * by 30'. Close to 3' diameter, broad moderate to strong concentration to the centre. Seems quite granular in the outer halo with many sparkly points and a bright spot in the centre. Quite nice."
I also caught it at the same site (but with poor seeing) in 2004 with 46cm:
"x184 TF 27' Mag 8.9 Size 7.1. This cluster is found pretty much due E of a mag 9.5 * by about 12'. Between the star and the cluster is a couple of pairs and then another mag 9* which is superimposed just on the outliers. It is a bright and prominent object, in the order of maybe about 5-6' diameter, circular. Middling in concentration class, I'd say a 6 or 7. No class is provided in Megastar. Somewhere around moderately and evenly concentrated to the centre. No real pip in the centre. A fairly big halo outside central core peppered with faint mag 14 *s (lots) seeing is really lousy) With A.V there are at least several dozen faint stars resolved mostly nearer the edges."
Agree with your comment about M72 -- it is the probably poorest of the Messier GCs. There are dozens of southern GCs that are far superior but Messier never saw them -- not that that was his fault.
Re IC 1297, a very nice sketch BTW. I noted the colour as soft powder blue (similar to your description) but no real detail (from home) and it seemed round, hard edged and consistent surface brightness. The only image apart from the DSS of this PNe I could find is here:
http://www.astro.washington.edu/user...1.6.IC1297.jpg
Hoping to get some observing done this weekend out nr Bargo. Weather seems to be co-operating this time ...
Best,
Les D