July Challenge Object - M6 (Butterfly Cluster)

[iceman]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the July Observing Challenge (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=69,217,0,0,1,0). Please post your observing reports and sketches for M6 in this thread. Discussions about the object can also be in this thread.

Please ensure scanned sketches obey the image posting guidelines when you attach them.

For deep-space images of the object, see the "Deep Space" astrophotography forum.

[dhumpie]

This is a very pretty cluster that holds its own against it brighter neighbour M7. I like to show this cluster to beginners and ask them if they can make out the butterfly patterns (and they usually can). It is visible to the naked eye from dark sky sites and it superimposed on the brighter parts of our home galaxy. Its butterfly shape is also easy to discern in 10x50 binoculars. Very easy catch. No sketch for this one as I hate plotting stars of open clusters :) Well maybe I should start that as my suburban observing program.

Darren

[ving]

spotted this one last night in my hunt around the area...

quite visible in my skies nakid eye :)
looks better in my finder than in a 15mm SV with the butterfly shape quite recognisable. whack in the 15mm sv and the shape requires more imagination :P
very pretty tho :)

[dhumpie]

Nice report David.....

Darren

[ving]

thank you darren.....
:P

[stringscope]

I had a look at M6 last night from my suburban front driveway. Good transparency by only average seeing at best. Despite the light polution I could see this object with the naked eye. It is a lovely cluster, I find the butterfly shape most obvious with wide fields and I prefer to use my 40mm SWA which gives me a 2.2 degree FoV.

[dhumpie]

Great report Ian. Now we have got a few reports...come on others you can do it too :)

Darren

[ving]

you are right darren. these obs reports are fun... even the ones that arent part of the MOC. :)