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Hi Dana, Les and keen viewers. After much cloud we had a reasonable sky on the south coast last night but with a fair bit of moisture and sky glow. Having settled my eyes on the Leo Triplet and abandoned Jupiter as a bit dull and unclear, I headed for Dana’s marker for ESO 092-18. Trouble at the start as a triplet of stars similar to the Altair visual three (about 1 degree NW) did not show well in Dana’s map. I discovered after a bit (when compared to my Interstellarum) that one had disappeared under my light as it was obviously a variable and shown as a circle! I soon got on to the curious double h4306, which is in a wonderful field and two fine blues of similar magnitude. The ‘little bow’ of stars that Dana described were obvious and I reached what I thought were the two markers on each side of the ESO. Nothing in low power (10” F5, 21 Denk 21mm). Serious nature call left me light contaminated and had to start with a fogging finder 20 minutes later. After settling in and hunting Sombrero for a bit, I returned to the scene of the crime. Again, nothing! I changed to a 13mm Baader Hype and suddenly a few stars appeared and the hint of a haze. Down to a Meade 9mm but a bit too much. Back to the wonderful Hyperion and gradually some stardust started to emerge set in a Corvus-like quad of stars. I noticed again the fine blue double just on the edge of the field. I read Dana’s report again later and he describes the cluster well as if a veil were drawn over the haze, which to me gave it an almost globular look. I was well pleased with the hunt and the fact that I succeeded with my simple Dobsonian. The Insterstellarium Desk Edition took a hammering but well worth it. Remembering Dana’s comments about this eerie object added greatly to the experience. Regards, Eugene
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