[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Ok, I have notes on some of these objects so here goes

NGC 2516 (Caldwell 96)
Date 5/12/09 11pm Seeing - Very Good
Object is west and slightly south of approximately 24’ from Avior (Epsilon Carinae) and is visible to naked eye despite low position to south and light pollution. Epsilon Carinae is the westernmost star of the “False Cross” making it very easy to identify.
Sometimes mistaken as Lacaille’s Southern Pleiades which is actually IC 2602 to the south.
O’Meara makes some interesting points about the history of this object. Various sources quote different sizes for this object with a trend of smaller sizes being reported over time. Cluster appears very large in 24mm eyepiece with a 1.1o field of view. There also appears to be 3 brighter stars on a gentle arc on north side. Uranometria doesn’t include these stars and shows a diameter of about 22”. The varying sizes arise as the visual cluster is quite large and includes the 3 stars, while accurate measurements by Hipparcos indicates that at least one of the 3 stars is not part of the cluster.
A very beautiful and rich cluster displaying a wide variation in colours and brightness. A most rewarding object.

M42 17/10/09
Easily located in Orion. First time viewing with aperture larger than 200mm. Very bright with much evidence of structure. Trails of dark dust evident to south of central part of nebulosity. Trapezium stars very evident at 115x. Easily located stars E and F without averted vision. Use of UHC filter dramatically increased contrast.

NGC 121 11/11/09 Time 11-45pmVery small and faint globular cluster to NNE of NGC 104. Using 24mm EP both it and 104 appear in same FOV.
Mars Ice cap Observed at Camperdown Friday 15th Jan 2010. Used 13mm ep with 2x barlow (230x) Clearly visible with a dark ring around it. A prominent dark patch extended south, may be Syrtis Major. Not really familiar with planetary geography (or should that be Arieography for Mars, Jovieoraphy for Jupiter?) so not really sure.
Subsequent observations were in unstaedy seeing so not easy to pick up.
Rigel and IC335 will have to wait, have looked at Rigel but have no notes!

Malcolm