Looks like the only go I'm going to be able to have at this month's challenge came on Monday night,
. Only able to make Randwick with Hickny. We had two scopes: the 13.1" f/4.5 Odyssey, and and 8" f/4.
We had a lot of low cloud come and go, making things, well, let's just say 'challenging' to keep things civil.
Only managed some poor views of Sombrero and M83, and Eta Carina was way below par due to the poor seeing. The little Globular NGC 5286 was a highlight though.
The poor conditions made finding M104 and M83 tricky. Usually these two have been relatively easy pick'ns. M104 showed its central core quite compact in the Odyssey, with a faint, faint hint of glow beneath the dust lane.
M83 showed a 'nice' but faint disk, with a distinct bright, compact core. I thought I saw some detail in the disk throught the Odyssey, more when the scope was 'giggled', but I couldn't be too sure to describe it more than a some mottleing.
NGC 5286 is such a treat. In the 8" it was a bright, really small fuzzy ball resisting being resolved. In the Odyssey, aperture came into its own. At low power (50X) it began to show hints of resolving. It really is a small GC. At 250X, there it was a mass of tiny faint pinpoint stars, really tightly held. There was quite a range of brightness's of stars within it, which surprised me. Linear patterns could be traced, looking like finely beaded spiders' web wet from dew. I must say that this is my favourite GC for now. It's challenging to resolve, but it rewards richly when achieved.
The balance of the targets I suggested where unobtainable or overcame our patience and energy reserves after a day's work. The last two sessions I've managed have been from Randwick, and it has been such hard work at zenith. I'm going to have to get the objects a zenith done first next time while I'm at my freshest. Too tiring otherwise.
I'm sorry I haven't even been able to chase down the other recommendations either. Circumstances just not allowing,
. Can't do it this weekend either.
Mental.