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Obs Report
Thought I'd have a go at the November Challenge, the Skeletope is almost complete and the sky was clear despite some local Fireworks. I just dragged the scopes outside the garage door. Tested the 4.5" after the spider mods on Jupiter and am pleased with the improved viewing.
Using the 10" I hunted my way up to NGC 104 with a 25mm Plossl and then the 20mm Wideview and got some stunning almost 3D clarity moments when you could see right up to the core. The 12mm although darker was quite impressive as well.
The cluster was just viewable by binoculars, it's not my best viewing direction for Light pollution.
Started scanning away and found by pure accident NGC 362 just above the SMC. Bit hard to identify as there wasn't much around it that stood out but I've started sketching and noting time and RA/Dec so I can reference back to Stellarium to identify them. My sketches are only positional patterns at present but I'll work on them.
Further scanning got me 346 and above it 330 with 371 hanging around down beneath and off to one side. I tried the 12mm on 346 and got some separation within the group but seeing at that level was marginal.
I probably 'saw' a few others in the vicinity but I'm not up to recognising them yet, it's a steep learning curve in amongst all the shiny things. All told, it was a good night for me.
There is a small volcano about 3 km away with a road to the top that is open at night. The one in my 'backyard' is closed at 9pm. Next weekend, weather permitting of course, I want to drive up with the scope and get Andromeda and if I can wake up early enough 103P Hartley. At our latitude (37) they are very low in the northern sky, maximum elevation about 15 degrees and although I'll be contending with LP to some extent I reckon it's worth a shot.
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