Funny you should say that Morton, because I managed to get out tonight and add a few more objects to my tally, and to my joy, they were some relatively obscure ones as well!
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26/01/2012 at 10.15pm
Instrument: Tasco 8x56 binoculars
Seeing: 5/10
Transparency: good.
A cooler, stiller night with a few welcome surprises. This is the first time I have taken out a pair of binocs to do some observations (*rather than just sky scanning and going "oooh pretty!"*). I managed to log several new things and several old.
I started with the easy items like Jupiter and M42. Then it got interesting.
Betelgeuse - I can't get over how red this star is. even in my binocs it looks good.
Regrettably M78 refused to be found. It may be beyond the abilities of my eyes with these binoculars under my suburban skies. The Megrez might be worth a shot here.
M41 - a very nice open cluster, and a new object to boot! Not especially bright, bus still worth a second look with the Megrez later.
Also managed to confirm 3 other new, relatively obscure objects (*Obscure in that I don't believe they have an NGC/IC Messier etc catalog number*)
Cr132 - A largish open cluster roughly 8' in diameter. Nice to spot and correctly identify a non NGC object. However, not especially notable.
Cr140 - A impressive lineup of stars with a striking double (more anon) very nice.
Dunlap 47 - A wide blue and yellow double, which according to the Night Sky Observer's Guide; have a magnitude of 5.5 and 7.6, separated by 99" in PA 342deg. My eye was immediately drawn to the vibrant yellow colour. Astonishing and all the more wonderful as it was totally unexpected. very happy about that one.
Quite pleased with tonight's efforts. 4 new objects with a pair of mediocre binocs in less than half an hour. Very chuffed.
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oh, and happy Australia day everyone!
