STARLOG

EAGLE EGGS

SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

After seven weeks without an opportunity to observe, I was more than ready to get back outside tonight. It was almost perfect weather. High around 80, dropping to the upper 60s by the time I wrapped up my session.

We had some rains this weekend and our back yard was still a bit soggy, so I set up in the front driveway. Even with several neighborhood lights shining brightly, the skies weren't too bad. Cygnus was nearing Zenith, and if I concentrated hard enough, I could make out a bit of the Great Rift. I was stoked! This is the first time I've been able to glimpse the Milky Way from my driveway, even if it was only for about 5 degrees of sky.

I spent several minutes just reacquainting myself with the sky. While waiting for the scope to cool down, I took quick peeks at Saturn and Mars. Gorgeous as usual. A bit of detail could be seen on Mars, even in its gibbous phase.

As the sky darkened a bit more, I said "Hello" to the ET Cluster (NGC 457). ET waved back at me and so I turned to the Great Hercules Cluster, M13. A bit washed out with city light pollution, but still impressive. You can't keep a good globular cluster down.

Now it was time to take a look at my observing list. I can't even remember the last time I observed something "new." I scanned down the list for a constellation in favorable viewing position. Ah, Aquila, the Eagle! I began my journey there.

NGC 6781	Snowball	Planetary Nebula	Aquila	9:00pm CDT
	This is a planetary nebula called the Snowball. I had a difficult time finding it but was finally able to see it by using my 11mm (136x) with an O-III filter attached. It appeared as a large, round, faint puff that could barely be seen with averted vision. In fact, at first, I mistook it for a lens flare from the streetlights but it moved with the star field so I knew it was real.
NGC 6818	Little Gem	Planetary Nebula	Sagittarius	9:50pm CDT
	This planetary nebula shows up well with my barlowed 18mm (208x) as a large, blurry star. It isn't quite circular and with averted vision it appeared to have some mottling. With averted vision, it appeared yellow-orange, but when staring at it directly, it had a hint of blue.
NGC 6751	Dandelion Puffball	Planetary Nebula	Aquila	10:10pm CDT
	This planetary nebula can be seen with direct vision, but it likes to disappear when you are scanning the field. Once the image is steady, it pops right into view again. It is oblong and very mottled, almost like a faint globular cluster. The best view was with the 18mm (83x). The 11mm (136x) shows a bit more detail, but it is harder to track the object because every time you move the scope to center it, it wants to disappear again.
NGC 6871		Open Cluster	Cygnus	10:40pm CDT
	This is a bright open cluster, but it's plastered right on top of the Milky Way, where everything looks like a cluster. There are several bright stars with a couple of pairs of stars. The overall shape reminds me of the Owl Cluster, except it is a two-headed owl with two pairs of eyes staring back at you. Kinda creepy, yet cool, too.

I was only out for about 90 minutes, but by this time, dew was beginning to soak my observing list. I had to get up for work in the morning, so I called it a night. I saw some old favorites and made a few new friends, so I call it a success.