Hello all,
Yesterday sat 8:30 pm I left the city to do some visual and imaging of M8. Its still readily available (at 49* latitude) on the southern horizon.
It was very exciting for me because it was my first chance to use the little MIJ Tasco 60mm scope, which will function as my guide scope. I fastened it to my rings holding the SV and rigged the little Tasco with a 40mm Meade super plossl - , and certainly able to take in a wide view.
My second goal was to get both M20 and M8 in the same frame, a bit of a challenge.
M8 was resplendent in my FOV of the "finder", and M20 somewhat less so. A great main optic in this little refractor. Thanks to Mark in Toronto for trading me for it.
I still haven't got my guide camera for the guider, but am really happy to use it for dialing in the main scope, and doing star alignment.
I spent some time dodging clouds and the moon rose at ~ 12:05... but this turned out to be a nice evening. It even included a close proximal visit from one of the coyote pack that populates the RASC observatory grounds. She gave voice to call her brothers and sisters at about 12:30 - and she was about 100 metres down the path... raised the hairs on my neck, ha ha.
I finished up around 1:30 am and despite some clouds gathered some decent data. The visuals on my Messiers from the Tasco were strikingly good.
Thanks for looking!
M8 or NGC 6523 - "The Lagoon Nebula, Messier 8 (NGC 6523) is one of the finest star-forming regions in the sky, and is faintly visible to the naked eye. It is a giant glowing cloud of interstellar gas, divided by a dark lane of dust, containing a cluster of young stars (NGC 6530) that have formed from it."
Also, I highly recommend Rhiannon Ghiddens for you jazz fans out there. Incredible singer.
Comments