| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/09/08 05:35 PM |
| Attachment |
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Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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M6 – The Butterfly Cluster
One of the binocular highlights of Scorpius is M6, the Butterfly Cluster. This bright open cluster forms a splendid duo with M7. These two bright - naked eye - clusters were known since antiquity. While they can be squeezed in a single field of view, I rather prefer to dedicate a single sketch to each one of this brilliant duo.
M6 can be found at the tail of the Scorpius at 5° north of Lambda Scorpii. In a pair of binoculars, the cluster appears 15’ wide. A dozen stars are visible with direct vision. Averted vision can reveal another 15 stars. The binocular low power does not make it easy to distinguish the individual stars in this dense packed cluster. So take all the time you need to study M6 in detail. The lucida of the cluster, at the edge of the eastern wing of the butterfly, is the orange variable BM Sco. Don’t be surprised that your observation does not match my sketch, because BM Sco can fluctuate between mag 5.8 and 8.0. The Butterfly Cluster is 1600 l-y away. Its true size is estimated at 14 l-y.
Site : Andratx, Mallorca, Spain
Date : July 25, 2008
Time : around 22.15UT
Binoculars : TS 15x70 Marine
FOV: 4.4°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 4/5
Sky brightness : 21.00 magnitudes per square arc second near zenith (SQM reading).
Nelm : 6.4
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Photo Paint, based on a raw pencil sketch.
(Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.)
| CarlosEH |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/09/08 06:37 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Rony,
A beautiful and accurate observation of M6 (Butterfly Cluster) in Scorpius. You have captured this striking open cluster very nicely. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
| frank5817 |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/09/08 07:34 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Rony,
Great write-up and excellent sketch of a very fine open cluster.
This one is probably a little easier than M-7 from your location.Frank
| WadeVC |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 08/09/08 08:42 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Rony, Rony, Rony...you have once again provided an excellent rendering of your observation of a beautiful Open Cluster. You captured the subtle nuance that this OC has to offer to perfection.
Well done!
| PhilH |
| (sage) |
| 08/09/08 08:53 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Another outstanding image, Rony. Wonderfully captured. Thank you!
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/11/08 04:49 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Thanks, Guys!
I'm glad that you like the sketch.
Frank, I observed M6 from 39°N, where M6 culminates 10° higher than at home. It does make a big difference.
| rolandlinda3 |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 08/11/08 05:07 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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Very nice Rony. Clusters are such a pleasure to look at through binoculars. But it is sketching them that really brings them to light. Roland
| xfile101 |
| (scholastic sledgehammer) |
| 08/11/08 09:23 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster
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With the exception of M-11 (The Wild Duck) this is by far my favorite OC in the summer sky and you have rendered it beautifully. I have to admit, because of your sketches I have been using the binoculars a whole lot more than I use to. Thanks so very much!!
| Patricko |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 08/12/08 02:01 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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WOW!!! Is that a photo or a sketch!?
Marvelous detail, looks just as I remember it! Thanks for posting it.
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/13/08 04:54 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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Roland, Frank and Patrick,
Thanks for the kind words!
Frank, I glad to read that you use your bino's more often.
| Tommy5 |
| (Carpal Tunnel) |
| 08/13/08 05:20 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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very nice sketch of this low to the horizon custer.
| Special Ed |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/15/08 10:38 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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Nice! I never pass up a chance to look at M6. And I'm glad that your postings encourage people to try binocular astronomy.
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 08/16/08 02:49 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 29 : M6 - The Butterfly Cluster.
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Tommy and Michael, Thanks!!
I look forward to your observations.