rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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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.)
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
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CarlosEH
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Reged: 01/19/05
Posts: 4132
Loc: Pembroke Pines, Broward County...
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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
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frank5817
Post Laureate
Reged: 06/13/06
Posts: 4084
Loc: Illinois
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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 
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my gallery
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WadeVC
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 2831
Loc: Lodi, California,
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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! 
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Orion XTi10 f/4.7
Orion XTi8 f/5.9
Meade NGC 70mm f/10
Orion UltraView 10x50 Wide-Angle Binoculars
My Sketch Gallery
My Astronomy Blog
A wise man can see more from the bottom of a well than a fool can from a mountain top.
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PhilH
sage
Reged: 01/27/05
Posts: 277
Loc: Long Island, NY
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Another outstanding image, Rony. Wonderfully captured. Thank you!
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Phil Harrington
Contributing editor, Astronomy magazine
Author: Star Ware || Star Watch || Touring the Universe through Binoculars || et al...
Binocular Universe
http://www.philharrington.net
http://www.observingsites.com
"Two eyes are better than one!"
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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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.
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
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rolandlinda3
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/06
Posts: 2233
Loc: Crozet VA 22932
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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
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Roland
Sketches in members galleries: rolandlinda3
Inspirational stories/sketches at:
www.christworksministries.org
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xfile101
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/08/07
Posts: 759
Loc: Ocean Gate, NJ
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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!!
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Orion XT8I
Celestron 114EQ Firstscope
Meade 70mm
Astroscan
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1532
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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WOW!!! Is that a photo or a sketch!?  Marvelous detail, looks just as I remember it! Thanks for posting it.
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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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. 
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
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Tommy5
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/28/04
Posts: 1821
Loc: Chicagoland
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very nice sketch of this low to the horizon custer.
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Special Ed
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Reged: 05/18/03
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Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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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.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
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rodelaet
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/28/06
Posts: 3063
Loc: 50°56' N - 4°58' E (Belgium)
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Tommy and Michael, Thanks!!
I look forward to your observations.
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Rony
My Astronomical Sketches
My Binocular Sketches
Callibrate your Monitor with this little strip.
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