Telescope Reviews: New season, and some new sketches

Hello!

A new observing season has started here in high latitudes too. During this august, I have had time to do some observing, and here you can see some results:

Messier 11

Observation information:
Date: 19/20.8.2009
Time: 00.00
Location: Parainen, Finland
Instrument: N 250/1200 mm
Magnification: 80x
Field of view: 50,3'
Filter: -

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6,6
Seeing: 3
Background sky: 2
Altitude: 21
Visuality: 2
Weather: Clear sky, moderate northern breeze

Description:
A very rich and bright open cluster. It is very compact and very well detached from the background. The cluster
is so compact, that it resembles a very loose globular cluster. There are one brighter star in the center of the cluster,
A very beatiful object, indeed!

Messier 16

Observation information:
Date: 20/21.8.2009
Time: 00.45
Location: Parainen, Finland
Instrument: N 250/1200 mm
Magnification: 37,5x
Field of view: 84,0'
Filter: O III

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6.6
Seeing: 2
Background sky: 2
Altitude: 8°
Visuality: 3
Weather: Clear sky, light breeze, +14°C
Description:
A pretty open cluster with nebula. The nebula became visible with O III -filter. The cluster is pretty well
concentrated and well detached from it's background. The cluster is fairly rich and has a moderate brightness range.

Messier 17

Observation information:
Date: 20/21.8.2009
Time: 00.25
Location: Parainen, Finland
Instrument: N 250/1200 mm
Magnification: 37,5x
Field of view: 84,0'
Filter: O III

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6,6
Seeing: 2
Background sky: 2
Altitude: 7
Visuality: 3
Weather: Clear sky, light breeze, +14C

Description:
A very beautiful and bright nebula, which resembles a swan by its shape, as it's nickname suggests.
The body, neck and head of the swan are the brightest areas of the nebula. The nebula has also fainter areas, which became visible better with O III -filter.

NGC 7293

Observation information:
Date: 19/20.8.2009
Time: 01.00
Location: Parainen, Finland
Instrument: N 250/1200 mm
Magnification: 37,5x
Field of view: 84,0'
Filter: UHC, O III

Observation conditions:
Limiting magnitude: 6.6
Seeing: 2
Background sky: 2
Altitude: 7°
Visuality: 2
Weather: Clear sky, moderate northern breeze, +12°C

Description:
A very large planetary nebula with low surface brightness. The nebula was barely visible without filters.
With UHC the nebula appeared as a hazy, round spot. With O III the doughnut shape of the nebula became clearly visible.
The nebula has brighter areas in its western and eastern sections.

Edited by Aldebaran (08/26/09 11:41 AM)