Telescope Reviews: Another Really good Morning Session

I got up early for a morning session in order to get some Moonless sky time. Plus I wanted to hit the Virgo Cluster area to knock out some of the Messiers I have not seen over there and I wanted to get a look at some of my summer favorites. I got out at about 4am. I had about an hour before Astronomical twilight would start so I had to hurry! All this was done through the XT10i and from my Red-Zone backyard.

First it was M57. It looked great through the XT10i with an 11mm ES 82. I tried it with an O-III at 14mm & 8.8mm but the 11mm with no filter was the best.

After that I could not resist going for the Veil. My scope was at an akward position really close to a fence because I had positioned it to look at Virgo. I could not look for long periods at the Veil because it was so uncomfortable. I was able to get the NGC6960 half with my ES 24mm and 14mm but only with the O-III filter. with out the filter it was not there at all. I have had better views of the veil from my backyard, I think it may have still been a little too low.

Next it was time to go to Virgo. I was able to get M64, M49, M59, M60, M86, M84, & M87. M59 & M60 were seen with NGC4638 all in the same view through the 14mm EP. Virgo was getting a little low in the west. I think later in spring when it is higher earlier I should be able to get more and all should look better.

Then I went for some old favorites. M101, barely detectable but definitely there. M51, two distinct bright cores and after looking at it for a while I could get some hazy swirlyness using averted vision, which was a first for me. M13, WOW, Just WOW! So many stars resolved. It was almost perfectly over head. I bumped the mag up all the way to 4.4mm (barlowed 8.8mm ES 82) and the cluster filled the whole EP. WOW! M3 & M5, nicely resolved. Last but not least was Saturn. I should have gotten to this earlier because by the time I did it was getting low in the West. Cassini was barely there, and came in and out.

By this time it was 5:30 and was getting light. All in all a good early morning session!