Another night out with the 48 Brandon. Tonight it had company, an 17mm ES 92. (First night out with it). It feels great to finally have a grab and go scope after 15+ years carrying around the heavy guys.
Only problem is, it's Galaxy season LOL. So it isn't the brightest idea to go out with a 4 incher, what with only Leo, Coma Berenices, Canes Venetici and Virgo visible from my spot. I opened SkyTools 4 and went through my lists to see if there's anything else out there I can watch besides doubles (I don't like splitting stars, prefer to find carbon stars instead).
I managed to find the only(?) Open Clusters besides the majestic Collinder 256 - Melotte 111 within these 4 Constellations.
Latham 1 in Coma Berenices, a nice cluster next to Mel 111. Seen in the Brandon and ES, both sharp. This 17mm ES 92 I can tell is kick azs. Both eyepieces show pin point stars, both top notch EP's.
There's a debate at Harvard University if this is truly an open cluster...if anyone cares to look into it, never understood how to open these files.. https://ui.adsabs.ha...24712M/abstract
Upgren 1 in Canes Venetici, this is one cool cluster actually. Surprised to see a topic on it. https://www.cloudyni...8693-upgren-1/
Brosch 1, Virgo Diamond, Asterism? I rushed out the house without its coordinates, actually, Skysafari 6 Pro didn't have it in it's database unlike the other 2 (can't have them all), will try and find it next time.: https://www.astronom...1-virgo-diamond
ESO 312-04....OCL 1157.5...Virgo...
Should have taken the coords.
Pocket Sky Atlas 1142092834
Millennium Star Atlas Vol I Chart 1119600291
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart -2033274347
Uranometria 2000 Vol I&II Chart -699749798
Uranometria 2nd Ed. Chart 0
Herald-Bobroff Astroatlas B-09 C-44
It was nice to see M3 also with the 17mm at 35x
Mel 111 is a sight to behold in the 17mm ES 92, it filled up the whole lens with very bright looking stars. I still love the view with the Brandon just as much though for this big Asterism - OC..
Tried to find the Whale Galaxy, it ain't happening. But there are dozen of carbon stars about a degree underneath it. Nice spot to scan around.
I may have found a new open cluster, 41 comae berenices is part of, it looks like a funky chinese letter, can I name it? Does anyone care? lol
Overall the Brandon and ES 92 are great eyepieces, their lenses are just great to look through. I was always an eye guard freak but these eyepieces are a pleasure to look through without eye shields. Especially the Brandon with it's large flat lens. I hope more wide lens, preferably flat, eyepieces are made in the future. Or did I miss that wave? There are some minor blackouts if you start tilting your head for no reason, but it's nothing really. I raise my eye glasses when I observe, other times I wear contacts.
Edited by Procyon, 28 April 2025 - 02:29 AM.