Cherokee #5: Pronto & Bootes

Pronto & Bootes

Equipment Used

TV Pronto
Gibraltar Mount
24mm konig, Ultima barlow
Nigh****ch, Audbon book to the night sky, SA2K

Note:

This observing session occurred several weeks prior to posting. I'm
just getting around to writing up my notes today :}

I want to thank the folks who advised I buy the Sky Atlas 2000 to help
track down deep sky objects. While my Nigh****ch maps provide my
targets to find, the SA2000 gives me the precise location to look. I
must admit the SA2000 was intimidating when I first opened it. The
maps are very dense and the constellations are not drawn in. Taking a
deep breath and pouring over it for several days, I'm now comfortable
using it out under the night sky. Good thing too as I can't imagine
finding some of these deep sky objects without it.

Bootes

I didn't plan to observe the objects in the constellation Bootes. I
just happened to look west this night and saw a very bright star.
Grabbing my constellation map I determined it was Acturus, the
brightest star in the constellation Bootes. One I had Acturus
identified it was easy to see the "sword" outline of the constellation.

Stars

Acturus: very bright yellow star. Brightest star in the western sky
that I could see

Izar: I was unable to split at any magnification with my Pronto.
Nigh****ch book states you need a 4" or larger scope to split. I guess
my 70mm Pronto doesn't qualify.

XI-Bootes: Took a bit to find this faind pair of doubles. No color
noted

Mu-Bootes: Easy double with a wide separation. Yellow primary, light
blue secondary

Deep Sky

M3: Globular cluster (globs of stars??). Basically a glowing smudge
against the background. Reminds me a bit of M57. This was a tough
find. I had to use a start between Actururs and Rho to jump to it.
Proud moment when I nailed it!

M53: Looked very hard but never found it. Sky was very hazy and this
object was plotted low in the sky.


peace,
Cherokee

Cherokee wrote:
Pronto & Bootes


Hi,

Thanks for your observing report, I can see Bootes very clearly
in the evening, makes me want to check it out more carefully next
time I have a chance (though it is setting earlier and earlier).

cheers,
Esmail

Hi again Esmail,

How is your observing going? What scope are you using?

Bootes is getting pretty low in the sky. If you find M53, let me know
and give me a few pointers. I would like to scratch it off my list.
I'm trying to observe everything listed in the charts of my excellent
Nigh****ch book.

peace,
Cherokee

Cherokee wrote:

SA2000 was intimidating when I first opened it. The
maps are very dense and the constellations are not drawn in.

I recommend drawing in constellation lines with pencil. It's
a somewhat time-consuming exercise, but you'll be learning
the sky while doing it.

Izar: I was unable to split at any magnification with my Pronto.
Nigh****ch book states you need a 4" or larger scope to split.

I've tried and failed with my Ranger several times. I think this
is *just* within the realm of possibility, but it would require
a night of excellent seeing, with Izar near the zenith, and
using very high magnification -- something like 150X - 200X.
40X would be *way* too low with any scope.

M3: Globular cluster (globs of stars??). Basically a glowing smudge
against the background. ... This was a tough find.

Yes, M3 is pretty easy to see, but it's *quite* far from any bright
star. A very exacting star-hop. The big, easy globulars right now
are M13, M92, M2, and M15. And M22 shortly after sunset.

M53: Looked very hard but never found it.

You'll have to wait until next year. It's actually little harder
to see than M3, but all the cards are stacked against you; it's
already *very* low at the end of astronomical twilight. Whenever
possible, look for things when they're at least 30 degrees
above the horizon.

- Tony Flanders

"Cherokee" wrote in message
ups.com...
Pronto & Bootes

Equipment Used

TV Pronto
Gibraltar Mount
24mm konig, Ultima barlow
Nigh****ch, Audbon book to the night sky, SA2K

Note:

This observing session occurred several weeks prior to posting. I'm
just getting around to writing up my notes today :}

I want to thank the folks who advised I buy the Sky Atlas 2000 to help
track down deep sky objects. While my Nigh****ch maps provide my
targets to find, the SA2000 gives me the precise location to look. I
must admit the SA2000 was intimidating when I first opened it. The
maps are very dense and the constellations are not drawn in. Taking a
deep breath and pouring over it for several days, I'm now comfortable
using it out under the night sky. Good thing too as I can't imagine
finding some of these deep sky objects without it.

Bootes

I didn't plan to observe the objects in the constellation Bootes. I
just happened to look west this night and saw a very bright star.
Grabbing my constellation map I determined it was Acturus, the
brightest star in the constellation Bootes. One I had Acturus
identified it was easy to see the "sword" outline of the constellation.

Stars

Acturus: very bright yellow star. Brightest star in the western sky
that I could see

Izar: I was unable to split at any magnification with my Pronto.
Nigh****ch book states you need a 4" or larger scope to split. I guess
my 70mm Pronto doesn't qualify.

XI-Bootes: Took a bit to find this faind pair of doubles. No color
noted

Mu-Bootes: Easy double with a wide separation. Yellow primary, light
blue secondary

Deep Sky

M3: Globular cluster (globs of stars??). Basically a glowing smudge
against the background. Reminds me a bit of M57. This was a tough
find. I had to use a start between Actururs and Rho to jump to it.
Proud moment when I nailed it!

M53: Looked very hard but never found it. Sky was very hazy and this
object was plotted low in the sky.


peace,
Cherokee


Sounds like you had a fun AND productive evening! Hard to beat THAT!!!

Thanks for the report!!!

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
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