Cherokee #2 Pronto and Lyra

Pronto and Lyra

Equipment

Tele Vue Pronto
Gibraltar mount
24mm Konig & Ultima Barlow
Nigh****ch

Introduction

Tonight was my first evening using the Tele Vue Pronto atop the
Gibraltar mount. It took me around 5 minutes to pull out the assembled
scope and mount, my chair and my Nigh****ch book and eyepieces. I'm
very happy with how little time it takes to setup the gear in this
hobby. Less then 5 minutes insures I will take advantage of any clear
evening. I would not be so confident if setup time was longer.

My first mistake of the evening is (in hindsight) one of the most
obvious. That is, how do I see my Nigh****ch constellation map in the
dark! That's right, there I sat with Nigh****ch open in my lap and
wondering at my own lack of foresight. Back into the garage I go and
dig up a tiny keychain flashlight - the kind you squeeze when you want
it to light.

My second mistake of the evening was in not digging up a compass. I
needed to find the constellation Lyra and had no idea where it was at
in the sky. My National Audobon Society book showed 4 views of the sky
but they are marked by directions on the compass (North, South, etc).
Funny that I've never really thought about it before tonight.

So yes, back into the garage and into the camping gear for my old
compass. With compass in hand and the 4 views of the sky for July open
in my lap, I could now orient myself to the sky full of stars.

Ease of use

The intuitive ease of use of the Pronto with the Starbeam finder is
nothing short of brilliance. All I have to do is put the red dot of
the star beam at the point in the sky I want to observe and bam,
there it is in the eyepiece. I can't imagine any system being easier
to learn and use then the Pronto with a starbeam on the Gibraltar
mount.

Observations

I'm unclear on how to write-up an observing report on SAA. If the more
experienced members have some suggestions, please don't hold back. I'm
eager and willing to learn.

Finding Vega in the sky was quite easy once I had my compass. I mean,
it's so bright! Once Vega was located the rectangular shape of the
rest of the constellation was clearly visible.

I started off the evening observing the listed double stars in Lyra.
It occurred to me that;

1. stars are easier to find then deep sky objects
2. two stars are easier to find then one :}

Doubles in Lyra

Zeta lyra - while primary, blue companion
Beta Lyra - white primary, blue companion (looks a lot like zeta Lyra)
Delta Lyra - yellow primary, white companion
Eta lyra - White primary, very faint companion
Epsilon Lyra - confused here. I could easily see the 2 stars but my
book talks about companions of the 2 stars. I need a little help
here????

I am excited and impressed by the views of the doubles above. Finding
them is fun but the view are beautiful! Tiny points of different
colored stars nestled together. The Pronto sure gives some stunning
views....

Deep Sky in Lyra

M57: I had to use the barlow to locate M57. I swept up and down
between Beta and Gamma Lyra until I finally detected a "smudge" about
half way between the two. Once I found it and studied it for a short
while, I could see it was round but could not see the oval interior.
By this I mean it appeared to be a round, gray cloud. A little reading
gave me the background on M57 and I was in awe that I was looking at
the remains of an exploded star. What a hobby!

Well, that wraps up my first evening of observing. Next up is Cygnus.

peace,
Cherokee