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