Secret Still Observatory

'Star, star teach me how to shine, shine'

Mid-Wales Dark Sky

Visual observing during Bortle 3 dark sky trip

Mark

1 minute read

Details

  • Rig: Visual Sky-Watcher 72ED DS Pro + Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi
  • Filters: None

Seeing index: OK (3)
Transparency: Poor/ave (2)

Targets

Sky-Watcher 72ED

Object Type Constellation Rating
M51 Galaxy CVn Not visible
M13 Globular Cluster Her Faint and low in altitude
M81/M82 Galaxy UMa Clearly visible, high in the sky, found with go-to.
Gamma Cas Nebula Star/Nebula Cassiopeia Faint nebulosity visible.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks Comet Tau Low in altitude and somewhat faint but clearly visible.
Mizar/Alcor UMa Double star Mizar was just separable in the conditions with the small refractor.

During the seven day trip only one night was observable. The 33% Moon seemed very bright in these dark sky conditions and the transparency was average at best but the evening was nevertheless wonderful. Five and a half hours total observation time. Sketches using white charcoal on black cartridge paper.

M81 and M82

M81 and M82

Comet P12/Pons-Brooks

Comet P12/Pons-Brooks

Gamma Cas Nebula

Gamma Cas Nebula

Mizar and Alcor

Mizar and Alcor

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