2022-04-03

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Cabin: 44.31, -103.88

9:30PM

• Target: M 52
• Const: Cassiopeia
• RaDec: 23h24m +61.35
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x

M52 was very difficult to see. Only really spotted it because one star seemed to have a larger ‘blueish’ glow than expected. When magnifying to 40x, saw very dim ‘freckles’ of stars clumped together.

10:00PM

• Target: M 95
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 10h44m +11.42
• Type: Spiral Galaxy

• Target: M 96

• Const: Leo

• RaDec: 10h46m +11.49

• Type: Spiral Galaxy

• Target: M 105

• Const: Leo

• RaDec: 10h47m +12.35

• Type: Elliptical Galaxy

• Scope: ST80

• Setting: 16x, AV

M96, M95, and M105 were very hard. I first attempted it by re-calibrating on Regulus, then slewing between κ and ι. Panning around a little, I could barely see elongated spots of deep blue. But it was hard to tell whether it was a trick of the eye. I re-calibrated on Regulus again, then set RA / Dec to M95’s coordinates, this gave me a view with all three elongated spots again; confirming that it wasn’t a trick of the eye.