2023-04-09

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

9:13PM

• Target: NGC 2903
• Const: Leo
• RaDec: 09h32m +21.3
• Type: Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, 57x

Easy to detect, could be seen in the finder-scope as I was aligning to λ Leonis. AV helps expand the size a bit, and can bring out patches of light near the center. Attempted a closer view at 57x, and could repeatedly see a speck of light at the center with AV.

9:31

• Target: M 44, Beehive Cluster (Praesepe)
• Const: Cancer
• RaDec: 08h40m +19.59
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 19x

Was ready to go in, and as I gazed up at the sky my eyes were drawn to the bright patch in the center of Cancer. Decided to turn the telescope to enjoy M44 again. Always a treat.