2024-01-01

• Condition: VG6
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

8:47PM

• Target: SAO 109003 (HD 26)
• Const: Pisces
• RaDec: 00h06m +8.54
• Type: Star (Carbon)
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

Color is pale yellow with a touch of orange.

9:16PM

• Target: Z Piscium
• Const: Pisces
• RaDec: 01h17m +25.53
• Type: Star (Carbon)
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

A very warm orange glow for a very cold night. Not many stars nearby, especially to the SE.

9:25PM

• Target: M 42, Orion Nebula
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h35m -5.27
• Type: Diffuse Nebula
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

This might be one of the best views of M42 I’ve seen yet. The air is so still that I can seem to make out minor details and variations in the structure of the nebula.