2024-01-31

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

In contrast to last night, tonight started off windy and turbulent and slowly got better.

8:12PM

• Target: SY Eridani
• Const: Eridanus
• RaDec: 05h10m -5.29
• Type: Star (Carbon)
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

Not far to the SE of Cursa. Very red / orange, with a flame-like appearance.

8:19PM

• Target: R Leporis
• Const: Lepus
• RaDec: 05h00m -14.46
• Type: Star (Carbon)
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x

Another flame-like carbon. This one probably has more intensity than the last. Easy find west of μ Leporis.

8:39PM

• Target: NGC 1501, PN G144.5+06.5
• Const: Camelopardalis
• RaDec: 04h06m +60.55
• Type: Planetary Nebula
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x, Ultrablock

Just barely detectable without AV. Appears a bit larger than many other PNs. The Ultrablock filter helped it ‘pop’, but didn’t do much for the size.

9:15PM

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

The night was so beautiful at this point, I wanted a reason to stay out a little longer. I turned the scope to M42 and the view was so sharp and clear that I decided to spontaneously create a nice sketch of what I see (something I want to do more of in the future). I only had my mechanical pencil on me, but took time to admire and capture all the subtle details and layers of the nebula that were evident.