2024-12-20

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

I went out tonight with the intent to finish up the Heart and Soul nebula clusters. IC 1805 (Heart Nebula) being done, I was going to attempt IC 1848 and Crumpler 34; however once I stepped outside and noticed Orion my priorities changed.

I remember seeing NGC 1981 on my list of targets, so I switched to that one on-the-fly and took extra time observing and sketching tonight.

09:05PM

• Target: NGC 1981
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h35m -04.26
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x, Orion Ultrablock Filter
• Class: II 1 m

I was able to capture NGC 1981 and the Running Man Nebula in the same FoV. A little way though the sketch I decided to attempt shifting the FoV and continuing the sketch to create more of a panorama that includes the Orion Nebula. NGC 1981 is the cluster of stars north of the Running Man Nebula.