2025-08-12

• Condition: VG6
• Quality: 19.96 mpsas
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

The moon is still pretty bright and I had a small window of time before it rose over the horizon.

9:52PM

• Target: NGC 6520
• Const: Sagittarius
• RaDec: 18h03m -27.53
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 110x
• Class: II 2 m

It was low enough where I had to catch this in a small space between the tree in Butch’s yard to the south, and his house. I had probably a 10-15 minute window to view it.

Beautiful yet small cluster. My last observation on [[2023-07-22]] detected a ‘glow’. Tonight I saw less of a generalized glow as more of the dimmer stars were resolved.

10:14PM

• Target: NGC 6716
• Const: Sagittarius
• RaDec: 18h54m -19.54
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x
• Class: III 2 p

Another lovely cluster. Not as concentrated as 6520, but on first glance the shape of the prominent stars gave it the appearance of a bouquet of flowers.