NexStar 50 Club Observation Log

NexStar 50 Club Observation Log

Name: Darren Dassinger
NexStar Telescope Model(s): NexStar 114 GT, NexStar 9.25 GPS

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NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
1 1/11/2004 Orion Nebula 42 1976 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Wow! (but better when I saw it in Montana) Nice and clear, I liked it better with the 18 Ultima

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
1 3/19/2004 Orion Nebula 42 1976 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Amazing how large it is!

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
1 4/23/2004 Orion Nebula 42 1976 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Oldie but goodie - Moon has it washed out some and Pickering did not help, but still a joy. Trap easily seen with 10mm and
can be made out with 18mm

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
2 4/23/2004 Hercules Cluster 13 6205 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Nice glob but M3 should go onto the favorites list.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
3 6/11/2004 Ring Nebula 57 6720 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 10 Lanthium

Comment
Very cool - I can see that it is a super nova remnant. Again on the favorites list.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
4 1/11/2004 Saturn 0 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Nice rings but could not see the division.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
4 3/19/2004 Saturn 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 10 SMA

Comment
Could see the rings very clearly. I was able to see Cassini's division very well. Slight shading of the rings on the back side
of the planet. Very nice object to look at.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
4 4/23/2004 Saturn 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 10 Lanthium

Comment
Barely see the division with 10mm eyepieces. Still like the SMA better.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
6 1/11/2004 Andromeda 31 224 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Faint and fuzzy really did not enjoy it. I would like to see it with a bigger scope.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
7 6/11/2004 Dumbbell Nebula 27 6853 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Almost a box with the 40, but can make out the shape. Also used the 18, a little fuzzier, but good viewing.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
8 1/11/2004 Pleiades 45 0 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Always a treat (wowed a number of people before wit binoculars). I am still amazed about how many stars are here when
looking with this telescope.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
8 3/19/2004 Pleiades 45 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
Can see more stars, but can not see all of the main 6. I still like it betteer in binoculars.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
9 1/21/2004 Jupiter 0 0 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 10 SMA

Comment
Could see planet about 4/5 full with 4 moons distinctively. I saw two other objects although I don't know if they were
moons or not. (I had a cold and the wife demanded I come in before I could verify)

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
9 4/23/2004 Jupiter 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
First object on this night. Not too impressive Pickering just too much.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
10 6/11/2004 Wild Duck Cluster 11 6705 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
Looked more like a globular cluster then an open cluster. Either way, where is the duck?

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
11 1/21/2004 Cigar Galaxy 82 3034 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Very faint and fuzzy - need more aperture and darker skies.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
11 1/21/2004 Bodes Galaxy 81 3031 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Very faint and fuzzy - need more aperture and darker skies.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
12 6/11/2004 Swan or Omega Nebula 17 6618 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Looks like a swan! Very nice, again goes on the favorites list.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
13 6/11/2004 Albireo - double 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 43 Ultima

Comment
Cream and blue stars. Easily split even with the 43mm.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
14 1/21/2004 Perseus Double Cluster 0 869 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Cool that these are so close together! Should have had my 43 mm! Bright stars in 884 came through very nicely.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
15 3/19/2004 Whirlpool Galaxy 51 5194 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Can make out some arms, still faint. Great face on galaxy. Also could see a smaller companion. I think an ortho may
make the view better (less glass).

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
15 4/23/2004 M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy 51 5194 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
See both galaxies - fuzzy but OK.

NexStar 50 Date           Name                             Messier   NGC            Location
           16            4/23/2004 Hour Glass Nebula / Lagoon            8            6523        Rose Lake
                                        Nebula

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
I can see something but it does not take a shape. (OK, Now I understand why I did not see the hour glass, it is also
known as the Lagoon nebula.) Way more interesting is the spiral Open Cluster beside it (NGC6530)

NexStar 50 Date           Name                             Messier   NGC            Location
           16            6/11/2004 Hour glass nebula or Lagoon           8            6523        Rose Lake
                                        nebula

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 43 Ultima

Comment
Really see the hour glass shape.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
17 1/21/2004 Beehive Cluster 44 2632 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
I saw a zig zag pattern with the brighter stars but I don't see a beehive image with them. Plan to look again w/43mm in
future.

NexStar 50 Date           Name                             Messier   NGC            Location
           18            6/11/2004 Western & Eastern veil                  0            6960        Rose Lake
                                        Nebula

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
both are just a wisp - One has a bright star to the left edge.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
20 6/11/2004 Globular in Sagittarius 22 6656 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
Nice glob. A little faint but good definition.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
21 4/23/2004 Butterfly Cluster 6 6405 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
Open cluster reminded me of Ra (the sun god) at first. Changed to the 40mm and I could actually see the butterfly!

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
21 6/11/2004 Butterfly cluster 6 6405 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 43 Ultima

Comment
Actually looks like a butterfly! Add this one to the favorites list.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
22 6/11/2004 Double double 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 10 Lanthium

Comment
Cool to see 2 bright doubles in one view. I needed the 10mm to split them.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
25 3/19/2004 Spiral Galaxy 66 3627 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Slightly on edge with a companion. I could not see any arms. - Note: I believe the companion is NGC3628

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
26 6/11/2004 Coathanger Asterism 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 43 Ultima

Comment
Looks great through the spotting scope - the telescope has too much focal length even with the 43mm.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
27 3/19/2004 Galaxy in Leo 65 3623 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Nice edge on galaxy.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
28 6/11/2004 Ptolemy's Cluster 7 6475 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
Nice, center looks like a K - Need to show this one to Kris!

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
29 3/19/2004 Bernice's Hair Clip 0 4565 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 18 Ultima

Comment
Huge edge on galaxy. Great definition considering the magnitude (9.6)

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
30 6/11/2004 Globular in Pegasus 15 7078 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 10 Lanthium

Comment
Very small globular, not too exciting.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
31 1/21/2004 Owl Cluster 0 457 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment
Nice cluster - two brighter stars could maybe see an owl in flight but it is a stretch. Funny but it is listed as "ETCluser" in
"The Sky" software.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
31 6/11/2004 Owl cluster 0 457 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
NS 9.25 40 E-Lux

Comment
With the two bright stars as it's eyes, it looks like an owl with skinny wings.

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
32 3/19/2004 Milky Way 0 0 Rose Lake

Telescope Eyepiece
N/A

Comment
Nice silver blanket from north to south going slightly west to east. Like I remember from Montana, but as a kid I took it
for granted. Amazing just how many stars there are in our galaxy!

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
33 1/11/2004 Trapezium in Orion 42 1976 Home

Telescope Eyepiece
114GT 18 Ultima

Comment

NexStar 50 Date Name Messier NGC Location
&nb