Deep Sky Spring Observations July/August 2020

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

Between July and October 2020, I did simple "deep-sky summer/autumn observations," which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau and in Erkerode (near Braunschweig).

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

In July/August 2020, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations were done in July to August 2020.

Observation Location

The observations took partly place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany) ...:

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49.25° N, 8.72° E

... and partly in Erkerode (near Braunschweig, Germany):

52° 12' 27.2" N 10° 42' 52.9" E
52.207556° N, 10.714696° E

Devices Used

I used the TLAPO1027 on the AZ4 mount, the PS72 and the Skymax-127 on the AZ Pronto mount, and the C8 on the AZ4 mount.

General Conditions

In Mühlhausen/Kraichgau, the sky was not particularly dark. In Erkerode, it was a bit better.

Observation Overview

Date 2020	Observed Objects	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
Jul 11 MH	Jupiter, Saturn GC: M 3	PS 72/432 and TLAPO1027: M 3 observed with about 100 x (4 mm at PS72, 7 mm at TLAPO); clearly brighter and more detailed in the TLAPO. Later, I observed Jupiter and Saturn.		PS72 on AZ Pronto, TLAPO1027 on AZ4
Jul 18 MH	Jupiter, Saturn, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)	We observed the comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) on the Heiligenstein hill with the naked eye, all our binoculars, and the SM127 on AZ Pronto; the tail looked nicest in the binoculars. Also photographed the comet with the Sony RX10 M4 on a photo tripod. Moreover, we observed briefly Jupiter and Saturn with the SM127 (32 mm, 10 mm).	Fotos	SM127 on AZ Pronto, all our binoculars; Sony RX10 M4 on photo tripod	32, 10 mm
Jul 21 MH	C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE)	Observed the comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) with view to Braunschweig/mistle tree (at the end of the street "Über dem Steinbruch", at the edge of a field) using TS binoculars and photographed it using my Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto (from briefly before 11 p.m. on); the tail was nicest in the bicoculars. After that, we observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS and LT binoculars (about 11:30 p.m.).		TS and LT binoculars; Sony RX10 M4 on AZ Pronto	32, 10 mm
Jul 23 Erk	Jupiter, Saturn, C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) GC: M 4, M 5, M 9, M 10, M 12, M 14, M 80, M 107 OC: M 11	We observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS and LT binoculars several times (beginning from 11 p.m.) Observed globular star clusters from the balcony using the SM127, particularly in Scorpius and Ophiuchus: M 4 very faint, M 80, M 4 again, and very faint as well, M 107 not found, M 9, M 107 now faint, M 14, M 12, M 10, 107 again, very faint. Finally, observed Saturn (ring) and Jupiter (1 moon to the left, 3 moons to the right) from the balcony (briefly before 1 a.m.). TS binoculars: M 14, M 10, M 12, M 5 (no more found with SM127, to far in the West) TS binoculars: chain on "nebulae" in the Milky Way, which I took for clouds first; wandered from top to bottom and saw 5-6 (or more) "nebula-like" objects: M 11 with a trapezium on top, below several nebulae (M 16-18?) of different sizes, perhaps M 24 and M 23 next to it, at the bottom a broad nebula stripe with many brighter stars in it, probably the Trifid Nebula M 20 and/or the Lagoon Nebula M 8.		SM127 on AZ Pronto, TS and TS binoculars	32, 16, 7 mm
Jul 24 Erk	C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) OC: M 11	Observed the comet from the street in front of the house using TS binoculars (about 11 p.m.). Briefly saw M 11 as a glow in binoculars, then clouds came and covered the sky...		TS binoculars
Aug 5 Erk	GC: M 22 GN: M 8	TS binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22		TS binoculars
Aug 6 Erk	GC: M 10, M 12, M 22 OC: M 11 GN: M 8	TS binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22, M 10, M 12, M 11, further "soft dots" below M 11, "soft dot" in a triangle above M 11* LT binoculars: M 8 (NGC 6530), M 22, M 11, "soft dot" in a triangle above M 11* *) These were only stars in a triangle with 8 aql at the top (the other two stars have HD numbers)		TS and LT binoculars
Aug 7 Erk	GC: M 10, M 12, M 22 OC: M 11 GN: M 8	All objects seen with the SM127 and the TS binoculars; saw only M 8, M 11, and M 22 with the LT binoculars.		SM127 on AZ Pronto, TS and LT binoculars	24 mm
Aug 27 MH	GC: M 13 OC: M 11 SM: Cr 399	PS72 compared with TLAPO1027 using some DSO: M 13 observed with 16/26 mm, also nice in the PS72, stars nearly resolved in the APO... Also nice with 7/10 mm = 60/70 x; somewhat brighter in the APO... Cr 399 (26/40) = 16.6/17.85 > fine stars, a little larger in the APO M 11 (26/40) = 16.6/17.85 > faint glow, a little larger in the APO (found via star chain at the end of constellation Eagle, trapezium) >> the more than half moon was already to bright... (Also compared using the using the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn) All in all, the TLAPO1027 was clearly better (details elsewhere)...		PS72 on AZ Pronto; TLAPO1027 on AZ4	16/26, 10/16, 7/10 (PS/TL)
Oct 10 MH	GC: M 13, M 92	PS72 compared with TLAPO1027 using two DSO: M 13 with different eyepieces; somewhat brighter in the APO at higher magnifications M 92 with different eyepieces; somewhat brighter in the APO at higher magnifications		PS72 on AZ Pronto; TLAPO1027 on AZ4 and AZ Pronto	26/35, 4/7, 16/10 oder 7; single: 7, 4, 26, 16; 2 x extender with 4 and 7 mm (TLAPO)
Oct 11 MH	GC: M 13, M 92	C8 (24 mm, 16 mm): M 13 nice and large; M 92 also relatively large and good to see		C8 on AZ4	24 mm, 16 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations done in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (MH); G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, P = star pattern, DS = double star

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Bino*	PS72	SM127	TLAPO 1027	C8	C8R	Remarks
C/2020 F3	(NEOWISE)	---	C	TS, LT		yes				Best with binoculars; observed with SM127; photographed with Sony RX10 M4
Cr 399					yes		yes			Nice in both refractors
M 3		Canes Venatici	GC		yes		yes			Observed at magnifications of up to 100 x (4 mm for PS72, 7 mm for TLSAPO); clearly brighter and more detailed in the TLSAPO.
M 4		Scorpius	GC			yes				Very faint in SM127
M 5		Serpens Caput	GC	TS						Only found with binoculars
M 8	Lagoon Nebula	Sagittarius	GN	TS		yes				Only stars in SM127, nebula-like in binoculars
M 9		Ophiuchus	GC			yes				Faint in SM127
M 10		Ophiuchus	GC	TS		yes				Faint in SM127
M 11	Wild Duck Cluster	Scutum	OC	TS, LT	yes		yes			Like a nebula in binoculars; identified via a "trapezium"; only observed with binoculars; faint in both refractors because of the moon
M 12		Ophiuchus	GC	TS		yes				Faint in SM127
M 13		Hercules	GC		yes		yes	yes		Nice in both refractors; large in C8
M 14		Ophiuchus	GC	TS		yes				Faint in SM127
M 22		Sagittarius	GC	TS, LT		yes				Faint, but large in SM127
M 80		Scorpius	GC			yes				Faint in SM127
M 92		Hercules	GC		yes		yes	yes		Nice in both refractors
M 107		Ophiuchus	GC			yes				Very faint in SM127; larger in C8

*) LT = 10 x 25 binoculars, TS = 10 x 60 binoculars; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, P = star pattern, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, MW = Milky Way, C = comet

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2014). Deep Sky Reiseatlas, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2014
Ronald Stoyan (2014). Deep Sky Reiseführer, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2015
Erich Karkoschka (2016). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag
www.kosmos.de/buecher/ratgeber/astronomie/einsteiger/6598/atlas-fuer-himmelsbeobachter?number=15147