Moon at 9:34 PM ADT ©Judy Black
iPhone 6s Plus, ISO 25, 1/30 sec @ f2.2

I spent the earlier part of this evening exploring the Moon towards achieving the RASC Explore the Moon (Telescope) certificate.

Constellation: Boötes
Asterism: Coathanger / Collinder 399 / Brocchi's Cluster, Summer Triangle / DAVe
Stars: Arcturus, Mizar/Alcor, Polaris
Planet: Saturn
Satellites: (2)

Location: Home
Date: 2017-07-31
Time: 9:20 PM - 10:15 PM
Instrument: Visual + Binocular 10x30 IS
Transparency: Good (3)
Seeing: Good (3)
Temperature: 16º C - 14º C

Clear skies. No wind. First Quarter Moon in the sky.

Summer Triangle / DAVe
Time: 9:34 PM
Instrument: Binocular 10x30 IS
The 3 stars in the asterism "DAVe" were easily located - Altair, Deneb and Vega in Aquila, Cygnus and Lyra respectively. They were found despite the bight Moon of 1 day after the First Quarter.
Satellite
Time: 9:46 PM - 9:49 PM
Instrument: Binocular 10x30 IS
Entered my FOV at Mizar-Alcor then travelled through Draco to Deneb. I lost sight of it at 5ºN of Altair.

Boötes
Time: 9:50 PM
Instrument: Visual
S&T Chart Reference: 42, 44, 53, 55

Despite the Moon obliterating my view of numerous stars, the stars comprising the "kite" were found. Arcturus had been found earlier in the viewing session.

Satellite
Time: 10:10 PM - 10:12 PM
Instrument: Binocular 10x30 IS
This very small satellite flew into my FOV while viewing the Coathanger. I followed it past Deneb towards Ursa Minor but lost sight of it when I changed positions.

Coathanger / Collinder 399 / Brocchi's Cluster
Time: 10:10 PM - 10:15 PM
Instrument: Binocular 10x30 IS
S&T Chart Reference: 65

Located Albireo in Cygnus, then found the 10 stars of the Coathanger. A satellite came into my view while looking at this asterism.

Saturn
Time: 9:39 PM and 10:15 PM - 10:17 PM
Instrument: 8" Meade SCT, 9.7 mm eyepiece
Magnification: x187

Saturn was very visible just below Ophiuchus and above Scorpius (about 10 o'clock to Antares). The different scope meant the rings were seen differently and two of its moons were visible - Rhea and Dione.

   

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