General Session - July 31, 2019 (3rd Annual Big Muise Island Star Party)

Constellations: Delphinus, Lyra, Scorpius, Vega
Asterism: Keystone of Hercules
Stars: Vega ε¹, Vega ε², ν Vega, Sheliak
Messier Objects: M4, M6, M7, M8, M11, M13, M20, M21, M22
Planets: Jupiter, Saturn

Identified & Not entered into Logbook or database:

Constellations: Corona Borealis, Ophiuchus, Serpens Caput, Serpens Cauda
Asterism: Big Dipper

Location: Site 15, Big Muise Island, Kejimkujik National Park
Date: 2019-07-31
Time: 9:30 PM - 11:45 PM ADT
Instrument: Visual + 10x42 IS binoculars + TeleVue Ranger 70 mm telescope, f/6.9
Magnifications: x10, x92
Transparency: Good
Seeing: good
Temperature: 28º C at 9:35 PM
SQM: 21.81

We were camping with the Chapmans again for our Annual Big Muise Island Star Party. Around 10:35 PM, lightning periodically lit the sky; Jerry determined the storm was centred over St. Stephen, NB. A little breezy but it did keep the mosquitoes away. The New Moon was expected at 12:12 AM ADT.

Varying degrees of transparency and seeing as the night progressed. Clouds occasionally covered the Teapot that affected the visibility of the stars and globular clusters in the area.

Lyra
Time: 9:35 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 63

Vega appeared overhead around 9:35 PM. Could easily see the locations of β, ζ, and ε Lyrae. Did not pay particular attention to δ and γ Lyrae.

With binoculars, I could see the double stars of ε and ζ. Not sure if I saw β¹ and β², or if it was Sheliak (β¹ & β² as one star) and ν (ν¹ & ν² as one star).

Delphinus
Time: 9:46 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual

At this time, sections of the sky were clear but very murky near the horizon. Used naked eye to find and identify all 5 stars item constellation.

Scorpius
Time: not recorded
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars

Scorpius was identified visually in the S-SE although its tail wasn't visible due to the murkiness at the horizon. The red Antares was clearly visible naked eye and with binoculars. Dave pointed out the 2 stars adjacent to Antares (σ Scorpii and τ Scorpii) both had the same name - Al Nayat. Could see as far down the tail/stinger as ε Scorpii before the remaining stars of the constellation disappeared in the murkiness.

Jupiter (in Scorpius)
Time: 9:54 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars, Telescope

Observation 1 with Binoculars:
Two Moons were on each side of the planet but not in a straight line; Ganymede was slightly above the line formed by the other 3. Ganymede and Callisto were close to Jupiter so required a longer look-see to distinguish them from each other and from the planet.

Observation 2 with Telescope:
I could see 3 bands on Jupiter but could not see the Great Red Spot (GRS).

M4 / NGC 6121
Time: 9:54 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 56, 58

Using the binoculars, I could find the small fuzzy M4 at 4 o'clock to Antares.

M6 / Butterfly Cluster
Time: 10:10 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 69, 67

I used Kaus Borealis in the Teapot to find M6 approximately 1.5 FOV away. The grey fuzzy was visible but not as clearly defined as in the past due to the haziness in that part of the sky.

Keystone Hercules + M13 / Hercules Globular Cluster
Time: 10:09 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars

I found the Keystone of Hercules almost at the zenith and located all 4 of its stars. Using binoculars, I was able to find the small grey fuzzy between η Herculis and ζ Herculis without any difficulty.

M7 / Ptolemy's Cluster / NGC 6475
Time: 10:10 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

In clearer skies, the cluster would have shone almost as brightly as the Pleaides. It was easily located naked eye as a dullish object. I followed the line from Ascella to Kaus Australis in the Teapot and went out 1.5 FOV. The murkiness creating poor seeing and transparency in this part of the sky was quite evident.

M8 / Lagoon Nebula
M20 / Trifid Nebula
M21
Time: 10:25 - 10:40 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 67, 69

Made a line from Kaus Australis through the mid-point of the line at the top of the spout, then travelled an equal distance to M8. Could easily see the bright open cluster of M8; could also see M20 in the same FOV. M21 is very close to M20 and therefore easily found within the same FOV.

Saturn (in Sagittarius)
Time: 10:12 PM ADT
Equipment: Visual, Binoculars, Telescope

Observation 1 - Visual:
Could easily see Saturn near the Teapot's handle. Much brighter than other stars around it.

Observation 2 - Binoculars:
With binoculars, I could identify the tilt of the rings but could not see the separation between the rings and the planet.

Observation 2 - Telescope:
With Dave's telescope, I could see the separation of the rings from the planet. A small portion of the planet could be seen beneath the rings. Three darkish bands could be seen on Saturn.

M11
Time: 10:38 PM ADT
Equipment: Binoculars
S&T Chart Reference: 67

Discovered that M11 is located in the Scutum Star Cloud below a dark nebula Bernard 111.

I easily found a 'square' portion of the Cloud with 2 bright objects in its upper border. With binoculars, I found M11 as the left bright object and guessed (with star charts help) that the right bright object was β Scutum.

I still consider M11 as the "golf ball" next to an asterism shaped like a golf club.

Note:
The stars comprising the golf club head are HR 7803, R Sct, HD 174005 and HD 173744. The club handle stars from the head downwards are HD 173278, HR 7034, HR 7024 and HR 7007.

Next time I will have to see if it can be found using the south end of Aquila.