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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT face="Times New Roman">MONTHLY OBSERVER’S CHALLENGE<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT face="Times New Roman">Las Vegas Astronomical Society<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #444444; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Compiled by:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Roger Ivester, Boiling Springs, North Carolina<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">&<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Fred Rayworth, Las Vegas, Nevada<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></I></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #444444; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT face="Times New Roman">July/August 2009<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"><FONT face="Times New Roman">M-27 and M-2<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #444444; FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Introduction<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The purpose of the observer’s challenge is to encourage the pursuit of visual observing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is open to everyone that is interested, and if you are able to contribute notes, drawings, or photographs, we will be happy to include them in our monthly summary.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observing is not only a pleasure, but an art.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With the main focus of amateur astronomy on astrophotography, many times people tend to forget how it was in the days before cameras, clock drives, and GOTO.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Astronomy depended on what was seen through the eyepiece.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not only did it satisfy an innate curiosity, but it allowed the first astronomers to discover the beauty and the wonderment of the night sky.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Before photography, all observations depended on what the astronomer saw in the eyepiece, and how they recorded their observations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was done through notes and drawings and that is the tradition we are stressing in the observers challenge.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By combining our visual observations with our drawings, and sometimes, astrophotography (from those with the equipment and talent to do so), we get a unique understanding of what it is like to look through an eyepiece, and to see what is really there.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The hope is that you will read through these notes and become inspired to take more time at the eyepiece studying each object, and looking for those subtle details that you might never have noticed before.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Each new discovery increases one’s appreciation of the skies above us.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is our firm belief that careful observing can improve your visual acuity to a much higher level that just might allow you to add inches to your telescope.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please consider this at your next observing session, as you can learn to make details jump out.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is also a thrill to point out details a new observer wouldn’t even know to look for in that very faint galaxy, star cluster, nebula, or planet.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">M-27 (July)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">M-27, known as the Dumbbell Nebula is a fascinating summer object and is easily seen in almost any sized scope.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It gets its name from the distinct dumbbell shape.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a planetary nebula, the remnant of an exploding star.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most of them are round and larger than a star, and because many of the smaller ones resemble planets, got the name “planetary nebula.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They come in a variety of colors, sizes, and shapes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, speaking of color, many objects in the sky are gray and devoid of color.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, many planetaries have distinct bluish or greenish tints to them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you have an 8” or larger scope, you have a good chance of seeing those colors.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some have even seen color in as small as 4” scopes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you do not know your way around the sky, it is well marked in the star charts found in <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Sky</I> <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">& Telescope</I> and <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Astronomy</I> magazines.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Just look at the summer charts, and you will see it in the “body” of Hercules.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The challenge is to see more than just the dumbbell shape or a fuzzy blob.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There are also several stars within the nebula.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">In <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Deep Sky Wonders</I> (S&T), Walter Scott Houston described M-27 thusly: "With my 4-inch Clark refractor a quick look reveals the planetary as two cones with their apexes in contact.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>After finding the best eyepiece for the evening's sky condition, and by using averted vision, I usually see the faint nebulosity between the brighter parts of the cones.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Gentle rocking of the scope back and forth sets the planetary in motion and helps the eye capture the faintest extensions of light.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I found the end result is a full circle of light, just as one would expect of a planetary".<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Roger Ivester has always enjoyed reading one of his reference books, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, Volume Two; The Stars</I><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by the Rev.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>T.W.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Webb, first edition, 1859.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Copyright 1962 by Dover publications which is the sixth edition.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Many of the object reference writings are almost poetic.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A few quotes from this book regarding the stars within the M-27 nebula include: “The minute stars in it, of which I picked out two or three with 5-1/2 in. achr, and 8-in. silvered glass, and Denning sees 7 with 10-in.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>spec., are admirable test for superior telescopes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Ingall claimed 18 with 5-1/2 in. dialyte, from keenness of vision, and Se. has drawn many more. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A star in the centre, 13 m., but on photos 11.7 mag., is probably the nucleus.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">This book was one of the primary astronomical reference sources for over a hundred years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was revised in 1917 by Rev.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>T.E.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Espin.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am sure all have observed M-41 just below Sirius, and have noted the beautiful orange star in the central region.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This star is known as the Espin star.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">James Mullaney, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Finest Deep-Sky Objects</I>, M-27:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In a 4-inch at 40X this planetary is large and bright, pinched near the middle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The 13-inch at 145X displays it as a large puffy white cloud.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">James Mullaney, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Celestial Harvest</I>, M-27:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Appears as a disk of faint luminous haze, with the interior intensified in the rough form of a cotton-reel or spool.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Most conspicuous of all PN's.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Mallas and Kreimer, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Messier Album</I><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>M-27:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Glowing quite greenish, M-27 is one of the few planetaries to show vivid color in a small telescope.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tom Lorenzin, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">1000+ The Amateur Astronomer's Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></I>M-27:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>8M; 8' X 5' extent; two lobed; SW portion brighter; nebulosity between lobes (along SE-NW axis) enhanced greatly by N-filter; makes total shape an ellipse; much detail visible but few foreground stars visible in 8-inch.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; COLOR: #444444; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"><BR style="PAGE-BREAK-BEFORE: always" clear=all></SPAN>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">M-2 August<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">M-2 is a globular cluster in Aquarius, one of the brighter Messiers, and is an easy object to see in almost any telescope.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This rich cluster is often seen as smooth and fairly round.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many people never notice the additional feature that can be revealed with careful observation and the correct magnification.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One of the most interesting features from a visual basis is a curving dark lane crossing the NE section of this very dense cluster.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many observers find this lane to be very difficult, regardless of the size scope.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">In the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-sky Objects</I>, by Brian Skiff and Christian Luginbuhl:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“In 25 cm, a well-resolved mass of stars is visible at 200X, rising to a broad, bright center.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cluster is well resolved in 30 cm, with a smooth texture due to the uniform magnitude of the stars.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Roger has been fortunate to know both Tom Lorenzin and James Mullaney personally, and feels honored to be able to call both of these highly skilled observers and book authors, friends.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He has learned much from their writings over the past 20 years.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">James Mullaney, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Celestial Harvest</I>, M-2:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Small glass shows a "granulated aspect, the precursor of resolution".<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Not resolved in a 4-inch.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tom Lorenzin, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">1000+ The Amateur Astronomer's Field Guide to Deep-Sky observing, </I>M-2:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>6M; 7' diameter; bright and round; just resolved at 100X 13M and dimmer members; 11M star 2' due N of core; 5' NNW of core.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">John Mallas and Evered Kreimer, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Messier Album</I><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>M-2:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>4-inch Unitron Refractor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Mallas 4-inch refractor does not resolve the cluster, except for a few bright members across the nebulous image.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Visually, the most unusual feature is the dark curving lane that crosses the northeast corner of the cluster.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Thought first to be an illusion in the 4-inch, this feature can also be detected in the photograph by Kreimer (12.5-inch f/7 Cave reflector).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">These July and August observing challenges include notes and drawings from Roger Ivester, Fred Rayworth, Jason Snyder, and just notes from Tony Labude.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also included are photos and notes from Rob Lambert, as well as photos from Frank Barrett, Jim Gianoulakis, and Ryland Ogle.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Observations/Drawings/Photos<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Roger Ivester (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rogers Pictures 003.jpg</I>):</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from North Carolina<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">M-27</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">, the Dumbbell nebula was easy to see through a 7 X 50 finder as a small and fairly bright, elongated glow.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When observed through a 10-inch reflector, the dumbbell was presented as two bright lobes joined in the middle.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The SW lobe was brighter with greater concentration and some subtle knots were also noted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The texture of the Dumbbell was very uneven.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">With the 10-inch, he could not see the faint extensions between the lobes as shown in many photographs, however the hourglass shape was very easy.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A magnitude 9 star could be seen just off the west edge at medium power.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When increasing the magnification to 190X, using a 12mm University Optics Konig and a 2.0X Barlow, he saw the very faint central star.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was difficult and he could only glimpse it with averted vision during moments of steady viewing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was fleeting in and out and he couldn’t hold it constantly.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were at least two other stars that would pop in and out of view, also with difficulty (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rogers M-27 10 inch.jpg</I>).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">While observing M-27 with a friend and local observers through a 14.5-inch reflector, he saw two bright lobes and an hourglass shape with the faint extensions, presenting an almost round appearance.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The central star was very easy at 85X as well as several other stars within the nebula.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">John Mallas of the <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Messier Album</I> could see color with his 4-inch Unitron refractor, but Roger has not been able to see color with any of the scopes that he’s used.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">When observing M-27 with either a 4-inch refractor or a 3.5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain, the nebula was presented with a very uneven texture and some brighter knots.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dumbbell shape appeared mostly as a rectangle, but upon careful examination with higher magnification, the two lobes were easily seen.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He couldn’t see any superimposed stars with either of the small scopes.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">M-2</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> is a bright 6.4 magnitude globular cluster that is unresolved in the 4-inch refractor.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When using a 16mm University Optics Konig eyepiece and a 2.8X UO Klee for a magnification of 175X, the texture of the cluster became very granular, but without resolution.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The cluster was very bright and well-concentrated with a brighter middle.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">A few of the brighter stars could be seen around the outer perimeter and there was the appearance of a faint halo surrounding the cluster.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The curving dark lane, as described by John Mallas in the Messier Album using a 4-inch Unitron refractor, proved to be difficult, indeed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It required averted vision with the 4-inch at 175X and was fleeting at best.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dark lane could not be held constantly, but during moments of steady viewing, it was an amazing sight, almost appearing surreal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is interesting to note that Mallas himself thought it initially to be an illusion (see <I>Rogers M-2 4 Inch.jpg)</I>.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">After countless observations of this cluster over the past 20 years, Roger has only observed the curving dark lane once, despite<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>using a variety of telescopes, including a 10-inch reflector.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Walter Scott Houston reported seeing M-2 with the naked eye.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw this cluster from Kansas, Missouri, Arizona, and Louisiana, but never mentioned seeing the dark lane with either the 4-inch Clark refractor or his 10-inch reflector.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Fred Rayworth (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Fred At Sawmill.jpg</I>):</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from Nevada<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Fred has observed <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-27</B> hundreds of times and has actually recorded those observations 19 times since July, 1982.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He’s most often noted a greenish tint to it, fuzzy to flaky edges, and various intensities of the dumbbell shape.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, he’s never made note of the stars or star patterns.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>On 15 August, 2009 at Sawmill Trailhead, Nevada, despite an unpleasant experience with a park ranger, he managed to view M-27.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His equipment was a Meade 16” LightBridge, an Orion Q-70 26mm eyepiece, a Parks 2X Barlow, and a Lumicon O-3 nebula filter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>All are 2”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He noted the dumbbell shape going one direction and a fainter oval going the other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw no stars at 70X.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, at 140X, the central star jumped out and there was a slight lumpiness to one side of the center.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The O-3 filter brought out the nebulosity at both 70X and 140X but obliterated the stars within it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He saw three stars for sure, and as many as seven within the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A pair of pinpricks flashed in and out that may have been fainter stars also.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, he didn’t notice the color this time, despite the altitude (7400 feet).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He did not see the devil face, and forgot to look at the star background that the nebula is set within (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Freds M-27.jpg</I>).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Because of the park ranger, he never got a chance to go for <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-2</B>.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, going back over his notes, he’s never picked out the dark lane.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His most common observation, besides a soft milky glow, is a brighter foreground star within the cluster that is off to one side.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Rob Lambert:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from Nevada<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Rob observed <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-27</B> with the assistance of his Mallincam Color Hyper Plus video camera.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He used 14, and 28 second integrations to explore the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At 14 seconds (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Robs M-27 14 Seconds.jpg</I>), he saw more color within the nebula – primarily bluish green from the center out toward the periphery where the gas and dust became pink or red as it became more dense.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At 28 seconds (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Robs M-27 28 Seconds.jpg</I>), he lost most of the color but was able to see more of the nebula's structure.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Rather than the dumbbell shape typically seen at the eyepiece, he discerned more of a rugby ball shaped shell, with nebulosity unevenly distributed across it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The portions of the nebula that obviously give the nebula its nickname were distinctly visible but mottled, indicating varying density of gas and dust throughout the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The dumbbell portions of the nebula formed the more dense middle or fat part of the rugby ball shape, while the ends of the rugby ball were much less dense in nebulosity.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was noticeable symmetry in both the dumbbell lobes and in the lighter ends of the rugby ball.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">There were a number of stars visible either in front of or shining through the nebula from behind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He counted at least 36 brighter stars (probably foregrounds stars) and 24 lesser stars (probably background stars) within the visible boundary of the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There were several straight-line chains of three or more stars spread across the nebula running both parallel and perpendicular to the brighter lobes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He discerned the triangular devil face in the southwest lobe, which was opposite the brightest lobe.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His 14 and 28 second images are oriented with North down and West to the left (images from an SCT are flipped vertically and horizontally).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two dark holes (eye sockets) were distinctly visible in the nebula, just under the downward curved shell that seems to make up the devil's down-turned horns.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two stars seemed to be eyes shining out of these two eye sockets.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Two chains of three stars, running toward the northeast, gave the impression that the devil was crying.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There was a spot of elongated darkening of the shell between the last two stars in these chains, which gave the appearance of the face having a mouth.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">There was a bright star on the edge of the northeastern lobe from which there appeared to be a stream of matter, and a chain of four stars extending slightly to the northeast from the bright star in the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The central star was distinctly visible slightly off-center from a dark area that was almost dead-center within the nebula.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the live image on the CRT, he could just make out what he thought was the companion to the white dwarf central star, just northwest of it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>On the images provided, the companion would be located at about 8:30 relative to the central star.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was not obvious in the captured images.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">This nebula really impresses first-time visitors/observers, especially when they begin to understand that what they are seeing is one of the phases in the life cycle of a star similar to our own Sun.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">In observing <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-2</B> for this month's challenge, he used his Mallincam at integration settings of 2, 7, 14, and 28 seconds.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The 56 second integration/exposure washed out too much of the globular's core to be useful.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At each of these integration settings, he was able to locate the curving dark lane described in the challenge.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As can be seen in all of the images, the dark lane is just over half-way between the brighter star on the northeast (left) edge of the cluster and the core.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In his images, it looks like a parenthesis "(" left of the core, that curves back toward it.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Remember, that an SCT's images are flipped horizontally and vertically.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>North is to the bottom left corner of the image, and East is toward the upper left corner.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the 7 and 14 second images (see <I>Robs M-2 7 Seconds.jpg </I>and <I>Robs M-2 14 Seconds.jpg</I>) , there is a smaller dark lane that resembles a reversed letter "C" between the dark lane and the core.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At longer integrations/exposures, the smaller dark lane gets washed out (see <I>Robs M-2 2 Seconds.jpg </I>and <I>Robs M-2 28 Seconds.jpg</I>).<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">These particular images give the impression that the cluster is moving toward the east like a comet, trailing stars in several chains out to the west.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Many of the stars in these chains and many others around the outer periphery of the cluster can be individually resolved and are red or yellow in color.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He didn't have the opportunity to reduce the focal length to increase the magnification of the cluster.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He hopes to observe it again on his next outing, at higher magnification so he can better identify the red and yellow giants that occupy the outer regions.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At some time in the future, he also hopes to identify the variable star mentioned in the challenge.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He didn't have an opportunity to view the cluster over a two week period and identify the variable star.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Although not as large and as spectacular as the Hercules Cluster, M-2 is interesting in its own right, with its dark lanes, chains of stars, and colorful stars.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Look for updates to this observation in the near future.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Frank Barrett:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from North Carolina<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Frank generously allowed the use this photo of M-27 from his Celestial Wonders web site (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Franks M-27.jpg</I>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Below are his notes explaining how he obtained this outstanding image:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">“This image was first light for the Ovision worm upgrade.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The image is a salvage attempt as the camera was malfunctioning and could not take usable dark frames.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Noise was removed via Photoshop's despeckle and dust/scratch removal filters.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The image is composed of 4 luminance subframes of 15 minutes each combined with the color channel from my image taken last year.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Note:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> This image won 2nd Place at the 17th Annual Region Meeting of Amateur Astronomers (aka "BobFest") for the category "Deep Space, CCD."<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Date: 9/13/2008, Location: Gastonia, NC.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Optics: Meade 10" LX200R at 2800mm f/11.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Exposure: L: 4 X 15 min, RGB: 12 X 5 min each.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Camera: SBIG STL-11000M.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mount: Losmandy G11 w/Ovision worm.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Jim Gianoulakis (see<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"> Jim Gianoulakis.jpg</I>):</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from Nevada<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Jim sent in a photo of M-27 (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Jims M-27.jpg</I>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He captured this one over several nights, mostly in May before the clouds descended.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is a stack of 33 300-second exposures, dark subtracted.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stacked with Deep Sky Stacker and processed in PhotoShop.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Jason Snyder:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from Nevada<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Jason finally got out on Friday, 31 July to observe and try <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-27</B> again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The weather wasn't the best, and seeing was marginal.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The skies were clear, with patchy clouds, finally clearing around 10:30 PM (L).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The temperature was 94 degrees and winds were around 7mph.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">With the Las Vegas light dome, M-27 was barely visible using a 26 mm Plossl, and he could not resolve the central star.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was able to make out a faint blue-to-gray hue of one half of the dumbbell using averted vision.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He sketched what he could (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Jasons M-27 Drawing.jpg</I>) and managed to snap a picture of it (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Jasons M-27 Image.jpg</I>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The camera was a Cannon Rebel XT, through a Lumicon GEG, into an LX-200, 8" F/10 scope.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The bulb timing was approximately 18 seconds.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Ryland Ogle:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Observer from Las Vegas<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Ryland sent in Mallincam photos of <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-27</B> (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rylands M-27.jpg</I>) and <B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">M-2</B> (see <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Rylands M-2.jpg</I>).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He used a C6 refractor for his images.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He’s still learning how to use the Mallincam, but as can be seen, he isn’t doing too bad.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"></SPAN></B></FONT></FONT> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Tony Labude:</SPAN></B><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> Observer from Oklahoma<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">As for<B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"> M-27,</B> Tony got out on the 21<SUP>st</SUP> and according to the clear sky clock, to a Bortle class-4 site with average transparency and seeing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He wished he’d gone to M-2 first, but moved to M-27 instead.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He used his 8-inch F/7 and started with 55X.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He had never taken time to observe the star patterns around the nebula, but sure enough, recognized the blanket it sits upon.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He also noticed two groupings similar to the Trapezium, one to the SE and the other to the NW.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When he increased magnification to 120X, the image looked terrible, so he decreased magnification to 90X.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That was somewhat better, but he saw no central star at that power.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, he thought he saw a star in the SE corner that might have been in the foreground.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The clear sky became increasingly overcast and he saw no overall shape but a gray fluffy pillow, and no devil face.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He still had fun, and it was the first time he’d observed M-27 in years.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B> </P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">References<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">(Submitted by Roger Ivester)<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Sky and Telescope Magazine, Deep-Sky Wonders</SPAN></I><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> by Walter Scott Houston, Selections and Commentary by Stephen James O’Meara, Sky Publishing Corporation, Cambridge Massachusetts 1999.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman"><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, Volume Two; The Stars</SPAN></I><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by the Rev.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>T.W.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Webb, first edition, 1859.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Copyright 1962 by Dover publications which is the sixth edition.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">James Mullaney, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Finest Deep-Sky Objects<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">James Mullaney, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Celestial Harvest<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Mallas and Kreimer, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Messier Album<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Tom Lorenzin, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">1000+ The Amateur Astronomer's Field Guide to Deep-Sky observing<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 6pt 0in; BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="COLOR: black; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Brian Skiff and Christian Luginbuhl, <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-sky Objects<o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P><br /><hr />Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. <a href='http://windowslive.com/Campaign/SocialNetworking?ocid=PID23285::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:SI_SB_online:082009' target='_new'>Find out more.</a></body>
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