Once a year the fine folks of the Fremont Peak Observing Association come together for a bit of a "barbie". And that time of year, this particular year, was Sunday, August 10, 2002. Saxman Tony, friend Rene, and I headed out round 4:00 from Scotts Valley, CA. Arrival at Fremont Peak occured about an hour and half later in the space-time continuum.

Tony, Rene, and I were not the first of FPOA & Friends to settle in. Maybe 50 of FPOA's finest had preceded us... And by nightfall surely another fifty followed us. Mr. Alex Filippenko gave an informative slide show describing the current state of our ignorance of the cosmological status of the Universe. Research into standard candle supernovae in far flung island universe as they were some 7 billion years ago suggests that these early galaxies are significantly further away than Hubble red shifts suggest. - Much further. In fact, so much further that it is now thought that space itself is accelerating its rate of expansion in an incomprehensible manner. - A expansion that resembles the proverbial serpent swallowing its tail - the more space you got - the more space you get...

In addition to the main (30 inch) instrument in the FPOA observatory, many FPOA members brought along private scopes to share with the public. In fact, I toted the 80mm Pup along - "just in case". The Pup, of course. never saw a photon and remained in the hatchback while I hung out with two particular members for the evening. One possessed a C9.25, and the other - a Meade 152mm ED. Both scopes were recent acquisitions. And both owners were happy to have me act as tour guide for the small group of amateurs and general public alike that these fine instruments attracted into their respective gravity wells. So through the instrumentality of the two scopes - operated primarily by respective owners - we "walked the Milky Way" - from Scorpion's Tail to Swan's Beak.

This is a walk I've made more than a few times before - from both Backyard Boulder Creek, and Bonny Doon Airport. It is a walk highly facilitated by scopes that include equatorial mounts, and decent finderscopes. It is a stroll that covers a full range of studies - from star fields, to open and globular clusters, through bright, dark, and planetary nebulae. A walk that spans thousands of light years - from the depths of Baade's Window near the core of the Milky Way, to 46,000 LY distant globular cluster M56 in Lyra.

Through the C9.25 we dropped down to G Scorpii. There to contemplate the superblue and highly condensed globular cluster NGC6441. Both cluster and bright star competed for the eye's attention in the field of view. And through such dark and stable skies, and with boon of moderate aperture and low magnification, the pair made a superb showing.

Then north to M7, large, and brightly scattered. The cluster incorporates a nicely condensed though faint globular cluster (NGC6453) within its northwestern perimeter - well away from the dozen 7th magnitude stars that geometrically define the open cluster's core. The globular was first noted by John Herschel in June, 1837. The open cluster itself dates back to the time of Ptolemy's catalog. The Arabs knew is as "Tali al Shaulah"... that which follows the sting.

Onward to the Lagoon nebula and smallish, but pleasant open cluster NGC6530. A third study in contrasts: Three glowing nebular lobes, broken by dark obscuring veins, and attended by the cluster's dozen evenly-distributed stars of unusually uniform luminosity.

North two degrees to the Trifid nebula. Even without a nebula filter, the fine almost ten inch SCT showed the signature tripartite structure. - In addition, the early formation supergiant multiple that will ultimately convert the nebula's brightest lobe into a fine well-lit cluster such as NGC6530. - Again a intricate study in stars and nebulosity - bright, and dark.

A jump further north and slightly east reveals the Small Sagitarian Star Cloud. The one part of the sky that rivals our own Moon in potential for in depth study and detailed specialization. Numerous star arcs, strings, obscuration regions, doubles, and one of the sweetest open clusters that coyly glows in the night sky - NGC6603.

Continuing north to one of the most recognizable - though variously named bright nebula in the Heavens - the Swan or Omega Nebula. Distinct, though nebulosity bleeding off well oustide the Swan's gentle form. Head bowed in a circular arc to touch beak against breast... Unlike the M8, M17 holds no bright fueling star cluster, for it's sprinkling of diamonds sparkle randomly within this 12 light year wide beauty.

Still further north to the Eagle Nebula and cluster. Much fainter than Swan, but well accompanied by stars. The Eagle's wingtips spreading themselves outward in full display - ghostly but still traceable. Again no filter in use.

It was here that I gave my thanks to the owner of the C9.25 and headed down the hill from the observatory to fufill a commitment to Dennis - proud owner of the 6 inch Meade semi-apochromat. So with Dennis we retraced some of our steps. Lagoon, Trifid, Swan and Eagle. This time lumicon OIII filter in place. And what a difference that made. Even allowing for the reduction in aperture, the difference was well apparent. The Lagoon billowed out to take on the semblance of a single three dimensional swelling of luminosity. Faint nebular glow could even be seen in brightly scattered NGC NGC6530. A similar extension of faint nebulosity could also be made out in the Swan. But not so the Eagle, nor the Trifid. For the unfiltered 9.25 had made the one's wing tips more prominent, and given a more unified sense to the other. One reason for this: Sagitariius had slipped dangerously southwest. Another: Neither Eagle nor Trifid appears to radiate as strongly in the excited oxygen bands as Swan, Lagoon and Lagoon.

From the Eagle it was now onto the angelic M11. In smaller scopes, and on lesser nights - the conical "wild duck" cluster. But on this night, and through this scope, numerous faint stars extended well away from the "Grand Goose" near the flights apex: Angel's wings painted by faint profusion of 12th and 13th magnitude stars...

Further north, to the Dumbbell - now more "football" than dumbbell. For glowing there and extending well away from the nebula's pinched waist, faint nebulosity plumped out the planetary form. Add to this the faint shimmer of a half dozen embedded stars and this glowing condensed cloud showed a sparkle and subtle vivacity that makes it possibly the finest example of its type observable by small scopes in the heaven's.

While in the neighborhood, dropped in at M71. A globular conundrum placed in a rich field. So many resolvable outliers, and such a small and indistinguished core. Globular cluster? Why not! I like Shapely studies...

And speaking of Mr. Shapely, we move thence to M56. Easily a dozen 13th magnitude members held direct through the big six incher.... Magnificent! And though distant - perhaps not always. This particular globular is moving toward us at the amazing speed of 88 miles per second! But it'll be a while before it rivals M13...

The view of M56 was comparable to the that seen through the best 8 inch SCTs even under similar conditions. Far better certainly than the one Monsiour Messier had when he discovered the cluster through his archaic 3 incher on January 19, 1779... (He also actually logged a comet that same evening - but what is it we amateurs actually remember him for?)

And not to be outdone, the "King of the Rings", and "Regent of Annularities" - M57. Stark and well-etched against the blackness of space. Accompanied by a retinue of limiting magnitude test stars - 12.3, 12.8, 13.1, 13.4 - all at 100x. 14.1 on the slightest aversion. Yep, 8 inch reach - through a 6 inch tube. Did I ever say I love six inches of unobstructed aperture? Deep sky, doubles, lunar-planetary. Except for the bulk. Yep, these things really do beg for a small private observatory... So be practical fellow optophiles, get that 7 inch MCT - for the road...

Now I have to tell you, Dennis knew his scope was out of collimation. So we checked Vega. Nope, not good. The scope performed admirably on deepsky but it fell down badly on doubles. Sure the Double Double resolved nicely - but no way Delta Cygni. Dennis and I tried a few remedial adjustments. Sure we could improve the fresnel pattern one side of focus - but at the expense of the other side. Oops. Sounds like this baby's doublet planarity is off. Bon chance Dennis...

Well folks I promised myself that this would be a "one hour report". Times up. I guess you'll just have to find your own Star-B-Que if you really want to "be there".

NOTE: Fellow amateur ~T was kind enough to read through this report before posting. I'd left a few blanks to be filled in while away gigging with Tony & TAJQ. ~T also added some nice historical references on some of the studies. Thanks ~T!

to: top of page

to: Special Observing Reports Page

to: Astro.Geekjoy Home Page

Email: Astro.Geekjoy