Chased a few DSOs prior to the moon rise. Bode's Galaxy/Cigar Galaxy are once again high enough to clear the treeline from my observing site. Bode's galaxy is a nice faint face-on galaxy, but without any details in my suburban site. The Cigar galaxy shows mottling at higher magnification even in less than dark skies.

Both M81/82 fit into a single wide FOV eyepiece for a nice site on a chilly evening.

Chased a few DSOs prior to the moon rise. Bode's Galaxy/Cigar Galaxy are once again high enough to clear the treeline from my observing site. Bode's galaxy is a nice faint face-on galaxy, but without any details in my suburban site. The Cigar galaxy shows mottling at higher magnification even in less than dark skies.

Both M81/82 fit into a single wide FOV eyepiece for a nice site on a chilly evening.

The famous Double Cluster was spectacular this evening. Caught it before the moonrise and was able to fit both NGC869 and NGC884 into a single field of view with a 24mm 82deg EP. Spent a long while just soaking in the view. Burnham's description of "one of the truly classic examples of a galactic cluster, and a wonderfully beautiful object for a moderate telescope." is spot on!

The field is full of diamond dust, interesting colors and textures, and small asterisms popping into view the longer you look.

Of note are the red giants in NGC884!

The famous Double Cluster was spectacular this evening. Caught it before the moonrise and was able to fit both NGC869 and NGC884 into a single field of view with a 24mm 82deg EP. Spent a long while just soaking in the view. Burnham's description of "one of the truly classic examples of a galactic cluster, and a wonderfully beautiful object for a moderate telescope." is spot on!

The field is full of diamond dust, interesting colors and textures, and small asterisms popping into view the longer you look.

Of note are the red giants in NGC884!

M38 is finally rising up from behind the houses I have to contend with at a reasonable viewing hour. I'll add this to my list to sketch soon!