August 2006
The most ideal month of the year in my opinion. Nights are still warm, milky way showing off overhead and the sky manages to reach true astronomical darkness. Notable viewings:
The Perseids meteors were hindered by the moon this year, however I did view some bright sporadic meteors to the Western sky during the week ending 11th.
M13, M31, M57, M92
A second viewing session with crystal clear skies produced a worthwhile exercise right at the end of the month...
Double cluster in Perseus
Open clusters in Cassiopeia including M52
Fantastic view of the Andromeda Galaxy in wide-angle 32mm eyepiece
Browsed across the star-rich Cygnus constellation
Albireo Double Star in Cygnus
As usual had another look at M13 (Hercules Cluster)
Not a natural object of the heavens but the International Space Station seemed to be much brighter during a 12 day period of it passing over UK skies in the evenings. I would estimate it shined as bright as magnitude -2.5 (way outshining Jupiter!).
|
