FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Cherry Rd Friday Night

["Frank Kraljic" <FJKraljic@xxxxxxx>]

Transparency was not very good, especially to the south, and seeing was also
variable maxing at about 200x.  For those planning on observing tonight,
bring a light jacket and some pants.  Although not too chilly, the
temperature is a strong contrast from the valley's 100+ degree temps.  A
light wind blew most of the night, alternating directions from the northwest
to the south.  Highlights of the night include:

NGC 6445, a warped box-shaped planetary in Sagittarius west of M 23,
seemingly bi-polar with mottled N and S ring arcs resembling the top and
bottom skins of an apple-core.  Some diffuse glow surrounding the PN, but
difficult to discern.  (112x and 224x)

NGC 6803 in Aquila.  Not exactly a visual highlight, but one that was
certainly a pain in the neck to find.  This 6" planetary is stellar in a
appearance--no thanks to the seeing--and is best found blinking the field
with an OIII filter.  The planetary is surrounding by other 11th magnitude
stars, and at 224x reveals itself as a smooth disc planetary with a bright
interior, which could be the central star.

NGC 6804, just north of NGC 6803, is another irregular-shaped ring planetary
which takes magnification well (200x+)... two faint stars reside on the
ring's periphery off-center from a straight line with the central star.
Best viewed without a filter, but appears to have a crown when observed
using an OIII filter.

NGC 6891, a planetary in Dephinus.  Easily found at 78x ... blinking the PN
with an OIII filter at 224x, the planetary's outer halo was distinguishable
to about 1 diameter outside the disc and brighter on the NW quadrant.  Poor
transparency made observing this feature difficult, and due to the
planetary's size, high magnification is required.

-FRANK



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