[AZ-Observing] NGC 6712 in Scutum

I joined Steve Coe this past weekend, up in the mountains as described
by his earlier posting, and both of us had the best observing conditions
we have had here in Arizona in three years.  It was the best two nights
with the 14.5" (370 mm), since it went on-line, where we rated the
seeing 8/10 and transparency 9/10.

While we were observing deep sky goodies in Scutum we included the
globular cluster NGC 6712 and noticed something we had never seen
before.  Towards the southern end there was a dark lane that divided in
into two unequal parts and was very prominent at 140X.  This lane was
seen both in his NexStar11 and my telescope.  Neither Steve nor myself
could remember such a unique feature, not just on this globular but on
any other.  I have observed it several times in my old 8" and a check of
the observations doesn't indicate it was seen.

My question is - how many have seen or noticed this dark lane before?
It does appear in Vickers' Deep Space CCD Atlas, but then I didn't have
it with the smaller scope.

As an indication of the transparency of the night skies I was able to
see the Pipe Nebula naked eye . . . without my glasses!  Yes, I know the
Pipe is visible without glasses, but it is for folks with vision much
closer to 20/20 than mine.  Didn't try to determine limiting magnitude
because I was so busy observing under such great conditions.

AJ Crayon
www.saguaroastro.org



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