2025-01-25

• Condition: VG5
• Location: Home, Spearfish: 44.49, -103.87

Another break in the clouds. This might be one of the most cloudy winters I’ve had since starting the hobby.

Bundled up with heated socks and gloves. The paper began warping as I was sketching due to the humidity and I had to get used to sketching with gloves on. I did re-sharpen my coal pencils before heading out, and I believe it made a huge difference with how fine the dots for the stars appear.

07:44PM

• Target: Cr 69, Lambda Ori Cluster
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 05h35m +09.56
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 26x
• Class: III 3 m

Image

First attempted this with the 28mm, then switched to the 13mm for a closer view, then backed out to the 28mm again. The framing was much nicer in the 28mm zoomed back a bit. Very easy to see cluster whose detachment is just barely noticeable. The cluster had a notable vertical trend to it and the brightest stars near the center gave the shape of a bow.

08:03PM

• Target: NGC 1662
• Const: Orion
• RaDec: 04h48m +10.55
• Type: Open Cluster
• Scope: AT102ED
• Setting: 55x
• Class: II 2 m

Image

Easy find straight shot west of Cr 69. Very quaint and quiet cluster with noticeable detachment. Has a circular appearance to the ordering of the stars. Used the 13mm for this one to get in more closely.