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(IAAC) Obj: M 72 - Inst: 7x50 binoculars
Observer: Lew Gramer
Your skills: Intermediate
Date and UT of Observation: 1997-07-25/26, 04:15 UT
Location: Medford, MA, USA (42N)
Site classification: urban
Limiting magnitude: 5.8 (zenith), intermittent haze
Seeing: 5 (out of 10 highest) - mediocre
Moon up: yes, 50% (not visible at site)
Instrument: 50mm Simmons binoculars
Magnification: 7x
Filters used: None
Object: M72
Category: Globular cluster
Constellation: Aqr
Data: mag 9.2 size 5.9'
RA/DE: 20h53m -12o32m
Description:
Mu Aqr forms the N tip - and eta Aqr the W "wing" - of a tiny
asterism shaped very much like "Crux", the S Cross, the whole
of which fits in a single binocular field (4o). M72 was 1 bino
field S of and "pointed to" by the N-S axis of this Cross. The
globular required averted vision AND field motion ("jiggling")
to be seen against the skyglow of Boston; but it WAS visible,
embedded in the E edge of an isoceles triangle of stars whose W
apex is mag 6 and whose N vertex is the mag 7 star of the "Cross".