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(IAAC) OBJECT: M3 (Globular Cluster) INST: 18" f/4.2 Newt
Observer: Todd Gross
Your skill: Intermediate
Date and UT of observation: 1/26/99 09:15GMT
Location & latitude: 22 mi. West of Boston, Ma. 42.3N
Site classification: Suburban
Limiting magnitude (visual): 5.2(estimated) zenith
Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best): about 4
Moon up (phase?): No
Weather: Clear, partial snowcover (light pollution)
Instrument: 18" Stabilite Newt f/4.2 1925mm fl
Magnifications: 196x - televue binoviewer
Filters used: none
Object: M3
Constellation: CVn
Object data: Globular Cluster
Size(s): 16 arc min
Position: RA: 13:42 DEC: 28:23
Magnitude: 5.9
Personal "rating" (at this aperture, and sky condition): A+
Words cannot describe this. BETTER than any photograph (almost as bright too-
including my own m3 photo currently at http://www.weatherman.com/edf.htm)
The binoviewer with 2x magnifier and the 19mm Panoptics actually yield
better views than a single eyepieces of 10mm, and 8.5mm.
Stunning and rich. Completely resolved to above the core, with brightest stars
seemingly closer in the false 3-D of the binoviewer. Round, large, very dense
core, and fairly even "chaos" outward as string of stars, and individuals.
I did identify three straight lines of stars coming out 90 degrees to each
other,
I think they were roughly West, South, and East...the West and East portions
the longest and straightest.
At this aperture this globular is every bit as enjoyable as M13. The only
differenceis that it has a slightly smaller core, and slightly more even-ness
to the breakdown of stars (less stringy) than M13. A++ !
thanks!
-Todd
Boston Meteorologist Todd Gross
toddg@weatherman.com
http://www.weatherman.com
(617)725-0777
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