Observer: Mark G.Birkmann
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 8-14-2001, 6:25 UT (1:25 CDT)
Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700 feet)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>
Seeing: 5, <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: last quarter moon rise 1:20 am CDT
Instrument: 40" f/5 dob
Magnification: 164x, 250x, 385x
Filter(s): none used
Category: reflection nebula
Class: 4 b1
Constellation: Cepheus
Data: mag of associated star 7.5 size of nebula 14'
Position: RA 21h:01m 36s DEC +68:10' 36"
Description:
With the 35mm Rini I noted a small bright area of nebulosity
around a bright star as well as a faint streak of nebulosity to the north
east oriented southeast to northwest with a P.A. of about 340. At
this power 3 stars were associated with the nebula. At 250x I noticed
6 stars and also some detail in the southern part of the nebula.
At 385x I noted a dark lane running through the south part of the nebula
from north east to southwest. The dark lane appeared to start near
a star and was very narrow until it reached a point south of the center
of the nebula. It then widened to the south west as the nebulosity
began to fade. The edges of the dark lane were sharp as was the eastern
edge of the nebulosity to the south of the dark lane. At 385x 8 stars
appeared to be associated with the nebulosity.