## Combined Observation Session Log - October 4th, 2024

**Location:** Dark Site

**Start Time:** 19:05 MDT

**Targets:**

* **Venus:**
    * Time Observed: ~19:05
    * Notes:
        + Very blurry and shaky in the eyepiece due to wind.
        + Gibbous shape, but difficult to tell due to movement.
        + Described as "pretty full".
* **Albirio:**
    * Time Observed: 19:21
    * No notes available. (Observed again later at 20:54)

* **M81 & M82 (Galaxies):**
    * Time Observed: 19:55 - 20:01
    * Notes:
        + Found by starhopping from the nose of Ursa Major, not Dubhee as initially planned.
        + Both visible in the same eyepiece field of view.
        + Faint smudges, slightly elliptical in shape.
        + Distinctly galaxies.
        + 18.2mm eyepiece: Background darkened, objects more prominent.
        + 7mm eyepiece: Objects no longer fit field of view, appear as dim wisps, visible mainly with averted vision.

* **Double Cluster:**
    * Time Observed: 20:05
    * Notes:
        + Naked-eye visible, no search required.
        + Looks nice in ultra-wide-angle eyepiece.

* **M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy):**
    * Time Observed: 20:28
    * Notes:
        + Almost invisible.
        + Slight smudge visible with averted vision only.

* **M101:**
    * Time Observed: ~20:37
    * Notes: Failed observation - object not seen.

* **M12 (Globular Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: 20:40
    * Notes:
        + Fuzzy blob, no individual stars resolvable.


* **M10 (Globular Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: 20:47
    * Notes:
        + Easy to find, visible in the same field of view as M12.


* **Albirio (Second Observation)**
    * Time Observed: 20:54
    * Eyepiece: Nagler 13mm Type 6
    * Notes:
        + Very beautiful image

* **M11 (Globular Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: 21:00
    * Eyepiece: Nagler 13mm
    * No notes available.


* **Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and accompanying Messier objects:**
    * Time Observed: ~21:40
    * Notes:
        + Andromeda itself very large, fills most of the field of view with the 40mm ultra-wide eyepiece
        + M110 a faint smudge above Andromeda, resolvable with averted vision.
        + M32 faintly resolvable, appears as a fuzzy star

* **M5 (Globular Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: ~21:45 (estimated based on the sequence)
    * Notes: No notes are available for this observation.

* **M52 (Open Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: 21:51
    * Notes:
        + Open cluster, very loose
        + Resolvable especially in averted vision with the 18.2mm eyepiece
        + Brightness in the center visible with averted vision

* **M103 (Open Cluster):**
    * Time Observed: 21:56
    * Notes:
        + Similar to M52, but looser and less bright
        + Very easy to find due to proximity to a bright star