| Object: M26 (NGC 6694) | Date: 2018 September 2 |
| Type: Open cluster | |
| Constellation: Scutum | Time & altitude: 21.15 UT 27º |
| Catalogue data: | Seeing (5 high): 3/5 |
| R.A: 18h 45m | Transparency (5 high): 2/5 |
| Dec: -9º 24 | Telescope: 0.5m f4.1 Dob. |
| Magnitude 8 | Eyepiece 17mm Ethos x120 |
| Size (mins) 15 | Filters: None |
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Notes: As on August 31, transparency overhead is good with NELM better than 5.5m and Milky Way on view but progressively milkier below about 30 degrees. The first of the autumn ground mist is evident this evening as well. I have just tried for Messiers 55 and 75 at low declination but conditions are not good enough. Diameter above is per Sky & Telescope’s Messier Card. This must be wrong, the cluster is much smaller. There is no way it extends to one-third of my field of view. I’d estimate 5 minutes only. As per the Astro League Messier Guide, there is a wishbone asterism of stars, with a haze of fainter stars on the outside of its E side. |
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