Image by Dr. James Dire From KEASA Observatory, Barking Sands, Kauai, Hawaii.  Camera:  SBIG ST-2000XCM CCD Camera.  Scope: 102 mm f/7.9 APO refractor.  Note the many star chains extending outward from the cluster.   

One of the most observed objects in Sagattarius by amateurs would have to be globular cluster, M22.  When viewed at 191x with my 10-inch reflector the cluster comes alive with many resolved stars.  The cluster has a brighter middle with two strings of stars leading off the SW edge.  A small concentrated patch could be seen on the northern tip, and another, however, smaller was noted toward the east.

The following pencil sketch was made using a 10-inch f/4.5 reflector at 191x from my moderately light polluted backyard in the foothills of  North Carolina.  

After careful observing for the longest time, I would suggest that this cluster appears looking like a strange alien creature.  The star chains in the SW edge would be the legs, and the concentrated spots in the N and E would be the eyes.  It is very interesting to note that after many observing sessions over the years, I have never noticed this most interesting comparison.  

Please check out this globular for yourself and see if you too can see the alien. 

My small 76 mm f/4 reflector at 25x presents M22 as a fairly dim ball of unresolved stars.    Roger Ivester

Read the full Las Vegas Astronomical Society report, please click on the following link.

AUGUST 2012 OBSERVERS CHALLENGE – M-22

This entry was posted on August 29, 2012 at 1:46 am and is filed under Work File Only - Observer's Challenge Reports. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. Both comments and pings are currently closed.