Archive for August 2018

Messier 4 – Globular Cluster in Scorpius – July 2018 Observer’s Challenge Report

August 24, 2018

Click on the following link for the complete report:  

JULY 2018 OBSERVERS CHALLENGE – M-004

Notes from my backyard:

Globular cluster, M4 is easy to see with a 60 mm refractor, appearing as a faint circular glow at low magnification.  When using a 3.5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrain at 78x, there is a resolve of some of the brighter members.  The cluster has a subtle elongated shape.  A very faint chain of stars was noted in the central region, oriented N-S.  With 102 mm refractor, there is a greater number of stars resolved within the cluster, and much greater concentration of stars, elongated and with more stars in the central chain. A prominent double star is located on the SE edge.   

10-inch reflector at 140x, excellent resolve of the cluster. The center chain of stars is very bright and with many stars counted, both in the central region and around the outer edges.  A chain of stars makes an arc, the entire length of the cluster on the NW side.  The elongation shape becomes much more apparent with the larger aperture.      Roger Ivester 

Pencil sketch with the colors inverted using a 102 mm refractor @ 140x 

Rogers M-004 Inverted

Sand Dunes In The Northeastern Corner Of South Carolina, 50 Miles From The Atlantic Ocean, Swamps, With Virtually No Light Pollution

August 14, 2018

While visiting our family in Mullins, South Carolina over the past few years, we have enjoyed finding some very interesting things. 

Only a few miles outside the city limits, there are country roads, agriculture fields, and no houses or lights for miles and miles, and virtually no light pollution.        

The next morning….Tuesday August 14th 2018.  

When driving in a secluded area, via unfamiliar country roads, you never know what you may find:   

While riding around with my oldest grandson, John-Winston, who just received his learners permit, and I was sharing my wisdom, on how to be a safe driver.  During our  leisure drive, we found sand dunes, in the middle of a swamp! 

Sand dunes, and a very sandy area….at first resembling snow, all in the middle of a dense forest and surrounded by swamp land.  

There were Bald Cypress trees growing out of the black murky water, Spanish moss hanging from the trees, and who knows, maybe even an alligator or two in that dark water!

Note:  This very remote small sandy area is a protected site.  I took some pictures as following, but somehow missed the eerie swamp.   

Roger 

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Stopped and using the car as a size reference, to a part of the protected site: 

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South Carolina Grandkids

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Debbie (Grammy) with granddaughter Gracie

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Couldn’t leave our Sophie behind!  She’s ready to go anytime we are! 

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