Messier/type:M 18 / open cluster
mag/dia/dist:6.9 / 5' / 4,000 ly
constellation:Sagittarius
date/time/place:Apr21,01 / 01:30 / bangkok
trans'y/seeing/l-poll:good / fair / medium
telescope:newtonian 4.5", f 8.8
eyepieces/power:25mm / 40x
sky atlas page:22
start hopping from the tea pot lid star 22 'Kaus Borealis', hop to a star mag5 near B91 (B..series are dark nebulae, I don't expect to see any dark nebula at Bangkok) ,then hop to stars 13,14,15 & 16, this group of stars point to a star mag5.5 which close to M18, not so hard to lock it to the center of FOV of finder scope ,goto eyepiece at 40x M18 appeared as a small open cluster. from text book, it can be seen as black swan, but I can seen only body & wing without neck & head which are fainter stars. Home
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