Observing Log for Mike Durkin 11/30/2019 5:30PM-7:30PM Locust Valley, NY Transparency: 6/10, Seeing 3/5 Temperature: about 25-35 degrees Equipment: Meade 16 inch Lightbridge Got new batteries for the laser collimator and despite the less than ideal weather conditions, I wanted to see if I could get the collimation better than last time. Based on what I saw tonight, I would say yes. Did a very quick look at the crescent moon as it was setting behind a house. I was able to split the Double-Double in Lyra with the 6.7mm eyepiece. One pair was easier to split than the other and how I looked at them through my eyeglasses mattered because of the progressive lenses. Perhaps I need a pair of eyeglasses specific for observing? Also looked atthe Ring Nebula, which was dimmer than I had hoped, although the ring structure was easy to make out. I also tried to see if I could detect the galaxies M76 and M33, but no luck. Also did a look atthe star cluster M34 in Perseus. That may be a bit too large for the Dob since it seemed to be a bit bigger than the 70mm eyepiece field of view. 11/1-2/2019 11:00PM-1:00AM Locust Valley, NY Transparency: 9/10, Seeing 3/5 Temperature: about 35-45 degrees Equipment: Meade 16 inch Lightbridge I spent more time collimating the telescope than I would have liked. The laser may need new batteries or perhaps there is something less than ideal about the mirror. Looked at M31, M32 and M110. The core of M31 seemed bigger than I may have ever seen before. M32 was small and bright. It took a bit of work to see M110. I also saw NGC 7331, the Deer Lick Galaxy. It was an obvious elongated smudge. I akso picked up one or two of the satellite galaxies. Also saw 2 of the galaxies in Stephan's Quintet, although one of the cores I saw may have actually been 2 that were just close together. Also took a quick look at M45, too big to really appreciate in the Dob. Also tested to see if I could detect any nebulosity around Atik in Perseus, but I didn't. Wrapped up with looking at the Crab Nebula, M1. I was able to make it out, although no details. Other Log Entries <-- 2018 Jan  Feb  Mar   Apr  May   Jun  Jul  Aug   Sep  Oct  Nov   Dec  2020 -->