Observing in Friitala 2.-3.3.2016

Date: 2./3.3.2016
Time: 22:30-23:30
Observing site: Friitala, Ulvila, Finland
Instrument: N250/1200mm (10” Newton)

NELM: 5.3
SQM: 19.70 – 19.30
Darkness of the background sky: 4
Seeing: 3
Transparency: –
Weather: Clear sky, calm, snow on the ground, -4C to -9C

Objects observed: NGC 2266, 2304, 2395 and 2355

In the early days of March 2016, I had two observing sessions during two nights in a row. During the latter of these sessions (2.-3.3.2016) I was observing in my Friitala observing site. During the night conditions were OK winter conditions, altough there was som cloud interference in the later part of the session. Eventually the clouds forced me to stop observing. Nevertheless, I was able to observe four objects: NGC 2266, 2304, 2395 and 2355. All of these objects are open clusters in the constellation of Gemini.

NGC 2266

My first object of this evening was NGC 2266, a small open cluster located 2 degrees north from epsilon Geminorum. My notes of this object are as follows:

@160x: A small, compact and faint-starred cluster. The cluster is well concentrated and detached. The cluster is mostly visible as a starglow, only some of the brightest stars of the cluster are visible straight.

NGC 2266 observed with 10” Newton

NGC 2304

The second object of this session was NGC 2304, which is a faint and small open cluster in the constellation of Gemini, located 3 degrees SW from Zeta Geminorum. Of this object, I wrote following notes:

@80x: Very faint, small and compact open cluster. Some of the brightest stars were visible at times at the threshhold of visibility, but mostly the cluster is visible just as a round, unresolved, hazy patch of dim light.

NGC 2304 observed with 10” Newton

NGC 2395

My third object of this observing session was NGC 2395, just another faint, small and pretty unknown open cluster in Gemini. It is located 3,5 degrees SE from Lambda Geminorum. Of this object, I wrote  following notes:

@80x: A small, faint and rather scattered and poor cluster, not very well concentrated.

NGC 2395 observed with 10” Newton

NGC 2355

The last object of this observing session was NGC 2355, faint and small open cluster in Gemini. It is located 3 degrees south from Lambda Geminorum and 2,5 degrees west from NGC 2395. Of this object I wrote as follows:

@80x: A small, faint and compact cluster. The cluster is mostly visible as a glow. Only handful of the brigthest stars were resolved.

NGC 2355 observed with 10” Newton