(SNES) Messier Row

["Ernest R. Evans" <pilotstar@mindspring.com>]

I'm sure you are all familiar with the decimation of "battleship row" at
Pearl Harbor in 1941. Last night at FDO I had the pleasant task of
assailing what I call "Messier Row!"  After first failing to locate
three non-Messier Objects, NGC 6302 (Bug Nebula), 6334 (Cat's Paw
Nebula), and the planetary nebula 6337--all in Scorpius--I turned to
"Messier Row."

Starting with the beautiful "Butterfly Cluster" (M6), I worked my way
over to M7, then up the Milky Way to M22, M8, M20, M18, M17, M16 and
M11. More Messier objects abound in this region, but I wanted more than
just a cursory look at the objects listed above.

Consulting my observing logs, I realized that due to poor horizon
conditions at home along with monstrous light pollution, that I hadn't
viewed many of these objects since the late '50s. What a treat to see
them again! Although the Milky Way background was gorgeous in my 6" RFT,
I noticed the Messier Objects themselves looked best at higher powers.
Nebula filters produced  definite enhancement for the nebulae, but they
were somewhat disappointing. ( A check later on the Eastern Veil
confirmed conditions were not the best at FDO, as the Veil lacked its
often stunning appearance in my RFT with an O-III.) However, I'm NOT
complaining after months of wash-outs; Friday was a blast!

I finished the night by locating globular 6723 in CRA, but could not see
the fine nebula 6729 within the same wide-field view.

Doug, can you try to catch the Bug, Cat's Paw, and NGC 6337 & 6729 from
your more favorable southerly latitude? I saw 6337 (annular planetary-
Dreyer !!!) in an 8" from FDO two years ago, but it was quite faint due
to atmospheric extinction.

Ernie
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