NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 6397 18" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): amazing view of this bright globular at nearly 70¡ elevation at 171x. It extended across 2/3 of the field - perhaps 20' in diameter. The cluster was very highly resolved into hundreds of stars, many surprisingly bright at mag 10-11 and overall noticeably brighter than most globulars (1st in ranking of brightest stars). The globular appears fully resolved in the halo and even the blazing core is covered wall-to-wall with stars. Many of the stars are arranged in small groups, chains, curves, etc. The concentrated core is ~3.5' diameter and at 228x has a 3-dimensional effect with the mag 10.5-11.5 stars layered over a dense, uneven background mat. Visible naked-eye. 20" (7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): I also had a fantastic view in the 20" f/5 at 212x - the stars seemed to radiate out from the core in spiral curves and completely filled the 23' field! 8" (7/13/91 - Southern Baja): very bright, very large, 10' diameter, irregularly round. At least 50 stars mag 10-12 are resolved at 63x. Bright intense core 3' diameter with dozens of stars superimposed and at edges of core. Contains a large halo with many faint and brighter stars superimposed over a mottled background. Beautiful globular although observed at only 13¡ elevation from Baja. This is the nearest globular and first in ranking by brightest stars. 10x30 (8/8/04 - Haleakala Crater): picked up while sweeping in IS binoculars close to the SSW horizon from Haleakala. Once the position was pinpointed, this mag 5.8 globular was just visible naked-eye less than 1 degree NNE of mag 5.3 Pi Arae.