Flocking to Scutum

M11
Sketch and Details by Kiminori Ikebe

M11(NGC 6705) Sct open cluster
Difficulty level 1

Date of observation: 1999/10/06 20:23
Observing site: Makinoto
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 3/5/3
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with XL14 at 110x
Width of field: 0.6 degree
This is a fine and bright cluster containing many stars. At 110x it is highly concentrated but almost completely resolved. There is a 7.8-magnitude star near the center. It is very conspicuous. There are two faint stars nearby. It is a fine sight with an equal double on the south side, which is as bright as the star near the center. The distribution of the resolved stars is quite uneven. The general shape of the cluster is that of a diamond and a beautiful chain of stars is seen in the southeast outlying area. Dark areas and dense patches of stars are intermingled. There are scattered outliers northeast of the cluster. They seem to be members of the cluster.