M26 (NGC 6694) Sct open cluster
Difficulty level 2

Date of observation: 2000/08/28 00:06
Observing site: Hoshinomura
Transparency/seeing/sky darkness: 2/3/2
Instruments: 32cm Dobsonian with XL14 at 110x
Width of field: 0.6�‹
This is an open cluster near the center of Scutum. There are not many stars in this cluster. It is inconspicuous because it is situated in the middle of the Milky Way. It is bright enough for a finder scope. Ordinary star clusters sometimes show interesting features if carefully observed. On the western side, there is a string of stars in a shape of an arch and on the south side a conspicuous cross formed by four bright stars. In the east there is a fuzzy clump of faint stars. The above description was made while this object was low on the horizon under unfavorable sky conditions. I hope to observe it again when conditions are good.