R306 

Eddy O'Connor
Star: R306
Date & Time: August 2nd 2000, 9 p.m local; UT +10
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> 
Transparency: 8/10
Temperature: 8C
Location of Site: Terara, New South Wales, Australia, Long.150.38 degrees; 
South 34.52. 
Site Classification: Suburban 
Sky darkness: 5 <Limiting magnitude> 
Instrument: Vixen 102mm, FL. 1,000mm
Magnification: 50x (20mm), 80x (12.5), 200x (5mm)
 
This mag. 7 star is located in a rich and attractive field and very close the most southerly of the Messier objects, and visible to the naked eye, the striking M7(NGC 6475). This star lies on the edge of an isosceles triangle formed by three 6-7 mag. Binocular doubles(Uranometria, p.377). R306 is a mag.7 star separated neatly at X80 from its faint 9.5 companion. The primary was whitish and the companion's colour was impossible to estimate.
  
Ambience: Much precious time was wasted in setting up the Vixen and it was soon clear that the seeing was rapidly deteriorating. A touch of Spring tonight and a strong scent of Hycinths was very welcome after the unpleasant task of cleaning up after a regurgitating cat(she insists on munching the odd skink!) The Milky Way is directly overhead.