king county natural area of
- Island Center Forest Map (PDF) (cdn.kingcounty.gov)
Island Center Forest features various forest stands, meadows, and the Mukai Pond and Meadowlake Pond wetlands, and it is home to the headwaters of Judd Creek. Island Center Forest provides habitat for a variety of wildlife, including more than 70 bird species. There are more than nine miles of trails for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers. The wetlands are popular for bird watching and wildlife photography.
- Messier 9 (Wikipedia)
Messier 9 or M9 (also designated NGC 6333) is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It is positioned in the southern part of the constellation to the southwest of Eta Ophiuchi, and lies atop a dark cloud of dust designated Barnard 64. The cluster was discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier on June 3, 1764, who described it as a “nebula without stars”. In 1783, English astronomer William Herschel was able to use his reflector to resolve individual stars within the cluster. He estimated the cluster to be 7–8′ in diameter with stars densely packed near the center.