#124: Messier 34

Perseus is home to some of the finest clusters in the sky. Messier 34 is only one of the showpieces in this constellation sitting atop the Milky Way, and in January the cluster is ideally suited for observation, being almost overhead in the early evening. I have had the good fortune to observe this bright open cluster with three different scopes, including Space Eye, my 2” refractor. M 34 is a fine object for very small scopes, and is seen well at 30x. It is a large group filled with bright stars, and the eye is kept busy. The central area resolves well, and there are also several bright stars in the outskirts. That observation was done in October of 2015.

Back in October of 2002 I viewed it from Comber with my Edmund 8” reflector. At 36x it appeared as a very loose, medium-rich cluster. There are numerous bright stars, some in pairs. The cluster is best viewed at low power. 56X resolves the entire group, though views were also lovely at 72x. 

In January of this year I finally got to look at it with the 12” scope. It fits in the field of view at 60x, its many bright stars becoming almost blindingly white. The cluster includes some fine doubles, and the overall large and loose structure invites the eye to search all around for interesting pairings and other details. One aspect that struck me was a fascinating string of faint stars on the south end, intersecting with another line coming through the center of the cluster. There are about 12 stars in the first line, some with very faint companions. 100X shows the central area in good detail, though at this range the full cluster size is lost. Since M 34 is right in the Milky Way, it is fun to sweep the area surrounding the cluster. A rich knot of faint stars can be seen just south following, and I also came across a wide U of stars not far away.

It’s often too cold in January to do much more than a brief observation. This time is usually reserved for a look at the Orion Nebula. However, M 34 can be appreciated on a quick visit, and will also reward those with time for a closer view.

M 34 (NGC 1039): Size 25’; overall mag. 5.2; about 60 stars; brightest star mag. 9.

 https://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/current/cgi/runquery.pl?Interface=bform&VCOORD=ngc+1039&SURVEY=Digitized+Sky+Survey&SCOORD=Equatorial&EQUINX=2000&MAPROJ=Gnomonic&SFACTR=0.35&ISCALN=Linear&GRIDDD=No&COLTAB=B-W+Linear&PIXELX=600&PIXELY=600  

Clear skies!

Mapman Mike

#123: A Second Method For Tackling Unknown Skies

In blog #120 (M 103) I talked about a way of getting to know unfamiliar parts of the sky by using a bright deep sky object as a jumping off point for telescope users.  Exploring slowly and carefully in different directions has always been a worthwhile way to spend time with the night sky.

 This time I would like to talk about a second method of preparing for a night's observing.  However, a star atlas is now required, and perhaps some books describing deep sky objects, variable stars, and double stars.  I like the books put out by the Webb Society, but I still often use the 3-volume Burnham's Celestial Handbook.  As to sky atlases, the only one to even consider for advanced amateurs is the Uranometria All-Sky Edition, 2nd Ed, revised.  For the price of a cheap eyepiece ($60), this will be the best investment you ever made.  Cloudy nights suddenly become fun with this atlas.  And it comes with free shipping.

 http://www.willbell.com/atlas/index.htm

If you are among those who purchased the first edition way back when, as I did, then realized the maps were backwards and difficult to use in the field, have no fear.  Things are corrected and much improved now!  And an all-in-one edition means only one volume is now needed to study Orion in depth!  Before the 2nd edition of Uranometria came about, I used to do the following for my 2nd Method of preparing for a session.  Afterwards I will tell you am alternate, improved way, thanks to the revised atlas format.

1)      Pick an area of sky of interest to you.  I will pick oc 2232 in Monoceros, for reasons that should become apparent if you glance at the atlas (it's a simple enough area to start with).  However, any area will do, as long as you begin somewhere you will recognize.

2)   Without looking at any photos of objects to be observed (wait until after you have actually searched for them at the eyepiece), write down some info about the main object from one of your resources.  (oc 2232: 29'; stars mag 6--8, about a dozen).  I use the companion volume to the Uranometria atlas (see the link, above).

    3)   Search on the map (chart #116 in Uranometria) for neighbouring points of interest.  Write down any info about these objects you may have.  You should notice oc 2219 preceding, oc 2250 following, and oc Cz 26 north following.  These clusters are within easy star-hop range of oc 2232.  Their relative obscurity may or may not be deserved.  You can decide for yourself.  The size of your mirror and the darkness of your sky will help you determine this, along with your experience as an observer.  A few unnamed doubles are also indicated nearby, as well as a handful of variables, including GL, V723, and IM. Don't ignore the brightest star within oc 2232, which is labeled as a double star.

 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f4/NGC_2232.png

What we have just done is prepare our session more in depth than with the previous method, where we only needed the location of one bright object (and no atlas) to get started.  This time we have gone target hunting, looking for specific objects near our bright starting point. One of the reasons I chose 2232 is that despite a good star-hop search using Method 1, those three other open clusters still may not have been found.  They are faint, and at low power may be missed (if you found them using Method 1, then congratulations!).  Using Method 2, we are now searching in an exact location for specific objects, hopefully with some success.  Use neighbouring stars leading from 2232 and marked on the atlas to guide you directly.  This is called guided star hopping, and with practice can be a very quick and efficient method of getting around. Thus Method 2 works similarly to Method 1, but it is now required to choose an area of sky with a few other objects of interest near the main object.  If you have the right atlas, this will pose no difficulty.  Choose your area based on your sky conditions, horizon, and season.  This is how I prepare for a session using Method 2.  As mentioned at the beginning of this article, however, I will sometimes do things differently now. 

Since the publication of the 2nd edition of Uranometria it includes, in addition to 220 star maps that show every NGC and IC object down to Mag. 15, 24 close-up maps at the back of the atlas.  These highlight and enlarge x2 or x3 things like galaxy clusters (Virgo, Coma, Hercules and others), extra rich areas of the Milky Way (Cygnus, Sagittarius, Scorpius, etc) and the Magellenic Clouds.  There is a lifetime of observing just within these supplemental maps!  I can't wait to get at Cygnus this summer with Charts A1 and A2, and in the spring with the Leo galaxy charts (A10, 11).  And once you see the Large Magellenic Cloud Chart and how many NGC objects reside there (a 2-page spread), you will want to book an astronomy B & B in Australia or Chile for a month!

     Soon I will detail Planning Method 3.  May you have clear skies and successful star hunting until then!

 

Mapman Mike

#122: Messier 39

I first made the acquaintance of this wide open star cluster in late July of 1971.  I was observing with my Tasco Lunagrosso 4.5” Reflector.  It was also the summer of a very favourable opposition of Mars.  Life was good!  I wrote at the time: “A very large open cluster of stars, mostly white.  The object filled about half of my field of view at 22x, and all of my 45x eyepiece.  At the lower power I counted about 25 stars, several of them 6th and 7th magnitude, although some were much fainter.  M 39 is a very pleasant cluster to view, and easy to locate.”

Cut to late August, 1978.  I am now using my Edmund 8” Reflector, the big red beast!  My notes from then:  "M 39 is a cluster so bright and widely scattered that it is seen very well in the 9 x 30 finderscope [virtually a 1” scope].  This also makes it a very worthwhile object for binoculars.  36x and 56x suited this very loose group.  I stopped the scope down to 4”, and the group was splendid to view!  Indeed, full aperture added nothing but more brightness, and a few much fainter stars.  At full aperture, an interesting way to view this cluster is to put it well out of focus.  My favourite view was at 56x and 4” of aperture, however.  A lovely wide pair of stars lies near the very center (ARN 78: 7.6-8.8/52”).”  Two other doubles with bright primary stars are just south.

In late September of 2013 I observed it with my Orion 12” Dob.  “The cluster looks best at low power.  It is suitable for a 2” refractor and anything larger.  I used 43x and 60x, where the cluster appears like a slightly more condensed version of the Pleiades.  The stars are nearly blinding in a 12” mirror.  Not a rich cluster, but very bright and well scattered.”  And I did indeed view it in Space Eye more recently, my wonderful 2” refractor, declaring it a minor showpiece for that instrument.

 https://skyview.gsfc.nasa.gov/current/cgi/runquery.pl?Interface=bform&VCOORD=ngc+7092&SURVEY=Digitized+Sky+Survey&SCOORD=Equatorial&EQUINX=2000&MAPROJ=Gnomonic&SFACTR=0.35&ISCALN=Linear&GRIDDD=No&COLTAB=B-W+Linear&PIXELX=600&PIXELY=600

I consider M 39 a great summer object to show people who are new to telescopes.  It makes an immediate impact, and rewards longer views with the bright double stars, as well as the many fainter members.  For experienced observers an interesting side trip can be made to oc Platis 1, marked as Anon Platis on Unronometria Chart 32.  Lying ½ degree north and 2' preceding (west) the Messier object, this tiny cluster will reward viewers with scopes of 8" or higher.  The region around Messier 39 is littered with small clusters and interesting star fields, and makes a good starting point for some low power meandering.

M 39 (oc 7092):  Size 31’; Mag. 4.6; Br. star mag. 7.

Oc Platis 1:  Size 10’; Br. star mag. 8.9.

Clear skies.

Mapman Mike

#121: Planning Observing Sessions: A Few Ideas*

For the next few articles, I would like to discuss observing plans.  The dark sky is a very large neighbourhood, filled with all manner of stars, clusters, nebula, and galaxies.  It can be a bit overwhelming.  Where to start?  Most of us began with the moon, the planets, and the brightest Messier objects.  I still don't think there is a better place to start.  However, this series of articles is not aimed at beginners.  I am aiming at the seasoned amateur, perhaps someone who has already logged the Messier catalogue and bagged a number of objects from other lists.  This kind of activity is certainly to be encouraged, as there are many different types of objects to see, and any number of variations among them.  And lists are prevalent.  Even though checking off astronomy object life lists can be a good thing, there can be downsides.

     One downside to using popular lists is that often only the biggest and brightest objects make it there.  What's wrong with that?  Nothing is wrong with it.  However, by including a number of interesting fainter and more difficult objects, those brighter ones, if saved for just the right moment, become even more impressive.  Training the eye to see fainter objects will certainly make a brighter one pop out of the eyepiece even more.  Many of my greatest observing accomplishments have been spotting galaxies at the very limit of my telescope's, and my eye's, ability.  Afterwards, it is always amazing to check out M 31 or M 33 again!

     'Ah,' you say, 'I not one of those observers that like to look for faint fuzzies--no thanks; not for me.'  ‘Don’t be hasty,’ I say.  Viewing fainter objects helps one appreciate the brighter things even more, not to mention the degree of challenge and the navigation skills you will acquire.  But they really do improve your observing skills.

     A second problem with lists is that we want to finish them.  If you are ticking off the 400 brightest Herschel objects, you are going to want to get to #400 someday.  Again, this is all well and good.  Unless you are hoping to tick off 30 or 40 of the objects during the next clear night.  Sorry, but that is not observing.  That is merely using a checklist.  If you are going to only observe the best and the brightest, then the urge to race through the list should be at the very back of your mind.  Often it isn't.  Locate.  See object. Check it off.  Multiply by 400.

     A third problem is that areas of unfamiliar sky around the listed objects are often avoided, in a haste to get on to the next thing on the list.  What else might be nearby?  A lovely double star, perhaps?  A nebula?  Maybe a rich star field?  Or it could be a stunning red carbon star.  All missed because the observer has moved on to the next object without bothering to check the surrounding field.

     So, are there other fun ways of approaching the night sky besides using lists of popular objects?   In my previous article (M 103) I would talked briefly about one of three methods I like to use.  Let me know what you think.  

* This article is an update of one I wrote for this blog, near its very beginning.