#64 Cassiopeia Summary 2: Other NGC and IC Objects

In addition to the 29 NGC open clusters discussed last time, there are an additional 7 NGC objects in Cassiopeia.

eg 0147:  13'.2 x 7'.8:  Visual 9.4; Sur. br. 14.5:  This whale-sized galaxy was viewed on several occasions, along with its neighbour 185.  Both are part of the Andromeda Family.  At 43x, 147 is oval and enormous, lying amidst a rich star field.  Dark skies and adapted eyes are requirements for good sightings.  At 59x it shows an inner oval area brighter than the outer area of haze.  100x shows the object well, including 3 *s within.  At 125x mostly the brighter central area was only seen.  This is a faint object, so wait for good skies, and be patient.  It is not a problem for an 8" or a 12".

eg 0185:  8' x 7':  Vis. 9.3; Sur. br. 13.7:  Much easier to view than its near companion 147, then both fit into my 43x field of view.  Quite bright and somewhat oval.  Averted vision shows the full extent of this very large galaxy, with a few *s involved.

eg 0278:  2'.1 x 2':  Vis. 10.7; Sur. br. 12.1:  Despite being a poor night for galaxies (lots of dew) the galaxy was large and bright at 60x.  It appeared slightly oval.  Central core much brighter at 150x.  Good object for 6" scopes, too.

gn 0281:  35' x 30':  This emission nebula was seen well at 60x with an Orion Skyglow filter.  It is very large, with some areas showing more brightness.  100x also shows it well.

gn 0896:  10' x 10':  Emission nebula, paired with IC 1795.  Both seen at 60x with the Skyglow filter.  Two distinct patches of very faint nebula, they were like seeing galaxies.  896 is brighter, with 2 faint *s north,  IC 1795 is involved with a 9 mag. *.

eg 1343:  2'.6 x 1'.6:  Vis. 12.8; Sur. br. 14.2:  Located at 125x and also observed at 150x and 200x.  Very faint overall, though it had a brighter and wider middle.  Elongated, with 2 faint *s following.

gn 7635:  15' x 8':  The "Bubble" Nebula isn't much to look at with a telescope, even with a nebula filter.  One star sits within it, at mag. 8.5.  Attached to and north of this star is some wispy gas.  Magnificent area for sweeping, and close to M 52. 

Cassiopeia has several noteworthy IC objects.  I observed all the ones listed in Uranometria 2000, ten in all.

 eg IC 0010:  6'.4 x 5'.3: Vis. 11.2; Sur. br. 14.9:  Located with just a bit of trouble, the galaxy was seen tonight at 60x and 100x, just north following variable * TV and its wide companion.  The galaxy was large, faint and oval.  A * was seen near the center, and other *s were also involved with the haze.

gn IC 0059:  10' x 5':  This was seen as a fairly solid block of nebulosity, large and especially noteworthy near a faint circlet of *s.  It was seen with and without the filter.

gn IC 0063:  10' x 3':  Separate from IC 59, and seen as more clumpy.  Just as faint as its companion.  

oc IC 0166:  8'.  Br. * mag. 17:  Immediately preceding a mag. 9 * lies a cloud of extremely faint haze.  Not large, but appears to be very dense.  A few *s resolved at 200x.  Well beyond what a 12" mirror can resolve.  However, I have seen it now with a friend's 22".  Still hard to resolve, but doable.
pn IC 0289:  48"; Vis. mag. 13.2; Cent. * 15.9:  Located at 60x and 120x with the filter, good views were had up to 250x.  It is round, large and ghostly and faint.  No detail can be seen.

oc IC 1590:  4'. Br. * mag. 9:  The cluster is within gn 281.  At 100x the brightest * in the nebual is a close triple system.  Up to 200x was used to see a few very faint stars around it, plus several brighter ones.

pn IC 1747:  19"; Mag. 12; Cent. * mag. 15.4:  Spotted at 100x, it was medium bright, round, small but very distinct.  Viewed up to 250x with a nebula filter.

gn IC 1795:  40' x 20':  See abstract for ngc 896, above.

oc IC 1805:  20'.  Br. * mag. 7.9:  Though hardly a showpiece, it is a large, fine group with many bright members.  60x and 100x were used, with 100x showing an inner circlet of *s in the center quite well.  This central ring gives the cluster its main interest and uniqueness.  Very faint nebulosity could be seen using the Skyglow filter. 
oc IC 1848:  18'. Vis. mag. 6.5:  A wonderful cluster at 60x, with 2 bright *s in the very center.  The brightest one has 3 faint companions.  The 2nd brightest * has about 10!.  125x resolves the cluster, a very large group with several bright *s and many faint ones.  Though a rich group, it is scattered.  60x and 83x shows the group well.  With a Skyglow filter there is some faint, thin and wispy nebula.  Recommended.

In the third part of my Cassiopeia review I will take a look at the many non-NGC/IC objects in that constellation.  To be continued...

Mapman Mike

#63 Cassiopeia Summary 1: NGC Open Clusters

     I will say something about each and every deep sky object observed in this most wondrous constellation.  I began observations in August 2013, and had just a few objects left to finish in August of 2014.  Many of the comments have been taken from previous Monthly Summary blog entries, but there is a significant amount of new detail.  There are 29 NGC open clusters, and I will discuss them in numerical order.

oc 0103:  5'.  Brightest * mag. 11.  30 stars on a stem with a branch.  Haze at low x, with 4 *s.
oc 0110:  19'. Brightest * mag. 9.7.  83x shows 60+ *s in this large, bright group.  A bright orange * is following, and a wide double south of it, yellow and mauve.  Medium rich even under a 1st quarter moon.  A low x beauty.
oc 0129:  12'. Brightest * mag. 11. Large group seen well at 60x and 83x. 35 stars near a triangle, with more further.  Rich group.
oc 0133:  3'. Mg. 9.4.  4 bright *s form an uneven north/south line, seen well at 60x.  2nd * from the north is a close double.  13 *s counted in a small area at 250x.  Adjacent to 146 and King 14.
oc 0136:  1'.5.  Brightest * mag. 13. 8 stars resolved at 250x.  Haze at low x.  Very tight and faint.
oc 0146:  5'. Brightest * 11.6.  An 11.6 mag * sits at the center at 60x, surrounded by a faint hazy cloud.  125x resolves most members, with 35 faint *s counted at 150x.  Adjacent to 133 and King 14.
oc 0189:  5'. Brightest * mag. 10.9.  Medium rich, dense.  Near a mini-Cepheus, and oc 225.
oc 0225:  15'. Brightest * mag. 9.3.  40 stars at 83x.  Good for 6" and up.  Large and bright.
oc 0358:  3'. Asterism of 4 stars.  Faint group south, involved with a 2nd asterism.
oc 0366:  4'. Brightest * mag. 10. 4 bright and 4 dim stars at 200x.
oc 0381:  7'. Brightest * mag. 10. 30+ stars at 150x, resolved well.  Dense group.
oc 0443:  4'. Brightest * mag. 9.  At 125x I observed a mag. 9.5 orange * closely surrounded by a cloud of tiny, faint *s.  200x shows 12 *s immediately surrounding the bright one, but there are many more in a wider area, using125x.
oc 0436:  5'. Brightest * mag. 10.  Little brother to oc 457, it is very close and an easy star hop away.  Both objects seen together at low x.  30 *s at 150x. 

oc 0457:  Stunning object in virtually any instrument, this one does require a low to moderate power.  For my scope 83x was the ideal range.  I also saw it well in Deb's 6" at 84x.  Highlighted by 3 bright stars, it is a moderately rich group.  Worth coming back to often.  Makes a nice showpiece for star parties or beginning observers.  
oc 0559:  7'. Brightest * mag. 9.  100x resolves a rich, dense group.  Up to 250x shows about 50 *s.

oc 0581--M 103:  6'. Brightest * mag. 9.  Not an object to hurry over, especially with a 12".  Not as instantly likeable as M 52, nor as many stars, but it is still beautiful and quite rich.  The cluster remains bright, even at higher powers.  A yellow star on one end, an orange one near the middle and a triple on the opposite side of the yellow one make a nice beginning.  The cluster is quite dense but don't be put off.  Even a 6" shows the group well.
oc 0609:  3'. Brightest * mag. 14.  Located at 60x with averted vision, it is confirmed at 100x, but still haze.  125x begins to resolve this tiny cluster.  A challenging object to observe.
oc 0637:  3'. Brightest * mag. 8.  7 brighter *s seen at 100x, some in a curving line.  Fainter members resolve here with averted vision.  Up to 300x shows a circular, torque-shaped group with a dense knot in the preceding section.  There are 20 to 25 *s.
oc 0654:  Already rich and dense at 60x, the stars swarm around a yellow 7.5 mag. star.  This reminds me of a Berkeley cluster on steroids!  High power shows 30 faint members.
oc 0657:  7'.  Brightest * 7.1.  A dozen bright *s seen preceding a lovely bright, wide double, yellow and blue.
oc 0659:  6'.  Brightest * mag. 10.  Near a bright triangle of *s.  Curving line noted, encircling faint haze.  Two circles of stars, attached in the middle, with about 25 *s in their middle sections, mostly faint.  Resolved at 200x.  
oc 0663:  15'.  Brightest * mag.9.  An outstanding cluster in my 12" mirror!  Large and bright, I viewed it at 60, 100 and 125x.  Though a major showpiece in my scope, it is bright enough to be appreciated in almost any aperture.  A rich cluster, highly recommended.  Two pair of double stars, one on either side of the group, add interest.  Easy sweeping to 654 and 659.
oc 0743:  7'. Brightest * mag. 10.  Wedge-shape at low x.  Compact and medium rich.  Dense inner section resolves at 100x.
oc 0886:  14'. Brightest * mag. 11.  Framed by 2 *s, mag. 8.5 and 9.  12 cluster *s relatively bright, with many faint ones also.  25 *s counted in 2 wide lines.
oc 1027:  15'. Brightest * mag. 9.  Lovely at 60x, with a white mag. 7 * in the center, along with a 9.7 mag. pair.  Many other fainter *s surround these 3.  Large and scattered.  About 60 *s at 100x, mostly white.  There is a double line of *s, crescent-shaped and faint, following the main *.  Fine object.
oc 7654/M52:  16'. A deep sky wonder!  60x shows well. 125x resolves all. Also see Cz 43.
oc 7788:  4'.  Cone-shaped.  Pair with larger 7790.  20 *s at high power.
oc 7789:  25'.  One of the finest ocs!  For 6" or higher.  Do not miss!  Uncountable stars in 12".
oc 7790:  5'.  A must with a 12".  Middle of 3 clusters, including 7788.  Medium rich at high x.

...to be continued 
Mapman Mike