#103 Taurus: The NGC Objects

It's been a while since I have posted.  I have other blogs, too, and I try to have a life, or at least part of one.  Some of my other blogs include travel (London, UK, and the Southwest USA), literature (Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series, and Avon/Equinox Rediscovery SF Series), and just a down home blog for family and friends.  Links to all my blogs can be found on my home website, which is lonemtnhomestead.com.

Anyway, it has taken me a few years to get through Taurus with the 12".  Skies are not at their best during November and December at my location, and neither are the temperatures.  In the past two months I have had 3 clear nights (not counting all those beautiful skies just before, during, and after full moon).  Work continues in Pegasus, and I have even made some progress in Cetus.  Replacing Taurus for winter observing this year is Auriga, should it ever become clear again.

Taurus has two Messier objects (1 and 45), a number of galaxies, and several good open clusters.  It is a sprawling constellation, and takes a long time to fully rise in late autumn skies.  Even when the Pleiades are well up, the rest of the constellation still needs time to get into a good observing position.  Here follows a complete list of my observations of the Taurus NGC with my Orion Go To 12" Dob.  IC and objects from other catalogues will follow in a separate entry.

eg 1349:  0'.8 x 0'.8:  Vis. mag. 13; SB 12.4:  This galaxy has a bright center, and is possibly oval.  It was seen at 187x and 200x, close to a bright star.  Less than a degree north is a lovely triple star, Struve 430.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1349.jpg

 

eg 1384:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. mag. 14.5; SB 13.4:  The galaxy is nearly stellar, and it appears like a star with some haze around it.  It is very small.

 

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1384.jpg

eg 1409:  0'.9 x 0'7:  Vis. mag. 13.8; SB 13.2: 09 was spotted at 136x.  It was somewhat oval, larger

eg 1410:  0'.7 x 0'.6:  Vis. mag. 14.3; SB 13.5:  than expected, and fairly bright.  10 was just north, being much smaller and fainter.  Though not completely enmeshed, they are very close and can deceive the eye at 187x and 200x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1409.jpg

eg 1431:  1' 0'.8:  Vis. mag. 14.1; SB 13.7:  Viewed at 187x and 200x.  It was very faint and round, just a small hazy patch.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1431.jpg

gn 1432:  26' x 26':  Reflection Nebula around Maia:  Fainter and smaller than 1435, but still easy 

to see.  Within M 45.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1432.jpg

gn 1435:  30' x 30':  Reflection Nebula around Merope:  Easily visible, even in smaller scopes.  Within M 45.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1435.jpg

eg 1462:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. mag. 14.2; SB 13.2:  Confirmed at 136x, it was a very faint and elongated haze.  It was also viewed at 187x and 200x, and seemed to be involved with two faint stars.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1462.jpg

eg 1474/IC 2002:  1'.3 x 1'.1:  Vis. mag. 13.8; SB 13.9:  The galaxy is slightly oval and faint.  It was viewed at 136x and 187x, and is located south of a faint star.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1474.jpg

eg 1497:  1'.5 x 0'.7:  Vis. mag. 13.1; SB 13:  After a fairly long search it was finally located at 136x.  It was bright, large and round to slightly oval.  Up to 250x gives good views, where the galaxy is now oval.  It has a bright stellar core.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1497.jpg

eg 1508:  0'.7 x 0'.6:   Vis. mag. 14.5; SB 13.4:  I used a hand-drawn pinpoint location map.  The galaxy was round, faint and ghostly at 187x and 200x.  It was not really small, and it appeared evenly lit.  Later I was able to see it at 136x.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1508.jpg

pn 1514:  132"; Vis. 10.9; Cent. * mag. 9.4:  This is a much better object to view with a 12" scope than 1555.  At 60x I observed it with and without a Skyglow filter.  It was also observed at 120x with the Skyglow, and then without it.  I went as high as 200x.  It is a massive but faint circular haze surrounding the bright central star.  The nebula is an unexpected sight, and worth a stopover.

http://www.caelumobservatory.com/obs/n1514block.jpg

eg 1517:  1' x 0'.9:  Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.1:  Suspected at 100x, the object showed nicely at 136x.  It precedes a bright star.  It was quite bright, small and round.  Views were good at 187x.  A pretty decent galaxy in a 12".

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1517.jpg

eg 1539:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14.8; SB 13.4:  Another very challenging object!  Luckily I had great skies, and a pinpoint hand-drawn map.  It was spotted at 136x and 187x.  It is tiny, round and faint.  At 200x, 250x, and 272x it appears stellar with direct vision, and like a fuzzy star with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1539.jpg

eg 1541:  1'.4 x 0'.6:  Vis. mag. 13.5; SB 13.2:  Viewed at 100x, 136x, and 187x.  The galaxy is very, very faint in my early southeast sky. I seemed to mostly see a brighter oval center, with no extension.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1541.jpg

eg 1542:  1'.3 x 0'.5:  Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.3:  Spotted at 187x and 250x, it is very small and very faint.  I was likely just seeing the core.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1542.jpg

eg 1550 (1551):  2'.2 x 1'.9:  Vis. mag. 12; SB 13.4:  Different numbers, same object.  Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was pretty bright but not large.  Again, only the bright center was showing well, and it was oval.  An observing friend was barely able to view it, but it showed itself more easily to me.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1550.jpg

gn 1555:  1' x 1'; Reflection Nebula:  1554 is sometimes associated with this object, but is considered as either an error now, or a "lost" nebula which once existed but no longer does.  Hind's Variable Nebula (with Struve's Lost Nebula).  Visually this tiny nebula, separated from T Tauri (mag. 9.5 star), isn't much to look at.  Most sources agree that 1554 is the "lost" nebula, and 1555 is the one present and accounted for.  At 136x and 187x it is seen best with averted vision.  At 200x is appears somewhat clumpy, with areas of uneven brightness.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1555.jpg

eg 1587:  1'.7 x 1'.5:  Vis.  mag. 11.7; SB 12.7:  87 was seen at 100x, and both were in view at 136x.
eg 1588:  1'.1 x 0'.6:  Vis. mag. 12.9; SB 12.5:  They are both bright at 187x.  250x gives very good views.  Though there is an obvious difference in size and brightness, both galaxies are good objects for a 12" scope.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1587.jpg

eg 1589:  3'.2 x 1':  Vis. mag.  11.8; SB 12.9:  Spotted at 60x and 100x, where it appeared large, bright, and oval.  It is located near a bright star, and is just north of 1587 and 1588.  136x shows all 3 galaxies in the field.  It is very bright at 187x and even at 250x, now showing a bright stellar core.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1589.jpg

eg 1590:  0'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. mag. 13.7; SB 13:  Located at 100x.  At 136x it was oval using averted vision, and small.  187x and 250x give much better views.  It lies just south of 3 bright stars.  It is slightly oval and not very large.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1590.jpg

eg 1593/1608:  1'.6 x 0'.6:  Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.3:  Duplicate entry in the NGC. Called 1608 on Uranometria.  Viewed at 187x and 250x, the galaxy was small, oval, and ghostly in appearance.  I was only seeing the central area.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1593.jpg

eg 1615:  1'.2 x 0'.7:  Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.6:  Spotted at 100x!  Observed nicely at 136x and 187x, it was oval.  It was easy to view with averted vision, and it has a bright core.  Two bright stars are in the field.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1615.jpg

eg 1633:  1'.2 x 1'.1:  Vis. mag./SB 13.5:  33 was spotted at 136x, being large but pretty faint.  3
eg 1634:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. mag. 14.1; SB 12.6:  bright stars are nearby.  34 was glimpsed at 200x and 250x, being tiny, round and faint.  It was south of 33 but very close.  At high power 33 is pretty large.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1633.jpg 

eg 1642:  1'.7 x 1'.2:  Vis. mag. 12.6; SB 13.2:  Spotted at 100x.  At 136x it is large, bright and oval.  Very good views were had at 187x.  Taurus is proving to have some fine galaxies.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1642.jpg 

oc 1647:  40'; Mag. 6.4; 200 *s; Br. * mag. 9:  At 42x perhaps 100 stars can be counted (I counted 25 in a quadrant), many of which are of similar magnitude.  The cluster is very large but pretty dense.  2 bright yellow stars (mag. 6 and 7) sit on the south edge and point towards the cluster.  A fine bright double star is near the center.  60x fills the eyepiece with bright stars.  Views remain impressive at 83x, with many of the brighter stars clumping together in threes, fours, and fives.  This is a good object for any size scope, including a 2".

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1647.jpg

oc 1746/1750/1758:  40'; Mag. 6.1; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 8:  Uranometria combines all three numbers into one gigantic cluster.  Quite lovely at 60x.  I was impressed, at any rate.  I viewed it mostly at 83x, then lastly at 100x.  There are 6 or 7 bright stars, depending on your eyesight.  There are denser pockets, including the preceding end.  Another is at the following end, between two bright stars.  The cluster is pretty scattered, though pretty rich.  There are curving lines, intersecting loops, and long, cascading streams of stars.  One such stream breaks away and goes north, like an elephant's trunk, from the following dense are mentioned above.  100x resolves the cluster entirely.  There is a lot to see here, and the longer you look, the more you see.

 http://www.alsonwongastro.com/images/Star_Clusters/NGC1758LRGB_600.jpg

A nice photo of NGC 1746, 1750, and 1758.  Think of it as one big, happy family of stars,

oc 1802:  20'; 25 *s; Br. * mag. 9.2:  At 60x and 100x I observed a dozen bright stars, including two curved lines intersecting.  There are a similar number of faint stars, especially at 136x.  The cluster is large, scattered, and not rich.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1802.jpg

oc 1807:  12'; mag. 7; 37 *s; Br. * mag. 9:  I enjoyed views of this bright cluster at 60x, 83x, 100x, and 136x.  It contains about 10 bright stars (5 shown on Uranometria), and perhaps 15 fainter ones.  There is a bright stellar triangle near the center, with one of them having a very close companion.  The cluster is shaped like an airplane, with a double row of stars for the body, and a single row for the wings.  The wings point south to a very bright yellow star.  To the north they point to a faint but very rich field of the Milky Way.  The cluster should be suitable for all apertures.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1807.jpg

oc 1817:  20'; Mag. 7.7; 283 *s; Br. * mag. 9:  Quite beautiful, even at 60x.  At low powers it makes a wonderful double cluster with 1807.  The cluster is vast and star-filled.  The section closest to 1807 (south preceding) has the brightest stars (4 shown on Uranometria).  In addition to the 4 brightest, there are around 20-25 stars of medium brightness, and a nearly uncountable number of faint ones.  At 136x the cluster is worth a long look.  The preceding section is dense, especially amongst the bright stars.  Another dense area is the north central section, which is in a curved L-shape.  In addition to the numerous stars are large areas that appear empty.  This is a wonderful object in a 12".  Take your time!

 Oc 1807, right; oc 1817, left

http://jthommes.com/Astro/images/NGC1807-17_PS3Crp_med.jpg

gn 1952--Messier 1:  6' x 4'; Emission Nebula:  This large, bright supernova remnant is very impressive in a 12" mirror, especially one that has recently undergone a very thorough cleaning!  It is very large, very bright, and very elongated.  The large center is much brighter than its outer edges.  Several faint stars appear to be close or even touching the outside edges.  The south-following end is very patchy, whereas the north end tapers gently and fades gradually.  This object is recommended, especially for those who like to take their time with a nice, long look.  Quite a bit of detail can be discerned from this object which suddenly appeared in 1054 A.D. 

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1952.jpg

oc 1996:  22'; cl?:  Another group of stars that may not be a cluster.  This is a very rich area of the sky to begin with.  At 60x I observed a nice group of stars preceding Tau 125, a bright star of mag. 5.  There are many faint members, and they remain faint at 100x.  Best views were at 136x, with 35 stars counted, somewhat starfish in shape.  The center is dark except for a faint, very close double star.  This is a grand area for casual sweeping.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1996.jpg

oc 2026:  10'; 35 *s; Br. * mag. 9: This cluster is a bit tricky to pick out from the rich background.  There is also some doubt as to whether or not this is a true cluster.  I observed it at 136x, where it lies immediately north of a mag. 9 star.  3 bright stars within the group form a triangle, with the base pointing north.  These two stars have fainter stars clustered around them.  There are many dark gaps, including a wide, main black area running north/south. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2026.jpg

That wraps it up for NGC objects in Taurus.  I will soon commence work on Part Two, which will include the IC objects I have seen (not all of them were located), as well as objects from other catalogues.  M 45 can be found in Part Two.

Mapman Mike

 

#102 Lacerta: The NGC and IC Objects

There are 25 NGC objects in Lacerta.  20 are galaxies and 5 are open clusters.  There are 4 IC objects: 1 galaxy, 1 planetary nebula, and 2 open clusters.  My work was spread over two observing years, 2015 and 2016.  Late summer and early autumn are ideal times to observe in this area.  Objects listed are in catalogue order, as observed in my 12" Dob.

The NGC

eg 7197:  1'.6 x 0'.8:  Vis. 12.8; SB 12.9:  Spotted at 100x.  At 136x it appears very elongated.  It is pretty large, rather bright, and has a very faint star preceding.  At 187x and 250x it is pretty bright and impressive.  A rich and bright star field lies just north and north following.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7197.jpg

oc 7209:  15'; Mag. 7.7; 98 *s; Br. * Mag. 9:  This beautiful, large cluster lies just south of HT, a yellow star of Mag. 6.5.  I viewed the cluster at length at 43x, 60x, 83x, 100x and 136x.  It is a widely scattered group, having many bright members.  At 100x I counted 80 stars.  About 30 of them form a curving, omega-shaped feature in the midst.  It is often a double line of stars.  This line(s) contains many of the brightest stars.  At 136x the cluster is very bright and very widely scattered, just fitting into my field of view.  At 43x this is also a very attractive cluster.  Highly recommended for 6" and larger.

 A nice view of oc 7209 in Lacerta.

http://cs.astronomy.com/cfs-file.ashx/__key/telligent-evolution-components-attachments/13-60-00-00-00-43-08-04/dso_2D00_ngc_2D00_7209.jpg

eg 7223:  1'.4 1'.1:  Vis. 12.2; SB 12.5:  Viewed at 136x, 187x, and 200x.  It is aligned with 3 faint stars, all in a fairly straight line.  The galaxy appears involved with the middle star.  It is quite large, very oval, and seen well with averted vision. 

NGC 7223.  

http://www.astrophotos.net/images/galaxies/ngc%207223-lrgb-M10.jpg 

eg 7227:  1'.3 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.1:  28 was spotted first, at 100x and then at 136x, 187x and

eg 7228: Vis. 13.5; SB 14.4:  2'.1 x 1'.2: 200x.  27 was seen north following 2 bright stars in a line pointing towards 28.  The galaxies make a very faint pair, at least near the end of a damp observing night.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7228.jpg

eg 7231:  1'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13; SB 13.2:  This was faintly visible at 60x.  It is easy to locate at 100x.  A bright and wide double star precedes it.  A very rich star field faint, immediately folows.  136x and 187x give the best views.  It is pretty large and oval.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7231.jpg

eg 7240:  0'.6 x 0'.6:  Vis 14.2; SB 13:  42 was actually spotted at 60x!  It was viewed well at 100x,  

eg 7242:  2'.3 x 1'.7:  Vis. 13.2; SB 14.6:  136x, and 187x.  There appear to be two faint stars involved, or very close.  It is large and oval, best seen with averted vision.  40 was easily spotted at 187x  with a.v.  It is small, but not too much so.  Later, it could be glimpsed even at 100x, though here it is quite small.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7242.jpg

oc 7243:  30'; Mag. 6.4; 40 *s; Br. * Mag. 8:  The night I observed this fine cluster I was able to view it in three different instruments.  In my 4 1/4" Astroscan RFT at 16x, several brighter stars resolved in two different areas.  Best view in this scope was using an 8 MM eyepiece, giving 56x.  Moving to Deb's 6" Dob, views were perfect!  The cluster looks remarkable at 42x and is fully resolved.  In the 12" Dob at 43x the cluster is very large and very bright.  It is a clumpy cluster, having vast areas with no stars.  60x and 83x fill the field of view with stars.  I counted about 80 obvious ones.  Recommended especially for small apertures.  STF 2890 is right in the center (9.4-9.7/ 9.4 "; also a 9.4 at 73").  The main pair is split at 43x.  The further member tends to get lost in the cluster.

 http://www.perseus.gr/Images/dso-ngc-7243.jpg

oc 7245:  5'; Mag. 9.2; 169 *s; Br. * mag. 12.8:  The cluster is hazy at 60x, just preceding a mag. 9 star.  At 100x aver yiew stars are resolved over top the haze.  136x resolves a north/south line of faint stars.  187x resolves many more stars, but there is still unresolved haze back there.  250x and 272x give the best views, showing a very tightly packed central area.  It is nicely resolved!  There were also good views at 375x.  About 40 or 50 stars are resolved.

http://www.univie.ac.at/webda/dss/ngc7245.png

oc King 9 lies north following oc 7245.

eg 7248:  1'.7 x 0'.9:  Vis. 12.4; SB 12.7:  Spotted at 136x, it appeared very small and oval.  The galaxy has close, faint pair of stars following and preceding.  187x, 200x, and 250x show a bright center.  The object seems to have an odd shape, like a heart.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7248.jpg

eg 7250:  1'.7 x 0'.8:  Vis. 12.6; SB 12.8:  Spotted at 100x, nearly touching a mag. 11 star.  It was very elongated and very bright.  136x and 187x provided good view with averted vision.  200x shows a large elliptical galaxy that continues south right into the 11 mag. star.  This is a recommended object in a 12" scope or higher.

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc72a.htm

eg 7263:   0'.8 x 0'.7:  Vis. 14.6; SB 13.8:  Not difficult to locate at 100x.  It is the apex of a triangle with 2 faint stars south preceding.  Much easier than 7264.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7263.jpg

eg 7264:  2'.2 x 0'.3:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.2:  This is a tricky object see in a 12", and only averted vision gives effective views.  The needle galaxy is alongside 2 faint stars that precedei ti, and though these stars don't give off much light, they do still interfere enough.  Spotted at 100x and glimpsed through 250x, usually only the central area is seen.  However, on occasion a thin slash can be caught, extending beyond the 2 stars.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7264.jpg

eg 7265:  2'.4 x 1'.9:  Vis. 12.2; SB 13.7:  This one is big and bright, spotted easily at 60x and observed through 250x.  It was quite large, oval, and has a bright core.  Along with its accompanying rather bright star pattern, the galaxy is a minor showpiece in a 12".  UGC 12007 can also be glimpsed at 200x and 250x, if one knows exactly where to look.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7265.jpg

eg 7273:  0'.8 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.8; SB 12.7:  74 and 76 can be seen at 100x.  74 is easy and bright,

eg 7274:  1'.5 x 1'.5:  Vis. 12.8: SB 13.6:  and 76 is noticeably smaller and fainter.  They make a

eg 7276:  0'.9 x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.9; SB 13.8:  nice pair in an area teaming with galaxies.  At 187x, all three can be glimpsed in the same field, north to south.  73, despite being the smallest and faintest of the 3, is not that difficult to detect with averted vision.  Definitely worth a visit.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7274.jpg

NGC 7273, 74, and 75.

eg 7282:  2'.5 x 1':  Vis. 13.7; SB 14.5:  Located at 100x, though barely glimpsed in this range.  At 136x it was large and oval, preceding 2 bright stars.  187x gives better views, as the galaxy now appears large and very oval.  A very faint star appears at the following end.  Views are still fair at 200x.  In this range, a faint star also appears at the preceding end.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7282.jpg

oc 7295:  2'; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 10:  A poor cluster, it was noted at 60x, where a few stars are located near a mag. 9.5 star.  It is sparse and poor and high power.  Perhaps 7 stars were seen.  More like a wide multiple star than an open cluster.  It's important to note that Uranometria considers this group different from 96, below.  Many sites consider them the same object.

oc 7296:  3'; Mag. 9.7; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 10:  This small cluster is already attractive at 60x.  A dozen brighter stars are seen, led by a mag. 10 star.  At 136x I counted 20 stars, including a half circle following the bright star.  South of the circle is a dense line, roughly E/W.   187x shows four faint stars withing the circle, and another one extending it around further.  The group seems larger than 3'.  Not the same object as 7295 (see Uranometria).

http://ocl.sai.msu.ru/media/catalog/image/ngc7296.jpg

 eg 7330:  1'.4 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.2; SB13:  Located at 100x, and observed successfully at 136x, 187x, and 200x.  Though at 100x it appeared to beflaring oval, it was round at higher powers, and pretty bright.  A bright star is preceding.  Later it could be seen at 60x, but it appeared nearly stellar here.  The center is a bit brighter at high power.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7330.jpg

eg 7379:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.4; SB 13:  Located at 100x, where it is small and faint.  136x gives a better view, and it appears larger.  187x gives an even better view.  The galaxy lines up with 2 stars, south and following, shown well at 272x.  High power shows it as oval, with a bright center.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7379.jpg

eg 7395:  1'.2 x 1'.1:  Vis. 13.8; SB 14:  Spotted at 100x, it was round, faint, but pretty big.  It sits very close to a faint star.  136x shows it well, but 187x is even better.  It is fading at 200x.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7395.jpg

eg 7426:  1'.7 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.3; SB 13.2:  Spotted easily at 60x, despite its proximity to H 975, a bright double star (5.7-9.2/52").  The galaxy is oval.  The view at 136x includes the colourful double star, and is quite nice.  It has a bright center.  A very good pairing of objects.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7426.jpg

eg 7476 pairs nicely with double star H 975. 

The IC

Oc I. 1434:  7'; Mag. 9; 40 *s; Br. * mag. 12:  A very fine and unique cluster, one of this observing night's pleasant surprises!  About 60 or more faint star4s an be seen with wonderful views up to 1878x.  There are 4 bright stars on the south edge, and another one in the north.  The central area is small and dense, resolving nicely in the 12".  There is much less resolution and more haze when I stopped down to 8".  The cluster features 2curving star streams, both following the central area,  The stream to the south has fewer stars and curves south.  the north stream is larger and curves north.  Beautiful at 136x!

Oc I. 1442:  5'; mag. 9.1; 104 *s (!); Br. * mag. 12:  There is nothing seen in Uranometria's location.  However, there is a notable cluster south preceding their spot, preceding the 2 brighter stars and between them.  This consists of a circlet of stars with a tail that precedes it.  Views are good at 100x through 187x.  Certainly not 104 stars.

eg I. 5180:  1' x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13:  Spotted at 100x, it is faint and round.  At 136x and 187x it is slightly oval.  It has a faint star preceding.

pn I. 5217:  15"; Vis. 11.3; Central * Mag. 15.5:  This tiny object was suspicious at 136x due to its colour, shape, and texture.  187x shows a very tiny disc, much fainter than the 10.4 mag. star 2' south.  At 250x it is round, pretty bright, and small.  272x with a Skyglow filter is best, where it now appears nearly as bright as the 10.4 mag. star.

I sincerely hope you enjoy your journey through this wonderful constellation!  Clear skies!

Mapman Mike

 

 

#101 Equuleus Deep Sky

Over a period of 4 nights last lunar session I observed 33 double stars and 11 deep sky objects in this tiny constellation.  None of the galaxies viewed were first rate (there are no clusters, nebula, etc.), but were still fun to hunt down.  Several of the double stars were quite lovely, especially STF 2791, 9, Delta (7), and especially Epsilon (1) and Lambda (2).

eg 7015:  1'.9 x 1'.6:  Vis. 12.8; SB 13.6:  At 100x and 136x the galaxy is pretty large, round, and quite bright.  Good views were had at 187x, especially using averted vision.  The center is especially bright.  A bright star (mag. 9.7) is preceding, and a double star is just south.  The object is slightly oval now.  Not a bad object with a 12".

 http://mclarkmadison.weebly.com/uploads/5/8/6/5/58650947/2612254_orig.jpg

 

eg 7040:  1' x 0'.8:  Vis. 14; SB 13.6:  Spotted at 136x it was best with averted vision as it is pretty faint.  187x shows it a bit better, now pretty large and slightly oval.  This is one of only 3 NGC objects in Equuleus, along with 5 IC objects, all of them galaxies.

NGC 7040

https://avertedvisionblog.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/ngc_7040_dss0.jpg

eg 7046:  1'.9 x 1'.3:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.9:  Not the showpiece I was hoping for.  It was just barely visible at 100x using averted vision.  It sits between two fairly close stars, but north of an even brighter one.  At 136x the galaxy appears oval.  It was viewed fairly well at 187x, 200x, 250x and 272x, and does appear to be pretty large.  It is also oval and quite faint, seen best with averted vision. It sits close to 3 or 4 stars forming a close but very faint asterism.

eg 7046

http://www.derekscope.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/NGC7046.jpg

 

eg IC 1364:  1' x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.1:  Spotted at 136x, preceding a mag. 9.4 star.  It was small, pretty bright, and elongated.  Views were good at 187x, 250x and 272x.  The center is brighter, and the whole is quite elongated at higher power.

eg IC 1365:  1'.1 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.7; SB 13.5:  Spotted at 136x, it was round and very faint.  It was also observed at 187x and 200x.  It remains round and faint.  South is a keystone of 4 bright stars.  the narrower pair of stars are nearest the galaxy, which makes a triangle with them.

eg IC 1375:  1' x 0'.7:  Vis. 14.2; SB 13.7:  This one is very, very faint and small.  It was suspected at 136x and confirmed at 187x.  It appears round.  It was also viewed at 250x and 272x.  This is a difficult object.  2 stars north of it form a line with the galaxy.

eg IC 1377:  0'.8 x 0'.7:  Vis. 14.3; SB 13.5:  A lot easier to see than IC 1375!  It is faint, but not too small.  I had good views at 136x and 187x.

UGC 11671:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  This one is very tricky to spot, being small and just south of a bright star (mag. 10.1).  It looks like a close but fuzzy companion to that star.

 

UGC 11675:  0'9 x 0'.3:  Vis. 14.1; SB 12.5:  Spotted at 136x and also 187x.  It is very elongated and very faint.  It was seen only with averted vision.

UGC 11680:  2'.1 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.8; SB 14.1:  Forget the published size.  Only the small central area can be seen.  It is very faint and indistinct at 136x and 187x.  Disappointing.

UGC 11720:  1' x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.3:  Even using a pinpoint map this one was very tricky to see.  It was small, faint and oval at 187x.

After three tries I was unable to view eg IC 1361.  After searching out a photo of it on the web, I now realize that it will likely appear stellar.  So I may have seen it.  I will give it one more try later this month.

Equuleus' deep sky objects will likely only appeal to a completist like myself.  None of the objects are very thrilling, except for a few fine double stars.  My work in Lacerta should be wrapping up this month, and I will report back on the wonderful times I have been spending there.

Clear skies!

Mapman Mike

#100 Backyard Light Pollution and Home-Based Observing

Welcome to Post #100!!  It's hard to believe.  So is the fact that I have just finished up observing six clear nights in a row!  Incredible!!  My nearest dark sky site is a 45 minute drive from home.  After doing this for four nights straight, I decided I needed a break.  I set up the 12" Dob. on my back deck.  I live in a busy suburban area, just north of the center of my small town (pop. 10,000).  To my north is Windsor/Detroit (pop. approx. 5 million).  To say that I live in a light polluted area is a grand understatement.

However, this year my yard is so overgrown due to a hot summer and sheer laziness on my part, that I seem to be sheltered from the worst of the lights.  I thought I would try a night on the back deck instead of driving yet again to the observatory.  Guess what?  I had a fantastic night!  My expectations were set low to begin with, but I received surprise after surprise during the three-hour session.  I can see 3rd mag. stars from home with the naked eye, and most 4th mag. ones that are high enough above the horizon.  Thanks to my intense double star program (see Post #96 on how to create your own double star lists) I now have hours and hours of work I can do from home.  When I do get to a dark sky site, I can then track down fainter deep sky objects.

I did double star work that night in Cassiopeia, which is in my most light polluted area.  This proved to be an advantage, as I did not have the massive amounts of background stars to distract me.  It was the same when observing open clusters; the stars in the cluster really stood out well without the interference from very faint background stars.  Of course nothing looks as good as it does from the observatory site in Comber, ON, but with 90 minutes less driving, I can put up with it once in a while.

Here are the deep sky objects I observed, and some impressions of what I saw:
M 57--as good as ever, especially using a Skyglow filter.  I would never see the central star, but I had great views of the nebula.
M 8--in my low south sky, heavily light polluted.  With the Skyglow filter I was amazed at how much detail I was seeing.  Still a major showpiece object, despite the very milky sky.
M 52--in the worst part of my sky.  Certainly not the shimmering beauty I usually see, but the cluster was still pretty decent, with all stars resolving well.  This one is small enough to take magnification, which helped darken the otherwise orangey-white sky.
Cz 43--the companion cluster to M 52, it lost nothing tonight.  It is mostly brighter stars anyway, and still looked great.
gn 7635--the Bubble Nebula lies very close to M 52.  Even in a dark sky there is little to see visually.  However, with my trusty Skyglow filter a small but notable patch of haze was seen at 136x, just preceding the accompanying bright star.  Yay!
oc 7510--an odd-shaped cluster in Cygnus, not far from M 52, it showed up nicely, with good viewing to 187x.
oc 7209--this very fine open cluster in Lacerta did not impress me as much as it does from a dark sky site.  However, there it is, still looking fine.  The bright horseshoe shape is easily noted, and with less background stars the cluster stands out well.
oc 7243--another big cluster in Lacerta, this one looked pretty decent.  Most of the member stars are quite bright, so it looks pretty much the same as from a dark sky, minus some background stars.
egs 7448, 7454, 7463, and 7465--what better test than to try for some galaxies!  I had recently observed these four from Comber, and found all four of them easily tonight from my backyard.  What a pleasant surprise!  While certainly not as bright as from the observatory site, here I was at home viewing galaxies.  It made me happy!
oc 6910--the lovely little "Y" cluster north of Gamma Cygni was as bold and beautiful as ever!
M 39--a big, bright open cluster in Cygnus.  As lovely as ever.  Bright and exciting object, not unlike the Pleiades, but a bit farther from us.

And now a brief word regarding all of those doubles I observed that night--colours and separation were virtually the same as from a dark site.  Anytime I have a large amount of double stars to observe, I will do them from home.  That is, until the leaves fall.  Then I am out of luck.

Clear skies!
Mapman Mike

#99-Vulpecula: Deep Sky Adventures

2016 continues to be a banner year for my observing program.  Even if it were cloudy from now till December, I would still have completed one of the most successful years of observing I have ever had!  The July/August session that just ended saw me out at the club observatory 8 times, for a total of over 29 hours at the eyepiece.  This summer I managed to begin and complete my Vulpecula project.  That consisted of 14 NGC objects, 2 IC objects, and 5 objects from other catalogues, along with about 150 double stars.

The NGC breakdown is as follows: 7 open clusters, 2 planetary nebula, 2 galactic bright nebula, and three galaxies.  Both IC objects are bright nebula, and the 5 other objects were all open clusters.  In addition, I searched out and observed over 150 double stars (including triples and multiples).  In this report I will only discuss the deep sky objects, but be assured that there are many fine double stars to see also.  The vast number of doubles to seek out certainly helped me become more expert at star hopping, and I'm pretty certain I got to at least glimpse every part of this wonderful constellation.

Most people know Vulpecula through its famous Messier object, #27, the Dumbbell Nebula.  Beyond that they may know it as the location of the Coat Hanger cluster (Cr 399).  I hope readers will be encouraged to seek out all of the other wonders this rich area of sky provides.

oc 6723:  7'; 15*s:  It seems fitting that I began my observations in Vulpecula with this small, obscure cluster.  Observed first at 83x, it is a striking little group.  A triangle of bright stars precedes it; an 8.5 mag. star at the apex (furthest away from the cluster), and 9 and a 9.5 mag. star closer to the cluster.  On the preceding end of the cluster are two tiny stellar triangles, with their apexes (or apices, if you prefer) pointing to the clusters following end.  The northern-most small triangle's northern-most star is a tiny double star.  These two triangles give the cluster a unique appearance to this minor gem.  At low power about 10 brighter, easy to see stars are noted.  Everything resolves at 136x, with most members near the two triangles.  There are now about 15 easy to see stars, and perhaps 5 more that are very faint.  The cluster sits amidst a glorious star field.  This is worth a stop with an 8" scope or greater.  In Deb's 6" it could be viewed and studied, but it was not very impressive.

 http://www.astrophoton.com/images/N6793-1.jpg

oc Cr 399, "Coathanger:"  90'; Vis. mag. 3.6; 40*s; Br. * mag. 5.2:  Because of a direct connection to oc 6802, this cluster is discussed here, rather than below in "Other Objects".  This giant cluster (it's not a true cluster, but rather an asterism, or chance arrangement of stars) is perfect for our 4 1/4" Astroscan scope, but tonight it got the 12" treatment.  It almost fits into my 42x field of view, but not quite. At 60x it's fun to trace the dozen or so bright stars.  Most of them are white.  However, star 4, the most southerly one, is yellow.  The bright double star north preceding star 4 is a beautiful gold colour.  It's a rewarding area to sweep at low power.  Four double stars were observed within the boundaries of the cluster.  These are HJ 2871 (actually a triple), Stf 2523, Stf 2527, and Stf 2530.  Visiting this group is one of the highlights of the constellation.  It even looks pretty grand in Space Eye, my 2" refractor.

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/coathanger-star-cluster-celestial-image-co.jpg

oc 6800:  5'; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 10:  Dreyer says "cluster, very large, pretty rich, very little compressed, stars from 10th magnitude".  Why, then, do modern sources like Uranometria give the size as 5'??  20' would be more appropriate.  The cluster appears as a roughly circular group of about 20 bright stars (mag. 10 and down), showing well at 60x.  At 100x and 136x, two small, dense knots of fainter stars appear, one each at the north end and the south.  Each knot is about 4'.  It is an interesting group, and fun to observe up to 187x.  The surrounding area is rich in field stars.

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc68.htm#6802

oc 6802:  5'; Vis. mag. 8.8; Br. * mag. 14; 201 *s.  First of all, let me say that I love the fact that the guide to Uranometria says that there are 201 stars in the cluster, and not just 200!  Anyway, back in early July, 1992 I observed this cluster with my trusty Edmund 8" scope.  My notes from then say "It appeared like a large, faint galaxy.  169x showed some resolution..."  Though not that impressive in an 8", it is beautiful in a 12"!  Noticed at 60x, it is elongated N/S, barely resolving at this power.  It already looks amazing!  At 100x the north end is easier to resolve.  The center is more difficult, and the south end is still mostly haze.  136x gives good resolution all across the cluster.  It is a gorgeous object!  It sits midway between two pairs of wide double stars, but south of them.  Follow the east end of Cr 399 and you will come to it.  It can be glimpsed in the photo, above, in the upper left.  At 187x there is still some haze in the south.  250x gives a remarkable view, with full resolution.  A minor classic!  I also had an opportunity to view this cluster a few nights later in a good friend's 22" scope.  Absolutely beautiful!  Like looking at M 11!!

 http://astro-kooperation.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/ngc6802_A.jpg

gn 6813:  3' x 3'; Emission:  This tiny bit of haze surrounding a faint star is more in size like 1'.2 x 0'.9.  Lying in a rich and bright stellar field, the nebula is just south preceding a 9.5 mag. star.  Noted as suspicious at 60x, it appeared as a very small blob of haze surrounding a faint star.  136x gives a good view of a somewhat rectangular hazy patch.  Using averted vision and a Skyglow filter, the nebula brightens considerably.  Up to 375x was used (no filter), still giving satisfactory views.  A very faint star is just north.

http://www.astrophotos.net/images/nebula/ngc%206813-lrgb-f07.jpg

gn 6820:  40' x 30'; Emission Nebula:  This area reminds me a bit of the Rosette Nebula in Monoceros.  An open cluster lies at the center (see below), surrounded by wispy and faint nebula.  Though prominent in photos, visually there is little to see.  Using 60x and an O111 filter, some thinly spread haze is noted preceding the cluster.  The cluster itself appears devoid of an nebula.  My Skyglow filter actually showed the nebula somewhat better.
oc 6823:  7'; 79 *s;Br. * mag. 8:  Located at 60x, a few bright stars are prominent, and a hazy white background of unresolved ones.  100x and 136x show a bright group of 4 stars in the center, in a close diamond shape.  A bright pair of stars sits south of center.  The brightest star is on the north preceding edge, being a bit brighter than the central stars.  187x resolves almost 50 countable stars, though fainter ones are winking in and out.  A notable dark area is north of the cluster.  200x and 250x give detailed inside views.  The central quad star now has 6 members!  A really nice group in a 12" scope.

 http://www.lafterhall.com/atk16_sv102ed_ngc6820_ha_003.jpg

oc 6823 surrounded by gn 6820.  I tried really hard to see the dark cone, with no luck.

oc 6827:  4'; 30 *s; Br. * mag. 13:  Spotted at 136x between two bright stars, preceding it.  It is very small and very faint.  It is just a hazy patch with one star showing on the preceding end.  Viewed at 187x, 200x, and 250x, and 272x it is still mostly unresolved haze.  A few stars resolve at 250x and 272x.  This is a challenge to locate in the busy star field, and probably needs a 16" or greater to resolve fully.

 http://martingermano.com/Images/N6827lredsg.jpg

oc 6830:  6'; 82 *s; Br. * mag. 10:  This is quite a beautiful cluster at 60x and 100x, and especially at 136x.  There is a 4-star diamond shape at its heart.  The cluster is somewhat "+" shape at low power, reminding me of what a smaller town looks like from an airplane at night at 30,000'.  A curving line of stars connects the south and the preceding stars.

 http://www.univie.ac.at/webda/dss/ngc6830.png

pn 6842:  57"; Vis. mag. 13.1; Cent. * mag. 15.9:  I had to make several attempts with the 8" in years past (1991), before glimpsing this large but elusive object.  Even with a 12" it is not easy to locate, using Uranometria's pinpoint guide.  It is pretty large and pretty faint at 100x, though using the Skyglow filter and 120x gives a pretty good view.  It is round and ghostly gray.  Using 136x with the filter also gives good views, though a fellow astronomer, relatively new at the game,  had considerable difficulty seeing it.  272x showed it a bit oval in shape, with one edge indented.  A curious object, but seen well in a 12" scope.  I did not see the central star.

http://www.astrosurf.com/mcianci/images/NGC6842AO7.jpg

pn 6853, Messier 27, "Dumbbell Nebula:"  402";  Vis. mag. 7.4; Cent. * mag. 13.9:  With certain deep sky objects I have processing problems--call it sensory overload.  M 27 is the result of a star shedding its outer layers of gas.  Knowing this does not help with the incredible view provided by any modest telescope.  In a 12" at 136x and using an O111 filter, there are few words that come to mind.  Perhaps Benjamin Britten's 1st String Quartet, Op. 25, 3rd Movement entitled "Andante Calmo" says it best.  In a more mundane verbal description, it seems to float past like a giant interstellar grayish-green football.    The north end appears rounder than the south.  The N/S ends are very bright.  The E/W sides are much fainter, with the following end (east) seemingly cut off suddenly.  Without any filter, several stars seem to be embedded in the nebula, though not really.  The central star is, though, and should be easy in an 8" mirror or higher.  M 27 seems more like poetry to me, rather than an interstellar object of great force and violence.  Visible at higher powers in a 12" are many swirls, shadings, and other fascinating and unexpected details.  This nebula repays frequent revisits.  Even in Space Eye, my 2" refractor, this is a memorable object.  It is certainly the deep sky highlight of Vulpecula.

Messier 27, by RASC Windsor club member Ted Gervais.

oc 6885:  20':  Vis. Mag. 5.6; 34 *s; Br. * mag. 5.9:  Vulpecula Star 20, mag. 5.6, is at the heart of this large, loose NGC cluster.  At 60x the group features many bright stars, and the cluster is eye-catching.  A denser and fainter part of the cluster is on the north preceding end, and is called Collinder 416 (see below).  100x and 136x fills the eyepiece with bright stars, though my preferred view of this modestly rich cluster is at 83x.

 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/NGC_6885_large.png

eg 6971:  0'.9 x 0'.2; Vis. mag. 13.4; Sur. Br. mag. 11.4:  There are only five galaxies plotted on  Uranometria Chart 66, and this is the lone NGC one.  It was surprisingly easy to spot at 136x, lying within a triangle of fairly bright stars.  187x shows a nice slash, not too small.  250x and 272x both show a bright center.  This actually turned into a fun find!

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6921.jpg 

oc 6940:  25'; Vis. mag. 6.3; 170 *s; Br. * mag. 11:  Every once in a while, using a 12" scope to observe the deep skies pays off in big dividends.  Even with an 8" back in 1991 this cluster was a jaw dropper.  Tonight it was a breathtaking showpiece, by far the finest cluster in Vulpecula.  Along with Messier 27 and Cr 399 it is that constellation's best deep sky object.  60s gave an amazing view,though 83x was even better!  There are seemingly countless brighter stars filling the field of view,  This is a huge cluster, too!  It contains 5 very bright stars, including the superb double star Stf 2698, located in the south end.  FG is a deep golden variable star that sits smack in the middle of the cluster.  An interesting tail of stars breaks away from the main group, following it.  At 136x, the cluster must be swept to be viewed in its entirety.  Despite being so tired at this point that I could barely stand (it was my 3rd long night of observing in a row!), this object revived me and gave me a lot to think about on my drive home afterwards.

 http://jthommes.com/Astro/images/NGC6940_ZSFRWO30_PS3.jpg

eg 7052:  2'.1 x 1'.1; Vis. mag. 12.2; Sfc. Br. 13.4:  This is a pretty amazing galaxy in a 12"!  Easily spotted at 60x, it is close to a bright star.  It is already oval and pretty large.  Views were good to very good at all powers up to 272x.  It is bright, very elongated, and always easy to view.  At 250x a 15 (?) mag. star sits between the galaxy and the brighter nearby star (10.5?).  The galaxy is unusually bright, and worth seeking.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7052.jpg

oc 7080:  1'.8 x 1'.7; Vis. mag. 12.3; Sfc. Br. 13.4:  This was the final NGC object in Vulpecula, and the last thing I observed in my Vulpecula studies.  It was spotted at 100x.  At 136x and 187x it was very bright and easy to observe.  It was round, with a very bright middle.  Views are still good at 250x and 272x, where the shape became oval.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/7/n7080.jpg

gn I. 4954:  3' x 3'; Reflection Nebula:  There are two small patches of nebulosity in and around

gn I. 4955)  the small open cluster Ro 4 (see below).  One patch is on the north preceding edge of the cluster, and appears to be involved with a faint star just north of it.  Views are good up to 250x.  The 2nd patch is even smaller and fainter, and is located in the southern area of the open cluster.  Both objects are pretty small, but easily noticed.

http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic49a.htm#ic4954, 55

Objects From Other Catalogues

oc Be 83:  2'; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 17:  A very faint, small hazy patch was detected preceding a group of r fairly bright stars, three in a line and one about the central star.  Nothing much else to see here.  Nothing could be seen of oc Be 52, an even fainter group.

oc Cr 416:  8'; Vis. mag. 8.1; 40 *s;  Within the boundaries of much larger NGC 6885, it is just north preceding the bright central star of that cluster (see image, above, with NGC oc 6885).  This group is condensed and more open to views at higher magnifications.  Part of a double cluster!

oc Cz 40:  4'; 30*s: Located between two stars, mag. 9 (south following) and mag. 9.5 (north preceding).  The cluster is mostly haze at moderate power, but a few stars resolve at 250x.  It's a bit tricky to located, but Uranometria is correct in its placement.  Good luck!

oc Cz 41:  8'; 30 *s:  Centered around a mag. 9.5 star, it lies 2 degrees south of oc 6830.  It is first seen as a cloud of faint stars.  Best viewed at 187x and 250x, there are 6 stars north of the brighter central star, which hampers our view of most of the fainter members in this area.  The cluster is fairly large and scattered, though not of primary interest to lovers of open clusters.  However, it is in a lovely star field.

oc Ro 2:  45'; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 7.1:  The center of this giant cluster, somewhere in size between M 6 and M 7, is a 7.1 mag. golden star.  Uranometria shows 9 scattered stars within the boundary.  42x shows the entire group quite well.  A main group of stars runs N/S, becoming more dense near the center, especially just preceding the gold star.  Another dense pocket is immediately north of this star.  60x also shows the cluster well.  It is pretty rich but scattered.  Worth a stop at low power, and located immediately north following the gn 6820/oc 6823 complex.

oc Ro 4:  6'; 30 *s: The most interesting aspect of this little cluster in the presence of two puffs of bright nebula, I. 4954 and 4955 (see above). The cluster itself consists of about 15 brighter stars and several that are much fainter.  Views are good from about 136x to 150x.  See image under the IC discussion, above. 

Clear skies!
Mapman Mike