#89--Lepus: The NGC Objects

Lepus is a tricky constellation for me.  For one thing, it's best in very late autumn or mid-winter.  If the cold doesn't get you then the cloudy nights do.  Lepus is also very low in the south, often near or at my usable horizon limit for faint galaxies.  Thus it has taken me many years to complete this constellation.  One of the main highlights is not an NGC object, but the famous variable star R.  I observe this wonderful object with every opportunity I get!  Orion must be very high in the sky before one should attempt objects in Lepus, especially living north of 40 degrees Latitude.

eg 1710:  1.'5 x 1'.2: Vis. 12.7; SB 13.2:  A surprisingly difficult object, finally glimpsed at 150x and 183x.  It was not small; it was round and very faint.  It makes a "L" with two faint stars, south.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1710.jpg

eg 1716:  1'.4 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.4:  Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was faint but distinct.  The center was somewhat brighter.  It was small and oval, so I was likely only seeing the central area.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1716.jpg

eg 1730:  2'.3 x 1':  Vis. 12.3; SB 13.1:  Seen from my light-polluted back deck, but not officially reported.  Later at my dark sky site it was spotted at 100x.  It was oval at 150x, lying between two faint stars.  Though good at 187x, it was fading at 200x.  Hind's Crimson Star (R) is 1 degree north preceding.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1730.jpg

eg 1738:  1'.3 x 0'.7:  Vis. 12.9; SB 12.6:  38 is a large oval, and quite faint.  It was viewed at 100x

eg 1739:  1'.4 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.3:]  and up to 200x.  39 was just separated from it, and appeared smaller.  It was also oval.  They were an eyepiece pair even at high power, though not easy to see at the same time.

 

 http://dso-browser.com

eg 1744:  7'4 x 3'.5:  Vis. 11.1; SB 14.5:  Spotted at 60x, and also viewed at 100x and 125x.  It was very faint, large, and hazy.  It had a stellar center or a small star deep in there.  I had bigger hopes for this object.  I observed on a less than perfect night.

http://dso-browser.com

eg 1780:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.7; SB 12.7:  Ghostly and exceedingly faint, it was not always on view, and sometimes looked like a fuzzy star.  Vaguely oval, but mostly just vague.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1780.jpg

eg 1784:  4'.1 x 2'.6:  Vis. 11.7; SB 14.1:  Spotted at 100x and 120x, it was large, elongated, and dim.  It was fading at 150x.  However, an enormous oval shape was noted at 187x and 200x.  I had tried many times from my back deck.  This needs a dark sky.

 http://dso-browser.com

eg 1821:  1'.2 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.1:  Spotted at 125x.  It was oval, faint, but not nearly as tricky to find as 1710.  Also observed at 150x and 183x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1821.jpg

eg 1832:  2'.6 x 1'.7:  Vis. 11.3; SB 12.8:  I only have notes for this one from March 2000 with my Edmund 8".  I need to update this with a new 12" observation asap.  Not located at first, but at 72x it was clearly seen.  Slightly elongated at 112x.  Very challenging object.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1832.jpg

eg 1888:  3' x 0'.8:  Vis. 12.1 x 12.9:  Located at 100x, 88 has a bright core despite being very faint

eg 1889:  0'.6 x 0'.4:  Vis. 13.1; SB 11.6:]  overall.  89 is attached, giving 88 a slightly larger appearance, with an indistinct "L" shape at 200x.  Neither galaxy is very bright.

 http://dso-browser.com

gc 1904, Messier 79:  7'.5; Mag. 8.4:  At -24 degrees M79 is not the lowest Messier object.  However, it is pretty low for a globular.  I observed it from my back deck, not the best location.  It was very bright at 60x, but there was no resolution.  Views improved from 100x-200x, when more and more stars resolved, especially in the north preceding section.  The core was showing detail at 200x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1904.jpg

eg 1906:  0'.9 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.6; SB 12.7:  Spotted at 100x, it appeared as an oval haze north preceding a faint star.  It was a threshold object with my inferior right eye, but an easy sighting with my near-perfect left eye.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1906.jpg

eg 1954:  4'.2 x 2':  Vis. 11.8; SB 14:  54 was seen on multiple nights, appearing as a faint haze
eg 1957:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.9:]  south following two dim, close stars.  57 was seen at 150x and 200x, but it was a threshold object. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1954.jpg

eg 1964:  5'.6 x 1'.8:  Vis. 10.8; SB 13.2:  At 100x the small, bright center was spotted.  Even 150s only showed the core area.  However, 187x and 200x (using averted vision) shows the full length.  It appeared in glimpses only, never steadily.  This is a good object, and would be even better from  a more southerly location.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1964.jpg

eg 1979:  1'8 x 1'8:  Vis. 11.8; SB 13.1:  Noted at 150x, it was very small but bright.  It preceded a faint star.  Seen at 187x and 200x with averted vision it was round, bright and still quite small (.7 x .7?).

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1979.jpg

eg 1993:  1'.5 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.4 x  SB 13.3:  Located at 125x, and also viewed at 183x.  Not difficult, despite its proximity to Alpha.  It was round, and had a bright middle section. 

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1993.jpg

oc 2017 (h3780):  This "cluster" is actually a multiple star.  Here are the details.  Located not far
6.8-8/76"  from Alpha, this interesting group includes at least one orange star.  All the listed stars
     -9/89"  were seen at 60x, though 120x gave a much nicer view.
    -10/60"
  8.5/129"

http://www.baskies.com.ar/small/NGC%202017%20LRGB%20N_small.jpg

eg 2073:  1'.5 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.4; SB 13.3:  Spotted at 100x, where it was very faint and round.  It was considerably easier to see and better at 125x and 150x.  Up to 200x showed the galaxy decently.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2073.jpg

eg 2089:  1'.9 x 1'.2:  Vis 11.9; SB 12.9:  Located at 100x, at the north end of a small star pattern.  An easy object to spot, it was oval and had a bright middle.  Up to 200x was applied with success.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2089.jpg

eg 2106:  2'.7 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.1; SB 13.4:  Located at 100x.  It was faint but medium-large, very elongated, and had a bright middle.  It was also viewed at 125x and 150x. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2106.jpg

eg 2124:  2'.7 x 0'.9:  Vis. 12.6; SB 13.4:  Located at 100x, it was large, oval, and faint overall.  It did have a bright center.  The 'slash' was seen well at 125x and 150x, though extensions were much fainter than the center.  It was fading at 183x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2124.jpg

eg 2131:  1'.1 x 0'.4:  Vis. 14; SB 12.9:  This was very small and difficult, but viewed at 150x.  Seen on a near-perfect March evening.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2131.jpg

eg 2139:  2'.4 x 1'.9:  Vis. 11.6; SB 13.1"  Located at 60x, very close to my self-imposed minus 25 declination for galaxy hunting.  Viewed successfully up to 183x, it was large and oval, placed between two stars, and all running north-south.

https://in-the-sky.org/image.php?style=medium&userimg=dss_NGC2139.png

eg 2179:  1'.1 x 0'.9:  Vis. 12.3; SB 12.1:  Located at 100x, it was round, preceding a very faint star.  Best viewed at 125x and 150x, it was a pretty easy object down near -22 degrees declination.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2179.jpg

eg 2196:  2'.8 x 2'.2:  Vis. 10.9; SB 12.7:  Located at 60x, it has a faint star south and another north following.  It is already large and oval.  Best views were at 125x and 150x, where its bright middle and full size was evident.  Quite a good object!  On the border with Canis Major.

 http://dso-browser.com

I observed some, but not all, of the IC objects in Lepus.


pn I. 418:  14" x 11"; Cent. * mag. 11:  This bright object was seen at 60x, where it appeared suspicious.  At 120x it was confirmed as the tiny but striking planetary nebula, coloured grayish-blue.  Though it was best viewed at 150x tonight, it was still really bright at 300x.  It appeared to be round, surrounding the easily-viewed central star.  This object is nicknamed the "Spirograph Nebula."

http://www.richweb.f9.co.uk/astro/images/IC_418.20071218.im243230-32.av3x30s.C.50pc.an.jpg

eg I .438:  2'.8 x 2'.2:  Vis. 12; SB 13.8:  This galaxy was amazingly huge, and spotted easily at 100x.  Up to 183x showed an oval object, a little brighter in the center.  A faint star is north.

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic4.htm#ic438

eg I. 2132:  1'.5 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.2:  It appeared as a threshold oval object north preceding eg 1954 and 1957.

eg I. 2152:  1'.7 x 1'.2:  Vis. 12.5; SB 13.1:  Preceding two close 9.5 mag. stars, it was not difficult to locate.  125x and 150x was used.  Oval.

There you have it.  Lepus would be a lot more fun and less challenging from a more southerly location (and a warmer one!).  My latest winter project has been observing the NGC objects in Taurus, which will take at least one more year to complete, likely two.
Clear skies!

Mapman Mike

 

#88-Winter Observing Blahs

     Despite the fact that our part of Canada is experiencing a milder than normal winter, observing hasn't exactly been a full time hobby here at Deep Sky NGC.  For one thing, it's been incredibly cloudy at all the wrong times.  Yes, we got to see two full moons in exquisite sky conditions, but that is not what most of us are hoping for.  The past two winters were far too cold to even contemplate going outside at night with a telescope, but there were a lot of clear nights.  Yes, it can be a frustrating hobby, and one that reminds me of how happy I am not to have chosen farming for a living.  Anything that depends on weather, at least in this part of the world, is going to be disappointing.

     So what have the observers at Deep Sky NGC been up to?  Well, first of all, there have been some decent observing nights.  Here is a list of dates that I have been out since Winter officially began:  Jan. 5 (1 1/2 hours); January 29th (2 hours); and February 1st (3 1/2 hours).  They have all been evening sessions, and all three have involved deep sky work in Taurus with the 12" reflector.  Unless you are in to planet watching, there has been no reason to get up early and observe (unless you are unlucky enough to not be able to observe in the evening).  Those constellations will be along when the weather is much more amenable to observing.  Even the planets will eventually make their way into the evening sky.  Besides, I find that pre-dawn observing is often the most humid time of night at my location, which tends to be humid most of the time anyway.  There is a slim chance of clear skies tomorrow night (Feb. 6th), so I will keep my fingers crossed (it was cloudy, and it still is (10th).

     I've been contemplating my upcoming 2016 observing projects a lot, and also organizing my past notes.  With Deb's help I have compiled a complete list of all the NGC objects that should be visible from my latitude.  There are about 6,000 of them.  On the list I mark which ones have been observed, listing page numbers from my journal, a star rating, and whether or not I have done a sketch.  Thus I can quickly find a specific NGC object on my list and find my note for it.  Though I am into volume 9 of my notebooks (volume 10 will begin very shortly), I have numbered the pages consecutively since volume one page 1 in 1968!  I have currently filled 942 pages of observing notes, with all telescopes, in 694 different sessions.

     I also have a system for locating my notes on observed double stars.  Anyway, I am pretty much caught up on my organizing, which is another way of saying I have been unable to observe much lately.  Coming soon, I will begin my fourth year of trying to see all of the NGC objects in Leo.  I doubt I will live long enough, but it's fun trying.  There are so many fantastic mostly overlooked objects here, as everyone heads to the five Messier objects, then heads off to Virgo and Coma land.  After Leo I will work late into Spring in Bootes.  Filled with galaxies, it is not as glamorous as Leo.  Bootes is hard work.  In the summer I will continue with Hercules, and likely begin Vulpecula.  Autumn means Perseus, Pegasus, and Cetus studies will continue.  Then Taurus will come around for another year.

     Has anyone out there ever observed gn 1555 in Taurus?  Located just preceding T Tauri, an unpredictable variable star, it sure isn't much to look at in a 12".  I used a medium high power (187x) to see a very small, faint streak of uneven brightness and dimensions.  I'd be interested to hear from others who have observed this.  I guess I was expecting something a bit more dramatic.  On the other hand I was really taken by surprise by pn 1514, also in Taurus.  This is a huge planetary, but quite dimmed by its very bright central star.  There is some clumpiness to the nebula, and I found it to be a fun object, especially after hunting so many of Taurus' faint galaxies.

     I have not had time to set up Space Eye, but it is due for an update and session very soon.  I hope to observe M 41, M 50, oc 2244, oc 2264, and a few objects in Puppis with it, so stay tuned for that.  I wrote a recent article for our astronomy club's newsletter (I write one five times a year) on my Space Eye project.  I'll include a link to our newsletter if you are interested in seeing what our club is up to.  It is a pretty cool club, with many members keenly interested in observing, and in astro-photography.  The newsletters usually include member astro photos, many of which are quite spectacular.  http://www.rascwindsor.com/pages/newsletter-archive.php

Clear skies (please)

Mapman Mike

#87--Sagittarius Glory Part 3: Objects from Other Catalogues

This is the third and final blog entry on deep sky objects of Sagittarius.  Despite there being dozens of small, faint planetary nebulae, my main interest this time around was clusters.  With this and the two previous entries I hope to convince users of larger scopes that there is more to Sagittarius than the many Messier objects it offers.  There is a rich life out there for observers beyond the readily obvious.  Often the sky background itself is so rich that it sometimes offers more interesting viewing than many of the objects themselves.

oc AL 3:  1'.3; 30 *s:  Located at 100x, it was a small, faint cloud.  125x resolves 3 stars.  200x shows 6-8 stars, very faint.  Most of the cluster remains unresolved in my 12" mirror.

dn B86:  5' x 5'  This is a prominent dark nebula preceding oc 6520, between it and a 6.5 mag. star.  The ngc cluster makes a good contrast with the dark nebula.  gc E456-38 is also very near.

oc Bo 14:  2'; Vis. 9.3; Br. * mag. 10.3; 11 *s:  Viewed at 120x and 187x, a small cloud of faint stars surrounds a bright (mag. 10.3) double star.  All members are resolved.

oc Clvd B 113:  15'; 20 *s:  V4381 is at the center of this large, scattered group.  The variable star is pale orange.  A 2nd orange star, darker, is north following.  AT 100s two lines of stars converge on the variable in a V shape, though some of these stars are outside the boundary.  An easy hop from ngc 6568, this area is great for general sweeping.

oc Cr 347:  10'; Vis. 8.8 mag; Br. * 10.6; 40 *s:  Located at 60x at 100x it was an impressive oval cloud resolving well.  At 200x, 20 stars were counted, some very faint, and some of those were double.  I was observing in my southern light pollution dome at this point.

oc Cr 351:  8'; Vis. 9.3 mag.; 30 *s:  Noted at 60x, the cluster is shaped like an arrowhead or spear point.  It is quite large, loose, and has several bright stars, including a mag. 9 one following.  30 stars were counted, many of them in two converging lines. 

oc Cr 367:  40'; Vis. 6.4; 30 *s:  Seen best at 43x using the 2" eyepiece, this is a lovely, very large group containing many bright stars as well as as all of the preceding faint gn (gn I 1274-75).  Use low power and sweep.

oc Cr 371:  20'; Vis. mag. 7; 30 *s:  At 60x and 100x, about 60 stars are counted.  They are widely scattered and surround a bright yellow star.  This is a nice cluster, just outside the M24 star cloud.  It also contains nebula, specifically gn 6589 and 6590.

oc Cr. 469:  2'.6; Vis. 9.1; 51 *s:  Preceding ngc 6603, this was spotted at 60x as several bright stars in a tight V-shape, with background haze.  At 100x it is very compact, with a few faint stars resolving.  At 200x 15 stars show up, several being very faint.  51 stars?!  In a 2.'6 area?!  No way. 

oc Cz 37:  3'; 35 *s:  A very small, insignificant group is revealed, mostly haze, south preceding a bright star.  A few stars resolve.  

oc E397-1:  6':  I was able to star hop here from gc 6723.  It was spotted at 100x, and already fairly interesting.  150x, 187x and 200x gave good views of a dozen or so scattered faint stars, immediately preceding a 9.5 mag. star.  As the only open cluster on Uranometria Chart 163, left side, I simply had to seek it out.

gc E456-38:  9'.9; Vis. mag. 9.9:  Appearing much smaller than its given size, it was more like a faint, round planetary nebula or galaxy as seen at 125x amidst a triangle of brighter stars.  It was viewed with averted vision up to 200x, about 2' in size.  Even in photos it appears smaller than nearby ngc 6520.

eg E460-30:  1'2 x 0'.8:  Vis/SB Mag. 12.7:  A near twin to nearby eg 6816, this small, faint spot was also picked off tonight, just north of the NGC object.  Both objects fit into the same view, even at 187x.

oc E521-5:  4':  Located at 100x, 3 brighter stars are noted.  At 200x there are about 15 stars, mostly very faint.

oc E521-38:  3':  This is a compact group of pretty bright stars, with 15 showing up at 125x.

oc E524-1:  6':  Larger, richer and more scattered than nearby Ru 146, stars resolved at 100x and higher.  It is a pretty good object at 150x, despite its -27 degree location.

oc E525-8:  5':  At 200x a dozen stars mag. 13 and fainter can be seen.  It was observed in a light polluted area of my south sky.

oc E589-26:  2'.5:  At 150x a small, hazy patch is noted.  187x and 200x resolve a few stars.  250x shows 6-8 stars, some in a line.  A challenge!

oc Mrk 38:  2':  At 60x 3 bright stars were noticed right away, with 1 of them being very bright and yellow.  At 200x ten stars are very close to the bright three, with a few others close by. 

gc Pal 8:  5'.2; Vis. 10.9; Br. * mag. 15.4:  A fun discovery, this faint, large and hazy globular cluster was seen at 43x through 250x.  Resolution begins at 150x, with a few of the brighter outliers.  5 or 6 stars can be counted at 250x.  Not a bad object.

oc Ru 129:  4'; Br. * mag. 12; 10 *s:  Located at 100x and resolving.  At 200x I saw 10-12 stars, some very faint.  Located north preceding a 9.5 mag. star.

oc Ru 131:  8'; Br. * mag. 11; 15 *s:  An unimpressive group of faint stars surrounds one of mag. 9.7.  While noted at 60x, I only managed to resolve 10 stars at 200x. 

oc Ru 134:  5'; Br. * mag. 12; 30 *s:  In my excellent sky tonight this was an impressive little cluster, even down at -29 degrees.  Located at 60x immediately following a mag. 8 star, which in fact turned into a double at higher power.  At 60x the group was pretty large, faint but resolving.  100x and 125x gave fine views.  200x showed 30+ stars, though they were very dim.  The double is estimated to be 8-12/8". 

oc Ru 136:  3'; Br. * mag. 13; 40 *s:  Because of the proximity of two fairly bright stars, this group is not apparent as a cluster until 200x and 250x is applied.  Most members are very faint, with a few slightly brighter members (mag. 13).  There is some resolution (about 10 stars) and some haze.

oc Ru 137:  5'; Br. * mag. 13; 30 *s:  Obvious at 100x, it was also observed at 150x and 200x.  A small swarm of faint stars surround a mag. 8.5 star.

oc Ru 138:  See write up for oc 6506, in Part 2 of Sagittarius objects.

oc Ru 139:  12'; Br. * mag. 12; 80 *s:  60x, 100x, and 120x give good views of this busy cluster, which is large and pretty scattered.  Many brighter stars are interspersed with a lot of fainter ones.

oc Ru 140:  5'; Br. * mag. 11; 15 *s:  Spotted at 60x, it was faint and hazy, but pretty large in size.  100x provides decent resolution.  At 125x and 150x about 20 stars are resolved, most of them being similar magnitude.  It is a circular group, and somewhat compact.  187x and 200x resolves a small knot of stars on the north following edge.  Worth a look.

oc Ru 145:  35'; Br. * mag. 10:  43x shows a very large and rich group of stars.  At 60x the object fills the eyepiece with stars.  There is a denser, rich center, and the cluster includes many fine patterns.  Numerous faint stars surround the central group.  Definitely worth a stopover.

oc Ru 146:  4'; Br. * mag. 12; 20 *s:  The cluster is small and compact, barely resolving at 100x and 125x.  It becomes better at 150x, with about 15 stars resolving.

oc Ru 168:  4'; Br. * mag. 12; 20 *s:  I star-hopped on this night, beginning at oc 6520 and finding 7 minor clusters in a very small area.  This one is in two parts; the north area is very tight and dense, while the south half is looser.  It follows a close pair of 8.5 mag. stars.  Members are faint.  At 200x I counted 20-25 stars, some barely resolving. 

oc Ru 169:  3'; Br. * mag. 14; 10 *s:  This one is located just south of Ru 136 and Ru 138.  Both of those objects were seen to good advantage in tonight's superior sky.  This one is a nice string of faint stars, thickest surrounding 2 11.5 mag. stars.  Best seen at 200x. 

oc Ru 171:  12'; Br. * mag. 14; 60*s:  Located just north of 2 9 mag. stars in an east-west line.  100x will show the group, but it takes 150x and 187x to properly resolve it.  Stopped down to 8" of aperture, resolution is poor, with haze.  At full aperture, 200x resolves dozens of stars, including several dense sections that require averted vision.  This is worth a stop with a 12" mirror.

oc Tr 31:  5'; Vis. 9.8; 25 *s:  This is a decent little cluster at 125x and higher.  A triangle of stars has a faint cloud of tiny ones amidst them.  25 stars are easily counted at 200x.

oc Tr 33:  6'; Vis. mag. 7.8; Br. * mag. 9.7; 74 *s:  A bright orange and blue double star lies in the preceding end, with the blue star being very faint.  At 60x the cluster is mostly haze in behind a line of 3 bright stars.  The haze is resolving at 100x.  At 125x and 150x many faint stars are resolved, along with 9 or 10 brighter ones.  About 35 stars were counted at 187x and 200x.  A nice minor cluster.

oc vdB-Ha 245:  1'; 12 *s:  Located at 200x, south preceding a mag. 8 star.  Several faint stars are resolved.

That about does it for Sagittarius, a project that I worked on during summer and fall of 2014 and 2015.  Next summer I will continue working in Lacerta and Hercules, and then in Pegasus during the autumn.  My Winter project is Taurus, and in Spring it will be back to Leo and Bootes.  Hoping for many clear nights ahead!
Mapman Mike 

#86 Small Telescope Adventures, Part 7

The Olcott Project:  Adventures with a 2" Telescope--Night 8

I am pretty far behind in my reporting on this blog.  I still have one more entry to complete for the Sagittarius deep sky report with the 12".  Watch for it soon.

This observation with Space Eye, our 2" 600mm refractor, took place back on Nov. 2nd, a warm and very clear night.  Six objects were added to the list, including four Messier objects (all clusters) and two double stars.

Object #26--Messier 39:  31'; mag. 4.6; Br. * mag. 7; 25 *s

This large, loose open cluster in Cygnus makes for really fine viewing in our 2" glass.  Easily found near Pi 2 and P Cygni, it is best viewed at 25x and 30x.  Its large size fills the eyepiece with stars, both bright and dim.  A nice showpiece for Space Eye.

Messier 39

http://www.celestronimages.com/data/media/5/m39.jpg

Object #27--Messier 29:  10'; mag. 6.6; Br. * mag. 9

Tiny and intriguing at 30x, this little cluster bares magnification well, showing a dozen or so stars at 60x and 75x.  Not a showpiece in the 2", it is none the less a fun object to view.  Located not far from Gamma, which is in a grand area of Cygnus for slow motion sweeping at low power.

Messier 29

http://www.pictorobservatory.ca/html/messier.htm

 Object #28-- Sigma Cass:  5.1-8.7/3"

This is a really fine object in the 12" at 136x.  Would Space Eye have even the ghost of a chance of splitting it?  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  At 30x it was not split.  At 60x and 75x I thought I saw something very close, very faint, and very tiny.  For the first time we used our 6 mm eyepiece, giving the 2" refractor a power of 100.  Split!!  Very tricky, and for expert double star observers only, and in very good sky conditions.

Sigma Cass.

http://www.deepskywatch.com/images/sketches/Sigma-Cassiopea-sketch-s.jpg

Object #29--Lambda Aurigae:  5.2-8.7/104"

Three companions can be seen some distance away from the primary star.  We took the brightest one as the object Olcott reports on.  This is a lovely area filled with interesting star fields.  Take some time and look around.

Lambda, along with 3 Messier clusters in Auriga.

Object #30--Messier 38:  15'; mag. 6.4; Br. * mag. 8; 160 *s

Large but quite faint, it resembles a sizable hazy cloud.  Resolution is fair at 30x, but better at 40x.  A 2" glass has to work full out on this one!  It is a lovely sight, though too faint to use 60x effectively.

M38 

http://i2.wp.com/www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/m38.gif

Object #31--Messier 36:  10'; mag. 6; Br. * mag. 9; 60 *s

A bright and glorious open cluster in a 2" scope; the full range of magnifications can be used effectively.  25x and 30x give fine views, but increasing to 40x and 60x is even better.  While the stars are not countless, there are an impressive amount of them.  Highly recommended for small scopes!

  M36

We tried unsuccessfully to locate M37, and will try again another time.  In the meantime we are nearly a third of the way through our project.  I hope you will continue to follow our adventures, and feel free to comment on your own views with small scopes.  Until next time, may you have clear skies.

Mapman Mike

#85 Sagittarius Glory: The NGC Objects Part 2

Observations of Sagittarius resumed on June 21st, 2015, wrapping up for good in early autumn.  Here are the objects seen in 2015:

pn 6439:  14"; Vis. 12.6; Cent. * mag. 20.2:  Though bright enough and easy to locate, the object is stellar up to 250x.  It appears much smaller than the given size.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6439.jpg

oc 6506: (Ru. 138):  6'; Br. * mag. 13; 20 *s:  There seems to be a good argument for calling this 6506, though Uranometria uses only the Ruprecht designation.  Whatever you wish to call it, it is a faint but attractive group in a 12" scope.  The cluster shows up well at 125x, being pretty large and moderately rich.  At 200x it is still a faint cluster, but well resolved.  More than 30 stars were counted.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6506.jpg

oc 6514--Messier 20:  30'; Vis. 6.3; Br. * mag. 6; 70 *s and
gn 6514--Messier 20: 20' x 20'; Emission and Reflection:  South preceding Messier 21, it is an easy star hop between them.  The cluster is not the highlight here, though it is attractive enough at 42x in the 2" eyepiece.  The cluster and rich surrounding star field easily reach to Messier 21.  The nebula is much fainter and considerably smaller than M8, and not that impressive without a filter.  The brightest patch is north preceding the bright double star in the center.  Even with a Skyglow filter at 120x the view is so-so.  However, using my Orthoscopic eyepiece at 125x with an O3 filter the view is suddenly pretty amazing!  The triffid pattern becomes very obvious, with the central close double star sitting in its midst.  Not a showpiece of the same rank as M8, but one of the better gn nonetheless. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6514.jpg

gn 6523--Messier 8:  45' x 30'; Emission:  The Lagoon Nebula is a vast area of nebulosity, one of the wonders of the heavens!  Best seen with a filter, I used a Skyglow and then an O111.  Though spread far and wide, including across the main star cluster (see oc 6530, below), it climaxes following the cluster at a very bright, large knot of gas.  Lines and swirls show vast amounts of detail, comparable to the Orion Nebula.  120x with a filter offers great views.  Worth many return visits.  I prefer the O111 filter here over the Skyglow.  An outstanding object!

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6523.jpg

gn 6526:  Mistakenly plotted on Uranometria!  A huge error!  There is nothing at the location plotted on the chart.  6526 is actually part of M8, and well attached to it.  It comprises the southern portion of the nebula.  Herschel's 1 degree error was mistakenly used by Uranometria.  See write up for 6523, above. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6526.jpg

oc 6530:  15'; Vis. 4.6;  Br. * mag. 6; 113 *s:  The Lagoon Cluster is a lovely, roundish group of bright stars seen well at 60x, with most members resolving.  At 100x the white stars are clothed in wisps of nebulosity. 120x shows more than 100 stars.  The central area is relatively dense, but stars do branch out.  A line of stars curves out from the center, north following.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6530.jpg

oc 6531--Messier 21:  16'; Vis. 5.9; Br. * mag. 8; 100 *s:  The central star is the brightest, and it is white, like most of the members.  It lies amidst the densest section.  Even at low power this is a very large group, and divided into differing segments.  At 150x a resolved stellar necklace is quite captivating, with a bright star like a diamond part way around.  The necklace lies just north of the bright central star.  A busy but long and scattered group precedes the central area.  Perhaps not a great Messier showpiece, but worth a stop for all apertures.  About 25 stars are plotted in Uranometria Chart A 17.  There are at least 3x that amount of stars as seen in the 12".

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6531.jpg

pn 6537:  10"; Vis. 11.6; Cent. * mag. 18.8:  Noted at 120x with a filter, it was quite faint.  It showed a noticeable disc at 200x, while at 300x it shows an uneven, oval shape.  It is gray-blue in colour, and was similar in magnitude to a preceding star.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6537.jpg

gc 6544:  9'.2; Vis. 7.5; Br. * mag. 12.8:  Easily located at 60x, it appeared as a large, hazy ball of brightness.  100x resolves a star in the center.  125x-200x gives some resolution when a perfect focus can be achieved.  The center has a triangular shape at high power.  A slightly misshapen Hyades-like star group is following.  250x gives pretty good resolution, elongated north-south.  Individual stars and clumps of them are visible.  Previously viewed with the 8" (1984!), it was resolved there, too, with high power.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6544.jpg

oc 6546:  15'; Vis. mag. 8; Br. * mag. 10.6; 150 *s:  Viewed at 60x and 100x, this is a rich, large and widely scattered open cluster.  Many bright stars are intermingled with dimmer ones.  A bright triangle of stars is involved, on the following side.  At 120x I noticed two very faint pairs of close doubles near the center.  Recommended. 

gc 6553:  9'.2; Vis. 8.3; Br. * mag. 15.3:  Like its predecessor 6544, this globular cluster is very bright at 60x.  It appears fan-shaped, the wide end north.  At 100x a bright star is seen at its north end.  125x does show some resolution in the outer sections, using averted vision.  The core is very bright.  It was viewed up to 250x.  While overall resolution was not much improved, the object is still very bright.  Previously viewed with the 8", it was found to be dimmer and smaller than 6544.  112x power was the highest that could be used back then, though some outer resolution was noted.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6553.jpg

gc 6558:  4'.2; Vis. 8.6:  Spotted at 60x, it was smaller and fainter than 6569 (see below).  At 100x and 150x the core is small but now pretty bright.  187x and 200x resolve a very few outliers, quietly winking in and out using averted vision. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6558.jpg

gn 6559:  8'x5'; Emission:  A bit of haze involved with a very small star cluster.  A Skyglow filter was required to see anything.  It is quite small.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6559.jpg

pn 6563:  48"; Vis. 11; Cent. * mag. 17.3:  This was a fun way to begin a night's observing (Aug. 16th).  At 60x the object was medium large and quite dim.  It was seen better at 100x.  next 120x with the skyglow filter, where the brightness seemed uneven, with the preceding edge a bit brighter.  It was round, and no dark center was noted.  Though 150x gave good views, 187x with filter was quite lovely.  200x on its own showed the nebula as faint, but still glowing.  A crescent of faint stars precedes the object.

pn 6563

oc 6568:  12'; Vis. 8.6; 50 *s:  This is a bit of a minor showpiece in the 12".  At 60x it is a rich, medium-dense group.  It becomes a bit scattered at 83x, but with a busy central area.  At 100x the cluster is well resolved, becoming large and quite spread out.  Many of the members are of uniform brightness (mag. 11?).  125x shows a circle and a half circle of stars.

gc 6569:  6'.4; Vis. 8.4; Br. * mag. 17.1:  Located at 60x, it was faint but impressively large.  100x show a very faint star just north.  The three classic levels of brightness were observed: a small, very bright core; a larger area of somewhat less intensity around the core; and the largest area, mostly faint haze that gradually fades to sky background.  At 150x several outliers were resolved, especially south.  187x and 200x shows a small, intense core, still pretty bright, with 6-8 stars now resolved close to it. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6569.jpg

oc 6573:  6';  40 *s:  I was tired when I arrived at my final object of this particular observing night.  Though not a great cluster, at least it wasn't difficult to observe.  Viewed at 60x, 100x and 120x, I saw a large, uneven oval of brighter stars, preceded by a very compact, dense group of them.  At 187x 40+ stars are seen, not counting a 3rd area, a busy attachment to the north. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6573.jpg

pn 6578:  11"; Vis. 12.9; Cent. * mag. 15.8:  Two double stars are noted north preceding Star 17.  The north-most pair contains the planetary nebula, itself being the north-most star.  Up to 300x shows a round, distinct hazy patch, almost stellar but not quite.  Viewed at 120x, 200x and 250x also. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6578.jpg

oc 6583:  5'; Vis. 10:  A small hazy patch was noted at 60x.  100x resolves a few central stars, with 120x showing the same.  150x gives fair resolution with averted vision.  The group is very faint and very tight.  187x shows more stars resolving, as does 200x.  Though resolved well here, there is still haze in behind.  Up to 250x gives good results, with 18-20 stars showing.  A prominent north-south chain of stars passes through the center.  3 bright stars in a curving line are located just south of the group.  This is a challenge to resolve in my southern sky.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6583.jpg

oc 6596:  10'; 30 *s:  It took a few moments to positively id this fine little cluster, south preceding Messier 17.  It was viewed at 60x, 100x and 150x.  In the 12" it is a fairly scattered group of bright stars, at low power.  The brightest member is in the north central area and has several faint and close double stars near it.  In all, there are about 15 brighter stars, and about the same number of faint ones.  Undoubtedly overshadowed by nearby M17 and M18, it is nonetheless worth a stopover.

oc 6596

oc 6613--Messier 18:  7'; Vis 6.9; Br. * mag. 8.6; 40 *s:  Hardly a standout amongst open clusters, its unusual shape and bright members do make it a worthwhile stopover, just south of showpiece object M 17.  The cluster is elongated, and has a large number of bright members.  Views at 60x, 100x, 150x and 187x all give good views.  A few areas of denser, faint stars are of interest with a larger aperture.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6613.jpg

oc/gn 6618--Messier 17:  20' x 15', Emission Nebula: Cluster is 27'; Vis. mag. 6; Br. * mag. 9.3; 660 *s:  The "Swan," "Omega," or "Horseshoe" Nebula is one of the major sights available to amateurs.  It looks fine in binoculars, small telescopes, medium telescopes, and larger ones.  It also looks completely amazing without a filter, but for a truly immersive 3D experience, by all means add a filter.  My Skyglow filter worked perfectly, and I enjoyed long, lingering views, spending at least 40 minutes here tonight.  So much detail comes to the eye  that one is left bewildered.  Two areas of intense brightness can be observed along the northern rim, or lower body of the swan.  Filaments and feathery detail abound, and I need to get in at much higher powers here again.  At times it seems to equal, or nearly so, the Great Nebula in Orion.  The star cluster is mostly invisible to viewers, but a nice group can be seen north, beneath the swimming body of the swan.  Here lies an impressive array of new-born stars, all bright and white and super hot.  Millions of years in the making, and still largely a work in progress, M17 is a don't miss viewing event.  Take your time and enjoy your visit, and come back often! 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/dss_n6600.asp

gc 6624:  8'.8; Vis. 7.6; Br. * mag. 14:  Spotted easily at 60x, it was very bright and quite large.  The cluster was even larger at 100x, with the outer haze very mottled.  At 150x the full expanse of the outer haze can be seen, with 2 or 3 winking stars.  At 187x a few more stars begin to pop out.  200x and 250x show more than a dozen stars popping in and out with averted vision.  The core is still blazing.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6624.jpg

gc 6637--Messier 69:  9'.8; Vis. mag. 7.7; Br. * mag. 13.7:  At 60x Messier 69 is compact and very bright.  At 100x a few stars are resolving.  150x gives sparse resolution across a broad area.  187x continues to improve the number of stars now showing.  At 200x and 250x some stars are resolved to the core.  The core itself is now becoming clumpy.  Dark lanes appear in the main mass, which is still bright. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6637.jpg

gc 6642:  6'; Vis. 8.5; Br. * mag. 13.3:  Easy to locate at 60x, closely south following M 69, and immediately south following a mag. 7 star, white.  100x showed a very bright center and a mottled outer area.  150x clearly shows a notable "bright" star preceding the cluster, with others resolving following.  187x, 200x, and 250x gives fair to good resolution, with the bright core breaking up into dense knots.  This would be an amazing object from a more southerly vantage poiont.  Though dimmer and smaller than M69, it is still impressive in a 12" mirror.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6642.jpg

oc 6645:  15'; Vis. 8.5; Br. * mag. 12; 40 *s:  At 60x this large cluster of many faint stars is already a beauty!  Though there is good resolution already, there is more to come.  At 100x this object is a gem!  Two bright stars immediately following the cluster point northwest.  The south star is mag. 8 and the preceding one is 8.5. The cluster really spreads out a lot at 100x, and there is  dense central area with a conspicuous double.  A circular group of stars is in the north section, and there is another large area with many faint stars preceding, also somewhat circular.  At 150x and 187x I zoomed in on two dense areas just preceding and the other one following the central double star, now a triple.  Though spread out, the cluster is still fun to observe at 200x.  Highly recommended!

oc 6681--Messier 70:  8'; Vis. 7.8; Br. * mag. 13:  Large, bright and conspicuous at 60x, some resolution already begins at 100x.  150x gives fair resolution, especially south preceding the core.  187x, 200x, and 250x shows some good resolution, right to the edge of the small, very bright inner core.  There is generally good resolution throughout the faint, surrounding haze.  An interesting line of mag. 9 and 9.5 stars can be seen south following.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6681.jpg

gc 6715--Messier 54:  12'; Vis. 7.7; Br. * mag. 15.2:  It is very bright and compact at 60x.  Lying at -30.5 degrees, it was my highest viewed object tonight in Sagittarius (Sept. 5th).  At 100x the globular cluster suddenly appeared much larger, especially the surrounding outer haze.  187x shows a fair number of stars resolving, all in the outer areas.  At high power the core is stellar.  M54 may turn out to be quite different from other globulars--its stellar make-up indicates it may once have been the core to a galaxy that collided with ours! 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6715.jpg

oc 6716:  10'; Vis. 7.5; Br. * 8.3; 38*s:  Located at 60x, an S-curve of bright stars was noted, coming to a busy end like the distorted head of a small dragon.  100x resolves the cluster nicely.  125x shows this fun group well, with 30+ stars.

gc 6717:  5'.4; Vis. 8.4; Br. * mag. 14:  First spotted at 42x, very close to bright star 35.  At 100x the cluster was large but hazy, as the viewer is nearly blinded by the 5 mag. star in the field.  At 200x the cluster resolves into stars and bright clumps at the center.  There is good resolution at 250x.  Worth a visit. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6717.jpg

gc 6723:  13'; Vis. 6.8; Br. * mag. 12.8:  This is a faint but enormous object, just north of the border of Corona Australis at -36.6 declination.  A 9 mag. star sits just south of the cluster.  Though still faint at 100x, it is impressively big!  150x, 187x and 200x give resolution all across the object.  Again, this globular star cluster needs to be seen about 10 degrees higher in the sky. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6723.jpg

oc 6774:  20'; Br. * mag. 9; 25 *s:  The cluster is big and bright at 60x.  The stars are widely scattered but distinct and obviously a group.  The central area contains many fainter stars.  At 100x the cluster fills the eyepiece with stars.  North following is a pair of double stars that should not be missed!

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6774.jpg

gc 6809--Messier 55:  19'; Vis. 6.3; Br. * mag. 11.2:  This enormous but faint globular cluster was already resolving well at 60x.  It appears to be quietly glowing from the center.  100x gives good resolution to the center, especially the area north preceding.  150x, 187x, 200x, and 250x show an uncountable number of stars, clearly resolved and still resolving.  There is still unresolved haze in the background, however.  A faint but overwhelming object!  Watching it creep past the field of view at 250x is a special event! 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6809.jpg

eg 6816:  1'.2 x 0'.8:  Vis. & SB mag. 12.7:  I had tried 3x for this object, and was finally successful!  Normally an object like this would be a piece of cake, but at -18.5 degrees it is my most southerly sighting of a small, faint galaxy in this constellation.  Spotted at 150x between two north south stars, it was very faint, round but had a bright core.  Views were had up to 250x. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6816.jpg

pn 6818:  46"; Vis. 9.3; Cent. * mag. 16.9:  Viewed at 60x and all the way through 375x, it remained bright at all powers and was large.  A central hole was obvious from 100x up.  Three faint stars frame the object, which is slightly bluish.  This should look good in any size of scope.  Amazingly bright; no filter required.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6818.jpg

eg 6822:  15'.5 x 13'.5: Vis. 8.7; SB 14.4:  Forget the visual mag. listing and focus instead on the surface brightness.  Barely noticed at 43x with averted vision, ti was somewhat easier to see at 60x.  It is very large and oval, and seems to include a large number of foreground stars.  100x still shows it well, but at 8" of aperture I required averted vision, and only saw the center, which is noticeably brighter.  We could not find it in Deb's 6".  A fun object to try and find.

eg 6822

http://www.astrosurf.com/antilhue/NGC6822LRGBhi.jpg

eg 6835:  2'.3 x 0'.5:  Vis. 12.5; SB 12.5:  The galaxy is already a nice elliptical at 60x.  At 100x and 150x there is a faint star following.  The galaxy has a stellar core and overall it appears much brighter than 6836, below.  Higher powers to 250x show a long, thin object with averted vision.  the middle bulge is still bright.

eg 6836:  1'.5 x 1'.3:  Vis. 12.9; SB 13.5:  This one was tricky, but seen with averted vision at 100x and 150x.  A 9.5 mag. star is preceding, and the galaxy is just south of 6835, which is much brighter.  36 is large, round and pretty faint up to 250x.  The center is marginally brighter. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6836.jpg

eg 6841:  1'.5 x 1'.4; Vis. 12.6; SB 13.4:  Looked for on previous nights, tonight (Sept. 13th) I saw it at 100x!  At 150x, 187x and 200x it was slightly oval and had a bright center.  It was pretty small but unmistakable, south of a triangle of faint stars.  Located at nearly -32 degrees, which is pretty good for my not so great south horizon! 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6841.jpg

oc 6864:--Messier 75:  6'.8; Vis. mag. 8.6; Br. * mag. 14.6:  Spotted at 60x as a very bright, glowing ball.  At 100x the larger, fainter haze surrounding the main area can be seen, extending out to a brighter star nearby.  At 125x and 150x a few outliers begin to resolve.  187x shows the haze as mottled, with the full extent of the cluster easily seen.  The core is blazing!  Also viewed at 200x, 250x, and 300x, the center is still very bright.  Only a very few stars are resolved.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/6/n6864.jpg

gn I. 1274:   Some haze surrounds a bright star, which is at the very north end. 
gn I. 1275:    10' x 6';  Emission:  Very faint haze is noted near and between some of the brighter stars.
 

gn I. 1283:  17' x 15'; Reflection and Emission:  Without a filter one can observe a faint but large nebula surrounding 2 bright stars (the south one is a triple star).  gn 6589 and 6590 can be seen in the same low power field (see Sagittarius Part 1).  With a Skyglow filter the nebula is seen especially well near the south star and vicinity, but also between the two stars. 

eg I. 1309:  0'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. 14.2; SB 13.6:  Briefly seen on Sept. 14th before clouds arrived, tonight was a better, more leisurely look.  It was spotted north of a mag. 7.5 star, first at 100x.  150x shows  bright center, and it was a pretty dim haze around it.    It appears oval at 187x, but becomes very faint.  It seems pretty big at 200x with averted vision, though faint.

pn I. 4670:  5"; Vis. 12; Central * mag. 14.7:  I was not expecting to see more than a star.  However, the nebula was picked up at 100x as a suspicious bluish-grey object, nearly stellar.  Observed at 150x and 200x, it is very faint.  A mag. 13 (?) star lies very close--there is also a 10.6 mag. star further away.  150x shows a tiny circle of nebula, which is seen better at 200x.  The object is stellar when not using averted vision. 

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic46a.htm#ic4670

gn I. 4684:  3' x 2':  Reflection:  No nebula is visible.  A very close double star is here, and another pair is south.  Photos show only the vaguest of haze.

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic46a.htm#ic4684

gn I. 4685:  Invisible. 

gn I. 4706:  First view shows a pair of 9.5 mag. stars, the preceding one having a faint companion.  Both stars have faint traces of reflection nebula around them.  The stars form the start of a faint star bridge leading to M17. 

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic47.htm#ic4706

pn I. 4776:  18"; Vis. 10.8; Cent. * mag. 14.1:  Obviously an error given in the size from the guide to Uranometria.  Probably 8" was meant.  It was stellar up to 223x, perhaps bluer than other nearby stars.  Disappointing. 

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic47a.htm#ic4776

In a third and final installment of the Sagittarius deep sky project I will discuss the non-NGC/IC objects I was able to view.  Clear skies!

Mapman Mike