Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C22 (NGC 7662) Planetary Nebula 23h 25m 54s +42° 32′ 06″ Andromeda 8.3 0.5×0.5 arcmins Overview As object names go, they don’t get much more appropriate that this. What we’re looking at is a planetary nebula that’s a great object for backyard astronomers to track down. First […]
Challenge #1 – C22, The Blue Snowball Nebula in Andromeda Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C25 (NGC 2419) Globular Cluster 07h 38m 09s 38° 52′ 57″ Lynx +10.4 4.6 arcmin Overview This might just be my favorite name for any DSO! Lying on the opposite side from the interior of our Milky Way, where we normally find large, stunning clusters, the Intergalactic
Challenge #4 – C25, Intergalactic Wanderer in Lynx Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C12 (NGC 6946) Spiral Galaxy 20h 34m 53s +60° 09′ 13″ Cygnus 8.9 11.4×10.8 arcmins Overview The Fireworks Galaxy is a fabulously appropriate name for this distant world first discovered by William Herschel in September 1798. As galaxies go, this one is relatively close by, at just
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C19 (IC 5146) Reflection Nebula 21h 53m 30s 71° 56′ 55″ Cygnus +7.2 12×12 arcmin Overview Thomas E. Espin discovered this emission nebula and its associated star cluster (Collinder 470) in 1899. The cluster is newly developing and shines around magnitude 9.5 near the naked-eye star Pi
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C22 (NGC 7662) Planetary Nebula 23h 25m 54s +42° 32′ 06″ Andromeda 8.3 0.5×0.5 arcmins Overview As object names go, they don’t get much more appropriate that this. What we’re looking at is a planetary nebula that’s a great object for backyard astronomers to track down. First
Challenge #1 – C22, The Blue Snowball Nebula in Andromeda Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C25 (NGC 2419) Globular Cluster 07h 38m 09s 38° 52′ 57″ Lynx +10.4 4.6 arcmin Overview This might just be my favorite name for any DSO! Lying on the opposite side from the interior of our Milky Way, where we normally find large, stunning clusters, the Intergalactic
Challenge #4 – C25, Intergalactic Wanderer in Lynx Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C19 (IC 5146) Reflection Nebula 21h 53m 30s 71° 56′ 55″ Cygnus +7.2 12×12 arcmin Overview Thomas E. Espin discovered this emission nebula and its associated star cluster (Collinder 470) in 1899. The cluster is newly developing and shines around magnitude 9.5 near the naked-eye star Pi
Challenge #4 – C19, Cocoon Nebula Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C12 (NGC 6946) Spiral Galaxy 20h 34m 53s +60° 09′ 13″ Cygnus 8.9 11.4×10.8 arcmins Overview The Fireworks Galaxy is a fabulously appropriate name for this distant world first discovered by William Herschel in September 1798. As galaxies go, this one is relatively close by, at just
Challenge #1 – C12, Fireworks Galaxy Read More »
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C33 (NGC 6992/5) Bright Nebula 20h 56m 24s +31° 42′ 00″ Cygnus 5.0 60×30 arcmin C34 (NGC 6960) Bright Nebula 20h 45m 42s +30° 43′ 00″ Cygnus 5.0 70×6 Overview The Veil Nebula, first seen by William Herschell in September 1784, is a cataloging curiosity. It falls under
C33 & C34, the Veil Nebula in Cygnus Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C27 (NGC 6888) Bright Nebula 20h 12m 30s +38° 25′ 00″ Cygnus +7.4 20×10 arcmin Overview To me, the image of the Crescent Nebula, below, looks a bit like a brain. Of course, in our eyepieces we see none of this detail and color, but it is
C27, Crescent Nebula in Cygnus Read More »
