Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC 5985 Spiral Galaxy 15h 39m 37s +59° 19′ 55″ Draco +11.1 4.0×2.0 arcmin NGC 5982 Elliptical Galaxy 15h 38m 40s +59° 21′ 21″ Draco +11.0 3.1×2.0 arcmin NGC 5981 Spiral Galaxy 15h 37m 53s +59° 23′ 32″ Draco +12.9 2.7×0.4 arcmin Overview We’re returning to Draco …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC 5866 Lenticular Galaxy 15h 06m 30s +55° 45′ 48″ Draco +9.8 6.3×2.7 arcmins NGC 5907 Spiral Galaxy 15h 15m 54s +56° 19′ 45″ Draco +10.2 11.3×1.8 arcmins Overview Last month, we hunted for some double stars in the constellation of Boötes (links open new tabs). This …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M29 Open Cluster 20h 23m 57s +38° 30′ 00″ Cygnus +6.6 10.0 arcmins Overview When Charles Messier first glimpsed this cluster in 1764, he thought it contained “seven or eight very bright stars”. We now know that the cluster contains at least 80 stars (and maybe as …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size Iris Nebula Reflection Nebula 21h 01m 48s +68° 12′ 00″ Cepheus +7.2 18 x 18 arcmins Overview Let’s wrap up June’s challenges with a bright nebula in the constellation of Cepheus. From the mid-US, Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation, which means it never sets below the horizon. …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M101 Spiral Galaxy 14h 03m 13s +54° 20′ 56″ Ursa Major +7.8 24×23 arcmins If you enjoy this guide and want another fifty like this, PLUS new ones every month, CLICK HERE to join the Virtual Astronomy Club Overview In photos like the one below, M101 is …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Separation* (A) Asellus Tertius Double Star 14h 13m 29s +51° 47′ 24″ Boötes 4.5 and 6.6 14.3″ at 235° (B) STF 1785 Double Star 13h 49m 04s +26° 58′ 45″ Boötes 8.1 and 7.2 2.7″ at 193° (C) STT 298 Double Star 15h 36m 02s +39° 48′ 09″ …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size Omega Nebula Diffuse Nebula 18h 20m 48s -16° 11′ 00″ Sagitarius +6.0 46.0′ x 37.0′ Overview After the Orion nebula, the Omega nebula is the brightest nebula visible to those of us living in mid-northern latitudes. Also known as the Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula, this object …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size Messier 5 Globular Cluster 15h 18m 33s +02° 04′ 52″ Serpens +5.7 23.0 arcminutes Overview Object number 5 in the Messier object looks good in telescopes of all sizes. In fact, with a clear and very dark sky, we can see this ball of stars with the …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC 4236 Barred Spiral Galaxy 12h 16m 42s +69° 27′ 45″ Draco +9.7 23.5 x 6.8 arcmin. Overview This galaxy is a lot trickier proposition than seeing M5 in Challenge #1. It has a low surface brightness and it doesn’t look like a traditional galaxy – there’s …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Separation Izar Double Star 14h 45m 53s +26° 59′ 20″ Boötes +2.5 & +4.8 2.9″ Overview I’ve just published a guide to the constellation of Boötes over on Love the Night Sky, and our third challenge this month is to observe the double star Izar, which is a …
