Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C14 (NGC 884) Open Cluster 02h 22m 23s +57° 07′ 00″ Perseus +6.1 18.0 arcmins Overview Despite being counted as one object in the Caldwell catalog, there are two actual objects here, as the name suggests. NGC 884 (data above) is the uppermost in the picture, while […]
Fall / Autumn – C14, Double Cluster in Perseus (DSOMG) Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC869 Open Cluster 02h 19m 00s +32° 58′ 41″ Perseus +5.3 18 arcmin NGC884 Open Cluster 02h 22m 23s +57° 07′ 00″ Perseus +6.1 18 arcmin Overview Our final challenge of the month is an awesome double cluster in Perseus, which look wonderful in the low magnification
NGC 869 & NGC 884, Double Cluster in Perseus (DSOMG) Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C14 (NGC 884) Open Cluster 02h 22m 23s +57° 07′ 00″ Perseus +6.1 18.0 arcmins Overview Despite being counted as one object in the Caldwell catalog, there are two actual objects here, as the name suggests. NGC 884 (data above) is the uppermost in the picture, while
Challenge #1 – C14, Double Cluster in Perseus Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size Kemble’s Cascade Spiral Galaxy 03h 59m 03s +62° 54′ 00″ Camelopardalis n/a 150 x 15arcmins Overview We’re starting our December 2021 challenges with a pretty little asterism. On the face of it, Kemble’s Cascade sounds quite plain. The asterism is a straight line! But that doesn’t tell
Kemble’s Cascade, Asterism (23 Objects) Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C50 (NGC 2244) Open Cluster 06h 31m 55s 04° 56′ 00″ Monoceros +4.8 29 arcmin Overview The cluster at the heart of the Rosette Nebula (C49) is so inextricably linked to it, that this separate guide is only included in the Caldwell Guides for completeness. To read
Challenge #4 – C50, Open Cluster in Monoceros Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C49 (NGC 2238*) Bright Nebula 06h 30m 18s +05° 03′ 00″ Monoceros +5.5 80×60 arcmin Overview Also known as the Great Nebula in Monoceros and Swift’s Nebula, the Rosette Nebula is comprised of *four different NGC designations: 2237, 2238, 2239, and 2246. The open cluster NGC 2244
Challenge #3 – C49, Rosette nebula in Monoceros Read More »
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C48 (NGC 2775) Spiral Galaxy 09h 10m 20s +07° 02′ 17″ Cancer 10.2 4.2×3.4 arcmin Overview This spiral galaxy was discovered by William Herschel in December 1783, who described it as “Considerably bright [and] considerably large”. This is a lovely object to track down in Cancer and especially
Challenge #2 – C48, Spiral Galaxy in Cancer Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size C46 (NGC 2261) Bright Nebula 06h 39m 12s +08° 45′ 00″ Monoceros 9.2 4.0×2.0 arcmins Overview This ghostly nebula is lit by the star R Monocerotis, which can’t be seen directly. William Herschel discovered the apparition in December 1783, describing it as “Considerably bright and fan shaped.”
Challenge #1 – C46, Hubble’s Variable Nebula in Monoceros Read More »
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M31 (NGC 224) Spiral Galaxy 00h 42m 44s +41° 16′ 08″ Andromeda 3.3 178×70 arcmin M32 (NGC 221) Elliptical Galaxy 00h 42m 42s +40° 51′ 55″ Andromeda 8.0 7.7×4.9 arcmin Overview There are two members of the Messier catalog vying for title of “most famous deep sky object”.
M31 & M32, Andromeda Galaxy in Andromeda Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M52 (NGC 7654) Open Cluster 23h 24m 48s +61° 35′ 00″ Cassiopeia +6.9 15.0 arcmin Overview M52 was discovered by Charles Messier in September 1774. It’s a lovely, easy object for us to find, located in one of the most recognizable parts of the night sky: the
M52, Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Read More »
