Observatory Object List for Fall 2005

Month

Object

Constellation

Notes

September
1. Lagoon Nebula Sagittarius HII region with cluster. Bright - use the 12".

2. M13 Hercules Bright globular cluster, Use the 16" to bring out resolved stars.

3. Ring Nebula Lyra Planetary nebula, donut shape apparent with more aperture. May want to use 16".

Constellation: Cygnus Cygnus Constellation of the Swan, aka the Northern Cross. Follows the plane of the Milky Way.

October
1. Albireo Cygnus Bright double star, the head of Cygnus the Swan (the foot of the Northern Cross). Probably a true physical pair of 4400 AU separation, though no orbital motion has been recorded. Noticable color difference - good for mentioning stellar temperatures. The brighter, orange star is itself a spectroscopic binary.

2. Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is large spiral galaxy. Closest large galaxy to the Milky Way. Huge - try using big binocs in 12" closet, otherwise use the 16" at low power. Likely only a gradient of brightness from the core will be seen - too much light pollution to see dark lanes in the arms.

3. M11 (Wild Duck Cluster) Scutum Open cluster at tail end of Aquilae. ~220 Myr old.

(Alternate) NGC 7662 (Snowball Nebular) Andromeda Planetary nebula, compact and bright; blue emisson from oxygen.

(Alternate) NGC 7789 Cassiopeia Nice open cluster, 1.6 Gyr old!
(Alternate) M52 Cassiopeia Nice open cluster, only 35 Myr old.

Constellation: Cassiopeia Cassiopeia Bright "W" constellation rising in Northeast. Ties into mythology of Cepheus, Andromeda, Cetus, and Perseus.

November
1. Mars Aries Mars is at opposition on November 7th, but reaches closest approach to Earth on October 30th due to its elliptical orbit. Though small, dark geological features can be still be seen. Many of these dark areas are rich in a hematite, an iron compound which can only be produced in water, as far as we know.

2. Double Cluster Border of Perseus/Cassiopeia The Double Cluster (also known as h and Chi Persei) are two open clusters that are located in the Perseus OB1 association, located in the next spiral arm out from the center of the Milky Way. They are among the youngest open clusters known - only 5 million years old. With some aperture, a few red supergiants (formed recently from young OB stars) can be seen. More info here. To find it, just note that it's almost perfectly half way between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia, and is actually barely visible to the naked eye on a good night as a slighly brighter portion of the Milky Way. To see both clusters simultaneously in the field of view, use either the 8" at low magnification, or just use the binoculars.

3. M15 Pegasus Nice globular cluster, very centrally condensed. More info here. (Note that while folks originally thought the central condensation was due to a black hole, that's now currently doubtful.) To find it by eye, use the two hoof stars of Pegasus as pointer stars...start at the southeasterly one, move to the northwesterly one, then continue in that direction, but going only half the distance between those two finder stars. Use either the 12" or 16" to resolve some of the stars.

Constellation: Lyra Lyra Constellation of the Lyre. Vega is the brightest star in this constellation, with a distinct parallelogram shape just to the southeast of it. More info here.

Month	Object	Constellation	Notes

September	1. Lagoon Nebula	Sagittarius	HII region with cluster. Bright - use the 12".
	2. M13	Hercules	Bright globular cluster, Use the 16" to bring out resolved stars.
	3. Ring Nebula	Lyra	Planetary nebula, donut shape apparent with more aperture. May want to use 16".
	Constellation: Cygnus	Cygnus	Constellation of the Swan, aka the Northern Cross. Follows the plane of the Milky Way.

October	1. Albireo	Cygnus	Bright double star, the head of Cygnus the Swan (the foot of the Northern Cross). Probably a true physical pair of 4400 AU separation, though no orbital motion has been recorded. Noticable color difference - good for mentioning stellar temperatures. The brighter, orange star is itself a spectroscopic binary.
	2. Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is large spiral galaxy. Closest large galaxy to the Milky Way. Huge - try using big binocs in 12" closet, otherwise use the 16" at low power. Likely only a gradient of brightness from the core will be seen - too much light pollution to see dark lanes in the arms.
	3. M11 (Wild Duck Cluster)	Scutum	Open cluster at tail end of Aquilae. ~220 Myr old.
	(Alternate) NGC 7662 (Snowball Nebular)	Andromeda	Planetary nebula, compact and bright; blue emisson from oxygen.
	(Alternate) NGC 7789	Cassiopeia	Nice open cluster, 1.6 Gyr old!
	(Alternate) M52	Cassiopeia	Nice open cluster, only 35 Myr old.
	Constellation: Cassiopeia	Cassiopeia	Bright "W" constellation rising in Northeast. Ties into mythology of Cepheus, Andromeda, Cetus, and Perseus.

November	1. Mars	Aries	Mars is at opposition on November 7th, but reaches closest approach to Earth on October 30th due to its elliptical orbit. Though small, dark geological features can be still be seen. Many of these dark areas are rich in a hematite, an iron compound which can only be produced in water, as far as we know.
	2. Double Cluster	Border of Perseus/Cassiopeia	The Double Cluster (also known as h and Chi Persei) are two open clusters that are located in the Perseus OB1 association, located in the next spiral arm out from the center of the Milky Way. They are among the youngest open clusters known - only 5 million years old. With some aperture, a few red supergiants (formed recently from young OB stars) can be seen. More info here. To find it, just note that it's almost perfectly half way between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia, and is actually barely visible to the naked eye on a good night as a slighly brighter portion of the Milky Way. To see both clusters simultaneously in the field of view, use either the 8" at low magnification, or just use the binoculars.
	3. M15	Pegasus	Nice globular cluster, very centrally condensed. More info here. (Note that while folks originally thought the central condensation was due to a black hole, that's now currently doubtful.) To find it by eye, use the two hoof stars of Pegasus as pointer stars...start at the southeasterly one, move to the northwesterly one, then continue in that direction, but going only half the distance between those two finder stars. Use either the 12" or 16" to resolve some of the stars.
	Constellation: Lyra	Lyra	Constellation of the Lyre. Vega is the brightest star in this constellation, with a distinct parallelogram shape just to the southeast of it. More info here.