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EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE

RASC OBSERVING PROGRAM

• Free download from RASC website • Don’t need anything more complicated than binoculars • Find 55 of 110 objects • You don’t even have to be a member of the RASC! • Our Centre is a Certification Centre: we give you the pin and certificate

EXPLORE THE UNIVERSE REQUIREMENTS

BAYER CATALOGUE Iota ι Kappa κ Lambda λ Mu μ Nu ν Xi ξ Omicron ο Pi π

Rho ρ Sigma σ Tau τ Upsilon υ Phi φ Chi χ Psi ψ Omega ω

• First published in 1603 • Based solely on bright visual stars that could be seen with the unaided eye • Uses the Greek alphabet • E.G., brightest star in Ursa Minor is called “Αlpha Ursae Minoris” and written α UMi.

• Compiled in 1725, listing stars visible to the unaided eye by constellation in order from west to east, labelled in Arabic numerals in later editions by others. • The higher the number, the further east in a constellation is a given star. • In star charts and atlases, the Bayer designation takes precedence, and the Flamsteed number is only used when there is no Bayer designation. • NOTE: Arabic names for major stars also appear in star charts

Approx Day Phase Observing Notes

3 Waxing Crescent Visible within 3 hours of sunset

7 First Quarter Within 18 hours before or after exact time of phase

11 Waxing Gibbous Visible 3 to 4 days after First Quarter

15 Full Moon Within 18 hours before or after exact time of phase

18 Waning Gibbous Visible 3 to 4 days after Full Moon Old Farmer’s Almanac

22 Last Quarter Within 18 hours before or after exact time of phase

26 Waning Crescent Visible within 3 hours of sunrise

Any (Orbital Motion) Over 1 to 2 days, track Moon’s orbital motion against background of stars

© Charles Ennis 2021 ©2020 Charles Ennis Best Feature Day 3 Mare Crisium (Sea of Crises) 3 Mare Fecunditatus (Sea of Fertility) 7 Mare Nectaris (Sea of Nectar) 7 Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility) 7 Mare Serenitatis (Sea of Serenity) LUNAR BASINS: 6 7 Mare Vaporum (Sea of Vapours) 11 Mare Frigoris (Sea of Cold) OF 12 REQUIRED 11 Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) 11 Mare Nubium (Sea of Clouds) 11 Sinus Iridum (Bay of Rainbows) 11 Mare Humorum (Sea of Moisture) 15 Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms)

© Charles Ennis 2021 © Charles Ennis 2021 Best Day Crater 3-4 Petavius 3-4 Cleomedes 4-5 Posidonius 5-6 Theophilus 5-6 Aristoteles IMPACT CRATERS: 8-9 Ptolemaeus 8-9 Plato 6 OF 12 REQUIRED 8-9 Tycho 8-9 Clavius 9-10 Copernicus 11-12 Gassendi 15-14 Grimaldi

• Diameter: 177 km • Depth: 3.4 km • A lower Imbrian crater with a massive, complex central peak and floor uplift as indicated by rifts. This is an excellent example of a “floor fractured” crater.

• Diameter: 126 km • Depth: 2.7 km • Prominent eroded crater to the N of Mare Crisium

• Diameter: 95 km • Depth: 2.3 km • Flooded crater from the Upper Imbrian Era. The interior ring is higher than the lunar mean surface in the eastern portion. It has very irregular terrain.

• Diameter: 100 km • Depth: 3.2 km • Bordering the edge of Mare Nectaris. Part of trio formed with Cyrillus and Catharina (all about 100 km in diameter).

• Diameter: 87 km • Depth: 3.3 km • Crater located at the S edge of Mare Frigoris. Can be easily identified using binoculars.

• Diameter: 154 km • Depth: 2.4 km • Very prominent crater easily visible through binoculars. Older Ptolemaeus and younger Alphonsus are visible on the terminator at the same time.

• Diameter: 101 km • Depth: 1.4 km • Spectacular dark-floored crater on the margin of Mare Imbrium south of Mare Frigoris. It is older than Mare Imbrium. Plato’s dark floor is basin-like and visible whenever it is in sunlight.

• Diameter: 86 km • Depth: 4.8 km • Central peaks and wall terraces. • One of the youngest craters on the Moon, Tycho is inconspicuous during most of the lunar day, but comes into its own at the full Moon where its rays can be traced over much of the lunar surface.

• Diameter: 231 km • Depth: 3.5 km • Exceptionally large crater seen at its best near the time of first quarter and last quarter Moon. It is also visible in binoculars.

• Diameter: 93 km • Depth: 3.8 km • Features spectacular central peaks and is surrounded by both a prominent ejecta blanket and numerous secondary craters. It is easily visible in binoculars, particularly when near the terminator, and is by far the most prominent feature in the otherwise mostly flat Mare Insularum.

• Diameter: 110 km • Depth: 1.9 km • Nectarian Era, eroded crater with extensive system of rimae on its floor.

• Diameter: 173 km • Depth: 2.7 km • Large round basin with dark floor on the W edge of the Moon, just S of the equator

© Charles Ennis 2021 Object Notes Mercury Venus Mars Jupiter Saturn SOLAR SYSTEM: 5 Uranus Neptune Orbital Motion Plot the orbital motion of one of the above OF 10 REQUIRED planets. Artificial Observe at least 3 artificial satellites Satellites and (including spacecraft and the ISS) and 3 Meteors meteors Sunspots Use proper solar observing equipment

Bruce Fryer usually covers these in his Skies This Month presentation, and All of them (except Mars) are currently all bunched up around the Sun. Mars is up beside the “head” of Taurus (the Hyades cluster).

© Charles Ennis 2021 © Charles Ennis 2021 © Charles Ennis 2021 © Charles Ennis 2021 © Charles Ennis 2021 Object Notes Eclipses Solar or lunar Conjunctions 2 objects on the same line of RA Meteor Showers Aurorae OPTIONAL Comets Zodiacal Light After dusk in western sky in OBSERVATIONS Feb/Mar and pre-dawn sky in Sep/Oct Dwarf or Minor Planets

METEOR 6 May 12 Aug.

SHOWERS 22 Apr. 29 July

η-Aquarids Perseids

• May 26: Total Lunar (only the beginning visible in N America) • June 10: Annular Solar (Thunder Bay area) • November 19: Partial Lunar • December 4: Total Solar (Antartic)

© Charles Ennis 2021 The Weather Channel Season Constellation Bright Star(s) Magnitude Spring Ursa Major Dubhe/Merak 1.81/2.34 Leo Regulus/Denebola 1.36/2.14 Virgo Spica 0.98 Libra Zubenelgenubi/Zubenelschamali 2.75/2.61

Bootes Arcturus -0.05 Ursa Minor Polaris/Kochab 1.97/2.07 Summer Scorpius Antares 1.06 Hercules Rasalgethi 2.78 CONSTELLATIONS Sagittarius Nunki 2.05 Lyra Vega 0.03 & BRIGHT STARS: Aquila Altair 0.76 Capricorn Algedi/Dabih 3.60/3.05 Cygnus Deneb/Albireo 1.25/3.36 12 OF 24 Autumn Pegasus Markab 2.49 Andromeda Alpheratz 2.07 REQUIRED Cassiopeia Schedar 2.24 Aries Hamal/Sheratan 2.01/2.64 Perseus Mirfak/Algol 1.79/2.1V Winter Taurus Aldebaran 0.87 Auriga Capella 0.08 Orion Betelgeuse/Rigel 0.45/0.18 Canis Major Sirius -1.14 Canis Minor Procyon/Gomeisa 0.41/2.89 Gemini Castor/Pollux 1.58/1.16

© Charles Ennis 2021 Constellation Bright Star(s) Magnitude Ursa Major Dubhe/Merak 1.81/2.34 Leo Regulus/Denebola 1.36/2.14 SPRING Virgo Spica 0.98 CONSTELLATIONS Libra Zubenelgenubi/Zubenelschamali 2.75/2.61 AND BRIGHT

Bootes Arcturus -0.05 STARS Ursa Minor Polaris/Kochab 1.97/2.07

© Charles Ennis 2021 Season Constellation Object Spring Cancer M44: The Beehive Coma Berenices Melotte 111: Coma Cluster Serpens M5 (NGC 5904) Globular Cluster Summer Hercules M13: Hercules Cluster Scorpius M4 DEEP SKY Serpens M16: Eagle Nebula Sagittarius M8: Lagoon Nebula Sagittarius M17: Swan Nebula Sagittarius M22 (NGC 6656) OBJECTS: 12 Sagittarius M23 (NGC 6494) Sagittarius M24: Sagittarius Star Cloud Sagittarius M25 (IC 4725) OF 24 Scutum M11: Wild Duck Cluster Vulpecula Collinder 399: The Coathanger Autumn Andromeda M31: Andromeda Galaxy REQUIRED Perseus Melotte 20: Alpha Persei Group Perseus NGC 869 & 884: Double Cluster Winter Taurus M45: Pleiades Taurus Melotte 25: Hyades Camelopardalis Kemble’s Cascade Auriga M37 (NGC 2099) Orion M42: Orion Nebula Gemini M35 (NGC 2168) Puppis M47 (NGC 2422)

4 globular clusters, DEEP SKY OBJECT LIST 4 emission nebulae, INCLUDES: 2 asterisms, and

1 galaxy.

• Cancer • Open cluster • Magnitude: 3.1 • Contains red giants and white dwarfs, along with main sequence stars • Distance: 577 light years • ~600 million years old • The bright central core of the cluster has a diameter of about 7 parsecs (22.8 light years).

2020 Charles Ennis SCC RASC

wikisky MELOTTE 111: COMA CLUSTER

2020 Charles Ennis SCC RASC MELOTTE 111

• 280 LY • The cluster contains about 40 brighter stars (between magnitudes 5 and 10). The brighter stars of the cluster make out a distinctive "V" shape as seen when Coma Berenices is rising. The cluster used to represent the tail of Leo. However, in around 240 BC, Ptolemy III renamed this constellation Coma Berenices for the Egyptian queen Berenice's legendary sacrifice of her hair.

• Serpens • Globular cluster • Magnitude: 5.7 • Distance: 2450 light years • Radius: 80 light years • ~13 billion years old

2020 Charles Ennis SCC RASC WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE DEEP SKY OBJECTS IN THE SUMMER!

DOUBLE & Coma Berenices 32 & 33 Com

Canis Venatici 15 & 17 CVn Ursa Major Mizar & Alcor 80 Uma & Zeta (ζ) Uma MULTIPLE STARS: Libra Zubenelgenubi Alpha (α) 1 & 2 Bootes Alkalurops Mu (μ) 1 & 2 Corona Borealis Nu (ν) 1 & 2 Draco 15 & 17 Dra 10 OF 20 Draco Kuma Nu (ν) 1 & 2 Summer Lyra Epsilon (ε) 1 & 2 Lyra Zeta (ζ) 1 & 2 REQUIRED Lyra Delta (δ) 1 & 2 Capricornus Alpha (α) 1 & 2 Capricornus Beta (β) 1 & 2 Cygnus Omicron (ο) 1 Triple star Cygnus Albireo Beta (β) Autumn & Cygnus 16 Cyg Winter Taurus Theta (θ) 1 & 2 Cepheus Delta (δ)

© Charles Ennis 2021 Constellation Object Notes Leo Adhafera Zeta (ζ) Leo & 35 Leo Coma 17 Com Berenices SPRING Coma 32 & 33 Com Berenices DOUBLE & Canis Venatici 15 & 17 CVn MULTIPLE Ursa Major Mizar & Alcor Zeta (ζ) & 80 Uma Libra Zubenelgenubi Lib Alpha (α) 1 & STARS 2 Boötes Alkalurops Mu (μ) 1 & 2 Corona Nu (ν) 1 & 2 Borealis Draco 16 & 17 Dra Draco Kuma Nu (ν) 1 & 2 © Charles Ennis 2021 ADHAFERA IN LEO

Photo: TheSkyLive 17 COMA BERENICES

Photo: TheSkyLive 32 & 33 COMA BERENICES

Photo: TheSkyLive 15 & 17 CANES VENATICI

Photo: TheSkyLive MIZAR & ALCOR IN URSA MAJOR

Photo: TheSkyLive NU 1 & 2 CORONA BOREALIS

Photo: TheSkyLive WE WILL BE BACK WITH MORE DOUBLE STARS IN THE SUMMER!

• I know some of you have already started working on the Explore the Universe program! • We can help you work your way through the remaining objects you need. • We will plot your progress on the website.

• Bridges the gap between the introductory Explore the Universe Observing Program and the more challenging Isabel Williamson Lunar Observing Program. • Ideal for beginning observers • Two versions: • Binocular: 40 features • Telescope: 94 features (listed in the RASC Observer's Handbook)

• Created in 2006 as a certificate program for intermediate-to-advanced observers • The IWLOP is an educational experience, including a detailed guide with key information about the lunar surface and how to observe it.

Messier Objects Number Notes

Includes many beautiful open Open Clusters 28 clusters like M6, M7, The Beehive, The Pleiades, and The Wild Duck.

Includes the showpieces M13, M22, Globular Clusters 29 M5, and M3.

Includes the great Orion Nebula as Bright Nebulae 8 well as the Lagoon, Swan, Eagle, and Trifid Nebulae.

Includes the impressive Ring Planetary Nebulae 4 Nebula as well as the Dumbbell and Owl planetary nebulae.

Includes the amazing Andromeda Galaxies 40 Galaxy as well as M51, M33, M81/M82, and many others.

This is M40, an unusual Messier Double Stars 1 object.

Type Number Notes

Including the famous Double Cluster Open Clusters 12 in Perseus, NGC 7789 in Cassiopeia and NGC 6633 in Ophiuchus.

NGC 5466 in Bootes and NGC 6712 in Globular Clusters 2 Scutum.

Includes the great Veil Nebula as Bright Nebulae 14 well as the North American and Rosette nebulae.

Includes many fine PN's like the Ghost of Jupiter, the Cat's Eye, the Planetary Nebulae 24 Blinking Planetary, the Helix, the Blue Snowball and the Clown Face nebulae.

Includes the amazing NGC 4565 in Galaxies 58 Coma Berenices, NGC 253 in Sculptor and NGC 5907 in Draco.

Total 110

• Compiled by Alan Dyer and Alister Ling • No overlap with Finest NGC list. • More challenging than the Finest NGC.

Deep-Sky Challenge Objects Number Notes

NGC 609 in Cassiopeia and NGC Open Clusters 2 6791 in Lyra.

Globular Clusters 4 Includes Palomar 11 in Aquila.

Includes California Nebula in Emission/Reflection Nebulae 13 Perseus and Barnard's Loop in Orion.

Includes B33, the Horsehead, Dark Nebulae 2 and B72, the Snake.

Planetary Nebulae 8 Includes Jones 1 in Pegasus.

Supernova Remnants 1

Galaxies / Galaxy Clusters / 15 Quasars

Total 45

• Created in 2008. • Based on David Levy’s Deep Sky Objects (Prometheus Books, New York 2005). • Many objects the NGC and IC • Also contains unique objects, such as Levy 384, Tombaugh’s Cluster, and a dust field.

© Charles Ennis 2021 GEM Objects Number Notes Including the overlooked naked-eye open cluster NGC 752, Tombaugh’s Open Clusters 14 DEEP SKY GEMS: Cluster, and the Christmas Tree 154 OBJECTS Cluster in Monoceros. “Intergalactic Wanderer” in Lynx and Globular Clusters 14 globular cluster NGC 7006 in Delphinus. Unusual objects such as NGC 1333, the Embryo Nebula, and NGC 7023, Bright Nebulae 7 the Iris Nebula, along with other “weird” nebulae. Some are associated with nearby star clusters. This large and bright Fornax planetary Planetary Nebula 1 deserves to be better known. Large and small, round and Galaxies 112 elongated, there is a great variety of galaxies, spiral, elliptical, and unusual. This is the remarkable double quasar Double Quasar 1 known to act as a gravitational lens +561A/B in Ursa Major NGC 2174 known as the Monkey Nebula-Dust-Field 1 Head Nebula IC and Arp clusters visible in medium Galaxy Clusters 3 sized scopes.

• Our club spends more hours on this than any other kind of observing • RASC Solar Observer’s Handbook

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