Constellation Exploration

The Scorpion April to mid-October 21:00 Jul 27 Scorpii Jan Feb Mar Apr 00:00 Jun 12 Scorpius May Jun Jul Aug h m 03:00 Apr 27 Sco 16 40 , –33° Sep Oct Nov Dec

Ara CrA –40°

–50°

–30°

6475 SHAULA Sgr

h 6231 6281 6405 18 6302 –20° Nor 6153 6124

17h

ANTARES Ser Lup 16h

6121

–10° Constellation 6093 The Keel of the ship Argo November to August 21:00 Apr 01 Oph Carinae Jan Feb Mar Apr 00:00 Feb 15 –30° Carina May Jun Jul Aug h m 03:00 Dec 31 Car 08 55 , –61° Sep Oct Nov Dec Lib

Dor CANOPUS

15h –20° Pup –60° LMC Exploration NGC 6121 16 h 23m 35s – 26°31′32′′ NGC 6093 16 h 17m 03s – 22°58′30′′ Pic h m s h m s NGC 6475 17 53 48 – 34°47′00′′ NGC 6124 16 25 18 – 40°39′00′′ 05h NGC 6405 17 h 40m 18s – 32°12′00′′ NGC 6281 17 h 04m 42s – 37°59′00′′ NGC 6231 16 h 54m 09s – 41°49′36′′ nu Scorpii 16 h 12m 00s – 19°27′38′′ Men NGC 6302 17 h 13m 44s – 37°06′16′′ alpha Scorpii 16 h 29m 24s – 26°25′55′′ h m s h m s NGC 6153 16 31 31 – 40°15′14′′ mu Scorpii 16 51 52 – 38°02′51′′ 06h ConCards (Field edition) — Version 4.5 © 2009 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org 2516 Vol 07h

–50° h False Cross 08 –70° –80° 09h 2867 2808 Cha 10h Diamond Cross

11h 2867 3114 12h I 2581 I 2602 5° 3293 3324 3372 Mus 13h Vel 3532 Cen

NGC 3372 10h44m19s –59°53′21′′ NGC 2516 07h58m06s –60°45′00′′ NGC 3532 11h05m33s –58°43′48′′ NGC 3293 10h35m49s –58°13′00′′ NGC 3114 10h02m00s –60°06′00′′ NGC 3324 10h37m19s –58°39′36′′ IC 2602 10h43m12s –64°24′00′′ IC 2581 10h27m30s –57°38′00′′ The Centaur mid-February to September 21:00 Jun 01 NGC 2808 09h12m03s –64°51′46′′ NGC 2867 09h21m25s –58°18′41′′ Centauri Jan Feb Mar Apr 00:00 Apr 17 Chart 1: Circumpolar region ( < –30° ) Centaurus May Jun Jul Aug h m ConCards (Field edition) — 03:00Version 4 Mar.5 03 © 2009 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org Cen 13 00 , –44° Sep Oct Nov Dec

Hya Vel h 10 Finder charts

Crv

Car

r h e a d r

t n

I 4

11h F

9 ANTARES

17 h

3918 h h

3766 –30°

h 1 h

Sgr Sco

2 CrA

–45° h 1

12 h Lup

Mus Mic Tel Ara

4945 Cru h

–60° Nor 1

5128 13h Hya 5139 Pav

Gru Ind Cir

23 TrA

h –75°

h h 5286 5281 Aps 1

Cen

h F

14 3

t r

Visibility:d Year-round; best mid-Feb to early Aug a

e Oct h

5460 Culmination:r 0 Jun 29 (21:00), May 12 (00:00), Mar 25 (03:00)

Proxima Centauri 0

Cir C C

2 h POINTERS V645 Cen, TYC 9010-04949-1, LDS 494

1 h m s h Mus r 14 29 43 , –62° 40' 46" a V=11.5, B–V=+1.97 spectral type M6Ve V e

5662 Scl d r Tuc

t h n

Phe i 15 5 Cha

F Lup 56 1 7 Hyi Men 0

h 1

h –60° Pi 1 9 11 –61° TrA Vol –45° 16h Ret Dor Vel Ant

0 h –30° Tr 22 2 Car h Hor For 10 Nor Hogg 1 7 L ynga 2 Pyx 0 Pic h 3 h Pup 9 NGC 5139 13h26m46s – 47°28′37′′ NGC 4945 13h05m26s – 49°28′15′′ 0 Eri Cae NGC 5128 13h25m28s – 43°01′09′′ NGC 5460 14h07m24s – 48°20′ Col h h m s h m s 04 h NGC 3766 11 36 13 – 61°36′55′′ NGC 5662 14 35 36 – 56°37′ 08 h m s h m s NGC 5281 13 46 30 – 62°54′54′′ NGC 5286 13 46 27 – 51°22′25′′ h 7 –62° 0 h NGC 3918 11h50m18s – 57°10′57′′ alpha & Proxima Cen 05h 06 Finder Chart 2 ConCards (Field edition) — Version 4.5 © 2009 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org CMa 1 Gru –45° Ara Tel Cen Nor –30° SIRIUS CrA Mic PsA

ConCards — Version 1.0 Hya http://www.docdb.net FOMALHAUT Lup P Crt Sco

Sgr http://www.psychohistorian.org

Cap — –63° h m h m –15° 14 40 14 30 Lib Crv The general loca�on of Proxima Centauri is shown in N Ser the diagram below, in which the rectangle corresponds Sct A.Slotegraaf to the chart above, and the circle to the detailed ½° Aql ﬁeld-of-view to the right. © 2009 Vir Oph Aqr 5

3 00° Ser

Equ Boo

E Del 5 h . 4 1 2 +15° Her Sge – Version Version h Peg — 17

Com Vul – h CrB edition) 13 Leo : 4 CVn ° Cyg limi�ng magnitude V=13.5+30 Finder charts . L . yr ...... 3 ConCards (Field edition) — Version 0.63 © 2013 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net LMi +45° Version 1.51b, January 2015 Version ConCards (F ield Chart 12h 13h 14h 15h 16h 17h 18h 19h 20h 21h 22h Constella�on Cards ...... 5 Milky Way ...... 29 Sirius-A & Sirius-B...... 30 Selected for the Horse Head Nebula...... 31 2015 Summer Proxima Centauri ...... 32 Descrip�on checklist...... 33 Southern Star Party Example observing log sheet ...... 34 Constellation Exploration

PROGRAMME

Approximate What we’ll do time 20:30 What’s Up – become familiar with the constellations around Orion (Orion, Auriga, Taurus, Monoceros, Lepus, Canis Major, Columba, Canis Minor, Gemini, Eridanus).

20:50 Explore Orion together Find all the objects plotted on the “Orion” ConCard, sharing views through different telescopes/binoculars.

21:45 Break

22:00 Explore Gemini on your own, and have a go at the other constellations we explored earlier.

Approximate What we’ll do time 02:00 What’s Up – become familiar with the constellations around Crux (Crux, Carina, Musca, Circinus, Triangulum Australe, Centaurus, Puppis, Pyxis, Vela, Norma, Lupus, Ara, Scorpius).

02:15 Explore Crux and Carina together Find all the objects plotted on the “Crux” & “Carina” ConCards, sharing views through different telescopes/binoculars.

03:30 Explore Vela and Puppis on your own (and as many of the others as you can). Chart 1: Circumpolar region ( < –30° )

Finder charts

r h e a d r t n

I 4 F

8 1

9 ANTARES

h h

–30°

h 1 h

Sgr Sco

2 CrA

–45°

h 5 1

h Lup

Mic Tel Ara

–60° Nor

h 1 PsA Pav Gru Ind Cir

23 TrA

–75°

3 h Aps 1

Cen

d a e Oct

Hya

h r 0

C C

1 r h Mus

e a

Tuc d r Scl

t n

Phe Cha i 5

F Hyi Men 0

h 1

h Vol 11 Ret Dor Vel Ant

0 h 2 Car h Hor For 10

Pyx 0 Pic h 3 h Pup 9 0 Eri Cae

Col h 04 h 08

h 05 h 07 06h Finder Chart 2 CMa

SIRIUS

ConCards — Version 1.51 http://www.docdb.net 1 CANOPUS Phe –45° Hor Pic Vel Ant –30° docdb.net Scl Cae Col

Pup http://www.

FOMALHAUT For Pyx Aqr CMa –15° Eri Lep Sex Hya Cet

Mon 3

5 00° CMi Winter Triangle

Psc Ori

REGULUS +15° Ari Tau

– 09 h Gem Cnc Leo

–

h T ri

Per 1.51 Version

: 01 Peg

—

° Aur +30 And L yn +45° LMi

Chart 00h 01h 02h 03h 04h 05h 06h 07h 08h 09h 10h ConCards Ara, Arae Visibility: Mid-Mar to late Sep (Apr to mid-Sep) 17h15m, –56° Culmination: Aug 05 (21:00), Jun 21 (00:00), May 06 (03:00) Ara N 71 The Altar Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Sco

I 4651 6193

–50°

Tel Nor 6397 6208

–60°

Pav

TrA Aps

–70° 19h 18h 17h 16h

NGC 6193, C 82, A 70 16h41m24s –48°46ʹ09ʹʹ IC 4651 17h24m52s –49°56ʹ36ʹʹ NGC 6208 16h49m28s –53°43ʹ42ʹʹ NGC 6397, B 98, C 86, A 79 17h40m41s –53°40ʹ25ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 5 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Aur, Aurigae Visibility: Late Sep through early March 05h55m, +42° Culmination: Feb 14 (21:00), Jan 01 (00:00), Nov 16 (03:00) Auriga N 152 The Charioteer Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

+10° +20° +30° CMi +40° Lyn POLLUX Gem CASTOR

08h

+50° Ori

07h 2099

1960

1912 06h

CAPELLA

ALDEBARAN 05h

+60° Tau Cam

04h

PLEIADES Per 03h

ALGOL Ari

NGC 1912, M 38 05h28m43s +35°51ʹ18ʹʹ NGC 2099, M 37 05h52m19s +32°33ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 1960, M 36 05h36m12s +34°08ʹ24ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 6 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net CMa, Canis Majoris Visibility: Late Aug through May (best: Feb to Mar) 06h50m, –23° Culmination: Feb 28 (21:00), Jan 14 (00:00), Nov 30 (03:00) Canis Major N 147 The Big Dog Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Mon –10°

SIRIUS

MIRZAM

–20°

2287

2 1 Pup Lep 2362

–30°

Pup Col

07h30m 07h 06h30m NGC 2287, M 41, A 21 06h46m00s –20°46ʹ NGC 2362, C 64, A 22 07h18m36s –24°59ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 7 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net CMi, Canis Minoris Visibility: Late-Sep to May (best: Nov to late-April) 07h40m, +07° Culmination: Mar 12 (21:00), Jan 26 (00:00), Dec 11 (03:00) Canis Minor N 47 The Little Dog Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Hya

Cnc

08h

Mon PROCYON

07h30m η Do 26 GOMEISA

Gem

Mon

07h

00° +05° +10° eta CMi, HD 58923 07h28m02s +11°54ʹ00ʹʹ Dolidze 26 07h30m06s +11°54ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 8 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Car, Carinae Visibility: Year-round; best from late Nov to early May 08h55m, –61° Culmination: Apr 01 (21:00), Feb 15 (00:00), Dec 31 (03:00) Carina N 225 The Keel of the ship Argo Origin: Ancient Greek; La Caille (1752)

Dor CANOPUS

Pup –60° LMC Pic

05h Men

06h 2516 Vol 07h

–50° h False Cross 08 –70° –80° 09h 2867 2808 Cha 10h Diamond Cross

11h 2867 3114 12h I 2581 I 2602 5° 3293 3324 3372 Mus 13h Vel 3532 Cen

NGC 2516, C 96, A 28 07h58m06s –60°45ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 3293, A 41 10h35m49s –58°13ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2808, B 41, A 32 09h12m03s –64°51ʹ46ʹʹ NGC 3324, A 42 10h37m19s –58°39ʹ36ʹʹ NGC 2867, C 90 09h21m25s –58°18ʹ41ʹʹ IC 2602, C 102, A 43 10h43m12s –64°24ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 3114, A 35 10h02m00s –60°06ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 3372, eta Car neb, A 44 10h44m19s –59°53ʹ21ʹʹ IC 2581, A 40 10h27m30s –57°38ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 3532, C 91, A 45 11h05m33s –58°43ʹ48ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 9 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Cen, Centauri Visibility: Year-round; best early February to mid-July 13h00m, –44° Culmination: Jun 01 (21:00), Apr 17 (00:00), Mar 03 (03:00) Centaurus N 281 The Centaur Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Hya Vel 10h

Crv Car

11h 3918 3766

12h Mus 4945 Cru

5128 13h Hya 5139

5286 5281 14h 5460 POINTERS Cir 5662 15h Lup –60° TrA –45° 16h

–30° Nor

NGC 3766, C 97, A 46 11h36m13s – 61°36ʹ55ʹʹ NGC 5286, B 64, C 84 13h46m27s – 51°22ʹ25ʹʹ NGC 3918, A 47 11h50m18s – 57°10ʹ57ʹʹ NGC 5281, A 59 13h46m30s – 62°54ʹ54ʹʹ NGC 4945, B 57, C 83, A 54 13h05m26s – 49°28ʹ15ʹʹ NGC 5460, A 60 14h07m24s – 48°20ʹ NGC 5128, B 60, C 77, A 55 13h25m28s – 43°01ʹ09ʹʹ alpha & Proxima Centauri NGC 5139, omega Cen 13h26m46s – 47°28ʹ37ʹʹ NGC 5662, A 61 14h35m36s – 56°37ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 10 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Cir, Circini Visibility: Year-round; mid-February to late July 14h55m, –63° Culmination: Jul 01 (21:00), May 18 (00:00), Apr 02 (03:00) Circinus N 39 The Compass Origin: La Caille (1752)

16h 15h –55°

Nor Lup 5823

–60°

–65°

POINTERS 14h TrA Cen

–70°

Mus Aps

NGC 5823, C 88, A 63 15h05m45s –55°37ʹ30ʹʹ gamma Cir, HD 136415 15h23m23s –59°19ʹ15ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 11 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Col, Columbae Visibility: Late July to late May (mid-Oct to mid-Mar) 05h50m, –36° Culmination: Feb 12 (21:00), Dec 30 (00:00), Nov 14 (03:00) Columba N 68 The Dove Origin: Petrus Plancius (1592)

05h 06h 07h Car CANOPUS

–50°

Pic Pup

–40° 1851

Cae

–30°

CMa

Lep

–20°

SIRIUS NGC 1851, B 32, C 73, A 15 05h14m07s –40°02ʹ50ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 12 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Cru, Crucis Visibility: Year-round; best early February to mid-June 12h30m, –59° Culmination: May 26 (21:00), Apr 11 (00:00), Feb 24 (03:00) Crux N 49 The Southern Cross Origin: Petrus Plancius (1589)

Cen

–55°

Cen

MIMOSA –60° 4755

4103 4349 Cen 4609 ACRUX 4052

–65° Coal Sack

Mus 13h 12h NGC 4052 12h01m12s –63°13ʹ Coal Sack, C 99, A 51 12h31m19s –63°44ʹ36ʹʹ NGC 4103 12h06m43s –61°15ʹ21ʹʹ NGC 4609, C 98 12h42m18s –62°59ʹ NGC 4349 12h24m12s –61°52ʹ NGC 4755, Jewel Box, C 94 12h53m42s –60°22ʹ alpha Crucis, SAO 251904 12h26m36s –63°05ʹ57ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 13 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Eri, Eridani Visibility: Mid-July to late April (Oct to early Feb) 04h00m, –22° Culmination: Jan 16 (21:00), Dec 02 (00:00), Oct 17 (03:00) Eridanus N 194 The River Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

00° Cet Ori

RIGEL

2 –10° omicron

1535

–20° 4 1332 1232 Cet Lep

2 –30°

4 For

Col Cae –40° 1 1291

Phe Pic

–50° Hor

Dor Ret

06h 05h 04h 03h 02h 01h ACHERNAR

NGC 1232, B 10a 03h09m45s –20°34ʹ45ʹʹ NGC 1535, B 22, A 14 04h14m16s –12°44ʹ22ʹʹ NGC 1291, B 12, A 11 03h17m19s –41°06ʹ29ʹʹ omicron-2 Eri, HD 26965 04h15m16s –07°39ʹ10ʹʹ NGC 1332 03h26m17s –21°20ʹ04ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 14 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Gem, Geminorum Visibility: Early October to late April 06h50m, +23° Culmination: Feb 28 (21:00), Jan 14 (00:00), Nov 30 (03:00) Gemini N 119 The Twins Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

+30° +20° +10° BELLATRIX

ELNATH

Ori Tau BETELGEUSE 2129

06h 2158 2168

Aur

Mon

07h

2395 CASTOR 2392

POLLUX PROCYON

h 08 CMi

Cnc

NGC 2129 06h01m06s +23°19ʹ24ʹʹ NGC 2395 07h27m06s +13°35ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2158 06h07m25s +24°05ʹ48ʹʹ NGC 2392, Eskimo, C 39 07h29m11s +20°54ʹ42ʹʹ NGC 2168, M 35 06h09m06s +24°21ʹ00ʹʹ alpha Gem, Castor 07h34m36s +31°53ʹ19ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 15 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Lep, Leporis Visibility: Early August to mid-May (late Oct to late Feb) 05h35m, –20° Culmination: Feb 08 (21:00), Dec 26 (00:00), Nov 10 (03:00) Lepus N 73 The Hare Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

SIRIUS Mon

CMa

06h

SAIPH

2017 Ori

1904

RIGEL

05h R Lep

Eri –20° –10° R Lep, HD 31996 04h59m36s –14°48ʹ23ʹʹ NGC 2017 05h39m17s –17°50ʹ48ʹʹ NGC 1904, M 79, B 34, A 17 05h24m11s –24°31ʹ27ʹʹ gamma Lep, HD 38393 05h44m28s –22°26ʹ54ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 16 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Lup, Lupi Visibility: Late Nov through Oct (early March to late July) 15h15m, –44° Culmination: Jul 06 (21:00), May 22 (00:00), Apr 06 (03:00) Lupus N 127 The Wolf Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

17h 16h –30° ANTARES

15h Lib Sco

B 228 –40°

5986

Nor –50° Cen

5882 14h 5927

5822

–60°

Cen Cir

13h TrA POINTERS

NGC 5822, A 62 15h04m24s –54°24ʹ NGC 5927, B 69 15h28m01s –50°40ʹ22ʹʹ NGC 5882 15h16m50s –45°38ʹ58ʹʹ Barnard 228, A 64 15h44m –34°30ʹ mu Lup, HD 135734 15h18m32s –47°52ʹ30ʹʹ NGC 5986, B 70 15h46m03s –37°47ʹ10ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 17 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Mon, Monocerotis Visibility: September to late May (Nov to mid-Mar) 06h50m, –03° Culmination: Feb 28 (21:00), Jan 14 (00:00), Nov 29 (03:00) Monoceros N 138 The Unicorn Origin: Petrus Plancius (1592)

–10° 00° +10° Cnc

08h

Pup

PROCYON

CMi

2323 07h

Gem CMa 2301 2264 2261

2237/9

Lep Ori

06h

BETELGEUSE NGC 2237, Rose�e, C 49 06h30m55s +05°02ʹ57ʹʹ NGC 2264, Christmas Tree 06h41m00s +09°53ʹ00ʹʹ NCG 2239/2244, C 50 06h31m56s +04°56ʹ35ʹʹ NGC 2301, Great Bird Cl. 06h51m48s +00°28ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2261, C 46 06h39m10s +08°44ʹ11ʹʹ NGC 2323, M 50 07h02m48s –08°22ʹ36ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 18 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Mus, Muscae Visibility: Year-round; best January to mid-June 12h30m, –71° Culmination: May 25 (21:00), Apr 10 (00:00), Feb 23 (03:00) Musca N 62 The Fly Origin: Keyser & de Houtman (1597)

–65° –70°

Car

–75° Cen Car 11h

12h Dark Python Cru 4372 4463 Cha

13h

4833

14h

Cen 5189

Aps Cir

NGC 4372, C 108, B 50 12h25m45s –72°39ʹ33ʹʹ NGC 4833, C 105, A 53 12h59m35s –70°52ʹ29ʹʹ Dark Python, A 49 12h27m31s –71°25ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 5189, B 62, A 57 13h33m33s –65°58ʹ27ʹʹ NGC 4463 12h30m00s –64°47ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 19 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Nor, Normae Visibility: Year-round; best mid-March to mid-August 16h00m, –51° Culmination: Jul 18 (21:00), Jun 03 (00:00), Apr 19 (03:00) Norma N 44 The Carpenter’s Level & Square Origin: La Caille (1752)

15h 16h 17h

ALPHA CENTAURI TrA –60°

Cir 6087

–55° Ara H 10 6067

6152

–50°

Lup

–45° Sco

NGC 6067, C 89, A 66 16h13m12s –54°13ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6152 16h32m42s –52°38ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6087, A 67 16h18m48s –57°56ʹ00ʹʹ Harvard 10 16h18m48s –54°56ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 20 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Oct, Octantis Visibility: Year-round; best mid-June to late November 22h05m, –74° Culmination: Oct 18 (21:00), Sep 03 (00:00), Jul 19 (03:00) Octans N 60 The Octant Origin: La Caille (1752)

22h 20h –70°

Ind Pav

00h

Tuc Mel 227 18h

47 Tuc

SMC –80°

16h 02h

Hyi Aps

SOUTH 14h CELESTIAL POLE Men

h 04 12h

Cha

SCP

LMC

06h 08h 10h Melo�e 227, A 97 20h12m06s –79°19ʹ sigma Oct, Polaris Australis 21 h08m46s –88°57ʹ23ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 21 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Ori, Orionis V isibility: Mid-August to late April (mid-Oct to mid-Mar) 05h35m, +03° Culmination: Feb 09 (21:00), Dec 26 (00:00), Nov 11 (03:00) Orion N 204 Orion the Hunter / Giant Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

05h 06h

–10° RIGEL Eri Mon 1976 1982 1977

B33 2024

00° 2068

3 BELLATRIX

BETELGEUSE

+10°

2169

ALDEBARAN

+20° Tau Gem

NGC 1977, A 19 05h35m15s –04°53ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 2024, Flame Nebula 05h41m43s –01°50ʹ30ʹʹ NGC 1976, Orion Neb, M 42 05h35m17s –05°23ʹ28ʹʹ NGC 2068, M 78 05h46m45s +00°03ʹ43ʹʹ NGC 1982, M 43 05h35m31s –05°16ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 2169, “37” Cluster 06h08m33s +13°57ʹ57ʹʹ B 33, Horse Head Nebula 05h40m59s –02°27ʹ30ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 22 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Pup, Puppis Visibility: Mid-August to late June (Nov to mid-Apr) 07h45m, –38° Culmination: Mar 14 (21:00), Jan 28 (00:00), Dec 13 (03:00) Puppis N 237 The Stern of the ship Argo Origin: Ancient Greek; La Caille (1752)

Hya Mon 2539 2422 2437/8 –20°

2447 SIRIUS CMa

–30°

Pyx

Vel 2451 –40° 2546 2477

2298

Southern Right Angle Col

–50°

Car False Cross Pic

09h 08h 07h CANOPUS 06h

NGC 2298, B 37 06h48m59s –36°00ʹ19ʹʹ NGC 2451, A 25 07h45m24s –37°58ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2422, M 47, A 23 07h36m35s –14°28ʹ57ʹʹ NGC 2477, C 71, A 27 07h52m06s –38°32ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2437, M 46, A 24 07h41m42s –14°49ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2539 08h10m42s –12°50ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2438 07h41m51s –14°43ʹ55ʹʹ NGC 2546 08h11m54s –37°37ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2447, M 93, A 26 07h44m30s –23°51ʹ12ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 23 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Pyx, Pyxidis Visibility: Late September to early July (mid-Dec to late Apr) 08h50m, –29° Culmination: Mar 31 (21:00), Feb 14 (00:00), Dec 30 (03:00) Pyxis N 41 The Mariner’s Compass Origin: La Caille (1752)

h Pup 08

Southern Right Angle

Hya Vel

2818A

2818 –45°

09h30m

Ant

Hya

11h

–15° Cen –30° NGC 2818A, A 33 09h16m02s –36°37ʹ39ʹʹ NGC 2818, A 33 09h16m10s –36°37ʹ06ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 24 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Sco, Scorpii Visibility: Late Jan to late Nov (mid-April to late-August) 16h40m, –33° Culmination: Jul 27 (21:00), Jun 12 (00:00), Apr 27 (03:00) Scorpius N 167 The Scorpion Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Ara CrA –40°

–50°

–30°

6475 SHAULA Sgr

h 6231 6281 6405 18 6302 –20° Nor 6153 6124

17h

ANTARES Ser Lup 16h

6121

–10° 6093 Oph –30° Lib

15h –20°

nu Scorpii, HD 145502 16h 12m 00s– 19°27ʹ38ʹʹ mu Scorpii, HD 151890 16h 51m 52s– 38°02ʹ51ʹʹ NGC 6093, M 80, B 73 16h 17m 03s– 22°58ʹ30ʹʹ NGC 6231, C 76, A 72 16h 54m 09s– 41°49ʹ36ʹʹ NGC 6121, M 4, B 75, A 68 16h 23m 35s– 26°31ʹ32ʹʹ NGC 6281, A 76 17h 04m 42s– 37°59ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6124, C 75, A 69 16h 25m 18s– 40°39ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6302, Bug Neb., C 69 17h 13m 44s– 37°06ʹ16ʹʹ alpha Sco, Antares 16h 29m 24s– 26°25ʹ55ʹʹ NGC 6405, M 6, A 78 17h 40m 18s– 32°12ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6153 16h 31m 31s– 40°15ʹ14ʹʹ NGC 6475, M 7, A 80 17h 53m 48s– 34°47ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 25 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Tau, Tauri Visibility: Early Aug to Mar (late-Sep to mid-Feb) 04h15m, +15° Culmination: Jan 19 (21:00), Dec 06 (00:00), Oct 21 (03:00) Taurus N 223 The Bull Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

03h Cet Ari

Pleiades Eri

04h

1514 Hyades Per

ALDEBARAN

1647

05h 1746 1807 Ori

00°

Aur 1952

+30° 06h

BETELGEUSE Ori 1514

Gem

+30° +20° +10° 5° Pleiades, M 45 03h47m29s +24°06ʹ18ʹʹ NGC 1746 05h03m50s +23°46ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 1514 04h09m17s +30°46ʹ33ʹʹ NGC 1807 05h10m47s +16°31ʹ00ʹʹ Hyades, C 41 04h26m54s +15°52ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 1952, Crab Neb., M 1 05h34m32s +22°00ʹ52ʹʹ NGC 1647 04h45m54s +19°07ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 26 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Trianguli Australis Visibility: Year-round; best mid-March through August Triangulum Australe 15h55m, –66° Culmination: Jul 17 (21:00), Jun 02 (00:00), Apr 17 (03:00) N 35 The Southern Triangle, TrA Origin: Keyser & de Houtman (1597)

Ara

18h

17h Nor 6025

Aps

16h

Cir 15h

h 14 Cen

13h –70° –60° NGC 6025, C 95, A 65 16h03m18s –60°26ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 27 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Vel, Velorum Visibility: September to July (December to late April) 09h25m, –49° Culmination: Apr 08 (21:00), Feb 22 (00:00), Jan 07 (03:00) Vela N 214 The Sails of the ship Argo Origin: Ancient Greek; La Caille (1752)

08h –50°

Pup –60° –40° 2547 Car 2626

Pyx I 2395 I 2391 False Cross

09h

I 2488

10h 3132 3228 3201 Ant

Cen

11h gamma Vel, SAO 219504 08h09m32s –47°20ʹ12ʹʹ IC 2488, A 34 09h27m36s –57°00ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 2547, A 29 08h10m26s –49°10ʹ03ʹʹ NGC 3132, C 74, A 37 10h07m02s –40°26ʹ11ʹʹ NGC 2626 08h35m32s –40°40ʹ18ʹʹ NGC 3201, B 44, C 79 10h17m37s –46°24ʹ40ʹʹ IC 2391, C 85, A 31 08h40m36s –53°02ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 3228 10h21m24s –51°44ʹ00ʹʹ IC 2395 08h42m37s –48°06ʹ48ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 28 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Galactic centre: RA 17h 46m, Dec – 29° 00′ The Milky Way Galactic anticentre: RA 05h 46m, Dec + 29° 00′

– 60° – 30° 0° + 30° + 60° The outline of the Milky Way is shown in the 06h 06h accompanying diagram, at three brightness ORION Capella contours. The faintest (outer) contour shows Aldebaran the Milky Way as it may appear at a true-dark Pleiades site to a perfectly dark- adapted observer. The innermost contour shows the brightest por�ons of the Milky Achernar Way. These are the Great Sagi�arius Star PEGASUS Cloud [18h, – 30°], the 00h 00h Scutum Star Cloud [18h45m, – 07°], the Norma Star Cloud Fomalhaut [16h15m, – 54°], and the region around eta Alnair Carinae [10h45m, – 60°]. An intermediate contour level shows Deneb the next-brightest Altair regions, mostly surrounding the star clouds just men�oned, with no�ceable zones Vega in Cygnus, Aquila, 18h 18h Ophiuchuis and Centaurus. The most indis�nct Antares por�on of the Milky Way is around the An�- centre, 180° away from Sagi�arius, along the Taurus-Auriga border. No�ceable dark patches Arcturus include the Coal Sack near Crux and the Pipe Spica Nebula in Ophiuchus [17h30m, – 26°]. Extensive dark regions h CRUX h 12 12 include the Great Ri� (stretching from Sagi�arius past Altair Dubhe towards Deneb) and the Great Llama (from Regulus epsilon Scorpii towards the Coal Sack, with alpha and beta Centauri seen as the Eyes of Pollux the Llama). The Great Procyon Llama is known as the Castor Dark Emu to certain – 60° – 30° 0° + 30° + 60° Aboriginal peoples.

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 29 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Visibility: Late August through May (Best: Feb-Mar) Sirius A & B Culmination: Feb 28 (21:00), Jan14 (00:00), Nov 30 (03:00) α CMa, Canicula, Dog Star, Aschere 06h 45m 09s, –16° 42.9'

2046 S W Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky and 2048

one of the nearest stars to the Sun, has a 2000

faint (8.3-mag.) companion, Sirius B, a white 2042 Sirius A 2002 dwarf roughly the size of the Earth but with the mass of the Sun. Although it is often said 2040 2006 to be very difficult to see, it can be spotted N with a modest (10-cm) telescope. Look for 0 1 2 3 2010 Sirius B east of Sirius A using moderate to arcseconds high magnification. Observing during twilight 2037 2012 E reduces the glare of Sirius A, significantly 2015 2030 increasing your chances of seeing the 2020 companion. 2025 Sirius A is a white class A (A1) hydrogen-fusing dwarf with a temperature of 9880 Kelvin. It is bright in part because it is indeed rather luminous, 26 times more so than the Sun, but mostly because it is nearby, a mere 8.6 light years away, just double that of the closest star to the Earth (Alpha Centauri) and the fifth closest star system. With a radius of 1.75 solar and a minimum equatorial rotation speed of 16 kilometers per second, Sirius rotates in under 5.5 days. Sirius B is visually nearly 10,000 times fainter than the bright star, Sirius A. Sirius B, however, is actually the hotter of the two, a blue-white 24,800 Kelvin. The only way the companion star can be both hot and dim is to be small, only 0.92 the size of Earth, the total luminosity (including its ultraviolet light) just 2.4 percent that of the Sun. The two orbit each other with a 50.1 year period at an average distance of 19.8 AU, about Uranus’s distance from the Sun, a large orbital eccentricity carrying them from 31.5 AU apart to 8.1 AU and back again. They were closest in 1994 and will be again in 2044, while they will be farthest apart in 2019. From the orbit (and spectroscopic data), we find that Sirius A and B have respective masses of 2.12 and 1.03 times that of the Sun. Sirius B’s high mass and tiny radius leads to an amazing average density of 1.7 metric tons per cubic centimeter, roughly a sugar cube. White dwarfs are the end products of ordinary stars like the Sun, tiny remnants that were once nuclear-fusing cores that have run out of fuel. Most are balls of carbon and oxygen whose fates are merely to cool forever. To have evolved first, Sirius B must once have been more massive and luminous than Sirius A. That its mass is now lower is proof that stars lose considerable mass as they die. Given the mass of the white dwarf and the 250 million year age of the system, Sirius B may once have been a hot class B3-B5 star that could have contained as much as 5 to 7 solar masses, the star perhaps losing over 80 percent of itself back into interstellar space through earlier winds.

— References: ASSA Sky Guide 2015 & Jim Kaler’s STARS

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 30 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Visibility: Late August to late-April Horse Head Nebula Culmination: Feb 06 (21:00), Dec 26 (00:00), Nov 08 (03:00) Barnard 33 05h 40m 59s, –02° 27.5'

05h42m 05h40m

NGC 2024

Alnitak –2°

NGC 2023

IC 435

Horse Head

–2° 30'

IC 434

B 33, Horse Head Nebula 05h40m59s –02°27ʹ30ʹʹ NGC 2024, Flame Nebula 05h41m43s –01°50ʹ30ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.51 [ 31 ] © 2011–2015 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Visibility: Year-round; best mid-Feb to early Aug Proxima Centauri Culmination: Jun 29 (21:00), May 12 (00:00), Mar 25 (03:00) V645 Cen, TYC 9010-04949-1, LDS 494 14h 29m 43s, –62° 40' 46" V=11.5, B–V=+1.97 spectral type M6Ve V

56 17 Pi 19 –61°

Tr 22

Hogg 17 Lynga 2

–62°

½°

–63° 14h40m 14h30m

The general loca�on of Proxima Centauri is shown in N the diagram below, in which the rectangle corresponds to the chart above, and the circle to the detailed ½° ﬁeld-of-view to the right.

½° ﬁeld of view limi�ng magnitude V=13.5

These guidelines will help you to get the most out of your observing sessions by providing a checklist of things to look out for when you examine a deep-sky object. The checklist is not meant as a rigid thought-constraining framework, but rather as a tool to make sure you don’t forget to note a par�cular aspect.

Nebulae * What are your first impressions? * How easy is it to see? (visibility; brightness; magnitude) * What shape is the nebula? * How big is the nebula? * How does the brightness change from edge to centre? (brightness profile) * Is there a nuclear region? * Are the edges sharp or diffuse? * Are there darker parts or areas of uneven brightness? * How well does the nebula stand out from the background field? * What colour is the nebula? * Are there stars very near, or within, the nebula? * How does it relate to the surrounding star field? * Rate your confidence in this observa�on.

Star clusters * What are your first impressions? * How easy is it to see? (visibility; brightness; magnitude) * What shape is the cluster? * How big is the cluster? * Are individual stars seen? (unresolved ... granular ... par�ally resolved ... well resolved, etc.) * Are the stars concentrated towards the centre? (not at all ... slightly ... strongly, etc.) * How does the brightness change from edge to centre? (brightness profile) * How many stars can you see? (make an es�mate; count the number within a specified diameter) * What is the range of their brightness? (nearly the same ... mixed; es�mate magnitudes) * Is there an obvious central or other prominent star? * Do any of the stars have a par�cular colour? * Are any of the stars double? * Are there chains, rows, or clumps of stars? * Are there prominent empty spaces or starless patches? * Is there a background glow (unresolved stars/nebulosity)? * How does the cluster relate to the surrounding star field? * Rate your confidence in this observa�on.

Acknowledgements A long list of folk responded with insights and helpful sugges�ons to an earlier version of the list that I circulated. Thanks for sharing your exper�se. In order of the number of characters in their name, they are: Steve Coe, David Levy, Dave Kratz, Lew Gramer, Dennis Webb, Bert Dekker, Brian Skiﬀ, Tom Polakis, Doug Snyder, Marilyn Head, Tom Lorenzin, Owen Brazell, Alan McRobert, Murray Cragin, John Callender, Steve Go�lieb, Brent Archinal, Darren Bushnall, Phil Harrington, and Malcolm Thomson.

Sky condi�ons Date & �me

Observa�on quality Loca�on

Descrip�on

blue blue white yellow light deep light deep orange red white white yellow yellow orange orange red