Constellation Exploration 2016 Spring Southern Star Party, Bonnievale, South Africa

Home , Messier 43, NGC 1514, NGC 2023, NGC 2029, NGC 2032, NGC 6541

Hello! And thanks for taking part in the ConEx activity at this SSP! We’re a large group with over a dozen telescopes between us, so we’ll all be setting up ConExers in a designated part of the Telescope Area. Johan Brink Eddy Nijeboer Please have your kit – telescope, binocs, Chris de Coning Jannie Nijeboer chairs, tables, star charts, notebook, pencil/pen, Pierre de Villiers Laura Norris dim red torch, chocolate, etc. – set up on Friday Andre de Villiers Marius Reitz before the start of twilight. Pamela Cooper James Smith Our group activity will start on Friday evening Peter Harvey Lena Smith at 20:30, after the What’s Up Tonight. After the Paul Kruger Wendy Vermeulen first session, we’ll take a break. Then, at around 01:00 on Saturday morning, we’ll do the second. We’ll be exploring 17 constellations: Andromeda, Aquarius, Aquila, Cetus, Corona Australis, Fornax, Pavo, Pegasus, Pisces, Sculptor, Scutum, Triangulum & Vulpecula during the first session, and Canis Major, Orion, Perseus & Taurus during the second session. In total, we’ll observe 46 objects, mostly deep-sky but also a star and planet or two. Please bring along your favourite star atlas, and if you have a favourite observing form, bring those too. Just in case, I have included in this document the pages from the ConCards that we will be using, as well as an example of an observing form. Instead of a pre-printed form, though, consider using a plain notebook to record your observing notes. As long as you remember to include all the relevant details with each observation (date, time, object name, telescope/binoc details, sky conditions, descriptive narrative and a rough sketch) you’re good to go. I find that an A5-sized hard cover book is the most convenient. Do take a look at the list of objects overleaf, and then have a go at finding them on the ConCards. Also have a go at identifying the constellations on the included finder charts before we gather under the stars; you could then help others on the evening locate them. See you on Friday!

Here’s another bit of prep you can do if you’re using a telescope: compile a handy table of eyepieces (and eyepiece/Barlow combinations) you have, noting the magnification and the angular size of the field of view. The magnification of an eyepiece is easy to determine: simply divide the focal length of your telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece. The size of each field of view is easiest to do using a star chart: find two stars that just fit in across your field of view, and then determine the separation between these two stars using software such as Cartes du Ciel, Stellarium, etc. If you need help with this step, I’ll give you a hand at the SSP. If you are using binoculars, use the same procedure as for measuring eyepieces: find two stars that snuggly fit in, and determine their separation. The table below summarizes these stats for my telescope.

EXAMPLE: Eyepiece stats for my telescope (Brian, 6-inch refractor, f/6, fl = 900-mm) Eyepiece/Barlow magn. fov Eyepiece/Barlow magn. fov 32mm Erfle (2”) 28× 149 ′ 19mm Panoptic+Barlow 118× 33.6′ 19mm Panoptic 47× 84 ′ 18mm Ortho+Barlow 125× 20.0′ 18mm Ortho 50× 51 ′ 6mm Ortho 150× 17.0′ 32mm Plossl+Barlow 70× 44 ′ 11mm Nagler+Barlow 205× 22.8′ 11mm Nagler Type6 82× 57 ′ 6mm Ortho+Barlow 375× 7.0′ Constellation Exploration — 2016 Spring Southern Star Party, Bonnievale, South Africa

First session n Con Object 1 — Milky Way 2 Cygnus Albireo (colourful double) 3 Scutum NGC 6705 (Wild Duck, Messier 11) - open cluster 4 Vulpecula Cr 399 (Brocchi’s Cluster) - open cluster 5 Vulpecula NGC 6853 (Dumb-bell, Apple Core, Messier 27) - planetary nebula 6 Aquila Barnard 142 / Barnard 143 - dark nebulae 7 Aquila Barnard 133 - dark nebula 8 Aquila NGC 6781 - planetary nebula 9 CrA NGC 6541 (Ben 104, C 78) - globular cluster 10 CrA Be 157/SL 42 - dark & reflection nebula complex 11 Aquarius NGC 7293 (Helix Nebula, Sunflower Nebula) - planetary nebula 12 Aquarius NGC 7009 (Saturn Nebula, Ben 126, C 55) - planetary nebula 13 Aquarius Neptune 14 Pegasus NGC 7078 (Messier 15) - globular cluster 15 Pegasus NGC 7331 - spiral galaxy 16 Andromeda NGC 224 (Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31) - galaxy 17 Andromeda NGC 7662 (Copeland’s Blue Snowball) - planetary nebula 18 Andromeda NGC 752 (C 28) - open cluster 19 Triangulum NGC 598 (Triangulum Spiral, Messier 33) - galaxy 20 Pisces NGC 628 (Messier 74) - galaxy 21 Pisces Uranus 22 Cetus Mira (V=2.0-10.1; pulsating variable star) 23 Cetus NGC 1068 (Ben 9, Messier 77, Cetus A) - Seyfert galaxy 24 Cetus NGC 247 (Black-Bottomed Galaxy, Ben 3, C 62) - LSB galaxy 25 Cetus NGC 246 - planetary nebula 26 Pavo NGC 6752 (Starfish, Cartwheel, Ben 121, C 93) - globular cluster 27 Pavo NGC 6744 (Furious Dancer, Ben 120, C 101) - galaxy 28 Fornax NGC 1316 (Fornax A, Ben 14) - galaxy 29 Fornax NGC 1365 (Fornax Propeller, Ben 16) - Seyfert galaxy (barred spiral) 30 Sculptor NGC 288 - globular cluster 31 Sculptor NGC 55 (String of Pearls, Ben 1, C 72) - galaxy 32 Sculptor NGC 253 (Caroline’s Galaxy, Silver Coin, Sculptor Fila- ment) - Seyfert galaxy — Coffee break! Constellation Exploration — 2016 Spring Southern Star Party, Bonnievale, South Africa

Second session n Con Object 33 — Milky Way 34 Perseus Algol (beta Per, Demon Star) - variable star, eclipsing binary (V=2.1–3.4) 35 Taurus NGC 1039 (Spiral Cluster, Messier 34) - open cluster 36 Taurus Pleiades (Seven Sisters, Messier 45) - open cluster 37 Taurus Hyades (Melotte 25, Collinder 50) - open cluster 38 Taurus NGC 1647 - open cluster 39 Taurus NGC 1952 (Crab Nebula, Messier 1) - planetary nebula 40 Canis Major NGC 2287 (Messier 41) - open cluster 41 Canis Major NGC 2362 (tau CMa Cluster, Mexican Jumping Star) - open cluster 42 Orion NGC 1976 (Orion Nebula, Messier 42, Orion A) - bright nebula (H II region) 43 Orion NGC 1982 (de Mairan’s Nebula, Messier 43) - bright nebula (H II region) 44 Orion NGC 2068 (Messier 78) - reﬂection nebula 45 Orion NGC 2169 (37 Cluster, LE Cluster) - open cluster 46 Orion NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula) - bright and dark nebulae 47 Orion Barnard 33 (Horse Head Nebula) - dark nebula

Crib notes: Things to keep in mind when writing your description of an object. A more detailed version of this checklist is given in the ConCards.

Star clusters Nebulae * What are your first impressions? * What are your first impressions? * How easy is it to see? * How easy is it to see? * What shape is the cluster? * What shape is the nebula? * How big is the cluster? * How big is the nebula? * Are individual stars seen? * How does the brightness change from * Are the stars concentrated towards the edge to centre? (brightness profile) centre? * Is there a nuclear region? * How does the brightness change from * Are the edges sharp or diffuse? edge to centre? (brightness profile) * Are there darker parts or areas of uneven * How many stars can you see? brightness? * What is the range of their brightness? * How well does the nebula stand out from * Is there an obvious central or other the background field? prominent star? * What colour is the nebula? * Do any of the stars have a particular * Are there stars very near, or within, the colour? nebula? * Are any of the stars double? * How does it relate to the surrounding star * Are there chains, rows, or clumps of field? stars? * Rate your confidence in this observation. * Are there prominent empty spaces or starless patches? Rough sketch * Is there a background glow? * Made a crude drawing if that will help to * How does the cluster relate to the make your description clearer. surrounding star field? * Remember to include compass directions: * Rate your confidence in this observation. stars drift out your field to the west. 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

Pup http://www.

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

Mon 3

5 00° CMi

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

Chart 3: 07h – 11h – 15h

Lep

Tau

+ –15° Ori 2

00 15 Col

+ –30°

° ° 30

° BETELGEUSE CM Aur Mon 0 Gem 6 a h CMi 0 7 h Pup Cnc 0 8 Lyn h Pyx

Hya

9 h

+ –45°

45° Ant 10 Sex LMi h Car Leo 11 h UMa

Crt 1 12 h Cen Crv CVn 13 Com h Hya 14 Vir h 15 h Boo Lup 16 CrB Lib

h Sco

Ser Her

ANTARES 4

Hya FOMALHAUT

http://www. Lup Crt Sco Sgr Cap –15° Lib Crv Ser Sct Aql Vir Oph Aqr 5

3 00° Ser

Equ Boo Del h

1 +15° Sge 2 Her – h Peg

17 Com Vul

– h CrB

13 Leo

Version 1.51 Version : 4 CVn — ° Cyg +30 L yr LMi +45°

ConCards Chart Chart 12h 13h 14h 15h 16h 17h 18h 19h 20h 21h 22h

Chart 5: 19h – 23h – 03h +

4 –15°

15 00 Ser –30°

° °

30 Sco

Oph

Her Sct 18 h

Sge

Aql

CrA

Lyr Sgr 19

Vul Del 20

h Cap

Equ

Mic Cyg 21 h

+ –45°

45°

22 Peg PsA h

Gru

Aqr Lac 23 h 00

And

Scl Phe 01

h Psc 02

Cet

Tri For 03

Ari Per 04

Eri

Tau 2

ConCards — Version 1.5153 [ 9 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net And, Andromedae V isibility: July to early January 00h40m,+39° Culmination: Nov 27 (21:00), Oct 13 (00:00), Aug 28 (03:00) Andromeda N 152 The Chained Maiden Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

02h30m Ari Per

Tri 752

Psc

01h

221 224

Cas

Peg 7662

23h30m

Lac

+30° +45°

NGC 7662, C 22 23h25m54s +42°32ʹ06ʹʹ NGC 221, M 32 00h42m42s +40°51ʹ57ʹʹ NGC 224, M 31 00h42m44s +41°16ʹ09ʹʹ NGC 752, C 28 01h57m35s +37°50ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 10 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Aqr, Aquarii Visibility: May to late Jan (best: late Jun to late Nov) 22h40m, –11° Culmination: Oct 27 (21:00), Sep 12 (00:00), Jul 28 (03:00) Aquarius N 172 The Water Bearer Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Phe

DIPHDA Cet Scl –43°

Gru

FOMALHAUT

00h PsA Psc 7293

Cap

SADALMELIK Peg –20.5° 7009 6981 7089

+24°

Equ

Aql Del Vul +02° 21h

NGC 6981, M 72, Ben 125 20h53m28s –12°32ʹ13ʹʹ NGC 7293, Helix,C 63, A 100 22h29m39s –20°50ʹ14ʹʹ NGC 7009, Saturn, C 55 21h04m11s –11°21ʹ48ʹʹ NGC 7089, M 2, A 98 01h33m27s –00°49ʹ24ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 13 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Aql, Aquilae Visibility: Late Mar to Nov (mid-May to Sep) 19h40m, +03° Culmination: Sep 11 (21:00), Jul 29 (00:00), Jun 13 (03:00) Aquila N 124 The Eagle Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

+20° Sge Del Her

B142-3 6738 +10° 6709

6781 Ser

00°

B133 Sct –10° Aqr Cap

Sgr 20h30m 20h 19h30m 19h

NGC 6709 18h51m18s + 10°19ʹ NGC 6781 19h18m28s + 06°32ʹ19ʹʹ NGC 6738 19h01m18s + 11°37ʹ Barnard 142 19h39m41s + 10°31ʹ Barnard 133 19h06m10s – 06°54ʹ Barnard 143 19h40m42s + 10°57ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 14 ] © 2011–2016 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 1.53 [ 22 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Cet, Ceti Visibility: Late May to Feb (best: early Aug to late Dec) 01h45m, –07° Culmination: Dec 12 (21:00), Oct 29 (00:00), Sep 13 (03:00) Cetus N 189 The Sea Monster Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

–15° –30°

01h Aqr

DIPHDA 00h 247 Scl 246 +00° 02h

For

03h Psc

MIRA +15°

Eri 1068

SHARATAN MENKAR

04h HAMAL

Ari Tau

NGC 246, C 56, A 4 0 0h47m03s –11°52ʹ19ʹʹ NGC 1068, M 77, B 9, A 9 02h42m41s –00°00ʹ48ʹʹ NGC 247, B 3, C 62, A 3 0 0h47m09s –20°45ʹ38ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 27 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Coronae Australis Visibility: Early Feb to mid-Dec (early May to mid-Sep) Corona Australis 18h40m, –41° Culmination: Aug 27 (21:00), Jul 13 (00:00), May 28 (03:00) N 46 The Southern Crown (CrA) Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

SL 42

Be 157 6726

19h

Sgr Tel

Ara 6541 18h

Sco

–45° –40° –35° NGC 6541, C 78, A 85 18h08m02s –43°42ʹ20ʹʹ NGC 6726, R CrA neb., C 68 19h01m38s –36°53ʹ31ʹʹ Bernes 157, A 93 19h01m35s –37°00ʹ55ʹʹ SL 42 19h10m16s –37°07ʹ30ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 32 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net For, Fornacis Visibility: Mid-June to April (early Sep to Jan) 02h45m, –32° Culmination: Dec 28 (21:00), Nov 13 (00:00), Sep 29 (03:00) Fornax N 59 The Chemical Furnace Origin: La Caille (1752)

04h 1360 1365

1316 Eri Eri

03h

1097

02h Cet

Phe

Scl –40° –30° –20° NGC 1097, B 10, C 67 02h46m19s –30°16ʹ29ʹʹ NGC 1360, B 15 03h33m15s –25°52ʹ18ʹʹ NGC 1316, B 14, A 12 03h22m42s –37°12ʹ34ʹʹ NGC 1365, B 16, A 13 03h33m36s –36°08ʹ28ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 42 ] © 2011–2016 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 1.53 [ 65 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Pav , Pavonis V isibility: Year-round; best May to mid-September 19h20m, –66° Culmination: Sep 06 (21:00), Jul 23 (00:00), Jun 07 (03:00) Pavo N 87 The Peacock Origin: Keyser & de Houtman (1597)

Ind

22h

PEACOCK

21h

Oct

20h

19h 6744 6752

18h

Aps Tel

h 17 –70°

Ara

–60° TrA

NGC 6744, C 101, A 94 19h09m45s –63°51ʹ21ʹʹ NGC 6752, C 93, A 95 19h10m52s –59°58ʹ55ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 66 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Peg, Pegasi Visibility: Early May to late December 22h30m, +19° Culmination: Oct 24 (21:00), Sep 09 (00:00), Jul 25 (03:00) Pegasus N 177 The Winged Horse Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Del Equ Aqr

Vul 7078

ENIF 22h Cyg SADALMELIK

23h Lac 7331 MARKAB

SCHEAT

Psc

00h

ALPHERATZ ALGENIB And Psc

+40° +30° +10° NGC 7078, M 15 21h29m58s +12°10ʹ01ʹʹ NGC 7331, C 30 22h36m34s +34°30ʹ07ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 67 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Per, Persei V isibility: Mid-September to mid-February 03h30m, +44° Culmination: Jan 08 (21:00), Nov 25 (00:00), Oct 10 (03:00) Perseus N 158 Perseus the Hero, son of Zeus Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

Cas And

02h

+60°

Tri

1039 1023

ALGOL

h MIRPHAK 03 Cam Ari

PLEIADES

04h

+50° Tau

CAPELLA

Aur 06h

+40° +30° 05h +20° NGC 1023 02h40m24s +39°03ʹ46ʹʹ zeta Per, HD 24398 03h54m08s +31°53ʹ01ʹʹ NGC 1039, M 34 02h42m05s +42°45ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 68 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Psc, Piscium Visibility: Mid-June to mid-February 00h40m, +11° Culmination: Nov 27 (21:00), Oct 13 (00:00), Aug 28 (03:00) Pisces N 150 The Fishes Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

h +15° 00° 23 –15°

Aqr

MARKAB

h 23 00h

Peg

ALGENIB Cet 00h 01h

ALPHERATZ

+30°

And

628 MIRACH Ari SHARATAN Tri 02h zeta Psc, SAO 109739 01h13m44s +07°34ʹ31ʹʹ alpha Psc, HD 12446 02h02m03s +02°45ʹ49ʹʹ NGC 628, M 74 01h36m42s +15°47ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 71 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Scl, Sculptoris Visibility: May to late February (late Jul to late Nov) 00h20m, –32° Culmination: Nov 21 (21:00), Oct 07 (00:00), Aug 22 (03:00) Sculptor N 52 The Sculptor’s Workshop Origin: La Caille (1752)

–30° –45°

PsA Aqr 22h ALNAIR FOMALHAUT Gru

23h

00h 55

ANKAA Phe Cet 253 288 01h

ACHERNAR

02h

For Eri

NGC 55, B 1, C 72, A 1 00h14m54s –39°11ʹ55ʹʹ NGC 288, B 5, A 6 00h52m45s –26°34ʹ51ʹʹ NGC 253, C 65, A 5 00h47m33s –25°17ʹ18ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 79 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Sct, Scuti Visibility: March to mid-November (early May to mid-Sep) 18h40m, –10° Culmination: Aug 27 (21:00), Jul 13 (00:00), May 28 (03:00) Scutum N 29 The Shield Origin: Johannes Hevelius (1690)

–20°

Sgr

–10°

6694 Ser Aql

B 318

6705 B 111 B 119A

00° Oph 18h30m 19h

NGC 6694, M 26 18h45m18s –09°23ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 6705, Wild Duck, M 11 18h51m00s –06°16ʹ00ʹʹ Barnard 318 18h49m42s –06°23ʹ00ʹʹ Barnard 119A 18h54m39s –05°10ʹ00ʹʹ Barnard 111 18h50m00s –04°57ʹ00ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 80 ] © 2011–2016 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 1.53 [ 83 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Tri, Trianguli Visibility: August through early February 02h05m, +32° Culmination: Dec 18 (21:00), Nov 03 (00:00), Sep 18 (03:00) Triangulum N 25 The Triangle Origin: Ancient Greek (Ptolemy)

And 01h30m

598 604 Psc

Cr 21 Ari

02h

HAMAL

02h30m

Per Ari 03h

+35° +30° +25° +20° NGC 598, M 33 01h33m51s +30°39ʹ37ʹʹ Collinder 21 01h50m12s +27°04ʹ48ʹʹ NGC 604 01h34m33s +30°47ʹ06ʹʹ iota Tri, HD 13480 02h12m22s +30°18ʹ11ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 85 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Vul, Vulpeculae Visibility: Mid-April through early November 20h20m, +25° Culmination: Sep 22 (21:00), Aug 08 (00:00), Jun 23 (03:00) Vulpecula N 68 The Little Fox Origin: Johannes Hevelius (1690)

+20° +30° +40°

Peg

Cyg

21h

DENEB Del 6940

Sge 6885

20h

6853

ALBIREO Cr 399

19h

Lyr Her VEGA Collinder 399, Coathanger 19h26m12s +20°05ʹ33ʹʹ NGC 6885, C 37 20h12m +26°29ʹ NGC 6853, M 27, Dumb-Bell 19h59m36s +22°43ʹ16ʹʹ NGC 6940 20h34m24s +28°17ʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 92 ] © 2011–2016 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 1.53 [ 93 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Visibility: Year-round; best early October to mid-March Large Magellanic Cloud Culmination: Feb 06 (21:00), Dec 23 (00:00), Nov 08 (03:00) LMC 05h25m, –70°

04h40m

Dor Men

1714

1763

05h00m 1818

1850 1854 1858

1903 1910 1916 05h20m

1983 1984

2004

2029 2032 2070 (Tarantula) 2035 2074 05h40m

2100

–66° –68° –70° NGC 1714 04h52m08s –66°55ʹ23ʹʹ NGC 1903 05h17m22s –69°20ʹ16ʹʹ NGC 2032 05h35m24s –67°35ʹ01ʹʹ NGC 1763 04h56m52s –66°24ʹ25ʹʹ NGC 1916 05h18m38s –69°24ʹ23ʹʹ NGC 2029 05h35m29s –67°34ʹ06ʹʹ NGC 1818 05h04m14s –66°26ʹ02ʹʹ NGC 1910 05h18m43s –69°14ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 2035 05h35m32s –67°35ʹ06ʹʹ NGC 1850 05h08m46s –68°45ʹ39ʹʹ NGC 1984 05h27m41s –69°08ʹ05ʹʹ NGC 2070 05h38m42s –69°06ʹ00ʹʹ NGC 1854 05h09m20s –68°50ʹ53ʹʹ NGC 1983 05h27m48s –68°59ʹ12ʹʹ NGC 2074 05h39m03s –69°29ʹ54ʹʹ NGC 1858 05h09m56s –68°54ʹ06ʹʹ NGC 2004 05h30m40s –67°17ʹ14ʹʹ NGC 2100 05h42m09s –69°12ʹ44ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 94 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net Visibility: Year-round; best mid-July to mid-January Small Magellanic Cloud Culmination: Nov 30 (21:00), Oct 16 (00:00), Aug 31 (03:00) SMC 00h55m, –73°

–72° 01h40m

362 00h40m

371 –70°

346

–74° 456

h m 01 20 00h20m 47 Tuc

–76°

00h00m 01h00m

NGC 346 00h59m04s –72°10ʹ42ʹʹ NGC 456 01h13m42s –73°17ʹ30ʹʹ NGC 371 01h03m30s –72°03ʹ18ʹʹ

ConCards — Version 1.53 [ 95 ] © 2011–2016 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 1.53 [ 96 ] © 2011–2016 A.Slotegraaf — http://www.psychohistorian.org — http://www.docdb.net A checklist for composing descrip�ons of deep-sky objects 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