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Table of Contents – Fundamentals of Stargazing (March 2017 – February 2018)

** Solar System Observing Tools and Science of Month Sky Tours (North) Sky Tours (South) Deep-Sky Objects Observing Techniques Astronomy

Layout of the sky: the , , , Canis Visual observing - how Orion, Taurus, , ; Pleiades; Orion ; Orion Layout of the solar celestial sphere, finding Major, ; , the eye sees faint Auriga; Monoceros and ; OB1 Association; ; M41; system; a detailed the celestial poles, 1- March Lepus, and ; , objects; dark adaptation; ; vs. M36,37,38; M46 and M47; NGC2451 look at the planet equator, ecliptic; Eridanus; Constellations vs. averted vision; tools: red Asterisms and NGC2477 measuring angular Asterisms flashlights distances

Castor, M35, NGC2392 (Eskimo), Iota Can, M44 (Beehive), M67, M48, Regor Apparent motion of the Gemini, , , , Geometry of the (Gamma Velorum) and NGC2547, Evaluating the night sky; night sky; celestial 2- April Gemini, , Cancer, Leo, Hydra , and the ‘False solar system; IC2391, NGC2516 (Southern Beehive), Estimating small angles coordinates; precession Cross’ Retrograde motion NGC3372 (Eta Carinae), NGC3293, of the equinoxes IC2602 (Southern Pleiades) M81 and M82; M97; Regulus; Leo : How to Triplet; and ; Bootes, , choose; image , , Bootes, M51; M3; Izar; Melotte 111; NGC 4565; , Canes A detailed look at stabilization; giant Stellar ; 3- May Corona Borealis, Coma and ; NGC 4755 (Jewel Venatici, (Southern the planet binoculars; focusing and names Berenices, Box); Coalsack; NGC 5139 (Omega Cross), mounting; Centauri); NGC 5128; ; recommendations NGC 5281 Porrima, M104 (Sombrero), M87, : structure Telescopes: overview, How form; star , and , Virgo, Corvus and Crater, Markarian’s Chain, NGC 4216, M13 and geography; refractors, Newtonians, structure, star colors, 4- June , , Hercules (Hercules Cluster); M92, alpha Herc, rings; moons, SCT and MCT reflectors, , the NGC 6543 (Cat’s Eye) observing tips pros and cons HR diagram Altazimuth and M57 (), M56; epsilon Lyrae, equatorial telescope , , , Lyra, Ophiuchus, Serpens, 70 Oph, IC4665, M5, M10 and M12; “Seas” on the Review of stars; how 5- July mounts, go-to and push- Scorpius Antares, M4, rho Oph, M6 and M7; Moon; lunar craters stars evolve to mounts; False Comet recommended mounts , NGC 7000 (NA Neb), Veil Distances to nearby Neb, M29, M27(Dumbbell), Meteors, Eyepiece primer, wide- , , , Cygnus, Aquila, Scutum, stars; ; proper Coathanger, M71,M11 (Wild Duck), Meteoroids, field eyepieces, 6- August , , , Vulpecula, Sagitta, motion and radial M16(Eagle), M17(Swan), M24, Meteorites; Meteor planetary eyepieces; Sagittarius Delphinus, Sagittarius velocity; double and M8(Lagoon), M20(Trifid), M22 showers light-pollution filters multiple stars

Fundamentals of Stargazing www.cosmicpursuits.com

Table of Contents – Fundamentals of Stargazing (March 2017 – February 2018)

** Solar System Observing Tools and Science of Month Sky Tours (North) Sky Tours (South) Deep-Sky Objects Observing Techniques Astronomy Herschel’s Garnet Star (Mu Cep); Delta Cephei; NGC 7380; NGC 188; M52 and Long-relief eyepieces; , , , Zodiacal light and Cassiopeia, , NGC 7635; NGC 7789 and Rho zoom eyepieces; Emission, reflection, 7- September , Gegenschein; Lunar Capricornus, Cassiopeiae; Eta Cassiopeiae; NGC 281; telescope resolution; and dark nebulae mountains M103; NGC 457; NGC 6752; NGC 6744; dew control Epsilon and Theta Indi; Sigma Octanis , , Piscis M15, NGC7331, NGC7662, NGC7479, Binoviewers; Urban Pegasus, Aquarius, Piscis Uranus and 8- October Austrinus; , , M2, NGC7009, NGC7239(Helix), zeta observing techniques, Variable stars Austrinus, Sculptor , and Aqr, NGC253, NGC55 and NGC300 Bortle dark-sky scale M31 (Andromeda ), NGC 404, M33 ( Galaxy), NGC 604, Finder scopes, Barlow Open and globular star , Andromeda, Triangulum, Pisces, Andromeda, The Lunar 100 9- November NGC 752, Gamma Andromedae, NGC lenses, Clear-sky charts, clusters; stellar Triangulum, Aries 891, Gamma Arietis, Small Magellanic the Caldwell list populations Cloud (NGC 292), , NGC 362 Moving Group; ; M76; and Region; Heart and galaxy , , and the (IC 1805) and Soul (IC 1848) Nebula; Color filters, Moon classification, structure 10- December Perseus, Cetus, Deep-Southern NGC 1333; M34; M77 and NGC 1055; and Mercury filters, Solar filters of the Milky Way; Constellations Mira; M74; NGC 247; The Large (white light and H-alpha) distance scale of the Magellanic Cloud; NGC 2070 (Tarantula Milky Way Nebula) Jewel-box cluster, the Coalsack, alpha Cen, Omega Cen cluster; IC2602 (southern Pleiades), eta Carinae Basics of astronomical Comets: names, Nebula, NGC3293 NGC3532, NGC2516 imaging; sky portraits, The cosmic distance Tour of the southern Tour of the northern historical, Great 11- January (Southern Beehive); 47 Tuc, Large nightscapes, afocal scale; Type Ia constellations constellations Comets, observing Magellanic Cloud; M81/82,M51, La imaging, tracking with a supernovae comets Superba, NGC4565, Melotte111, M97, DSLR NGC457, NGC7789, Mu Cephei, Double Cluster Solar Observation; Challenge objects: NGC1514, M78, Introduction to deep-sky : the farthest 12- February Orion revisited Orion revisited Solar and lunar NGC1999, IC405, NGC2419 video astronomy things you can see eclipses

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