One of the most useful accessories an amateur can possess is one of the ubiquitous optical filters. Having been accessible previously only to the professional astronomer, they came onto the marker relatively recently, and have made a very big impact. They are useful, but don't think they're the whole answer! They can be a mixed blessing. From reading some of the advertisements in astronomy magazines you would be correct in thinking that they will make hitherto faint and indistinct objects burst into vivid observ­ ability. They don't. What the manufacturers do not mention is that regardless of the filter used, you will still need dark and transparent skies for the use of the filter to be worthwhile. Don't make the mistake of thinking that using a filter from an urban location will always make objects become clearer. The first and most immediately apparent item on the downside is that in all cases the use of a filter reduces the amount oflight that reaches the eye, often quite sub­ stantially. The brightness of the field of view and the objects contained therein is reduced. However, what the filter does do is select specific wavelengths of light emitted by an object, which may be swamped by other wavelengths. It does this by suppressing the unwanted wavelengths. This is particularly effective in observing extended objects such as emission nebulae and planetary nebulae. In the former case, use a filter that transmits light around the wavelength of 653.2 nm, which is the spectral line of hydrogen alpha (Ha), and is the wavelength oflight respons­ ible for the spectacular red colour seen in photographs of emission nebulae. Some filters may transmit light through perhaps two wavebands: 486 nm for hydrogen betal (Hf3) and 500.7 nm for oxygen-3 (OIII), two spectral lines which are very characteristic in planetary nebula. Use of such filters will enhance the faint and delicate structure within nebulae, and, from a dark site, they really do bring out previously invisible detail. lThis filter can be used to view dark nebulae that are overwhelmed by the proximity of emission nebulae. Acase in point is the Horsehead Nebula, which is incredibly faint, and swamped by light from the surrounded emission nebulosity. 317 318 Field Guide to the Deep Sky Objects Don't forget (as the advertisers sometimes seem to) that "nebula" filters do not (usually) transmit the light from stars, and so when in use, the background will be pitch-black with only nebulosity visible. This makes them virtually useless for observing stars, star clusters and galaxies. One kind of filter that does help in heavily light-polluted areas is the LPR (light pollution reduction) filter, which effectively blocks out the light emitted from sodium and mercury street lamps, at wavelengths 366, 404.6, 435.8, 546.1, 589.0 and 589.5 nm. Clearly, the filter will be effective only if the light from the object you want to see is significantly different from the light-polluting source: fortunately, this is usually the case. Light pollution reduc­ tion filters can be very effective visually and photographically, but remember that there is always some overall reduction in brightness of the object you are observing. Whatever filters you decide on, it is worthwhile trying to use them before you make a purchase (they are expensive!), by borrowing them either from a fellow amateur or from a local astronomical society. This will show you whether the filter really makes any dif­ ference to your observing. There is no doubt that modern filters can be an excellent purchase, but it may be that your location or other factors will prevent the filter from realising its full potential or value for money. Most commercially available filters are made for use at a telescope and not for binoculars, so unless you are mechanically minded and can make your own filter mounts (and are happy to pay - two LPR filters could easily cost more than the binoculars!), it's likely that only those observers with telescopes can benefit. There are many fine astronomy and astrophysics books in print, and to choose between them is a difficult task. Nevertheless I have selected a few which I believe are among the best on offer. I do not expect you to buy, or even read them all, but it would be in your better interests to check at your local library to see if they have some of them. Star Atlases and Observing • t>b ...... ..::.- ~ • • • • Ridpath, I. (ed.) (1999) Norton's star atlas and reference handbook. Longmans, Harlow. Tirion, W., Sinnott, R. (1999) Sky atlas 2000.0. Sky Publishing and Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA. Sinnott, R., Perryman, M. (1999) Millennium star atlas. Sky Publishing, Cambridge, MA. Luginbuhl, c., Skiff, B. (1990) Observing handbook and catalogue of deep-sky objects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, MA. Kepple, G., Sanner, G. (1999) The night sky observer's guide, vols I and II. Willman-Bell, Richmond, VA. O'Meara, S. (1999) Deep-sky companions: the Messier objects. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. Ratledge, D. (2000) Observing the Caldwell objects. Springer, London. Burnham, R. (1978) Burnham's celestial handbook. Dover Books, New York. 319 320 Field Guide to the Deep Sky Objects Sidgwick, J. (1979) Amateur Astronomer's Handbook. Pelham Books, London. Kitchin, C. (1998) Astrophysical Techniques. Institute ofphysics, Bristol. Kitchin, C. (1995) Telescopes and Techniques. Springer, London. Bless, R. (1996) Discovering the cosmos. University Science Books, Sausilito, ??STATE?? Kaufmann, W., Comins, N ..(1996) Discovering the universe. Freeman, New York. Bennett, J., Donahue, M., Schneider, N., Voit, M. (1999) The cosmic perspective. Addison­ Wesley, Reading, MA. Fraknoi, A., Morrison, D., Wolff, S. (2000) Voyages through the universe. Saunders, Philadelphia, PA. Zeilik, M., Gregory, S., Smith, E. (1999) Introductory astronomy and astrophysics. Saunders, Philadelphia, P A. Phillips, A. (1994) The physics of stars. Wiley, Chichester. Kitchin, C. (1987) Stars, nebulae and the interstellar medium. Hilger, Bristol. Elmegreen, D. (1998) Galaxies and galactic structure. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Astronomy Now (UK) New Scientist (UK) Sky & Telescope (USA) Nature (UK) Science (USA) Scientific American (USA) The first three magazines are aimed at a general audience and so are applicable to every­ one; the last three are aimed at the well-informed layperson. In addition there are many research-level journals which can be found in university libraries and observatories. The Federation of Astronomical Societies, 10 Glan y Llyn, North Cornelly, Bridgend County Borough, CF33 4EF, UK. [http://www.fedastro.demon.co.uk/] Society for Popular Astronomy, The SPA Secretary, 36 Fairway, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5DU. UK. [http://www.popastro.coml] The British Astronomical Association, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, WI V 9AG, UK. [http://www.ast.cam.ac.uk/--baa/] The Royal Astronomical Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, WI V ONL. [http://www.ras.org.uk/membership.htm ] Campaign for Dark Skies, 38 The Vineries, Colehill, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 2PX, UK. [http://www.dark-skies.freeserve.co.uk/] The following is a quick reference guide to the Greek letters, which are used in the Bayer classification system. Each entry shows the uppercase letter, the lowercase letter, and the pronunciation. \ (\' Alpha I[ 7) Eta ;'J vNu T 1'Tau B f3 Beta 8 Theto ;:: {Xi Y v Upsilon r yGamma r ~ loto o Omicron ¢ c{> Phi .1 f> Delta " K Koppo n 1T Pi X .\ Chi E E Epsilon \ Alambda P p Rho 'I' t/I Psi Z Zeta \1 JL Mu _ uSigma n (.)Omega 321 Index The entry for an astronomical object refers to its most familiar name and/or its main entry in the book. a Capricorni 88 Becldin-Neugebauer object 208 Coma galaxy cluster 290 aCVn 85 Becrux 31 Coma-Virgo cluster 253 aHerculis 87 Betelgeuse 39 Copeland's Sextet 289 aLibrae 86 Black Eye galaxy 255 CorCaroli 85 aLyrae 103 Blanco 1 147 Crab nebula 237 a Ursae Minoris 93 Blinking nebula 226 Crescent nebula 207 Acherner 63 Blueflash nebula 227 Cygnus X-I 295 Active galaxies 268 Blue Snowball nebula 230 Acrux 30 Brocchi's cluster 137 ADS 1860 109 Bubble nebula 207 8Corvi 84 Albaldah 59 Bug nebula 226 8Cygni 89 Albireo 88 Burnham 324 97 8Leonis 53 Alcor 85 Burnham 800 101 Dark adaption 12 Aldebaran 37 Butterfly cluster 133 Dawes 5 112 Aldermin 60 Declination 15 Algeiba 52 Deneb 36,60 Algenib 61, 66 XBootis 85 Denebola 53 Alhena 68 X Geminorum 82 Double Cluster 152 Almach 64 XLeporis 95 Double-Double 89 Alpha Persei Stream 199 Caldwell Objects Duck nebula 204 Altair 35 C2, 230. C3, 273. C4, 213. C5, 269. Dumbell nebula 227 Andromeda galaxy 265 C6, 225. C7, 246. Cll, 207. C12, Angular distance 14 262. C13, 151.CI4, 152. C15, 226. Antares 33, 56 C16, 143. C17, 281. C18, 280. C19, eArietis 94 Antennae galaxy 285 207. C20, 206. C21, 285. C22, 230. eBootis 85 Antoniadi scale 11 C 23, 268. C24, 287. C25, 167. e Equulei 103 Apparent magnitude 19 C26, 254. C27, 207. C29, 256. C30, eEridani 48 Apparent solar day 15 263. C31, 214. C32, 274. C33, 237. e Lyrae 89 Archenar 37 C34, 237. C35, 279. C36, 254. C37, e Monocerotis III Arcturus 32 137. C38, 252. C39, 221. C40, 254. e Trianguli 93 Asterism 117 C42, 184. C43, 264. C44, 274. C45, 1J Cassiopeiae 92 Atlas 66 257. C46, 210. C47, 181. C48, 249. 1J Orionis 112 Averted vision 13 C49, 208. C51, 287. C52, 279. C 1J Persei 67, 94 53, 283. C54, 122. C55, 229. C56, 1JSagitai 56 231. C 57, 286. C58, 119. C59, 222. 11 Aquilae 88 {3 Aurigae 69 C60-61, 285.