September/October 2013: Summary of Observing #7

It was quite a month of clear skies!  Of course there were 6 cloudy nights centered around new moon, an all-too familiar pattern around here.  But we managed 12 observing sessions beginning just before last quarter moon and continuing till first quarter.  That enabled me to finish up Cygnus, a project I thought would take at least two years.  I am also deep into Cassiopeia now, and beginning to flirt again with Cetus.

Deb and I have been observing a lot at the club's observatory location near Comber, ON Canada.  Though far from perfect, especially in the south and the northwest, overhead skies are superior on good nights.  For example, I was able to finally see the central star of the Ring Nebula in the 12"!  I was mighty pleased about that.  I was also able to glimpse the illusive IC galaxy 1296 for the first time, very close to M 57!  And I helped out a fellow member, whose 20" mirror is in for service, observe a 15.2 mag. variable star.  So it is no surprise that I located every object I went after except for one, a faint Berkeley cluster.

Here is what I accomplished in the past month.  If it seems like a lot, it is, but we put in hours and hours of observing.  12 sessions, with more than 48 hours at the eyepiece!  I observed 137 objects in Cygnus, Cassiopeia, Cetus and Lyra (only 2 in Lyra).  This includes:

20 double stars
66 NGC/IC objects (24 of them brand new to me)
51 clusters from other catalogues.

If that sounds like a lot, it is.  However, that's less than 3 objects per hour, so I am staying pretty true to my goal of not rushing through things.  Some faint objects take more time to hunt down than to observe and make notes about them, but the good ones deserve and get plenty of observing time from me.  I added 10 new sketches to my collection, too.  That's not nearly enough, but I already plan on revisiting certain objects next summer with the hope of drawing them at the eyepiece.

What were the highlights?  For Cygnus, see the previous blog entry, which summarizes the best of the whole constellation.  The two things I saw in Lyra were major accomplishments for me and my scope.  One was that central star in the Ring Nebula, M 57.  I have tried before, but on that one night everything clicked.  I saw it three separate times, mostly winking in and out, and best with averted vision.  I also saw the faint, nearby galaxy I 1296, which I had tried to see all summer.  Very faint and elusive, but unmistakeable at last!  There is only one NGC galaxy left in Lyra for me to see.  Maybe next year.

So I will mostly discuss Cassiopeia in this blog entry, and a bit of Cetus.  Cassiopeia is a truly amazing constellation, filled with some fine nebulae (though not on par with Cygnus), galaxies, planetary nebula and clusters.  Oh, those clusters!  Several of them are better than anything in Cygnus.

Cassiopeia Highlights

oc 457:  Stunning object in virtually any instrument, this one does require a low to moderate power.  For my scope 83x was the ideal range.  I also saw it well in the 6" at 84x.  Highlighted by 3 bright stars, it is a moderately rich group.  Worth coming back to often.  Makes a nice showpiece for star parties or beginning observers.  oc 438 is very close by, showing about 30 stars at higher power.

 oc 581--M 103:  Not an object to hurry over, especially with a 12".  Not as instantly likeable as M 52, nor as many stars, it is still beautiful and quite rich.  The cluster remains bright, even at higher powers.  A yellow star on one end, an orange one near the middle and a triple on the opposite side of the yellow one make a nice beginning.  The cluster is quite dense but don't be put off.  Even a 6" shows the group well.

oc 654:  Already rich and dense at 60x, the stars swarm around a yellow 7.5 mag. star.  This reminds me of a Berkeley cluster on steroids!  High power shows 30 faint members.

oc 663:  An outstanding cluster in my 12" mirror!  Large and bright, I viewed it at 60, 100 and 125x.  Though a major showpiece in my scope, it is bright enough to be appreciated in almost any aperture.  A rich cluster, highly recommended.  Two pair of double stars, one on either side of the group, add interest.

oc I 166:  A cloud of extremely faint haze was noted just preceding a mag. 9 star.  Stars begin to resolve at 200x.  This looks like a job for a 16"!

oc St 2:  On the border with Perseus, this group is an utter wonder at 43x!  The eyepiece is filled with bright stars in a dense field.  Great in the 6" scope, too.

oc St 5:  Another large, scattered cluster good at low to medium power.  Contains a star circle, and V781, an orange star.  Fine for all apertures.

oc Cr 463:  A huge group, best at 43x.  Widely scattered but rich in bright stars.

oc King 14:  The best of three clusters, all appearing in a 100x field.  Largest of the three and most interesting to view.  150x shows 30+ stars.  oc 133 is hard to identify.  Look for 4 bright stars in an uneven N/S line.  The 2nd star from the N is a close double.  13 stars seen at 250x.  oc 146 is just preceding.  An 11.6 mag. star lies at the center of a faint, hazy cloud at 60x.  25 stars resolve at 150x.

oc King 21:  An impressive number of stars can be seen at 125x and 150x.  The cluster is near a bright triple star.

I must mention one triple star.  Iota Cass. is not to be missed, looking splendid in both the 6" and the 12"!

Cetus

Six galaxies were observed in the lower part of Cetus, a difficult project for me.  Southern light pollution is a problem at the observatory, plus the fact that my scope is pointing just a bit higher than horizontal.

eg 47:  A bright star adjacent hampers views.  Best seen at 150x, when the star is out of the field.
eg 50: Noticeably elongated at 125x and 150x, especially using averted vision.
eg 54:  Very elongated at medium power.  Use averted vision.
eg 59:  Large and fairly bright, I only saw it one night, despite trying again a few times.
eg 61 A/B:  Seen as one big blob, I was expecting two separate galaxies.  Look for two "bright" centers, slightly apart but at different angles.

Clear skies to all!
Mapman Mike

Cygnus--A "Best Of" Summary

Like Lyra in early summer, I have observed Cygnus a few times before, beginning with my 4.5" Tasco Lunagrosso Reflector back in 1971.  Along came the Edmund 8" in 1978, and another look at Cygnus, in much more detail.  Fast forward to 2013.  It was high time for a complete review of all the deep sky objects in this amazing constellation, lying overhead for much of the summer and early autumn.  Due to a historic lack of map detail and all-inclusive books, I had missed a lot of named objects during my previous visits.  This time, armed with the newest version of Uranometria (all-sky edition), I went in search of everything I could find with my 12" reflector, as well as a review of previously seen objects.  I did not review double stars this year, though added several I had missed.

All in all, I went in search of 157 objects in Cygnus.  This included all 56 NGC objects, all 18 IC objects, and 60 other-named clusters.  This list included some 35 NGC and IC objects new for me.  Most of the "other" category had never been seen by me, either.  I never expected to complete this project in one season, but due to fantastic sky conditions in July through early October, I did complete it!  I will now have to painstakingly prepare a new summer project for next year (Draco?).

From a total of 134 NGC-type objects, I have come up with a list of the best of them; these are recommended viewing.  A very few are excellent.  Keep in mind I am using a 12" scope, so if yours is smaller or larger, I cannot say if the recommendation stands.  Many objects that were not seen that well in the 8" look pretty darn good in the 12".  Some of the recommended clusters are large, too large for a 16" scope, for instance, since very low power is required to see all of the object at once.  I can manage 43x and 60x with my scope, and I use them a lot for big clusters and bright nebulae.  Higher powers are used for galaxies, planetary nebulae, and smaller clusters.  Some of my faintest discoveries probably look quite nice in a 16" or larger.

Here they are, in order of visual appeal in my scope, by category.  First I list the NGC and IC, and lastly the other clusters from various catalogues.

NGC/IC Cygnus--The Best Ones

gn 6992, 95:  The Veil Nebula is one of my very favourite things to view in the entire sky!  Seen in the Tasco (no filter) and in the 8" (with filter), nothing beats the view I get at 43x with an ultrablock filter in the 12" from a dark sky.  I spent lots of time here, sweeping and following the outline of the giant circle, all the way over to 6960 and back.  Truly glorious!

gn I 1340:  Southeastern portion of The Veil.

gn 6960:  See 6992, above.  Not as bright, but still amazing, especially how it trails off to the N.

oc 7082:  What is the finest cluster in Cygnus, a constellation rich in them?  Of course it is a matter of opinion, but I nominate this one, a very large group with one of the richest Milky Way backgrounds I have ever seen.

pn 7008:  This large, bright planetary nebula shows a wealth of detail to a 12" scope.  A showpiece!

oc 7092, M39:  I often use this cluster as a "first object" at star parties.  Not only good for newbies, but a bright, mini-Pleiades for experienced viewers.

gn 7000:  The North America Nebula has its moments in a 12", with filter.  Head for Mexico, Florida and the Gulf.  You will not be disappointed.

oc 6997:  One of three significant open clusters in the North America Nebula.  A fine cluster, sitting between two bright stars.  Watch for a curving line of stars passing through the center.

oc 6866:  3 dozen stars at 100x, not counting the denser, interesting central area.  It has wing-like extensions, and seems to dazzle in a 12".

eg 6946:  The best of several fine galaxies in Cygnus, watch for the faint stars within its large area.  Nearby is oc 6939 in Cepheus, a "do not miss" object for a 12".

pn 6826:  The Blinking Planetary Nebula is a lot of fun for all kinds of apertures!

NGC/IC Cygnus--Best of the Rest

gn 6888:  The Crescent Nebula.  Use a filter and enjoy a lovely emission nebula.

oc 6910:  Sometimes we are partial to an object for sentimental reasons.  This was the first cluster I saw with the 8" from a truly dark sky.  It impressed me then, and it still does.  Very near Gamma.

oc 6811:  My first cluster viewed in Cygnus this time around.  After viewing so many faint galaxies in Lyra, I instantly fell in love with this group.  Watch for a larger, brighter cluster-like group just north preceding.

oc 6819:  My 2nd cluster in Cygnus.  Smaller than 6811, not as rich or dense, but each magnification range offers a new perspective on this minor showpiece.

oc 6871:  A low power beauty!  Perfect at 83x.  Lots of doubles.

oc 6883:  The rich Milky Way background is more impressive than the cluster.  Way too many stars!!

eg 7013:  A large, bright galaxy, good at 125x, 150x and still bright at 200x.

oc 7086:  2 circles of stars, stacked atop one another, one much richer.

oc I 1369:  A major cluster of very faint stars, beginning at mag. 13.

oc 7039:  Large, loose cluster best at low power.  70 to 80 stars.

pn 7048:  Large and faint, like a hazy flare coming from a nearly attached star.  Use high power.

oc 6913, M29:  Not too shabby with a 12" at medium high power.

Open Clusters from Other Catalogues:  The Best from Cgynus

oc Do 3:  A fine cluster, though bright star 29 should be left out of the field.  I enjoyed great views at 125x, resolving almost 50 stars.

oc Do 10:  10 bright to very bright stars, and more than 30 faint ones at low power.  A gold star on either end.  Within lies star D 22, a triple star.

oc Do 39:  One of six open clusters near star 34, south following Gamma Cygni.  Check out the others, too.  This is the largest of the six.  Use moderate power to resolve it all.

oc Do 45:  A large, "G" shaped group, it is bright with about 30 stars.  Good for smaller scopes, too.

oc Anon Platis:  Yup, that's its name.  Very close to M 39.  Drop in next time you are there!

oc Collinder 428:  The 3rd cluster within the North American Nebula.  Large, bright and loose, I counted 35 easy, bright stars.  Look for a backward "S" in there.

oc Ro 6:  Large and bright, and good for all apertures.  More than 50 stars at 100x.

oc Be 87:  Cygnus is loaded with Berkeley clusters, most of them extremely faint and difficult for small telescopes.  This one is large and reasonably bright, nice in a 6".  This marked my final cluster in Cygnus!

Don't see your favourite Cygnus object listed?  Let me know.  And drop me a line and tell me your favourites.

Mapman Mike

Keeping Records of Observations

Where has Mapman Mike been of late?  Losing interest in the blog?  Hardly.  We have had such a run on clear nights the past two months that I have been putting excessive amounts of time into astronomy.  Even though I am an adult and retired and can pretty much do as I please, there are still other aspects to my life that I try to honour occasionally.  Despite wanting to keep the blog updated on a more regular basis, I have been unable to do it.  Cloudy months will see plenty of activity here, but when new posts are absent, assume that I am out with the telescope.

Not only have I been observing more than ever (19 clear nights over the last two dark sky lunar cycles), but I have been trying to keep up with my notes and sketches of what I recently saw.  The logbook of my observatory has over 720 pages since I began recording back in 1968.  Every object I have ever seen is in there, including sunspot observations, fireball sightings, single stars, double stars, variable stars, multiple stars, clusters, nebula, galaxies, and on and on.  My note taking has several purposes.  The first is that next day as I write up the notes in good form from my rough pages scribbled at the telescope, I get to review and remember things that I saw, reflecting a bit on the sublime, the good and the bad.  If I sketched the object (something I don't do enough) I get to redo it in better light and better technique.

The second reason I keep detailed notes is that I like to go back and read some of the descriptions, even years later.  I am endlessly enthralled by reading my notes of objects seen with my previous scope, the Edmund 8", as well as the Tasco 4 1/2" and compare them to what I saw more recently with the 12".  Plus it's just plain fun to skip back through neat and organized notebooks and be amazed at what I have seen over the years.

The third reason is that I like to compare what I saw to what others have seen.  Whether it's a description from an official publication like a book or magazine, or from a fellow amateur astronomer, it is endlessly enthralling to compare my notes with those of other observers.

The fourth reason I keep a logbook is that it makes me observe more carefully, knowing I will be writing down what I see and it is available for others to read and compare.  Without that notebook awaiting me next day to record my previous night's session, I might be tempted to skim over an object too quickly at the eyepiece, or just leave it without any hope of remembering what I saw, or even if I saw it!

Another reason is that I have a pretty good record of weather and weather patterns over the years, including special occurrences and major volcanoes like Pinatabo (remember that one?) and how they affected observing.

None of these reasons would have much meaning if the notebook was disorganized to the point where finding an object within its (700+) pages was nearly impossible.  Have I ever seen oc 133?  How can I find out?  I have a few methods, and I'm certain you can think of a few yourself.  If keeping notes, don't overlook this important fact.  Just recently I began to expand my ability to find an object in my notes.  With my newer method it is much easier for me to locate NGC and IC objects in my notes, whenever they have been seen by me.  However, I still have poor access to non-NGC deep sky objects, though that is being rectified.  Likewise, I would have had trouble finding details on a particular double star from years or even weeks back.  I am now well advanced in being able to quickly locate my notes on such objects.  Since my focus is mainly the NGC catalogue and double stars, those are getting organizational priority just now.

What should one use for a logbook?  I use 200 page, lined subject notebooks.  My wife uses her own template on Microsoft Word.  She uses photoshop to do her drawings.  I'm old-fashioned. 

What should one record in an official logbook?  I begin with the observation number (I am up to #587 since 1968) and date, the instrument used, the time I was out, the temperature, the humidity and what the seeing was like (I use poor, fair, good, very good, excellent).  I record objects in the order seen, which for me is usually by constellation.  I put a subheading (Cygnus) and then record the objects I saw the night before.  If it is an NGC or similar object, I record any details available, such as size, magnitude, etc.  I try not to view photos or sketches of objects until after I have seen them and written my notes.  I like to be surprised.  This is followed by an object description.  Here is a recent example from my logbook:

Cassiopeia
oc 110:  19'; Brightest * mag. 9.7:  Located at 60x.  83x shows 60+ stars in this large, bright group.  There is a bright orange star following, and a wide double star south of the orange one.  The double is yellow and mauve, with the primary star about mag. 8.  The group is widely scattered, with many bright stars in the 12" mirror.  Despite observing during 1st quarter moon, the cluster is still medium rich in stars, and definitely worth a stopover at lower magnification.  It must be even more impressive under a dark sky.  It is a bit isolated, way up there at 71 degrees declination."

That is a very brief description from a busy night of observing, but it gives me enough info to decide if I wish to see it again (I do, under a dark sky).  Interestingly enough, photos for this cluster do it no justice whatsoever.

So whether you casually observe once or twice a year, or whether you are an avid observer, keeping permanent records of what you have seen is rewarding, entertaining, and possibly of some value.  It will make you look more closely at your objects, too.  Enjoy, and clear skies!
Mapman Mike