It's been a while since I have posted. I have other blogs, too, and I try to have a life, or at least part of one. Some of my other blogs include travel (London, UK, and the Southwest USA), literature (Ballantine Adult Fantasy Series, and Avon/Equinox Rediscovery SF Series), and just a down home blog for family and friends. Links to all my blogs can be found on my home website, which is lonemtnhomestead.com.
Anyway, it has taken me a few years to get through Taurus with the 12". Skies are not at their best during November and December at my location, and neither are the temperatures. In the past two months I have had 3 clear nights (not counting all those beautiful skies just before, during, and after full moon). Work continues in Pegasus, and I have even made some progress in Cetus. Replacing Taurus for winter observing this year is Auriga, should it ever become clear again.
Taurus has two Messier objects (1 and 45), a number of galaxies, and several good open clusters. It is a sprawling constellation, and takes a long time to fully rise in late autumn skies. Even when the Pleiades are well up, the rest of the constellation still needs time to get into a good observing position. Here follows a complete list of my observations of the Taurus NGC with my Orion Go To 12" Dob. IC and objects from other catalogues will follow in a separate entry.
eg 1349: 0'.8 x 0'.8: Vis. mag. 13; SB 12.4: This galaxy has a bright center, and is possibly oval. It was seen at 187x and 200x, close to a bright star. Less than a degree north is a lovely triple star, Struve 430.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1349.jpg
eg 1384: 0'.9 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 14.5; SB 13.4: The galaxy is nearly stellar, and it appears like a star with some haze around it. It is very small.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1384.jpg
eg 1409: 0'.9 x 0'7: Vis. mag. 13.8; SB 13.2: 09 was spotted at 136x. It was somewhat oval, larger
eg 1410: 0'.7 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 14.3; SB 13.5: than expected, and fairly bright. 10 was just north, being much smaller and fainter. Though not completely enmeshed, they are very close and can deceive the eye at 187x and 200x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1409.jpg
eg 1431: 1' 0'.8: Vis. mag. 14.1; SB 13.7: Viewed at 187x and 200x. It was very faint and round, just a small hazy patch.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1431.jpg
gn 1432: 26' x 26': Reflection Nebula around Maia: Fainter and smaller than 1435, but still easy
to see. Within M 45.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1432.jpg
gn 1435: 30' x 30': Reflection Nebula around Merope: Easily visible, even in smaller scopes. Within M 45.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1435.jpg
eg 1462: 0'.9 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 14.2; SB 13.2: Confirmed at 136x, it was a very faint and elongated haze. It was also viewed at 187x and 200x, and seemed to be involved with two faint stars.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1462.jpg
eg 1474/IC 2002: 1'.3 x 1'.1: Vis. mag. 13.8; SB 13.9: The galaxy is slightly oval and faint. It was viewed at 136x and 187x, and is located south of a faint star.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1474.jpg
eg 1497: 1'.5 x 0'.7: Vis. mag. 13.1; SB 13: After a fairly long search it was finally located at 136x. It was bright, large and round to slightly oval. Up to 250x gives good views, where the galaxy is now oval. It has a bright stellar core.
eg 1508: 0'.7 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 14.5; SB 13.4: I used a hand-drawn pinpoint location map. The galaxy was round, faint and ghostly at 187x and 200x. It was not really small, and it appeared evenly lit. Later I was able to see it at 136x.
pn 1514: 132"; Vis. 10.9; Cent. * mag. 9.4: This is a much better object to view with a 12" scope than 1555. At 60x I observed it with and without a Skyglow filter. It was also observed at 120x with the Skyglow, and then without it. I went as high as 200x. It is a massive but faint circular haze surrounding the bright central star. The nebula is an unexpected sight, and worth a stopover.
eg 1517: 1' x 0'.9: Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.1: Suspected at 100x, the object showed nicely at 136x. It precedes a bright star. It was quite bright, small and round. Views were good at 187x. A pretty decent galaxy in a 12".
eg 1539: 0'.5 x 0'.5: Vis. 14.8; SB 13.4: Another very challenging object! Luckily I had great skies, and a pinpoint hand-drawn map. It was spotted at 136x and 187x. It is tiny, round and faint. At 200x, 250x, and 272x it appears stellar with direct vision, and like a fuzzy star with averted vision.
eg 1541: 1'.4 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 13.5; SB 13.2: Viewed at 100x, 136x, and 187x. The galaxy is very, very faint in my early southeast sky. I seemed to mostly see a brighter oval center, with no extension.
eg 1542: 1'.3 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.3: Spotted at 187x and 250x, it is very small and very faint. I was likely just seeing the core.
eg 1550 (1551): 2'.2 x 1'.9: Vis. mag. 12; SB 13.4: Different numbers, same object. Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was pretty bright but not large. Again, only the bright center was showing well, and it was oval. An observing friend was barely able to view it, but it showed itself more easily to me.
gn 1555: 1' x 1'; Reflection Nebula: 1554 is sometimes associated with this object, but is considered as either an error now, or a "lost" nebula which once existed but no longer does. Hind's Variable Nebula (with Struve's Lost Nebula). Visually this tiny nebula, separated from T Tauri (mag. 9.5 star), isn't much to look at. Most sources agree that 1554 is the "lost" nebula, and 1555 is the one present and accounted for. At 136x and 187x it is seen best with averted vision. At 200x is appears somewhat clumpy, with areas of uneven brightness.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1555.jpg
eg 1587: 1'.7 x 1'.5: Vis. mag. 11.7; SB 12.7: 87 was seen at 100x, and both were in view at 136x.
eg 1588: 1'.1 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 12.9; SB 12.5: They are both bright at 187x. 250x gives very good views. Though there is an obvious difference in size and brightness, both galaxies are good objects for a 12" scope.
eg 1589: 3'.2 x 1': Vis. mag. 11.8; SB 12.9: Spotted at 60x and 100x, where it appeared large, bright, and oval. It is located near a bright star, and is just north of 1587 and 1588. 136x shows all 3 galaxies in the field. It is very bright at 187x and even at 250x, now showing a bright stellar core.
eg 1590: 0'.9 x 0'.7: Vis. mag. 13.7; SB 13: Located at 100x. At 136x it was oval using averted vision, and small. 187x and 250x give much better views. It lies just south of 3 bright stars. It is slightly oval and not very large.
eg 1593/1608: 1'.6 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.3: Duplicate entry in the NGC. Called 1608 on Uranometria. Viewed at 187x and 250x, the galaxy was small, oval, and ghostly in appearance. I was only seeing the central area.
eg 1615: 1'.2 x 0'.7: Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.6: Spotted at 100x! Observed nicely at 136x and 187x, it was oval. It was easy to view with averted vision, and it has a bright core. Two bright stars are in the field.
eg 1633: 1'.2 x 1'.1: Vis. mag./SB 13.5: 33 was spotted at 136x, being large but pretty faint. 3
eg 1634: 0'.5 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 14.1; SB 12.6: bright stars are nearby. 34 was glimpsed at 200x and 250x, being tiny, round and faint. It was south of 33 but very close. At high power 33 is pretty large.
oc 1647: 40'; Mag. 6.4; 200 *s; Br. * mag. 9: At 42x perhaps 100 stars can be counted (I counted 25 in a quadrant), many of which are of similar magnitude. The cluster is very large but pretty dense. 2 bright yellow stars (mag. 6 and 7) sit on the south edge and point towards the cluster. A fine bright double star is near the center. 60x fills the eyepiece with bright stars. Views remain impressive at 83x, with many of the brighter stars clumping together in threes, fours, and fives. This is a good object for any size scope, including a 2".
oc 1746/1750/1758: 40'; Mag. 6.1; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 8: Uranometria combines all three numbers into one gigantic cluster. Quite lovely at 60x. I was impressed, at any rate. I viewed it mostly at 83x, then lastly at 100x. There are 6 or 7 bright stars, depending on your eyesight. There are denser pockets, including the preceding end. Another is at the following end, between two bright stars. The cluster is pretty scattered, though pretty rich. There are curving lines, intersecting loops, and long, cascading streams of stars. One such stream breaks away and goes north, like an elephant's trunk, from the following dense are mentioned above. 100x resolves the cluster entirely. There is a lot to see here, and the longer you look, the more you see.
oc 1802: 20'; 25 *s; Br. * mag. 9.2: At 60x and 100x I observed a dozen bright stars, including two curved lines intersecting. There are a similar number of faint stars, especially at 136x. The cluster is large, scattered, and not rich.
oc 1807: 12'; mag. 7; 37 *s; Br. * mag. 9: I enjoyed views of this bright cluster at 60x, 83x, 100x, and 136x. It contains about 10 bright stars (5 shown on Uranometria), and perhaps 15 fainter ones. There is a bright stellar triangle near the center, with one of them having a very close companion. The cluster is shaped like an airplane, with a double row of stars for the body, and a single row for the wings. The wings point south to a very bright yellow star. To the north they point to a faint but very rich field of the Milky Way. The cluster should be suitable for all apertures.
oc 1817: 20'; Mag. 7.7; 283 *s; Br. * mag. 9: Quite beautiful, even at 60x. At low powers it makes a wonderful double cluster with 1807. The cluster is vast and star-filled. The section closest to 1807 (south preceding) has the brightest stars (4 shown on Uranometria). In addition to the 4 brightest, there are around 20-25 stars of medium brightness, and a nearly uncountable number of faint ones. At 136x the cluster is worth a long look. The preceding section is dense, especially amongst the bright stars. Another dense area is the north central section, which is in a curved L-shape. In addition to the numerous stars are large areas that appear empty. This is a wonderful object in a 12". Take your time!
gn 1952--Messier 1: 6' x 4'; Emission Nebula: This large, bright supernova remnant is very impressive in a 12" mirror, especially one that has recently undergone a very thorough cleaning! It is very large, very bright, and very elongated. The large center is much brighter than its outer edges. Several faint stars appear to be close or even touching the outside edges. The south-following end is very patchy, whereas the north end tapers gently and fades gradually. This object is recommended, especially for those who like to take their time with a nice, long look. Quite a bit of detail can be discerned from this object which suddenly appeared in 1054 A.D.
oc 1996: 22'; cl?: Another group of stars that may not be a cluster. This is a very rich area of the sky to begin with. At 60x I observed a nice group of stars preceding Tau 125, a bright star of mag. 5. There are many faint members, and they remain faint at 100x. Best views were at 136x, with 35 stars counted, somewhat starfish in shape. The center is dark except for a faint, very close double star. This is a grand area for casual sweeping.
oc 2026: 10'; 35 *s; Br. * mag. 9: This cluster is a bit tricky to pick out from the rich background. There is also some doubt as to whether or not this is a true cluster. I observed it at 136x, where it lies immediately north of a mag. 9 star. 3 bright stars within the group form a triangle, with the base pointing north. These two stars have fainter stars clustered around them. There are many dark gaps, including a wide, main black area running north/south.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1497.jpg
eg 1508: 0'.7 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 14.5; SB 13.4: I used a hand-drawn pinpoint location map. The galaxy was round, faint and ghostly at 187x and 200x. It was not really small, and it appeared evenly lit. Later I was able to see it at 136x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1508.jpg
pn 1514: 132"; Vis. 10.9; Cent. * mag. 9.4: This is a much better object to view with a 12" scope than 1555. At 60x I observed it with and without a Skyglow filter. It was also observed at 120x with the Skyglow, and then without it. I went as high as 200x. It is a massive but faint circular haze surrounding the bright central star. The nebula is an unexpected sight, and worth a stopover.
http://www.caelumobservatory.com/obs/n1514block.jpg
eg 1517: 1' x 0'.9: Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.1: Suspected at 100x, the object showed nicely at 136x. It precedes a bright star. It was quite bright, small and round. Views were good at 187x. A pretty decent galaxy in a 12".
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1517.jpg
eg 1539: 0'.5 x 0'.5: Vis. 14.8; SB 13.4: Another very challenging object! Luckily I had great skies, and a pinpoint hand-drawn map. It was spotted at 136x and 187x. It is tiny, round and faint. At 200x, 250x, and 272x it appears stellar with direct vision, and like a fuzzy star with averted vision.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1539.jpg
eg 1541: 1'.4 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 13.5; SB 13.2: Viewed at 100x, 136x, and 187x. The galaxy is very, very faint in my early southeast sky. I seemed to mostly see a brighter oval center, with no extension.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1541.jpg
eg 1542: 1'.3 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.3: Spotted at 187x and 250x, it is very small and very faint. I was likely just seeing the core.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1542.jpg
eg 1550 (1551): 2'.2 x 1'.9: Vis. mag. 12; SB 13.4: Different numbers, same object. Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was pretty bright but not large. Again, only the bright center was showing well, and it was oval. An observing friend was barely able to view it, but it showed itself more easily to me.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1550.jpg
gn 1555: 1' x 1'; Reflection Nebula: 1554 is sometimes associated with this object, but is considered as either an error now, or a "lost" nebula which once existed but no longer does. Hind's Variable Nebula (with Struve's Lost Nebula). Visually this tiny nebula, separated from T Tauri (mag. 9.5 star), isn't much to look at. Most sources agree that 1554 is the "lost" nebula, and 1555 is the one present and accounted for. At 136x and 187x it is seen best with averted vision. At 200x is appears somewhat clumpy, with areas of uneven brightness.
eg 1587: 1'.7 x 1'.5: Vis. mag. 11.7; SB 12.7: 87 was seen at 100x, and both were in view at 136x.
eg 1588: 1'.1 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 12.9; SB 12.5: They are both bright at 187x. 250x gives very good views. Though there is an obvious difference in size and brightness, both galaxies are good objects for a 12" scope.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1587.jpg
eg 1589: 3'.2 x 1': Vis. mag. 11.8; SB 12.9: Spotted at 60x and 100x, where it appeared large, bright, and oval. It is located near a bright star, and is just north of 1587 and 1588. 136x shows all 3 galaxies in the field. It is very bright at 187x and even at 250x, now showing a bright stellar core.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1589.jpg
eg 1590: 0'.9 x 0'.7: Vis. mag. 13.7; SB 13: Located at 100x. At 136x it was oval using averted vision, and small. 187x and 250x give much better views. It lies just south of 3 bright stars. It is slightly oval and not very large.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1590.jpg
eg 1593/1608: 1'.6 x 0'.6: Vis. mag. 13.4; SB 13.3: Duplicate entry in the NGC. Called 1608 on Uranometria. Viewed at 187x and 250x, the galaxy was small, oval, and ghostly in appearance. I was only seeing the central area.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1593.jpg
eg 1615: 1'.2 x 0'.7: Vis. mag. 13.9; SB 13.6: Spotted at 100x! Observed nicely at 136x and 187x, it was oval. It was easy to view with averted vision, and it has a bright core. Two bright stars are in the field.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1615.jpg
eg 1633: 1'.2 x 1'.1: Vis. mag./SB 13.5: 33 was spotted at 136x, being large but pretty faint. 3
eg 1634: 0'.5 x 0'.5: Vis. mag. 14.1; SB 12.6: bright stars are nearby. 34 was glimpsed at 200x and 250x, being tiny, round and faint. It was south of 33 but very close. At high power 33 is pretty large.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1633.jpg
eg 1642: 1'.7 x 1'.2: Vis. mag. 12.6; SB 13.2: Spotted at 100x. At 136x it is large, bright and oval. Very good views were had at 187x. Taurus is proving to have some fine galaxies.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1642.jpg
oc 1647: 40'; Mag. 6.4; 200 *s; Br. * mag. 9: At 42x perhaps 100 stars can be counted (I counted 25 in a quadrant), many of which are of similar magnitude. The cluster is very large but pretty dense. 2 bright yellow stars (mag. 6 and 7) sit on the south edge and point towards the cluster. A fine bright double star is near the center. 60x fills the eyepiece with bright stars. Views remain impressive at 83x, with many of the brighter stars clumping together in threes, fours, and fives. This is a good object for any size scope, including a 2".
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1647.jpg
oc 1746/1750/1758: 40'; Mag. 6.1; 20 *s; Br. * mag. 8: Uranometria combines all three numbers into one gigantic cluster. Quite lovely at 60x. I was impressed, at any rate. I viewed it mostly at 83x, then lastly at 100x. There are 6 or 7 bright stars, depending on your eyesight. There are denser pockets, including the preceding end. Another is at the following end, between two bright stars. The cluster is pretty scattered, though pretty rich. There are curving lines, intersecting loops, and long, cascading streams of stars. One such stream breaks away and goes north, like an elephant's trunk, from the following dense are mentioned above. 100x resolves the cluster entirely. There is a lot to see here, and the longer you look, the more you see.
http://www.alsonwongastro.com/images/Star_Clusters/NGC1758LRGB_600.jpg
A nice photo of NGC 1746, 1750, and 1758. Think of it as one big, happy family of stars,
oc 1802: 20'; 25 *s; Br. * mag. 9.2: At 60x and 100x I observed a dozen bright stars, including two curved lines intersecting. There are a similar number of faint stars, especially at 136x. The cluster is large, scattered, and not rich.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1802.jpg
oc 1807: 12'; mag. 7; 37 *s; Br. * mag. 9: I enjoyed views of this bright cluster at 60x, 83x, 100x, and 136x. It contains about 10 bright stars (5 shown on Uranometria), and perhaps 15 fainter ones. There is a bright stellar triangle near the center, with one of them having a very close companion. The cluster is shaped like an airplane, with a double row of stars for the body, and a single row for the wings. The wings point south to a very bright yellow star. To the north they point to a faint but very rich field of the Milky Way. The cluster should be suitable for all apertures.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1807.jpg
oc 1817: 20'; Mag. 7.7; 283 *s; Br. * mag. 9: Quite beautiful, even at 60x. At low powers it makes a wonderful double cluster with 1807. The cluster is vast and star-filled. The section closest to 1807 (south preceding) has the brightest stars (4 shown on Uranometria). In addition to the 4 brightest, there are around 20-25 stars of medium brightness, and a nearly uncountable number of faint ones. At 136x the cluster is worth a long look. The preceding section is dense, especially amongst the bright stars. Another dense area is the north central section, which is in a curved L-shape. In addition to the numerous stars are large areas that appear empty. This is a wonderful object in a 12". Take your time!
Oc 1807, right; oc 1817, left
http://jthommes.com/Astro/images/NGC1807-17_PS3Crp_med.jpg
gn 1952--Messier 1: 6' x 4'; Emission Nebula: This large, bright supernova remnant is very impressive in a 12" mirror, especially one that has recently undergone a very thorough cleaning! It is very large, very bright, and very elongated. The large center is much brighter than its outer edges. Several faint stars appear to be close or even touching the outside edges. The south-following end is very patchy, whereas the north end tapers gently and fades gradually. This object is recommended, especially for those who like to take their time with a nice, long look. Quite a bit of detail can be discerned from this object which suddenly appeared in 1054 A.D.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1952.jpg
oc 1996: 22'; cl?: Another group of stars that may not be a cluster. This is a very rich area of the sky to begin with. At 60x I observed a nice group of stars preceding Tau 125, a bright star of mag. 5. There are many faint members, and they remain faint at 100x. Best views were at 136x, with 35 stars counted, somewhat starfish in shape. The center is dark except for a faint, very close double star. This is a grand area for casual sweeping.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1996.jpg
oc 2026: 10'; 35 *s; Br. * mag. 9: This cluster is a bit tricky to pick out from the rich background. There is also some doubt as to whether or not this is a true cluster. I observed it at 136x, where it lies immediately north of a mag. 9 star. 3 bright stars within the group form a triangle, with the base pointing north. These two stars have fainter stars clustered around them. There are many dark gaps, including a wide, main black area running north/south.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2026.jpg
That wraps it up for NGC objects in Taurus. I will soon commence work on Part Two, which will include the IC objects I have seen (not all of them were located), as well as objects from other catalogues. M 45 can be found in Part Two.
Mapman Mike
