Even though I am engaged in the pursuit of all the northern NGC objects listed in Uranometria, I always check out clusters and such from other catalogues when in the area. Especially clusters. There are too many faint planetary nebulae and way too many faint galaxies from other catalogues, but clusters seem to do well with my 12" scope. Here are all of the non NGC clusters in Auriga, listed in alphabetical order....
oc Bas 4: Mag. 9.1; 5' 134 *s; Br. * mag. 12.2: It is easy to locate, south from O. Struve 117. At 136x I observed a pretty bright group of stars in a distinctly linear formation. Viewed also at 187x and 250x, fainter stars resolve away from this line, which contains very close doubles. I was pointing very close to a 1st quarter moon tonight, so I should return here for a 2nd look in darker skies.
oc Be 14: 6'; 30 *s; Br. * mag. 16: A very faint cloud was spotted at 187x, with a few stars resolved. A few more stars showed up at 250x, being somewhat scattered.
oc Be 15: 5'; 35 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Spotted at 100x, I noted a small, hazy cloud with a few nearby brighter stars. 187x resolves 4-5 stars; 250x shows 10 in a compact area.
oc Be 17: 8'; 100 *s: Br. * mag. 16: Spotted at 136x, it was a pretty large, faint, indistinct haze. Though views are better at 187x, there is no resolution. At 200x it appears much like a large, faint galaxy with a brighter centre. Still no stars.
oc Be 18: 12'; 300 *s; Br. * mag. 16: Located at 136x, I saw a large ball of haze and a few embedded stars. 187x and 200x show from 6-10 stars. The cluster was best at 250x, with 14 very faint stars resolved. This is a pretty large group, no doubt awaiting an 18" scope!
oc Be 19: 4'. Vis. mag. 11.4; 150 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Located at 187x, it appears as a small, very faint hazy ball. It lies north of 2 notable stars. It was becoming too windy for higher magnifications, thus I have no resolution to report.
oc Be 69: 4'; Vis. mag. 11.9; Br. * 15: This is much easier to locate than nearby Do 18. 136x shows a hazy patch, small, with 1 star resolved. At 250x 6-8 very faint stars are seen.
oc Be 70: 7'; 40 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Located at 136x, a very few faint stars are resolved around a brighter one. 187x resolves 6-8 stars; 250x resolves about 10, all very faint.
oc Be 71: 5'; 30 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Observed at 187x and 250x, this cluster is faint and elusive. The central area was seen at 187x. Only 2 stars could be resolved at mag. 15 or fainter. It was mostly just a small, hazy patch best with averted vision.
oc Cr 62: 28'; Vis. mag. 4.2: This was mostly viewed at 42.5x. I noted two busy and bright star fields, separated by a mag. 4 star to the north. The fainter group south preceding the star is circular, and contains about 15 stars. The second group, which is south following the star, contains about 20 members, randomly scattered. Many fainter stars were seen within these two groups when viewed at 100x.
oc Cz19: 15'; 50 *s: Located in the extreme southwest corner of Auriga, I had to star hop here from NGC oc 1746 in Taurus. It is a large cluster with many stars, but they are quite faint. There are 4 bright stars on the following (E) edge, 3 of them close together and the 4th one north. Many faint stars precede them, towards a single bright star, mag. 9? on the preceding end. 250x resolves 25-30 stars. The cluster is rather tricky to access.
oc Cz 20: 36'; 30 *s: Viewed at 42.5x this is a very large group containing many bright stars. While the cluster is noteworthy, there are impressive star fields in all directions, making it a fine area for casual sweeping. Especially not the following field. In the south preceding part of the cluster sits NGC oc 1857 (see Auriga, Part 1).
oc Cz 21: 8'; 40 *s: A moderately large group of very faint stars was seen at 200x, likely mag. 14.5 and fainter. There are perhaps 15 stars seen. Somewhat disappointing in a 12" mirror.
oc Cz 23: 5': Located at 136x, a small group of resolving stars can be seen following a mag. 10 star. Views of this dim group are good at 187x, but best at 250x. About a dozen stars are glimpsed, many of the same mag. (14.5-15.5?). Worth a peek only with a 12" or higher.
oc Do 15: 18': At 60x many bright stars are seen amidst a faint group. The brightest stars form a line. The preceding end of this line has faint clumps of stars north and south. At 136x, and especially at 187x the stars are well resolved. There are about 25 stars. The bright stars are likely an asterism rather than a true cluster.
oc Do 16: 6'; 10 *s: There are some scattered bright stars, though nothing obvious as a cluster. There is a very faint group of about 10-12 stars between two of the brighter groups.
oc Do 18: 6'; 15 *s: A hazy, dim cloud was observed at 136x. At 187x only two stars are resolved. Overall, the group is indistinct in a 12" mirror.
oc Do 20: 5'; 10 *s; Observed at 187x, and seen well at this power. It is an interesting though small group of faint stars immediately north preceding a mag. 9 star. It is also involved with a scattered group of much brighter stars. There are at least 10 faint stars, and several much brighter ones nearby.
oc King 8: 4'; Vis. mag. 11.2; 198 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Located at 100xm the cluster appears as an oval haze with a very few faint stars resolving. There is a bright star on the north end, and another on the south end. Another brighter star is found immediately following the cluster. At 136x averted vision resolves a sprinkle of faint stars all across the hazy patch. At 187x and 250x the cluster now extends beyond the north and south border stars. 12-15 stars are resolved, all very faint. This is an open cluster challenge, but fun to view. It is very close to M 37.
oc King 17: 5'; 25 *s; Br. * 14: Spotted at 100x, it was a hazy, tiny ball of faintness. 2 stars were showing. At 136x about 10 stars are resolved. It is already a nice object. 187x shows a tiny nest of very faint, glittering jewels. This is a decent cluster with a 12" scope.
oc Be 70: 7'; 40 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Located at 136x, a very few faint stars are resolved around a brighter one. 187x resolves 6-8 stars; 250x resolves about 10, all very faint.
oc Be 71: 5'; 30 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Observed at 187x and 250x, this cluster is faint and elusive. The central area was seen at 187x. Only 2 stars could be resolved at mag. 15 or fainter. It was mostly just a small, hazy patch best with averted vision.
oc Cr 62: 28'; Vis. mag. 4.2: This was mostly viewed at 42.5x. I noted two busy and bright star fields, separated by a mag. 4 star to the north. The fainter group south preceding the star is circular, and contains about 15 stars. The second group, which is south following the star, contains about 20 members, randomly scattered. Many fainter stars were seen within these two groups when viewed at 100x.
oc Cz19: 15'; 50 *s: Located in the extreme southwest corner of Auriga, I had to star hop here from NGC oc 1746 in Taurus. It is a large cluster with many stars, but they are quite faint. There are 4 bright stars on the following (E) edge, 3 of them close together and the 4th one north. Many faint stars precede them, towards a single bright star, mag. 9? on the preceding end. 250x resolves 25-30 stars. The cluster is rather tricky to access.
oc Cz 20: 36'; 30 *s: Viewed at 42.5x this is a very large group containing many bright stars. While the cluster is noteworthy, there are impressive star fields in all directions, making it a fine area for casual sweeping. Especially not the following field. In the south preceding part of the cluster sits NGC oc 1857 (see Auriga, Part 1).
oc Cz 21: 8'; 40 *s: A moderately large group of very faint stars was seen at 200x, likely mag. 14.5 and fainter. There are perhaps 15 stars seen. Somewhat disappointing in a 12" mirror.
oc Cz 23: 5': Located at 136x, a small group of resolving stars can be seen following a mag. 10 star. Views of this dim group are good at 187x, but best at 250x. About a dozen stars are glimpsed, many of the same mag. (14.5-15.5?). Worth a peek only with a 12" or higher.
oc Do 15: 18': At 60x many bright stars are seen amidst a faint group. The brightest stars form a line. The preceding end of this line has faint clumps of stars north and south. At 136x, and especially at 187x the stars are well resolved. There are about 25 stars. The bright stars are likely an asterism rather than a true cluster.
oc Do 16: 6'; 10 *s: There are some scattered bright stars, though nothing obvious as a cluster. There is a very faint group of about 10-12 stars between two of the brighter groups.
oc Do 18: 6'; 15 *s: A hazy, dim cloud was observed at 136x. At 187x only two stars are resolved. Overall, the group is indistinct in a 12" mirror.
oc Do 20: 5'; 10 *s; Observed at 187x, and seen well at this power. It is an interesting though small group of faint stars immediately north preceding a mag. 9 star. It is also involved with a scattered group of much brighter stars. There are at least 10 faint stars, and several much brighter ones nearby.
oc King 8: 4'; Vis. mag. 11.2; 198 *s; Br. * mag. 15: Located at 100xm the cluster appears as an oval haze with a very few faint stars resolving. There is a bright star on the north end, and another on the south end. Another brighter star is found immediately following the cluster. At 136x averted vision resolves a sprinkle of faint stars all across the hazy patch. At 187x and 250x the cluster now extends beyond the north and south border stars. 12-15 stars are resolved, all very faint. This is an open cluster challenge, but fun to view. It is very close to M 37.
oc King 17: 5'; 25 *s; Br. * 14: Spotted at 100x, it was a hazy, tiny ball of faintness. 2 stars were showing. At 136x about 10 stars are resolved. It is already a nice object. 187x shows a tiny nest of very faint, glittering jewels. This is a decent cluster with a 12" scope.
oc Mel. 31: 135'; 35 *s; Br. * mag. 4.5: This enormous group of bright stars contains many fine doubles, along with 2 IC nebula, an NGC cluster, and oc Do 16! Sweeping through the area at 42x is a wonderful experience. 8 of the stars are very bright in a 12" scope. Uncountable numbers of fainter stars lie in the background. The richest area of brighter stars lies in a northeast-southwest direction, and more than 2x longer than wide, perhaps 90'x 40'. I hope to revisit with the 2" refractor and 4 1/3" RFT scope! Most of the bright stars are white, though 16 Aurigae is golden, and 14, a superb double, is yellow and blue! Use the lowest power available and enjoy the scenery!
oc Skiff jO458.2 +4301: 4'; Br. * mag. 10.5: Noted at 100x, it is easier to spot than Be 14, close by. A small but distinct haze was noted. At 136x 2 or 3 stars resolve. 187x shows 4 or 5 members, while 250x shows 8 stars, all very faint. there is still unresolved haze. It is not yet known if this is a true cluster.
oc Skiff j0507.2+3050: 6'; Br. * 10.8: Viewed at 136x and 187x, I saw an east-west elongated group of 10-12 stars, situated between 2 brighter stars. The group is north preceding a wide pair of bright stars aligned north/south. Its status as an actual cluster is still in some doubt.
oc St 8: 15'; 40 *s; Br. * mag. 9: The cluster is involved with NGC gn I. 417 (see Auriga, part 1). It is located near a bright golden star (24 Aurigae). At 100x the field is filled with bright and beautiful stars, with wispy puffs of nebula interspersed.
oc St 10: 25'; 15 *s: Observed well at 60x. 9 stars are plotted on Uranometria, including a double. The cluster is very large, and includes 5 very bright stars, with 3 in the north and 2 in the south. About 40 stars are in the group, though most of these are faint. An interesting faint group lies immediately preceding the bright pair of stars in the south. The cluster is attractive at low power, and suitable for small apertures.
eg UGC 3273: 3' x 0'.9: Vis. 14.2; SB 15.1: A very dim oval haze was seen amidst a few foreground stars.
This completes my deep sky study of Auriga. Clear skies!
Mapman Mike
oc Skiff jO458.2 +4301: 4'; Br. * mag. 10.5: Noted at 100x, it is easier to spot than Be 14, close by. A small but distinct haze was noted. At 136x 2 or 3 stars resolve. 187x shows 4 or 5 members, while 250x shows 8 stars, all very faint. there is still unresolved haze. It is not yet known if this is a true cluster.
oc Skiff j0507.2+3050: 6'; Br. * 10.8: Viewed at 136x and 187x, I saw an east-west elongated group of 10-12 stars, situated between 2 brighter stars. The group is north preceding a wide pair of bright stars aligned north/south. Its status as an actual cluster is still in some doubt.
oc St 8: 15'; 40 *s; Br. * mag. 9: The cluster is involved with NGC gn I. 417 (see Auriga, part 1). It is located near a bright golden star (24 Aurigae). At 100x the field is filled with bright and beautiful stars, with wispy puffs of nebula interspersed.
oc St 10: 25'; 15 *s: Observed well at 60x. 9 stars are plotted on Uranometria, including a double. The cluster is very large, and includes 5 very bright stars, with 3 in the north and 2 in the south. About 40 stars are in the group, though most of these are faint. An interesting faint group lies immediately preceding the bright pair of stars in the south. The cluster is attractive at low power, and suitable for small apertures.
eg UGC 3273: 3' x 0'.9: Vis. 14.2; SB 15.1: A very dim oval haze was seen amidst a few foreground stars.
This completes my deep sky study of Auriga. Clear skies!
Mapman Mike
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