Deep Sky Autumn Observations October - Mid-December 2017

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

Between October and mid-December 2017, I did simple "deep-sky autumn observations", mostly with binoculars, which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

My observations ranged between the coming Orion in the East to Hercules in the West. I mostly "hunted" for objects that can be observed with binoculars.

Overview Map

The following map shows approximately the sky area that I primarily browsed during my observations:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

Observations started early and the sooner, the later it became in the year. At the beginning of November, I also observed after midnight with my binoculars.

Observation Location

All observations were conducted in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49,25° N, 8,72° E

Devices Used

Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P
Leica Trinovid 10 x 25 binoculars
TS 10 x 60 binoculars

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. This is certainly one of the reasons why I found some of the deep sky objects that I wanted to observe only sometimes or not at all.

Observation Overview

Date 2017	Observed Objects	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
October	GC: NGC 884/869 (Perseus Double Cluster) P: Cr 399 (Coat Hanger)	Several observations, both objects seen well	Only binocular observations (comparison of the new night glass with the old compact binoculars)	LT and TS binoculars
Nov 4	GE: M42/43 (Orion Nebula) OS: Mel 25 (Hyades)	M 42/43 seen in binoculars; quite faint due to almost Full Moon (midnight until about 1 o' clock), 2 bright spots (stars and presumably the Trapezium) glow in the nebula Mel 25 seen well (after midnight)	Only binocular observations (comparison of the new night glass with the old compact binoculars)	LT and TS binoculars
Nov 13	G: M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) GC: M 13 (Hercules Globular Cluster) OC: NGC 884/869, Mel 20 (Perseus Cluster), M 45 (Pleiades), Mel 25, M 34, M 39, M 11 (Wild Duck Cluster) P: Cr 399, St 2 (Muscle Man)	NGC 884/869 with "ring" (at its end is supposed to be St 2) St 2 (muscle man) located at the "ring" of the double cluster: shape not recognized as such, but seen stars... Cr 399 found via Albireo M 39 at Deneb, at the upper left end of a transverse Ypsilon shape (TS) M 11 Wild Duck Cluster, probably not seen at the bottom of the swan	100P: Mel 20, NGC 884/869, M 34, M 39	LT and TS binoculars, Heritage 100P	Not documented
Dec 12	GE: M42/43 OS: M 45, Mel 25, M 35	M 42/43, M 35, M45, Mel 25 seen well, M 35 not so good...		LT and TS binoculars

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, P = star pattern

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Bino*	100P	Remarks
M 13	Hercules Cluster	Hercules	GC	yes		Seen well in binoculars
M 39		Cygnus	OC	yes	yes	View in telescope not impressing
Cr 399	Coat Hanger	Vulpecula	P	yes		Seen well in binoculars, found via Albireo
M 11	Wild Duck Cluster	Scutum	OC	yes		Probably not seen...
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	G	yes		A glow in binoculars
M 34		Perseus	OC	yes	yes	Primarily an object for binoculars
NGC 884/869	Perseus Double Cluster	Perseus	OC	yes	yes	Seen well in binoculars, with "oval" of stars
Mel 20	Alpha Persei Cluster (Mirfak)	Perseus	OC	yes	yes	Seen well in binoculars, very extended
Mel 25	Hyades	Taurus	OC	yes		Seen well in binoculars, very extended
M 45	Pleiades	Taurus	OC	yes		Seen well in binoculars
M 42/43	Orion Nebula	Orion	GE	yes		M 42/43 seen in binoculars; very faint because it was nearly Full Moon (midnight until about 1'clock), 2 bright spots (stars, probably the Trapezium) glowed in the nebula
M 35		Gemini	G	yes		M 35 seen only faintly

*) LT and TS binoculars; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula, P = star pattern

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2014). Deep Sky Reiseatlas, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2014
Ronald Stoyan (2014). Deep Sky Reiseführer, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2015
Erich Karkoschka (2016). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag
www.kosmos.de/buecher/ratgeber/astronomie/einsteiger/6598/atlas-fuer-himmelsbeobachter?number=15147