Deep Sky Summer/Autumn Observations September - November 2018

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

In September 2018 up tp the beginning of October, I did simple "deep-sky summer / autumn observations," which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Sumène, Haute Loire, France, and were carried out with my Omegon Photography Scope 72/432 telescope and with my binoculars, that is, with simple means.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

I confined my observations to the sky area in the south with Hercules, Cygnus, Lyra on the one hand, and to the area between Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus on the other hand, as well as Pegasus/Aquarius in between, and Ursa Major in the North.

Overview Map

The following inverted 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)

And here is the inverted section of the sky in the Northeast to East with Perseus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Triangulum and parts of Pegasus:

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

Observation Time

The observations were done in September/October 2018 and from mid-October to mid-November 2018.

Observation Locations

The observations took place in Sumène (close to Saint Julien-Chapteuil), Haute Loire (France):

Coordinates: 45° 2′ N, 4° 4′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 45.04° N, 4.06° E

The observations from mid-October 2018 on took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

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

Devices Used

In the first serien in France, I used my Leica Trinovid 10 x 25 BC binoculars (LT binoculars), my TS 10 x 60 binoculars, my Omegon 2.1 wide field binoculars (OM21), and my Omegon PS 72/432 refractor. With the latter, I used my UWA eyepieces (16 mm, 7 mm, 4 mm) and a 24 mm Televue eyepiece for a maximum overview.

During the second series in Mühlhausen, I also used my Sky-Watcher Heritage 100P telescope, my Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 OTA, and also my Omegon 76/300.

So this time I observed "manually" without any GoTo control!

General Conditions

The sky above Sumène, Haute Loire (France) is relatively dark (the Betz observatory used by the Orion43 group is near-by). The milky way could be seen very well at times.

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2018	Observed Objects	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
Sep 16	G: M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) GC: M 13 (Hercules Cluster) P: Cr 399 (Coat Hanger) DS: Double Double (Lyra)	Sagitta: constellation fits the field of view well in the OM21 Vulpecula: Cr 399 easy to find from Sagitta; can be seen nearly complete in the OM21, very good with TS Andromeda: M 31 small, but visible with OM21, good with TS Hercules: M 13 only a spot with OM21, three spots with TS, the center spot "shimmering" = the globular star cluster Lyra: Double Double seen "simple" in both binoculars (OM21, TS)	All in all, nice sky despite about half moon	OM21 binoculars, TS binoculars
Sep 17	G: M 31 GC: M 15, M 56, M 71 PN: M 57 (Ring Nebula), M 27 (Dumbbell Nebula) DS: Double Double, Albireo, Alcor & Mizar	Lyra: Double Double seen as 4 stars at a magnification of 100 x four stars seen (just visible...); M 57 not found; M 56 probably seen Sagitta: M 71 probably seen faintly Vulpecula: M 27 seen quite well at different magnifications Cygnus: Albireo seen well Andromeda: M 31 seen well, but only the core (different magnifications) Perseus: M 15 seen well at different magnifications, but small Lyra: Tried M 57 once more, the nebula only seen at larger magnifications (60/108 x) Ursa Major: Finally, I was able to separate Alcor & Mizar easily, Mizar itself only at higher magnifications	Perseus: I first thought that M 15 was a star and therefore I did not find it; after looking at a star map, I found it and saw it well, but small at different magnifications (that is why I thought that it was a star at the beginning and did not find it...) Lyra: Another approach to M 57 (Ring Nebula); not found using low magnification (like a star), only at larger ones; with 60/108 x good to see; Astrid also saw the "hole" in the ring, I guessed it at least...	PS 72/432	UWA 4 mm, 7 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 19	G: M 31 GC: M 13 OC: NGC 663, Mel 20 (Mirfak Cluster), NGC 884/869 (Perseus Double Cluster)	Hercules/Andromeda: I observed M 13 and M 31 at the smallest and largest magnification Cassiopeia: Tried to find three OCs; M 103 probably not found, NGC 654 doubtful (unclear what was to be observed...), NGC 663 probably seen (a glow in TS, as Karkoschka writes) Perseus: Mel 20 seen well, particularly with the TS; acceptable with the PS72, less well with the OM21; NGC 884/869 seen well with TS, guessed with OM21; seen well with PS72, also at somewhat higher magnifications	Later in the evening, the moon made the Milky Way invisible...	PS 72/432, TS binoculars, OM21 binoculars	UWA 4 mm, 7 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 20	G: M 31 GC: M 13 OC: NGC 884/869, NGC 663, M 103	Hercules/Andromeda/Perseus: M 13 and M 31 seen well again, NGC 869/884 as well Cassiopeia: Tried to find NGC 281, 457, 581 (M 103), 654, 663, 559, only seen one of them (a lot of small stars and star pairs, also with 7 mm; a glow in the TS bino), very probably NGC 663; probably also seen 3-4 stars of M 103...		PS 72/432, TS binoculars	UWA 4 mm, 7 mm, 16 mm, ...
Sep 22	Mond G: M 31 OS: M 103, NGC 663, NGC 457 (E.T./Owl Cluster), NGC 884/869, Mel 20, M 34, NGC 752	Moon: Already close to full moon (Sep 25 very early) Cassiopeia: M 103 (3-4 stars), NGC 654 not found, NGC 663 (a lot of small stars and star pairs, also with 7 mm; a glow in the TS bino), NGC 457 (also with 7 mm), M 52 not found Perseus: M 34 (a glow in the TS bino), seen well with PS72; NGC 884/869 and Mel 20 observed only briefly, because I looked for other objects... Andromeda: M 31; NGC 752 large, many small stars Triangulum: M 33 not found Ursa Major: M 101 not found	No galaxies found except for M 31, probably because of the moon light	PS 72/432, TS binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 27, 2018	GC: M 92, M 13 OC: M 11	Scutum: M 11 - Astrid discovered it with the bino, seen with both LT and TS binoculars, with the PS72 as well: with 24mm only a glow, with 4 mm many stars Herkules: M 92 seen well with PS72 and 4 mm, bright and small; M 13 ditto, but larger	M 11 in the Scutum cloud, a special section of the Milky Way The moon appeared after 9 p.m., before that the Milky Way was good to see	PS 72/432, LT binoculars, TS binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 28	G: M 31, M 33 OC: M 11, IC 4665, M 8/NGC 6530, M 39, M 52 GNE: M 8/NGC 6530	Cassiopeia: Came across NGC 663 again and again (also with the TS bino); M 52 probably found, seemed rather small (12'); nothing else found in Cassiopeia Andromeda: M 31 seen (TS, LT, PS72) Triangulum: M 33 probably guessed in PS72 and LT; very faint glow, framed by stars; rather large (50') Scutum: M 11 found again (PS, TS, and LT) Aquila: Further OC found there (LT, TS, PS72), probably IC 4665, because found and visible with binoculars as well: Sagittarius: Close to Saturn saw M 8 with OC NGC 6530 (probably only seen the OC) Cygnus: Seen OC above Deneb (PS72 and LT/TS), obviously M 39	The waning moon made the Milky Way slowly disappear again Sagittarius: OC with glow on the left side close to Saturn; obviously, this was M 8 (Lagoon Nebula) with OC NGC 6530; the glow was, according to SkySafari a very bright spot; basically, I just saw stars, that is NGC 6530, and not the nebula M 8... Cygnus: Seen OC above Deneb (like a triangle); I first assumed that it was NGC 6996, according to SkySafari in the mid of a nebula cloud close to NGC 7000 -> but actually, it was M 39	PS 72/432, LT binoculars, TS binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Oct 4	G: M 31, M 33 GC: M 2, M 15 OC: M 103, NGC 663, M 52, NGC 457, St 2 (Muscle Man), Mel 20, NGC 884/869, M 45, M 11, M 17/NGC 6618 (Omega Nebula), M 16/IC 4703 (Eagle Nebula)	Cassiopeia: M 103 (3-4 stars), NGC 663, M 52 (seen better this time), NGC 457, St 2; not found: NGC 654, 559? Perseus: NGC 884/869, Mel 20 Andromeda: M 31 seen beautifully, the glow was larger this time Triangulum: M 33 seen better, nevertheless a faint glow... Taurus: M 45 seen beautifully, with TS und OM21 binos as well Pegasus: M 15 seen well Aquarius: M 2 seen even better than M 15 Scutum: M 11 seen with 24 mm just a glow, with 7 mm and 4 mm resolved into stars Close to Saturn: Saw a glow above Saturn, then saw two OCs, one of them with a glow: Sagittarius: M 17, saw a glow and a star cluster (no nebula filter) Serpens Caput: M 16, only seen the star cluster (nebula IC 4703 should only be visible with a filter)		PS 72/432, TS binoculars, OM21 binoculars
Oct 5	G: M 31 GC: M 134, M 92, M 56 OC: Cr 399, M 34, M 45, Mel 20 PN: M 57 GNE: M 27	Betz, Orion43: M 13, M 92, M 56, M 57, M 27, M 45 Sumène (TS and LT): M 31 (seen larger than ever...), M 34 (seen well, single stars), M 45, Mel 20, Cr 399)	Betz: Diverse telescopes; M 57 with hole at the center, M 27 large, globular star cluster M 13 resolved into stars, M 45 nice; also observed M 31 and M 45 in Betz with LT binoculars	TS binoculars, LTbinoculars
Oct 12	OC: M 11, M 25 PN: M 57	Lyra: M 57 up to 108 x/114 x, partly with a hole at the center at higher magnifications Sagittarius: open, wide-spread cluster close to a yellow star, probably M 25 Scutum: nebula glow, divided in two parts at higher magnifications (see also Stoyan's image!), close to an oblique trapezium (Scutum, on top of Sagittarius) >> obviously M 11	Observations done in Mühlhausen beginning from Oct 12, 2018	PS 72/432 and 100P at low magnifications, partly also higher magnifications	(28mm = 15,5 x for PS72; 24 mm = 16,67 x for 100P)
Oct 13, 2018	GC: M 13	Hercules: M 13 at various magnifications		PS 72/432	???
Oct 14	OC: M 11, M 39 P: Cr 399	Scutum: M 11 (found using the trapezium) Cygnus: M 39 (high up close to Deneb, wide-spread, large; also seen in binoculars) Vulpecula: Cr 399		PS 72/432, LT and TS binoculars	???
Nov 1	OC: M 11, Mel 20, NGC 663, NGC 884/869 G: M 31 P: St 2	Saturn in 24 and 10 eyepiece: good to see, but "wobbly" because low at the sky Scutum: M 11 seen with 24/16/10 eyepieces; at 24 mm (62,5 x) still more like a nebula, from 16 mm on (93,75 x) more stars to see, no longer like a nebula; 150 x at maximum; TS: glow, two stars at its side Andromeda: M 31 (TS) Perseus: Mel 20 (TS), NGC 884/869 (TS) Cassiopeia: NGC 663 seen at different magnifications and in TS binoculars; St 2 seen perhaps in TS binoculars - probably seen, but not recognized …	M11: found with TS using the end stars of constellation Aquila (arc) and confirmed with the "trapezium"	Skymax-127; TS binoculars	32, 24, 16, 10 mm
Nov 11	OC: M 11, M 45, Mel 20, Mel 25, NGC 884/869 GC: M 15 G: M 31	Scutum: M 11 with 24 mm eyepiece (SM127), but also larger; up to 100 x with 100P; with 24 mm nice glow; at higher magnifications less glow, more resolved into stars; also seen with TS binoculars; with LT binoculars just, later no more... Pegasus: M 15 (100P, above cemetary) observed with 24 mm and 4mm eyepieces (= up to 100 x); comparatively small Andromeda: M 31 (100P, above cemetary) Perseus: NGC 884/869, Mel 20 (100P, above cemetary) Taurus: M 45, Mel 25 (100P, above cemetary)	Astrid (LT): Perseus double cluster, Pleyades, Hyades, Mirfak Cluster, Coat Hanger	Skymax-127, Heritage 100P, LT binoculars, TS binoculars	24 mm ... 4 mm
Nov 12	OC: M 11 PN: M 57 P: Cr 399	Scutum: M 11 (100P, TS); M 2 seen at different magnifications (100P, up to 100 x = 4 mm) Lyra: M 57 (only briefly at diverse magnifications, no ring) Vulpecula: Cr 399 (TS)		Heritage 100P, TS binoculars	???
Nov 13	OC: M 11 G: M 31	Scutum: M 11 (100P, TS, LT) Andromeda: M 31 (100P, LT)		Heritage 100P, LT binoculars	???
Nov 16	OC: M 45 P: Cr 399	Vulcepula: Cr 399 with 28 mm > fine dots Taurus: M 45 with 28 mm, 16 mm > nice		PS72/432	28 mm, 16 mm
Nov 17	OC: M 45, Mel 25, NGC 884/869 P: Cr 399, St 2	Vulpecula: Cr 399 Perseus: NGC 884/869 Andromeda: St 2 Taurus: M 45, Mel 25 Moon		Inf76

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations upt to Oct 5, 2018 in Sumène/Haute Loire (France), the remaining ones in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany) 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*	PS72	100P	SM127	Remarks
zeta UMa	Mizar	Ursa Major	DS		yes			pair seen well
M 52		Cassiopeia	OC		yes			found after initial problems
NGC 457	Owl/E.T. Cluster	Cassiopeia	OC		yes			rather small, the eyes are seen best
M 103		Cassiopeia	OC		yes			3-4 stars, recognized after initial problems
NGC 663		Cassiopeia	OC	TS	yes		yes	recognized well, a lot of small stars and star pairs
St 2	Muscle Man	Cassiopeia	OC	TS?	yes			found after initial problems
M 13	Hercules Cluster	Hercules	GC	TS, OM21	yes			demo object; seen very well in Betz
M 92		Hercules	GC		yes			Smaller than M 13, harder to find (for me); seen very well in Betz
epsilon Lyr	Double Double	Lyra	DS	TS, OM21	yes			seen as a pair in binoculars (no "double pair"), seen as "double pair" in the telescope from a magnification of 100 x on
M 57	Ring Nebula	Lyra	PN		yes	yes		Seen in Sumène only at higher magnifications, thought it was a star at lower magnifications; seen well in Betz including the "hole"; in Mühlhausen also seen with 100P
M 56		Lyra	GC		yes			seen only faintly
IC 4665		Ophiuchus	OC	TS, LT	yes			visible also in binoculars
beta Cyg	Albireo	Cygnus	DS	TS, LT	yes			nice color difference, leads the way to the Coat Hanger Cr 399
M 39		Cygnus	OC	TS, LT	yes			close to the zenith, close to Deneb - a wide, triangular field of stars
Cr 399	Coat Hanger	Vulpecula	P	TS, LT, OM21	yes	yes		nearly better in binoculars than in the telescope; easy to find via Sagitta or Cygnus
M 27	Dumbbell Nebula	Vulpecula	PN		yes			seen well
M 71		Sagitta	GC		yes			M 71 probably seen faintly
M 11	Wild Duck Cluster	Scutum	OC	LT, TS	yes	yes	yes	visible also in binoculars; looks like two parts; in Mühlhausen found via a "trapezium"
M 16+IC4703	Eagle Nebula (OC: M 16/NGC 6611, GN: IC 4703)	Serpens Cauda	OC/GN		yes			M 16 denotes the star cluster, IC 4703 the surrounding GN
M 8/NGC 6523	Lagoon Nebula (OC: NGC 6530, GN: M 8/NGC 6523)	Sagittarius	OC/GN		yes			nowadays, M 8 denotes the GN named NGC 6523, Stoyan includes the OC NGC 6530 in M 8
M 25		Sagittarius	OC		yes	yes		open, wide-spread cluster close to a yellow star (probably M 25)
M17	Omega/Swan Nebula (GN: M 17/NGC 6618)	Sagittarius	GN		yes			saw a glow and a star cluster (no nebula filter)
M 15		Pegasus	GC		yes	yes		not as large as M 13; initially not recognized because I thought that it was a star
M 2		Aquarius	GC		yes			seen even better than M 15
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	G	TS, LT, OM21	yes	yes		in the North-East; seen large and bright as never before, particularly in binoculars
NGC 752		Andromeda	OS	PS 72/432	yes			large, many small stars
M 33		Triangulum	G	LT	yes			only a very faint glow
NGC 884/869	Perseus Double Cluster	Perseus	OC	TS, LT, OM21	yes	yes		in the North-East; already seen with the naked eye
M 34		Perseus	OC		yes			partly a glow, partly single stars
Mel 20	Alpha Persei Cluster, Mirfak Cluster	Perseus	OC	TS, LT, OM21	yes			very nice, also with the naked eye
M 45	Pleiades/Seven Sisters	Taurus	OC	TS, OM21	yes	yes		seen beautifully (late)
Mel 25	Hyades	Taurus	OC			yes

*) LT = 10 x 25 binoculars, TS = 10 x 60 binoculars; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, P = star pattern, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula

Searched for, but not found: NGC 281 (GN), NGC 654 (OC), NGC 559 (OC)

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