Deep Sky Spring Observations April - June 2019

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

From the end of April 2019 to the beginning of June, I conducted simple deep sky "spring observations", which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here.

Observation Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

Initially, at the end of April 2019, I restricted myself to the sky between Cancer, Gemini, Orion, Auriga and Taurus, because all this was in about the same direction for me (southwest to south).

At the beginning of June 2019, I searched for well visible open and globular star clusters in Cancer, in Coma Berenices and around Arcturus in Bootes. So the targets were sometimes quite far apart.

Overview Map

The following map shows approximately the sky region that I browsed during my observations end of April/beginning of May:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window. The deep sky objects that I tried to observe are indicated by red dots.

The following map shows approximately the sky region that I browsed during my observations at the beginning of June:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window. The deep sky objects that I tried to observe are indicated by red dots.

Observation Time

The observations of deep sky objects started after it was sufficiently dark.

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

General Conditions

The observations startedafter full moon or briefly after new moon.

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 2019	Observations	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
Apr	OC: M 44 (Praesepe), M 45 (Pleyades), M 35	M 44, M 45, and M 35 as easy test objects for the SynScan WLAN module	Test observations with PS 72/432 on Star Discovery mount with SynScan WLAN	PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount	n.a.
April 28	OC: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38	M 44 with various eyepieces (10-35) M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38 with 10 mm (M 35 also with other eyepieces): all the objects faint and fine dots (M 35)	Test observations with PS 72/432 on Star Discovery mount with SynScan WLAN	PS 72/432 on Star Discovery mount, SynScan WLAN	10 mm - 35 mm
May 1	OC: M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38, M 44	M 44 with various eyepieces (16?, 24?, 35) M 35, M 36, M 37, M 38 various eyepieces: all the objects faint and fine dots, but better than with PS72/432	Test observations with Explorer 150 PDS on Star Discovery mount with SynScan WLAN	Explorer 150PDS on Star Discovery mount, SynScan WLAN	16 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm
Jun 2	OC: Mel 111 (Coma star cluster), M 44 GC: M 3, M 5	M 44 (Praesepe): faint (PS 72/432 and TS binoculars) Mel 111 (Coma star cluster): large (PS 72/432, TS binoculars, Omegon-star field binoculars) M 3, M 5 (PS 72/432 and TS binoculars): M3 smaller than M5, both with a bright core and surrounding glow, no stars recognizable	Observations with PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount, TS binoculars and Omegon star field binoculars	PS 72/432 on AZ Pronto mount TS binoculars, Omegon star field binoculars	4 mm, 10 mm, 35 mm; open star clusters only with 35 mm
Jun 6	GC: M 3, M 5, M 53	Similar as with PS 72/432: M3 smaller than M5, both with a bright core and surrounding glow, no stars recognizable; M 53 smaller than both	First observations of globular star clusters with Skymax-127	Skymax-127 on Star Discovery mount, SynScan WLAN	10 mm, 24 mm, 35 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; all observations in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau; GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, PN = planetary nebula, G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster

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*	PS 72/432	SM-127	150PDS	Remarks
M 3		Canes Venatici	GC	yes	yes	yes		small, bright core
Mel 111	Coma star cluster	Coma Berenices	OC	yes	yes			large
M 53		Coma Berenices	GC			yes		small, bright core; smaller than M3 and M 5
M 5		Serpens Caput	GC	yes	yes	yes		small, bright core; larger than M 3
M 36		Auriga	OC		yes		yes	very fine dots, faint
M 37		Auriga	OC		yes		yes	very fine dots, faint
M 38		Auriga	OC		yes		yes	very fine dots, faint
M 45	Pleyades	Taurus	OC		yes			large
M 35		Gemini	OC		yes		yes	very fine dots, faint; larger than M 36-38
M 44	Praesepe, Crib	Cancer	OC		yes		yes	large

*) 10 x 60 TS binoculars; GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster

References

All the star maps were created with SkySafari Pro for Apple Macintosh.

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2023). Deep Sky Reiseatlas (5. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-949370-04-5)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=608
Ronald Stoyan (2021). Deep Sky Reiseführer (6. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-938469-72-9)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=603
Erich Karkoschka (2022). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag (EAN: 9783440173602)
www.kosmos.de/de/atlas-fur-himmelsbeobachter_1074889_9783440173602