Messier 29 (M 29)

On this page I collect my observations of the open star cluster M 29 (NGC 6913) in the constellation Cygnus/Swan.

Introduction

The open star cluster M 29 in the constellation Cygnus / Swan is considered as small and inconspicuous, and one of the less known Messier objects. It showed only a few stars in my own observations (4-6 in the C8), not many more in the eVscope.

M 29 (NGC 6913)
Size: 6' (Stoyan)
Distance: 3,700 light years (Stoyan)
Rating: ** (Stoyan)

Map

M 29 in constellation Cygnus/Swan (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Find/Identify

Find: First of all, it is best to look for the "swan triangle" (blue lines), which lies in the west in winter, as shown on the map below. The bright star Deneb at the top of this triangle is the most striking one. Below it lies the star Gamma Cygni. If you draw a short oblique line eastwards and downwards from it, you will encounter the small, star-poor open star cluster M 29 in the constellation Cygnus/Swan. That reads more complicated than it is!

Identify: If you hit on a small star cluster of 4-6 stars, you have found and identified M 29.

My Best Own Photos

eVscope


M 29 - Jun 12, 2020	M 29 - 20.8.2020	M 29 - Sep 8, 2021, processed

M 29 - Jun 12, 2020, processed	M 29 - 20.8.2020, processed	M 29 - Sep 8, 2021, processed

eVscope 2 (3)


M 29 - Sep 6, 2023, 2 min		M 29 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed		M 29 - Oct 10, 2023, 3 min

Vespera

M 29, Sep 30, 2022 - original (27 frames = 270 seconds)

Vespera Pro


M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 2000 (90 frames = 15 min)		M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 2000 (90 frames = 15 min), processed

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (section right)		M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 1800 (90 frames = 15 min), section, processed (TIFF)

My Own Observations

Observations Summer to Autumn 2016

The open star cluster M 29 in Cygnus/Swan revealed only a few stars (as Karkoschka writes)… Location, observation date, and telescopes used are unknown/forgotten.

Observations End of January to February 2020

January 29, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: C8 , AZ4 Mount): M 29 revealed again only a few stars, there were 4-6 fine stars as shown in SkySafari.
February 6-7, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 29 photographed, but not very good...

Observations June to August 2020

June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 29 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay

Observations September 2021

September 8, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 29 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing

Observations September 2022

September 30, 2021 (Erkerode: Vespera): M 29 photographed (4:30 min)

Observations September/October 2023

September 6, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 29 photographed (DDT)
October 10, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 29 photographed (DDT; app version 2.5)

Observations November 2024

November 5, 2024 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 29 photographed (15 min)

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 29: messier.seds.org/m/m029.html
Messier 29 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_29

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope


M 29 - Feb 6, 2020	M 29 - Feb 6, 2020	M 29 - Feb 7, 2020, already too low...

M 29 - Jun 12, 2020	M 29 - Aug 20, 2020	M 29 - 20.8.2020

M 29 - Jun 12, 2020, processed	M 29 - 20.8.2020, processed	M 29 - 20.8.2020, processed

M 29 - Sep 8, 2021, processed	M 29 - Sep 8, 2021, processed

eVscope 2 (3)


M 29 - Sep 6, 2023, 2 min		M 29 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed		M 29 - Oct 10, 2023, 3 min

Vespera

M 29, Sep 30, 2022 - original (27 frames = 270 seconds)

Vespera Pro


M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 2000 (90 frames = 15 min)		M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 2000 (90 frames = 15 min), processed

Evaluation with nova.astrometry.net (section right)		M 29, Nov 5, 2024 - 1800 (90 frames = 15 min), section, processed (TIFF)