Binocular Observing Olympics II - Stellafane
15
Binocular Observing Olympics II Stellafane 2019 edition Compiled by Phil Harrington www.philharrington.net • To qualify for the BOO pin, you must see 15 of the following 20 binocular targets. Check off each as you spot them. Seen # Object Const. Chart Type* RA Dec Mag Size Nickname 1. M81 UMa 1 GX 09 55.6 +69 04 7.0 26'x14' Bode’s Galaxy 2. M82 UMa 1 GX 09 55.8 +69 41 8.4 11'x5' Cigar Galaxy 3. M51 CVn 2 GX 13 29.9 +47 12 8.4 11'x8' Whirlpool Galaxy 4. M101 UMa 2 GX 14 03.2 +54 21 7.7 27'x26' Pinwheel Galaxy 5. M5 Ser 3 GC 15 18.6 +02 05 5.8 17' 6. M12 Oph 4 GC 16 47.2 -01 57 6.6 15' 7. Garden Trowel Sco 5 AS 16 54.7 -30 57 7-8 78' 8. M10 Oph 4 GC 16 57.1 -04 06 6.6 15' 9. M62 Oph 5 GC 17 01.2 -30 07 6.6 14' 10. M92 Her 6 GC 17 17.1 +43 08 6.5 11' 11. Hockey Stick Sco 5 AS 17 25.1 -34 33 -- 37' 12. Barnard’s Star Oph 7/7a * 17 58.7 +04 45 9.5 -- 13. M16 Ser 8 BN/OC 18 18.8 -13 47 6.0 35' Eagle Nebula 14. NGC 6633 Oph 7 OC 18 27.7 +06 34 4.6 27' 15. IC 4756 Oph 7 OC 18 39.0 +05 27 5.4p 52' Graff's Cluster 16. Beta (β) Cygni Cyg 9 ** 19 30.7 +27 58 3.1,5.1 34" Albireo 17. Barnard 142-143 Aql 10 DN 19 40.7 +10 57 -- 80'x50' Barnard’s E 18. M71 Sge 10 OC 19 53.8 +18 47 8.3 7' 19. NGC 7662 And 11 PN 23 25.9 +42 33 8.9p 32"x28" Blue Snowball 20. NGC 1499 Per 12 BN 04 00.7 +36 37 145'x40' California Nebula *Type: * Single star BN Bright nebula GX Galaxy ** Double star DN Dark nebula OC Open star cluster AS Asterism GC Globular cluster PN Planetary nebula Note: The center of view, field of view (FOV), and limiting magnitude of each chart on the following pages are shown in the chart legend. How did you make out with this year's list? And would you like to see a new BOO 2020 list next year? Drop me a line via my web site, philharrington.net, and let me know. Good luck. And remember, two eyes are better than one!
Transcript of Binocular Observing Olympics II - Stellafane
Binocular Observing Olympics II Stellafane 2019 edition
Compiled by Phil Harrington www.philharrington.net
• To qualify for the BOO pin, you must see 15 of the following 20 binocular
targets. Check off each as you spot them.
Seen # Object Const. Chart Type* RA Dec Mag Size Nickname
1. M81 UMa 1 GX 09 55.6 +69 04 7.0 26'x14' Bode’s Galaxy
2. M82 UMa 1 GX 09 55.8 +69 41 8.4 11'x5' Cigar Galaxy
3. M51 CVn 2 GX 13 29.9 +47 12 8.4 11'x8' Whirlpool Galaxy
4. M101 UMa 2 GX 14 03.2 +54 21 7.7 27'x26' Pinwheel Galaxy
5. M5 Ser 3 GC 15 18.6 +02 05 5.8 17'
6. M12 Oph 4 GC 16 47.2 -01 57 6.6 15'
7. Garden Trowel Sco 5 AS 16 54.7 -30 57 7-8 78'
8. M10 Oph 4 GC 16 57.1 -04 06 6.6 15'
9. M62 Oph 5 GC 17 01.2 -30 07 6.6 14'
10. M92 Her 6 GC 17 17.1 +43 08 6.5 11'
11. Hockey Stick Sco 5 AS 17 25.1 -34 33 -- 37'
12. Barnard’s Star Oph 7/7a * 17 58.7 +04 45 9.5 --
13. M16 Ser 8 BN/OC 18 18.8 -13 47 6.0 35' Eagle Nebula
14. NGC 6633 Oph 7 OC 18 27.7 +06 34 4.6 27'
15. IC 4756 Oph 7 OC 18 39.0 +05 27 5.4p 52' Graff's Cluster
16. Beta (β) Cygni Cyg 9 ** 19 30.7 +27 58 3.1,5.1 34" Albireo
17. Barnard 142-143 Aql 10 DN 19 40.7 +10 57 -- 80'x50' Barnard’s E
18. M71 Sge 10 OC 19 53.8 +18 47 8.3 7'
19. NGC 7662 And 11 PN 23 25.9 +42 33 8.9p 32"x28" Blue Snowball
20. NGC 1499 Per 12 BN 04 00.7 +36 37 145'x40' California Nebula
*Type: * Single star BN Bright nebula GX Galaxy
** Double star DN Dark nebula OC Open star cluster AS Asterism GC Globular cluster PN Planetary nebula
Note: The center of view, field of view (FOV), and limiting magnitude of each chart on the following pages are shown in the chart legend.
How did you make out with this year's list? And would you like to see a new BOO 2020 list next year? Drop me a line via my web site, philharrington.net, and let me know.
Good luck. And remember, two eyes are better than one!
All-Sky Star Chart
(chart drawn for 11:30 PM)
Circled areas correspond to the chart numbers found on the pages that follow.
1
1.
M8
1 (
Bo
de
's G
alax
y) a
nd
M8
2 (
Cig
ar G
alax
y)
M8
1 a
nd
M8
2 i
n U
rsa
Maj
or
are
a ga
lact
ic v
ersi
on
of
the
O
dd
Co
up
le.
No
wh
ere
else
in
th
e sk
y d
o w
e fi
nd
su
ch a
n
un
usu
al p
air.
On
on
e h
and
, we
hav
e a
text
bo
ok
exam
ple
of
a sp
iral
gal
axy.
Lik
e Fe
lix U
nge
r, it
ap
pe
ars
nea
tly
arra
nge
d
and
wel
l gro
om
ed.
On
th
e o
ther
, w
e h
ave
Osc
ar M
adis
on
, an
un
kem
pt,
dis
hev
eled
gal
acti
c m
ess.
The
Fel
ix U
nge
r o
f th
e p
air
is M
81
, a m
od
el S
b s
pir
al s
yste
m.
The
18
th-c
entu
ry G
erm
an a
stro
no
mer
Jo
han
n B
od
e, t
hen
d
irec
tor
of t
he
Ber
lin O
bse
rvat
ory
, dis
cove
red
M8
1 in
17
74
, fi
ve y
ears
bef
ore
Mes
sier
ad
ded
it t
o h
is c
atal
og.
Thro
ugh
ou
r b
ino
cula
rs, M
81
loo
ks d
isti
nct
ly o
val d
ue
to it
s ti
lt f
rom
ou
r va
nta
ge p
oin
t. C
en
tere
d w
ith
in t
hat
ova
l glo
w
lies
the
gal
acti
c co
re, a
pp
ear
ing
like
a fa
int
bu
ried
sta
r.
Then
we
hav
e th
e O
scar
Mad
iso
n s
ide
of
the
cou
ple
, M
82
. B
od
e is
als
o c
red
ited
wit
h it
s d
isco
very
in 1
77
4. H
e p
rob
ably
d
idn
’t
no
tice
it
at
fi
rst
glan
ce,
sin
ce
M8
2
is
abo
ut
a m
agn
itu
de
fain
ter
than
M8
1. B
ut
afte
r cl
ose
r in
spe
ctio
n h
e
did
, an
d s
o c
an y
ou
. G
lan
ce a
bo
ut
hal
f a
deg
ree
no
rth
of
M8
1. M
82
loo
ks lo
ng
and
th
in, s
om
ew
hat
like
a c
igar
. W
ith
p
atie
nce
, I’
ve s
po
tted
it
thro
ugh
7x3
5 b
ino
cula
rs u
nd
er
sub
urb
an s
kies
.
Un
like
M8
1,
wh
ich
fla
un
ts a
pro
no
un
ced
co
re,
M8
2 l
oo
ks
pre
tty
mu
ch
un
ifo
rm
fro
m
end
to
e
nd
vi
sual
ly.
Ph
oto
grap
hs,
ho
wev
er,
reve
al a
pai
r o
f h
uge
plu
mes
of
mat
ter
exte
nd
ing
fro
m a
dar
k ri
ft t
hat
cle
aves
th
e ga
lact
ic
cen
ter
in h
alf.
Man
y b
elie
ve t
his
up
hea
val i
s th
e en
d r
esu
lt
of a
co
llisi
on
bet
wee
n t
he
two
in t
he
far-
dis
tan
t p
ast.
M8
1’s
gr
eate
r m
ass
dis
rup
ted
M
82
, tr
igge
rin
g tr
emen
do
us
inte
rnal
tu
rmo
il an
d in
ten
se s
tarb
urs
t ac
tivi
ty.
UM
a
2.
M5
1 (
Wh
irlp
oo
l Gal
axy)
an
d M
10
1 (
Pin
wh
ee
l Gal
axy)
A
im t
ow
ard
Alk
aid
, th
e st
ar a
t th
e e
nd
of
the
Dip
per
's
han
dle
. L
oo
k h
alf
a fi
eld
to
Alk
aid
's w
est
-so
uth
wes
t fo
r a
4th
-mag
nit
ud
e st
ar,
and
th
en f
rom
th
ere,
a t
rap
ezo
id o
f d
imm
er s
un
s an
eq
ual
dis
tan
ce f
arth
er s
ou
th s
till.
If
yo
u
loo
k ca
refu
lly ju
st in
sid
e th
e tr
ape
zoid
's e
aste
rn c
orn
er,
yo
u
mig
ht
spo
t a
dim
glo
w.
That
's M
51
, th
e b
eau
tifu
l Wh
irlp
oo
l G
alax
y.
Thro
ugh
70
mm
an
d la
rger
bin
ocu
lars
, yo
u m
igh
t al
so n
oti
ce
that
M5
1 is
a li
ttle
lop
sid
ed.
That
's b
ecau
se y
ou
are
n't
just
lo
oki
ng
at o
ne
gala
xy,
bu
t tw
o.
Mes
sier
mis
sed
M5
1's
co
mp
anio
n, s
o y
ou
wo
n't
fin
d it
in h
is c
atal
og.
We
kno
w it
to
day
as
NG
C 5
19
5,
its
listi
ng
in t
he
Ne
w G
ener
al C
atal
og.
N
GC
51
95
glo
ws
mo
des
tly
at a
bo
ut
10
th m
agn
itu
de
. C
an
you
see
bo
th?
No
w,
fro
m M
izar
, tr
ace
a zi
gzag
lin
e o
f fo
ur
fain
t st
ars
east
war
d, a
way
fro
m t
he
curv
ing
han
dle
. A
t th
e fo
urt
h s
tar,
h
oo
k a
littl
e to
th
e n
ort
hea
st,
tow
ard
a d
iam
on
d o
f fo
ur
fain
ter
star
s.
Can
yo
u s
ee
a ve
ry f
ain
t sm
ud
ge n
ext
to t
he
d
iam
on
d's
eas
tern
po
int?
Th
at's
th
e fa
mo
us
spir
al g
alax
y M
10
1.
M
10
1
is
tou
gh
eno
ugh
to
se
e th
rou
gh
smal
l te
lesc
op
es,
let
alo
ne
bin
ocu
lars
, b
ut
it is
po
ssib
le.
Be
sure
to
use
ave
rted
vis
ion
. E
ven
th
en,
M1
01
will
pro
bab
ly
imp
ress
yo
u a
s lit
tle
mo
re t
han
a v
ery
dim
glo
w.
Bu
t th
ink
abo
ut
wh
at y
ou
are
see
ing.
Yo
ur
bin
ocu
lars
are
sh
ow
ing
you
a s
yste
m o
f b
illio
ns
of
star
s. T
he
ligh
t fr
om
th
ose
sta
rs
left
th
ere
27
mill
ion
yea
rs a
go,
lon
g b
efo
re o
ur
ear
liest
an
cest
ors
ev
olv
ed
on
th
e gr
assy
sa
van
nah
s o
f ea
ster
n
Afr
ica.
CV
n
UM
a
3.
M5
M
5
was
d
isco
vere
d
by
Go
ttfr
ied
K
irch
fr
om
B
erlin
, G
erm
any,
on
May
5,
17
02
. H
is n
ote
s d
escr
ibed
it
as a
“n
ebu
lou
s st
ar.”
A
lth
ou
gh
Kir
ch
was
G
erm
any’
s fi
rst
Ast
ron
om
er
Ro
yal
at
the
ti
me,
th
ose
n
ote
s re
mai
ned
u
np
ub
lish
ed
un
til
afte
r C
har
les
Mes
sier
in
dep
end
entl
y fo
un
d
it
on
M
ay
23
, 1
76
4.
Mes
sier
d
escr
ibed
it
as
a
“bea
uti
ful n
eb
ula
; it
do
es n
ot
con
tain
an
y st
ar.”
It
was
on
ly
afte
r W
illia
m H
ersc
hel
vie
wed
it t
hro
ugh
a la
rger
tel
esco
pe
2
7 y
ears
lat
er t
hat
its
tru
e n
atu
re a
s a
glo
bu
lar
clu
ster
b
ecam
e cl
ear.
To f
ind
M5
, cas
t o
ff f
rom
Arc
turu
s an
d s
lide
sou
thea
stw
ard
to
4
th-m
agn
itu
de
Zeta
(ζ
) B
oö
tis.
C
on
tin
ue
fro
m
ther
e
twic
e t
he
dis
tan
ce a
lon
g a
slig
htl
y m
ore
eas
terl
y co
urs
e u
nti
l yo
u c
om
e to
a n
ot-
qu
ite
righ
t tr
ian
gle
of
star
s. T
he
tr
ian
gle
's b
righ
test
sta
r, p
osi
tio
ned
at
the
no
t-q
uit
e ri
ght
angl
e,
is
thir
d-m
agn
itu
de
U
nu
kalh
ai
[pro
no
un
ced
“o
o-
no
ok-
ul-
hig
h,”
an
d a
lso
kn
ow
n a
s A
lph
a (α
) Se
rpe
nti
s].
Nex
t,
turn
to
th
e so
uth
wes
t,
tow
ard
6
th-m
agn
itu
de
5
Serp
enti
s. M
5 w
ill b
e ju
st t
o i
ts n
ort
h-n
ort
hw
est.
Th
rou
gh
ou
r b
ino
cula
rs,
it l
oo
ks l
ike
a fu
zzy
star
, ju
st a
s K
irch
an
d
Mes
sier
des
crib
ed.
Esti
mat
es s
ay t
hat
M5
is
24
,50
0 l
igh
t ye
ars
away
an
d m
ay
con
tain
as
man
y as
50
0,0
00
sta
rs c
ram
med
in
to a
sp
ace
abo
ut
16
5 l
igh
t ye
ars
acro
ss.
By
con
tras
t, M
13
, su
mm
er’s
G
reat
Her
cule
s G
lob
ula
r, h
old
s ab
ou
t 3
00
,00
0 s
tars
.
Ser
5
4.
M1
0 a
nd
M1
2
This
pai
r o
f b
eau
ties
lie
s sm
ack-
dab
in
th
e m
idd
le o
f th
e O
ph
iuch
us
hex
ago
nal
fra
me.
M
10
an
d M
12
eas
ily f
it i
nto
th
e sa
me
fiel
d o
f vie
w a
nd
cre
ate
a d
iffe
ren
t so
rt o
f “d
ou
ble
cl
ust
er”
thro
ugh
ou
r b
ino
cula
rs.
Ch
arle
s M
essi
er w
as o
n a
ro
ll w
hen
he
dis
cove
red
M1
0 o
n M
ay 2
9, 1
76
4.
He
had
just
fo
un
d M
9 t
he
nig
ht
bef
ore
an
d w
ou
ld g
o o
n t
o a
dd
M1
2 t
he
fo
llow
ing
eve
nin
g.
(He
also
ad
ded
M1
1 t
o h
is l
ist
at t
his
ti
me,
alt
ho
ugh
it h
ad b
een
pre
vio
usl
y d
isco
vere
d.)
Wit
h m
ost
bin
ocu
lars
, M1
0 lo
oks
like
a r
elat
ivel
y d
im p
atch
o
f gr
ayis
h l
igh
t se
t in
a n
ice
star
fie
ld.
To
fin
d i
t, f
irst
fin
d
the
star
s th
at
ou
tlin
e
the
sou
ther
n
bo
un
dar
y o
f O
ph
iuch
us’
s fi
gure
. T
he
wes
tern
en
d i
s m
arke
d b
y tw
o
star
s --
Yed
Pri
or
[Del
ta (
δ)
Op
hiu
chi]
an
d Y
ed P
ost
erio
r [E
psi
lon
(ε)
Op
hiu
chi)
--
wh
ile t
he
east
ern
en
d i
s b
ou
nd
ed
by
Sab
ik [
Eta
(η)
Op
hiu
chi]
. T
he
co
nst
ella
tio
n’s
per
imet
er
kin
ks a
litt
le t
o t
he
sou
th, t
o t
he
star
Ze
ta (
ζ) O
ph
iuch
i. T
he
lin
e t
urn
s in
to a
dia
mo
nd
if y
ou
imag
ine
a s
eco
nd
lin
e f
rom
th
e tw
o Y
ed
s to
Sab
ik b
y w
ay o
f th
e f
ain
t st
ar 2
3 O
ph
iuch
i.
M1
0 l
ies
2°
no
rth
of
23
Op
hiu
chi
and
1°
wes
t o
f an
oth
er
fain
t st
ar, 3
0 O
ph
iuch
i. M
12
sh
ou
ld a
lso
be
visi
ble
in t
he
sam
e f
ield
of
view
. St
ud
y th
em b
oth
fo
r si
mila
riti
es a
nd
dif
fere
nce
s.
You
mig
ht
fin
d
that
M
12
ap
pea
rs
just
a
bit
sm
alle
r th
an
M1
0,
bu
t o
ther
wis
e, t
hey
are
tw
ins.
In
rea
lity,
M1
2,
at 1
7,6
00
lig
ht
year
s, i
s a
thir
d f
arth
er a
way
fro
m u
s th
an M
10
, w
hic
h i
s b
elie
ved
to
lie
at
13
,40
0 l
igh
t ye
ars.
A
lth
ou
gh i
t ap
pea
rs
slig
htl
y sm
alle
r th
an M
10
, in
rea
lity
M1
2 is
act
ual
ly la
rger
in
dia
met
er.
Op
h
23
30
5.
M6
2, G
ard
en
Tro
we
l, a
nd
Ho
cke
y St
ick
Glo
bu
lar
clu
ster
M6
2 l
ies
in a
ric
h r
egi
on
of
Op
hiu
chu
s ab
ou
t 8
° so
uth
east
of
An
tare
s. I
f yo
u'r
e u
sin
g 7
x to
10
x b
ino
cula
rs,
pla
ce A
nta
res
just
ou
tsid
e t
he
no
rth
wes
tern
ed
ge o
f th
e f
ield
an
d t
hen
loo
k al
on
g th
e o
pp
osi
te e
dge
fo
r a
smal
l, sl
igh
tly
fuzz
y "s
tar.
" Th
at'll
be
M6
2. I
t lie
s ju
st s
ou
th
of
a cl
ose
-set
pai
r o
f 8
th-m
agn
itu
de
star
s, s
o d
on
't c
on
fuse
o
ne
for
the
o
ther
.
That
"l
ittl
e fu
zz"
rep
rese
nts
th
e co
mb
ined
eff
ort
of
som
e 1
50
,00
0 s
tars
see
n a
t a
dis
tan
ce
of
22
,20
0 l
igh
t-ye
ars.
In
20
13
, as
tro
no
mer
s d
isco
vere
d a
st
ella
r-m
ass
bla
ck h
ole
wit
hin
M6
2,
on
e o
f th
e fi
rst
fou
nd
in
a g
lob
ula
r cl
ust
er.
This
re
gio
n a
lso
ho
lds
a p
air
of a
ster
ism
s vi
sib
le t
hro
ugh
ou
r b
ino
cula
rs.
Bo
th w
ere
cre
ated
by
the
imag
inat
ive
min
d o
f th
e la
te M
assa
chu
sett
s am
ateu
r Jo
hn
Dav
is.
The
firs
t is
th
e G
ard
en
Tro
we
l, fo
un
d ju
st t
o t
he
sou
thw
est
of
M6
2.
A t
rio
of
7th
-mag
nit
ud
e st
ars
po
inte
d s
ou
thw
ard
fo
rm t
he
tro
wel
bla
de,
wh
ile a
no
ther
fo
ur
or
so c
reat
e it
s n
ort
hw
ard
-mea
nd
erin
g h
and
le.
Mo
st o
f th
e Tr
ow
el's
sta
rs
are
wh
ite,
bu
t a
cou
ple
sh
ine
wit
h a
su
btl
e go
lden
glin
t.
An
oth
er D
avis
cre
atio
n, t
he
Ho
cke
y St
ick,
lies
7°
no
rth
wes
t o
f th
e st
ars
Shau
la [
Lam
bd
a (λ
) Sc
orp
ii] a
nd
Les
ath
[U
psi
lon
(υ
) Sc
orp
ii] a
t th
e ti
p o
f th
e s
corp
ion
's t
ail.
Loo
k fo
r a
no
rth
-so
uth
lin
e o
f fo
ur
equ
ally
sp
aced
7th
-mag
nit
ud
e st
ars
abo
ut
3°
to t
he
no
rth
wes
t. A
fif
th s
un
45
° so
uth
wes
t o
f th
e lin
e
form
s th
e s
tick
’s b
lad
e. T
he
ho
ckey
sti
ck a
nd
tai
l sta
rs e
asily
sq
uee
ze in
to t
he
sam
e 7
° fi
eld
of
my
10
x50
s, a
lon
g w
ith
th
e
spec
tacu
lar
op
en c
lust
ers
M6
an
d M
7 t
o t
he
east
. W
hat
a
view
!
Op
h
6.
M9
2
Sure
, yo
u k
no
w a
bo
ut
M1
3,
the
Gre
at H
ercu
les
Glo
bu
lar
Clu
ster
, b
ut
hav
e yo
u e
ver
seen
th
e co
nst
ella
tio
n’s
sec
on
d
glo
bu
lar,
M9
2?
To s
po
t it
, ai
m a
lon
g th
e n
ort
her
n s
ide
of
the
Key
sto
ne,
m
arke
d
by
the
star
s Et
a (η
) an
d
Pi
(π)
Her
culis
. B
oth
ou
ght
to ju
st s
qu
eeze
into
yo
ur
fiel
d o
f vie
w.
Loo
k fo
r a
clo
se-s
et p
air
of f
ain
ter
star
s to
th
eir
no
rth
, wh
ich
w
ith
Eta
an
d P
i, m
ake
a fa
irly
co
nsp
icu
ou
s ri
ght
tria
ngl
e.
Fro
m t
hat
fain
ter
pai
r, w
hic
h c
olle
ctiv
ely
mar
k th
e tr
ian
gle'
s ri
ght
angl
e, h
ead
no
rth
-no
rth
east
ab
ou
t h
alf
a fi
eld
(3
°) t
o
M9
2.
At
mag
nit
ud
e 6
.3,
M9
2 i
s o
ne
of
the
bri
ghte
st g
lob
ula
r cl
ust
ers
in t
he
Milk
y W
ay.
In
fac
t, if
it i
s cl
ear
eno
ugh
th
is
wee
ken
d,
it
mig
ht
even
b
e vi
sib
le
to
the
nak
ed
ey
e.
Thro
ugh
bin
ocu
lars
, M
92
will
sh
ow
as
a m
isty
, lit
tle
glo
w
acce
nte
d w
ith
a b
righ
ter
cen
tral
co
re.
Bo
th i
t an
d M
13
m
igh
t ju
st
squ
eeze
in
to
the
sam
e fi
eld
o
f w
ide
-an
gle
b
ino
cula
rs, a
ffo
rdin
g an
inte
rest
ing
com
par
iso
n.
Bas
ed o
n s
pe
ctro
sco
pic
stu
die
s o
f it
s st
ars,
we
kno
w t
hat
M
92
is
on
e o
f th
e o
ldes
t gl
ob
ula
rs.
That
's b
eca
use
th
e
pre
do
min
ant
elem
en
ts
in
its
star
s ar
e h
ydro
gen
an
d
hel
ium
, w
ith
o
nly
tr
aces
o
f h
eavi
er
elem
ents
.
Wh
y?
Bec
ause
wh
en
th
ose
sta
rs f
orm
ed, h
eavi
er
elem
ents
did
n't
ex
ist
yet
in a
ny
abu
nd
ance
. Th
ey w
ere
cre
ated
lat
er,
aft
er
oth
er s
tars
evo
lved
an
d s
eed
ed t
he
un
iver
se.
He
r
7.
Bar
nar
d's
Sta
r, N
GC
66
33
, IC
47
56
M
easu
rin
g h
alf
a d
egre
e in
dia
met
er -
as
larg
e a
s th
e Fu
ll M
oo
n -
NG
C 6
63
3 s
hin
es a
t 5
th m
agn
itu
de.
Th
at m
akes
it
easy
to
sp
y th
rou
gh e
ven
po
cket
-siz
ed m
ini
bin
ocu
lars
. In
al
l, 3
0 s
tars
fo
rm t
his
str
ikin
g gr
ou
p.
The
bri
ghte
st s
hin
e at
8
th m
agn
itu
de.
IC
47
56
lies
bet
wee
n N
GC
66
33
an
d T
het
a (θ
) Se
rpe
nti
s in
th
e co
nst
ella
tio
n S
erp
en
s (C
aud
a).
Co
veri
ng
an a
rea
twic
e th
at o
f it
s n
eigh
bo
r, I
C 4
75
6 m
ay g
o c
om
ple
tely
un
no
tice
d
thro
ugh
co
nve
nti
on
al t
eles
cop
es b
ecau
se o
f it
s si
ze.
Bu
t ai
m a
mo
des
t b
ino
cula
r it
s w
ay a
nd
su
dd
enly
yo
u'll
see
th
e b
len
ded
mis
t o
f fi
fty
9th
- an
d 1
0th
-mag
nit
ud
e s
un
s. T
he
b
righ
test
sh
ines
at
m
agn
itu
de
6.4
an
d
lies
tow
ard
th
e
gro
up
's s
ou
thea
st e
dge
. IC
47
56
car
ries
th
e n
ickn
ame
Gra
ff’s
Clu
ster
, aft
er G
erm
an
astr
on
om
er K
asim
ir G
raff
, wh
o in
dep
end
entl
y d
isco
vere
d it
in
19
22
. He
was
no
t th
e fi
rst
to n
oti
ce t
he
clu
ster
, ho
wev
er.
Man
y cr
edit
its
dis
cove
ry t
o A
mer
ican
ast
ron
om
er S
olo
n
Bai
ley,
wh
o i
den
tifi
ed i
t o
n p
ho
togr
aph
s ta
ken
at
Har
vard
C
olle
ge’s
Are
qu
ipa
stat
ion
in P
eru
. Bu
t e
ven
he
was
n't
fir
st
to p
ub
lish
an
acc
ou
nt
of
IC 4
75
6.
That
go
es b
ack
to 1
85
9,
wh
en t
he
Rev
. Th
om
as W
eb
b m
enti
on
ed
in h
is c
lass
ic b
oo
k C
eles
tial
Ob
ject
s fo
r C
om
mo
n T
eles
cop
es t
hat
"b
etw
een
[N
GC
66
33
] an
d T
he
ta,
nea
rer
the
fo
rmer
, is
a b
eau
tifu
l la
rge
clo
ud
of
star
s, c
hie
fly
8 a
nd
9 m
agn
itu
de.
" Se
e t
he
ne
xt p
age
fo
r in
fo o
n B
arn
ard
’s S
tar.
Sta
r
Op
h
Ser
7a.
Bar
nar
d’s
Sta
r cl
ose
-up
B
arn
ard
’s
Star
, n
amed
af
ter
the
Am
eric
an
astr
on
om
er
Edw
ard
Em
erso
n B
arn
ard
, is
a 9
th-m
agn
itu
de
red
dw
arf
in
Op
hiu
chu
s.
Bar
nar
d's
St
ar
loo
ks
like
just
an
oth
er
fain
t p
oin
t, e
xcep
t fo
r o
ne
thin
g: it
s p
rop
er m
oti
on
is t
he
fast
est
of
any
star
eve
r fo
un
d.
Pro
per
mo
tio
n i
s th
e ap
par
ent
angu
lar
mo
vem
ent
that
an
o
bje
ct
shif
ts
agai
nst
th
e
bac
kgro
un
d c
eles
tial
sp
her
e o
ver
tim
e.
I’ve
gl
imp
sed
B
arn
ard
’s
Star
th
rou
gh
my
10
x50
s fr
om
St
ella
fan
e i
n t
he
pas
t, b
ut
gian
t b
ino
cula
rs a
re y
ou
r b
est
bet
. U
se t
his
clo
se-u
p c
har
t to
zer
o i
n o
n B
arn
ard
’s S
tar.
Fi
rst,
lo
ok
for
5th
-mag
nit
ud
e 6
6 O
ph
iuch
i alo
ng
the
east
ern
(le
ft)
edge
of t
he
char
t. A
im y
ou
r b
ino
cula
rs t
her
e, a
nd
th
en lo
ok
tow
ard
th
e
op
po
site
si
de
for
an
arro
wh
ead
-sh
aped
as
teri
sm o
f fa
int
star
s th
at p
oin
ts e
astw
ard
. B
arn
ard
's S
tar
lies
less
th
an 1
0 a
rc-m
inu
tes
to t
he
arr
ow
's n
ort
hea
st, n
ear
an 1
1th
-mag
nit
ud
e su
n.
Alt
ho
ugh
th
e a
ster
ism
is
dim
mer
th
an o
ur
targ
et,
Bar
nar
d's
Sta
r is
les
s th
an 1
0 a
rc-m
inu
tes
to t
he
arro
w's
no
rth
east
. Go
od
luck
!
Op
h
8.
M1
6 (
op
en
clu
ste
r w
ith
in t
he
Eag
le N
eb
ula
) M
16
was
fir
st e
yed
by
Swis
s o
bse
rver
Ph
illip
pe
Loys
de
Ch
ésea
ux
in 1
74
6 a
nd
ind
epen
den
tly
fou
nd
by
Mes
sier
on
th
e b
usy
nig
ht
of J
un
e 3
, 17
64
. Mes
sier
des
crib
ed a
“C
lust
er
of
smal
l sta
rs, m
ingl
ed
wit
h a
fai
nt
glo
w.”
Tru
e, t
he
star
s o
f M
16
are
min
gled
wit
h t
he
fai
nt
glo
w o
f io
niz
ed h
ydro
gen
–
the
so-c
alle
d E
agle
Neb
ula
– b
ut
Mes
sie
r d
id n
ot
see
that
. In
stea
d,
his
des
crip
tio
n p
oin
ts t
o s
tars
to
o f
ain
t fo
r h
is
tele
sco
pe
to
res
olv
e.
The
neb
ula
th
at t
od
ay w
e ca
ll th
e
Eagl
e N
eb
ula
was
no
t d
isco
vere
d u
nti
l 1
89
5 b
y Ed
war
d
Bar
nar
d.
It
was
su
bse
qu
entl
y ca
talo
ged
se
par
atel
y as
IC
4
70
3.
The
vie
w t
hro
ugh
bin
ocu
lars
mat
ches
Mes
sier
’s w
ord
s ve
ry
clo
sely
. W
ith
my
10
x50
s, I
can
co
un
t ab
ou
t a
do
zen
sta
rs
agai
nst
th
e u
nre
solv
ed g
low
of
fain
ter
sun
s.
Wit
h m
y 2
5x1
00
gia
nts
an
d n
eb
ula
filt
ers
hel
d b
etw
een
eye
pie
ces
and
eye
s, I
can
cat
ch h
ints
of
the
neb
ula
itse
lf,
bu
t o
nly
on
th
e b
est
nig
hts
. St
ud
ies
sho
w t
hat
M1
6 is
on
e o
f th
e yo
un
gest
sta
r cl
ust
ers
kno
wn
, p
erh
aps
no
m
ore
th
an
five
m
illio
n
year
s o
ld,
affo
rdin
g as
tro
no
mer
s an
exc
elle
nt
lab
ora
tory
for
stu
dy.
Its
h
ott
est
star
s, s
pe
ctra
l typ
e O
, ar
e s
even
tim
es h
ott
er t
han
o
ur
Sun
. M
16
is e
stim
ated
to
be
5,6
00
ligh
t ye
ars
away
. M
16
(ac
tual
ly,
IC 4
70
3)
cap
ture
d t
he
pu
blic
’s i
mag
inat
ion
w
hen
th
e H
ub
ble
Sp
ace
Tel
esco
pe’
s “P
illar
s o
f C
reat
ion
” p
ho
togr
aph
was
rel
ease
d in
19
95
. Th
is h
as t
o b
e o
ne
of t
he
m
ost
dra
mat
ic v
iew
s o
f th
e U
niv
erse
cap
ture
d i
n r
ecen
t ye
ars.
Ser
Sct
Sgr
9.
Alb
ire
o [
Be
ta (
β)
Cyg
ni]
C
ygn
us
is o
ne
of
my
favo
rite
bin
ocu
lar
pla
ygro
un
ds.
Ev
en
fr
om
my
mo
der
atel
y lig
ht-
po
llute
d s
ub
urb
an b
acky
ard
, I
can
sit
bac
k o
n a
ch
aise
lo
un
ge,
pee
r th
rou
gh m
y m
od
est
10
x50
bin
ocu
lars
, an
d t
race
th
e ge
ntl
e gl
ow
of
the
Milk
y W
ay fr
om
Den
eb s
ou
thw
ard
to
war
d t
he
star
Alb
ire
o, w
hic
h
mar
ks t
he
bir
d's
bea
k.
Alb
ireo
is
a
sho
wp
iece
d
ou
ble
st
ar
thro
ugh
sm
all
tele
sco
pes
, w
ith
a 3
rd-m
agn
itu
de
go
lden
pri
mar
y p
aire
d
wit
h a
5th
-mag
nit
ud
e sa
pp
hir
e-b
lue
com
pan
ion
. A
lth
ou
gh
thei
r co
lors
are
no
t as
dra
mat
ic t
hro
ugh
mo
st c
om
mo
n s
ize
b
ino
cula
rs, b
oth
sta
rs c
an b
e sp
ott
ed
th
rou
gh s
tead
ily h
eld
1
0x5
0s.
My
16
x70
s, h
ow
ever
, h
ave
en
ou
gh m
agn
ific
atio
n
to s
ho
w t
he
tru
e co
lors
of
Alb
ireo
's g
old
en p
rim
ary
sun
an
d
blu
e co
mp
anio
n.
The
jury
is
still
ou
t as
to
wh
eth
er o
r n
ot
Alb
ireo
is
a tr
ue
b
inar
y st
ar s
yste
m o
r ju
st a
ch
ance
lin
e-o
f-si
ght
alig
nm
ent.
R
ece
nt
resu
lts
fro
m t
he
Euro
pea
n S
pac
e A
gen
cy’s
Gai
a m
issi
on
an
no
un
ced
th
at b
oth
sta
rs w
ere
bet
wee
n 3
30
–39
0
ligh
t ye
ars
away
. P
rob
lem
is, n
ois
e in
th
e as
tro
me
tric
dat
a m
ud
die
d
the
resu
lts,
m
akin
g it
d
iffi
cult
to
d
eter
min
e w
het
her
th
e st
ars
are
ph
ysic
ally
ass
oci
ated
. Sta
y tu
ned
.
Cyg
10
. Bar
nar
d 1
42
-14
3 (
Bar
nar
d’s
E)
and
M7
1
On
e o
f th
e m
ore
vis
ual
ly i
nte
rest
ing
dar
k n
ebu
lae
wit
hin
A
qu
ila c
arri
es
the
du
al d
esig
nat
ion
of
Bar
nar
d 1
42
an
d
Bar
nar
d 1
43
, fo
r it
s m
ult
iple
en
trie
s in
Ed
war
d B
arn
ard
's
Cat
alo
gue
of
34
9 D
ark
Ob
ject
s in
th
e Sk
y.
The
hu
man
min
d a
lway
s lik
es t
o c
reat
e so
met
hin
g th
at i
s ta
ngi
ble
ou
t o
f th
e in
tan
gib
le.
Th
ou
gh i
ncl
ud
ed a
s tw
o
sep
arat
e it
em
s in
Bar
nar
d's
list
ing,
rec
ent
reck
on
ings
oft
en
lum
p b
oth
to
geth
er f
or
thei
r co
mb
ined
vis
ual
in
tere
st.
Tod
ay,
Bar
nar
d
14
2
and
1
43
ar
e
bet
ter
kno
wn
as
"B
arn
ard
's E
."
That
's b
ecau
se f
rom
un
der
dar
k sk
ies,
th
ey
colle
ctiv
ely
form
a v
ery
dis
tin
ctiv
e ca
pit
al E
aga
inst
th
e b
righ
t b
ackg
rou
nd
. B
arn
ard
's E
, als
o s
om
etim
es
calle
d t
he
Trip
le C
ave
Ne
bu
la,
is e
asy
to l
oca
te i
n t
he
sky
just
3°
no
rth
wes
t o
f b
rilli
ant
Alt
air
and
1°
du
e w
est
of
Tara
zed
[G
amm
a (γ
) A
qu
ilae]
. A
fe
w S
tella
fan
es a
go,
the
E st
ruck
me
as e
spec
ially
viv
id
wh
en I
po
inte
d m
y 1
0x5
0s
its
way
. T
he
effe
ct,
ho
wev
er,
was
lost
th
rou
gh m
y 1
6x7
0 b
ino
cula
rs, p
rob
ably
be
cau
se o
f th
eir
nar
row
er f
ield
of
vie
w.
M7
1,
bu
ried
wit
hin
th
e A
rro
w,
Sagi
tta.
Si
nce
its
dis
cove
ry
in 1
77
5 b
y P
hili
pp
e L
oys
de
Ch
ésea
ux
of
Swit
zerl
and
, M
71
h
as p
rove
n t
o b
e a
dif
ficu
lt o
bje
ct t
o c
lass
ify.
M
any
old
er
refe
ren
ces
des
ign
ated
it
as
a
very
d
ense
o
pe
n
clu
ster
si
mila
r to
M1
1 i
n S
cutu
m,
bu
t m
ost
mo
der
n a
uth
ori
ties
ag
ree
it is
a g
lob
ula
r.
Reg
ard
less
of
its
tru
e n
atu
re,
bin
ocu
lars
dis
clo
se o
nly
a
sub
tle
gl
ow
se
t am
id
a ve
ry
pre
tty
fiel
d
of
glit
teri
ng
star
du
st.
Aq
l
11
. NG
C 7
66
2 (
Blu
e S
no
wb
all)
D
isco
vere
d b
y W
illia
m H
ers
chel
in
17
84
, N
GC
76
62
lie
s in
th
e w
este
rn p
ort
ion
of
the
con
ste
llati
on
An
dro
med
a.
To f
ind
it,
sca
n t
he
are
a fo
r th
ree
4th
-mag
nit
ud
e s
tars
: La
mb
da
(λ),
Kap
pa
(κ) ,
an
d Io
ta (ι
) An
dro
med
ae.
They
form
a
ben
t ro
w l
ined
up
ro
ugh
ly n
ort
h-t
o-s
ou
th,
som
e 1
6°
no
rth
-no
rth
wes
t o
f A
lph
erat
z [A
lph
a (α
) A
nd
rom
ed
ae],
th
e
star
sh
ared
b
y A
nd
rom
ed
a an
d
the
G
reat
Sq
uar
e o
f P
egas
us.
Fr
om
Io
ta a
t th
e so
uth
ern
en
d o
f th
at r
ow
, yo
u
sho
uld
sp
ot
6th
-mag
nit
ud
e 1
3
An
dro
med
ae
abo
ut
2°
furt
her
wes
t.
NG
C 7
66
2 a
wai
ts l
ess
than
hal
f a
de
gree
to
1
3's
so
uth
we
st.
The
pla
net
ary'
s co
lorf
ul a
pp
eara
nce
th
rou
gh t
eles
cop
es le
d
to i
ts p
op
ula
r n
ickn
ame,
th
e B
lue
Sno
wb
all.
Wh
ile i
t w
ill
app
ear
stel
lar
thro
ugh
b
ino
cula
rs,
its
nam
esak
e ti
nt
is
det
ecta
ble
wit
h c
aref
ul
scru
tin
y. S
ecu
rin
g yo
ur
bin
ocu
lars
to
ste
ady
the
view
will
def
init
ely
hel
p. A
lso
try
an
oth
er t
rick
b
y so
ften
ing
the
fo
cus
ever
so
slig
htl
y. B
oth
will
hel
p t
o
enh
ance
its
sub
tle
colo
rin
g.
An
d
13
12
. NG
C 1
49
9 (
Cal
ifo
rnia
Neb
ula
)
I've
save
d
this
ye
ar's
m
ost
d
iffi
cult
o
bje
ct
for
last
. N
ickn
amed
th
e C
alif
orn
ia N
ebu
la f
or
its
liken
ess
in l
on
g-ex
po
sure
ph
oto
grap
hs
to t
he
Go
lden
Sta
te's
ou
tlin
e, N
GC
1
49
9 p
uts
eve
n t
he
mo
st e
xper
ien
ced
ob
serv
ers
to t
he
test
. B
ut
it’s
no
t th
at i
t is
dif
ficu
lt t
o l
oca
te.
NG
C 1
49
9 l
ies
just
n
ort
hea
st o
f 4
th-m
agn
itu
de
Xi (
ξ) P
erse
i . N
o, t
he
pro
ble
m
is o
ne
of
size
--
too
mu
ch o
f a
goo
d t
hin
g, I’
m a
frai
d.
Fro
m
tip
to
tip
, NG
C 1
49
9 m
easu
res
2.5
° lo
ng
and
3/4
° w
ide.
Ad
d
to
that
th
e fa
ct
that
, lik
e so
m
any
clo
ud
s o
f gl
ow
ing
hyd
roge
n,
NG
C 1
49
9's
su
rfac
e b
righ
tnes
s is
in
cred
ibly
lo
w
bec
ause
its
pri
mar
y e
mis
sio
ns
are
rest
rict
ed t
o t
he
red
p
ort
ion
of
the
visi
ble
sp
ectr
um
. O
ur
eyes
are
ver
y p
oo
r re
d
rece
pto
rs in
dim
ligh
tin
g. E
ven
co
ntr
ast-
enh
anci
ng
filt
ers
--
Hyd
roge
n-B
eta
are
the
bes
t --
it’s
a t
ou
gh c
atch
.
So,
let'
s ta
lk s
trat
egy.
Th
e C
alif
orn
ia N
eb
ula
is
eas
y to
p
inp
oin
t th
anks
to
Xi P
er, j
ust
1°
to it
s so
uth
. B
ut
that
sta
r,
wh
ich
is t
he
ion
izin
g en
ergy
so
urc
e fo
r th
e n
eb
ula
's g
low
ing
hyd
roge
n,
is b
oth
a b
less
ing
and
a c
urs
e.
Wh
ile X
i m
akes
ze
roin
g in
o
n
the
ne
bu
la
a sn
ap,
its
ligh
t ca
n
easi
ly
ove
rwh
elm
th
e n
ebu
la's
wea
k gl
ow
. T
hat
is
wh
y kn
ow
ing
how
to
lo
ok
for
low
-su
rfac
e-b
righ
tnes
s o
bje
cts
is j
ust
as
imp
ort
ant
as k
no
win
g where
to l
oo
k. B
y m
ou
nti
ng
you
r b
ino
cula
rs o
n a
tri
po
d o
r o
ther
su
pp
ort
, th
e st
ar c
an b
e
mo
ved
ou
t o
f vi
ew,
exti
ngu
ish
ing
its
inte
rfer
ing
pre
sen
ce
and
imp
rovi
ng
the
od
ds.
Usi
ng
aver
ted
vi
sio
n,
star
t w
ith
th
e sl
igh
tly
bri
ghte
r n
ort
hea
ster
n e
dge
of
the
clo
ud
, op
po
site
Xi,
and
th
en t
race
o
ut
the
ne
bu
la's
"P
acif
ic c
oas
t."
Its
glo
w i
s ve
ry d
im,
bu
t th
e lo
ng,
sle
nd
er p
rofi
le i
s u
nm
ista
kab
le o
nce
yo
u r
ealiz
e
the
shap
e an
d s
ize.
Sev
eral
su
per
imp
ose
d s
tars
rem
ind
me
o
f lig
hts
fro
m d
ista
nt
citi
es.
The
bri
ghte
st, a
6th
-mag
nit
ud
e
sun
, lie
s ju
st o
ffsh
ore
ab
ou
t w
her
e Sa
n F
ran
cisc
o w
ou
ld b
e,
and
mar
ks a
cro
ok
in t
he
coas
tlin
e.
Pe
r
