Download Autumn Asterisms for binoculars 2013

Salisbury Plain Observing Group: Autumn Asterisms for Binoculars & Telescopes
Asterisms are a fascinating observing target for
we ought to know the major constellations by now,
binoculars or a small telescope, each one offering
so this article is not going to detail the large easy
an insight into the imagination and creativity of its
ones, but instead look at some for binoculars and
original observer, although actually this is a polite
telescopes.
way of saying “how the heck did he/she make a
pattern out of that!”
that I know of (I would be delighted to be proven
Asterisms, in case you did not know, are mostly
chance
alignments
There is no formally agreed list of asterisms
of
stars,
which,
imagination, resemble familiar patterns.
with
Indeed
wrong though), but Phil Harrington may have
started the trend by an article in Sky and
Telescope
in
May
1998,
producing
his
own
our constellations are asterisms, with many sub
observing list; you’ll see his designation “Hrr” on
parts also being asterisms in their own right,
some of the finder charts.
known as sectional asterisms;
for example the
prolific list I have found is that compiled by the
Plough is but a small part of the Great Bear,
Saguaro Astronomy Club in Arizona. They list over
Hercules is more than just the familiar keystone.
100
The most familiar asterism for this time of year is
description of each one.
of course the Summer Triangle, composed of
associated with an NGC or catalogued object,
Deneb, Vega and Altair, but not forgetting the
others need the RA and DEC to locate them. For
Great Square of Pegasus, which if you count the
the competitive, the Astronomical League offers an
stars within the square, give an indication of the
observing pin for bagging 101 on their list.
amount of light pollution for your site.
time; we just happen to be in the right place at
humanity looked up at the stars, we have played
“join the dots” to make shapes (our constellations)
given
different
cultures
coordinates
and
a
brief
The simpler ones are
the seasonal ones as suggested targets for the
Autumn.
the right time to see these alignments. Ever since
have
with
So for this article, I thought I’d select a few of
Asterisms can have no determined origin in
which
asterisms
However, the most
different
constellations, although some are common, albeit
under different names. However, as astronomers
Each asterism has at least one finder chart,
some are large scale and include a magnified view.
If you have software such as Stellarium, it is quite
easy to locate these targets and figure your own
star hop to them.
I have also labelled nearby
stars, along with NGC or IC objects to help in the
Catalogue Ref
hunt.
RA/Dec
If there are
Asterism
Constellation
Flying Minnow
Auriga
05 19.0
33 40
any
Smiley Face
Auriga
05 27.0
35 00
like to capture these
Kemble’s Cascade
Camelopardalis
04 00.0
63 00
targets,
The Aeroplane
Cassiopeia
23 20.0
62 20
appreciate copies for
Kemble’s Kite
Cassiopeia
03 28.0
72 00
inclusion
Owl Cluster
Cassiopeia
Dolphins Diamonds
Delphinus
21 07.3
16 20
Backwards 5
Hercules
16 36.1
30 45
David’s D
Triangulum
Mini Coathanger
Ursa Minor
NGC 457
who’d
I’d
on
the
SPOG website.
So to the targets,
the first in Auriga.
Collinder 21
Asterism List for Autumn 2013
imagers
16 29.0
80 13
Auriga : The Smiley Face
An easy one in binoculars as it lies very
close to the west of M38. This one is also
known as the “Cheshire Cat” for obvious
reasons.
Find
it
by
sweeping
your
binoculars from Capella to Alnath and just
over half way down you’ll sweep through
M38 – slow down now and look for the
Cheshire Cat!
Auriga: Flying Minnow
This looks a little like Delphinus the
Dolphin but a bit squashed.
Looking at
the finder map for the Cheshire Cat, the
Minnow is the group of stars to the right
of NGC 1893, an open cluster.
Auriga: The Smiley Face & Flying Minnow
Camelopardalis: Kemble’s Cascade
Father Lucian Kemble was a Franciscian friar and
amateur astronomer who first drew attention to this
beautiful cascading chain of stars in 1980.
He advised
Walter Scott Houston of his discovery, who was so
impressed with the asterism he christened
it in Fr. Kemble’s name.
Camelopardalis
(the Giraffe) is not one of the brightest
constellations, but the Cascade is one of its
showpiece objects, with the open cluster
NGC 1502 to its end. It is an easy object
in binoculars and a favourite of mine. You
can find it by taking a line from Capella in
Auriga
to
Epsilon
Cassiopeiae
known
as
Segin)
which
takes
(also
you
through Camelopardalis. Around halfway
up, you should be able to spot Mirphak in
Perseus. Draw a line from here at right
Camelopardalis: Kemble’s Cascade
angles to your first line and have sweep round with your
binoculars and you should find the Cascade.
Cassiopeia: The Aeroplane
The Aeroplane actually looks like its intended name, and
appears to be dive-bombing M52! It’s alternative name is
the Arrow, but I think the former is better. Images reveal
red and blue wing tips and a red tail.
Cassiopeia: Kemble’s Kite
Fr. Kemble was a prolific binocular observer, so it is no
Cassiopeia: The Aeroplane
surprise to find another one bearing his name.
Although
not as well-known as his Cascade, it is easy to find in the
northern
region
Camelopardalis.
of
Cassiopeia,
on
the
border
with
Locate the two end stars of Cassiopeia,
Ruchbah and Segin, and extend this line about twice as far,
which takes you to Gamma Camelopardalis, at magnitude
4.6. Moving at a right angle from this star, you should be
able
to
locate
Kemble’s
Kite,
which
incorporates SAO 4917, a lovely red star.
Cassiopeia: Owl Cluster (NGC 457)
Next
to the Coathanger, the Owl
Cluster is probably the most famous
small asterism and fairly easy to find.
Drawing a line between Ruchbah and
Archid, it lies below Gamma Cassiopeia.
It is also known as the ET cluster for its
resemblance to Spielberg's little creature
Cassiopeia: Kemble’s Kite
from “ET”
Delphinus: The Dolphins Diamonds
To locate the Dolphin’s Diamonds (or
the Toadstool as it is also known), take a
line through alpha and gamma Delphini
and scan for this lovely asterism. It also
comprises the 13th mag galaxy NGC
7025, a target for imagers or large
aperture telescopes.
Cassiopeia: Owl Cluster
Hercules: Backwards 5
Delphinus: Dolphin’s Diamonds
This asterism is found by locating Zeta Herculis
(the bottom right star of the keystone) and
sweeping
down
slowly
until
you
backwards 5 as circled in the map.
reach
the
Triangulum: David’s D
Collinder 21 was christened David’s D when it
was photographed by deep sky imager David
Ratledge. It sits near the bright galaxy NGC672,
which is how David came across it whilst imaging
the galaxy.
It is a genuine asterism and not an
open cluster.
Triangulum: David’s D
Hercules: Backwards 5
Ursa Minor – the Mini Coathanger
Most astronomers are familiar with the
Coathanger (Collinder 399) in Vulpecula,
but did you know there is another one?
Ursa Minor boasts its own Coathanger
consisting of 11 stars from 9th to 11th
magnitude spanning about
1
/3°.
Being
circumpolar, this can be seen all year
round.
It’s not too far away from a
square of stars which help to locate it.
So 10 autumn asterisms for visual or
imaging;
if you need more detailed
finder charts, drop
me an
[email protected].
email
to
Do have a
look for these fascinating patterns, and
you may well see another you can make
your own.
Jonathan Gale
Ursa Minor: Mini Coathanger