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Observing Exercise – Spring 2012
Open Cluster Observing
Date and Time are set for
9 pm April 20 but we can use
this for 10 pm Mid-March so you
can do this exercise earlier.
Looking due South:
Meridian shows the great divide
between galaxies (pink ellipses)
on the East side of the meridian
and Open (Galactic) clusters on
the West
First: Clusters towards the West
Open Clusters in Auriga
Date and Time are set for 9pm April 20
We will focus on the Western
part of the sky to observe some
Open Clusters– gems of the early
evening spring sky
First stop: Open Clusters in Auriga:
Capella
M37, M38, M36:
Locate the Bright Star Capella in the
pentagon of Auriga.
Point your telescope or binoculars to the
East of the flanking side to pick up M37.
Continue sweeping westward to pickup up
M36 and M37
Compare and contrast…
Which is the richest star field?
Are they all at the same distance?
Do they contain the same kinds of stars?
Canis Major, Minor and Monoceros
M41, M46 and M47
Locate brightest star Sirius (Canis
Major - underneath Orion) Note:
reason for its brightness is both its
intrinsic luminosity and closeness
to the Sun
Slide your scope or binoculars
parallel to the dog’s back and then
move west of that line.
You will pick up a large rich field
of stars – Open Cluster M41
Procyon (Canis Minor)
Locate next large and (also close)
Procyon This points the way to 2
very different open clusters in
Monocerous,
M47 (bright!) and M46 dim
Compare and contrast…
Locate brightest star
Sirius (the dog star)
The Beehive!
Open Cluster M44
(and neighbour M67)
Open Cluster M44 is observable
with the eye in an unpolluted sky.
In this view it Is due south, leading
constellation Leo.
To find it point your telescope or
binoculars midway between the
heads of Leo and the Gemini
twins You will see the swarm of
‘bees’ (many suns) underneath.
Then drop down parallel to
Regulus and look for the very
dimmer M67. You need optical aid
here! If you have problems finding
it, locate the “head” of Hydra, you
can see the pair naked eye and
go up from the right one.
Compare and contrast…
Observe the Double Cluster NGC 869/864
1.
Locate Constellation
Cassiopeia . It’s the W in
the NorthEast
2.
Locate the wish-bone (yshape) of Constellation
Perseus
3.
The Double Cluster
NGC 869/864 is inbetwwen the top of the
wish-bone and the top
star of Cassiopeia
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