ChartsAtlas Charts
Objects by
Constellation
OObbjjeeccttss by NNuummbbeerr 64
OObbjjeeccttss by TTyyppee 71
OObbjjeeccttss by NNaammee 76
MMeessssiieerr OObbjjeeccttss 78
CCaallddwweellll OObbjjeeccttss 81
SSttaarrss by NNaammee 84
BBrriigghhtteesstt SSttaarrss 86
CClloosseesstt SSttaarrss 87
MMyytthhoollooggyy 88
BBiimmoonntthhllyy SSkkyy CChhaarrttss 92
MMeetteeoorr SShhoowweerrss 105
SSuunn,, MMoooonn and PPllaanneettss 106
OObbsseerrvviinngg CCoonnssiiddeerraattiioonnss 113
Expanded GGlloossssaarryy 115
The 8888 CCoonnsstteellllaattiioonnss,, plus 126
CChhaarrtt RReeffeerreennccee BACK PAGE
Objects
Orion &Lepus, circa, 1720,
3
Introductionhe night sky was charted by western civilization a few thou-sands years ago to bring order to the random splatter of stars,and in the hopes, as a piece of the puzzle, to help “understand”
the forces of nature. The stars and their constellations were imbued withthe beliefs of those times, which have become mythology.
The oldest known celestial atlas is in the book, Almagest, byClaudius Ptolemy, a Greco-Egyptian with Roman citizenship who livedin Alexandria from 90 to 160 AD. The Almagest is the earliest survivingastronomical treatise—a 600-page tome. The star charts are in tabularform, by constellation, and the locations of the stars are described bythe mythological part that they represent. For example, Castor, in Gem-ini, is described as, “The star onthe head of the advance twin.”This atlas was built on the founda-tions of traditions.
One of the first substantivecelestial atlases featuring charts ofstars was the 1603, Uranometria(roughly translates as, Measuringthe Sky) by the German, JohannBayer. His 51 charts includeddrawings of the mythological fig-ures and it was Bayer who assigned the lower-case Greek letters to identify many stars.
The goal of celestial atlaseshas not changed over the cen-turies. They provide a charting ofthe night sky to serve as reference.
Celestial Atlas Menor wasspecifically designed for thosewanting to enjoy the exploration ofthe heavens with their eyes, binoc-ulars or a telescope. It’s for bothbeginners and more experiencedobservers. The magnitude limit ofthe charted stars is about +5.5 which is the limit of the naked eye, butthe magnitude limit for celestial objects is about +11.5, which is thelimit for a 6-inch to 8-inch diameter telescope—popular-size scopes—under reasonably dark skies.
Now, the intent of this atlas was not to provide a step-by-step introduction to exploring the heavens but as an easy-to-use and intu-itive guide, hence its organization and placement of pages as well as useof tabs. And, although the designations of the main charts might seemcounterintuitive at first, you will find that it facilitates using the charts,while the numbers teach a little about the celestial coordinate systemand movement of the heavens. Beginners will find explanations of termsand concepts throughout the atlas, and especially in the Glossary.
Features of this celestial atlas include:
� A standard and convenient size for clipboards and one’s lap.� Tabs for the charts and listing of objects, smartly placed pages and cross-reference lists.
� Comfortable chart scale that keeps whole constellations on a single chart.
� Simplified constellation outlines for easy identification of patterns in the sky.
� Detailed close-up charts of deep sky objects (clusters of stars, nebulae and galaxies) hot-spots as well as other significant areas.
� 1,370 deep sky objects and 360 double stars (two stars—one often orbits the other) plotted with observing information for every object.
� Inclusion of many “famous” celestial objects, even though they are beyond the reach of a 6 to 8-inch diameter telescope.
� Expanded glossary to define and/or explain terms and concepts.
� Black stars on a white background, a preferred format for star charts.
Celestial atlases do not plotthe position of the planets becausethey move through the constella-tions. But, the planets are alwayson or near the path on the chartslabeled, “Ecliptic.” The brighterplanets, especially Venus andJupiter, can cause confusion tothose first learning the night skybecause they might be mistakenfor stars. Please visit my site,whatsouttonight.com (or others),to find the location and magnitudeof the naked-eye planets.
The Earth slowly wobbles ina great circle on its axis, called pre-cession. This results in the coordi-nates of the stars and all celestialobjects to slowly change over time.This atlas has all coordinates setfor the future year 2025, but thecoordinates will be more than ad-equate to find these objects for agood 50 years beyond this date.
Unfortunately, the UnitedStates is one of the few remaining countries in the world to stick withEnglish units of measurement. This atlas is geared mostly towards thiscrowd, to those who are less familiar with the near-universal metric system of measurement.
This atlas is mostly the work of me, Ken Graun. All of the chartswere drawn by hand in drawing programs—every single star, line, letter and number. I like to improve my products, so if you have any corrections or suggestions, please contact me.
I encourage owners of this atlas to copy any pages for your nightlypursuits, and to share with small groups. Also, you might want to takethe book apart and put it in a 3-ring binder for added convenience.Please contact me if you would like to distribute pages free-of-charge forlarge events because the stars are for everyone!
Ken GraunJuly, 2015Vail, Arizona
Contact information:
(520) [email protected] whatsouttonight.com
T
Star chart, circa 1720
4
KEY ANDROMEDA And NCP, 23N, 2N 15
ANTLIA Ant 11E, 11S, SCP 28APUS Aps 14S, SCP 32AQUARIUS Aqr 23E, 20E, 23S 16
AQUILA Aql 20N, 20E, 20S 17ARA Ara 20S, 17S, SCP 26ARIES Ari 2N, 2E 15AURIGA Aur 5N, 5E 14
BOOTES or BOÖTES Boo 14N, 14E 11CAELUM Cae 5E, 5S 30CAMELOPARDALIS Cam NCP, 5N 14CANCER Cnc 8N, 8E 13
CANES VENATICI CVn NCP, 14N, 11N 11CANIS MAJOR CMa 8E, 8S 21CANIS MINOR CMi 8N, 8E 21CAPRICORNUS Cap 20E, 20S 17
CARINA Car 11S, 8S, SCP 28CASSIOPEIA Cas NCP, 23N, 2N 15CENTAURUS Cen 14S, 11S, SCP 27CEPHEUS Cep NCP, 23N, 20N 28
CETUS Cet 2E, 2S 23CHAMAELEON Cha 11S, SCP 32CIRCINUS Cir 14S, SCP 27COLUMBA Col 5E, 5S 30
COMA BERENICES Com 14N, 14E 11CORONA AUSTRALIS CrA 20S, 17S 25CORONA BOREALIS CrB 17N, 14N, 17E 10CORVUS Crv 14E, 11E 20
CRATER Crt 11E, 11S 20CRUX Cru 14S, SCP 27CYGNUS Cyg NCP, 20N, 20E 29DELPHINUS Del 20N, 20E 29
DORADO Dor 5S, SCP 30DRACO Dra NCP, 17N, 14N 27EQUULEUS Equ 20N, 20E 17ERIDANUS Eri 5E, 2E, 5S, 2S 30–31
FORNAX For 2E, 2S, SCP 31GEMINI Gem 8N, 5N, 8E, 5E 21GRUS Gru 23S, SCP 24HERCULES Her 17N, 17E 10
HOROLOGIUM Hor 5S, 2S, SCP 30HYDRA Hya 8N, 14E, 11E, 8E 19–21HYDRUS Hyi 2S, SCP 31INDUS Ind 23S, 20S, SCP 25
LACERTA Lac NCP, 23N 28LEO Leo 11N, 11E 12LEO MINOR LMi NCP, 11N, 11E 12LEPUS Lep 5E, 5S 22
LIBRA Lib 14E, 14S 27LUPUS Lup 17S, 14S 27LYNX Lyn NCP, 8N 13LYRA Lyr 20N, 20E 29
MENSA Men 5S, SCP 32MICROSCOPIUM Mic 20S, SCP 25MONOCEROS Mon 5E, 8E 21MUSCA Mus 11S, 14S, SCP 28
NORMA Nor 17S, SCP 26OCTANS Oct SCP 32OPHIUCHUS Oph 17E 18ORION Ori 5E 22
PAVO Pav 20S, SCP 25PEGASUS Peg 23N, 23E 28PERSEUS Per NCP, 5N, 2N 15PHOENIX Phe 2S, SCP 31
PICTOR Pic 5S, SCP 30PISCES Psc 23N, 2N, 23E, 2E 16/23PISCIS AUSTRINUS PsA 23E, 23S 24PUPPIS Pup 8E, 8S 29
PYXIS Pyx 8E, 8S 29RETICULUM Ret 5S, 2S, SCP 30SAGITTA Sge 20N, 20E 29SAGITTARIUS Sgr 20E,17E, 20S,17S 25–26
SCORPIUS Sco 17S 26SCULPTOR Scl 23E, 2E, 23S, 2S 24SCUTUM Sct 20E, 17E 17SERPENS1 (Caput & Cauda) Ser 17E 18
SEXTANS Sex 11E 20TAURUS Tau 5N, 5E 22TELESCOPIUM Tel 20S, 17S 25TRIANGULUM Tri 2N, 2E 15
TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE TrA 17S, SCP 26TUCANA Tuc 23S, SCP 24URSA MAJOR UMa NCP, 14N, 11N 12URSA MINOR UMi NCP, 14N 27
VELA Vel 11S, 8S, SCP 28–29VIRGO Vir 14E 19VOLANS Vol 8S, SCP 29VULPECULA Vul 20N, 20E 29
Constellations by ChartConstellation ChartsAbbr. Constellation ChartsAbbr.
a alphab betac gammad delta
Greek Alphabet
e epsilonf zetag etah theta
i iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp pi
q rhor sigmas taut upsilon
u phiv chiw psix omega
• “BEST” charts are underlined •1Serpens, the Snake, is the only constellation having discontinous boundaries since it is being held across Ophiuchus, the Healer’s body. The Snake’s head, Caput, is located on the western side of Ophiuchus and its tail, Cauda, is located on the eastern side of Ophiuchus.
Page Page
6
KEY
Overview of Charts 0h
4h
8h
12h
16h
20h
1h
2h
3h
5h
6h
7h
9h
10h
11h13h
14h
15h
17h
18h
19h
21h
22h
23h
20N
17N
14N
11N
8N
5N
2N
23N
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Magnitudes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
w
r
ANDROMEDA Mirach
CASSIOPEIA
PERSEUS
TRIANGULUM
CAMELOPARDALIS
LACERTA
CEPHEUS
CYGNUS
DRACO
URSA MINOR LYNX
URSA MAJOR
LEO MINORCANES
VENATICI
BOOTES
PEGASUS
Almaak
DenebSadr
Alderamin
Caph
Shedir
Algol
Mirphak
Polaris (North Star)Etamin
Kochab
Thuban
Dubhe
Merak
PhadAlkaid
Mizar
Alioth
Cor Caroli
Tania Australis
Tania Borealis
Talitha
Muscida
Megrez
Navi
PISCES
Alcor
Matar
HERCULES
L I T T L ED I P P E R
B I G D I P P E R
Errai
Nekkar
Alrakis
EdasichGiausar
N O R T H E R NC R O S S
d
p
rq
h
l
m
b
r s
st
v
dc
c
b
e
n xu
u
h
q
x
p
b
j
i s
g c a d
m
lk
p
o
mn
hl
fk
ab
t1
t2
g
cu
d v
e
j
r
qs
k w
ji o
b
a
p
g
f t
s r
q
p1
p2e
km n
ac
o1
o2
x1x2
l
a
m
n
fk
ed
i o
w
x i
ba
c
c
p
q
j
wg
h
q
b
s
e
r d p
d
h
i
j
o
c
b m
n
l
t
u v
w
x
fg
fh
e
d
adn
o
w1
w6
op1
p2
r1r2
q
s
kj
a
bc
i
g
h
s
ut
v
u
m1m2
l
l
d
b
c
k
h
i j
g
f
e
d
c
a
b
t
u h i
j
a
r1r2
r3
b
kl
xw
v
a b
q
mn
40/41
39
16,17
UX59
54
a
+80°
+70°
+60°
+50°
+40°
+80°
+70°
+60°
+50°
+40°
r4
M32M31
M110
59185
891
M34
M103
457
663
7789281
M52
72
16
7331 M33
M76
1023
1491
2403
2336
2146
6946
6939
40
7133
7129
7380
7510
1502
925752
278
1624
1545
1528
1513
Alpha Persei Cluster
Tr2
St23
IC1805637
225
654743
659
436
381
7790IC5067
7027
6826
7243
7209
2985
2976
M82M81
3077
2768
2681
28413079
3310
3198
3184
3319
5322
40364605
3945
M40
M108
M97
37183631
M1093953
40883893
3726
3675
3941
4100
39384051
4096M106
M94
23
57
25
38
65436503
12
M102
5907
4125
3147
2683
5371
M51
M63
50055033
4656
4631
4242
4800
4449
4490
4618
415142444214
41113294
3432
3003
6068
6217
6992/5696052
49
61
4439
5676
NorthCelestial
PoleHR6267
188
4
52
1
6 11
10
15
7023
Sh2-155
30
Kemble’s Cascade
1501
BK
BE
CS CE
BDCQ
1112
16
17
1
7
23
54
43
BN
HR1686
50
48
WWV466
AR
7635
51
AndromedaGalaxy, 777
410
BB
VX
X22
8
North America Nebula7000
Veil Nebula
HR3743
M101
20
Y
46
21
10
42
37
10 UMa
31
2
15
5
21
12
869 (h Per)(v Per) 884
Double Cluster
RS
IC1871
890
3949
10
WhirlpoolGalaxy
HR8493
HR8474
HD173739HR6983
HD130173
HR3236
HR3701
HR4917
HR7500
M I L K Y
W AY
Galactic Equator
130°
120°
110°
100°90°
80°
140°
150°
North Celestial Pole Area
IC1848
IC1396
M39
4236
2655
7
23
R
1
6
9
1
18
24
27
RS
57
15
21
7
A5
15
26
33
M29
5866
1027
HR4893
he heart of any celestial atlas is its charts. On the next 31 pagesare 41 charts, detailing the whole celestial sphere. There are 2 charts covering the celestial poles, 24 main charts and 15
close-up charts. The 24 main charts are divided into northern, equato-rial and southern sections. Each section’s Right Ascensions are in de-scending order so the chart’s pages join together, allowing constellationsto flow off one page and on to the next.
For explanations of terms, see the Glossary
Coordinate Grids & Reference LinesCoordinate grids are overlayed on every chart. For the 24 main charts,the Right Ascension is noted along the tops and bottoms with Declina-tion noted along the sides. The stars move from east to west in the sky,from lower to higher Right Ascensions. The Ecliptic and Galactic Centerlines are also indicated.
Celestial Pole ChartsThe two celestial pole charts are at a smaller scale than the 24 maincharts in order to show more constellations and stars around the poles.Fewer deep sky objects are plotted on these charts compared to the maincharts.
Names of Constellations and StarsThe names of constellations are in UPPERCASE letters, except whentheir 3-letter abbreviations are used. The names of stars are italicized.
Magnitude of Stars and ObjectsThe 24 main charts indicate stars as faint as magnitude 6, which is thelimit of the naked eye under dark skies. The close-up charts go fainter.
The magnitude limit of the deep sky objects averages 11.5, the limitof a 6 to 8-inch diameter telescope under dark skies. The close-up chartsgo fainter. The section, “Objects by Constellation,” provides magnitudesfor all plotted objects.
Object Symbols, Designations and ScaleEach category of object (Cluster, Globular Cluster, Planetary Nebula,Nebula and Galaxy) has an identifying symbol—see legends on charts.
A 2 to 4 digit number next to an object indicates its NGC designa-tion, that is, its New General Catalogue designation. An IC in front of anumber indicates the supplemental Index Catalogue to the NGC cata-logue. All Messier objects start with an M and because of their popular-ity, they are bolded. There are other designations, like Cr, Tr and PK, andinformation about these designations can be found in the Glossary.
NGC numbers are assigned to objects in order of Right Ascension,so these numbers increase from right to left.
Most objects are much smaller than their symbols, however, theactual size and shape of large objects are drawn to scale.
Explanations and examples of objects can be found in the Glossary.
Designations of StarsOther than a name, stars may be designated with a Bayer letter (most-ly Greek letters but some Roman letters, too) or a number, called aFlamsteed number. Stars lacking these designations may be indicatedwith the double-letter designation for a variable star, the Bright Star Catalogue designation (HR) or Henry Draper Catalogue designation(HD).
John Flamsteed was not entirely consistent in his assignment ofdesignations. You will find instances of faint stars with Flamsteed num-bers near much brighter stars without Flamsteed numbers.
Double Stars & their DesignationsA double star is a star that “casually” looks like one star but separatesinto two or more stars with sufficient magnification. All double stars areindicated by a thin line drawn through their centers. The orientation ofthe thin line has no significance. In this celestial atlas, every double starhas a designation for reference to its observing information in the section, “Objects by Constellation.” However, the older, traditional designations of some double stars, which identified specific double starcatalogues (designations starting with R, OR, b, D, etc.), have not beenused. Instead, the HR (Bright Star Catalogue) and HD (Henry DraperCatalogue) stellar catalogue designations are used to provide greaterconsistency and avoid confusion by using additional symbols.
Variable StarsA variable star is a star that changes brightness, usually cyclically, overa period of a few days to years. The size of the inner and outer circlesdenoting variable stars approximate the magnitude change. The em-phasis of this celestial atlas is on deep sky objects and double stars, soonly the brightest variable stars are described.
Red StarsRed stars are pretty to observe. Most of them are faint variable stars. Theones noted in this celestial atlas are some of the brightest. To locate thered stars, it is easiest to find their designation and coordinates undertheir own heading in, “Objects by Constellation.”
Telrad Reticle “Finderscope”The Telrad is a popular pointing devise used on telescopes, so its reticlepattern is provided. See Telrad in the Glossary for more information.
Binocular and Telescope Field-of-ViewA 5° circle, representing the arc-angle, field-of-view for typical binocu-lars is indicated on the main charts as well as a 1° arc-angle, field-of-view for a “regular” telescope eyepiece yielding a magnification of 50x.Any telescope using an eyepiece that will yield a magnification of about50x will provide a field-of-view with at least a diameter of 1°, which istwo Moon diameters. See Telescope Magnification in the Glossary.
Close-up ChartsThe close-up charts provide detailed charting of specific objects, areasof interest or congested areas. The magnitude of the stars and objectsgo fainter than in the main charts. Charts A-14 and A-14R are providedfor those who want to manually find the set of Messier galaxies in the Virgo Cluster, a practice sometimes conducted during Messiermarathons. Chart A-14R is a mirror-reverse image of chart A-14 for use with telescopes equipped with a 90° diagonal (refractors and SCTs).Although the 90° diagonal allows for comfortable viewing, it provides a mirror-reverse image of the sky. Reverse images are acceptable in astronomy because we are just looking at stars.
Locating Specific Stars & ObjectsLocating a specific star or object on the charts may not always be easy.To facilitate finding them, the section, “Objects by Constellation” servesas a master list with the three supporting sections, “Objects by Number,”“Objects by Type” and “Objects by Name” providing cross references.Once the constellation for an object is identified, to find it on the chartsis a simple matter of looking it up on the master list and using its coordinates to nail it down.
NGC numbers are assigned to objects in order of Right Ascension,so these numbers increase from right to left.
T
7
NCP
0h
4h
8h
12h
16h
20h
1h
2h
3h
5h
6h
7h
9h
10h
11h13h
14h
15h
17h
18h
19h
21h
22h
23h
20N
17N
14N
11N
8N
5N
2N
23N
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Magnitudes
1 2 3 4 5 6
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
w
r
ANDROMEDA Mirach
CASSIOPEIA
PERSEUS
TRIANGULUM
CAMELOPARDALIS
LACERTA
CEPHEUS
CYGNUS
DRACO
URSA MINOR LYNX
URSA MAJOR
LEO MINORCANES
VENATICI
BOOTES
PEGASUS
Almaak
DenebSadr
Alderamin
Caph
Shedir
Algol
Mirphak
Polaris (North Star)Etamin
Kochab
Thuban
Dubhe
Merak
PhadAlkaid
Mizar
Alioth
Cor Caroli
Tania Australis
Tania Borealis
Talitha
Muscida
Megrez
Navi
PISCES
Alcor
Matar
HERCULES
L I T T L ED I P P E R
B I G D I P P E R
Errai
Nekkar
Alrakis
EdasichGiausar
N O R T H E R NC R O S S
d
p
rq
h
l
m
b
r s
st
v
dc
c
b
e
n xu
u
h
q
x
p
b
j
i s
g c a d
m
lk
p
o
mn
hl
fk
ab
t1
t2
g
cu
d v
e
j
r
qs
k w
ji o
b
a
p
g
f t
s r
q
p1
p2e
km n
ac
o1
o2
x1x2
l
a
m
n
fk
ed
i o
w
x i
ba
c
c
p
q
j
wg
h
q
b
s
e
r d p
d
h
i
j
o
c
b m
n
l
t
u v
w
x
fg
fh
e
d
adn
o
w1
w6
op1
p2
r1r2
q
s
kj
a
bc
i
g
h
s
ut
v
u
m1m2
l
l
d
b
c
k
h
i j
g
f
e
d
c
a
b
t
u h i
j
a
r1r2
r3
b
kl
xw
v
a b
q
mn
40/41
39
16,17
UX59
54
a
+80°
+70°
+60°
+50°
+40°
+80°
+70°
+60°
+50°
+40°
r4
M32M31
M110
59185
891
M34
M103
457
663
7789281
M52
72
16
7331 M33
M76
1023
1491
2403
2336
2146
6946
6939
40
7133
7129
7380
7510
1502
925752
278
1624
1545
1528
1513
Alpha Persei Cluster
Tr2
St23
IC1805637
225
654743
659
436
381
7790IC5067
7027
6826
7243
7209
2985
2976
M82M81
3077
2768
2681
28413079
3310
3198
3184
3319
5322
40364605
3945
M40
M108
M97
37183631
M1093953
40883893
3726
3675
3941
4100
39384051
4096M106
M94
23
57
25
38
65436503
12
M102
5907
4125
3147
2683
5371
M51
M63
50055033
4656
4631
4242
4800
4449
4490
4618
415142444214
41113294
3432
3003
6068
6217
6992/5696052
49
61
4439
5676
NorthCelestial
PoleHR6267
188
4
52
1
6 11
10
15
7023
Sh2-155
30
Kemble’s Cascade
1501
BK
BE
CS CE
BDCQ
1112
16
17
1
7
23
54
43
BN
HR1686
50
48
WWV466
AR
7635
51
AndromedaGalaxy, 777
410
BB
VX
X22
8
North America Nebula7000
Veil Nebula
HR3743
M101
20
Y
46
21
10
42
37
10 UMa
31
2
15
5
21
12
869 (h Per)(v Per) 884
Double Cluster
RS
IC1871
890
3949
10
WhirlpoolGalaxy
HR8493
HR8474
HD173739HR6983
HD130173
HR3236
HR3701
HR4917
HR7500
M I L K Y
W AY
Galactic Equator
130°
120°
110°
100°90°
80°
140°
150°
North Celestial Pole Area
IC1848
IC1396
M39
4236
2655
7
23
R
1
6
9
1
18
24
27
RS
57
15
21
7
A5
15
26
33
M29
5866
1027
HR4893
20h
22h
21h 19h
18h
+60°
+50°
0°
+70°
+80°
+40°
+30°
+20°
+10°
+60°
+50°
+70°
0°
+40°
+30°
+20°
+10°
+80°
20h
NCP17
N
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
20E
23h22h 21h 19h
18h17h
CEPHEUS
DRACO
CYGNUS
LYRA
VULPECULA
SAGITTADELPHINUS
EQUULEUS
AQUILA
Etamin
Deneb
Albireo
Vega
Altair
Alfirk
Alderamin
Kurhah
Sadr
Rastaban
Grumium
Altais
SheliakSulafat
Kitalpha
Enif
Tarazed
Alshain Alya SERPENS(CAUDA)
HERCULES
PEGASUS
LACERTA
PISCES
UMi
N O R T H E R NC R O S S
Alrakis
OPHIUCHUS
q
b
j
sv
ut
x
e
r
d
p
f
q
h
g
a
i
m
n
le f
kd
b
p1
i
j
h
w
on m
b
c
l
d
o1
o2x1
x2
c
m
n
a
p2
q
a
r
s
t
f
k
eg
v
u
g
h
ck
i
l
e
f
d
b
m
j
a
o
b
a
l
j
e
g
c
c a
db
f
h g
iej
q
f da
b e
up v
co
x
f
e
h
d
l
r
t
b
n
a
sa
b
d c
e
w
M57
M39
M15
M29
M56
M27
M71
6939
6946
7129
7133
7380
6826
IC5067PelicanNebula
7027
6819
6888
6992
6960
7006
6934
7243
7209
6709
6804
6633
70
40,41
6543
6503
61
52
49
6791
IC4756
16
13
17
19
6703
T
110
111
112
113
102109106
105
PK51+9.1
95
10499
107
1
2
3
13
12
10
9
Coathanger
16
17
15
35
32
31
30
28
29
33
21
23
24
22
1819
6940
276885
20
6830
6823
33
23
20
2651
7008
7086
North America Nebula7000
63 59
68
56
57
5560
74
75
IC5117
717082
IC5146
VeilNebula
6995
41
39
72
70636970
6883
6871
27
28
47
34
25
17
22 19
15
8
4
14
68116884
6866
6910
16
RS
LW
13
1110
6886
IC4997
6905
17
16
18
13
6891
6340
DracoDwarfGalaxy
35
27
59 50
3642
26
30
39
45
46
4854
53
49
UX
28
11
24
31
16
12
VV
9
7
620
30
26
Sh2-155
7023
4
9
IC5217
4
5
14
15
212
16
15
913
7
2526
9
2
43
18
11
10
6738
3128
6803
6755 6756
21
19
22
6781
4
7271
67
68
40°
4
50°
60°
70°
80°
90°
100°
19
1825
HR8474
HR8493
HR7500HD173739
HR698351
29
Galactic Equator
M I L K Y
W AY
0
123456
Magnitudes
IC1396
IC1318
30
34
4
11
18
17
6673
74
5964
6572
101
96
98
100
931
9
25
79
77
43
73
64
66
37
82
GR
EA
T R
I FT
DA
RK
LA
NE
9
20N
1h
0h 23h 22h
21h
+60°
+50°
0°
+70°
+80°
+40°
+30°
+20°
+10°
23h
+60°
+50°
+70°
0°
+40°
+30°
+20°
+10°
+80°NCP
2N
23E
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
Ecliptic
2h1h
0h 22h21h
20h
CEPHEUS
Errai
Alfirk
Alderamin
Kurhah
CASSIOPEIA
Ruchbah
Shedir
Caph
LACERTA
ANDROMEDA
PEGASUS
PISCES
EQUULEUS
Alpheratz
Scheat
Matar
Sadalbari
Algenib
Markab
Homam
Biham
Enif
Kitalpha
Navi
CYGNUS
Del
VULPECULA
Psc
Per
Dra
G R E A T S Q U A R E
C I R C L E T
CETUS
Mirach
c
p
q
j
b
x
w
e
dj
c
o
i
na
m
q
h
g
l
p1
k
fe
d
b
a
sq
r
b
a
g
t1
t2
fk
m
n
h l
v
u
u
n
u o
p
m
wk
j
i
o
p2
q n
r
s
t
fp
g
l
hq
r
p
d
gf
e
a
w
v
b
t s
u
o
l
k
i
l
j
dc
ba
e
m
h
n
f
a
r
q
b
h
c
xi
k
c
d
b
x1
x2
j
M15
M103
M76
M52
M39185
281
663
7662
36
65
55
72
35
7331
40
7133 7129
6939
6946
7510
7217
7814
278
7790
225
381
637
654
659743
7027
7006
7243
7209
12
92030
26
Sh2-155
HR8474
1124
3116
7380
28
70234
VV
7789
AR
7635457
436V466
2123
9 IC5217
4
5
2
11
615
1
10
12
13
M110
M31
M32
Andromeda Galaxy
3
78
18
R
4
2
22
14 8
13
10
764015
117686
3223
51
404
BB
VX
X
14
32
15
2
12
16
1
5
913
4
3035
37
31
34
717740
7332
237457
64
56
78
71
7741
85
87
86
75
7066
77
82 7479
774380
55
58
5759
7626 7619
35
33
26
51
North America Nebula7000
6359
60
IC5117
717082
IC5146
7008
LW
61
68
74
75
72
706369
70
25
26
9
28
49
43
HR8493
3143
6912
32
12
4
1044
4238
40
100°
110°
120°
130°
90°
19
18
25
1
WW
Galactic Equator
M I L K Y
W AY
4196G
60
51
44
62
10°
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
IC1396
147
559
73
64
667
6
43
2
68
7086
77
79
1416
25
51
69
52
47
53
66
64
57
58
34
7
16
1922
36
2017
21
18
19
7
11
32
38
27
12
73
67
63
79
54
4h 3h 1h 0h
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mum nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
0
123456
Magnitudes
0°
+20°
+10°
–10°
–20°
–30°
–40°
+30°
+40°
0°
+20°
+10°
–10°
–20°
–30°
–40°
+30°
+40°
23
E
2S
2h
2N
2h4h3h
1h 0h
Ecliptic
Atik
PERSEUS
TRIANGULUM
ARIES
PISCES
ANDROMEDA
CETUS
ERIDANUS
FORNAX
Mirach
Alpheratz
Algenib
Alrescha
Hamal
Sheratan
Mesartim
Menkar
Mira
Baten Kaitos
Deneb Kaitos
Zaurak
Azha
Menkib
PEGASUS
TAURUS
ERIDANUS
SCULPTOR
Acamar PHOENIX
SouthGalactic
Pole
n
e
of
xq p
b
dc
e
a
s f
d
em
l
a
j
g
h
k
b
c
iqp
or
k
n
o k
l
n2n1
m
a cj a
q1q3
q2
o
g
fed
pc
eq
r
p
s1
s2
s3
s4
s5
s6
s7
s8
s9
f
ea
r
q
d
v2
b
g2g3
w
c2
i
k1k2
u
l
m
p
i1
i2
x
t
b
l
r
s
t
u
w1
w2
w3
v
q
g
p
o
n
m
l
f
e
h
g
f
v
s
e
s
p
r
n
a
g
h
if
b
u1
u2u3
u4
i
dx
c
v
g
ea
f
hq
r
p
d
d
j1j2
k1k2
j
h
s
n
M33
M77
M74
59
36
1
772
66
37
936
1023
65
55
35
1365
1316
1097
1232
32
g
7
1342
672
7814
524
488
1087
1022
1052
584
720
14071300
1332
1395
908
613 Blanco 1
1371
1398
1255
1344
1351
132614041389
439
Sculptor Dwarf
Galaxy
253
300
134
288
254289
150
R
246
210
247
2
6
7
3
45
T
1213
1420
157
IC161333
39
25
34
3842
450
2830
596636
779
50
47
46
49
56
48
57
578
988
60
6163
69
7075
67
8077
84
81
1042
64
93
864
10731055
9495
82
91
107
68
94
4132
5162 60
44
29
3033
34
58
47
64
57 53
66
52
54
315
410
105 87
72
676
718
89
8073
741
520
660 86
1049FornaxDwarfGalaxy
986
1079
12011302
1385
1425
h
i
1317
135013801374
1427
1386
1381
1379
13871399
7
14
15
R
1012
11777
Cr21
925890
949
13
1420 1021
680691
15
7
41
39
33
972
1156
35
47
6259
55
56
64
63
49
52
45 40
3831
821
19
4
M45Pleiades
5
430
10
12
2931
6
28
32
45
475856
404
752IC239
2417
21
1620
40
42
1058
IC2003
IC2006
15 64
11871325
1353
14151439 1426
20
14001440
25
24
30 22
21
17
5
119912091309
13571421
1084
1453
55
HR1190
S
85
50°
60°
40°
30°
20°
10°
0°
y
1499California Nebula
6
87
13
32
97
470, 474
G
7h 6h 4h 3h
0°
+20°
+10°
–10°
–30°
+30°
+40°
0°
+20°
+10°
–10°
–20°
–30°
+30°
+40°
5S
5h
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
5N
5h
–20°
8E
7h 6h 4h 3h
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
–40° –40°
Ecliptic
AURIGA
Alnath
TAURUSGEMINI Propus
Mebsuta
ORION
MONOCEROS
CANIS MAJOR
LEPUS
COLUMBA
CAELUM
ERIDANUS
ERIDANUS
PERSEUS
Atik
Menkib
AldebaranAlhena
Mekbuda
BellatrixBetelgeuse
MintakaAlnilam
Alnitak
Saiph
Rigel
Cursa
Arneb
Nihal
Mirzam
Sirius
FurudAdhara
Wazn
Phact
Zaurak
Keid
Beid
Menkar
FORNAX
Hor
ARIES
PUPPIS
Azha
CETUS
v2
h
j
e
h
m s
t r
u
l
v
b
i
e
n
fo
w
u
v
x q
s f
d
tj1
x
s
in
l g
v1v2mf
c
n
nm
k
u1u2
e
c
k
pq
h1
h2r1
r2a
o1o2
p1
n
o k
aj
m
lp2
p3
p4
p5
p6
c
a
x
wq
b
c
d
efr g
i
ts
b
kj
b
w
x
l
mn
o1
o2
de
f g
p
c
im
k j
la
fg
h
l
i
a
b
m1
m2
m3
p
ch
o1
o2
n1n2
re
dc
b
m2
e
t1
t2
s9
ea
r
d
b
c
o
a
e
l
k
b
n
rf
j
h
d
kj
q1q3
q2
s
s3
s4
s5
s6
s7s8
c
j2
w3
e
q
d1
d2
d3
e
f
M38
M36
M37
M35
M1
M78
M41
M79
M43
M42,
32
39
i
1535
71746
1817
1647
Hyades
1637
20
38
Trapezium (h1)
2266
2129
Sh2-261
21692194
2186
2022
1662
21122071
IC 434
2024
1788
1999
19811977
2301
2204
2949
32
2333
38
2125
51
22
69
42
Great Orion Nebula
Barnard’s Loop
74
56
HorseheadNebula
2175
71
2195
721115
16
14
Head of Orion
55
6668
62
51
45
47
46
64
63
53
IC2118Witch Head Nebula
1700
1779
1600
35
5859
60
54
25
24
30 22
21
17
1453
1521
1532
4143
1537
gh
1365
1316
1344
1351
132614041389
1317
135013801374
1427
1386
1381
1379
13871399
IC2006
1371
1398
1255
12011302
1385
1425
1232
14071300
1332
1395 1511871325
1353
14151439 1426
20
14001440
119912091309
13571421
8
1832
RX
2139
2196
196412
1
19
10
1744
R
1679
1808
1792
2090
1851
HR1771
HR2316HR2424
1342
40
42IC2003
1499California
Nebula
1514
5455
56
501 Aur
M45Pleiades
6259
55
56
64
63
49
521156
5
430
10
12
2931
6
4045
46
47
88
66
90
9379
83
5857
60134
133137
126
130
129116
111
119
115
117
10497
75
3739
36
44
41
72
53
56
98
99
Cr69
Meissa
103
109105
106
114
136
139
132
125
121
118
T
Simeis 147
26
1555
4051UU
49
53
21778
1907
1893
1931
S
4
5
1416
19IC405
28
2158
13
26
36
37
IS
35 30
33
18
1317
75
73
10
2232
7
15/S2264Cone
Nebula
226116
2236
2251
2215
3
22149
2182
2183
2286
11
1517
IC2165
10
2207
22172280
Cr121
2298
63
7180
43
9495
37
56
Rosette Nebula
2237
2244
M I L K Y
W AY
100°90° 80°
70°
60°
50°
210°
200°
190°
180°
170°
HR1190
63
66
Galac
tic E
quat
or
93
8
TU
64
lPK198-6.1
5
17
t
x
2243
2731
60
59
T
68
U
57
WW
48
62
1857
32
13
76
6
51
HU
97
52
18
35131135
120
122
22
5E
12h
13h15h
16h
–80°
–60°
–50°
–70°
–80°
–60°
–50°
–70°
0°
–30°
–20°
–10°
–40° –40°
–30°
–20°
–10°
17h16h
15h 13h 12h11h
14h
SCP
14E
14h
11S
Magnitudes
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
Ecliptic
SOUTHERN CROSS
SERPENS(CAPUT)
Spica
LIBRA
VIRGO
CORVUS
HYDRA
LUPUSCENTAURUS
CRUX
CIRCINUS
NORMA
ARA
TRIANGULUMAUSTRALAE
APUS
MUSCA
CHAMAELEON
Algorab
PorrimaZaniah
Zubenelgenubi
Gienah
Alchiba
Menkent
Rigel Kent
Atria
Acrux
Gacrux
Zubeneschamali
MimosaHadar
Proxima Centauri
Sco
Syrma
Car
Vel
l
b
d
e
l
i
u
j
k
l
a
h
cg
vw
g
d
c
fbe
wc
p
r
i
m
a1
c
fg
h
k
j
d
p t
s
q
h i
m
l
w
v
u
t1
t2
i
s2
s1
g
ob
jd
t
c
x
n
v
g
e k
p
j
f
m1
m2
g
c1
c2
a
l q
r
f
e
c
r
d
q
p
d
c
e
k b
b
i
afha
l
a
dh
ge
bc
b
i1i2
j
e1
f
g
i
d
h
g af
j
e
c
j1
j2
g
h
i1
d
b
a
e
c
g k
kl
jp
eb
a
d1&2
c
b
f1f2
h1
h2
o1o2
sn1
n2
a
n1n2
u1
u2
w2
w1
a2
f
t
M83
M68
5460
6025
5634
HR4401
4372
DarkDoodah
4833
J
5189
IC4191
Coalsack
41034609
4755Jewel
Box
3766
IC2948
3699
3918
3960
3532
3572
G
Ru106HIC3896 E
e w
D
4835
ln
46964709
p
u
x1
x2
4373
M
Q
K
5138
52865307
4945f
4976
52065266
5139x Centauri
5128 50115026
5365
5367 d
r4
3 1
2
zy
4936
5102
5161
IC4296
5253
IC4329
c1c2
5419
5786
5483
v5662
5617
5606
5316
5281
HR5371
HR4944
5823
5315
HR5520
6101
5979
6156
5694
5456
58
51
52
50 5061
47
5101 5078
R
HR5120
4106
4105
4783
4782
4361
4038
4039
3
M104
4030
21
45044487
25
46024593
4546
4775
4699
46974731
4818
46664753
4684
4691
4644
9
4941
4995 4958
4981
74
82
69
63
7583
51705247
8789
86
50544984
4856
5018
4950
4939
5077
53
68
61
55
57
4902
5044
47604781
4742
36
25
11
37
48
5812
5878
5728
5897
58985903 12
12
3
4
41
42
5986
5873
kh
5824
12
dg
b
5530IC4406
IC4444
5643
5822
5882
5927
c
5925
5946
6134
6167
6087S
6152HR5873
HR5900
6067
6031
6208
6193
6
Sombrero Galaxy
106
11
165427
95
5493
Ced122
36
62156221
31 Crt
M I L K Y
W AYGalactic Equator
330°
320°
310°
300°
290°
240°
230°
220°
210°
200°
190°180°
80 66 65
76
13 0°
48
4027
60
18
34 32
47
49
IC3370
m
X
z
A
F
27
14S
15h
16 h18 h
19 h
–80°
–60°
–50°
–70°
–80°
–60°
–50°
–70°
–30°
–20°
–10°
–40° –40°
–30°
–20°
–10°
0°
20h19h
18h 16h 15h 14hSCP
17E
17h
20
S
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
Ecliptic
6652
GalacticCenter,
Sgr A*
SCUTUMSabik
OPHIUCHUS
LIBRA
SCORPIUS
SAGITTARIUS LUPUS
NORMA
TELESCOPIUM
CORONAAUSTRALIS
ARA
PAVO
APUS
TRIANGULUMAUSTRALE
CIRCINUS
Cen
Yed PriorYed Posterior
Zubeneschamali
Graffias
Antares
Shaula
Lesath
NunkiKaus
Borealis
Alnasl
Kaus Media
Kaus Australis
Atria
Rigel Kent
Hadar
OCTANS
Proxima Centauri
SERPENS(CAPUT)SERPENS
(CAUDA)
AQUILA
Sargas
b
ae
d
f
g
s
f
m
l
om
f
t
ed
w
v n
l
eb d
m
c
f
gh
i
jk
d
b
u
v
mwx
q
o
ng
o
h
l
c
k
d cr
u
r
a
s
e
p
qt
s
r
v
n
h
g
t
dc
x
fg
l k
k t
g
e
h
j
i1i2
h
l
k j
g1
g2
a
f
i
j
kq
e
h
r
i
ja
k
p b
l
f
j
e
d
g
h
e b
k
p
j
l
fq
r
b
bc
d
b
ahge
e
d
c
g
d
i
i
h
h
g
p
n
m
g
m
x
k
j
f
u
f
i
aj
c
a
ha
b
f
c
j1j2
d1&2
g
e
i1i2
c1c2
l1l2
x2
x1n
u1
u2
w2
w1
m1
m2
e1e2
d1d2
e
f
m1m2n2
n1
g
s
17h
f
M23
IC4651
6453
6723
HR5520
6101
v5662
5617
5606 HR5371
5823
6025
5979
6156
HR6828
V
6752
IC4662
6810
6753
6769
6744 6684
6770
6087S
HR5873
HR5900
6152
60676031
5925
5946
6134
6167
6193
6169
61246153
6178
6192
64966388
63226231
Tr24
61396242
6256
27
k
G
6302
62816441
6380Ton2
M7
M6
6451
6425
6416 6383Terzan6
Djorg1
M4
614422
13d
123
4
M80
IC4601
1618
11
Rho Ophiuchi Nebulae Complex
M1030
20
23
M14
6366
60
6539
6517
IC1276
M16
6604
6309
HR6544
M107
6235
24
M9
6287
6356
6342
58
IC4634SN 1604
Kepler’s Star
26
M19
M62
62846401
6293
6304
6316
5144
6369 6325
36
45
6355
43
PipeNebula
3625 11
5812
41
37
48
5878
5897
42
36
58985903
2
5986
5873
5824
k
1
h
dg
5882
5927
b5822
c
6208
6352
6250 6204
6200
6397
6326
HR6416
6362
6300
6215
6221
6584
IC4797
IC4889
HR7548
6541
HR6750
M54M70
M69
6624
6569 6558
6563
6520
6528 6522
M28
M86544
6553
4
7
M20M216583
2114
15
M22
6642
6638
24
33
671629
6717
M18
M24
M25
6645
M17
HR6946IC1287
M11
M26
67126664
R
6445
6440
6469
3
6758
28
61e
5
0°
Galactic Equator
30°
20°
10°
350°
340°
330°
320°
280°
270°
260°250° 240°
230°
M I L K Y
W AY
Eagle Nebula
LagoonNebula
Omega Nebula
IC4592
Y
16
W
50
47
49
12
e
X
5460
6259 6249
6268
6396
6400
6072
PK352–7.1
B72
HR6936
HR6693
HR6780
0°
0h
4h
8h
12h
16h
20h
1h
2h
3h
5h
6h
7h
9h
10h
11h 13h
14h
15h
17h
18h
19h
21h
22h
23h
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
17S
14S
11S8S
5S
2S
23S20
S
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
Magnitudes
10 2 3 4 5 6
h
2070
–80°
–70°
–60°
–50°
–40°
–80°
–70°
–60°
–50°
–40°
PHOENIX
Achernar
Alnair
Peacock
Canopus
Avior
Atria
HadarAcrux
Gacrux
Menkent
SCULPTORPISCIS AUSTRINUS
GRUS
MICROSCOPIUM
INDUSTUCANA
HOROLOGIUM
FORNAX
ERIDANUS
RETICULUM HYDRUS
DORADO
MENSAPICTOROCTANS
PAVO
ARA
TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE
CIRCINUS
NORMA
LUPUS
CENTAURUS
CRUX
MUSCA
CHAMAELEONVOLANS
CARINA
VELA
ANTLIA
HYDRA
APUS
Sgr
TELESCOPIUM
Rigil Kent
Mimosa
Miaplacidus
PYXIS
Ankaa
PUPPIS
b
u
w
l
p
p
r
n
gh
lc
b
p
t
dc
b
i
h
s
t
l
c
e
c
f ag
n
k
mq
p
a
bs3
u
i h
i
s
aj
e l
b
mc
t
dw
u
v
j
i
h
i g
f
u
v
a
f
q
ng
p
r
o
jf
c
e
g
e dh
l
i
f
m j2j1a
b
a
i
g
n
c
o
o
am
d
e
g
f
b1
b2
q
pl
c
ak
i j
e a
g
i c
db
i
j
b
m
k
a
f e d
p1p2g2
h
c
m
j
i
k
bh
w
m
m
al1
r t
b
d
q
i
m
g
q
k j
f
h
xk
n
i
m
p
hj
g
e
f
u
k
be
n
c1
c2c3
t
s
rv
l
n
md
pj
a
b
l
c
gh
b
d e
f
f
k
bc
d
a
s
m la
m
i
c
fd
h
e
f
ah
g fl
f
i
d1c
b
j i d
x q
p1 p2
g e
a
cb
e
j
hj1
j2
j
f ga
h
i
d
i f
dc b
g f
pl
a
k
j
j
g
e
h
d
bec
egd c
b
a
h
i1
dc
a
b e
g
h
a
b
p
lk
g
mj
h
b
x
e
b
a
t
i
v e
c
do
j
kb
a
w
u
h
l
g
fak
p
d
e
c
b
i
k
q
e
f
f
r q
a
j
p k
elx
cd
tb
jo
i g
h
wvuml
i
cs
rd
bo
n
i a
g
e e
j
d
l2
d1&2
h
f1f2
g1
g2p1
p2
g1
g2
k1k2
g2g3
i1i2
h
k2k1
k1k2
h
k1k2
l1
l2
d1
d2
h1h2
l1l2
u1
u2
e1
e2
i1i2
c1
c2
m1m2
u1
u2
s2s1
t2
t1n1n2
o1
o2
f1
f2
h1
h2
l
f1
f2
ca
d2
f
Coalsack
Large Magellanic
Cloud
Small MagellanicCloud
2442
SouthCelestial
Pole
7098
Mel227
6101
IC4499
HR5520
1511
BN
1559
1313
1574
1543
HD29058
2210
1947
1672R
16171566
1533
1553
1549
E121-6
1705
1261
HR688
R
1433
1448
1512
p
q1q2
s
ey
12911316
1326 1317
1049Fornax DwarfGalaxy
362NGC 10447 Tucanae
121
HR9077
R
S
ScluptorDwarfGalaxy
55
134
300
7793
6
HR8501
71447213
7410
74127424
7531
IC1459
IC5267
75527582
Lacaille8760
V
HR6828
6684
6744
6876
6752
HR7548
6584
6868
6300
63626397
6326
6208
62156221
6025 6087S
HR5900 6067
HR5873
6167
53155823
b
c
5822
5927
5946
k
dg
IC4406
5643
v
M
Q
K
5138
J
5286
HR4944
5316
5617
HR5371 5662
5460
fe 5139
x Centauri
r
43
1
2z
yd
51025253
IC4296
c1
c2
5419
ln
u4373
px1x2
wE
D
GRu106 H
3918
3766
IC2948
B
c1c2
c3
HR4423
HR4327
3557
4372
4833
HR4401
5189
Ced122
47554609
IC2602SouthernPleiades
pq
2808
lR
k
m
i
a
h
J
x
u
ws
Eta Carinae Nebula, 3372
r 32933532
c
2516
A
HR2384
J VP
Q
ON 2547
BIC2391
H
OYD
C
nb
a fg c
d
e
VelaSNR
HR3359
NY
w
z
u m
M
lk
Q
3228
3201 t p
q3132
U
K
L
Galactic
Equator
5128
South Celestial Pole Area
TW
H
SX
5824A
3621
r
N305°
291°281°270°
253°
337°
325°
317°
32
SCP
A-1
33
0h
4h
8h
12h
16h
20h
1h
2h
3h
5h
6h
7h
9h
10h
11h 13h
14h
15h
17h
18h
19h
21h
22h
23h
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Double StarVariable StarClusterGlobular ClusterNebulaPlanetary NebulaGalaxy
17S
14S
11S
8S
5S
2S
23S
20S
Telrad Reticle2°, 2°, 4°
5° Binocular Field of View
1°Eyepiece at 50x
Magnitudes
10 2 3 4 5 6
h
2070
–80°
–70°
–60°
–50°
–40°
–80°
–70°
–60°
–50°
–40°
PHOENIX
Achernar
Alnair
Peacock
Canopus
Avior
Atria
HadarAcrux
Gacrux
Menkent
SCULPTORPISCIS AUSTRINUS
GRUS
MICROSCOPIUM
INDUSTUCANA
HOROLOGIUM
FORNAX
ERIDANUS
RETICULUM HYDRUS
DORADO
MENSAPICTOROCTANS
PAVO
ARA
TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE
CIRCINUS
NORMA
LUPUS
CENTAURUS
CRUX
MUSCA
CHAMAELEONVOLANS
CARINA
VELA
ANTLIA
HYDRA
APUS
Sgr
TELESCOPIUM
Rigil Kent
Mimosa
Miaplacidus
PYXIS
Ankaa
PUPPIS
b
u
w
l
p
p
r
n
gh
lc
b
p
t
dc
b
i
h
s
t
l
c
e
c
f ag
n
k
mq
p
a
bs3
u
i h
i
s
aj
e l
b
mc
t
dw
u
v
j
i
h
i g
f
u
v
a
f
q
ng
p
r
o
jf
c
e
g
e dh
l
i
f
m j2j1a
b
a
i
g
n
c
o
o
am
d
e
g
f
b1
b2
q
pl
c
ak
i j
e a
g
i c
db
i
j
b
m
k
a
f e d
p1p2g2
h
c
m
j
i
k
bh
w
m
m
al1
r t
b
d
q
i
m
g
q
k j
f
h
xk
n
i
m
p
hj
g
e
f
u
k
be
n
c1
c2c3
t
s
rv
l
n
md
pj
a
b
l
c
gh
b
d e
f
f
k
bc
d
a
s
m la
m
i
c
fd
h
e
f
ah
g fl
f
i
d1c
b
j i d
x q
p1 p2
g e
a
cb
e
j
hj1
j2
j
f ga
h
i
d
i f
dc b
g f
pl
a
k
j
j
g
e
h
d
bec
egd c
b
a
h
i1
dc
a
b e
g
h
a
b
p
lk
g
mj
h
b
x
e
b
a
t
i
v e
c
do
j
kb
a
w
u
h
l
g
fak
p
d
e
c
b
i
k
q
e
f
f
r q
a
j
p k
elx
cd
tb
jo
i g
h
wvuml
i
cs
rd
bo
n
i a
g
e e
j
d
l2
d1&2
h
f1f2
g1
g2p1
p2
g1
g2
k1k2
g2g3
i1i2
h
k2k1
k1k2
h
k1k2
l1
l2
d1
d2
h1h2
l1l2
u1
u2
e1
e2
i1i2
c1
c2
m1m2
u1
u2
s2s1
t2
t1n1n2
o1
o2
f1
f2
h1
h2
l
f1
f2
ca
d2
f
Coalsack
Large Magellanic
Cloud
Small MagellanicCloud
2442
SouthCelestial
Pole
7098
Mel227
6101
IC4499
HR5520
1511
BN
1559
1313
1574
1543
HD29058
2210
1947
1672R
16171566
1533
1553
1549
E121-6
1705
1261
HR688
R
1433
1448
1512
p
q1q2
s
ey
12911316
1326 1317
1049Fornax DwarfGalaxy
362NGC 10447 Tucanae
121
HR9077
R
S
ScluptorDwarfGalaxy
55
134
300
7793
6
HR8501
71447213
7410
74127424
7531
IC1459
IC5267
75527582
Lacaille8760
V
HR6828
6684
6744
6876
6752
HR7548
6584
6868
6300
63626397
6326
6208
62156221
6025 6087S
HR5900 6067
HR5873
6167
53155823
b
c
5822
5927
5946
k
dg
IC4406
5643
v
M
Q
K
5138
J
5286
HR4944
5316
5617
HR5371 5662
5460
fe 5139
x Centauri
r
43
1
2z
yd
51025253
IC4296
c1
c2
5419
ln
u4373
px1x2
wE
D
GRu106 H
3918
3766
IC2948
B
c1c2
c3
HR4423
HR4327
3557
4372
4833
HR4401
5189
Ced122
47554609
IC2602SouthernPleiades
pq
2808
lR
k
m
i
a
h
J
x
u
ws
Eta Carinae Nebula, 3372
r 32933532
c
2516
A
HR2384
J VP
Q
ON 2547
BIC2391
H
OYD
C
nb
a fg c
d
e
VelaSNR
HR3359
NY
w
z
u m
M
lk
Q
3228
3201 t p
q3132
U
K
L
Galactic
Equator
5128
South Celestial Pole Area
TW
H
SX
5824A
3621
r
N305°
291°281°270°
253°
337°
325°
317°
Eng
agem
ent Ring
1° Circle’20
2000
1950
1900
m2.0
m8.1
m8.1
m9.4
m6.5
m7.8
m9.4
m9.2
m9.1
m9.1
m8.1
m8.8
m8.6
m9.2
m8.8
m9.3
m7.1
2050
2100
2150
2200
’10
’30’40
12 h
12h
Polaris
0h
18h
6h
Position of
North C
elestial Pole
Dipper HandleTo d
a
Sp
ecific M
agnitud
es
67
89
1011
12
Ma
gn
itud
es
m11.0
UR
SA
MIN
OR
“North Star”
A-1 �
North
Celestia
l Pole & Precessio
n Path
Electra
Merop
e N
ebula
3h46
m
+2 4°30'
+24°
+23°30'
1° Circle
Celaeno
Maia
Merope
Taygeta
Asterope
Pleione
3h48
m3
h50m
Maia N
ebula
Alcyone
Atlas
Sterope
2425/g
23
27
2817 16
20
19
2122
26
45
67
89
1011
Ma
gn
itud
es
TAU
RU
S
Flamsteed
Num
bers
TrapeziumView at 50x +
–6°
5h 36m
NebulaNGC 1977
ClusterNGC 1981
Nebula around star 44/i is NGC 1980. This star also has the names Hatsya and Nair al Saif.
M42
M42
M43 is a bright “knot” of M42
–5°
42
44 / i
43 /h2
45
2 4 6 8 10 12
Magnitudes
MAGNITUDES A 6.7–7.5 B 8.0–8.5 C 5.1 D 6.7 E 10.3 F 10.2
ORION
AE
F
DC
B
41/h1
HR1887
Darker shading indicates brighter area.
A-4 � Orion Sword Area
A-3 �
Pleiades (M
45 )
A-2 �
Big Dipper B
owl
1° Circle
12h25
m10
h50m
+53°
+62°
67
89
10
Magnitu
des
54
3
Dubhe
3448
M9
7
UR
SA
MAJO
R
M1
083549
36313729
3718
37563738
3733
3953
3917
M1
09
4068
4102
4194 4290
4161
M4
0“2 stars”
40414036
3945
3894
3445
Merak
Megrez
Phad
50 a48 b
69 d
64 c
42
43
40 4139
44
5 CV
n
70
71
74 75
73723972
39983982
66
38983888
3780
3683
3683A3669
3619
3613
36103642
NG
C 3690
& IC
694
3963
68
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mum nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
A-14
37
+4°
12h 08m13h 00m
+6°
24
25
11
3
6
29
28
41
34
27
20
33
32
31
3516
12
17
11
5+20°
M874478
M84M86
4440
4388
4452
4413
4402
43874425
M88
44774479
44734458
4461
4438
4435Eyes
Markarian’s Chain
M58
M90
M91
4571
M89
45674568
4528
4503
4564
Siamese Twins
4550
4551
44974491
4429
4596
4442
4417
44244522
4380
4302 42984377
4459
M85
M100
M99
M98
M59M60
M61
M49
47 e
43 d
9 o
32
36
38
27
+16°
+12°
1°Circle
33
30 q
4474
4351
4606
4307
4578
4519
4488
44694411B
4535 4434
4365
4470
4526
4570
4532
4430 42604339
4324
4261
42704281 42734580
4586 4480
4378
4457
4496B4496A
4561
429343944539
4450
4340
43504383
4405
44984489
4595
4540
4419
43794421
4312
4262
4237
4189
4212
416841934206
4216
4178
4124
4710
4866
4689
46544639
4638
4647
46604754
476246944733
4608
4698
6 7 8 9 10
Magnitudes
543
4235
42244233
4215
4241
4880
4701
46884808
4713
4612
4152
41474064
Vindemiatrix
COMA BERENICES
VIR
GO
SPECIAL NOTES. Every object indicated is a galaxy except for the globular cluster NGC 4147. The size and shape of the galaxies are to scale.
+8°
4651
+18°
+14°
+10°
12h 15m12h 30m12h 45m
A-14 � Virgo Cluster of Galaxies Area
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mum nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
Order of brightness of the Messier Virgo Galaxies starting with the brightest: M64, M49, (M104), M87, M60, M85, M86, M84, M88, M61, M58, M59, M89, M90, M99, M100, M98, M91.
39
ObC
Objects by Constellation
his section provides observing information on every plotteddeep sky object, double star and other objects of interest, including a few uncharted objects.
For an explanation of terms and abbreviations, see the Glossary.
Galaxies SS, EE and II after a Galaxy designates its type or shape, that is, Spiral, Elliptical or Irregular, respectively. See Galaxies in the Glossaryfor more information.
NebulaeEEmm , RR and BB after a Nebula designates its source of illumination,that is, Emission, Reflection or Bright, respectively. See Nebula in theGlossary for more information.
Listed Order of Deep Sky Objects (DSOs) and StarsIn the lists of DEEP SKY OBJECTs, objects with names are listed first followed by catalogues, from the brightest catalogue to the faintest. So,the Messier objects are listed before the NGC objects with IC objects fol-lowing. Objects with other catalogue designations are at the bottom ofthe DEEP SKY OBJECTs lists. For the lists of DOUBLE, VARIABLE andRED STARs, stars with names are listed first, followed by those withBayer letters and then Flamsteed numbers. The order of a few listingsof stars may seem wrong, but they are listed in their catalogue order. So,for the RED STARs in Cygnus, RS does come before LW.
[ Ori • Orionis • 8N, 5N, 8E, 5E, 5S, A-4 ]
3-letter abbreviation
Latin Genitive Spelling
Charts Underline = Best Chart
Designationor Name
ObjectType
Magnitude(s)Range indicatedfor variable,slash for
double star.
Dimension in SkySingle number
indicates a diameter.Expressed in Arc
° Degrees, ' Minutesor " Seconds.
RightAscensionCoordinateRounded up. (Calculated for 2025)
DeclinationCoordinateRounded up. (Calculated for 2025)
DoubleStar
SeparationExpressed in Arc
" Secondsor
' Minutes.
NGC 4450 Galaxy (S). m 10.1, 5x4', 50*, Sep=5", Period=144 days, [12h09m, +19°55']. A-9
Numberof stars ina Cluster
VariableStarPeriod
Clusters and Globular ClustersThroughout this celestial atlas, an Open Cluster, that is, a grouping ofseveral to hundreds of stars, is referred to simply as a Cluster. GlobularClusters, which are groupings of thousands of stars, are always referredto as a “Globular Cluster” or “Globular” to distinguish them from Clusters. See Cluster in the Glossary for more information.
Magnitudes of ObjectsThe average magnitude limit of deep sky objects is 11.5, the limit of a6 to 8-inch diameter telescope under dark skies. The close-up charts gofainter. Although the magnitude of stars can be measured with certain-ty, deep sky objects are not pinpoints of light, so their magnitudes areharder to ascertain. For this reason, you will find that the magnitudesfor deep sky objects serve best as a guide. When observing these objects,some will be easier or harder to see than their magnitude indicates. Mag-nitudes listed with a long dash are faint and/or have not been quantified.
Arc Sizes of Objects & Telescope ViewThe size that every object extends in the sky is indicated in arc degrees,minutes or seconds. It takes some observing experience to get a “feel”for the size of objects when looking through a telescope especially sincethe magnification can be changed easily. The Moon is a popular gaugebecause its diameter extends about 30 arc minutes (30' or 2°). Most telescope eyepieces that provide a magnification of 50x will also providea field-of-view of 1° in diameter, and an eyepiece providing a magnifi-cation of 100x will provide a field-of-view of 2° in diameter.
KEYs
Close-up ChartIndicated for objectsplotted solely on close-up charts.
Classof ObjectFor galaxiesand nebulae. See below.
Star chart,circa 1708
T
41
CAM
NGC 1931 Nebula/Cluster. m 10, 5', 24*, [5h33m, +34°15']. Miniature “Orion Nebula” with corresponding “Trapezium.”
NGC 2281 Cluster. m 5.4, 15', 30*, [6h50m, +41°02'].IC 405 Flaming Star Nebula (B). m 10.0, 30x19', [5h18m, +34°18'].Simeis 147 Supernova Remnant. Photographic object, 3.3x3.3°,
[5h42m, +28°01']. About 40,000 years old.DOUBLE S TAR s
h Aurigae. m 2.6/7.2, Sep=3.5", [6h01m, +37°13']. w5 Aurigae. m 5.2/8.6, Sep=30.1", [6h49m, +43°33']. 4 Aurigae. m 5.0/8.0, Sep=4.6", [5h01m, +37°56']. 14 Aurigae. m 5/7.3, Sep=14.1", [5h17m, +32°43'].41 Aurigae. m 6.2/6.9, Sep=7.6", [6h14m, +48°42'].
RED S TAR s
S Aurigae. m 8.2–14.0, Period=590 days, [5h29m, +34°10']. UU Aurigae. m 5.3–6.5, Period=235 days/Irregular,
[6h38m, +38°26'].
BOOTES [ Boo • Bootis • NCP, 17N, 14N, 17E 14E ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
NGC 5248 Galaxy (S). m 10.2, 4x2', [13h39m, +8°45'].NGC 5466 Globular Cluster. m 9.1, 34', [14h07m, +28°25'].NGC 5557 Galaxy (E). m 11.1, 2x1', [14h19m, +36°23'].NGC 5669 Galaxy (S). m 11.3, 3x2', [14h34m, +9°47'].NGC 5676 Galaxy (S). m 11.2, 4x2', [14h34m, +49°21'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
Alkalurops (l). m 4.3.7.1/, Sep=107", [15h25m, +37°17']. Izar (e). m 3.3/4.7, Sep=2.6", [14h46m, +26°58']. d Bootis. m 3.6/7.9, Sep=1.7", [15h17m, +33°13']. f Bootis. m 3.4/3.8, Sep=0.5", [14h42m, +13°37'].i Bootis. m 4.8/7.4, Sep=38.7", [14h17m, +51°15']. j Bootis. m 4.5/6.6, Sep=13.5", [14h14m, +51°40']. n Bootis. m 4.8/7.0, Sep=6.3", [14h53m, +19°00']. p Bootis. m 4.9/5.8, Sep=5.5", [14h42m, +16°19']. 39 Bootis. m 5.7/6.1, Sep=2.9", [14h51m, +48°37']. 44 Bootis. m 4.8/5.7, Sep=1.8", [15h05m, +47°33'].HR 5385. m 5.0/6.8, Sep=6.2", [14h25m, +8°20'].
CAELUM [ Cae • Caeli • 5E, 5S ]
DEEP SKY OB JECT
NGC 1679 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x2', [4h51m, –31°55'].DOUBLE S TAR
c Caeli. m 4.6/8.1, Sep=3.2", [5h05m, –35°27'].
CAMELOPARDALIS [ Cam • Camelopardalis • NCP, 8N, 5N, 2N ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
Kemble’s Casade. Twenty m 8 stars in a 2.5° line. Middle is m 5 star at: [4h00m, +63°09'].
NGC 1501 Planetary Nebula. m 11.5, 52", [4h09m, +60°59'].NGC 1502 Cluster. m 5.7, 7', 45*, [4h10m, +62°23'].NGC 2146 Galaxy (S). m 10.6, 5x3', [6h23m, +78°21'].NGC 2336 Galaxy (S). m 10.4, 5x3', [7h31m, +80°08'].NGC 2403 Galaxy (S). m 8.5, 16x8', [7h39m, +65°33'].NGC 2655 Galaxy (S). m 10.1, 5x4', [8h59m, +78°08'].
VAR I AB LE S TAR
g Aquilae. m 3.5–4.4, Period=7.177 days, [19h54m, +1°04'].RED S TAR
V Aquliae. m 6.6–8.4, Period=353 days, [19h06m, –5°39'].
ARA[ Ara • Arae • 20S, 17S, 14S, SCP ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
NGC 6188 Nebula. See NGC 6193, below.NGC 6193 Cluster. m 5.2, 15', 15*, [16h42m, –48°50'].
The nebula, NGC 6188 surrounds this cluster (19x12').NGC 6200 Cluster. m 7.4, 12', 40*, [16h46m, –47°30'].NGC 6204 Cluster. m 8.2, 5', 45*, [16h48m, –47°04'].NGC 6208 Cluster. m 7.2, 15', 60*, [16h51m, –53°46'].NGC 6215 Galaxy (S). m 10.9, 3x2', [16h53m, –59°02'].NGC 6221 Galaxy (S). m 10.0, 5x3', [16h55m, –59°16'].NGC 6250 Cluster. m 5.9, 7', 60*, [17h00m, –45°58'].NGC 6300 Galaxy (S). m 10.1, 5x3', [17h19m, –62°51'].NGC 6326 Planetary Nebula. m 11, 9", [17h23m, –51°47'].NGC 6352 Globular Cluster. m 8.0, 11', [17h27m, –48°27'].NGC 6362 Globular Cluster. m 7.7, 14', [17h35m, –67°04'].NGC 6397 Globular Cluster. m 5.5, 22', [17h43m, –53°41'].IC 4651 Cluster. m 6.9, 12', 80*, [17h27m, –49°57'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
c Arae. m 3.3/10.2, Sep=17.8", [17h28m, –56°24'].HR 6416. m 5.5/8.6, Sep=10.0", [17h21m, –46°40'].
ARIES[ Ari • Arietis • 2N, 2E ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
NGC 680 Galaxy (S). m 11.9, 2x2', [1h51m, +22°06'].NGC 691 Galaxy (S). m 11.4, 3x3', [1h52m, +21°53'].NGC 772 Galaxy (S). m 10.3, 7x5', [2h01m, +19°08'].NGC 821 Galaxy (E). m 10.7, 3x2', [2h10m, +11°07'].NGC 972 Galaxy (S). m 11.4, 3x2', [2h36m, +29°25'].NGC 1156 Galaxy (I). m 11.7, 3x3', [3h01m, +25°20'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
Mesartim (c). m 4.5/4.6, Sep=7.5", [1h55m, +19°25']. e Arietis. m 4.6/4.9, Sep=1.5", [3h01m, +21°26']. k Arietis. m 4.8/6.7, Sep=37", [1h59m, +23°43'].1 Arietis. m 5.9/7.0, Sep=2.9", [1h52m, +22°24'].14 Arietis. m 5.0/8.0, Sep=107", [2h11m, +26°04'].33 Arietis. m 5.3/9.6, Sep=29", [2h42m, +27°10'].
AURIGA[ Aur • Aurigae • 5N, 5E ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
M36 Cluster. m 6.0, 12', 60*, [5h38m, +34°09'].M37 Cluster. m 5.6, 24', 150*, [5h54m, +32°33'].M38 Cluster. m 6.4, 21', 100*, [5h30m, +35°51'].NGC 1664 Cluster. m 7.6, 18', 40*, [4h53m, +43°43'].NGC 1778 Cluster. m 7.7, 7', 25*, [5h10m, +37°03'].NGC 1857 Cluster. m 7, 6', 40*, [5h22m, +39°22'].NGC 1893 Cluster. m 7.5, 10', 60*, [5h24m, +33°25'].
Known as the Letter Y Cluster.NGC 1907 Cluster. m 8.2, 7', 30*, [5h30m, +35°20'].
Objects by Constellation
a alphab betac gammad deltae epsilonf zetag etah thetai iotaj kappak lambdal mum nun xio omicronp piq rhor sigmas taut upsilonu phiv chiw psix omega
Greek Alphabet
42
CNC
IC 342 Galaxy (S). m 9.7, 20x19', [3h49m, +68°10'].St 23 Cluster. m 7.5+, 17', 25*, [3h18m, +60°12'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
b Camelopardalis. m 4.1/7.4, Sep=83", [5h06m, +60°29'].1 Camelopardalis. m 5.8/6.8, Sep=11", [4h34m, +53°58'].HR 1686. m 5.0/9.2, Sep=26", [5h27m, +79°15'].HR 4893. m 5.3/5.9, Sep=22", [12h50m, +83°17'].
CANCER [ Cnc • Cancri • 8N, 8E, A-5 ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
M44 Praesepe or Beehive (Cluster). m 3.1, 1.6°, 50*, [8h42m, +19°35']. Praesepe means “manger” or “hive.”
M67 King Cobra (Cluster). m 6.9, 30', 200*, [8h53m, +11°42'].NGC 2513 Galaxy (E). m 11.6, 3x2', [8h04m, +9°21'].NGC 2624 Galaxy (S). m 14.7, 46x28", [8h40m, +19°38']. A-5NGC 2625 Galaxy (S). m 15.3, 31x26", [8h40m, +19°38']. A-5NGC 2637 Galaxy (S). m 15.7, 31x26", [8h43m, +19°36']. A-5NGC 2647 Galaxy (E). m 15.1, 43x34", [8h44m, +19°34']. A-5NGC 2775 Galaxy (S). m 10.1, 5x4', [9h12m, +6°56'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
f Cancri. m 5.3/6.0, Sep=5.9", [8h14m, +17°34']. Triple. The brighter is also a double just 1" apart.
i Cancri. m 4.1/6.0, Sep=31", [8h48m, +28°40']. The Spring Albireo.
r4 Cancri (66 Cancri). m 5.9/8.1, Sep=4.5", [9h03m, +32°09'].u2 Cancri. m 6.2/6.2, Sep=5.2", [8h28m, +26°51'].57 Cancri. m 5.4/5.7, Sep=1.5", [8h56m, +30°29'].
CANES VENATICI[ CVn • Canum Venaticorum • NCP, 14N, 11N, 14E, 11E ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
M3 Globular Cluster. m 6.2, 16', [13h43m, +28°15'].M51 Whirlpool Galaxy (S). m 8.1, 11x8', [13h31m, +47°04'].M63 Sunflower Galaxy (S). m 8.6, 12x8', [13h17m, +41°54'].M94 Croc’s Eye Galaxy (S). m 8.1, 11x9', [12h52m, +40°59'].M106 Galaxy (S). m 8.3, 18x8', [12h20m, +47°10'].NGC 4111 Galaxy (S). m 10.7, 2x1', [12h08m, +42°56'].NGC 4138 Galaxy (S). m 11.4, 3x2', [12h11m, +43°33'].NGC 4143 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x2', [12h11m, +42°24'].NGC 4145 Galaxy (S). m 11.3, 5x2', [12h11m, +39°49'].NGC 4151 Galaxy (S). m 10.8, 6x4', [12h12m, +39°16'].NGC 4214 Galaxy (I). m 9.8, 8x6', [12h17m, +36°11'].NGC 4217 Galaxy (S). m 11.2, 6x2', [12h17m, +46°57'].NGC 4220 Galaxy (S). m 11.3, 3x1', [12h17m, +47°45'].NGC 4242 Galaxy (S). m 10.8, 5x4', [12h19m, +45°29'].NGC 4244 Galaxy (S). m 10.4, 16x3', [12h19m, +37°40'].NGC 4346 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x1', [12h25m, +46°51'].NGC 4395 Galaxy (S). m 10.4, 4x2', [12h27m, +33°25'].NGC 4449 Galaxy (I). m 9.6, 6x5', [12h29m, +43°57'].NGC 4460 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 4x1', [12h30m, +44°44'].NGC 4490 Galaxy (S). m 9.8, 6x3', [12h32m, +41°30'].NGC 4618 Galaxy (S). m 10.8, 4x3', [12h43m, +41°01'].NGC 4631 Galaxy (S). m 9.2, 14x3', [12h43m, +32°24'].NGC 4656 Galaxy (S). m 10.5, 7x1', [12h45m, +32°02'].NGC 4800 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 2x1', [12h56m, +46°24'].NGC 5005 Galaxy (S). m 9.8, 5x3', [13h12m, +36°56'].NGC 5033 Galaxy (S). m 10.2, 11x6', [13h15m, +36°27'].
NGC 5350 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x2', [13h54m, +40°14'].NGC 5353 Galaxy (S). m 11.0, 3x2', [13h55m, +40°10'].NGC 5354 Galaxy (S). m 11.4, 3x1', [13h55m, +40°11'].NGC 5371 Galaxy (S). m 10.6, 4x3', [13h57m, +40°20'].NGC 5377 Galaxy (S). m 11.3, 4x2', [13h57m, +47°07'].NGC 5383 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x2', [13h58m, +41°43'].NGC 5395 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 3x2', [14h00m, +37°18'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
Cor Caroli (a). m 2.9/5.5, Sep=19.3". [12h57m, +38°11']. 25 Canum Venaticorum. m 4.8/6.8, Sep=1.8". [13h39m, +36°10'].
RED S TAR
Y Canum Venaticorum. m 4.8–6.5, Period=158 days, [12h46m, +45°18'].
CANIS MAJOR [ CMa • Canis Majoris • 8E, 5E, 8S, 5S ]
DEEP SKY OB JECTs
Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy (I). m —, 12x12°,[Centered at 7h13m, –27°40']. Discovered in 2003, it is, to date, the closest galaxy to our Milky Way Galaxy at 25,000 light years. Not plotted.
M41 Little Beehive (Cluster). m 4.5, 38', 80*, [6h47m, –20°47'].NGC 2204 Cluster. m 8.6, 13', 80*, [6h17m, –18°40'].NGC 2207 Galaxy (S). m 10.8, 4x3', [6h17m, –21°23'].NGC 2217 Galaxy (S). m 10.2, 5x4', [6h23m, –27°15'].NGC 2243 Cluster. m 9.4, 5', 25*, [6h31m, –31°18'].NGC 2280 Galaxy (S). m 10.5, 6x3', [6h46m, –27°40'].NGC 2325 Galaxy (E). m 11.2, 4x2', [7h04m, –28°44'].NGC 2345 Cluster. m 7.7, 12', 70*, [7h09m, –13°13'].NGC 2354 Cluster. m 6.5, 19', 100*, [7h15m, –25°44'].NGC 2359 Thor’s Helmet (Em Nebula). m —, 7x6', [7h20m, –13°15'].NGC 2360 Cluster. m 7.2, 12', 80*, [7h19m, –15°41'].NGC 2362 Cluster. m 4.1, 7', 60*, [7h20m, –25°00']. Nice!NGC 2367 Cluster. m 7.9, 3.5', 30*, [7h21m, –21°55'].NGC 2374 Cluster. m 8, 19', 25*, [7h25m, –13°18'].NGC 2380 Galaxy (S). m 11.5, 2x2', [7h25m, –27°35'].NGC 2383 Cluster. m 8.4, 6', 40*, [7h26m, –20°59'].IC 2165 Planetary Nebula. m 10.6, 9", [6h23m, –13°00'].Cr 121 Cluster. m 2.6, 50', 20*, [6h57m, –24°45'].
Centered around o1 Canis Majoris.Cr 140 Cluster. m 3.5, 1°, 30*, [7h25m, –31°54'].
DOUBLE S TAR s
Adhara (e). m 1.5/7.5, Sep=7.0", [7h00m, –29°00'].Sirius (a). m –1.4/8.5, [6h46m, –16°44']. Separation is 10.4" in 2015
and grows to a maximum of 11.3" by 2023. Minimum separation will be 2.5" in 2043. Period is 50.1 years. Extreme challenge because of the brightness of Sirius and a contrast difference of 9000 between the two stars.
l Canis Majoris. m 5.3/7.1, Sep=3.2", [6h57m, –14°05'].m1 Canis Majoris. m 5.8/7.4, Sep=17.5", [6h37m, –18°41']. 145 G Canis Majoris. m 5.0/5.8, Sep=26.8", [7h18m, –23°22'].
The Winter Albireo—beautiful! The “145” designation was assigned by Benjamin Apthorp Gould when he charted the skies of the southern hemisphere—the “G” is often omitted.
FN Canis Majoris. m 5.4/9.0, Sep=17.5", [7h08m, –11°20']. HR 2834. m 5.4/7.6, Sep=98.5" or 1.6', [7h26m, –31°51'].
The m 5.4 star also has a m 9.7 companion 2.1" away.
Objects by Constellation
64
EDWARD BARNARD
B 33 Dark Nebula. OriB 72 Dark Nebula. Oph
V I C TOR B LANCO
Blanco 1 Cluster. Scl
STEFAN CEDERBLAD
Ced 122 Nebula. Cen
PER COLL I NDER
Cr 21 Cluster. TriCr 69 Cluster. OriCr 121 Cluster. CMaCr 135 Cluster. PupCr 140 Cluster. CMaCr 228 Cluster. CarCr 232 Cluster. CarCr 350 Cluster. OphCr 338 Cluster. ScoCr 394 Cluster. SgrCr 399 Cluster. VulCr 401 Cluster. Aql
S . G . D JORGOVSK I
Djorg 1 Globular. ScoDjorg 2 Globular. Sgr
EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY
ESO 121-6 Galaxy. PicESO 358-63 Galaxy. For
COL IN GUM
Gum 15 Nebula. VelGum 17 Nebula. VelGum 39 Nebula. CenGum 41 Nebula. Cen
HAUTE - PROVENCE
HP 1 Globular. Oph
I NDEX CATALOGUE ( o f NGC )
IC 239 Galaxy. AndIC 342 Galaxy. CamIC 348 Nebula/Cluster. PerIC 405 Nebula. AurIC 434 Nebula. OriIC 694 Galaxy. UMaIC 1276 Globular. SerIC 1287 Nebula. SctIC 1297 Planetary. CrAIC 1318 Nebula. CygIC 1396 Nebula. CepIC 1459 Galaxy. GruIC 1613 Galaxy. CetIC 1805 Nebula/Cluster. CasIC 1848 Nebula. CasIC 1871 Nebula. CasIC 1954 Galaxy. HorIC 2003 Planetary. PerIC 2006 Galaxy. EriIC 2035 Galaxy. HorIC 2118 Nebula. EriIC 2165 Planetary. CMaIC 2177 Nebula. MonIC 2391 Cluster. VelIC 2395 Cluster. VelIC 2448 Planetary. CarIC 2469 Galaxy. PyxIC 2488 Cluster. VelIC 2501 Planetary. CarIC 2553 Planetary. CarIC 2581 Cluster. CarIC 2602 Cluster. CarIC 2621 Planetary. CarIC 2714 Cluster. CarIC 2872 Nebula. CenIC 2944 Cluster. CenIC 2948 Nebula. CenIC 3370 Galaxy. CenIC 3896 Galaxy. CenIC 4191 Planetary. MusIC 4296 Galaxy. CenIC 4329 Galaxy. CenIC 4406 Planetary. LupIC 4444 Galaxy. LupIC 4499 Globular. ApsIC 4592 Nebula. ScoIC 4593 Planetary. HerIC 4601 Nebula. ScoIC 4634 Planetary. OphIC 4651 Cluster. AraIC 4662 Galaxy. PavIC 4663 Planetary. ScoIC 4665 Cluster. OphIC 4756 Cluster. Ser
IC 4776 Planetary. SgrIC 4797 Galaxy. TelIC 4889 Galaxy. TelIC 4997 Planetary. SgeIC 5052 Galaxy. PavIC 5067 Nebula. CygIC 5105 Galaxy. MicIC 5117 Planetary. CygIC 5146 Nebula/Cluster. CygIC 5148 Planetary. GruIC 5181 Galaxy. GruIC 5201 Galaxy. GruIC 5217 Planetary. LacIC 5240 Galaxy. GruIC 5267 Galaxy. GruIC 5273 Galaxy. GruIC 5325 Galaxy. PheIC 5328 Galaxy. PheIC 5332 Galaxy. Scl
Leo I (1) Galaxy. Leo
CHARLES MESS I ER
M1 Supernova. TauM2 Globular. AqrM3 Globular. CVnM4 Globular. ScoM5 Globular. SerM6 Cluster. ScoM7 Cluster. ScoM8 Nebula. SgrM9 Globular. OphM10 Globular. OphM11 Cluster. SctM12 Globular. OphM13 Globular. HerM14 Globular. OphM15 Globular. PegM16 Nebula/Cluster. SerM17 Nebula/Cluster. SgrM18 Cluster. SgrM19 Globular. OphM20 Nebula/Cluster. SgrM21 Cluster. SgrM22 Globular. SgrM23 Cluster. SgrM24 Milky Way Patch. SgrM25 Cluster. SgrM26 Cluster. SctM27 Planetary. VulM28 Globular. SgrM29 Cluster. CygM30 Globular. CapM31 Galaxy. And M32 Galaxy. And
M33 Galaxy. TriM34 Cluster. PerM35 Cluster. GemM36 Cluster. AurM37 Cluster. AurM38 Cluster. Aur M39 Cluster. CygM40 Asterism. UMaM41 Cluster. CMaM42 Nebula. OriM43 Nebula. OriM44 Cluster. CncM45 Cluster. TauM46 Cluster. PupM47 Cluster. PupM48 Cluster. HyaM49 Galaxy. VirM50 Cluster. MonM51 Galaxy. CVnM52 Cluster. CasM53 Globular. ComM54 Globular. SgrM55 Globular. SgrM56 Globular. LyrM57 Planetary. LyrM58 Galaxy. VirM59 Galaxy. VirM60 Galaxy. VirM61 Galaxy. VirM62 Globular. OphM63 Galaxy. CVnM64 Galaxy. ComM65 Galaxy. LeoM66 Galaxy. LeoM67 Cluster. CncM68 Globular. HyaM69 Globular. SgrM70 Globular. SgrM71 Globular. SgeM72 Globular. AqrM73 Asterism. AqrM74 Galaxy. PscM75 Globular. SgrM76 Planetary. PerM77 Galaxy. CetM78 Nebula. OriM79 Globular. LepM80 Globular. ScoM81 Galaxy. UMaM82 Galaxy. UMaM83 Galaxy. HyaM84 Galaxy. VirM85 Galaxy. ComM86 Galaxy. VirM87 Galaxy. Vir
Objects by Numberhe objects in this sectionare listed by catalogue des-ignation in alphabetical
and numerical order to serve as across references when the constel-lation is unknown. The type of ob-ject and 3-letter abbreviation of theconstellation is given for each ob-ject. For more information aboutan object, see the correspondingentry under Objects by Constella-tion starting on page 40. At the be-ginning of each list, the name ofthe cataloguer, catalogue or originis provided.
T
71
Asterisms
Big Dipper. UMaCirclet. PscCoathanger. VulFalse Cross.
Car/VelGreat Square. PegKemble’s Cascade.
CamKeystone. HerLittle Dipper. UMiM40. UMaM73. AqrNorthern Cross.
CygSickle. LeoSummer Triangle.
Aql/Cyg/LyrWinter Triangle.
CMa/CMi/Ori
Clusters• Associated with • nebulosity
Blanco 1. SclCr 21. TriCr 69. OriCr 121. CMaCr 135. PupCr 140. CMaCr 228. CarCr 232. CarCr 338. ScoCr 350. OphCr 394. SgrCr 399. VulCr 401. Aql
Delta LyraeCluster. Lyr
Gamma VelorumCluster. Vel
• IC 348. Per• IC 1805. CasIC 2391. VelIC 2395. VelIC 2488. VelIC 2581. CarIC 2602. CarIC 2714. CarIC 2944. CenIC 4651. AraIC 4665. OphIC 4756. Ser• IC 5146. CygM6. ScoM7. Sco• M8. SgrM11. Sct• M16. Ser• M17. SgrM18. Sgr• M20. SgrM21. SgrM23. SgrM25. SgrM26. SctM29. CygM34. PerM35. GemM36. AurM37. AurM38. Aur M39. CygM41. CMa• M42. OriM44. Cnc
M45. TauM46. PupM47. PupM48. HyaM50. MonM52. CasM67. CncM93. PupM103. CasMel 20. PerMel 101. CarMel 111. ComMel 227. OctNGC 152. TucNGC 188. CepNGC 225. CasNGC 290. TucNGC 330. TucNGC 339. Tuc• NGC 346. TucNGC 361. Tuc• NGC 371. TucNGC 381. CasNGC 436. Cas• NGC 456. TucNGC 457. CasNGC 458. Tuc• NGC 460. TucNGC 465. Tuc• NGC 602. HyiNGC 637. CasNGC 654. CasNGC 559. CasNGC 659. CasNGC 663. CasNGC 743. CasNGC 752. AndNGC 869/884. PerNGC 884/869. PerNGC 1027. CasNGC 1342. PerNGC 1502. CamNGC 1513. PerNGC 1528. PerNGC 1545. Per• NGC 1624. PerNGC 1647. TauNGC 1662. OriNGC 1664. AurNGC 1711. Men• NGC 1727. DorNGC 1746. TauNGC 1751. Men• NGC 1770. DorNGC 1778. Aur
NGC 1783. DorNGC 1786. DorNGC 1817. TauNGC 1818. DorNGC 1845. MenNGC 1846. Dor• NGC 1848. MenNGC 1857. Aur• NGC 1858. DorNGC 1866. DorNGC 1869. DorNGC 1871. DorNGC 1873. DorNGC 1893. AurNGC 1907. Aur• NGC 1929. Dor• NGC 1931. Aur• NGC 1934. Dor• NGC 1935. Dor• NGC 1936. Dor• NGC 1937. Dor• NGC 1955. Dor• NGC 1966. DorNGC 1978. DorNGC 1981. Ori• NGC 2014. Dor• NGC 2018. MenNGC 2021. Men• NGC 2048. Dor• NGC 2070. DorNGC 2112. Ori• NGC 2122. MenNGC 2129. GemNGC 2158. GemNGC 2169. Ori• NGC 2175. OriNGC 2186. OriNGC 2194. OriNGC 2204. CMa NGC 2215. MonNGC 2232. MonNGC 2236. MonNGC 2243. CMaNGC 2244. MonNGC 2251. Mon• NGC 2264. MonNGC 2266. GemNGC 2281. AurNGC 2286. MonNGC 2301. MonNGC 2324. MonNGC 2331. GemNGC 2335. MonNGC 2343. MonNGC 2345. CMa
NGC 2353. MonNGC 2354. CMaNGC 2360. CMaNGC 2362. CMaNGC 2367. CMaNGC 2374. CMaNGC 2383. CMaNGC 2395. GemNGC 2420. GemNGC 2421. PupNGC 2423. PupNGC 2439. PupNGC 2451. PupNGC 2453. PupNGC 2467. PupNGC 2477. PupNGC 2479. PupNGC 2482. PupNGC 2483. PupNGC 2489. PupNGC 2506. MonNGC 2509. PupNGC 2516. CarNGC 2527. PupNGC 2533. PupNGC 2539. PupNGC 2546. PupNGC 2547. VelNGC 2567. PupNGC 2571. PupNGC 2580. PupNGC 2587. PupNGC 2627. PyxNGC 2669. VelNGC 2670. VelNGC 2818. PyxNGC 2910. VelNGC 2925. VelNGC 3114. CarNGC 3228. Vel• NGC 3247. Car• NGC 3293. Car• NGC 3324. CarNGC 3330. VelNGC 3532. CarNGC 3572. CarNGC 3590. CarNGC 3680. CenNGC 3766. CenNGC 3960. CenNGC 4052. CruNGC 4103. CruNGC 4230. CenNGC 4349. CruNGC 4439. Cru
NGC 4609. CruNGC 4755. CruNGC 5138. CenNGC 5281. CenNGC 5316. Cen• NGC 5367. CenNGC 5460. CenNGC 5606. CenNGC 5617. CenNGC 5662. CenNGC 5822. LupNGC 5823. CirNGC 5925. NorNGC 6025. TrANGC 6031. NorNGC 6067. NorNGC 6087. NorNGC 6124. ScoNGC 6134. NorNGC 6152. NorNGC 6167. NorNGC 6169. NorNGC 6178. ScoNGC 6192. ScoNGC 6193. AraNGC 6200. AraNGC 6204. AraNGC 6208. AraNGC 6231. ScoNGC 6242. ScoNGC 6249. ScoNGC 6250. AraNGC 6259. ScoNGC 6268. ScoNGC 6281. ScoNGC 6322. ScoNGC 6383. ScoNGC 6396. ScoNGC 6400. ScoNGC 6416. ScoNGC 6425. ScoNGC 6451. ScoNGC 6469. SgrNGC 6520. SgrNGC 6546. SgrNGC 6568. SgrNGC 6583. SgrNGC 6603. SgrNGC 6604. SerNGC 6633. OphNGC 6645. SgrNGC 6664. SctNGC 6709. AqlNGC 6716. SgrNGC 6738. Aql
Objects by Typehe objects listed in this section areby type. The 3-letter abbreviation of the constellation is given for each
object. For more information about an object, see the corresponding entry under“Objects by Constellation” starting on page 40.This listing provides for cross-referencing andto give observers a convenient check-off list forobserving objects of a single type—an endeav-or many amateurs pursue. Note: Clusters andnebulae are often intertwined objects becauseclusters are born from nebulae. For this rea-son, those clusters associated with a nebulaare listed under both Clusters and Nebulae.
T
76
Objects by Name8-Burst Nebula. See Southern Ring Nebula.30 Doradus. See Tarantula Nebula.
37 Cluster. NGC 2169. Ori/5E47 Tucanae. Globular Cluster. NGC 104. Tuc/SCP, A-8
a (Alpha) Persei Cluster. See Alpha Persei Cluster.g (Eta) Carinae Nebula. See Eta Carinae Nebula.o (Omicron) Velorum Cluster. See Omicron Velorum Cluster.q (Rho) Ophiuchi Nebula. See Rho Ophiuchi Nebula.x (Omega) Centauri. See Omega Centauri.
Alpha (a) Persei Cluster. Cluster next to Mirphak. Per/2NAndromeda Galaxy. M31. And/2NAntennae Galaxies. Galaxy pair. NGC 4038/4039. Crv/11E
Barnard’s Galaxy. Irregular Galaxy. NGC 6822. Sgr/20SBarnard’s Loop. Nebula. Sh2-276. Ori/5EBarnard’s Star. Fast moving star. Oph/17EBeehive. See Praesepe.Big Dipper. An Asterism of Ursa Major but most of us think
of the Big Dipper as Ursa Major. UMa/NCP, 11NBlack Eye Galaxy. M64. Com/14EBlack Swan. Cluster. M18. Sgr/17E, A-12Blinking Planetary. Planetary Nebula. NGC 6826. Cyg/20NBlue Planetary. Planetary Nebula. NGC 3918. Cen/11S, A-9Blue Snowball. Planetary Nebula. NGC 7662. And/23NBode’s Nebulae. Galaxy pair. M81/M82. UMa/11NBow Tie Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 40. Cep/23NBox. 4 faint Galaxies: NGC’s 4169, 4173, 4174, 4175.
Spans 4', m 12.2–14.3, centered at [12h13m, +29°02']. In Coma Berenices. Not plotted.
Box Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 6309. Oph/17EBrocchi’s Cluster. Asterism. Cr 399. Better known as the
Coathanger because it is shaped like one. Vul/20N.Bubble Nebula. Stellar-wind Nebula. NGC 7635. Cas/23NBug Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 6302. Sco/17S, A-12Butterfly Cluster. M6. Sco/17S, A-12
California Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. NGC 1499. Per/5NCarinae Nebula. See Eta Carinae Nebula.Cat’s Eye. Globular Cluster. M4 Sco/17SCat’s Eye Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 6543. Dra/17NCave Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. Sh2-155. Cep/23NCentaurus A. Galaxy & Radio Source. NGC 5128. Cen/14SChristmas Tree Cluster. Cluster. NGC 2264. Mon/8ECigar Galaxy. Irregular Galaxy. M82. UMa/11NCirclet. An Asterism of Pisces. Six stars that form a ring below
the Great Square of Pegasus. Psc/23E.Coalsack. Dark Nebula. Cru/14S, A-9Coathanger. See Brocchi’s ClusterCocoon Galaxy. Spiral Galaxy. NGC 4490. CVn/14NCocoon Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. IC 5146. Cyg/23N, 20NCone Nebula. Diffused & Dark Neb. NGC 2264. Mon/8ECopeland’s Septet. 7 faint Galaxies: NGC’s 3745, 3746,
3748, 3750, 3751, 3753, 3754. Spans 5', m 13.6–15.2,centered at [11h39m, +21°56']. In Leo. Not plotted.
Crab Nebula. Supernova Remnant. M1. Tau/5NCrescent Nebula. Emission Nebula. NGC 6888. Cyg/20NCroc’s Eye. Sprial Galaxy. M94. CVn/14NCross. See Northern Cross and/or Southern Cross.
Dark Doodad. Dark Nebula. Mus/14SDemon Star. The Variable Star, Algol. Per/2NDiamond Cluster. Cluster. NGC 2516. Car/8SDouble-Double. Double Star, e Lyrae. Lyr/20NDouble Cluster. Side-by-Side pair. NGC 869/884. Per/2NDumbbell Nebula. Planetary Nebula. M27. Vul/20N
Eagle Nebula. Nebula/Cluster. M16. Ser/17E, A-12Eight-burst Nebula. See Southern Ring Nebula.Engagement Ring. Asterism. Nine stars that roughly
form a circle with Polaris. UMi/A-1. Eskimo Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 2392. Gem/8NEta (g) Carinae Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. NGC 3372.
Car/11S, A-9, A-11Eyes. Two Galaxies. NGC 4435 & 4438 in Markarian’s Chain.
Vir/A-14
False Cross. 2 stars in Carina & 2 stars in Vela that are confused with the true Southern Cross. Indicated on charts 11S and 8S.
Firecracker Galaxy. Spiral Galaxy. NGC 6946. Cyg/20NFlame Nebula. Emission Nebula. NGC 2024. Ori/5EFlaming Star Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. IC 405. Aur/5NFlickering Globular. Globular Cluster. M62. Oph/17S
Garnet Star. See Herschel’s Garnet Star.Gem Cluster. Cluster. NGC 3293. Car/11S, A-9Ghost of Jupiter. Planetary Nebula. NGC 3242. Hya/11EGreat Hercules Cluster. Globular Cluster. M13. Her/17NGreat Orion Nebula. See Orion Nebula.Great Pegasus Cluster. Globular Cluster. M15. Peg/23EGreat Rift. A dark dust lane in the Milky Way Band that
stretches from Cygnus to Sagittarius. 20N, 20E, 17EGreat Sagittarius Cluster. Globular Cluster. M22. Sgr/20S, A-12Great Square. An Asterism of Pegasus. Four bright stars in
Pegasus that form a giant “square.” Peg/23N.Grus’ Quartet. 4 Galaxies: NGC’s 7752, 7582, 7590, 7599. Gru/23S
Heart Cluster. Cluster. NGC 2547. Vel/8SHeart Nebula. Emission Nebula. IC 1805. Cas/2NHelix Galaxy. Polar-ring Galaxy. NGC 2685. UMa/8NHelix Nebula. Planetary Nebula. NGC 7293. Aqr/23EHercules Cluster. See Great Hercules Cluster.Herschel’s Garnet Star. Red Star, l Cephei. Cep/23NHind’s Variable Nebula. Nebula. NGC 1555. Tau/5NHorsehead Nebula. Dark Nebula. Overlaps IC 434. Ori/5EHourglass Nebula. Brightest part of the Lagoon Nebula, M8.
Sgr/17E, A-12Hubble’s Variable Nebula. Nebula. NGC 2261. Mon/8EHyades. Largest Cluster. Also an Asterism. Tau/5N
Intergalactic Wanderer. Globular Cluster. NGC 2419. Lyn/8NIris Nebula. Star-forming Nebula. NGC 7023. Cep/20N
Jewel Box. Cluster. NGC 4755. Cru/14S, A-9. There is a northern counterpart called the Northern Jewel Box.
Kemble’s Cascade. Twenty m 8 stars in a 2.5° line. Cam/5NKepler’s Star. Supernova Remnant, 1604 AD. Oph/17S, A-12Keystone. Asterism. Four stars that form the shape of the
top center stone used in forming an arch, like that of a doorway. Her/17N.
King Cobra. Cluster. M67. Cnc/8N
78
M1 Tau 5N, 5E 1952 5h 36m +22° 02' Supernova Remnant 8 6x4' Crab NebulaM2 Aqr 23E, 20E 7089 21h 35m –0° 43' Globular Cluster 6.5 13'M3 CVn 14N, 14E 5272 13h 43m +28° 15' Globular Cluster 6.2 16'M4 Sco 17E, 17S 6121 16h 25m –26° 35' Globular Cluster 5.9 26' Cat’s Eye
M5 Ser 14E, 17E 5904 15h 20m +1° 59' Globular Cluster 5.7 17'M6 Sco 17E, 17S1 6405 17h 42m –32° 16' Cluster 4.2 15' Butterfly ClusterM7 Sco 17E, 17S1 6475 17h 56m –34° 47' Cluster 3.3 80' Ptolemy’s ClusterM8 Sgr 17E, 17S1 6523 18h 05m –24° 23' Nebula 6 1.5x0.7° Lagoon Nebula
M9 Oph 17E, 17S1 6333 17h 21m –18° 33' Globular Cluster 7.7 9'M10 Oph 17E 6254 16h 58m –4° 08' Globular Cluster 6.6 15'M11 Sct 20E, 20S 6705 18h 52m –6° 14' Cluster 5.8 14' Wild Duck ClusterM12 Oph 17E 6218 16h 49m –2° 00' Globular Cluster 6.7 15'
M13 Her 17N, 17E 6205 16h 43m +36° 25' Globular Cluster 5.8 17' Great Hercules ClusterM14 Oph 17E 6402 17h 39m –3° 16' Globular Cluster 7.6 12'M15 Peg 23E, 20E 7078 21h 31m +12° 17' Globular Cluster 6.2 12' Great Pegasus ClusterM162 Ser 17E, 17S1 6611 18h 20m –13° 46' Nebula/Cluster 6 35x28' Eagle Nebula
M17 Sgr 17E, 17S1 6618 18h 22m –16° 10' Nebula/Cluster 6.5 46x37' Omega Nebula, Swan NebulaM18 Sgr 17E, 17S1 6613 18h 21m –17° 05' Cluster 6.9 9' Black SwanM19 Oph 17E, 17S1 6273 17h 04m –26° 18' Globular Cluster 6.8 14'M20 Sgr 17E, 17S1 6514 18h 04m –23° 02' Nebula/Cluster 8 28x28' Trifid Nebula
Messier Objects
# NGC# RA Arc SizeDec Name
he Messier Object catalogue represents the cream-of-the-cropdeep sky objects that can be seen from the mid-latitudes of thenorthern hemisphere. It was compiled at the end of the 1700s
by Charles Messier from Paris, France, using telescopes around 3 to 4-inches in diameter. This catalogue is historically significant because itis the very first catalogue ever compiled of deep sky objects. And, sinceit lists the biggest and brightest objects in the sky, ithas become a logical “next step” for amateurs want-ing to go beyond observing the Moon and planets.
An interesting point about this catalogue is thatit has at least one example of every type of deep skyobject that exists, so it represents a good sample ofthe objects that can be found in the heavens.
There is a quirk of nature that allows viewing allof the Messier objects in one night. This can be ac-complished around New Moon during March. Thisevent has become known as a Messier Marathon andmany astronomy clubs sponsor “parties” to accom-plish this dusk to dawn task.
Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Francein 1730. His father held a mayoral-type position inthe town but passed away when Messier was 11. Hyacinthe, Charles’s brother, trained Charles as anadminister’s assistant and eventually found Charlesa job in Paris as an assistant to an astronomer.
Messier did exceedingly well at his job, advanced, and became, dur-ing his time, the leading observational astronomer in the world. Heeventually acquired his boss’s position as Astronomer of the Navy. Dur-ing his career, he wrote numerous articles that spanned the field of as-tronomy and were published in the leading scientific journals. One of
his most notable life-long achievements was discovering about 20comets, which established his credibility and lead to his induction intoalmost every European science academy.
Messier never would have believed that his namesake would be defined by his little catalogue—he would have thought it would havebeen his comet discoveries. He catalogued deep sky objects because he
realized that such a catalogue was missing in the fieldof astronomy (astronomy and most sciences werejust starting to get organized during this time in his-tory). To start the catalogue, he used a few short listsof deep sky objects compiled by other astronomersand quickly added objects he found exploring thenight sky. Three editions of his catalogue were pub-lished, each growing in size, with the last publishedin 1781, listing 103 objects. He stopped adding ob-jects because in 1785, William Herschel, inspired byMessier’s catalogue, published a catalogue listingabout 1,000 objects using an 18.7-inch diameter telescope. Messier knew he could not compete!
Although Messier’s last catalogue listed just 103objects, seven additional objects have been added—objects that he described in other publications butnever listed in his catalogue. In the table below, theDouble Cluster (in Perseus) has been added as objects 111 and 112 because these are Messier-type
objects that Messier knew existed but for some reason missed includ-ing them—his only glaring “error.”
Messier passed away in 1731 at his residence in the Cluny Hotel(near the Sorbonne), now known as the National Museum of the Mid-dle Ages. His observatory was atop the front tower but no trace remains.
T
Cons. Charts Object Mag.
The Messier Catalogue
Charles Messier was the leading observationalastronomer in the 1700s and compiled thefirst catalogue of deep sky objects.
1See close-up chart A-12, too.2Contains the Pillars of Creation (pictured on the back cover).
2025.0
Mes
sier
81
C1 Cep NCP 188 0h 50m +85° 23' Cluster 8.1 17' C2 Cep 23N 40 0h 14m +72° 40' Planetary Nebula 10.7 36" Bow Tie NebulaC3 Dra NCP, 11N 4236 12h 18m +69° 19' Spiral Galaxy 9.6 22x6'C4 Cep 20N 7023 21h 02m +68° 16' Nebula 6.8 18x18' Iris Nebula
C5 Cam 2N IC 342 3h 49m +68° 11' Spiral Galaxy 9.7 20x19'C6 Dra NCP, 17N 6543 17h 59m +66° 38' Planetary Nebula 8.1 20" Cat’s Eye NebulaC7 Cam 8N 2403 7h 39m +65° 33' Spiral Galaxy 8.5 16x8'C8 Cas 2N 559 1h 31m +63° 26' Cluster 9.5 5'
C9 Cep 23N Sh2-155 22h 58m +62° 45' Nebula 7.7 50x10' Cave NebulaC10 Cas 2N 663 1h 48m +61° 22' Cluster 7.1 16'C11 Cas 23N 7635 23h 22m +61° 20' Nebula 11.0 15x8' Bubble NebulaC12 Cyg 20N 6946 20h 35m +60° 14' Spiral Galaxy 9.1 12x11'
C13 Cas 2N 457 1h 21m +58° 25' Cluster 6.4 13' Owl ClusterC14 Per 2N 869/884 2h 22m +57° 14' Two Clusters 4 & 4 30' & 30' Double ClusterC15 Cyg 20N 6826 19h 45m +50° 35' Planetary Nebula 8.9 25" Blinking PlanetaryC16 Lac 23N 7243 22h 16m +50° 00' Cluster 6.4 29'
C17 Cas 2N 147 0h 35m +48° 39' Elliptical Galaxy 9.6 9x5'C18 Cas 2N 185 0h 40m +48° 29' Elliptical Galaxy 9.2 9x7'C19 Cyg 23N,20N IC5146 21h 54m +47° 23' Nebula/Cluster 7.2 12x12' Cocoon NebulaC20 Cyg 20N 7000 21h 00m +44° 26' Nebula 6 2x1.7° North America Nebula
C21 CVn 14N 4449 12h 29m +43° 57' Irregular Galaxy 9.6 6x5'C22 And 23N 7662 23h 27m +42° 40' Planetary Nebula 8.3 17" Blue SnowballC23 And 2N 891 2h 24m +42° 28' Spiral Galaxy 9.9 13x3'C24 Per 5N, 2N 1275 3h 21m +41° 36' Seyfert Galaxy 11.8 2x1'
C25 Lyn 8N 2419 7h 40m +38° 50' Globular Cluster 9.1 6' Intergalactic WandererC26 CVn 14N 4244 12h 19m +37° 40' Spiral Galaxy 10.4 16x3'C27 Cyg 20N 6888 20h 13m +38° 29' Nebula 7.4 20x10' Crescent NebulaC28 And 2N 752 1h 59m +37° 54' Cluster 5.7 50'
C29 CVn 14N 5005 13h 12m +36° 56' Spiral Galaxy 9.8 5x3'C30 Peg 23N 7331 22h 38m +34° 33' Spiral Galaxy 9.5 10x4'C31 Aur 5N IC 405 5h 18m +34° 18' Nebula 10.0 30x19' Flaming Star NebulaC32 CVn 14N 4631 12h 43m +32° 24' Spiral Galaxy 9.2 14x3'
C33 Cyg 20N 6992/5 20h 57m +31° 49' Supernova Remnant 8 60x8' East Veil NebulaC34 Cyg 20N 6960 20h 47m +30° 48' Supernova Remnant 8 70x6' West Veil NebulaC35 Com 14N 4889 13h 01m +27° 51' Elliptical Galaxy 11.5 3x2'C36 Com 14N 4559 12h 37m +27° 49' Spiral Galaxy 9.8 11x5'
Caldwell Objectshe Calwell objects are a more recent listing of deep sky objectspicked by the British amateur astronomer Sir Patrick AlfredCaldwell-Moore (1923–2012) from existing catalogues.
Although Moore is mostly unknown to Americans, he was a well-knownBritish celebrity having the longest run British TV show on astronomy,The Sky at Night, and has written more than 70 books on astronomy.
In 1995, the popular US astronomy magazine, Sky and Telescope,published Moore’s list of 109 deep sky objects that he selected as a sup-plement to Messier’s objects, but encompassing the entire celestial
T sphere. His catalogue contains objects mostly from the NGC and IC catalogues by Dreyer. He uniquely ordered his objects by declinationfrom north to south.
The Caldwell objects are not specifically noted in this celestial atlasusing Moore’s designations because the list is not historically significant.However, all of the Caldwell objects can be found in this celestial atlasusing their traditional catalogue designations, which are included in thetable below. The Caldwell catalogue is provided because of an interest byamateurs to find objects on lists.
# NGC# RA Arc SizeDec NameCons. Charts Object Mag.
The Caldwell Catalogue
2025.0
84
Acamar (h) 3.2 Eridanus 161 ly 2SAchernar (a) 0.5 Eridanus 139 ly 2SAcrux (a) 0.8 Crux 320 ly 14SAcubens (a) 4.3 Cancer 174 ly 8NAdhafera (f) 3.4 Leo 274 ly 11E
Adhara (e) 1.5 Canis Major 430 ly 8SAlbali (e) 3.8 Aquarius 208 ly 20EAlbireo (b) 3.2 Cygnus 430 ly 20NAlchiba (a) 4.0 Corvus 48 ly 11SAlcor (80) 3.99 Ursa Major 83 ly 14N
Alcyone (g) 2.86 Taurus/Pleiades 444 ly A-3Aldebaran (a) 0.9v Taurus 65 ly 5EAlderamin (a) 2.5 Cepheus 49 ly 23NAlfirk (b) 3.2 Cepheus 690 ly 23NAlgedi (a1) 4.3 Capricorn 690 ly 20SAlgedi (a2) 3.6 Capricorn 109 ly 20S
Algenib (c) 2.8 Pegasus 390 ly 23EAlgieba (c) 2.0 Leo 130 ly 11EAlgol (b) 2.1v Perseus 93 ly 2NAlgorab (d) 3.1 Corvus 87 ly 11SAlhena (c) 1.9 Gemini 109 ly 8E
Alioth (e) 1.8 Ursa Major 83 ly 11NAlkaid (g) 1.9 Ursa Major 104 ly 14NAlkalurops (l) 4.5 Bootes 121 ly 14NAlkes (a) 4.1 Crater 174 ly 11EAlmaak (c) 2.3 Andromeda 350 ly 2N
Alnair (a) 1.7 Grus 101 ly 23SAlnasl (c) 3.0 Sagittarius 97 ly 17SAlnath (b) 1.7 Taurus 131 ly 5EAlnilam (e) 1.7 Orion 1,300 ly 5EAlnitak (f) 1.7 Orion 1,260 ly 5E
Alphard (a) 2.0 Hydra 177 ly 11SAlphekka (a) 2.2 Corona Borealis 75 ly 17NAlpheratz (a) 2.1 Andromeda 97 ly 23NAlrakis (l) 5.7 Draco 88 ly 17NAlrescha (a) 4.5 Pisces 139 ly 2E
Alshain (b) 3.9 Aquila 45 ly 20EAlsuhail/Regor (k) 1.8 Vela 1,100 ly 8SAltair (a) 0.8 Aquila 17 ly 20EAltais (d) 3.1 Draco 97 ly 17NAlterf (k) 4.3 Leo 336 ly 11E
Aludra (g) 2.4 Canis Major 2,000 ly 8SAlula Australis (n) 3.8 Ursa Major 29 ly 11NAlula Borealis (m) 3.5 Ursa Major 399 ly 11NAlya (h) 4.0 Serpens 132 ly 20EAncha (h) 4.2 Aquarius 187 ly 23E
Ankaa (a) 2.4 Phoenix 85 ly 2SAntares (a) 1.1 Scorpius 550 ly 17SArcturus (a) –0.04v Bootes 37 ly 14EArkab (b) 4.0 Sagittarius 378 ly 20SArneb (a) 2.6 Lepus 2,200 ly 5E
Ascella (f) 2.6 Sagittarius 88 ly 20SAsellus Australis (d) 3.9 Cancer 136 ly 8EAsellus Borealis (c) 4.7 Cancer 158 ly 8EAspidiske (i) 2.2 Carina 690 ly 11SAsterope (21) 5.76 Taurus/Pleiades 444 ly A-3
Atik (f) 2.8 Perseus 750 ly 5NAtlas (27) 3.6 Taurus/Pleiades 444 ly A-3Atria (a) 1.9 Triangulum Australe 391 ly 17SAvior (e) 1.9 Carina 610 ly 8SAzha (g) 4.1 Eridanus 121 ly 2E
Baten Kaitos (f) 3.9 Cetus 260 ly 2EBecrux/Mimosa (b) 1.3 Crux 280 ly 11SBeid (o1) 4.0 Eridanus 125 ly 5EBellatrix (c) 1.6 Orion 250 ly 5EBetelgeuse (a) 0.6v Orion 643 ly 5E
Biham (h) 3.5 Pegasus 97 ly 23ECanopus (a) –0.7 Carina 310 ly 8SCapella (a) 0.1 Auriga 43 ly 5NCaph (b) 2.3 Cassiopeia 55 ly 2NCastor (a) 1.6 Gemini 51 ly 8E
Cebalrai (b) 2.8 Ophiuchus 82 ly 17ECelaeno (16) 5.44 Taurus/Pleiades 444 ly A-3Chara (b) 4.3 Canes Venatici 28 ly 14NChertan (h) 3.4 Leo 165 ly 11ECor Caroli (a) 2.9 Canes Venatici 110 ly 14N
Cursa (b) 2.8 Eridanus 89 ly 5EDabih (b) 3.1 Capricornus 328 ly 20EDeneb (a) 1.3 Cygnus 2,600 ly 20NDeneb Algedi (d) 2.9 Capricornus 39 ly 20EDeneb Kaitos (b) 2.0 Cetus 96 ly 2E
Denebola (b) 2.1 Leo 36 ly 11EDubhe (a) 1.8 Ursa Major 123 ly 11NEdasich (i) 3.3 Draco 101 ly 17NElectra (17) 3.70 Taurus/Pleiades 444 ly A-3Enif (e) 2.4 Pegasus 690 ly 23E
Errai (c) 3.2 Cepheus 45 ly 23NEtamin (c) 2.2 Draco 154 ly 17NFomalhaut (a) 1.2 Piscis Austrinus 25 ly 23SFurud (f) 3.0 Canis Major 362 ly 8EGacrux (c) 1.7 Crux 89 ly 11S
Giausar (k) 4.1 Draco 334 ly 11NGienah (c) 2.6 Corvus 154 ly 11EGomeisa (b) 2.9 Canis Minor 162 ly 8EGraffias (b) 2.6 Scorpius 400 ly 17SGrumium (n) 3.8 Draco 113 ly 17N
Hadar (b) 0.6 Centaurus 350 ly 14SHamal (a) 2.0 Aries 66 ly 2NHomam (f) 3.4 Pegasus 204 ly 23EIzar (e) 2.7 Bootes 203 ly 14NKaus Australis (e) 1.8 Sagittarius 143 ly 17SKaus Borealis (k) 2.8 Sagittarius 78 ly 17S
Stars by NameName (Desig.) Mag.1 Const. Dist. Chart Name (Desig.) Mag.1 Const. Dist. Chart
See Notes at the bottom of page 86 about spellings.1The small “v” next to magnitudes indicates that the star varies a little in brightness.
88
oday, we have a scientific understanding of the world but an-cient civilizations did not have this luxury, so they made up sto-ries to explain natural wonders like the shape of mountains
and everyday events like the wind, thunder, lightning and movement ofthe Sun and Moon. Often these stories involved mighty characters orgods who wielded the power to move heaven and Earth. Over time, thesestories became traditions, beliefs and their religions. This occurred withevery civilization at every “corner” of the world.
The “stories” that influenced our western culture the most camefrom the Greeks and were adopted by the Romans.
The Greek stories are plentiful and rich in content but they differfrom the stories that we tell and write today. Our modern-day stories unfold in a way that is familiar because they reflect our experiences, perceptions and values. And, so did the Greek’s but they saw life differ-ently! To them, life was capricious and heavily laced with non-sequiturtwists and turns. As such, their mythological stories often take us on awild roller-coaster ride that jumps rails.
The mythological stories vary and overlap. Presented below aresome of the more popular versions as they relate to the heavens.
North Circumpolar ConstellationsUrsa Major and Ursa Minor, respectively the “Big Bear” and “Little Bear,” are better known as the Big and Little Dippers. In Greekmythology they represent a mother, Callisto and her son, Arcas sent tothe sky by Jupiter. Jupiter came upon the beautiful Callisto, daughter ofKing Lycaon of Arcadia, when he was on Earth, inspecting carnagecaused by Phaethon, son of Helios, who had arrogantly tried to ride theSun Chariot across the sky. Jupiter took favor upon Callisto, and againsther will, fathered her a son, Arcas. Jupiter’s wife, Juno discovered herhusband’s escapade and turned Callisto into an ugly bear. Later, whenArcas had grown up and was hunting, he encountered a bear runningtowards him. Not knowing that it was his mother, he aimed an arrow tokill but Jupiter took sympathy and intervened, turning Arcas into a bearand hurling both into the sky as restitution for all the agony he caused.
Cepheus and Cassiopeia were the king and queen of Ethiopiaand parents of a daughter, Andromeda. The gods became angry at Cassiopeia because of her boastings that she and her daughter weremore beautiful than the Nereids mermaids, whose protector was Neptune. To appease the gods for Cassiopeia’s disrespect, Cepheus hadto sacrifice his daughter to the Sea Monster, Cetus. About this sametime, Perseus, the son of Jupiter, had cut off Medusa’s head for a wedding gift, and was heading back with it from this journey. He saw Andromeda chained to a sea cliff, and instantly fell in love.
Noticing her parents watching in agony, Perseus agreed to rescueher for marriage and then chopped Cetus’ head off with the sickle hehad used on Medusa. At his wedding, a prior suitor showed up whichprompted the royal parents to renege on their promise to Perseus.
A fight ensued, and Perseus was almost overpowered but was savedby using Medusa’s head, for all who looked upon her face turned tostone. Afterwards, the royal couple was banished to the heavens by Neptune for their misdeeds.
Draco, the Dragon, was one of the many monsters fighting alongwith the great Titans against the Olympians, commanded by Jupiter.Near the climax of the battle, the dragon opposed the goddess of Wisdom, Minerva, who in turned flung it to the heavens where it frozetwisted, after landing so close to the frigid North Celestial Pole.
Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, Lacerta, the Lizard, and theLynx are faint constellations that were added in the 1600’s.
Spring ConstellationsOriginally, Leo, the Lion, extended eastward to Cancer and westwardto Coma Berenices. Its whiskers were the Beehive (M44) and its tailended up in the faint cluster of stars at the top of Coma Berenices (Mel111). Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, has been identified with thebirth of Christ. Its name implies King, Mighty, Great, Center or Hero, de-pending on the culture.
There is no classical mythology for Leo Minor, because this con-stellation was created in the 1600s. Cancer, the Crab, was sent to pre-vent Hercules from killing the Hydra. However, Hercules trampledthe Crab and succeeded in killing the Hydra anyway. The Hydra had nineheads and if one was chopped off, two grew back in its place. Herculeshad to burn each stub to prevent the heads from growing back. Corvuswas a bird placed in the heavens on Hydra’s back by Apollo for beingslow in bringing him water and lying about his tardiness. Craterrepresents the container of water that is always out of reach of Corvus.
Canes Venatici are the Hunting Dogs of Bootes, the Bear Driv-er, who is sometimes seen as a Herdsman or Ploughman. One story hasit that Ceres, the goddess of Agriculture, asked Jupiter to place Bootesamongst the stars in gratitude for his invention, the plough. Anotherstory is that Bootes was a grape grower taught to make wine by Bacchus,the god of Wine. Upon making the first batch, he celebrated with hisfriends who got so drunk, they fell asleep. The next morning, his friendskilled him because they thought he was trying to poison them. His hunt-ing dogs were so shaken by his death that they died with him.
An interesting story about Virgo, the Maiden, is that she was Proserpina, the daughter of Ceres. Pluto, the god of the Underworld, noticed her beauty one day when she was playing in her mother’s fields.He swiftly abducted her to the Underworld. Ceres was enraged at his action and decided to abandon all the crops. Jupiter intervened when henoticed the Earth becoming barren, so he struck a compromise. Plutowould have Proserpina for half a year and Ceres for the other half. WhenVirgo is in the night sky, crops grow, but when she has sunk below thehorizon to the Underworld, the growing season ends.
Centaurs were offspring of the gods, half-man and half-horse crea-tures that walked on four legs. Some say that Centaurus representsChiron, the wisest and gentlest of his kind, whom Jupiter placed in theheavens to reward him for educating Hercules, Jason, Achilles and oth-ers. Lupus, the Wolf, was a generic wild animal to the Greeks but wasalso seen as the centaurs’ offering to the gods or a wine skin for libation(having nothing to do with animals). Take your pick!
Summer ConstellationsThere is probably more lore about Hercules, the Strongman, than anyother mythological figure. It is ironic however, that his stars are not asprominent as his stature. Hercules should have the stars of Orion. Her-cules’ mother was Alcmene and his father Jupiter, but, Alcmene wasmarried to the Thebesian military leader, Amphytrion. Once, when hewas off to battle, Jupiter came to Alcmene in the form of her husband,feigning a short leave. Hercules, like many offspring of Jupiter, had toendure the wrath of Jupiter’s wife Juno for most of his life. One day, Her-cules met two women, Pleasure and Virtue, who foretold that he couldhave either of their lives, but that the life of Virtue which Hercules pickedwould be difficult yet have a glorious end. This leads to the famous twelvelabors of Hercules which were tasks directed by King Eurystheus. Thelabors often involved fighting ferocious beasts with themes loosely basedon the twelve zodiacal constellations. Hercules was placed into the heav-ens by Jupiter after his wife Deianeira gave him a caustic poison becauseshe wrongly believed that he was interested in another woman.
Greek Mythology
T
he late winter sky is domi-nated in the south by Orion.
Its three Belt stars, hovering half-way up the southern horizon, areeasy to spot, sandwiched betweenred Betelgeuse and Rigel. Below theBelt, nestled in the Sword, is theGreat Orion Nebula, the “greatest”nebulae in the northern hemi-sphere. It is lit by four young starscalled the Trapezium, because oftheir shape. If you extend the Belt south, it points to Sirius, thebrightest star in the entire celestialsphere—a beacon of the winternight. The winter sky has a pleni-tude of clusters including thePleiades, Hyades and Double Clus-ter, treats for the naked eye, binoc-ulars or small telescope. 93
Ea
st H
orizo
nSouth Horizon
We
st
Ho
rizo
n
North Horizon
Top of
Sky
ANDROMEDA
CASSIOPEIA
PERSEUSTRIANGULUM
CAMELOPARDALIS
LACERTACEPHEUS
DRACO
PUPPIS
LYNX
URSA MAJOR
PEGASUS
PISCES
LITTLEDIPPER
BIG DIPPER
URSA MINOR
Deneb
Caph
Regulus
Mirphak
Polaris, The “North Star”
Kochab
Dubhe
Mizar
CANESVENATICI
COMABERENICES
LEO
LEO MINOR
CANCER
GEMINI
E C L I P T I C
ORION
AURIGAARIES
CANIS MINOR
CANIS MAJOR
MONOCEROS
HYDRASEXTANS
PYXIS
COLUMBA
LEPUS
CAELUM
ERIDANUS
CETUS
TAURUS
FORNAX
Capella
CastorPollux
Hamal
Algol
Alpheratz
MirachAlmaak
Alnath
Aldebaran
Procyon
Alphard
Betelgeuse
RigelSirius
i
145G
SICKLE
BELT
HEAD
Double Cluster
Pleiades
Hyades
Algieba
c
Alrescha
Adhara
Thuban
Denebola
Zaurak
Cursa
M41
M42
M35
M36M37
M31
M44
M34
2477
M52
M79
M33
M51
M81/82
6543
Mel111
M I L K Y
W AY
SELECTED OB JECTs
Alpha Persei Cluster. m 1.8–7, 3°, 100*. Per/2NAround the star Mirphak.D=600 ly, S=31 ly
Double Cluster. m 4 each, 30' each, 200*/115*. Per/2ND=7,200 ly, S=63 ly
Head of Orion Cluster. Group of 15 stars. Ori/5ED=1,600 ly, S=28 ly
Hyades Cluster. Eyes / m 0.5, 5.5°, 100*. Tau/5ND=153 ly, S=15 ly
Pleiades Cluster. m 1.2, 1.8°, 100*. Tau/5ND=395 ly, S=13 ly
NGC 2477 Cluster.m 5.8, 26', 160*. Pup/8S D=3,600 ly, S=27 ly
M31 Andromeda Galaxy. m 3.5, 3x1°. And/2ND=2,400,000 ly, S=120,000 ly
M34 Cluster. m 5.2, 35', 60*. Per/2ND=1,400 ly, S=14 ly
M35 Cluster. m 5.1, 28', 200*. Gem/5ND=2,800 ly, S=23 ly
M36 Cluster. m 6.0, 12', 60*. Aur/5ND=3,700 ly, S=13 ly
M37 Cluster. m 5.6, 24', 150*. Aur/5ND=4,200 ly, S=29 ly
M41 Little Beehive Cluster.m 4.5, 38', 80*. CMa/8SD=2,200 ly, S=24 ly
M42 Orion Nebula. m 4.0, 1.1x1°. Ori/5E/A-4D=1,500 ly, S=66 ly
M44 Beehive or PraesepeCluster. m 3.1, 1.6°, 50*.Can/8N D=580 ly, S=16 ly
M52 Cluster. m 6.9, 13', 100*. Cas/23ND=3,300 ly, S=11 ly
M79 Globular Cluster. m 7.7, 9'. Lep/5ED=41,000 ly, S=107 ly
DOUBLE S TAR s
145G Canis Majoris. Blue &Gold. m 5.0/5.8, Sep=26.8".CMa/8S D=6,300 ly
i Cancri. Blue & Gold. m 4.1/6.0,Sep=31". Can/8N D=298 ly
Castor (aa). Favorite! m 1.9/3.0,Sep=4.6". Gem/8N D=52 ly
Trapezium (hh11). Four stars.In the M42 Orion Nebula.See close-up chart A-4.
T
MID-LATITUDES
NORTHERN HEMISPHERE
JanuaryFebruary
About 12 hours after Sunset
Connects to theEast Horizonof the July / AugustChart
�Connects to the
West Horizon of the
May / June Chart
�
StarbitsAlthough Sirius is the brightest star in thenight sky, Jupiter and Venus are alwaysbrighter. The Winter Triangle consists ofthe stars Sirius, Procyon and Betelgeuse.Betelgeuse is a red supergiant star with a diameter greater than the orbit of Mars. It is at the end of its life and will “soon” explode—becoming a supernova within100,000 years.
Magnitudes
1 2 3 4+0
Cluster of Stars A dozen to a hundred or so stars
born out of the same nebula cloud.
NebulaA “cloud” of hydrogen and heliumgas that is often birthing new stars.
Galaxy“Islands” of billions of stars. They are beyond our Milky Way Galaxy.
Double Star “One” star that becomes two with sufficient telescope magnification.
One often orbits the other.
Globular Cluster Thousands to tens of thousands of stars
grouped in the shape of a ball.
Planetary NebulaThe shedded atmosphere of a dying star.
Where are the planets?They move through the
fixed stars but can always be found on or near the path called the Ecliptic.
104
he Large and Small Magel-lanic Clouds may appear as
detached patches of the Milky WayBand but they are galaxies, albeitsmall, just like our Milky WayGalaxy. And, these two are satellitesor “moons,” gravitationally boundto us. Near to the northwest horizonare the Andromeda (M31) and Pinwheel (M33) Galaxies. The Andromeda Galaxy, visible to thenaked eyes, the Magellanic Clouds,and the Pinwheel Galaxy, are four ofabout 50 Local Group galaxies thatare gravitationally bound to oneother. Unfortunately, the orbits ofthe 50 are not as orderly as wemight like because in about fourbillion years, our galaxy will collidewith the Andromeda Galaxy.
EC
LI
PT
IC
We
st H
orizo
nNorth Horizon
Ea
st
Ho
rizo
n
South Horizon
Top of Sky
OCTANSPeacock
SouthCelestial
Pole
TUCANA
APUS
HYDRUS
RETICULUM
MENSA
CHAMAELEON
VOLANS
MUSCA
PICTORDORADO
TRIANGULUM AURALE
PAVO
INDUS
CIRCINUS
Atria
SMC
LMC
ARA
TELESCOPIUM
CORONAAUSTRALIS
CRUX
CENTAURUS
Rigel Kent
Canopus
CARINAVELA ANTLIA
HYDRA
Alphard
PUPPISPYXIS
CANIS MAJOR
Sirius
CANIS MINOR
MONOCEROS
Procyon
CAELUMCOLUMBA
HOROLOGIUM
ERIDANUS
FORNAX
Cursa
Zaurak
Achernar
LEPUS
ORIONBetelgeuse
Rigel
BELT
HEAD
GEMINI PolluxTAURUS
Aldebaran
Pleiades
Hyades
Capella
Alnath
AURIGAPERSEUSAlgol
TRIANGULUM
ARIESHamal
CETUS Mira
Menkar
PISCES
CIRCLET
PEGASUS
ANDROMEDA
GREATSQUARE
Alpheratz
Almaak
Mirach
MICROSCOPIUM
GRUSPISCIS AUSTRINUS
Fomalhaut
PHOENIX
Ankaa
SCULPTOR
CAPRICORNUS
AQUARIUS
Coalsack
145GAdharaAcamar
Alsuhailb1
c
f
M41
M42
M36M37
6752
5139
104 IC2391
33723532
IC2602
4755
2516
M35
Cr1352451
2477
2362
2070
M93
253
M33
M31
M79M47
M46
M I L K Y
W AY
SELECTED OB JECTs
CR 135 Cluster. m 2.1, 50',15*. Very loose & sparse.Pup/8S D=840 ly, S=12 ly
M41 Little Beehive Cluster.m 4.5, 38', 80*. CMa/8SD=2,200 ly, S=24 ly
M42 Orion Nebula. m 4.0, 1.1x1°. Ori/5E/A-4D=1,500 ly, S=66 ly
M46 Cluster. m 6.1, 27', 100*.Pup/8S D=5,400 ly, S=42 ly
M47 Cluster. m 4.4, 30', 30*.Pup/8S D=1,600 ly, S=14 ly
M78 Nebula. m 8, 8x6'. Ori/5ED=1,600 ly, S=4 ly
M79 Globular Cluster. m 7.7, 9'. Lep/5ED=41,000 ly, S=107 ly
M93 Cluster. m 6, 22', 80*.Pup/8S D=3,600 ly, S=23 ly
NGC 104 47 Tucanae GlobularCluster. m 4.0, 43'. Tuc/23SD=16,700 ly, S=209 ly
NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula.Inside the LMC. Nebula andcluster. m 5.0, 40x25'. Con-tains a 5' super cluster withthousands of stars. Dor/5SD=157,000 ly, S=1,800 ly
NGC 2362 Cluster.m 4.1, 7', 60*. CMa/8E D=4,800 ly, S=10 ly
NGC 2451 Cluster. m 2.8, 44',40*. Pup/8S This is actually twoclusters in the same line of sight!
NGC 2477 Cluster. m 5.8, 26',160*. Pup/8S D=3,600 ly, S=27 ly
DOUBLE S TAR s
145G Canis Majoris. Blue & Gold.m 5.0/5.8, Sep=26.8". CMa/8SD=6,300 ly
Acamar (hh). m 3.2/4.3, Sep=8.3".Eri/5S D=161 ly
Alsuhail (cc). Four stars spanning1.5'. m 1.8/4.3/7.4/9.2. Vel/8SD=336 ly
Rigel (bb). m 0.3/10.4, Sep=9.5".Ori/5E D=860 ly
Trapezium (hh11). Four stars.In the M42 Orion Nebula. See close-up chart A-4.
ff Orionis. m 1.7/3.9, Sep=2.3".Ori/5E D=387 ly
bb11 Tucanae. m 4.3/4.5, Sep=27".Tuc/23S D=140 ly
cc Volantis. m 4.0/5.5, Sep=14.4".Vol/8S D=142 ly
T
MID-LATITUDES
SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE
NovemberDecemberAbout 12 hours after Sunset
Connects to theWest Horizonof the May / June Chart
�Connects to the
East Horizonof the
July / August Chart
�
StarbitsThe Eta Carinae Nebula, NGC 3372, located in the
constellation Carina, is the largest and brightest nebula in the night sky. This giant star-birthing
“cloud” sports several star clusters, is at a distance of 7,500 light years and stretches across 650 light years.
Within is Eta Carinae, a hypergiant star of 130 solar
masses that varies in magnitude from
–1 to +8. It should “soon”
supernova. Magnitudes
1 2 3 4+0
Cluster of Stars A dozen to a hundred or so stars
born out of the same nebula cloud.
NebulaA “cloud” of hydrogen and heliumgas that is often birthing new stars.
Galaxy“Islands” of billions of stars. They are beyond our Milky Way Galaxy.
Double Star “One” star that becomes two with sufficient telescope magnification.
One often orbits the other.
Globular Cluster Thousands to tens of thousands of stars
grouped in the shape of a ball.
Planetary NebulaThe shedded atmosphere of a dying star.
109
PlanetsThe planets are best observed
with a telescope. Mercury,Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturnare the naked-eye planets andare fairly “easy” to spot because
they are bright. They are delights tofirst-time observers.
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Marsare known as the Terrestrial Planets, being Earth-
like or rock like in nature. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune areknown as the Gas Giants because they are very large compared to Earthand have atmospheres that extend downward for thousands of miles,thickening to a liquid and then a solid.
Major features of the MoonThe most notable features on the Moon are its brighter cratered high-lands called terrae and smoother darker plains known as maria. Theseand other features are described below.
Terminator. The border or “line” separating the lighted side from thedark side. The terminator is absent during Full Moon. Craters, and othersurface detail, appear their sharpest/best near the terminator.
Craters. Large and small bowl-like depressions on the Moon.Most of the craters on the Moon were formed from mete-oroid or cometary impacts that ended about 3 billionyears ago.
Terrae & Maria. Terms coined by Galileo meaning“highlands” and “seas.” The lighter-colored terrae have the highest con-centration of craters and are older than the maria. The darker maria aresmoother areas of the Moon and represent 31% of its surface on the nearside. They are the result of impacts from very large asteroids or cometscreating fractures to the once molten interior, releasing dark, iron-rich,basalt lava, which flowed upward and outward to create the great plains.They average 500 to 600 feet thick. There are very few maria on the farside of the Moon.
Rilles & Faults. Rilles are long valley-type depressions in the maria, upto hundreds of miles in length that can be linear, curved or sinuous.Many rilles can be seen in telescopes. Faults, like the Straight Wall (seephoto on page 107), can also be seen in the maria.
Rays. Bright streaks that radiate from some craters. They representlighter, reflective material, ejected during the formation of craters andare most pronounced around Full Moon. The crater Tycho has the longestrays, spanning one-quarter of the globe. It is estimated that rayed cratersare less than one billion years old because the rays of older craters havebeen eroded by micrometeorites (as described in Regolith, below). Youcan see the rays around the craters Copernicus and Kepler (craters num-bered 69 and 68, respectively) on page 108.
Regolith. A fine grained “soil” that covers the surface of the Moon. Created from the bombardment of the surface by micrometeorites, theregolith varies in depth from 3 to 15 feet in the maria, and to 50 feet ormore in the highlands. The micrometeorites that bombard Earth burnup in the atmosphere.
iddled with craters, Mercury looks like the Moon, but it is elusiveto see because it orbits close to the Sun, “peeking out,” just a few
times a year. So, just to see Mercury in the sky is a treat, all by itself.
Observing Mercury. Mercury is visible only for a short time, up to anhour, at dusk or dawn, near the horizon of a Sun that has just set or isabout to rise. Unfortunately, this places Mercury very low and in the mostturbulent part of the sky, sometimes making it disappointing to viewthrough a telescope because it might look like a bubbling blob.
The window of opportunity to see Mercury is about a week’s time,two or three times a year, when it is farthest from the Sun, at what iscalled its greatest eastern or western elongation, and will appear at halfphase. Consult an astronomy internet site for dates. An obstructed hori-zon, with houses, trees or low-lying clouds can easily foil your attempt tolocate this planet because the most it will be above the horizon is aboutone pencil’s length at an arm’s distance. For evening dates, start search-ing about 30 minutes after sunset. You will have about one-half hour tosee Mercury. For morning dates, start searching about one hour prior tosunrise. In either case, Mercury will appear as bright as magnitude –2 ina lightened sky above and near the sunrise/sunset point, so it may bethe only “star” visible in the twilight, making it easy to identify. At times,it will be plainly visible to the naked eye, but more often, it may blend inwith the lightened sky and you may need binoculars to help locate it because it can be easily missed unless you are looking directly at it. Oh,Mercury does not have any moons.
ften referred to as the morning or evening star, it can linger formonths as a shining beacon above the eastern or western horizon.
At its brightest, and without competition from the Moon, it will cast shadows.
Mercury
Venus
Moon, Mercury and Venus
Enhancedimage to
show clouds
Apollo 11 July 20, 1969 Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins*Apollo 12 Nov 19, 1969 Conrad, Bean, Gordon*Apollo 14 Feb 5, 1971 Shepard, Nitchell, Roosa*Apollo 15 July 30, 1971 Scott, Irwin, Worden*Apollo 16 April 21, 1972 Young, Duke, Mattingly*Apollo 17 Dec 11, 1972 Cernan, Schmitt, Evans*
Mission
Apollo Lunar Landings
Three Astronauts*Circled the Moon inCommand Module
Date
Selena, goddess of the Moon
R
O
114
Observing Considerationsspoiler to observing “closer” double stars is poor seeing caused by a tur-bulent atmosphere. During these times, stars appear as big scintillatingblurs that makes stars close to one another impossible to separate. Thiseffect usually exists with stars close to the horizon, even on nights ofgood seeing.
Generally, when observing double stars, start with lower magnifica-tions and work your way up to higher magnifications. After some expe-rience, you will know the magnification required to split or separatedouble stars with specific arc angle separations.
The separation distance of many double stars varies over time because the stars are in binary systems, where one star revolves aroundthe other (or they revolve about each other). So, some of the separationvalues listed in this atlas will change over time.
To observe very close doubles, around 1 arc second of separation,it will take a night of good seeing and 200x magnification or more to discern the two stars.
And, when you observe stars at these higher magnifications, theywill appear as little disks—these are called “Airy disks” and are a resultof the wave nature of light. The small disks do not represent the actualdiameters of the stars. Additionally, there are a few rings of light aroundany Airy disk. Both the Airy disk and associated rings are more noticablewith brighter stars. For very close doubles, those around one-half to onearc second separation, the best “separation” that you will get are twomerged Airy disks or “one” that appears elongated.
The Deep Sky Objects (DSOs)
For the following objects, the darker a moonless night sky, the better.You can forget about observing these objects within any major city, butyou might fair better on their outskirts. If you live in the heart of a city,you will have to travel to a darker site to enjoy viewing these objects. Ata dark location, almost every object plotted in this atlas can be seen ina smaller, 6-inch diameter telescope.
Binocular Note in Regards to DSOsSome deep sky objects are large and might not be recognized if viewedin a telescope. For example, the Pleiades, because of its size, is bestviewed in its entirety through binoculars. The cluster, IC 4665, in Ophi-uchus, was an overlooked Messier and NGC object because you needlower magnifications to recognize it in its entirety. And, some objects,like the M33 galaxy, are often easier to see in binoculars because of theirlarge size and low surface brightness.
Observing Clusters of Stars The best example of a cluster is the Pleiades, which is visible to thenaked eyes. But, there are many more smaller and fainter clusters thatcan be seen only with telescopes. Start with magnifications around 50x.At first, it might be somewhat challenging to positively identify clusters,
but after observing several, you will catch on. A good starting point is tofind and observe the smaller and brighter Messier clusters like M6, M7,M11, M25, M34, M35, M36, M37, M38, M41, M46, M47, M48 and M67.This will give you a foundation for finding others that are smaller andfainter. Some clusters stand out and are distinct from the surroundingstars while others blend in more and are thus harder to identify. Clus-ters composed of fainter stars that cannot be resolved by smaller tele-scopes will appear as faint hazy patches and may only be glimpsed usingaverted vision, while a larger diameter telescope could show them plainly.
Observing Globular Clusters In smaller telescopes, globular clusters often look like unremarkablefaint cotton balls that brighten towards their centers. Some of the bigger and brighter ones like M3, M13 and M22 will, however, show asprinkle of faint but distinct stars. Globular clusters look absolutelyspectacular in very large telescopes (around 12 inches in diameter andup) because these telescopes can resolve many of the fainter stars thatmake up these clusters, so you can literally see hundreds of stars in theshape of a ball. Start with magnifications around 50x.
Observing Planetary Nebulae The Messier list of planetary nebulae consists of M27, M57, M76 andM97. M57, the Ring Nebula, is much smaller than most people thinkand requires 100x or higher in order to recognize it the first time. Over-all, the Messier planetary nebulae are not representative of the NGCplanetary nebulae because they are large and fairly bright. Many of theNGC planetary nebulae are stellar-like, that is, they look like stars atlower magnifications and will only assume a small disk-type appearancewith sufficient magnification, around 100x to 250x. These objects wereoriginally dubbed “planetary” because of their roundish shape—resembling the disks of the planets.
Observing NebulaeAlthough there are some bright nebulae, like M17, M18, M42 and NGC3372, in general, nebulae are difficult to observe because they are faintand gossamer. Needless to say, dark skies are necessary to see these ob-jects. Averted vision can help to catch a glimpse of those that are faint.Another technique for those that are fainter (and, this applies to galax-ies, too) is to either let the nebulae drift through the eyepiece field-of-view (turn off any tracking motors) or move/slew the telescope back andforth slowly. The movement of faint objects sometimes registers with theeye, especially in the area of peripheral vision.
Observing GalaxiesThere are many more galaxies than all other DSOs combined. Observ-ing them is a similar experience to observing nebulae. Therefore, theyare very affected by light pollution. Although some galaxies brighten toward their cores or centers, none are as bright or detailed as thebrightest nebulae. Since galaxies are outside our galaxy, no individualstars can be seen or resolved except for a rare supernova. For the mostpart, galaxies appear grayish, gossamer, plain and often, just faintsmudges. Spiral galaxies that are “face on” are very faint, like M33 andM101, while those that are “edge on” are much brighter because alltheir light is concentrated along a band, like M82. Some arms of spiralgalaxies can be glimpsed, like with M51. Overall, elliptical galaxies arefainter than spiral galaxies and will be more challenging to see. Althoughthe Andromeda Galaxy (M31), is extremely large and “bright” (you cansee it with the naked eyes), you will not be able to see any detail like inphotos. Review the observing technique described about nebulae in theabove paragraph to help see faint galaxies.
Examples of Airy disks and their associated rings that can be seen around stars at highermagnifications with good, well-alligned optics and good seeing conditions. Left: The Airydisk and rings around a bright star. Center: The appearance of a very close double starwith less than an arc second of separation. It cannot be split into two separate stars butis observed as the merger of two Airy disks. Right: The Airy disks around a resolved or“split” double star with a fainter component.
� See PICTURES of Deep Sky Objects on pages 116, 119 and the back cover �
124
Many stars near the end of their lives expand to a hundred or thou-sand times their original diameter before they finally “die” to become awhite dwarf, neutron star or black hole. Near the end of our Sun’s life, itwill puff up to become a red giant star having a diameter about 250 timesits present diameter—perhaps expanding beyond Earth’s orbit. Super-giant stars are stars that started with masses from 8 to 12 times that ofthe Sun and expand, at the end of their lives, anywhere from 30 to 500and on to 1,000 times the diameter of our Sun. The very largest starsare called hypergiants with initial masses ranging from 100 to 265 timesthat of our Sun, having expanded diameters reaching 1,000 times ormore of our Sun and with luminosities upwards of two million times thatof our Sun.
The distance to stars is measured using the unit of length called alight year (ly). One light year is the distance that light can travel in oneyear’s time which is nearly 6 trillion miles or 9.5 trillion kilometers. Thestars that we see in the sky range anywhere from 4 ly to 3,000 ly away. Allthe stars in the sky are in our Milky Way Galaxy.
Star Cluster. A general term that refers to an open cluster, galacticcluster or globular cluster. See Cluster.
Star of Bethlehem. See Conjunction.
Summer Solstice. The 90° point on the ecliptic (chart 5E & in Taurus). When the Sun is at this position, about June 21, it is the start ofSummer in the northern hemisphere.
Summer Triangle. The three bright stars, Altair in Aquila, Deneb inCygnus and Vega in Lyra.
Sun. The name commonly given to the star that Earth orbits. The ancientRoman and Greek names are respectively, Sol and Helios. So, the Sun isthe closest star to Earth—sometimes asked as a “trick” question.
Supergiant Stars. See Star.
Supernova (plural: Supernovae). An explosion of a massive star, atthe end of its life, of such intensity that the light emitted outshines all thestars in its galaxy. A supernova can remain brilliant for several weeks.They occur infrequently in our galaxy, so amateur and professional astronomers observe them more often in other galaxies. The last super-nova visible in our galaxy was seen in the year 1604. A supernova explo-sion leaves a nebula remnant. Well-known examples are the Crab Nebula(M1) in Taurus and the larger Veil Nebula (NGC 6960/6992) in Cygnus.
Telrad. A popular “finder” that is attached to a telescope and aids point-ing a telescope to an object or spot in the night sky. The Telrad is a reflex-sightfinder that projects a red bullseye onto the night sky. This reticle pattern isreproduced on the side of the main charts. The bullseye reticle does not actually get projected onto the sky but is reflected back to the eye from anangled piece of glass. Like all reflex-sight finders, the Telrad provides no
magnification. To use it, you place your eye(head) a few inches to a foot behind the backwhile looking at the sky through the slantedglass (see picture). The red bullseye appearssuperimposed on the night sky allowing you toeasily point the telescope to any spot. Thebrightness of the red bullseye can be changed.This type of finder is much easier to use thantraditional finders which are small, low-powered telescopes that have narrow/confining fields-of-view. See Finder.
Telescope. An optical instrument that magnifies distant objects. The telescope was invented in 1608 and by the end of 1609, Galileo had improved it by increasing its magnification from 3x to about 30x.
There are two basic types of telescopes, the original refractor inventedfrom using eyeglass lenses and the reflector, a telescope that uses a concavemirror to focus light, first built by Newton in 1668 and called the Newton-ian reflector in his honor. There are also hybrid telescopes, a combinationof a refractor and reflector, called catadioptrics, and the most common design is called the Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope or SCT, which was firstmade popular by Celestron telescopes in the early 1970s.
A Newtonian reflector telescope of 6 to 8 inches in diameter is a veryadequate telescope for exploring the night sky. This type of telescope is theleast expensive per aperture inch, that is, it is the best deal for the money(great for those on a budget or just getting started). They usually have simple, manual, altazimuth mounts, and in this form, are often called Dobsonians, after John Dobson who popularized larger, low-cost Newtoniantelescopes on simple altazimuth mounts. Today, Newtonians used by ama-teurs can have diameters more than 36 inches and these large telescopesare best for observing the fainter deep sky objects.
Refractor telescopes typically have diameters that range in size from 2 to 6 inches but the most popular sizes are from 3 to 4 inches. The high-est quality refractors, known as “apochromatics,” are, by far, the most ex-pensive telescopes per optical inch but they also have the highest imagequality of any telescope.
The Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope or SCT generally provides the most“bang” for the buck because it usually includes a computer-motorizedmount that will automatically “GO TO” and follow any object chosen froma hand controller. The most popular size is 8 inches in diameter. Anythinglarger in diameter starts to get heavy fast.
Magnification should not be a consideration when buying a telescope.The highest useful magnification for any telescope, independent of it size, isabout 350x because this represents the resolution limit created by the tur-bulence in the atmosphere. Theoretically, a 12-inch diameter telescope cansee twice as much detail as a 6-inch but our turbulent atmosphere placesthe limit on seeing detail. The greatest resolution (or smallest detail) that a“normal” Earth-based telescope can resolve is about 0.5 arc seconds (2 anarc second), which is the theoretical limit of an 8-inch diameter telescope.
What is the advantage of larger diameter telescopes if an 8-inch pro-vides the maximum resolution? It is light-gathering capability—the abilityto see fainter objects. For example, a 12-inch diameter telescope has 4 timesthe surface area of a 6-inch diameter telescope, so fainter objects will visu-ally be brighter in a 12-inch diameter telescope than in a 6-inch. In thiscase, the 12-inch will allow seeing objects to about 1.5 magnitudes fainterthan the 6-inch (1.5 magnitudes is more significant than you might think).
A GOTO or GO TO telescope actually refers to the mount, but some GO TO mounts have integrated telescopes, like with many SCTs manufac-tured by Celestron and Meade.
Glossary
Telrad Reflex Finder
LEFT A refractor telescope
by Tele Vue on an Equatorial mount(a GEM mount).
RIGHT Newtonian reflector
telescope, Dobsonian style, on an altazimuth mount.
Polar Axis
Points to a C
elestia
l Pole
128128
a alphab betac gammad delta
Greek Alphabet
e epsilonf zetag etah theta
i iotaj kappak lambdal mu
m nun xio omicronp pi
q rhor sigmas taut upsilon
u phiv chiw psix omega
Chart Reference
ANDROMEDA 2N 15ANTLIA 11S 28APUS 14S 27AQUARIUS 23E 16AQUILA 20E 17ARA 17S 26ARIES 2N 15AURIGA 5N 14BOOTES 14N 11CAELUM 5S 30CAMELOPARDALIS 5N 14CANCER 8N 13CANES VENATICI 14N 11CANIS MAJOR 8E 21CANIS MINOR 8E 21CAPRICORNUS 20E 17CARINA 11S 28CASSIOPEIA 2N 15CENTAURUS 14S 27CEPHEUS 23N 28CETUS 2E 23CHAMAELEON SCP 32CIRCINUS 14S 27COLUMBA 5S 30COMA BERENICES 14N 11CORONA AUSTRALIS 20S 25CORONA BOREALIS 17N 10CORVUS 11E 20CRATER 11E 20CRUX 14S 27CYGNUS 20N 29DELPHINUS 20N 29
DORADO 5S 30DRACO NCP 27EQUULEUS 20E 17ERIDANUS 5S/2S 30–31FORNAX 2S 31GEMINI 8E 21GRUS 23S 24HERCULES 17N 10HOROLOGIUM 5S 30HYDRA 14E/11E/8E 19–21HYDRUS 2S 31INDUS 20S 25LACERTA 23N 28LEO 11E 12LEO MINOR 11N 12LEPUS 5E 22LIBRA 14S 27LUPUS 14S 27LYNX 8N 13LYRA 20N 29MENSA 5S 30MICROSCOPIUM 20S 25MONOCEROS 8E 21MUSCA 11S 28NORMA 17S 26OCTANS SCP 32OPHIUCHUS 17E 18ORION 5E 22
Constellation Chart Constellation ChartPage Page
PAVO 20S 25PEGASUS 23N 28PERSEUS 2N 15PHOENIX 2S 31PICTOR 5S 30PISCES 23E/2E 16/23PISCIS AUSTRINUS 23S 24PUPPIS 8S 29PYXIS 8S 29RETICULUM 5S 30SAGITTA 20N 29SAGITTARIUS 20S/17S 25–26SCORPIUS 17S 26SCULPTOR 23S 24SCUTUM 20E 17SERPENS 17E 18SEXTANS 11E 20TAURUS 5E 22TELESCOPIUM 20S 25TRIANGULUM 2N 15TRIANGULUM
AUSTRALE 17S 26TUCANA 23S 24URSA MAJOR 11N 12URSA MINOR NCP 27VELA 11S/8S 28–29VIRGO 14E 19VOLANS 8S 29VULPECULA 20N 29
Constellation Chart Page
Messier DSO Designation
NGC DSO Designation (2 to 4 digits)Star Names are Italicized
Constellation Names in UPPERCASE
Greek Letter (Bayer) Designation for StarsFlamsteed Number Designation for Stars
Right Ascension LinesANALOGOUS TO LONGITUDE BUT USES 24 HOURS FOR DIVISIONS
Declination LinesSIMILAR TO LATITUDE
Outline of Nebula with NGC Designation
Other DSO Catalogue Designation Other Star Designations. See page 115.
Constellation Boundary
*DSOs are “Deep Sky Objects,” that is, *Clusters of Stars, Nebulae & Galaxies.
ALL DSOs ARE DESCRIBED IN“Objects by Constellation”
Stars & Constellations DSOs*15h 13h
0°
+10°
–10°
14h
0°
+10°
–10°
Ecliptic
STELLARUM
Diamond
Sapphire
a
d
b
c
HR8474
15
12
14
18
19
M93
M I L K Y W AYB A N D
3211
Pal721
3199