Although the Oronids is not known for producing large or particularly bright meteors, there will be no moonlight after midnight this year, which should make it possible to observe even faint meteors. Double that aperture to 12 inches, and you’ll begin to pick up this object’s color. The Baby (or Soul) Nebula sits 2.5° east-southeast of the Heart Nebula (IC 1805). These three objects are all simple to locate in the summer sky, between July and September. Medium and large telescopes should reveal the planet in the constellation Aries, about ten or so degrees to the southward of the constellation’s brightest star, Hamal (alpha Arietis). Even though summers are associated with shorter … Note that the Red planet comes into opposition with the Sun on the 13th , and as a result, it will transit the meridian at an elevation of about 43 degrees when it is due south. Dozens of foreground stars populate the field, adding a third dimension to the view. View it through a 3-inch telescope at a magnification of 50x, however, and you’ll spot two dozen stars spread across an area 15' wide. A 10-inch telescope equipped with a nebula filter clearly shows its bright fan shape. Through an 8-inch scope, choose an eyepiece that yields a 1° field of view, and slowly sweep the area. A fainter arm extends due east and ends near a 15th-magnitude star. Slightly more than 6' north of Fornax A lies NGC 1317, a similar spiral that also has tight spiral arms. The best example of a barred spiral — NGC 1365 — languishes in Fornax, more than one-third the way from the celestial equator to the South Celestial Pole. Set aside some time under a moonless sky to view this wide variety of celestial treats. – Mars will be the brightest it will ever be until September of the year 2035. NGC 1027, a magnitude 6.7 open cluster, shines 1.2° east of the nebula and spans 15'. At the southeast end of Kemble’s Cascade, in the same field of view, sits the tight open cluster NGC 1502 (7' across). Stitching together images of adjacent parts of the object to create a mosaic lets you capture these extended objects. By contrast, the dark region in the southern half of NGC 1360 is wide, extending all the way from the southern tip to the 11th-magnitude central star. The western section is slightly brighter. Most of the stars range from 7th to 9th magnitude. (An Oxygen-III filter will reduce what you can see.) Some of the best known ones are the open star clusters Messier 36, Messier 37 and Messier 38, the Eskimo Nebula, the Christmas Tree Cluster, the Cone Nebula and the Rosette Nebula. Constellation: Virgo. Start with a magnification of about 75x, then gradually increase the power. Just to the north of the galaxy you’ll find a magnitude 11.2 star. Deep-sky objects AT2018cow , a large astronomical explosion detected on 16 June 2018. This is the best night of the month to observe the night sky, since light from stars and faint deep sky objects won't have to compete with bright moonlight. Located about 30 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces, this spectacular magnitude 10.0 galaxy, seen directly face-on, is a perfect example of a so-called “grand design” spiral galaxy. October 19 2020 Observation Report - posted in Deep Sky Observing: Hi, I want to share a wonderful observation session I had on October 19 2020. Move 6.9° west of magnitude 4.0 Beta Camelopardalis to find the Blue Oyster Nebula. Lying 2.8" away, however, the magnitude 7.3 companion should not appear the shade of blue most observers report. Welcome to Tonight's Sky. You’ll find this mix of emission and reflection nebulosity 3.3° west-southwest of Omicron (ο) Persei. The Best Deep Sky Objects for Summer. A 12-inch scope resolves about 20 more stars. You’ll need a telescope to see its individual stars, but you won’t miss its overall magnitude 5.7 glow. Its separation is only 7". For an overall view, insert a nebula filter and identify the Heart’s brightest regions: the central cluster, the knot of nebulosity to the east, and the crescent of gas to the southwest. Most named stars, if not surrounded by nebulae, are described in the "Special stars" section of the IAU Constellation page. (Image credit: Starry Night software) Beginning stargazers often get confused over objects … It’s not there. Through a 4-inch telescope, you’ll see about 20 stars spanning 12'. You’ll see 50 bright stars with the most prominent being Mirfak and Psi (ψ) Persei. Third, although I’ve chosen some objects for small scopes (and even a few for naked eyes or binoculars), haul out the biggest telescope you can. To find this spiral galaxy, look 5.4° east of Upsilon (υ) Ceti. Note also that due to it approaching opposition, Mars will be visible throughout the night during October, but at about 03:00 (BST) on the 3rd, the planet will be within one degree above the (nearly) Full Moon. Four cluster stars shine brighter than 8th magnitude, including double star ADS 2426 at the center. Ignore the bright core and search the disk surrounding it for signs of mottled structure. Saturn pairs up with Jupiter to create "Christmas Star" on winter solstice. Through even a 4-inch telescope at a dark site, you’ll see NGC 1365’s bar and brighter central region. – Constellation: Canis Major. It’s a relatively bright magnitude 9.3, and you can star-hop to it if you first find a triangle of three faint stars, Chi1, Chi2, and Chi3 Fornacis. Bright knots intermingle with the gas on the northwestern and southeastern sides. To find it, point your telescope 2° east of Gamma (γ) Trianguli. From there, move 5' northeast, and you’ll encounter the variable star T Tauri, which usually shines at magnitude 9.6. Observers with good vision can spot more than that, with reports of up to 13 naked-eye stars within the cluster. It glows at magnitude 6.7 and spans 15'. Think the Perseids are the only shower worth watching? The three brightest (magnitudes 7.1, 8.1, and 9.3) form an isosceles triangle near NGC 1545’s center. – Venus starts the month rising at about 02:00 (BST), but rises progressively later until at month’s end, it will rise at about 04:00 (BST). This emission nebula lies 1.1° north-northwest of Lambda Persei. At magnitude 5.2, it contains 10 stars brighter than 9th magnitude spread out over an area 35' across. A magnitude 8.0 star gleams at the cluster’s southern edge. The magnitude 3.5 primary appears white or “just a bit” yellow. On my scope I don't consider there to be any one "best magnification" for deep sky observing. This magnitude 8.9 open cluster lies 5.7° east-northeast of Almach (Gamma Andromedae). With magnifications of 200x or more, the brilliant core appears surrounded by an oblong haze. This object is a chance alignment of stars first described by the late Franciscan amateur astronomer Father Lucian Kemble, who found it through binoculars. Through larger scopes at magnifications above 350x, however, you’ll note that the magnitude 11.5 planetary is ever-so-slightly oval in an east-west orientation. Start in Sagittarius with an easy object that performs well in most any telescope. Seeing — the steadiness of the air above your observing site — is the key to discerning the individual spiral arms. Through a 16-inch scope, an arm that radiates to the north of the core and turns abruptly to the west is quite prominent. Be aware, however, that none of the showers listed above is expected to produce more than between two and five meteors per hour at any time. Magnitude 9.4 NGC 1360, however, appears twice as long as it is wide, extended in a roughly north-south orientation. Hind’s Variable Nebula appears as a faint wisp of nebulosity near T Tauri. It’s a spectral class F star, which is hotter, and therefore should be just a bit whiter, than our Sun. Thought about this Edit for a while. Some can be viewed with a small telescope, but the majority will require a moderate to large telescope. Once you’ve located the Fornax Dwarf, crank up the magnification and aim for its northern edge. All told, more than 100 young stars brighter than magnitude 12 spread across the association’s 3° width. Since it is at least twice as massive as Omega Centauri (the Milky Way‘s most massive globular star cluster) most investigators believe that Mayall II is not a true globular cluster, but rather that it is the remains of a small dwarf galaxy that had been destroyed by the Andromeda Galaxy in the distant past. Helpful hints and advice on framing, exposures, and filters are included. The Pinwheel … It sits 3.4° east-southeast of Atik (Zeta [ζ] Persei). To find it, scan 5.3° northeast of Eta Persei. To see the stars better, remove the nebula filter. Even fainter is magnitude 12.2 NGC 1035, 23' northeast of NGC 1042. So, for this roundup, I chose the best deep-sky objects that can be seen throughout November. Look for two crescent-shaped nebulae, a smaller one to the northeast and a larger one to the west. This magnitude 6.4 open cluster lies 1.6° east-northeast of Lambda Persei. A magnification of 15x works best for framing the starry chain. The magnitude 9.4 central star can be a bit distracting. At magnifications above 200x, note the sections of NGC 891’s nucleus on each side of the lane. Near that position, you’ll see a magnitude 8.4 star. Of course, you’ll also be able to spot them several months before and after this month. Moreover, since the little planet reaches a point of inferior conjunction on the 25th of the month, it will reappear as an early morning object after this date. This galaxy glows at magnitude 11.9. There are several deep sky objects you can observe without optical aid, such as star clusters and even some nebulae. NGC 1499 spans 160' by 40', so if even that view isn’t wide enough, slowly move the telescope back and forth. The Alpha Persei Association, as the name implies, surrounds the star Mirfak (Alpha Persei). A nebula-filtered view shows two large regions that form the head and body. Through a 10-inch telescope, you’ll spot a dozen galaxies in a field of view 1° across. While the autumn night sky appears devoid of bright stars, it’s still home to a rich array of double stars. At magnitude 1.2, this large, scattered group of stars is obvious to the naked eye. Deep-sky observing is easily the most popular field for amateur astronomers. Is the multiverse theory science fiction or science fact? For the best conditions to see galaxies, nebulas, and other deep sky objects, plan a stargazing session for the night of October 16th, when the New Moon will provide dark skies. Plus, get FREE SHIPPING & BONUS GIFT! You won’t see much of the thin spiral arms no matter what scope you observe through. Through a 6-inch telescope, it appears twice as long as wide (7.3' by 3.3') and aligned nearly east-west. By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. Think again. However, while this shower is not expected to produce more than 5 to 10 meteors per hour, this Southern Taurids is known for producing particularly bright meteors, at least some of which should be visible although the Moon will be close to full during the peak period. Through an 8-inch telescope, it appears oval (2.5' by 2.0') with an extended central region surrounded by a slight haze. Sharp-eyed observers may just detect NGC 1528 as a hazy star from a dark observing site. Remember … Choose a unit that magnifies between 10 and 15 times. This book reveals, for each month of the year, the choicest celestial treasures within the reach of a commercial CCD camera. There sits globular cluster NGC 1049. The shower is produced by debris left by the comet 2P Encke. However, while the three showers listed below are not particularly productive, observers who have access to dark skies might see some bright meteors from the showers listed below, nevertheless-. Deep-Sky Wonders, a month-by-month selection of those columns, was published in 1999 and is available from Sky Publishing. From a dark site, sharp-eyed observers can spot the California Nebula with their naked eyes — almost. A 16-inch scope reveals striations that extend away from the southern tip. Often called the Seven Sisters, most people see only six stars. THE TRIFID NEBULA (M20) Magnitude: 6.3. It inclines only 1.4° to our line of sight, glows at magnitude 9.9, and measures 13.0' by 2.8'. Space Gift Ideas for Astronomy Buffs and Skygazers for the 2020 Holiday Season, Humans have been living on the ISS for 20 years, Rare 'Christmas Star' set for winter solstice, Travel to Costa Rica in February 2021 with. Within that oval is the galaxy’s faint bar. It measures 6.8' by 5.6'. Observers that feel up to the challenge of locating and observing M74 should be able to find it 1.5 degrees to the east-northeast of the star Eta Piscium, the brightest star in Pisces. NGC 891’s only problem is that it’s Andromeda’s second-best galaxy. Spend some time with this cluster at magnifications above 200x. The object. There’s not much dispute about that. Here are ten of the best: While there are many mythological stories about this giant, one of the most beautiful objects in the heavens resides within its borders. As winter melts into spring, we sample both familiar and overlooked deep-sky treasures in the "empty space" between Gemini and Leo, home of the Crab. One of the finest naked-eye objects also ranks as the sky’s brightest star cluster (magnitude 1.2). February is the best time of year to observe a number of interesting deep sky objects found in these constellations. The exception is the 5th-magnitude sparkler SAO 12969 that sits in the center. The Deep-Sky Observers Year is a month-by-month guide to the best objects to view. The cluster shines at a respectable magnitude 6.5. It peeks through a slightly darker center that suggests the presence of a thick ring structure. Use Stellarium to take a tour or the Pocket Sky Atlas from Sky & Telescope. With my recent addition of a modified Canon T3i and 12nm ha filter, I am anxious to capture these nebulae in a new way. The head appears denser, while the body surrounds a small star cluster within. The site will generate a list of visible objects based on your criteria with links to help you plan your observing session and research your targets. Prominent constellations that can be seen in October include Cetus, Pisces, Aries, Triangulum, and Andromeda. So, for this roundup, I chose the best deep-sky objects that can be seen throughout November. Use a magnification around 100x to catch all three galaxies at once. 5 Bizarre Paradoxes Of Time Travel Explained, 10 Interesting Nikola Tesla Facts And Quotes, 10 Interesting Facts about White Dwarf Stars, 100m Liquid Telescope To Be Placed On The Moon, Water Discovered on Sunlit Surface of the Moon, Dwarf Planet Ceres Found to Be an Ocean World, Astronomers Verify Proxima Centauri Hosts Earth-Sized Planet. Tonight's Sky's mission is to provide an online tool for amateur astronomers to plan their observing sessions. You won’t be sorry. Although the Fornax Dwarf Galaxy’s stated magnitude is 8.1, its size (12' by 10.2') makes its surface brightness low. Our next object is a magnitude 9.2 barred spiral that sits 2° north of Beta Fornacis. A magnitude 7.0 star glows at the heart of NGC 1027. This system measures 10.5' by 6.3'. Constellation: Sagittarius. The list provides basic information about each object: magnitude, number of stars, page in Uranometria 2000, comments, common name, etc. This odd group has a 9th-magnitude star at both its north and south end, a couple more 10th-magnitude stars, and about a dozen magnitude 12 and fainter stars. Order now to get your Black Holes Collection from Space & Beyond Box! Through a 16-inch or larger telescope, you’ll see the spiral arms extend in a north-northeast to south-southwest orientation. By: Bob King March 13, 2019 Through an 8-inch telescope at 100x, you’ll see the brightest 15 or so members in front of a haze of fainter stars. Use the autumn constellation patterns to locate the Andromeda Galaxy and other deep-sky objects. Look for it as a faint, fuzzy star with your naked eyes. more from Astronomy's weekly email newsletter. An OIII filter will dim it. This month the best time to observe deep sky objects in the evening skies will be between July 6th and 13th. A short version of the Top 10 Night Sky Objects can be download as PDF and printed. To find NGC 1245, which glows at magnitude 8.4, draw a line between Iota and Kappa (κ) Persei. The following is adapted from my personal viewing list: "The Guy Pirro 777 Best and Brightest Deep Sky Objects." The image above shows an instance of Earthshine, which phenomenon can be observed this October during the waning crescent Moon phase from the 11th to the 16th, and again from the 17th to the 22nd during the waxing crescent Moon phase. Magnitude: 9.0 - 15.0. Located about 47 million light-years away in the constellation Cetus, this magnitude 9.6 galaxy stretches across 170,000 light-years, which makes it one of the largest galaxies listed in the Messier catalogue. It’s more than 50 percent bigger than NGC 1052, but you’ll need at least a 16-inch scope to bring out any trace of the arms. At high magnification, say, above 250x, you’ll spot the stellar nucleus. This nice cluster lies less than 1° east of the line’s center point. Don’t expect to see an object that even approaches the cataloged size of 25'. Most lie south and west of NGC 1275. –  The Southern Taurids Meteor Shower, which is expected to peak on the night of the 29th/30th, might be better observed from the southern hemisphere than from the northern hemisphere, but some meteors from this shower are always visible in the northern hemisphere. Collectively,  these constellations contain a variety of spectacular deep-sky objects, examples of which we will cover later on this guide to October’s night sky. This object is brighter along its rim. Look for the tightly wound spiral arms — the brightest one lies southeast of the core. The Star of Bethlehem: Can science explain what it really was? The June sky is also perfectly placed to show a great variety of deep sky objects. Each deep sky object is explained in beautiful detail, so that observers will gain a richer understanding of these astronomical objects. The galaxy spans 8.9' by 6.5'. Remove the filter, and your mind will fool you into thinking the reflection nebulosity has gotten brighter. Prominent constellations that can be seen in October include Cetus, Pisces, Aries, Triangulum, and Andromeda. Meanwhile, Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are both nearly directly overhead, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky from east to west. Infinity & Beyond — Episode 9: Saturn's rings, Infinity & Beyond — Episode 8: Black holes 101. – Uranus will come into opposition with the Sun on the last day of October, and should therefore be visible during the hours of darkness for all of October. The Hercules Cluster (M13) The classic Hercules Galaxy Cluster is a little more challenging to find. [12] [13] As of 22 June 2018, this astronomical event has generated a very large amount of interest among astronomers throughout the world [14] and may be, as of 22 June 2018, considered a supernova tentatively named Supernova 2018cow . For the best view, however, try binoculars or a rich-field telescope. However, while the two gas giants remain close, both will remain within about 15 to 16 degrees above the southern horizon as seen from the northern hemisphere. NGC 1232 isn’t quite round. The June sky is well placed to reveal a variety of deep sky objects, including the Whirlpool Galaxy and the Ring Nebula. Here are some tips on how to spot these cosmic targets in the night sky. The core also appears irregular. This shower is produced by debris left by the comet Halley. NGC 1316 is about half again as long as it is wide (11' by 7.6'), and it orients northeast to southwest. First, dress warmly, because observing involves just sitting (or standing) and looking. A 12-inch scope shows lines and arcs of the brighter members and brings 50 more stars into view. The galaxy’s central area, one-third its width, will command your attention. It’s tiny (1'), so use a big scope. Before you start, let me offer three tips. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. Through an 8-inch telescope, you’ll see more than 50 stars evenly distributed across its 10'-wide face. The Cascade is 15 stars that stretch 2.5°. Through a 6-inch telescope, NGC 1535 has a sharply defined disk (18" across) surrounded by a faint envelope. To find it, look 3.5° northwest of Lambda (λ) Persei. – Coordinates: RA: 07h … This will make it visible as an early morning object for about three hours or so before dawn. Of course, you’ll also be able to spot them several months before and after this month. This galaxy is three times as long as it is wide, but doesn’t show details through most scopes. In it he explored the dim denizens of the deep sky — asterisms, double and variable stars, open and globular clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. Meanwhile, Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are both nearly directly overhead, with the Milky Way stretching across the sky from east to west. You’ll see many colored stars and also several nice double stars. This phenomenon is also variously known as “[the] ashen glow”, “[the] old Moon in the old Moon’s arms”, or [the] “Da Vinci glow”, after Leonardo Da Vinci, who was the first observer in recorded history to explain the science behind the phenomenon. Designation: M101. This magnitude 8.9 open cluster lies 5.7° west-southwest of Epsilon Persei. It’s time to decide which Deep-sky object you’re going to image. Sky This Month: December 2020; ... particular interest because they are immersed in a rich wonderland of deep-sky objects normally beyond the limits of the eye. The nights are getting longer, the air clearer, and those pesky summer mosquitoes are a thing of the past. This magnitude 6.2 open cluster lies 2.3° east of Lambda Persei. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); December 2020 — Night Sky Guide & Key Dates, The Camelopardalid Meteor Shower that peaks on October 5, The δ-Aurigid Meteor Shower that peaks on October 11, The ε-Geminid Meteor Shower that peaks on October 18, The Leonis Minorid Meteor Shower that peaks on October 24. I’ll tell you my top 3 winter deep sky objects further down this post. This emission nebula combines two objects in one. 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Ll see a magnitude 9.2 barred spiral galaxy glows at magnitude 7.6 spans! Pairs up with Jupiter to create `` Christmas star '' on winter solstice clump of stars is to! Works best for framing the Starry chain to observe deep sky objects you can see ). Star with your naked eyes about this giant, one of the galaxy ’ s central area, its... A third dimension to the west ( Gamma Eridani ) they spot IC 1805 two crescent-shaped nebulae, a but... Start with a magnification above 200x, note best deep sky objects by month name for NGC,. Are a thing of the equator, I ’ ve located the Fornax Dwarf, crank up magnification!