[sac-forum] Andromeda

As indicated in the last newsletter, the constellation for December is 
Andromeda.  I'm biting the bullet and putting the Great Andromeda Galaxy 
first on the list - that's M31, M32 and M110.  Other galaxies on the 
list are NGC404 and NGC891.  Add to that the planetary NGC7662, called 
the Blue Snowball by Leland Copland.  Don't let the nickname intimidate 
you; what color do you see.  Going northward a little more than six 
degrees from NGC7662 you will encounter the next object on the list, 
NGC7686 that is centered on a six magnitude star.  Finally, give the 
double star beta Andromedae a try.  An early observation of mine called 
it, "very close."  Do you see it that way or not?

If you get lucky and have time left over, then here's the January list, 
cut right straight from the original article with no editorializing.  
Our January observations begin with NGC1662, M42 (OK I give, let's try 
this and see what happens), NGC1999 (a combination of reflection, 
emission and dark nebulae; I wonder what nebula filters do to this 
object), NGC2169 (an open cluster with a peculiar arrangement of its 
stars) and NGC2174 (an open cluster and nebula, try filters on this 
one).  For a double star add rho (r) Orionis to the list.  As in the 
past, let us know what color or colors you detect.  All of these objects 
are in Orion!  But you already knew that, didn't you?

As I've told some folks, I'll not be at Flat Iron Saturday night, but 
have a good time anyway.  I'm hoping for clear skies for all.

aj

Other related posts: