[sac-forum] Call for Observations - Camelopardalis

Although it doesn't look good for this weekend, I think you need to know what 
is next in our call for observations.  So, here is the list for Camelopardalis.

Although there are a finite number of constellations, 88, and even fewer to be 
seen from Arizona there are some that we haven't visited.  For March we will be 
able to scratch another from that list, for we will take one of several visits 
to Camelopardalis.  There's quite a list of deep sky objects with a magnitude 
of 12 or brighter and for this excursion we'll stay with just seven of them.  
You shouldn't have much trouble hunting these down in modest size telescopes so 
let's get to the list.  Starting with the western most, and continuing to the 
east, we'll start with Stock 23, also known as Pazmino's Cluster that has about 
25 stars in a 15’ area and, to save you some time just in case, it is located 
at RA 03 16.2 dec. +60 06.  Next is Collinder 464, located at RA 05 12.6 dec. 
+73 58, with 50 stars in a 120’ area.  Compare and contrast these two 
clusters.  A couple of hours of right ascension later is the magnificent spiral 
galaxy NGC2403.  See how much detail you can coax out of its spiral arms and 
its middle.  Now the toughest of the lot is from the Morphological Catalog of 
Galaxies MCG +13-07-007 where the SAC database indicates its inner regions are 
very black.  You probably won’t be able to see this because this galaxy is 
12th magnitude and less than 1’.  It is located at RA 08 53.2 dec. +76 30.  
Think of it this way – now you’ve seen something in the MCG!  Moving right 
along we now get to NGC2655, finally something in the NGC.  This barred spiral 
is bright and large; see what details this one has for us.  NGC2715 is another 
barred spiral, not quite as bright but elongated.  Finally we get to IC  3568 a 
surprising planetary nebula with a magnitude 12.9 central star.  I have no 
record of color being detected.  Do you see any?

If you don't get a chance to see all of these, hopefully one or two can make 
your list.  Remember we also have the following weekend.

Hoping for clear skies,
aj

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