[sac-forum] Call for Observations - October

On to October where we find what constellation riding just past the central meridian right after twilight?  Scutum.  The first two objects start at the place EE Barnard called the Gem of the Milky Way, the Great Rift of the Milky Way in the Scutum star cloud.  The two are the open clusters NGC6682 and NGC6683.  To start off locate beta Scuti, it will be the jump off star for hoping to both clusters.  NGC6682 is located about 2° west of beta Scuti at 18h 39m 37.0s –04° 48’ 48”.  The star density will make it difficult to locate this one, but be patient, pan around and enjoy the scenery.  The second, NGC6683, is about 2° south of southwest from beta Scuti at 18h 42m 13.0s –06° 12’ 42”.  Like the first, this cluster is located in a rich field.  Again, pan around and enjoy the scenery.  Don’t forget to include some notes about the sceneries impression on you.  Now hop on over to 8^th magnitude M26.  Then on to M11, commonly called the Wild Duck.  It doesn’t look like that in any of our modern telescopes.  Can you see this cluster without any optical aid?  Let us know your results – even negative ones.  Winding down this month’s list is the globular cluster NGC6712.  Then 24’ east of southeast you’ll find the last object, IC1295, at magnitude 12.7.  That’s all for now.  We will re-visit some day later and take a look at other goodies located in this wonderful constellation.

Sticking, or trying to stay with summer constellations for November, let’s take another pass at Cepheus.  There’s enough there for seconds without doing any others from the past and most will be open clusters, so get your open cluster observing hat on, go out and enjoy these for now.  First is Berkeley 59, located about 45 arc-minutes from the border with Cassiopeia; can you see some of the nebulosity involved with this cluster?  NGC188 is next and has been referred to as one of the oldest known open clusters.  Let us know if it is easier to find than Berkeley 59.  The third object on our list is NGC6951.  The SAC database lists NGC6952 at the same location.  Although both are listed as mid life barred spiral galaxies their descriptions are very different.  I haven’t research why this difference.  If you do, please submit with your observations.  The remaining objects will be open clusters, starting with NGC7023 that is located in some nebulosity.  Our next is NGC7129, also located in nebulosity.  Both of these clusters are reported to be involved in some nebulosity.  Let us know if you can see any and describe its appearance.  Completing the middle objects is NGC7226 a pretty bright cluster.  The last two objects are the bright nebula NGC7538 and Markarian 50 an open cluster, that I haven’t yet observed, with a 9.8 magnitude star.