[sac-forum] January & February Constellations & Objects

   Here are the lists for your observing enjoyment, unabashedly stolen 
directly from what will be in the November/December issue of the SAC 
Newsletter.  If you have a chance to get out this weekend definitely 
plan on doing January.  There's time for February but get to it if you 
can since we have not been very lucky with the weather situation!

   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?
   For February we are going to take a tour of Canis Major.  While most 
of us are aware it has many open clusters and nebula, not all of us 
realize it does have a very nice selection of galaxies, which are 
included in our list.  First will be NGC2207 and IC2163, a pair of 
interacting galaxies with magnitudes of 10.8 and 13.4 respectively.  
NGC2217 is a barred spiral with a very faint ring.  NGC2325 is another 
fairly bright galaxy.  NGC2354 is a pretty rich galactic star cluster.  
About one degree northeast you will find our next object, another 
cluster, NGC2362.  This brings us to NGC2359, a bright nebula that seems 
to respond well to UHC filters.  Try it if you have one and let us know 
your results.  Beware; this emission nebula is not very bright.  NGC2362 
is another pretty rich galactic star cluster.  This cluster includes tau 
(t) Canis Majoris, which is also a nice double; please include your 
description of this double in your observation.  Galactic cluster 
NGC2374 is our last selection.  No I didn't forget M41.  I have passed 
it up in order for us to realize there are also many nice galaxies in 
this constellation.
   While there are many nebulae in Canis Major, there are no planetary 
nebulae with an NGC designation; at least not according to the SAC database.

Clear skies to one and all,
aj

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