[sac-forum] Re: Weekend Observing-Antennas anyone?

Hi Chris,
The All-Arizona star party is this weekend down at Arizona City. I suspect that most of us will be down there for the weekend. 

Tim

Chris Hanrahan wrote:

Assuming the weather (wind specifically) cooperates, is anyone planning on 
heading over to Hovatter Road?  I wouldn't mind going to AASP but my Saturday 
and Sunday are pretty full as is so I think Antennas is a better choice for me. 
 Curious about everyone else's plans...
Chris Hanrahan
---- AJ Crayon <acrayon@xxxxxxx> wrote: 
=============
Don't forget to get your observations in for Sculptor and Cassiopeia for the 
next two months.  To save you time from having to look them up, here they are.  
I'm posting this now because I'll be out of town till Sunday evening.

Have fun at the AASP, or where ever you go observing.

Clear skies,
aj


For December Sculptor is our choice.  Star parties from desert vistas for the remainder 
of the year will have good southern horizons making the selection a good choice.  Let's 
see what is in the often overlooked are of the fall sky.  From a list of about 40 of the 
brighter objects, all but two are galaxies, so we have enough for return visits.  For our 
first visit check out NGC7793 to which the NGC Description says Like a comet (1850).  
Since this is a late spiral we should expect to see more than its elongation.  Next is 
the large, scattered open cluster Blanco 1, also called the Zeta Sculptoris cluster, 
located at R.A. 00h 04.3m Dec -29° 56'.  Low powers and wide field telescopes will 
do a good job on this cluster that is about 90'.  Moving on we go to the magnificent 
galaxy NGC 253.  This galaxy and the next object, the globular cluster NGC 288 are on the 
Herschel 400 list.  Would you characterize it loose, tight or in-between?  The Sculptor 
Dwarf will be a challenge object and will need clear, steady and transparent skies.  It 
is located at R.A. 00h 59.9m Dec -33° 43'.  Don't let its surface brightness of 17th 
magnitude scare you off.  Just pan around the area looking for a change in the 
background.  If you can see any stars in this galaxy please, by all means, call me over.  
Last will be the barred spiral, and also a member of the Herschel 400, NGC 613.


There is much left to do in Cassiopeia, so let's not wait any longer for this one as there are more 
than 60 objects well within reach of many SAC scopes.  First give M52 a try as it was skipped last 
time around.  Then just 40' northwest is the asterism on the SAC list titled Airplane or Arrow and 
is located at RA 23h 20.0m Dec +62° 20".  It is pretty large, so use low power, and 
bright.  What does it look like to you?  Don't worry if it doesn't look like either, let us know 
anyway.  Getting away from the NGC give the open cluster Berkley 4 a try, it is reported to have 25 
stars in 5'.  Do you agree?  The next 3 clusters are on the Herschel 400 list.  About 1° 30' 
northeast of g Cassiopeia is NGC381, a compressed cluster.  The next cluster is NGC436, has about 
30 stars in a 5' area and is located 1° 48' southwest from d Cassiopeia.  Three degrees east 
and a little sound of Segin, e Cassiopeia, is NGC559.  Does it seem pretty large to your eye?  
Stock 2 has over 150 stars in a 60' area and is north of the Double Cluster.  Enjoy these clusters; 
before you know it spring and galaxies will be upon us.

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