Star date: 12:31:98
A Bee Line of Clusters
There is a wonderful chain of clusters in the north/northeast
sky this week. Many of these objects are visible throughout the year, however,
throughout our journey we will be rewarded with many beautiful visions
in the new years sky.
One of these objects is one of my all time favorites,
The Double Cluster in Perseus.
The objects which we will be seeing tonight are also a
good series of objects to look at with a young person. For although astronomy
is often done late at night, these objects are visible this time of year
by early evening, and in order to most easily find these objects (for the
purposes of this weeks article) you will be going observing at 6pm. Also,
very little equipment is needed to see these objects, and it is, in fact,
a wonderful journey to take with binoculars.
As with nearly all astronomy, it is best to get to a dark
spot. From here, look 32 degrees east of north. It is always best to find
Polaris in order to determine the direction of true north, for compasses
point to Earth's magnetic north, which is not the same as true north. In
order to estimate 32 degrees (and here's where a compass can be handy),
make a fist and hold it at arms length. From left to right, a fist held
at arms length is about 10 degrees. Do this three times, and then go to
the east by one finger more. This should be about 32 degrees. Now go above
the horizon by nearly 65 degrees. You can use the same methods of estimation
here. As you look into binoculars or a telescope, you should see a bright
open cluster streching about 1/3 of a degree across the sky. This is known
as NGC1027. At magnitude 6.7, it is just barely not visible to the naked
eye, but it is an easy find with any good binculars or a telescope.
This cluster is flanked on both sides by two other cluster,
IC 1848 and IC 1805. IC 1848 is just 1.5 degrees to the north of NGC1027,
and IC 1805 is one degree to the east. Both of these systems are still
enshrouded in the gas from which they are still being formed.
From IC 1805, travel a total of four degrees in a diagonal
to the east and towards the horizon. Here lies NGC957. This is a dense
open cluster about 40% as bright as NGC1027. This object has an apparent
diameter of about 1/6 of a degree. At this point, you will be 39.5 degrees
east of north, and 68 degrees above the horizon.
Now, another 1.5 degree jump above the horizon and towards
the east will show us NGC884. Yet another dense, open cluster, This is
the first of the objects we have viewed this week which is visible to the
naked eye under dark skies, for it shines at magnitude 4. A half degree
to the east brings us to this weeks special treat, The Double Cluster in
Perseus. This object looks like two clusters, hence the name. Also called
NGC869, this object spans 1/2 degree across the sky and is as bright as
NGC884.
We have ended this weeks journey 37.5 degrees east of
north, and nearly 70 degrees above the horizon. We have also ended on one
of the most beautiful objects in the sky.
Happy New Year, clear skies, and good viewing.
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