2025 MKSP Skies
2025Mt. Kobau Skies
This year (2025) during MKSP we have some suggestions as to what we might be able to look for in the night skies.
If you have some suggestions to share send an email to Webmaster@mksp.ca and we can add them to this space.
Hour by Hour of what to expect on typical night on the Mountain.
| Time | What am I looking for? | Other Thoughts |
|---|---|---|
| 8-9 pm | Sunset is around 1/2 past the hour. The sun is in the west. | This is a time of Preparation. Typically the talks in the parking lot occur at this time, from the summit the colours of the mountains can be spectacular. It'S well worth just sitting and watching some evening. |
| 9-10 pm |
It's now becoming darker. Stars start to emerge. Arcturus will be first. This Year there's no bright planets in the South and West. We will see Saturn in the SE rising at this time. We will see the Summer Triangle Overhead and Sagittarius and Scorpio to the south to the horizon. |
The Talks are now over and most people are at their campsites, looking and taking pictures. there is time also to walk around and visit other MKSP Attendees. On some of the nights, there are Binocular Star Walks at this time. |
| 10-11 pm |
Darkness has fallen, Sagittarius is directly South. Jupiter rises in the East. the exact time will depend on your horizon |
This is a good time for serious exploration of the Dark Sky. |
| 11 pm to 1 am |
Saturn is Transiting. Sag. is now setting. Mars is now rising in the NE. Might take a while to clear the hills. |
We have moved beyond looking at the summer Milky Way, and now we have a selection of Globular Clusters, Nebulas and Galaxies to look at. |
| 2-4 am | We are moving to look at the things we see in the evening sky in a couple of months. | Of course it is a good time to explore the Galaxies in the vicinity of Pegasus and other objects of interest associated with the Autumn skies. |
| 4-6 am |
This is the time to take a look for NGC 253, it Transits at 4:30am. Few locations west of Ontario give us access to this fine Galaxy in a close neighboring group of Galaxies. |
This is when the winter Milky Way rises in the East, Orion, Gemini, Taurus come into view. |
| After 6am |
Sunrise; a time to look for Venus that rises just before the Sun. There will be a waning crescent moon in the sky for most of the week before the New moon. |
Time to plan to get some sleep. |
| 7am - noon |
Quiet Time |
Many attendees are still sleeping. If you are up at this time, it is a good time to go on a hike and see the scenery on the mountain. |
Planets of 2024 MKSP
| Object | Date | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | All week | At the time of the Star Party the Sun is in Leo. Don't expect to see anything that is in this part of the Sky at night! |
| Moon | Aug 4th | The Moon is New on the 4th, and will appear as an evening crescent for the remainder of the week. |
| Mercury | Earlier in week | In Leo and sets shortly after sunset. |
| Venus | Best Later in week | In Leo and sets shortly after sunset. |
| Mars | Earlier in week | In Taurus best viewed after midight. |
| Jupiter | All Week | In Taurus best viewed after midight. |
| Saturn | All Week | In Aquarius. |
| Uranus | All Week | In Taurus |
| Neptune | All Week | In Pisces |
Unaided Object List for Observation
Don't forget to download the form, as you may not have the internet while observing.
Target Audience Level: Beginner Suggested Optical aid: None required – all objects are visible with eyes alone Pin requirements: Find any 15 from the list
| Object | Type | Constellation | Notes | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antares | Star | Scorpius | Antares is the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius. It has the Bayer designation α Scorpii, which is Latinised to Alpha Scorpii. Often referred to as "the heart of the scorpion", Antares is flanked by σ Scorpii and τ Scorpii near the center of the constellation. | 1 |
| M7 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | Messier 7 or M7, also designated NGC 6475 and sometimes known as the Ptolemy Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius. The cluster is easily detectable with the naked eye, close to the "stinger" of Scorpius. With a declination of −34.8°, it is the southernmost Messier object. | 2 |
| Ophiuchus | Constellation | Ophiuchus | Ophiuchus is a large constellation straddling the celestial equator. Its name comes from the Ancient Greek ὀφιοῦχος, meaning "serpent-bearer", and it is commonly represented as a man grasping a snake. The serpent is represented by the constellation Serpens. | 3 |
| Hercules | Constellation | Hercules | Hercules is a constellation named after Hercules, the Roman mythological hero adapted from the Greek hero Heracles. Hercules was one of the 48 constellations listed by the second-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. It is the fifth-largest of the modern constellations and is the largest of the 50 which have no stars brighter than apparent magnitude +2.5. | 4 |
| M13 | Globular Cluster | Hercules | Messier 13 or M13, also designated NGC 6205 and sometimes called the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules or the Hercules Globular Cluster, is a globular cluster of several hundred thousand stars in the constellation of Hercules. | 5 |
| Sagittarius | Constellation | Sagittarius | Sagittarius is one of the constellations of the zodiac and is located in the Southern celestial hemisphere. It is one of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy and remains one of the 88 modern constellations. Its name is Latin for "archer". Sagittarius is commonly represented as a centaur pulling back a bow. It lies between Scorpius and Ophiuchus to the west and Capricornus and Microscopium to the east. The center of the Milky Way lies in the westernmost part of Sagittarius. | 6 |
| M8 (Lagoon) | Emission Nebula | Sagittarius | The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, NGC 6523, Sharpless 25, RCW 146, and Gum 72) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as an H II region. The Lagoon Nebula was discovered by Giovanni Hodierna before 1654 and is one of only two star-forming nebulae faintly visible to the eye from mid-northern latitudes. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct cloud-like patch with a definite core. Within the nebula is the open cluster NGC 6530. | 7 |
| Deneb | Star | Cygnus | Deneb is a first-magnitude star in the constellation of Cygnus, the swan. Deneb is one of the vertices of the asterism known as the Summer Triangle and the "head" of the Northern Cross. It is the brightest star in Cygnus and the 19th brightest star in the night sky, with an average apparent magnitude of +1.25. | 8 |
| Vega | Star | Lyra | Vega is the brightest star in the northern constellation of Lyra. It has the Bayer designation α Lyrae, which is Latinised to Alpha Lyrae and abbreviated Alpha Lyr or α Lyr | 9 |
| Altair | Star | Aquilla | Altair is the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila and the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky. It has the Bayer designation Alpha Aquilae, which is Latinised from α Aquilae and abbreviated Alpha Aql or α Aql. | 10 |
| Summer Triangle | Asterism | Cyg, Aql,Lyra | The Summer Triangle is an astronomical asterism in the northern celestial hemisphere. The defining vertices of this imaginary triangle are at Altair, Deneb, and Vega, each of which is the brightest star of its constellation. | 11 |
| Albireo | Star | Cygnus | Albireo is a double star designated Beta Cygni. The International Astronomical Union uses the name "Albireo" specifically for the brightest star in the system. | 12 |
| Sagitta | Constellation | Sagitta | Sagitta is a dim but distinctive constellation in the northern sky. Its name is Latin for 'arrow', not to be confused with the significantly larger constellation Sagittarius 'the archer'. It was included among the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations defined by the International Astronomical Union. Although it dates to antiquity, Sagitta has no star brighter than 3rd magnitude and has the third-smallest area of any constellation. | 13 |
| Delphinus | Constellation | Delphinus | Delphinus is a small constellation in the Northern Celestial Hemisphere, close to the celestial equator. Its name is the Latin version for the Greek word for dolphin. | 14 |
| Cygnus | Constellation | Cygnus | Cygnus is a northern constellation on the plane of the Milky Way, deriving its name from the Latinized Greek word for swan. Cygnus is one of the most recognizable constellations of the northern summer and autumn, and it features a prominent asterism known as the Northern Cross | 15 |
| Lyra | Constellation | Lyra | Lyra is a small constellation. It is one of the 48 listed by the 2nd century astronomer Ptolemy, and is one of the modern 88 constellations recognized by the International Astronomical Union. | 16 |
| Great Square | Asterism | Pegasus | The Great Square of Pegasus is a large distorted 'square' asterism formed from stars Markab, Scheat and Algenib in Pegasus (Alpha (α)), Beta (β)) and Gamma (γ) Pegasi respectively) along with Alpheratz (Alpha (α) Andromedae). | 17 |
| M31, Andromeda | Galaxy | Andromeda | The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31, M31, or NGC 224 and originally the Andromeda Nebula, is a barred spiral galaxy with diameter of about 220,000 ly approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth and the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way | 18 |
| Cassiopeia | Constellation | Cassiopeia | Cassiopeia is a constellation in the northern sky named after the vain queen Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, in Greek mythology, who boasted about her unrivaled beauty. | 19 |
| NGC 869/884 Double Cluster | Open Cluster | Perseus | NGC 869 is an open cluster located 7460 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. The cluster is about 14 million years old. It is the westernmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 884. NGC 869 and 884 are often designated h and χ Persei, respectively. | 20 |
| Big Dipper | Asterism | Ursa Major | The Big Dipper is an asterism in the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear). One of the most familiar star shapes in the northern sky, it is a useful navigation tool. | 21 |
| Alcor & Mizar | Double Star | Ursa Major | Mizar and Alcor are two stars forming a naked eye double in the handle of the Big Dipper asterism in the constellation of Ursa Major. Mizar is the second star from the end of the Big Dipper's handle, and Alcor its fainter companion. | 22 |
| Polaris | Star | Ursa Minor | Polaris is a star in the northern circumpolar constellation of Ursa Minor. It is designated α Ursae Minoris and is commonly called the North Star or Pole Star. With an apparent magnitude that fluctuates around 1.98, it is the brightest star in the constellation and is readily visible to the naked eye at night. | 23 |
| Little Dipper | Asterism | Ursa Minor | Ursa Minor, also known as the Little Bear, is a constellation in the Northern Sky. As with the Great Bear, the tail of the Little Bear may also be seen as the handle of a ladle, hence the North American name, Little Dipper: seven stars with four in its bowl like its partner the Big Dipper. | 24 |
| Jupiter | Planet | Aries | Jupiter is positioned between the Head is Cetus, Aries, Taurus. Rising around midnight, well placed for observing in the east well after the sky at 2:00 am. there will be a number of Transits observable this week. | 25 |
| Vulpecula | Constellation | Vulpecula | Vulpecula is a faint constellation in the northern sky. Its name is Latin for "little fox", although it is commonly known simply as the fox. It was identified in the seventeenth century, and is located in the middle of the Summer Triangle | 26 |
| Saturn | Planet | Aquarius | Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius of about nine and a half times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth; however, with its larger volume, Saturn is over 95 times more massive. See our listing regarding the Planets of MKSP. | 27 |
| Pleiades | Open Cluster | Taurus | The Pleiades, also known as The Seven Sisters, Messier 45 and other names by different cultures, is an asterism and an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars in the north-west of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of about 444 light years, it is among the nearest star clusters to Earth. | 28 |
| Hyades | Open Cluster | Taurus | The Hyades is the nearest open cluster and one of the best-studied star clusters. Located about 153 light-years away from the Sun, it consists of a roughly spherical group of hundreds of stars sharing the same age, place of origin, chemical characteristics, and motion through space | 29 |
| Milky Way | Galaxy | The Milky Way is the galaxy that includes our Solar System, with the name describing the galaxy's appearance from Earth: a hazy band of light seen in the night sky formed from stars that cannot be individually distinguished by the naked eye. | 30 | |
| Serpens Caput | Constellation | Serpens | Serpens is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union. | 31 |
| Serpens Cauda | Constellation | Serpens | Serpens is a constellation in the northern celestial hemisphere. One of the 48 constellations listed by the 2nd-century astronomer Ptolemy, it remains one of the 88 modern constellations designated by the International Astronomical Union | 32 |
Bright Object List for Observation
Don't forget to download the form, as you may not have the internet while observing.
Target Audience Level: Anyone
Suggested Optical aid: Binoculars – all objects are magnitude 7.5 or brighter (Guide8) Pin requirements: Observe any 20 from the list using naked eye or binoculars. No telescopes allowed.
| Object | Type | Constellation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | Globular Cluster | Bootes | Many amateur astronomers consider it one of the finest northern globular clusters, following only Messier 13. M3 has an apparent magnitude of 6.2, making it a difficult naked eye target even with dark conditions with averted vision. However, with a moderate-sized telescope, the cluster can be seen as a cloudy smudge even in severely light-polluted skies, and can be further defined in darker conditions. It can be found by looking almost exactly halfway along the north-west line that would join Arcturus (α Boötis) to Cor Caroli (α Canum Venaticorum). Using a telescope with a 25 cm (9.8 in) aperture, the cluster has a bright core with a diameter of about 6 arcminutes and spans a total of double that. |
| M5 | Globular Cluster | Serpens Caput | M5 is, under extremely good conditions, just visible to the naked eye as a faint "star" 0.37 of a degree (22' (arcmin)) north-west of star 5 Serpentis. Binoculars and/or small telescopes resolve the object as non-stellar. |
| M13 | Globular Cluster | Hercules | About one third of the way from Vega to Arcturus, four bright stars in Herculēs form the Keystone asterism, the broad torso of the hero. M13 can be seen in this asterism 2⁄3 of the way north (by west) from Zeta to Eta Herculis. Although only telescopes with great light-gathering capability fully resolve the stars of the cluster, M13 may be visible to the naked eye depending on circumstances. With a low-power telescope, Messier 13 looks like a comet or fuzzy patch. The cluster is visible throughout the year from latitudes greater than 36 degrees north, with the longest visibility during Northern Hemisphere spring and summer. It is located at right ascension 16h 41.7m, declination +36° 28'. With an apparent magnitude of 5.8, it is barely visible with the naked eye on clear nights. Its diameter is about 23 arcminutes and it is readily viewable in small telescopes.[10] Nearby is NGC 6207, a 12th-magnitude edge-on galaxy that lies 28 arcminutes directly northeast. A small galaxy, IC 4617, lies halfway between NGC 6207 and M13, north-northeast of the large globular cluster's center. In traditional binoculars, the Hercules Globular Cluster appears as a round patch of light. At least four inches of telescope aperture resolves stars in M13's outer extent as small pinpoints of light. However, only larger telescopes resolve stars further into the center of the cluster |
| M92 | Globular Cluster | Hercules | It is one of the brighter of its sort in apparent magnitude in the northern hemisphere and in its absolute magnitude in the galaxy, but it is often overlooked by amateur astronomers due to angular proximity to bright cluster Messier 13, about 20% closer. Though when compared to M13, M92 is only slightly less bright, but about 1/3 less extended. It is visible to the naked eye under very good viewing conditions. With a small telescope, M92 can be seen as a nebulous smudge even in a severely light-polluted sky, and can be further resolved in darker conditions. |
| M12 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | Roughly 3° northwest from the cluster M10 and 5.6° east southeast from star Lambda Ophiuchi, M12 is about 16,400 light-years (5,000 parsecs)[3] from Earth and has a spatial diameter of about 75 light-years. The brightest stars of M12 are of 12th magnitude. With a Shapley-Sawyer rating of IX, it is rather loosely packed for a globular and was once thought to be a tightly concentrated open cluster. Thirteen variable stars have been recorded in this cluster. M12 is approaching us at a velocity of 16 km/s |
| M10 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | Messier 10 can be found in Ophiuchus very close to another cluster, M12. To quickly find it, scan the area north of the Scorpion's tail from the constellation Scorpius. M10 sits near the center of Ophiuchus. |
| IC 4665 | Open Cluster | Ophiuchus | IC 4665 (Collinder 349 / Melotte 179) is an open cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Philippe Loys de Chéseaux in 1745. The cluster began to develop less than 40 million years ago, and lies about 1,400 light years away from Earth. It is easily visible in the smallest of telescopes and also with binoculars. From a sufficiently dark place it is also visible to the naked eye. It is one of the brightest clusters not to be cataloged by Charles Messier or William Herschel, probably because it is so loose and coarse. |
| M19 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | One of these objects is Messier 19, a globular star cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. Of all the known globular clusters, M19 appears to be one of the most oblate (i.e. flattest) in the night sky. Discovered by William Herschel, this cluster is relatively difficult to spot with the naked eye, and appears as a fuzzy point of light with the help of magnification. |
| M62 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | Messier 62 (M62, NGC 6266) is one of the most irregularly shaped globular clusters, as was first reported by Herschel. This deformation may be a result of the fact that M62 is one of the closest of Messier's globulars to the Galactic center (only about 6100 light years), so that it is deformed by tidal forces. Its central condensation is obviously displaced from the center, to the lower right in our image (SE). |
| M80 | Globular Cluster | Scorpius | This star cluster is, as to its angle from the solar system, midway between α Scorpii (Antares) and β Scorpii in a field in the Milky Way Galaxy that is rich in nebulæ. With low levels of light pollution it can be viewed below the 67th parallel north with modest amateur telescopes, appearing as a mottled ball of light. |
| M4 | Globular Cluster | Scorpius | M4 is conspicuous in even the smallest of telescopes as a fuzzy ball of light. It appears about the same size as the Moon in the sky. It is one of the easiest globular clusters to find, being located only 1.3 degrees west of the bright star Antares, with both objects being visible in a wide-field telescope. Modestly sized telescopes will begin to resolve individual stars, of which the brightest in M4 are of apparent magnitude 10.8. |
| NGC 6441 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | Is a globular cluster in the southern constellation of Scorpius. It was discovered by the Scottish astronomer James Dunlop on May 13, 1826, who described it as "a small, well-defined rather bright nebula, about 20″ in diameter". The cluster is located 5 arc minutes east-northeast of the star G Scorpii, This is one of the most massive and luminous globular clusters in the Milky Way, with an estimated 1.6 million solar masses of stars. It is located in the bulge of the galaxy at a distance of 13 kilolight-years (3.9 kpc) from the core, |
| M7 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | Messier 7 or M7, also designated NGC 6475 and sometimes known as the Ptolemy Cluster, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius. The cluster is easily detectable with the naked eye, close to the "stinger" of Scorpius. With a declination of −34.8°, it is the southernmost Messier object. |
| M6 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | The Butterfly Cluster (cataloged as Messier 6 or M6, and as NGC 6405) is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Scorpius. Its name derives from the vague resemblance of its shape to a butterfly. The Trumpler classification of II 3 r encodes it is rich in stars, ranks II out of IV for disparateness and greatly mixes bright with faint components. It is 3.5° to the northwest of Messier 7, both north of the tail of Scorpius |
| M55 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | Messier 55 (also known as M55 or NGC 6809) is a globular cluster in the south of the constellation Sagittarius. The cluster can be seen with 50 mm binoculars; resolving individual stars needs a medium-sized telescope. |
| M28 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | Messier 28 or M28, also known as NGC 6626, is a globular cluster of stars in the center-west of Sagittarius. In the sky it is less than a degree to the northwest of the 3rd magnitude star Kaus Borealis (Lambda Sgr). This cluster is faintly visible as a hazy patch with a pair of binoculars and can be readily found in a small telescope with an 8 cm (3.1 in) aperture, showing as a nebulous feature spanning 11.2 arcminutes. |
| M22 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | Messier 22 or M22, also known as NGC 6656, is an elliptical globular cluster of stars in the constellation Sagittarius, near the Galactic bulge region. It is one of the brightest globulars visible in the night sky. The brightest stars are 11th magnitude, with hundreds of stars bright enough to resolve with an 8" telescope. |
| M8 | Emission Nebula | Sagittarius | The Lagoon Nebula (catalogued as Messier 8 or M8, NGC 6523, Sharpless 25, RCW 146, and Gum 72) is a giant interstellar cloud in the constellation Sagittarius. It is classified as an emission nebula and as an H II region. Seen with binoculars, it appears as a distinct cloud-like patch with a definite core. Within the nebula is the open cluster NGC 6530. |
| M20 | Reflection Neb /Emission Nebula | Sagittarius | The Trifid Nebula (catalogued as Messier 20 or M20 and as NGC 6514) is an H II region in the north-west of Sagittarius in a star-forming region in the Milky Way's Scutum-Centaurus Arm. Its name means 'three-lobe'. The object is an unusual combination of an open cluster of stars, an emission nebula (the relatively dense, reddish-pink portion), a reflection nebula (the mainly NNE blue portion), and a dark nebula (the apparent 'gaps' in the former that cause the trifurcated appearance, also designated Barnard 85). Viewed through a small telescope, the Trifid Nebula is a bright and peculiar object, and is thus a perennial favorite of amateur astronomers |
| M18 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | Messier 18 or M18, also designated NGC 6613, is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Sagittarius. |
| M23 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | Messier 23, also known as NGC 6494, is an open cluster of stars in the northwest of the southern constellation of Sagittarius. |
| B92 | Dark Nebula | Sagittarius | dark area to the left of Messier 24 |
| M17 | Emission Nebula/ Open Cluster | Sagittarius | The Omega Nebula, also known as the Swan Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, Lobster Nebula, and the Horseshoe Nebula is an H II region in the constellation Sagittarius. |
| M2 | Globular Cluster | Aquarius | Messier 2 or M2 is a globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius, five degrees north of the star Beta Aquarii. |
| NGC 7293 | Planetary Nebula | Aquarius | The Helix Nebula (also known as NGC 7293 or Caldwell 63) is a planetary nebula (PN) located in the constellation Aquarius. |
| M11 | Open Cluster | Scutum | The Wild Duck Cluster (also known as NGC 6705) is an open cluster of stars in the constellation Scutum (the Shield). Its popular name derives from the brighter stars forming a triangle which could resemble a flying flock of ducks (or, from other angles, one swimming duck). The cluster is located just to the east of the Scutum Star Cloud midpoint.] |
| B1422/143 | Dark Nebula | Aquila | Barnard 92 is an interstellar dust cloud, contrasting nicely against the bright background of the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud, M24, of which it obscures parts. This dark spot has been nicknamed the Black Hole, long before this term was used to describe strongly gravitating objects - B92 is certainly not a Black Hole in the relativistic sense, but a dark nebula. |
| Col 399 | Open Cluster | Vulpecula | Brocchi's Cluster (also known as Collinder 399, Cr 399 or Al Sufi's Cluster) is a random grouping of stars located in the constellation Vulpecula near the border with Sagitta. The members of the star cluster form an asterism which has given rise to its name as the Coathanger. |
| M15 | Globular Cluster | Pegasus | Messier 15 or M15 (also designated NGC 7078) is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. At magnitude 6.2, M15 approaches naked eye visibility under good conditions and can be observed with binoculars or a small telescope, appearing as a fuzzy star. |
| M31 | Galaxy | Andromeda | Under most viewing conditions, the Andromeda Galaxy is one of the most distant objects that can be seen with the naked eye (M33 and M81 can be seen under very dark skies). The galaxy is commonly located in the sky in reference to the constellations Cassiopeia and Pegasus. |
| M33 | Galaxy | Andromeda | Triangulum Galaxy a spiral galaxy below Andromeda, that is reasonably bright and visible with a small telescope or Binoculars. The Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. It is one of the most distant permanent objects that can be viewed with the naked eye. |
| NGC 869 | Open Cluster | Perseus | NGC 869 (also known as h Persei) is an open cluster located 7460 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. The cluster is about 14 million years old. It is the westernmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 884. |
| NGC 884 | Open Cluster | Perseus | NGC 884 (also known as χ Persei) is an open cluster located 7640 light years away in the constellation of Perseus. It is the easternmost of the Double Cluster with NGC 869. N |
| NGC 457 | Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | NGC 457 (also designated Caldwell 13, and known as the Dragonfly Cluster, E.T. Cluster, Owl Cluster, Kachina Doll Cluster or Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster) is an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. |
| Galilean Moons | Natural satellites, Jupiter | Aries | Find Jupiter and then look for the Moons. Jupiter this MKSP is in the Constellation of Aries. |
| Saturn Rings | Planetary Feature | Aquarius | Find Saturn and then look for the Rings. Saturn this year is found in Aquarius. |
Intermediate Object List for Observation
Don't forget to download the form, as you may not have the internet while observing.
Valid Dates: Aug 12-20, 2023 Target Audience Level: Beginner & Intermediate Suggested Optical aid: Telescopes up to 12 inches Pin requirements: Find 20 from the list using telescopes to 12”. No ‘goto’ or setting circles allowed
| Object | Type | Constellation | Mag | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M102 | Galaxy | Draco | 10.8 | NGC 5866 (one of two galaxies commonly called the Spindle Galaxy) is a lenticular galaxy. |
| NGC 5907 | Galaxy | Draco | 11.1 | NGC 5907 (also known as Knife Edge Galaxy or Splinter Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy located approximately 50 million light years from Earth. NGC 5907 has long been considered a prototypical example of a warped spiral in relative isolation. The edge-on galaxy is seen in the constellation Draco, near the star iota Draconis. It is seen in the sky near to the much more distant galaxy NGC 5965. |
| IC 4593 | Planetary Nebula | Hercules | 10.9 | IC 4593 is a planetary nebula in the constellation Hercules . The bright center of IC 4593 has an angular extent of about 17 ", whereby this planetary nebula is still surrounded by a much weaker, but with 120", clearly larger halo. IC 4593 is a somewhat inconspicuous planetary nebula and not easy to find in the "no man's land" between Hercules, snake bearer and snake. The best thing to do is move your telescope roughly in the right direction and orientate yourself towards the very conspicuous, 7.65 mag bright double star GSC 0953-0844. IC 4593 is located 11 '10 "of this in a north-westerly direction. At 100x magnification in medium-sized telescopes around 10" |
| NGC 6207 | Galaxy | Hercules | 12.1 | NGC 6207 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hercules. It is located near the globular cluster Messier 13 |
| NGC 6791 | Open Cluster | Lyra | 9.5 | NGC 6791 is an open star cluster in the Lyra constellation |
| M57 | Planetary Nebula | Lyra | 9.7 | Ring Nebula |
| M107 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 7.9 | is a very loose globular cluster in a very mildly northern part of the sky in Ophiuchus |
| M9 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 7.7 | is a globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus. It is positioned in the southern part of the constellation to the southwest of Eta Ophiuchi, and lies atop a dark cloud of dust designated Barnard 64. |
| NGC 6356 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 8.3 | The star cluster is more dense and bright towards the middle. NGC 6356 is located 80' north east of the brighter NGC 6333 |
| NGC 6366 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 9.2 | NGC 6366 is a globular cluster located in the constellation Ophiuchus. Slightly over 3° North East of M14. |
| NGC 6416 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | 7.0 | Open cluster NGC 6416 in Scorpius offers small-telescope owners nice views, while large-telescope owners can seek out globular cluster NGC 6380 in Scorpius and spiral galaxy NGC 6384 in Ophiuchus. |
| NGC 6425 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | 7.0 | Open cluster near M6 |
| NGC 6818 | Planetary Nebula | Sagittarius | 9.9 | The Little Gem Nebula or NGC 6818 is a planetary nebula located in the constellation of Sagittarius. It has magnitude 10 and oval diameter of 15 to 22 arcseconds with a 15th magnitude central star. |
| NGC 6520 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | 7.6 | NGC 6520 is an open cluster in the constellation Sagittarius, superimposed upon the Large Sagittarius Star Cloud. It is magnitude 9.0, diameter 5 arc minutes and class G. It has about 25 stars of magnitude 9 to 12. The dark nebula Barnard 86 lies near its western edge. |
| NGC 6522 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 8.3 | NGC 6522 is a globular cluster in the constellation Sagittarius. It is apparent magnitude 8.3, and diameter 16.4 arc minutes, and class VI with stars 16th magnitude and dimmer. It was discovered by William Herschel on June 24, 1784. It is centered in a region of the sky known as Baade's Window |
| NGC 6624 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 7.9 | It is given an apparent magnitude of 7.6 to 8.5. NGC 6624 is visible as a hazy spot with a small telescope, and appears as a star-like object with binoculars. Its core appears significantly condensed.[1] It is located 0.8 degrees southeast of the star Delta Sagittarii,[5] and is about 1.17 kpc (3.8 kly) from the Galactic Center. |
| M26 | Open Cluster | Scutum | 8.0 | is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Scutum. |
| Gamma Delphini | Binary star | Delphinus | 5.0 | which is Latinized from γ Delphini, is a wide binary star system in the northern constellation of Delphinus. The star marks one corner of the asterism "Job's Coffin". The pair can be split with a modest amateur telescope and have been described as "one of the prettier pairs in the sky", with their contrasting colors said to be orange and lime in appearance.[11] Together, the system is visible to the naked eye with a combined apparent visual magnitude of 3.87. |
| M71 | Globular Cluster | Sagitta | 8.2 | Messier 71 (also known as M71 or NGC 6838) is a globular cluster. |
| M27 | Planetary Nebula | Vulpecula | 7.6 | The Dumbbell Nebula (also known as the Apple Core Nebula, Messier 27, and NGC 6853) is a planetary nebula (nebulosity surrounding a white dwarf) |
| NGC 6940 | Open Cluster | Vulpecula | 6.3 | NGC 6940 is an open cluster in the constellation Vulpecula. It is located a bit more than two degrees south-southeast of 41 Cygni and three and a half degrees southwest from 52 Cygni. The cluster is bright enough to be seen even with small binoculars, which can partially resolve it. NGC 6940 is included in the Herschel 400 Catalogue. |
| NGC 6960 | Super Nova Remnant | Cygnus | 7.0 | Western part of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus, It forms a Broom shaped arm of the nebula. |
| NGC 6992 | Super Nova Remnant | Cygnus | 7.0 | Brightest area of the Eastern part of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus. |
| NGC 6826 | Planetary Nebula | Cygnus | 9.8 | NGC 6826 (also known as Caldwell 15) is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It is commonly referred to as the "blinking planetary", although many other nebulae exhibit such "blinking". |
| IC 5070 | Super Nova Remnant | Cygnus | 8.0 | The Pelican Nebula (also known as IC 5070 and IC 5067) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula in the constellation Cygnus. The gaseous contortions of this emission nebula bear a resemblance to a pelican, giving rise to its name. The Pelican Nebula is located nearby first magnitude star Deneb, and is divided from its more prominent neighbour, the North America Nebula, |
| IC 5146 | Open Cluster | Cygnus | 7.2 | IC 5146 (also Caldwell 19, Sh 2-125, Barnard 168, and the Cocoon Nebula) is a reflection/emission nebula and Caldwell object in the constellation Cygnus. The NGC description refers to IC 5146 as a cluster of 9.5 mag stars involved in a bright and dark nebula. |
| M29 | Open Cluster | Cygnus | 6.6 | Messier 29 or M29, also known as NGC 6913, is a quite small, bright open cluster of stars just south of the central bright star Gamma Cygni of a northerly zone of the sky, Cygnus. |
| M30 | Globular Cluster | Capricornus | 7.2 | Messier 30 (also known as M30 or NGC 7099) is a globular cluster of stars in the southeast of the southern constellation of Capricornus, at about the declination of the sun when the latter is at December solstice. |
| Neptune | Planet | Pisces | 7.68 | In Pisces/Aquarius, this is a good time to observe Neptune, its below the eastern fish of Pisces. Near 20 Psc, |
| NGC 7009 | Planetary Nebula | Aquarius | 8.3 | The Saturn Nebula (also known as NGC 7009 or Caldwell 55) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Aquarius. It appears as a greenish-yellowish hue in a small amateur telescope. |
| M2 | Globular Cluster | Aquarius | 6.5 | Messier 2 or M2 (also designated NGC 7089) is a globular cluster in the constellation Aquarius, five degrees north of the star Beta Aquarii. |
| Uranus | Planet | Aries/Taurus | 5.78 | Midway between Jupiter and the Pleaides (M45) to the south of Delta Arietis. |
| M74 | Galaxy | Pisces | 9.8 | Messier 74 (also known as NGC 628 and Phantom Galaxy) is a large spiral galaxy in the equatorial constellation Pisces.[a] It is about 32 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy contains two clearly defined spiral arms and is therefore used as an archetypal example of a grand design spiral galaxy. The galaxy's low surface brightness makes it the most difficult Messier object for amateur astronomers to observe. Its relatively large angular (that is, apparent) size and the galaxy's face-on orientation make it an ideal object for professional astronomers who want to study spiral arm structure and spiral density waves. It is estimated that M74 hosts about 100 billion stars. Messier 74 is 1.5° east-northeast of Eta Piscium. This galaxy has the second-lowest Earth-surface brightness of any Messier object. (M101 has the lowest.) It requires a good night sky. This galaxy may be best viewed under low magnification; when highly magnified, the diffuse emission becomes more extended and appears too faint to be seen by many people. Additionally, M74 may be more easily seen when using averted vision when the eyes are fully dark adapted |
| M15 | Globular Cluster | Pegasus | 6.2 | Messier 15 or M15 (also designated NGC 7078) is a globular cluster in the constellation Pegasus. At magnitude 6.2, M15 approaches naked eye visibility under good conditions and can be observed with binoculars or a small telescope, appearing as a fuzzy star. Telescopes with a larger aperture (at least 6 in. (150 mm)) will start to reveal individual stars, the brightest of which are of magnitude +12.6. The cluster appears 18 arc minutes in size (three tenths of a degree across). M15 is around 4° WNW of the brightest star of Pegasus, Epsilon Pegasi |
| NGC 7331 | Galaxy | Pegasus | 10.3 | NGC 7331, also known as Caldwell 30, is an unbarred spiral galaxy about 40 million light-years (12 Mpc) away in the constellation Pegasus. NGC 7331 is the brightest galaxy in the field of a visual grouping known as the NGC 7331 Group of galaxies. In fact, the other members of the group, NGC 7335, 7336, 7337 and 7340, lie far in the background at distances of approximately 300-350 million light years. |
| NGC 7662 | Planetary Nebula | Andromeda | 8.3 | NGC 7662 is a planetary nebula located in the northern constellation Andromeda. It is known as the Blue Snowball Nebula, Snowball Nebula, and Caldwell 22. NGC 7662 is a popular planetary nebula for casual observers. A small telescope will reveal a star-like object with slight nebulosity. A 6" telescope with a magnification around 100x will reveal a slightly bluish disk, while telescopes with a primary mirror at least 16" in diameter may reveal slight color and brightness variations in the interior. |
| 4 Vesta/ Flora | Asteroid | Taurus | 8.1/8.5 | Vesta has moved on the best Asteroid to view is 8 Flora in the Constellation if Aquarius |
Challenge Object List for Observation
Don't forget to download the form, as you may not have the internet while observing.
Valid Dates: Aug 12-20, 2023 Suggested Optical aid: Telescopes with aperture at least 250 mm (10”)
Pin requirements: Find any 15 of the following. No ‘goto’ or setting circles allowed
| Object | Type | Constellation | Mag | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NGC 6364 | Galaxy | Hercules | 14.1 | NGC 6364 (also known as MCG 5-41-13 , PGC 60228 and UGC 10835 ) is a spiral galaxy about 316 million sg from Earth in the constellation Hercules | |
| IC 4617 * | Galaxy | Hercules | 16.0 | IC 4617 is a Seyfert 2 Galaxy in the constellation of Hercules. | |
| NGC 6207 | Galaxy | Hercules | 12.1 | Not far from and often in the same FOV as M13 | |
| PGC 60967 | Galaxy Sb | Hercules | 15.0 | Faint Galaxy on the boundary with Ophiuchus. PGC stands for the Principle Galaxy Catalogue | |
| Arp 103 | Galaxy x 3 | Hercules | 14.9 | Small cluster of three Galaxies | |
| UGC 9241 | Galaxy Sc | Bootes | 14.2 | a Starburst Galaxy in the constellation of Boötes. A Starburst Galaxy is a galaxy with an above average number of new stars, young stars are blue in colour whereas older stars are redder. | |
| UGC 9240 | Galaxy Irregular | Bootes | 13.3 | DDO 190 (or UGC 9240) is a dwarf irregular galaxy in the vicinity of the Milky Way, as it is relatively small and lacks clear structure. It is 9.10 million light-years (2.79 Mpc) away from Earth and lies out of the Local Group, determined by the tip of the red giant branch method. | |
| MRK 841 | Active Galactic Nuclei | Bootes | 14.0 | A type 1 Seyfert 1 Galaxy 15h04m01.2s +10d26m16s | |
| NGC 6791 | Open Cluster | Lyra | 9.5 | NGC 6791 is an open star cluster in the Lyra constellation. | |
| Pluto | Dwarf planet | Capricorn | 14.3 | Near M75 | |
| NGC 6822 | Galaxy | Sagittarius | 9.3 | NGC 6822 (also known as Barnard's Galaxy, IC 4895, or Caldwell 57) is a barred irregular galaxy approximately 1.6 million light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. Part of the Local Group of galaxies, it was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884, with a six-inch refractor telescope. It is the closest non-satellite galaxy to the Milky Way, but lies just outside its virial radius. | |
| Palomar 11 | Globular Cluster | Aquila | 9.8 | 19h:45m:14.4s -0.8d:00m:26s | -0.8d:00m:26s |
| IC 5146 | Emission Neb/ Reflection Neb | Cygnus | 7.2 | IC 5146 is a reflection/emission nebula and Caldwell object in the constellation Cygnus. The NGC description refers to IC 5146 as a cluster of 9.5 mag stars involved in a bright and dark nebula. The cluster is also known as Collinder 470. | |
| NGC 7317-20 | Galaxy | Pegasus | 14.6 | NGC 7317 is an elliptical galaxy that is a member of Stephan's Quintet in the constellation Pegasus. | |
| Jones 1 | Planetary Neb | Pegasus | 12.1 | Jones 1 - Planetary Nebula (PN G104.2-29.6) Discovered by Rebecca Jones in 1941, Jones 1 (PN G104.2-29.6) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Pegasus. Little is written about the nebula. A singular reference gives it a distance of about 2,300 light years from Earth. A small hydrogen cloud is visible to the left. | |
| NGC 7822 * | Emission Neb/ Reflection Neb | Cepheus | NGC 7822 is a young star forming complex in the constellation of Cepheus. The complex encompasses the emission region designated Sharpless 171, and the young cluster of stars named Berkeley 59. | ||
| IC 59 | Emission Neb/ Reflection Neb | Cassiopeia | 13.3 | IC 59 is a Reflection Nebula in the Cassiopeia constellation. IC 59 is situated close to the northern celestial pole | |
| NGC 609 | Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | 11.0 | not a well documented OC in Cassiopeia | |
| IC 1795 | Emission Neb | Cassiopeia | 7 | The Fishhead Nebula, is an emission nebula located approximately 6,000 light-years away in the constellation Cassiopeia . Close to the Perseus Double Cluster and the Heart Nebula in Earth's sky , this complex extends across the Perseus Arm of our Galaxy, the Milky Way, and is about 70 light-years across . It is quite easy to observe and is located in an environment very rich in stars with IC 1805 and IC 1848 as neighbors , as well as numerous open clusters | |
| Maffei 1 /2 | Galaxy E3 | Cassiopeia | 17.0 | Maffei 1 is a galaxy located in the constellation Cassiopeia and physically close to the Local Group , the group of galaxies of which our Milky Way is a part . It is part of the IC 342/Maffei group , a group of galaxies with similarities to the Local Group, being like the latter subdivided into two substructures each centered on a dominant galaxy. | |
| Abel 426 | Galaxy Cluster | Perseus | 13 | The Perseus Cluster ( Abell 426 ) is a cluster of galaxies located in the constellation Perseus approximately 250 million light years away. It is part of the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster . It has about 190 galaxies out of the approximately 1,000 galaxies in the Perseus-Pisces Supercluster. | |
| NGC 1432/35 | Reflection Neb | Taurus | 3.9/4.2 | this is the reflection nebula that is part of the Pleiades / M45, easily found in an photo, but a challenge to observe through the scope. | |
| IC 342 | Galaxy SBc | Camelopardalis | 9.1 | IC 342 , or Caldwell 5 10 , is an intermediate spiral galaxy viewed from the front and located in the constellation Giraffe about 11.4 million light-years from the Milky Way. |