I had no idea what Stock 2 meant when I read it on the December observing list. When I looked for it on Stellarium it wasn't there, so I did a Google image search and found some observing sketches of a cluster near the Double Cluster. Following the arc of stars coming off of NGC 869 I started to see what was
described as a stick figure with arms up next to its head flexing. People see different things in the asterism, but since I enjoy weightlifting, I'm going to support the name "Muscleman Cluster" coined by John Davis (
as told by Phil Harrington).
Stock 2 sounded like a strange name at first. It's actually part of a
catalog of open clusters and Stock 2 is the second object out of 24 in that
catalog named after Jürgen Stock.
![Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXixHBjRLfgI7DeX0mhIlvBwN2ghnRYypS-guC-Und6wZo3Fg0nAZBmeIlInmoLNi7Lr4RCtU64Vo_g9Y6pAqx2AP4eNk_ukdx3iEr7ORudzL4Z5ehLj8XwXfAuePplR7Adwp4Ryk9Mzx_/s400/stock2+label.jpg) |
The Double Cluster with line of pointer stars makes Stock 2 relatively easy to find if you go looking for it. |
![Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMz_plxw0ojYIa8ei9oKkVY8k3PBsvLN_RHEB_3qu1aViU8CAeebuc0qhE3XfCFQV1DIyc7n-30IKKu5j-uORl7_-d0yoVeMDC9WaChzMLRvtbKxQgVKU5riurCf-ZDrPpWeRMV_wMau8S/s400/stock2+25x1-3.jpg) |
It's also called the Strong Man or Muscleman Cluster because it resembles a stick figure in the double bicep flex bodybuilding pose. |
![Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpEMp3BG95pYpn-U0FgqLP6qwA2XFJrRAqAqDoHfLQLfNf2ysvz1gvNLBRO-1sDnUNB52coWZhBUQCK9cobBBsJ8FQdJirOCc5JnmFwyIXs7FR5WqCRqa_Ick3GiU-MZEuouuqoIEJfvP/s400/stock2+stick+figure+label.jpg) |
Here is my interpretation of the Muscleman Cluster asterism, with a little trapezoid for the bodybuilder's banana hammock. |
![Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKMkvbchEFZ8dbsPQEjQzLxR0pihpHnlY6aIYJw4lm9s-Jgqbh5oTbvyoatA64RYfNZC5gopGayw_wYPx3K0LiTL39aEYLk-HHP5CGUKvKP6rXFUlpDzz0Sr57dnPYA98vJULD8Kiv8ci/s400/stock2+muscleman+label.jpg) |
An outline of the bodybuilder in the Muscleman Cluster. |
![Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia Stock 2 Open Cluster in Cassiopeia](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglw0Si274X-kBMfu974oUXArtauScyD0Mochjo8k7rkclglhnBN8ji5Ori_FznKqiu8Y1XyeLuoG9m3CEeq1qsZOZaKbKI0UNB3qYltp7tu27QwhVOJbqlbUuKgLyGQloiogf6_3Jr7RPT/s400/stock+2+star+chart+location.jpg) |
Stock 2 appears in my copy of Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas |
No comments:
Post a Comment