Complete! IAS Novice/Urban Observing List for November 2013

At first my plan of attack this month was to photograph Andromeda again, because M110 and M32 would be included in the shots and I'd knock out 3 in one swoop. Since I just made a huge effort (534 subs) on Andromeda in September, I was putting it off and putting it off - and then we had a streak of clouds for 10 days or so and I never got around to it. I did take a handful of photos that I was planning to add into my stack, but the amount of effort to process all of it over again for marginal improvements was unappealing. Maybe if I get a new camera for Christmas I'll make another solid push.

Next up, I revisited some old friends in Cassiopeia and had no trouble locating a few in the same night. I caught Comet ISON in early November well before its confusing trip around the sun, and rounded out the month with some lunar geography and my best image of Uranus to date.

The lunar targets were add-ons for me because my gear has a separation limit of about 14" (arcseconds) but I'm glad I was able to get the minimum 6 targets without relying on the somewhat easier lunar locations.

• Venus, planet in south-western sky after sunset. What is the phase of Venus? ✔ Crescent
• Uranus, planet currently in Pisces ✔
• M32, satellite galaxy to M31 (photographed not processed)
• M31, the “Andromeda Galaxy” (photographed not processed)
• Eta Cassiopeiae, double star in Cassiopeia
• Psi 1 Piscium, double star in Pisces
• NGC 457, the “E.T.” Cluster, open cluster in Cassiopeia ✔
• NGC 663, open cluster in Cassiopeia ✔
• Gamma Arietis (”Mesartim”), double star in Aries
• NGC 752, open cluster in Andromeda ✔
• Challenge Object #1: M110, satellite galaxy to M31 (photographed not processed)
• Challenge Object #2: Comet ISON ✔
• Moon, Mare Humboldtianum ✔
• Moon, Riccioli (crater) ✔

November 2013 Indiana Astronomical Society Novice/Urban Observing List

Phil Dimpelfeld from the Indiana Astronomical Society creates a Novice/Urban Observing List each month for newbies like myself with not-so-dark skies and not-so-powerful equipment. The October 2013 list had some very close double stars, but I was still able to observe and document 6 of the 11 objects, including the challenge object!

November looks like a lot of fun, but doesn't include the typical two lunar items. Considering my equipment limitations, Phil suggested Mare Humboldtianum and Riccioli (crater) as optional additional lunar targets. Comet ISON (C/2012 S1) is also on the list! Oooh baby here it comes!

Venus, planet in south-western sky after sunset, mag = -4.2, size = 23”. What is the phase of Venus?

Uranus, planet currently in Pisces, 00h 36m, +03° 03’, mag = 5.7, size = 4”

M32, satellite galaxy to M31, 00h 42.7m, +40° 52', mag = 9.0, size = 8’ x 6’

M31, the “Andromeda Galaxy”, 00h 42.7m, +41° 16', mag = 4.4, size = 180' x 63'

Eta Cassiopeiae, double star in Cassiopeia, 00h 49.1m, +57° 49', mag = 3.4, 7.5, sep = 12”

Psi 1 Piscium, double star in Pisces, 01h 05.6m, +21° 28', mag = 5.6, 5.8, sep = 30"

NGC 457, the “E.T.” Cluster, open cluster in Cassiopeia, 01h 19.1m, +58° 20', mag = 6.4, size = 13.0'

NGC 663, open cluster in Cassiopeia, 01h 46.0m, +61° 15', mag = 7.1, size = 16.0'

Gamma Arietis (”Mesartim”), double star in Aries, 01h 53.5m, +19° 18', mag = 4.8, 4.8, sep = 7.8”

NGC 752, open cluster in Andromeda, 01h 57.8m, +37° 41', mag = 5.7, size = 50.0'

Challenge Object #1:
M110, satellite galaxy to M31, 00h 40.4m, +41° 41’, mag = 10.0, size = 17' X 10'

Note that the surface brightness of M110 is much fainter than M32, although theses two satellite galaxies have the same magnitude. Tip: study the photographs of M31 to locate M32 and M110 relative to the core of M31. It will be easier to find M110 if you know the general area to look in. Moving the scope makes it easier for your eye to pick up this faint object.

Challenge Object #2:
Comet ISON, eastern sky before dawn, check star charts for position (in Leo for October)