Incomplete! IAS Novice/Urban Observing List for February 2014

These darn double and triple stars are a real challenge. With my new 6mm eyepiece, I think my Meade 285 refractor has the chops for a lot of them - I just haven't been taking my scope out in the snow and dog poop mine field. I was able to photograph the open clusters. M50 was a new one for me, and I got to re-visit M35 and M41. Messier object 41 was actually my first open cluster I ever photographed about a year ago, so it was nice to see how far I've come with equipment and techniques to make my images much prettier.

• M35, open cluster in Gemini ✔
• Beta Monocerotis, William Herschel’s “Wonder Star”, triple star in Monoceros
• M41, open cluster in Canis Major ✔
• 12 Lyncis, triple star in Lynx
• Jupiter, planet currently in Gemini ✔ (no corresponding blog post)
• M50, open cluster in Monoceros ✔
• NGC 2392, the “Eskimo Nebula” (Caldwell 39), planetary nebula in Gemini
• Castor (Alpha Geminorum), double star in Gemini
• Mare Tranquillitatis, first quarter Moon
• Oceanus Procellarium, third quarter Moon ✔ (no corresponding blog post)
• Challenge Object: Sirius, double star in Canis Major

February 2014 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 January list included some very popular targets, a great incentive to get outside on some very VERY cold nights.

February looks like a good mix of objects, including the planet Jupiter, a few Messier clusters, lunar landmarks, and things I've never heard of before. We'll see how the weather holds. I've already missed the waxing quarter moon, and this month will be over before you know it!

M35, open cluster in Gemini, 06h 05.9m, +24° 20', mag = 5.1, size = 28.0'

Beta Monocerotis, William Herschel’s “Wonder Star”, triple star in Monoceros, 06h 28.8m, -07° 02', mag = 4.6, 5.0, 5.3, sep = 3”, 7”

M41, open cluster in Canis Major, 06h 46.1m, -20° 46', mag = 4.5, size = 38.0'

12 Lyncis, triple star in Lynx, 06h 46.2m, +59° 27', mag = 5.4, 6.0, 7.1, sep = 1.7”, 9”

Jupiter, planet currently in Gemini, 06h 57m, +22d 58’, mag = -2.7, size = 46”

M50, open cluster in Monoceros, 07h 03.2m, -08° 20', mag = 5.9, size = 16.0'

NGC 2392, the “Eskimo Nebula” (Caldwell 39), planetary nebula in Gemini, 07h 29.2m, +20° 55', mag = 9.2, size = 47" x 43". Note the bright central star.

Castor (Alpha Geminorum), double star in Gemini, 07h 34.6m, +31° 53', mag = 1.9, 2.9, sep = 2.2". (Castor and Pollux in Gemini are easy to confuse. Note that Castor is closer to Capella, while Pollux is closer to Procyon!)

Mare Tranquillitatis, first quarter Moon

Oceanus Procellarium, third quarter Moon

Challenge Object:
Sirius, double star in Canis Major, 06h 45’, -16° 43’, mag = -1.5, 8.5, sep = 7”