Deep Sky Summer/Autumn Observations September 2017

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

In September 2017, I did simple "deep-sky summer / autumn observations", which might be of interest to other beginners and are therefore described here. They took place in Sumène, Haute Loire, France, and were carried out with my 10 x 25 binoculars and my Sky-Watcher Heritage 100 Dobsonian telescope, that is, with simple means.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

I confined my observations to the sky area in the south with Hercules, Cygnus, Lyra on the one hand, and to the area between Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus on the other hand, as well as Pegasus in between, and Ursa Major in the North.

Overview Map

The following map shows approximately the sky area that I primarily browsed during my observations:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

And here is the section of the sky in the East with Cassiopeia, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus a.s.o.:

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations were done in September 2017, mostly after 9 p.m..

Observation Location

The observations took place in Sumène (close to Saint Julien-Chapteuil), Haute Loire (France):

Coordinates: 45° 2′ N, 4° 4′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 45.04° N, 4.06° E

Devices Used

I used my Leica Trinovid 10 x 25 BC binoculars (LT binoculars), which are by no means "night binoculars," and my Sky-Watcher Heritage 100 Dobsonian telescope. With the latter, I used my UWA eyepieces (16 mm, 7 mm, 4 mm) and a 24 mm Televue eyepiece for a maximum overview.

General Conditions

The sky above Sumène, Haute Loire (France) is relatively dark (the Betz observatory used by the Orion43 group is near-by). In part, the observations were done around new moon, later under increasing (and rising) moon. Initially, the milky way could be seen very well. Regrettably, we had only a few days with clear skies, and later the moon reappeared.

Observation Overview

Date 2017	Observed Objects	Details, Remarks	Further Observations and Remarks	Devices Used	Eyepieces Used
Sep 10 or 11	GC: M 13 (Hercules Cluster)		I was unable to find M 92 in Hercules.	LT binoculars
Sep 13	G: M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) GC: M 13	Access to M 31 via three brighter stars in Andromeda (the last and closest one is ny Andromeda)		LT binoculars
Sep 18	G: M 31			LT binoculars
Sep 20	G: M 31 P: Cr 399 (Coat Hanger)	Access to Cr 399 via Cygnus and Albireo (head)		Heritage 100P, LT binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 21	G: M 81/82 (Bode Galaxies) OC: NGC 457 (E.T./Owl Cluster), NGC 884/869 (Perseus Double Cluster), Mel 20 (Alpha Persei Cluster) GC: M 15 DS: Mizar as double star, Double Double		NGC 663 and M 103 not found; Double Double only seen as pair	Heritage 100P, LT binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 22	G: M 31 OC: NGC 457, NGC 884/869, Mel 20 DS: Double Double, Albireo P: Cr 399		NGC 663 and M 103 not found; Double Double only seen as pair	Heritage 100P, LT binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm
Sep 29	G: M 31 OC: NGC 884/869, Mel 20, perhaps NGC 457 P: Cr 399		Half moon, therefore the milky way was hard to see with the naked eyes; for the same reason, M 31 not as large and bright as the nights before	LT binoculars	UWA 4, 7, 16 mm, WA 24 mm

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, P = star pattern

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Bino*	100P	Remarks
M 13	Hercules Cluster	Hercules	GC	yes		prime object
epsilon Lyrae	Double Double	Lyra	DS		yes	seen as a pair only, not as "double pair"
Cr 399	Coat Hanger	Vulpecula	P	yes	yes	in binoculars, the shape is better to recognize than in the telescope
beta Cyg	Albireo	Cygnus	DS		yes	nice color difference; leads the way to the Coat Hanger Cr 399
M 15		Pegasus	GC		yes	smaller than M 13
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	G	yes	yes	in the North-East; seen as bright and large as never before, particularly with binoculars
NGC 884/869	Perseus Double Cluster	Perseus	OC	yes	yes	in the North-East, already visible to the naked eye
Mel 20	Alpha Persei Cluster (Mirfak)	Perseus	OC	yes	yes	beautiful, even with the naked eye
NGC 457	Owl/E.T. Cluster	Cassiopeia	OC		yes?	relatively small, the eyes stand out
M 81/82	Bode Galaxy/Cigar Galaxy	Ursa Major	G		yes	in Sumène, both galaxies were easily visible
zeta UMa	Mizar	Ursa Major	DS		yes	the pair was easy to see

*) 10 x 25 binoculars (LT = Leica Trinovid); G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, P = star pattern

Searched for, but not found: M 57, M 56, M 92, M 103, NGC 663

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2014). Deep Sky Reiseatlas, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2014
Ronald Stoyan (2014). Deep Sky Reiseführer, Oculum Verlag
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=2015
Erich Karkoschka (2016). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag
www.kosmos.de/buecher/ratgeber/astronomie/einsteiger/6598/atlas-fuer-himmelsbeobachter?number=15147