Observer's Challenge

The purpose of the observer's challenge is to encourage the pursuit of visual observing. It is open to everyone that is interested, and if you are able to contribute notes, drawings, or photographs, we will be happy to include them in our monthly summary. Observing is not only a pleasure, but an art. With the main focus of amateur astronomy currently being astrophotography, people tend to forget how it was in the days before digital cameras, clock drives, and goto. Observing not only satisfied an innate curiosity, but it allowed the first astronomers to discover the beauty and the wonderment of the night sky.

Before photography, all observations depended on what the astronomer saw in the eyepiece, and how they recorded their observations. This was done through notes and drawings, and that is the tradition we are stressing in the Observer's Challenge. By combining our visual observations with our drawings, and sometimes, astrophotography (from those with the equipment and talent to do so), we get a unique understanding of what it is to look through an eyepiece, and to see what is really there. The hope is that you will read through these notes and become inspired to take more time at the eyepiece, studying each object, and looking for those subtle details that you might never have noticed before. Each new discovery increases one's appreciation of the skies above us. It is our firm belief that careful observing can improve your visual acuity to a much higher level that just might allow you to add inches to your telescope. Please consider this at your next observing session, as you learn to make details jump out. It is also a thrill to point out details a new observer wouldn't even know to look for in that very faint galaxy, star cluster, nebula, or planet.

If you would like to contribute material for our month report, submit your observing notes, sketches, and/or images to either This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Clear skies and happy hunting - the Observer's Challange Editors.

Note: From May 2012 forward, the Challenge Reports are accessed through the links in the list immediately below. Just click on the link to see the report.

Loading of the documents may take a few moments - please be patient!

2013 Observer's Challenge List

for additional information on these objects, Click Here

Month	Object	Contellation	Description
January	NGC 1579	Perseus	Diffuse Nebula - "The Northern Trifid"
February	Mellotte 71	Puppis	Open Cluster in Puppis
March	M46/NGC 2438	Puppis	Open Cluster and Planetary Nebula
April	NGC 2672/2673	Cancer	Galaxy Pair
May	Gamma Virgo	Virgo	Double Star - Porrima
June	NGC 5466	Bootes	Globular Cluster
July	NGC 5981/5982/5985	Draco	Galaxy Trio
August	NGC 6791	Lyra	Open Cluster
September	NGC 7044	Cygnus	Open Cluster
October	IC 5146	Cygnus	Cocoon Nebula
November	IC 1747	Cassiopeia	Planetary Nebula
December	NGC 40	Cepheus	Planetary Nebula

2012 Observer's Challenge List

Month	Object	Description
January	NGC 1502	Open Cluster in Camelopardalis
February	Theta 1 Orionis	Multiple Star (Trapezium) in Orion
March	NGC 2362	Open Cluster (Tau Canis Majoris Cluster)
April	NGC 3115	Galaxy in Sextans (Spindle Galaxy)
May	M64	Galaxy in Coma Berenices (Black Eye Galaxy)
June	NGC 5353	Galaxy Group in Canes Venatici
July	M17	Emission Nebula in Sagittarius (Swan Nebula)
August	M22	Globular Cluster in Sagittarius
September	NGC 6826	Planetary Nebula in Cygnus (Blinking Planetary)
October	NGC 7023	Cluster + LBN 487 Nebula in Cepheus
November	NGC 55	Galaxy in Sculptor Group
December	NGC 457	Open Cluster in Cassiopeia (Owl or ET Cluster)

July - NGC 6645 - The Ringlet Cluster - Open Cluster in Sagittarius

Rogers_NGC-6645

NGC 6645 is a mag. 8.5 open cluster buried in the rich Milky Way of Sagittarius. The actual cluster consists of about 35 stars and by most accounts, appears as a ring with a hollow center. The magnitudes of the individual stars vary providing an interesting view that with a little study, can give the observer quite a challenge to draw accurately if one were going for specific details. Details and history on this object are sketchy but it is nevertheless and real gem to seek out in the night sky. It is called the Ringlet Cluster because of a distinct ring shape, named by Roger Ivester in August, 2011 and approved by Fred Rayworth and Rob Lambert as part of the Observer’s Challenge.

June - M102 (NGC 5866)

Jims_M-102

M102 by Jim Gianoulakis

Our M102 is not the duplicate of M101 that is common to the original Messier catalog. Many common references list M101 and M102 as the same galaxy but in this case, it is NGC 5866, which many consider a better candidate for M102. It makes for a more complete list even if it isn’t necessarily historically accurate. Any controversy aside, this M102 is an excellent subject. NGC 5866 was discovered by either Pierre Méchain or Charles Messier in 1781. It is one of two galaxies called the Spindle Galaxy (the other one is NGC 3115 in Sextans).

NGC 5866 has an extended dust lane which can be seen edge-on. This is highly unusual for a lenticular galaxy. Lenticular galaxies are galaxies that are somewhere between being elliptical or spiral galaxies. They have used up or lost most of their interstellar matter and have very little ongoing star formation. There may, however, be significant dust within their disks. This type of galaxy may be hard to distinguish from an elliptical galaxy.

In the case of NGC 5866, it is possible that it is really a spiral galaxy misidentified as lenticular because of its acute edge-on angle to the Earth. In this case, the dust lane would not be that unusual.

NGC 5866 is one of the brightest of a small galaxy group that includes spiral galaxies NGC 5879 and NGC 5907. This group may be a sub-clump of the M51 and M101 group, although some think these three groups are separate.

The challenge for the smaller scopes is to see the smudge of the galaxy. For the larger scopes, it is to see the dark lane and more details surrounding it.

May - M97 (NGC 3587) - Owl Nebula

James Dires M-097 M97 by Dr. Jim Dire

The Owl Nebula, known by the New General Catalogue number as NGC-3587 is also known by the more popular designation as Messier or M97. A planetary nebula in the constellation of Ursa Major, it was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781.

The Owl gets its’ name because of the two dark areas within it that resemble two eyes. Apparently, it reminded the astronomer that named it of an owl’s face. These dark areas are quite subtle and present the observer with the main challenge. The central star has been listed under various magnitudes but the general consensus seems to be around mag. 16, which takes it out of the range of most backyard telescopes except maybe the largest. The reason for that is not only the limiting magnitude of the telescope. The illumination of the nebula tends to block out the tiny feeble dot of the star except on exceptional evenings at extremely high power.

The nebula formed approximately 6,000 years ago and shines at a dim and ghostly mag. 9.9, so it is not exactly a showpiece in the sky. However, it is still within reach of even a 60mm (2.4”) refractor, though the eyes will not be visible.

The challenge for smaller scopes is just to see it. For the larger scopes, it is to see the eyes. Some observers will be able to see just one eye, while others will be able to see both and maybe some mottling and other details within the nebulosity. The Owl is one of the dimmer of the Messier objects. It can provide quite a challenge for the observer to eke out all of its secrets.

April - NGC 3190 - Galaxy Cluster (Hickson44) in Leo

Jims NGC-3190 NGC 3190 and Hickson 44 by Jim Gianoulakis

NGC-3190 is the primary component of galaxy cluster Hickson 44, a group that also includes NGC- 3193, NGC-3187 and NGC-3185. Located in the constellation of Leo, William Herschel discovered NGC-3190, a tightly wound spiral galaxy, in 1784. It contains two super novae. One was discovered in March 2002 and the other two months later. This galaxy, the largest in apparent size of the group, shines at a dim mag. 12.1.

NGC-3193, a rather featureless elliptical ball, shines at mag. 11.8. NGC-3187, the faintest of the group at mag. 13.4, is a fascinating barred spiral with its edges pulling off in trails. The final object, NGC-3185 is a barred spiral with an outer ring that shines at mag. 13.0.

This group of galaxies is thought to be gravitationally related. They should all fit in the field of a wide-field eyepiece. The challenge is not only to see them all, but to see them with the smallest scope possible and to see as many details as possible. For the smaller scopes, the challenge may be to see all four of them while for the larger scopes, it may be to see details such as the trailing tails off the edges of NGC-3187.

March 2011 - NGC 2419 - The Intergalactic Wanderer

Globular cluster NGC 2419, also designated as Caldwell 25 (among others) is known as the “Intergalactic Wanderer.” It was named so because at one time it was thought not to be in orbit around our Milky Way galaxy. It is now considered to be a part of the Milky Way, though it is quite a ways from us and is very dim in comparison to many of the other Milky Way globulars we are aware of.

NGC 2419 was discovered by William Herschel on December 31, 1788. It is approximately 300,000 light years from us and about that same distance from the galactic center. It shines at an overall magnitude of 10.4, though it can still be a challenge for small scopes unless seeing conditions are good. Spotting details can be even more challenging, though not impossible.

The real challenge lies in seeing details, shapes and patterns in the stars. Of course, the larger the scope, the more likely it will be to see something. However, even a small scope may spot something unusual. Don’t be afraid to check it out!

More Articles...