CMAA Urban Messier Club

By Val Germann

The Urban Messier List: Late Winter + Early Spring

This is an excellent time (late winter) to start observing the Messier Objects since so many of the best ones are well placed for viewing at this time. In addition most of the objects are galactic star clusters and are easier to pick up than the galaxies and nebulae. Binoculars (7- to 10-power) are the best way to begin the Messier list, even from right in town. The key is to protect your eyes from the ambient light flowing into your observing position. In the late 1700s, William Herschel used a dark cloth over his head to shield his eyes from stray light, such light being the enemy of any "deep sky" observing. A dark blue or green towel serves this purpose well, and helps keep you warm! Finally, make a few notes and even drawings as you observe these objects. A binocular Messier certificate is well within reach of even the Urban Messier Observer!

Winter Group:

• M-31/32/110 - The main galaxy (M-31) stands out well under clear skies, in almost any binocular, even from in town. To see both satellite galaxies (nearby M-32 & M-110), more power is helpful, and the instrument should be mounted.
• M-34 - Bright cluster found about 1/3 of the way from Algol to Gamma Andromeda. Visible to the unaided vision in dark skies, it's easy in binoculars.
• M-35 - In Gemini, large and bright, halfway between Castor and Aldebaran. Stands out clearly even from inside the Milky Way, and in town.
• M-36 - Middle one of three Messier clusters (37 & 38 also) close together in Auriga, halfway from M-35 toward Capella. 10x50 binoculars show some stars.
• M-37 - Closest to M-35 and in many ways similar. The coarsest of the three Auriga clusters, it looks the best in binoculars. Bright and easy to see.
• M-38 - A large glow in binoculars, it shows a great many stars in a telescope. In 8-inch and larger instruments it's spectacular.
• M-45 - The Pleiades, in Taurus, a spectacular naked-eye cluster that looks like a "mini-dipper" to many viewers. Tremendous object in binoculars.
• M-41 - Straight south of Sirius a few degrees you'll find this very nice star cluster. One of the few "deep sky objects" known to the ancients.
• M-42/43 - Another spectacular object, south of Orion's Belt and very easy to find. Amazing in any binocular. Nearby M-43 requires a mounted instrument.
• M-46/47 - These two wonderful clusters are easy to find, about ten degrees east of Sirius and a little north. Walk your binoculars east slowly and you'll soon find them. M-47 will appear first, stars spangling. M-46 is a large glow.
• M-50 - About ten degrees north of Sirius, and a little east. Move north with your binoculars and then drift east and you'll find this rather bright cluster.

Finding these objects, a dozen of which are bright, will place you well on the way to your binocular Messier certificate from the AL, or even to a standard Messier certificate. We'll be looking for these M-objects over the next few weeks, both from Laws Observatory and Wildhaven, weather permitting. Come on out and observe with us, it'll be fun!

Early Spring Group:

• M-93 - Straight south of M-46 about ten degrees, this small but bright open cluster is easy in 7x50 binoculars. Beautiful area, too.
• M-48 - North of M-46 about ten degrees, and a few degrees east, this is a very fine open cluster visible to the unaided vision in dark skies.
• M-44 - The famous Bee Hive Cluster, in Cancer, a terrific binocular object visible even under murky conditions. Known to the ancients.
• M-67 - Seven degrees straight south (and a bit east) of M-44 is this striking open cluster, visible in almost any binocular.
• M-95/96/105 - About seven degrees east of Regulus are these three galaxies, tough objects for the Urban Messier Observer.

We've now moved into "The Realm of the Island Universes" and things have changed. Wait until Leo is on the meridian, almost straight up, and the moon is absent. Go to as dark a site as you can and either mount your binoculars or relax on the ground with your hand-held bino braced on against your forehead. Take your time sweeping to the east of Regulus. Be patient, they're not going to be large! In 7x50s, you won't see M-105 but you could well pick up M-65 and M-66 as small, fuzzy glows. As for the galaxy M-105, it's a "big bino" object around here.

• M-65/66 - Another seven degrees east, and a bit north, brings you to these two Leo galaxies. Use the same techniques here as you did for M-95/96 and you could well scoop these two up as well.
• M-81/82 - Draw a line from Gamma in the Big Dipper's bowl, up to Alpha, and then extend that line its own length again. Using our "galaxy technique" once again you will likely sweep up two fuzzy spots at the end of your line: M-81/82!
• M-51 - About three degrees SW of the end of the Dipper's Handle lurks this fine galaxy. Once again, steady hands and dark skies help here. In 10x50s, though, The Whirlpool should be quite visible. It's a "double galaxy" in a telescope.
• M-63 - The fairly bright star about 15 degrees south of the Dipper's Handle is Cor Coroli, Alpha Canes Venaticorium. It's a very nice double in a telescope and the key to a neglected Messier Object, M-63. This fine galaxy is about five degrees NW of Cor Coroli and with good technique a 7x50 should bring it into view. It's quite bright in medium-sized telescopes.
• M-3 - This famous globular is about a third of the way from Arcturus, in Bootes, to Cor Coroli. It should be an easy pick up in a 50mm binocular.

Very good! At this point you likely have about two-dozen objects bagged, and you're already halfway to fifty, and to your AL Binocular Messier Certificate!

[End -- Winter + Early Spring Group]

Here's the first chart for the Winter Group, Gamma Andromeda at the upper-center. From The Tirion Bright Star Atlas 2000. The Pleiades are at the far left, M-74 at bottom-center, if you want to take a shot at that! Near the center is M-33, which is possible from a really dark site. M-31 and M-34 are checked at upper-right and upper-left. This part of the sky is in the northwest as it gets dark now!

Chart "B" has Castor and Pollux, in Gemini, at left. M-35 is just right of center and M-36, 37 & 38 are at the upper-right of the chart. M-1 in Taurus is at lower-right, if you're feeling adventurous. Also, The Eskimo Nebula, NGC-2392, is at the lower- left, near Delta Geminorum, where both Pluto and Uranus were found! That's a Big Bino object, at best.

This chart is of Orion, with M-42/43 at lower-center and M-78 above the belt, with a checkmark. By the way, the star group at top-center, around Lamda Orionis, is part of the "SubCanis Club"!

This chart is Canis Major and surrounding areas. M-41 is just below Sirius and M-46/47 are out there to the east a ways, with a checkmark. Near the top - center is M-50, also with a checkmark. This area is well-placed by 8:30 p.m. or so.

This is the last of the "winter" charts and shows parts of Puppis, Monoceros, Phyxis and Hydra. The head of Hydra is at upper left and M-48 is in the middle of the chart (left-to-right) about 2/3 of the way from bottom-to-top. Just to the right of the name "PUPPIS" is M-93, a nice cluster.

We're moving over into the "spring" sky now and in this small chart Pollux is at upper-right. Near the center is the BeeHive, Messier-44. It's a great binocular object. Below and slightly left is M-67, another nice cluster. Note the ecliptic passing through from left-to-right. The moon can sometimes occult M-44's stars, and planets from time to time pass through.

The star here is Leo the Lion and at center and left-center are the two galaxy groupings found in that constellation. Acquiring these in 50mm binos is something to be proud of!

This chart gets into the "deep sky" in a deep way, at least for binocular users. At top-center is M-51, which is not too tough with good technique. Ranging down and to the right you'll find Cor Coroli, and on the way you'll see M-63, a nice galaxy, if small.
Sweeping down toward Arcturus will take you over M-3, which shows up well in almost any glass. Near the center is the Coma Cluster, a spray of stars mixed with galaxies. Try for NGC-4565, it's do-able!

Here's the Big Dipper, un-bear-ably chocked with Messier Objects. We've already seen M-51, and M-81/82 are just off the chart, along a line drawn from lower-left to upper-right in the Bowl, and continued its own length.
Along the bottom of the Bowl are located M-97, M-108 & M-109, very, very tough in 50mm binoculars.
Now, above the end of the handle is M-101, which can be seen in 7-power binoculars if it's really dark and with good "galaxy tech". It's very large but very faint. Try it sometime!
At the bottom-left of this chart is Cor Coroli again, and M-63.
Also plotted, up and to the right from there, are M-94 and the galaxy M-106, tough objects both. But they might be possible.