Melotte 101 in a 14-inch at 73x and 147x on my birthday in 2016:
Very large beautiful cluster, centered 12' E of a mag 5.5 star. Roughly 120-150 stars resolved, depending on the assumed size....
When in Aruba for the 1998 solar eclipse, I observed the southern sky with 11x80 binoculars. IC-2602 was a very bright open cluster, almost an asterism. Mel 101 with patience, I could see a glow...
The first time I saw (and sketched) the Southern Pleiades was in 2022 with a 12" dobson and 31T5 Nagler. It was a nice view, but I knew I had to revisit it with a big bino for the best possible view....
Often spotted naked eye and with binoculars from Chile bit never studied in detail. I'll put it and the other objects on my TODO list for next time I'm down there.
Designations: Southern Pleiades, IC 2602, Collinder 229, Melotte 102, vdB-Ha 103, Theta Car cluster and ESO 92-18
Constellation: Carina
Type: Open star clusters (or a young globular cluster?)
RA,...
This observation of NGC 4536 with my 24" was made at my local observing site on a better than average night (SQM-L = 21.5):
Bright, very large, very elongated at least 3:1 NW-SE with two long...
I can contribute a 16" drawing of NGC 4536 from 2009 (196x, 23' field). I didn't find the spiral structure to be difficult in the 16" scope. I'm sure it can be seen with smaller apertures as well....
Hi all,
5 Editions for the Texas Star Party were added to the Clear Skies Observing Guides collection:
Texas Star Party 2025 - Regular Observing Program
Texas Star Party 2025 - Advanced...
Hey all deep sky hounds!
I just received my copies of the 3-volume set personally sent to me by Larry Mitchell. Outstanding set of books! Great for observers of all levels.
If you don't know...
My two observations were made 39 years ago with an early 13.1" Coulter Odyssey (blue sonotube). The planetary itself was unremarkable (guesstimated at mag 14.5-15.0), but the location 20' S of NGC...
These large open clusters truly shine in a small telescope and a wide field. I particularly like M 48 because there is a more or less heart shaped star chain around the denser central part. It is...
