Date:	Mon, 30 Oct 1995, 22:13:47 -0500 (EST)
From:	Tony Cecce, Corning, NY <[email protected]>
Subject:	November Messier Tour

Twelve Month Tour of the Messier Catalog

November Objects

This month we will search for seven more objects from the Messier Catalog.

These include four globular clusters, the largest and the smallest planetary

nebulas in the catalog, and a small oddity. Two of the objects are fairly

easy in binoculars, while four others will require dark skies, patience,

and keen eyes to find.

M57

This smallest planetary nebula in the Messier Catalog is the famous

Ring nebula in the constellation Lyra. Low power telescope views show a

very small blue/green disk, not much bigger than a star. Medium to high

power will magnify the size of the nebula while leaving the surrounding

stars the same size, confirming you have found it. Can be seen in

binoculars as a faint star like point of light.

M56

Also in the constellation of Lyra we find our first globular cluster

of the night. In a telescope look for a small round ball of light,

slightly brighter in the center. This is a difficult binocular object

appearing as a small fuzzy patch.

M27

Also known as the Dumbbell nebula, the largest planetary nebula in

the Messier Catalog, M27 lies in the constellation Vulpecula. Fairly

easy to see in binoculars as a small hazy patch. In small to medium

scopes it appears as a rectangular patch of light. In large scopes it

may even appear round in shape with a bright rectangular, or dumbbell

shaped core.

M71

Lying in Sagitta, this globular cluster appears as a faint oval hazy

patch of light in a telescope. This is a very difficult but possible

binocular object, requiring dark skies and trained eyes.

M30

This globular cluster in Capricornus is tough but very possible to

see in binoculars as a faint fuzzy star. Telescopes show a small fuzzy

ball of light, bright in the center fading to the edges.

M72

This is a small faint globular cluster in Aquarius. Look for a

faint oval patch of light, gradually brighter towards the middle. A very

difficult binocular object.

M73

This asterism is located near M72 in Aquarius. In a low power

telescope view it looks like a very small fuzzy patch of light at first

glance. When stared at it reveals itself as a small collection of stars.

Medium to high power shows the view best described by Messier “cluster of

three or four stars…containing very little nebulosity”.

Last Month

– M11, M16, M17, M18, M24, M25, M26, M55, M75

Next Month

– M2, M15, M29, M31, M32, M39, M52, M110

Revision 10/95, A.J. Cecce

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Twelve Month Tour Index –

November tour in Ascii

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Hartmut Frommert

([email protected]).

Christine Kronberg

([email protected])

Last Modification: 6 Apr 1998, 21:30 MEST