HOW TO FIND IT:
Scan the area just north of Gamma in Sagitta.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
This is the Dumbbell Nebula, and it has that appearance to many. I tend to see an hourglass. A few times, I have been able to sense just a hint of greenish color, but the nebula is usually white.
On lower powers, such as with a 4 1/4 inch reflector, I've seen a simple bar shaped nebula.
HOW TO FIND IT:
These two open clusters are in the constellation Scutum, which is has no distinctive pattern of stars. Just above the teapot in Sagittarius is Mu Sagittarii. Mu and Lamda Sagittarii, together with Alpha and Beta in Scutum, form a somewhat regularly spaced line of four stars.
Next, notice the triangle of stars formed by Alpha, Beta and Delta Scuti.
M11 is near Beta, at the apex of the triangle. M26 is near Delta.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Both clusters are rather condensed. At very low power, such as binoculars, M11 will look like a globular cluster. A small telescope will reveal it to be an open cluster.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Draw a line from Epsilon through Lambda and continue. M25 is about 6 degrees north of the teapot's lid in Sagittarius.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M24 is an open cluster with a somewhat oval shape. Look at it with the binoculars, then with a telescope look for another cluster in the heart of M24. This is NGC 6603 and it shows up as a dense concentration within M24. NGC 6603 shows up with a formation of a very small, tight knit “V.”
M25 contains a variable star. U Sagittarii varies in brightness over a 6 day, 18 hour period. It will take an experienced observer to discern this.
HOW TO FIND IT:
From easily located M24, look north.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Don't look for anything spectacular here. This open cluster has a little more than a dozen stars that are loosely packed.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Draw a line from Epsilon through Lambda and continue.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M24 is an open cluster with a somewhat oval shape. Look at it with the binoculars, then with a telescope look for another cluster in the heart of M24. This is NGC 6603 and it shows up as a dense concentration within M24. NGC 6603 shows up with a formation of a very small, tight knit “V.”
HOW TO FIND IT:
Scan in the area between Xi in Serpens Cauda and Mu Sagittarii.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M23 is thick with stars. When you find it, you will be looking at over 100 stars that fit into the apparent area of a full moon!
This cluster was observed long before Messier began his list. A. Ihle observed M22 in 1665, which would mean this is the first globular cluster that was known to astronomers.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Look between Xi and Lambda Sagittarii. On a very good, clear night, this spectacular globular cluster will be visible to the unaided eye.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
When looking for M22, the observer is looking for one of the best globular clusters. It has frequently been compared with M13 in Hercules.
Binoculars easily reveal the disk. Telescopes show a grainy, gritty area.
Look for strings of stars in the cluster.
Photo by Pittendreigh
HOW TO FIND IT:
Move 1 to 2 degrees north of M8 and you will come across another spectacular object.
You might think that you are able to see M20 with the unaided eye, but what you actually see are the many stars and clusters in that area.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Why M20 is called the Trifid Nebula will become obvious when you see it. It has three dark lanes intersecting in the middle of the nebula.
It may be a bit disappointing in a smaller telescope, such as a 4 inch. An 8 inch shows it quite well. You can, however, see the nebula in a pair of binoculars.
M21 is a bright, open cluster that is somewhat compact.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Move 1 to 2 degrees north of M8 and you will come across another spectacular object.
You might think that you are able to see M20 with the unaided eye, but what you actually see are the many stars and clusters in that area.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Why M20 is called the Trifid Nebula will become obvious when you see it. It has three dark lanes intersecting in the middle of the nebula.
It may be a bit disappointing in a smaller telescope, such as a 4 inch. An 8 inch shows it quite well. You can, however, see the nebula in a pair of binoculars.
M21 is a bright, open cluster that is somewhat compact.
HOW TO FIND IT:
M19 can be found half way between Epsilon Scorpio and Eta Ophiuchi.
There is a "V" shape grouping of stars pointing right to M19. These stars are made up of 45, 43, 36 and Theta Ophiuchi. Using this grouping to point to M19 will help you avoid confusing it with M62, another cluster found sweeping
the area from Epsilon Scorpio and Mu Ophiuchi. M62 is also closer to Scorpius.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M19 does not have the perfectly round shape that many globular clusters have. Here is another good globular for you to sketch.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Find M16 by looking for an open cluster that is north of the chain of objects that include M24, M18 and M17. Now look north of M18 and you will find M17.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Messier noted only a weak light among the stars of M18, but there is a spectacular nebula that shows up well in photographs. A nebula filter brings it well in view.
M17 is an excellent nebula. Messier saw in it a spindle. Some see a swan. I have seen it appear as a check, the letter "V" or a number "2". William Herschel saw the last letter of the Greek alphabet -- W -- giving M17 its nickname, the Omega Nebula.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Find M16 by looking for an open cluster that is north of the chain of objects that include M24, M18 and M17. Now look north of M18 and you will find M17.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Messier noted only a weak light among the stars of M18, but there is a spectacular nebula that shows up well in photographs. A nebula filter brings it well in view.
M17 is an excellent nebula. Messier saw in it a spindle. Some see a swan. I have seen it appear as a check, the letter "V" or a number "2". William Herschel saw the last letter of the Greek alphabet -- Omega -- giving M17 its nickname, the Omega Nebula.
Photo by Pittendreigh
HOW TO FIND IT:
Draw a line in Pegasus from Theta through Epsilon.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
This will be a bright and resolvable globular cluster. There is a planetary nebula in the cluster, but don't expect to be able to see it. I've never known anyone to observe it visually, even with rather large telescopes.
HOW TO FIND IT:
M14 is in a rather empty area of the sky. Look five degrees north of Mu Ophiuchi. M14 can be found by sweeping the area between Mu and Beta.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M14 seems more tightly packed than its neighbors, M10 and M12.
HOW TO FIND IT:
Locate the "keystone" group of four stars of Pi, Eta, Zeta, and Epsilon in Hercules.
Scan between Eta and Zeta. It will be easy. In fact, you ought to be able to see it with the unaided eye.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
If M13 is not the best globular cluster in Messier's list, let me know what is.
Look for a disk of light with a bright center. The observer should be able to resolve individual with a small telescope.
Study the nucleus. Photographs won't show this, because they overexpose the center in order to photograph the surrounding stars, but there are variations of brightness in the nucleus, reflecting some areas of the cluster's nucleus that are not as dense with stars. See if you can discern any lanes or star chains. You may be able to see up to three that cut across the nucleus.
While you're in the neighborhood, look half a degree northeast to find a small spiral galaxy, NGC 6207. You will not be able to see it with binoculars or a very small telescope.
HOW TO FIND IT:
These two open clusters are in the constellation Scutum, which is has no distinctive pattern of stars. Just above the teapot in Sagittarius is Mu Sagittarii. Mu and Lamda Sagittarii, together with Alpha and Beta in Scutum, form a somewhat regularly spaced line of four stars.
Next, notice the triangle of stars formed by Alpha, Beta and Delta Scuti.
M11 is near Beta, at the apex of the triangle. M26 is near Delta.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Both clusters are rather condensed. At very low power, such as binoculars, M11 will look like a globular cluster. A small telescope will reveal it to be an open cluster.
Photos by Pittendreigh
HOW TO FIND IT:
We lack good guide stars directing you to these twin globulars of M10 and M12. It may take some sweeping of the area with a pair of binoculars, but they are not very difficult to locate.
First, find the constellation Ophiuchus. Many beginners may not be acquainted with this constellation, but they probably be quite familiar with the teapot image of Sagittarius and the curving tail of Scorpius. Ophiuchus will be north of those readily recognizable constellations.
Use the head stars of Scorpius (Pi, Delta and Beta) to direct you to the area of M10 and M12. You should be able to see four stars in a row, irregularly spaced. These are Zeta, Upsilon, Epsilon and Delta. Continue beyond that to find the globular clusters.
Both M10 and M12 can be seen in the same binocular field of view.
Another way to locate the clusters is to find Epsilon Ophiuchi. Move your telescope ten degrees east of Epsilon, not quite all the way to the star 30 Ophiuchi. Then move northwest toward Lambda Ophiuchi to locate M12.
Whatever method you use, once you find one, the other globular will be easy.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Since the two clusters are so close, the observe should take time to sketch both and to compare the differences. M12 has the brighter core. Is there a difference is shape? Do you detect a graininess in one nebula better than the other?
HOW TO FIND IT:
We are moving toward Scorpius.
Find M9 by sweeping the area between Eta and Xi Ophiuchus. Or draw a line from Theta through Xi to come to M9.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M9 may have a slight oval shape for the observer.
HOW TO FIND IT:
We are moving toward Scorpius.
Find M9 by sweeping the area between Eta and Xi Ophiuchus. Or draw a line from Theta through Xi to come to M9.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M9 may have a slight oval shape for the observer.
Photo by Pittendreigh
HOW TO FIND IT:
With M8, we are going to be moving along a chain of nebulae and clusters.
On a clear, dark night, M8 should be visible with the unaided eye. It is a hazy patch in the cloud-like Milky Way.
Draw a line from Eta Scorpii through Lamda Scorpii, extending the line about twice that distance.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
The observer will find this object by looking for what will appear to look like a pair of nebulae. A dark lane cuts across this nebula, giving M8 its nickname as the Lagoon Nebula.
You will see an open cluster of stars (NGC 6530) in the same view.
M8 is one of the best nebulae in the heavens.
HOW TO FIND IT:
You should easily spot this hazy glow at the scorpion's tail. Scan between Lambda Scorpii and Gamma Sagittarii.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
M7 must be viewed with low power! Binoculars are great for this one.
A view of M7 covers twice the apparent size of a full moon.
HOW TO FIND IT:
M6 is an open cluster that can be spotted with the unaided eye.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
This is a rich area with several open clusters. M6 will appear as having two "wings" of stars emerging from the cluster's denser center. These "wings" give the cluster its nickname as the Butterfly Cluster.
Use low power!
HOW TO FIND IT:
M6 is an open cluster that can be spotted with the unaided eye.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
This is a rich area with several open clusters. M6 will appear as having two "wings" of stars emerging from the cluster's denser center. These "wings" give the cluster its nickname as the Butterfly Cluster.
Use low power!
REMARKS: Discovered by Gottfried Kirch in 1702. There are over 100 variable stars in this cluster with periods of about half a day.
DIFFICULTY RATING: 2
HOW TO FIND IT:
Scan between Alpha Serpens and Mu Virgo.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
This is a great globular cluster -- one of the finest! With over half a million stars, this one will be just barely visible to the unaided eye.
In binoculars or a telescope, you should see a disk with a bright center.
Photo by Pittendreigh
HOW TO FIND IT:
This one is easier to find with the wide field of a pair of binoculars than with the smaller field of view of a telescope. With binoculars, scan the area between Alpha Canum Venaticorum, also called Cor Caroli, and Arcturus.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
Some may regard this as the best example of a globular cluster in the northern skies.
M3 should look very round and bright, breaking up into dim individual stars on its edges.
Photo by Pittendreigh
Photo by Pittendreigh
WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
