Observer's Corner for January 2018
By Professor Hal Jandorf
MORE GALACTIC STAR CLUSTERS in the SOUTHERN SKY:
Melotte 15, the central star cluster in the Heart Nebula, located an estimated 7,500 light-years away.
Background Courtesy of J-P METSAVAINIO,
As the night sky in January faces away from the galactic center, amateur astronomers can concentrate on sparkling open star clusters.
The constellations of Canis Major and Puppis contain objects of interest.
A small telescope can spot these spectacular star clusters in a suburban sky even at low magnification:
M-41 Open Cluster in Canis Major, 5 degrees south of Sirius....easy to spot if you use binoculars. An orange giant star is located near the center of M-41.
Distance: 2500 Light Years RA 6h 44m Dec -21 degrees
Tau Canis Major. This open cluster is centered on the star Tau in Canis Major. It is a pretty, triangular group of stars for low magnifications.
Tau is located 2 degrees northeast of the bright star Wezen in Canis Major. 5200 Light Years distant. RA 7h 19m Dec -25 degrees
M-46 and M-47 Two open cluster in Puppis. M-46 is a fine cluster that has the stars compressed in a small area. It is fainter than M-47.
M-46 contains a Planetary Nebula (NGC 2438) located on the northern edge. Distant 5400 Light Years. RA 7h 39m Dec-15 degrees.
M47 is a coarse open cluster and has fewer stars but brighter than M-46. Distance 1500 Light Years RA 7h 34m Dec -14 degrees.
All photos by the author
Clear Skies!
--Hal Jandorf
Click on Picture to Expand
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