Clear Skies

visual astronomy

1-50

Discoveries 1 - 50

Suspected deep sky objects that are, to the best of my knowledge, unknown and undesignated. Most of these were stumbled upon on DSS images while compiling CSOG observing guides. A few asterisms, possibly open clusters and a single galaxy were seen during observing runs.

Before posting, I check multiple images (DSS, SDSS, DECaLS) to rule out artefacts. Once an object is determined to be real I check SIMBAD, NED, HyperLeda (for suspected galaxies), possible planetary nebulae, historical catalogs (for nebulae) and every available catalog in AstroPlanner.

The majority of these objects were reported on the Deep Sky Hunters group.

Whenever it is brought to my attention that an object that I suspected to be unknown / uncataloged / undesignated was indeed recognized before, I will remove it from my list and update the numbering accordingly.

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1

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:32:24.7 +62°06'25" - Cassiopeia

Suspected nature of object

Emission nebula or planetary nebula

Description

A small nebula, approximately 80"×60". Two lobed, surrounding the carbon star DS Cassiopeia. Most prominent to the east-southeast of the star.
Not unlike the - much larger - planetary nebula Sharpless 2-174 - the "Valentine Rose Nebula" in Cepheus.

Date, plate or visually

14 January 2010, plate

2

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:07:15 +60°52'54" - Cepheus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small, curved pattern of stars, elongated north-northeast to south-southwest, approximately 2.5'×1.5'. I dub this "the Little Fishhook".
3' South-southwest is the double star Burnham 180 (WDS23072+6050).

Date, plate or visually

31 October 2010, visually

3

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

05:52:25 -63°49'30" - Dorado

Suspected nature of object

Nebula? Galaxy?

Description

A small, irregular blob, approximately 30"×15". 10° North-northeast of the center of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Date, plate or visually

2 January 2012, plate

4

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:08:30 +62°27'38" - Camelopardalis

Suspected nature of object

Asterism - part of open cluster

Description

A detached part of the open cluster NGC1502, on the northeastern side, 8'×4'. When I observed this I first assumed it to be separate from the cluster, but this star pattern is a part of it. I dub this the "NGC1502 Stickman".

Date, plate or visually

16 March 2012, visually

5

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:05:00 +62°26'30" - Camelopardalis

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered, moderately detached group, 13'.
20' East-southeast is the open cluster NGC1502.

Date, plate or visually

16 March 2012, plate

6

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

18:16:24 -18°05'13" - Sagittarius

Nature of object

This was determined to be an open cluster in the Catalog of Newly Identified Star Clusters in GAIA DR2, FoF 935.

Description

A nice condensation of stars, 4', on the western edge of the dark nebula Barnard 93.
To the southwest is Barnard 92, 13' south-southeast is the open cluster Collinder 469.

Date, plate or visually

1 April 2012, plate

7

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

05:27:07.5 -75°21'00.5" - Mensa

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small condensation of stars, approximately 50"×35". 5.5° South of the center of the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Date, plate or visually

22 January 2013, plate

8

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

12:54:28 -09°33'40" - Virgo

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Surrounding the mag. 4.8 star Psi Virginis, approximately 5'. Most prominent to the southeast of the star.
Not unlike the nebulosity surrounding the star 86 Virginis (nr. 61), almost 13° to the east-southeast.
13' West is the galaxy NGC4770.

Date, plate or visually

10 February 2013, plate

I was able to confirm this nebula in a crude image on 14 April 2015.

DECaLS DR8

9

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

09:27:48 +12°26'00" - Leo

Suspected nature of object

Asterism

Description

A large scattering of stars I dub "the Churchbell", 35'.

Date, plate or visually

13 February 2013, plate

10

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

18:31:43 +04°25'50" - Serpens (Cauda)

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

An elongated group of stars, 5.5'×2.0' on the border of the constellations of Serpens (Cauda) and Ophiuchus.
5' West-southwest is the carbon star TY Ophiuchi.

Date, plate or visually

14 April, visually

11

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

21:26:54 +43°27'40" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group of stars, centrally poor and richer in the western part, approximately 8.5'. 90" West-southwest of the center is the mag. 8.2 star SAO50856.
14' South is the double star h1646 (WDS21273+4315).

Date, plate or visually

4 August 2013, visually

12

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:16:35 -24°36'11" - Canis Major

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula or dark nebula

Description

Elongated north-northeast to south-southwest, 4.0'×1.5'.
8' South-southeast is the galaxy PGC20564.

Date, plate or visually

14 September 2013, plate

13

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:17:15.2 -24°31'15" - Canis Major

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Extremely small and faint, 30"×20".

Date, plate or visually

14 September 2013, plate

14

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:17:02.7 -24°21'24" - Canis Major

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Extremely small and faint, 50"×35".

Date, plate or visually

14 september 2013, plate

15

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:18:10 -23°57'35" - Canis Major

Suspected nature of object

Planetary nebula or reflection nebula

Description

Extremely faint, curved shape, 7'.

Date, plate or visually

14 September 2013, plate

16

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:44:23 +23°35'05" - Vulpecula

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Surrounding the mag. 12.6 star 4UCAC568-094537, 45"×30", most prominent to the southeast of the star.

Date, plate or visually

15 September 2013, plate

17

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:45:01.3 +23°44'55" - Vulpecula

Suspected nature of object

Dark nebula

Description

Elongated north to south, 8.0'×0.5'.

Date, plate or visually

19 September 2013, plate

18

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:46:26.2 +23°51'20" - Vulpecula

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Elongated northeast to southwest, 100", surrounding the mag. 8.7 star SAO87699.

Date, plate or visually

19 September 2013, plate

19

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

20:04:56 +34°00'40" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, elongated northeast to southwest, 6.0'×3.5', with a pentagon shaped pattern of stars on the southwestern edge.
7' South-southwest is the open cluster Berkeley 84.

Date, plate or visually

27 September 2013, visually

20

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

20:03:12 +31°59'00" - Cynus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 10'×8', surrounding the small open cluster Kronberger 54.
5' West-southwest is the mag. 6.5 star SAO69307.

Date, plate or visually

27 September 2013, visually

21

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:19:48 +25°58'30" - Pegasus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 13'.
3' Northeast of the center is the galaxy MCG+04-55-000 (PGC71094), 5' east-northeast of the center is PGC71116, 9' northwest is MCG+04-55-002 (PGC71056).

Date, plate or visually

22 September 2014, visually

22

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:11:00 +11°02'15" - Pegasus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small, scattered group, elongated northeast to southwest, 4'×2'.
7' West-southwest is the galaxy NGC7500.

Date, plate or visually

9 november 2014, plate

23

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:43:12 +39°12'00" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Dark nebulae

Description

Three small dark nebulae in a row, aligned east-southeast to west-northwest, approximately 8' in length.

Date, plate or visually

20 November 2014, plate

24

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:42:06 +39°42'00" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula or dark nebula

Description

Extremely faint, irregular nebulosity in a northwest-southeast elongated, curved shape, 14'.
Best viewed in DSS2 Red - image color reversed.

Date, plate or visually

20 November 2014, plate

25

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:45:30 +39°07'40" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Dark nebula(e) and/or emission nebula

Description

Two suspected small dark nebulae, approximately 3', aligned southwest to northeast. The southwestern nebula is the larger one, possibly an emission nebula.
Directly northeast of the northeastern nebula is the double star Milburn 16 (WDS03457+3908).

Date, plate or visually

20 November 2014, plate

26

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:47:45 +39°47'00" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Dark nebula

Description

A very small, faint patch of nebulosity, 100"×70".

Date, plate or visually

20 November 2014, plate

27

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

13:49:40 -30°53'00" - Centaurus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small, poor and scattered group, moderately detached, 7'×5', approximately 25 stars.
8' West-northwest is the galaxy PGC86310.

Date, plate or visually

11 January 2015, plate

28

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

18:40:31 -03°54'00" - Scutum

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small, north-northwest to south-southeast elongated group of stars of mag. 11.3 and fainter, 6'×'2'. On the border of the constellations of Scutum and Serpens (Cauda).
13' Southeast is the open cluster Dolidze 32.

Date, plate or visually

15 January 2015, plate

29

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

20:04:04 +40°38'50" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

Elongated northeast to southwest, 8'×'6. On the northwestern edge is the mag. 7.7 star SAO49141.
3' North-northeast is a group of stars designated TC 2004+4041. 20' East is the open cluster Cluster Dolidze-Dzimselejsvili 10.

Date, plate or visually

16 January 2015, plate

30

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

16:28:46 +38°11'00" - Hercules

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 14'. Northeast of the open cluster Dolidze-Dzimselejsvili 5.

Date, plate or visually

16 January 2015, plate

31

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

08:59:31 +35°35'55" - Lynx

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered, north-south elongated group, 12'×9'.
12' Northeast are the galaxies NGC2719 & NGC2719A, 17' northwest is the double star Couteau 1897 (WDS08585+3548).

Date, plate or visually

13 April 2015, visually

32

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:27:36 -18°29'40" - Puppis

Nature of object

This was determined to be an open cluster in the Catalog of Newly Identified Star Clusters in GAIA DR2, FoF 289.

Description

A small group, 5', surrounding the double star South 550 (WDS07276-1830). On the border of the constellations of Puppis & Canis Major.

Date, plate or visually

1 November 2015, plate

33

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

12:29:08 -59°49'20" - Crux

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small group, 2'.
4' West is the open cluster Hogg 14.

Date, plate or visually

15 November 2015, plate

34

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

02:24:38 +61°33'15" - Cassiopeia

Nature of object

This was determined to be an open cluster, at a distance of approximately 8800 light-years.

Description

A moderately detached group of faint stars, 5.5'×4.5'. Most prominently in POSS2 Red & IR, compared to Blue - old cluster?
7' East is the double star STF257 (WDS02257+6133).

Date, plate or visually

19 November 2015, plate

35

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

16:14:54 -25°28'37" - Scorpius

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Surrounding the double star Skiff 1313 (WDS16149-2529) is irregular nebulosity, approximately 3'. The position of this star + suspected nebula is 1.3° west of the nebula Cederblad 130 surrounding the star Sigma Scorpii, itself close to the Antares Nebula and Rho Ophiuchi complex.

Date, plate or visually

1 December 2015, plate

36

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:13:46.5 +27°15'10" - Lyra

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 4'.
4' North-northwest is the carbon star V553 Lyrae

Date, plate or visually

27 August 2017, visually

37

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

05:02:48 +50°34'00" - Auriga

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 5.5'×4.5'. On the northern edge is the mag. 8.5 star SAO24974.
7' East-northeast is the carbon star EL Aurigae.

Date, plate or visually

14 January 2018, visually

38

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

05:58:13.2 +28°23'05" - Taurus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

Elongated, 4'×2'.
5' North is the carbon star CGCS1118.

Date, plate or visually

5 February 2018, visually

39

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

11:09:47 +61°23'30" - Ursa Major

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, 10'×8'.
4' West is the galaxy MCG+10-16-069 (PGC33801), 7' east-southeast is NGC3543.

Date, plate or visually

8 February 2018, visually

40

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:16:07 +17°19'00" - Pisces

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered group, elongated north to south, 10'×8'.
8' East is the galaxy NGC57, 13' south-southeast is the double star Greaves 18 (WDS00159+1706)

Date, plate or visually

7 October 2018, visually

41

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

14:23:41.1 +06°36'11.8" - Virgo

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy? Group of galaxies? Nebula?

Description

A very small and faint, irregular blob, 10"×6".
50" West of the galaxies PGC51413 & PGC51412 that are part of the galaxy group Holmberg 639, with the primary component NGC5599 3' to the southeast.
This object was investigated in April 2019 with the integral-field spectroscopic mode of the IMACS system on one of the Magellan telescopes in Chile. Initial results were inconclusive.

Date, plate or visually

4 December 2018, plate

DECaLS DR8

42

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

08:18:54 -29°45'00" - Puppis

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Suspected extremely faint reflection nebula associated with open cluster NGC2571, most prominent to the southwest of cluster in a northwest to southeast elongated patch. Best viewed on POSS2 Blue plate.

Date, plate or visually

10 January 2019, plate

43

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

11:25:11.4 -09°49'18.2" - Crater

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy? Nebula? Voorwerp?

Description

A very small and faint, irregular, undetermined blob, 17"×9".
3' Southeast of the galaxy NGC3672.

Date, plate or visually

24 January 2019, plate

44

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

21:26:40 +46°49'00" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism

Description

Horseshoe shaped, 9 stars mag. 8.5 and greater, elongated northwest to southeast, 16'×13'.

Date, plate or visually

25 January 2019, plate

45

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:10:16 +45°53'30" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small group, 6'×5'. On the north-northeastern edge is the mag. 7.3 star SAO38620.
7' Northwest is the carbon star V409 Persei.

Date, plate or visually

28 January 2019, visually

46

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

01:23:20.6 +33°20'45" - Pisces

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy or multiple galaxies

Description

Irregular clumps of matter, 0.5'×0.4'.
7' Southeast is the galaxy NGC507 (part of Arp 229), 4' south-southwest is the mag. 7.7 star SAO54647 (mag. 7.7).
This may be previously recognised galaxy, or a radio source.

Date, plate or visually

4 April 2019, plate

DECaLS DR8

47

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:01:27.9 +31°31'22" - Pegasus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

Elongated north to south, 0.4'×0.2'.
24" South is the galaxy 2MASS00012763+3130574, 5' south is the galaxy group Arp 112.

Date, plate or visually

5 April 2019, plate

DECaLS DR8

48

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

11:56:37.1 -19°31'12" - Corvus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy? Nebula? Voorwerp?

Description

Approximately 0.5'×0.2' in size.
25" East is the mag. 15.2 star 4UCAC353-064078, 4' west-southwest is the galaxy MCG-03-31-002 (PGC37513) in the constellation of Crater.

Date, plate or visually

14 April 2019, plate

49

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:42:52.2 +18°36'29.2" - Pegasus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxies

Description

Irregular galaxy, 80" southwest of nr. 50.
4' Northeast are the galaxies MCG+03-60-021 & MCG+03-60-022 (PGC72202 & PGC72203, Holmberg 815).

Date, plate or visually

15 April 2019, plate

50

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:42:55.7 +18°37'29.6" - Pegasus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxies

Description

Irregular galaxy, 80" northeast of nr. 49.
3' Northeast are the galaxies MCG+03-60-021 & MCG+03-60-022 (PGC72202 & PGC72203, Holmberg 815).

Date, plate or visually

15 April 2019, plate