Clear Skies

visual astronomy

51-100

Discoveries 51-100

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.

Jump to...

51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64 - 65 - 66 - 67 - 68 - 69 - 70 - 71 - 72 - 73 - 74 - 75 - 76 - 77 - 78 - 79 - 80 - 81 - 82 - 83 - 84 - 85 - 86 - 87 - 88 - 89 - 90 - 91 - 92 - 93 - 94 - 95 - 96 - 97 - 98 - 99 - 100

1-50 - 101-150 - 151-200 - 201-250 - 251-300 - 301-350 - 351 and further

51

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:28:32.1 +01°22'51" - Taurus

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Drapes of nebulosity west, southwest and south of the mag. 5.5 star SAO111845.

Date, plate or visually

28 May 2019, plate

DECaLS DR8

52

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

16:59:43 +48°18'00" - Hercules

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A scattered, east to west elongated group, 10'×6'. On the northeastern edge is the mag. 9.5 star SAO46431.

Date, plate or visually

6 July 2019, visually

53

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

22:38:39.3 +35°41'50.4" - Lacerta

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A small galaxy.

Date, plate or visually

21 July 2019, plate

54

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:53:14 +61°57'40" - Camelopardalis

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

An almost round group, 3.5', slightly flattened west-soutwest to east-northeast. More stars are visible in the east-northeastern part. Consists of mag. 12.5 and fainter stars.
6' East of the open cluster Czernik 17.

Date, plate or visually

20 January 2020, visually

55

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:53:46 +25°17'45" - Taurus

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula or planetary nebula

Description

Elongated and irregular.
4' North-northwest is the double star Aitken 1843 (WDS04536+2522).

Date, plate or visually

30 January 2020, plate

56

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

11:35:04 -14°05'06" - Crater

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

An east-west elongated, irregular or Magellanic Spiral galaxy with several HII regions.

Date, plate or visually

18 February 2020, plate

57

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

10:53:54.5 -16°06'14.8" - Crater

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A small and faint, irregular galaxy.
82" Southeast is the galaxy MCG-03-28-017 (PGC32724), 5' north-northeast is NGC3456.

Date, plate or visually

18 February 2020, plate

58

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:31:09 +03°53'57" - Pisces

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A small and faint, irregular galaxy with several associated clumps, annular shape.

Date, plate or visually

18 February 2020, plate

DECaLS DR8

59

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:43:00.5 -21°56'50" - Eridanus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A very small and faint (dwarf?) galaxy.

Date, plate or visually

18 February 2020, plate

DECaLS DR8

60

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

01:51:31.05 +22°45'40.2" - Aries

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

An irregular galaxy with multiple associated clumps.

Date, plate or visually

18 February 2020, plate

DECaLS DR8

61

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

13:45:56.32 -12°25'35.5" - Virgo

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Faint nebulosity surrounding the double star 86 Virginis (STF1780 - WDS13459-1226). Best seen on POSS2 Blue.
Not unlike the nebulosity surrounding the star Psi Virginis (nr. 9), almost 13° to the west-northwest.
2.5' South-southwest is the galaxy IC927, 3' south-southeast is PGC952293, 5' west-southwest is IC924.

Date, plate or visually

7 July 2020, plate

15' POSS2 Blue

15' DESI Legacy DR10

62

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:07:47 +30°06'10" - Auriga

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula(e), approximately 75"×60" in size.

Description

A triangle of stars (SAO58771, 4UCAC601-029679 & 4UCAC601-029694) involved in faint nebulosity.

Date, plate or visually

5 September 2020, plate

63

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

22:29:09 +57°07'20" - Cepheus

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster, approximately 8'×5' in size.

Description

Visually, a detached group of stars, elongated north-northwest to south-southeast. Contains the orange colored star TYC3991-00696-1.
To the north of the group is the star SAO34507 that is colored orange, too. The group's branching lanes of stars give it a spider-like appearance.

Date, plate or visually

23 September 2020, visually

64

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

10:03:18 +72°09'08" - Ursa Major

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A small, faint galaxy with a very bright nucleus.

Date, plate or visually

3 December 2020, plate

DECaLS DR8

65

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

10:04:09 +72°10'17" - Ursa Major

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A small, faint galaxy. A small knot is on the west-northwestern edge, a faint star is superimposed over the southeastern edge.

Date, plate or visually

3 December 2020, plate

DECaLS DR8

66

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

15:42:23.5 +05°09'10" - Serpens (Caput)

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small, detached, elongated group of approximately 15 stars, approximately 3'×2' in size. The brightest star in the group is 4UCAC476-056890 (mag. 11.8).

Date, plate or visually

7 March 2021, plate

67

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

08:24:38.1 -77°47'27.9" - Chamaeleon

Suspected nature of object

?

Description

An extremely small and faint, irregular blob.
85" East-northeast is the mag. 8.3 star SAO256514, 100" west-northwest is the galaxy PGC23573.

Date, plate or visually

22 March 2021, plate

68

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:59:02 +37°55'48" - Auriga

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

A very small and faint, elongated glow directly south of the mag. 12 star 4UCAC640-021255. Approximately 60"×30" in size.
3.5' Northwest of the star Omega Aurigae.

Date, plate or visually

7 July 2021, plate

69

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

20:31:51 +11°03'30" - Delphinus

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

An extremely faint, elongated glow extending east-northeastwards from the mag. 9.9 star TYC1091-00412-1. Approximately 5.0'×2.5' in size.
25' Southwest of the star Epsilon Delphini.

Date, plate or visually

7 July 2021, plate

70

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:25:55.85 +50°02'09.5" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A suspected Magellanic (?) spiral galaxy, approximately 45"×30" in size with a brighter core that is perpendicular to the major axis.
8' Southwest of the galaxy group KPG 539 (IC4867 & MCG+08-35-011).

Date, plate or visually

10 September 2021, plate

71

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:28:43.9 +62°51'01" - Cassiopeia

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula or galaxy

Description

Elongated east to west, approximately 1.0'×0.5' in size, surrounding the mag. 12.1 star 4UCAC765-006251 (or the star is superimposed).

Date, plate or visually

16 October 2021, plate

72

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:31:41.5 +62°40'09" - Cassiopeia

Suspected nature of object

Nebula or planetary nebula

Description

An irregular roundish glow, approximately 100" in size. In the center is the mag. 14.7 star 4UCAC764-007116, on the northern edge is the mag. 11.9 star TYC4019-02775-1. Directly southwest of the nebula may be a small, dark nebula. 3' Southeast is nr. 165.
On the northeastern edge of the large, irregular and extremely faint emission nebula Sharpless 1-124.

Date, plate or visually

16 October 2021, plate

73

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:32:04.8 +63°51'11" - Cassiopeia

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Elongated east to west, approximately 2.5'×1.0' in size directly north of the mag. 10.4 star TYC4023-00358-1. Two elongated streaks can be discerned, both running WNW to ESE, the southern one being the brightest.

Date, plate or visually

16 October 2021, plate

74

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

17:01:04 -04°13'21" - Ophiuchus

Suspected nature of object

Emission and/or reflection nebula

Description

Nebula surrounding the mag. 4.8 star 30 Ophiuchi. Clearest to the south and southwest of the star with a prominent spike towards the west.
Almost 1° of arc due east of the globular cluster Messier 10 (NGC6254).

Date, plate or visually

20 November 2021, plate

75

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

05:11:26 +38°07'04" - Auriga

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

A small, faint nebula, approximately 60"×35" in size, directly northeast of the mag. 12 star TYC2896-01854-1. 9' Northwest of the emission nebula Sharpless 2-226 and half a degree of arc southwest of the star Mu Aurigae.
On the POSS2 Blue plate, a distinct image artefact is 4' to the northwest.

Date, plate or visually

21 December 2021, plate

76

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:04:24 +25°49'00" - Lyra

Suspected nature of object

Nebula(e) or supernova remnant

Description

Two extremely faint lobes of nebulosity, separated by 12'.
Approximately 12 and 22 minutes of arc, respectively, east of the position of Sharpless 2-85 (which was a suspected plate fault).
The northwestern lobe has a slightly curved shape, is approximately 10'×3' in size and tapers towards the northeast. The southeastern lobe is approximately 3'×1' in size and is oval shaped.

Date, plate or visually

30 December 2021, plate

77

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

19:49:01.5 +20°09'35" - Vulpecula

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A small group of stars that is not well detached from the surrounding starfield, approximately 3' in size. Brightest star on the northeastern edge is mag. 11.3. The position is 3' northeast of the star that is designated Kohoutek 4-35 (PK 057+02.1).
The results of the Gaia EDR3 analysis by Bruno Alessi were ambiguous; this is more likely to be an asterism than an open cluster.

Date, plate or visually

13 January 2022, plate

78

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

08:21:26.5 +03°13'00" - Hydra

Suspected nature of object

Asterism or open cluster

Description

A detached group of mag. 12 and fainter stars, 3' north of the galaxy IC2327. Approximately 4'×3' in size. A curved branch of stars is visible directly north-northwest of the group, curving towards the northwest.

Date, plate or visually

25 February 2022, visually

79

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

21:31:27 +52°37'12" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Faint nebulosity surrounding the star SAO33497, component A of the double star Argyle 88 (WDS21315+5237).

Date, plate or visually

5 July 2022, plate

15' DSS POSS2 Blue - 1989

SAO33497

80

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

21:21:53.5 +52°10'50" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Open cluster

Description

A suspected open cluster involved in the HII region that is listed as No. 6 in the appendix of Kohoutek's 1972 paper 1972A&A….16..291K.
What Kohoutek described as a nebulous nucleus are in fact stars.

Date, plate or visually

6 July 2022, plate

81

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

17:56:24.7 +18°20'32" - Hercules

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A very small and faint galaxy, approximately 2'×1.5' in size. 53 Seconds of arc north of the mag. 7.4 star SAO103327 that is the primary component of the double star STF2245 (WDS17564+1820). Just over 2 minutes of arc to the east-southeast is the galaxy PGC1556550, 5.5 minutes of arc west-northwest is the galaxy pair KPG 526 (NGC6500 & NGC6501).

Date, plate or visually

11 July 2022, plate

82

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:11:52.6 -06°28'36" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

A relatively bright nebula, surrounding the mag. 9.3 star SAO132945, approximately 1.5'×1.0' in size. 4.5' North of the mag. 5 star SAO132944.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

83

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:10:14.6 -06°27'31" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Very small and faint, directly north of the mag. 13.3 star 4UCAC418-012700.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

84

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:12:43.7 -06°15'26" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Nebula or galaxy

Description

An extremely small and very faint, irregular blob.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

85

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:13:37.3 -06°25'02" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Extremely small and faint, directly west of the mag. 12.2 star 4UCAC418-013046.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

86

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:14:27.6 -06°21'37" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

A small wisp to the south-southeast of the mag. 12 star 4UCAC419-012601, best viewed in PanSTARRS.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

87

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:08:42.3 -06°57'43" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Emission nebula

Description

Two lobed and extremely faint, east and west of two faint stars aligned north-northwest to south-southeast, brighter surrounding the north-northwestern star. Best viewed in PanSTARRS.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

88

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:08:25.7 -06°57'36" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Emission nebula

Description

An extremely faint, north-south elongated wisp. Best viewed in PanSTARRS. 45" West is a star involved in nebulosity, to the east is a small and faint, detached patch.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

89

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:11:58 -05°56'53" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

South and southeast of the mag. 11.6 star TYC4795-0777-1.

Date, plate or visually

13 July, plate

90

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:59:46.8 -07°38'13" - Monoceros

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Surrounding the mag. 13.5 star 4UCAC412-022324.

Date, plate or visually

13 July 2022, plate

91

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

20:19:11 +37°23'45" - Cygnus

Suspected nature of object

Emission and/or reflection nebulae

Description

A group of 3 nebulae aligned southwest to northeast, to the east of the mag. 9.3 A0 star SAO69821.

Date, plate or visually

18 July 2022, plate

92

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:05:16 +60°05'15" - Cepheus

Suspected nature of object

Emission and/or reflection nebula

Description

Approximately 0.3 minutes of arc in size. On the southern edge is the mag. 16 star 4UCAC751-078693. The stars directly south thereof are involved in faint nebulosity, too.

Date, plate or visually

20 July 2022, plate

93

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

23:05:22.6 +60°05'34" - Cepheus

Suspected nature of object

Emission and or reflection nebula

Description

A very small nebula that involves the mag. 16 star 4UCAC751-078718. The surrounding stars, visible in the PanSTARRS image, may form a small cluster.

Date, plate or visually

20 July 2022, plate

94

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

00:08:14 +65°40'13" - Cassiopeia

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

Very small and faint, directly north of the mag. 12.5 star 4UCAC779-000269.

Date, plate or visually

22 July 2022, plate

95

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

06:14:47.2 +12°19'37" - Orion

Suspected nature of object

Emission nebula and open cluster

Description

Surrounding the mag. 15.5 star 4UCAC512-020909 that is
87" north of the mag. 8.6 star SAO95436 and 2' southwest of the emission nebula Sharpless 2-271.
As is evident on the PanSTARRS image (15'), the sprinkling of stars involved in Sharpless 2-271 forms a cluster (Bica, Dutra, Soares 82). A similar, although smaller concentration of stars can be seen surrounding the star 4UCAC512-020909.

Date, plate or visually

24 July 2022, plate

96

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:56:22.4 +88°29'41" - Ursa Minor

Suspected nature of object

Reflection nebula

Description

An extremely faint, elongated glow close to the mag. 8.7 star SAO552.
The images below, as download from the DSS server and greatly increased in brightness, do not match in orientation.

Date, plate or visually

29 July 2022, plate

15' Blue - 1952

15' Blue - 1997

15' Blue - 1998

15' Red - 1998

97

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:01:41 +68°50'45" - Camelopardalis

Suspected nature of object

Emission and/or reflection nebula

Description

A nebula surrounding the mag. 8 K0 star SAO12986, most prominent to the west of the star. Approximately 1.5' in size.

Date, plate or visually

5 October 2022, plate

15' Blue

15' Red

98

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

04:20:03 +53°36'45" - Camelopardalis

Suspected nature of object

Emission nebula

Description

A very faint, elongated, irregular nebula. Approximately 3' in size.
On the 1990 POSS2 Red image there is an image artefact 6' west-southwest of the position.

Date, plate or visually

6 October 2022, plate

99

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

07:17:07.4 +13°49'21" - Gemini

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A very small, elongated galaxy. 5' North-northeast of the middle of the open cluster NGC2355.

Date, plate or visually

18 October 2022, plate

100

R.A. / Dec. - Constellation

03:37:40.1 +31°48'37" - Perseus

Suspected nature of object

Galaxy

Description

A very small, elongated galaxy. On the west-southwestern edge of the large and faint emission nebula McDonald 34 that involves the dark nebula Barnard 3.

Date, plate or visually

21 October 2022, plate