Mornans, autumn 2023

6 November - blog 1 of 2

November. Statistically the worst time of year for stargazing in this part of the world. It's cloud season. That is also the reason that many objects positioned favorably around this time, especially in Cetus and surroundings, continue to form a nagging hole in my observing log. That, and because the best way to not observe an object is to not try at all is why we ventured out, against all odds.

A new location: an isolated dwelling near Mornans, on the western border of the Drôme region in France. Inbound leg split in two, date of arrival 5 November. My company for the trip was Belgian astronomer and longtime friend David Daelman.

Just when I thought the road leading up to the gîte in Cornillac was the worst I could ever expect to deal with, there was the final stretch of unpaved road in Mornans. My poor car, stocked to the brim with astrogear, literally scratched its way up the mountain. More than once I was I convinced I was about to get stuck but every time, with the sound of pebbles and larger rocks flying left and right, I managed to keep moving. Speed was life.

It drizzled on arrival and the forecast showed little to no chance to be out under the stars that first night. But what a place to be.

Given the forecast, we were in no hurry to set up. Knowing the field next to the gîte provided plenty of space, I had packed my Kendrick Astro Tent for the first time since September 2015. As a parttime observatory, it is a very comfortable place.

Of course, having not set up the tent in over 8 years, I forgot the leave the anchor points for the tentpoles unpegged when attaching them, resulting in a bit too much stress on the poles and causing one to bend... something to straighten out once back home.

Once the observatory was standing tall with the roof zipped open, setting up the scope was no different than at any other location.

With the OTA on its pedestal, accessories attached, all other gear sorted and the clouds not going anywhere, the only thing left to do was to gulp down a healthy pint of French beer. Or, as David calls it: a softdrink.

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Monday the 6th the forecast was favorable. Given the rain of the preceding weeks we were, however, not counting on optimal transparency. Especially not closer to the horizon.

At nightfall, what remained of the cloud cover continued to nag us for an hour after the end of astronomical twilight. Around 8' a clock, they departed but, as was expected, plenty of moisture remained in the atmosphere.

Before starting my own observations, I took a quick peek through David's 18" dob. M13 was sitting pretty in the eyepiece. Without any doubt, the globular's dark 'X' stood out. A feature of this object that I, until that moment, had yet to see. So there you have it: >16,500 observation logged and the very first time I stare into David's eyepiece I observe something for the very first time. Great stuff; makes one wonder whether this hobby will ever reach a conclusion.

For starters and to confirm my suspicion that observations closer to the horizon were a no-go, I pointed my scope to Pisces. Close to the western border of the constellation and just east of the base of an isosceles triangle formed by the galaxies NGC7397, NGC7398 & NGC7401, is a teeny little galaxy that goes by NGC7402. It has managed to evade my observing log for years, but here was another attempt.

The good news is that I again logged observations for the 3 galaxies that form the triangle. One for NGC7396 further to the west-southwest, too. But - again - not for NGC7402. For an instant I believe I glimpsed it, but even if I did it vanished into the atmosphere as sudden as it seemed to have appeared.

NGC7401 is a faint, round glow, even in brightness without AV, with AV quite suddenly slightly brighter in the middle and slightly elongated east to west.
In the ENE corner of the base of an isosceles triangle of 3 galaxies pointing NNW (NGC7398) with NGC7397 (the brightest galaxy of the three) in the WSW corner of the base.
NGC7402 not observed (again...), seemed to jump into view but could not be held, presumably due to passing clouds.

NGC7397 is larger and brighter than NGC7401 to the ENE is, a round glow, more gradually brighter in the middle than NGC7401 is.
To the SE is a mag. 13.5 star, to the north is NGC7398, 1/4 FoV to the WSW is NGC7396.

NGC7398 is larger than NGC7397 and NGC7401 are, fainter than NGC7397 is, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV the nucleus is faintly visible.

NGC7396 is an east-west elongated streak, larger and brighter than NGC7398, NGC7397 and NGC7401 are, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV slightly more suddenly brighter in a somewhat oval core and with AV the faint nucleus is visible.

With that I knew all I needed to know. For decent observations I was stick close to the zenith and, at least at this time of night, target objects that consist of stars. That meant leaving the galaxies as they were and switching to open clusters instead. In Cepheus, to begin with.

16 of the King's open clusters remained on my wanted list. For all but 5 of these I have previously logged observations, but not from a site I consider as 'dark' and/or only using a smaller aperture. Nesting myself on the south side of the telescope and using the vertically mirrored guides, I set out to tackle them.

Images used in this blog are unmirrored.

Second one to (re)visit my eyepiece was NGC7419. If found it quite nice, though faint, sporting a distinctly orange star north-northwest of the middle.

Small, consists of mostly mag. 14 and fainter stars. On the west side of the cluster is a glow of stars aligned SSW to NNW that, on the south side, subtly curves towards the ESE where there are two mag. 12.5 stars aligned north to south. On the NNW side of glow is a small, elongated triangle pointing WSW (an orange mag. 10.5 star, quite a distinct color), the stars in the base are aligned NNW (mag. 13.5) to SSE (mag. 13). With AV more stars resolve in the glow. To the NE of the glow is an open part of the cluster, SSW and NNE thereof are several mag. 13.5 and fainter stars. Fainter than King 18 that I observed before this one but easily recognized as a cluster. Quite a nice cluster.
To the NW is a white-yellow mag. 9.5 star, a subtle yellowish hue.

Equally rewarding, even when fainter, was the cluster that followed: King 10.

Slightly fainter than NGC7419 that I observed before this one, quite detached, consists of mostly mag. 14.5 and fainter stars that resolve with use of AV. The brightest stars of the cluster, mag. 12.5 and fainter, are on the ENE side of the cluster in a right angled triangle with the right angle on the west side and the longer leg towards the SE, the shorter leg towards the NE. NE of the NE-most star in the short leg of the triangle is a mag. 13 star (not a double star in WDS). No stars are observed within the triangle thereby making it seem as if a "bite" is taken out of the cluster. To the south and to the SE of the triangle unresolved stars are faintly visible, a more distinct glow is visible to the SW of the triangle. The cluster is slightly wider on the south side, fanning out from east to west.
To the NNW are 3 mag. 10.5 stars in a slightly kinked shape aligned east to west with the kink towards the NNE, somewhat reminiscent of the 3 stars that form the "belt" of Orion. 1/5 FoV to the NNE is a bright orange mag. 9.5 star, a notable color.

A step up on the appreciation ladder was NGC7510 - the "Dormouse Cluster". Along with its notable shape, it includes two stars that reveal some color.

Quite detached, overall the cluster has a distinct triangular shape pointing NW (slightly NNW), the cluster is richer in the SE where the brightest stars form a WSW-ENE elongated part. On the western edge is a pale orange mag. 10.5 star, on the eastern edge is a yellow mag. 10.5 star. Centrally the cluster is richer.

Nearby Markarian 50 is small and nothing special at first glance, but closer inspection made me like it a bit more. Due to the suboptimal transparency, I did not attempt to observe any nearby nebulosity; specifically Simeis 13 that is the northern part of the large nebula Courtès 102, better known as the "Lobster Claw Nebula".

The image below is taken from the upcoming CSOG 3.0 guide, referencing nebulae in catalogs that will be among the new CSOG editions.

A small, curved shape of mag. 10.5 and fainter stars with the bulging side towards the WSW, somewhat recognizable as a cluster, quite a nice shape. On the NNW edge is an orange mag. 10.5 star with a mag. 14 star ESE thereof, almost due east (components A and C of the double star Doolittle 21). On the SE edge is a pale white mag. 10.5 star with a rectangle shape of 4 stars NW thereof.
Due to the poor transparency I am not using a lower magnification to attempt to observe nearby nebulosity (Simeis 13, the northern part of Courtès 102, the "Lobster Claw Nebula").

Nothing spectacular, but worth a mention nonetheless, is Berkeley 100. Some catalogs indicate a larger size than can be attributed to what I observed: 4, or even 8 arcminutes in size. I believe a size of 2 arcminutes is more fitting, and I will update the observing guides that contain this cluster accordingly.

17mm Nagler T4: Not recognizable as a cluster, overall slightly elongated WNW-ESE, consists of mag. 11. and fainter stars, fanning out slightly towards the ESE. Centrally in the southern part a faint glow of unresolved stars is visible, slightly grainy with AV. On the ESE edge is a mag. 12.5 star.
To the SSE are a mag. 11 (NNW) and a mag. 13 (SSE) star aligned north to south (just NNW-SSE), ±175°/10" (not a double star in WDS).

12mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification the faint glow on the south side of the cluster is a round glow, slightly grainy with AV, a notable part of the cluster. It makes me suspect that this part only is possibly the Berkeley cluster; some catalogs indicate a larger size.

Another one of Cepheus' better clusters is NGC7762. It's scattered and its stars aren't bright, but it's larger than most clusters I observed up to this point. Overall, I found it to be somewhat kite-shaped.

Quite a large, scattered group, centrally richer and more concentrated in quite a small, north-south elongated part that on the south side curves towards the SSE. On the NW side a distinct branch is visible towards the NW, curving towards the NNW with a yellowish mag. 10.5 star at the end. The cluster fans out towards the SE where it gradually becomes poorer but that does contain the brightest stars of the cluster, mag. 11 and fainter. Overall the cluster somewhat has a kite-shape that is wider on the SE side and that tapers towards the NW, approximately 1/2 FoV in size SE to NW and much narrower SW to NE, approximately 1/7 FoV. A nice cluster.
To the NE of the part that fans out is a white-yellow mag. 9 star (SAO20898).

My final observation in Cepheus was the "Polarissima Cluster", NGC188. Despite it of course being a cluster, its patchy appearance at a lower magnification (129×) somehow brought the galaxy NGC6946 - the "Fireworks Galaxy" in Cygnus to mind.

17mm Nagler T4: Quite a detached, quite concentrated cluster, 1/3 FoV in size, consists of mag. 11.5 and fainter stars with exception of a yellowish mag. 10.5 star on the western edge of the cluster. Patchy without use of AV, with AV more stars resolve and darker parts are discernible in the cluster: directly SSW of the middle on a line from WNW to ESE with a lane of stars south thereof, partly unresolved, aligned WSW to ENE. North thereof an open part is visible in a U-shape with the open side towards the west in which several mag. 13 and fainter stars are aligned east to west. ENE of the U-shaped interruption the cluster is most concentrated. On the SE edge of the most concentrated part are a mag. 12.5 (SE) and a mag. 13.5 (NW) star aligned SE to NE (not a double star in WDS). The central part of the cluster has a slightly bulging shape with the bulge towards the east. East thereof the cluster is fainter. A nice cluster despite it not being very bright.

22mm Nagler T4: This lower magnification is a nice magnification for this cluster, the cluster is patchy, the U-shape interruption is discernible and the cluster (despite it being a cluster) reminds me of the galaxy NGC6946 (the "Fireworks Galaxy") in Cygnus as it appears similarly patchy.

Open cluster observations in Cepheus

As I leaned back to take in the bigger picture, I noticed the skies were improving. Expecting that trend to continue, I took a break. After a drink, a snack and an inspection of Jupiter through David's scope, I was back for clusters in Cassiopeia with CSOG's 12-14" OC-3 observing guide as my... well... guide.

The first two clusters were first time observations and both were by all means worth the effort. Also, both are, fittingly, "nr. 1's".

Alessi 1 is large and required my lowest magnification eyepiece, a 31mm Nagler, to properly frame it.

Almost filling the FoV, consists of mostly mag. 10 and fainter stars. Prominent in the FoV is a right angled triangle of 2 mag. 7 stars and a mag. 8 star with the right angle on the SW side (white-yellow mag. 8 star) and the short leg towards the NNE, the long leg towards the ESE is easily 1/2 FoV in length. The cluster is richest in the short leg of the triangle where a fanning out shape of stars is visible to the NNE and where the stars of the cluster form a somewhat "Napoleon-hat shape" with the base on the north side aligned WNW to ESE. East thereof fewer stars are visible. On the east side of the cluster, NW of the mag. 7 star in de long leg of the triangular shape, is a SSW-NNE elongated part. A nice cluster.

Skiff 1 is much smaller and its faint stars made it appear as a grainy, V-shaped glow. Upping the magnification a bit did not make any difference.

17mm Nagler T4: A grainy glow, quite detached and well recognizable as a cluster. Forms a notable triangular / V-shape of mainly mag. 13 and fainter stars pointing NNE, a leg towards the SW and a leg towards the south. Centrally in the V-shape fewer stars are visible but does include one of the brighter stars of the cluster, approximately mag. 11.5. To the SSW of that star an open part can be discerned. On the western edge of the cluster is a pale orange mag. 11 star (TYC4296-01455-1), quite a distinct color.

12mm Nagler T4: As with 17mm.

NGC366, NGC381, NGC436 and NGC559 visited my eyepiece before, but were among the nicer observations in Cassiopeia this night.

A first-timer and one I liked even more, was NGC609. Grainy, as was Skiff 1, but more concentrated and friendly to a bit of magnification.

17mm Nagler T4: A slightly SE-NW elongated, irregular, grainy glow. With AV many mag. 14.5 and fainter stars resolve. The cluster is richest on the SE side in a slightly SW-NE elongated part. Centrally the cluster is poorer. On the NW side is a small, more concentrated part. A nice cluster despite is not consisting of bright stars.

12mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification the cluster is more grainy without AV. Without AV two parts of the cluster are clearly discernible, as describe with 17mm.

I found NGC637 equally nice. Compared to most of the clusters that preceded it in Cassiopeia, its stars are definitely brighter. The ones in the northern part of the cluster form a prominent U-shape.

On the north side of the cluster is a prominent U-shape of mag. 11.5 and fainter stars with the open side towards the WNW (almost due west), the southernmost star in the U-shape is mag. 11.5 and is orange. South thereof (just a bit to the SSW) is a yellow mag. 12.5 star, quite a distinct contrast between these two stars (components A and B of the double star STI264, component C is part of the U-shape but not described). South of these 2 stars more stars are visible with AV, aligned east to west. On the southern edge, after a small interruption, is a mag. 12 star. To the west of the open part of the U-shape is a small group of mag. 13.5 and fainter stars. Quite a nice cluster.

A larger, non-NGC or IC cluster and one that can be considered to be in the league of previously observed Alessi 1 when it comes to size and appearance, is Collinder 463. The notably golden-orange star SAO4487 that is near the middle of the cluster enhanced the observation, as did double star HJ (John Hershel) 1089 of which the primary appears orange.

Almost 2/3 FoV in size, a scattered group of mag. 8 and fainter stars. Centrally in the cluster is a notable bright golden-orange mag. 8 star (SAO4487). The cluster is slightly poorer in the NE part. The cluster is richest ENE of SAO4487. To the SW of SAO4487 is an orange mag. 9 star with a mag. 10 star to its east (just a bit ENE), ±088°/20" (components A and B of the double star HJ1089), starting there a distinct branch of the cluster is visible towards the SSE. A nice cluster.

IC166 did to me what NGC188 in Cepheus did earlier this session: I found its glow somewhat reminiscent of an irregular galaxy. A bit of magnification made it appear more cluster-like.

17mm Nagler T4: A relatively large, irregular glow, subtly grainy without AV, with AV several mag. 14.5 and fainter stars resolve and the glow is more grainy. The glow is a bit interrupted on the ESE side, SSE of the interruption is the brightest star of the cluster, approximately mag. 13. With AV the cluster overall is somewhat V-shaped, pointing west. The cluster somewhat appears as an irregular galaxy.
1/5 FoV to the WSW is a white mag. 9.5 star (HIP8671).

12mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification, without AV, the glow is grainy, especially in the eastern part of the cluster. With AV more stars resolve compared to 17mm., again especially in the eastern part, on a line from SSE to NNW. A nice cluster despite it being faint.

Open cluster observations in Cassiopeia

Right around midnight, before taking another break, there was one more object in Cassiopeia I wanted to observe before it dropped lower in the sky. An off-the-beaten-path reflection nebula that I suspected to be bright enough for my aperture and one that would make a nice Deep Sky Forum Object of the Week. I was up as OotW author in only six days.

Neckel-Staude 2 did not disappoint. Clearly visible in both my and David's scope with a bit of detail to pick out. Not the brightest object of the night, but definitely the highlight of the session for me.

17mm Nagler T4: The nebula is not very bright but is clearly visible. The northern nebula is most prominent, north of a faint star, approximately mag. 14 (4UCAC729-007154) a small, faint glow is visible without using AV. Comparable stars in the FoV do not show nebulosity. To the ESE is a mag. 11.5 star (TYC3659-02105-1), no nebulosity is visible surrounding that star.
SSW of the nebulosity surrounding the mag. 14 star is a mag. 13 star (4UCAC729-007153) with a mag. 12.5 star (4UCAC729-007145) to its WSW. NW of the mag. 12.5 star is a faint glow, other stars in the FoV do not show such a glow. Fainter but slightly larger than the nebulosity to the NE and just visible without AV.

12mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification the northern nebula, to the north of the mag. 14 star, is at the limit of visibility without AV, clearer with AV and clearer than it was with 17mm. The SW nebula, NW of the mag. 12.5 star, is faintly visible with AV but appears clearer compared to 17mm. The easternmost nebulosity is not visible.

Throughout the night, I had a camera on a fixed tripod clicking away, hoping to catch something nice. No fireballs caught, but two meteors captured that are worth sharing.

With the skies transparency much improved, especially at higher elevations, I dared to target a few galaxies in Perseus. Seven 'leftovers' from the 12-14" Gx-1 guide for the constellation. Images below of KPG pairs (Karachentsev Isolated Pairs of Galaxies in the Northern Hemisphere) are from the upcoming CSOG 3.0 edition.

The first of these pairs, KPG 76, consists of the faint galaxies MCG+07-06-065 (PGC10435) & MCG+07-066 (PGC10440). Both were visible, as was nearby MCG+07-06-063 (PGC10401).

Both galaxies are visible.
The western galaxy A - MCG+07-06-065 is elongated east to west, slightly fainter than the eastern galaxy B - MCG+07-06-066 is, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV slightly brighter in a small core that is elongated in the same direction, no nucleus visible.
The eastern galaxy B - MCG+07-06-066 is a faint, round glow that is gradually brighter in the middle without AV. With AV subtly elongated north to south and more suddenly brighter in a round core. No nucleus visible.
1/5 FoV to the SE are 2 bright white mag. 9.5 stars aligned WSW to ENE, just over 1/2 FoV to the SW is the galaxy MCG+07-06-063.

Same for KPG 79 that is formed by IC259 & IC258.

Both galaxies are visible.
The western galaxy A - IC259 is slightly brighter than the eastern galaxy B - IC258 is, a SE-NW elongated glow, without AV subtly brighter in the middle, with AV gradually brighter in the middle. Directly NW is a mag. 14 star (4UCAC656-011849).
The eastern galaxy B - IC258 is fainter, a SSE-NNW elongated streak, difficult to observe without AV, even in brightness, no change with AV. To the NE is a mag. 14.5 star.

No such luck with KPG 77. Its A-galaxy MCG+06-07-009 (PGC10586), as expected, will require more aperture than I currently have available. Thankfully nearby double star AG (Astronomische Gesellschaft) 51 enhanced the view and produced a nice bonus observation.

Only the northern galaxy B - MCG+06-07-010 is visible, a small, faint, round patch, even in brightness without AV. With AV subtly brighter in the middle with a faint nucleus.
The southern galaxy A - MCG+06-07-009 is not visible.
ESE of B - MCG+06-07-010 is the double star Astronomische Gesellschaft 51, a mag. 10.5 and a mag. 11.5 star aligned ESE to WNW, ±285°/9".

Galaxy observations in Perseus

Having observed these galaxies in Perseus, I briefly returned to Cassiopeia for observations of 2 galaxies, one of which is a recent addition to my observing guides. Once believed to be a nebula, Simeis 281 (PGC7247) isn't bright but revealed some detail.

The Simeis objects will be another CSOG 3.0 edition.

Without AV a slightly SSW-NNE elongated, evenly bright glow. With AV more elongated, an oval shape and gradually brighter in the middle; a small core that is just NNE of the middle.
To the SE is a mag. 13 star. To the SW are 2 mag. 14 stars and a mag. 14.5 star (the NE-most star) in a slightly curved line that, from the south, curves towards the NNE.
Almost 1/2 FoV to the SE is a bright white-yellow mag. 8 star (SAO4536).

The second galaxy in Cassiopeia was PGC2796995. For a 7 digit PGC galaxy, it really isn't that faint.

A small, faint, round glow with quite a bright nucleus that is visible without AV. Without AV little more than the nucleus is visible. With AV it is clearly not stellar, clearly a small, faint, round glow, quite suddenly brighter in a small, round core.
To the north is a mag. 14.5 star, 1/4 FoV to the ESE are 2 mag. 13 stars aligned NNW to SSE, ±170°/6" (not a double star in WDS).

With the time of night that was now upon us, came the moment we deepsky-gazers all dread: Moonrise. Thanks to the mountains that did not mean the end of the session just yet. It would be another hour before luna would shine over de ridge in the east. And despite the skies brightening, for the time being it remained much darker than it will ever get in my backyard, making it more than good enough for double star observations. So out came the 17mm. Nagler and in came the 16, 9, 5 & 3.5mm eyepieces. Constellation of choice was, for the third time this night, the celestial Queen.

The second double observed was a showpiece: Iota Cassiopeia, a.k.a. STF262. It's one that plays an nice trick on the eye. The primary component is bright and white, causing the not too faint secondary to come across as light-greenish. A phenomenon that I encountered a few times before, as noted in previous blogs, for 49 Cygni (STF2117 - 13 September 2020), Rho Orionis (STF654 - 23 February 2022) and STF1521 (25 April 2022).

My observing log tells me the same happens to stars flanking Iota Orionis (STF752), Lambda Orionis (STF738), Alpha Herculis (STF2140), Delta Serpentis (STF1954, in Serpens Caput), STF3044 in Pegasus and STT59 in Perseus.

In addition, Iota Cassiopeiae's other two splittable components revealed some color, too.

AaAb (sep. 0.6" WDS2023.8) and CaCb (sep. 0.2" WDS2023.8) not split, ABCD split. A very beautiful double, the (apparent) color of B is notable.
A is bright white, B is light-greenish, C is orange (a distinct, quite deep color), D is yellow (quite a deep color).

A different hue, but very pretty as well, were visible in components A and B of STF283. I described them as bright golden-orange.

16mm Nagler T5: ABC split, C is visible without AV. A beautiful double.
A and B are bright golden-orange stars of equal brightness, C is faint and is colorless.

9mm Nagler T6: Using this magnification it is clear that B is half a magnitude fainter than A is.
Both are bright golden orange.

The same applies to component A of STF321, but flanked by a secondary that, although faint, appeared steel blue.

16mm Nagler T5: AB split. Quite wide but a very beautiful double.
A is golden-orange, B is steel blue, very clearly contrasting.

9mm Nagler T6: Using this magnification de color of B is even clearer, a distinct deep blue color, very beautifully contrasting with A that itself has a beautiful, deep color.

Double star observations in Cassiopeia

With 17 doubles in Cassiopeia in the bag, I called it a night. A rewarding session despite initially poor conditions. In case following nights would not allow for decent galaxy observations, I knew more open clusters would provide me with all the entertainment I needed.

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Observations

41 open clusters
1 nebula
13 galaxies
30 double stars
Total: 85 observations
First time observations: 32 objects

Details of the objects observed in this session are in the table below.

click here for my observing log

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