[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

The last week has been frustrating, some lovely clear skies BUT that big ol' moon keep making life difficult, nevertheless, one must persevere, and it is often fun to look at stuff in less than perfect conditions in order to appreciate the good times and dark skies!

Observing report 30/11/09 – 3/12/09

All Observations made at Colac Vic.

30/11/09

Seeing POOR (Moon affected)

Instrument 12” Dobsonion F5

NGC2362 (Caldwell 64) Time 11-30pm. The Tau Canis Majoris Cluster. Located Delta Canis Majoris (Wezen) in finder. Identified arch of 4.5 to 6.5 mag stars to south and east. Star at one end of arch to North East of Delta Canis Majoris is 26 Canis Majoris. Then proceed in straight line from Delta Canis Majoris via this star approx 2deg until faint glow detected. Cluster of faint stars around bright Tau Canis Majoris which is about 6th mag. There is a distinct hexagonal shape of stars surrounding Tau Canis Majoris. Observed using 24mm Panoptic giving 62.5x.

NGC2360 (Caldwell 58) Time 11-50pm. From Sirius identified right angle triangle of stars consisting of Eta, Gamma & Iota Canis Majoris. Apex of this triangle is Gamma Canis Majoris and points due east to very faint cluster. Unable to pick up finder but in dark skies should be much easier. Used wide angle EP to locate. No bright stars in cluster, all faint but numerous. Good seeing should make this a fine object.

3/12/09

Seeing POOR (Moon affected)

Instrument 12” Dobsonion F5

NGC2477 (Caldwell 71) Time 11-00pm. Located Eta Canis Majoris by naked eye. Using finder located crooked line of bright stars to South East, then moved in same direction to F Puppis, then used finder to see two clusters in same general direction. These cluster were NGC 2451 and the wide triple d Puppis. Two clearly visible stars to South East of NGC 2451 about 4.5 mag. Most easterly star is b Puppis. Centering finder on this star then scanned North with 24mm EP until very faint glow detected. Cluster is not immediately evident in poor seeing conditions, required 3-4 seconds of looking before stars became evident. No bright stars but very large number of faint stars. Seems to be slightly extended East-West with a trail of very slightly brighter stars showing to east. Higher power (13mm at 115x) revealed many more stars. Once object has culminated and is in darker skies, should be a glorious object.

NGC2451 Time 11-20pm. This object briefly visited above. Very open cluster of several brighter stars. Most obvious star is 3.6mag c Puppis. This star has very distinct red/orange glow. Spectral class K4III confirms this observation.

NGC2546 Time 11-30pm. Located Zeta Puppis by naked eye. Moved east to pair of widely separated stars. These are approximately 4.5 mag h1 and h2 Puppis. Then moved north to wide pair of stars separated by approximately 1o at about 6.5mag. Low power EP (32mm at 47x) revealed a “river” of fainter stars connecting these 2. Use of any higher magnification destroyed view.