A Celestial Academy Awards

[CosMos]

Yes, it is that time again, the winners all starring in the February panoramic hit "The Night of the Stars". See the top actors from this time of year in all their artistic glory.

http://homepages.slingshot.co.nz/~rlamoss

Rich :drink:

[fringe_dweller]

excellent Rich, its great to see and read stuff from people who love what they are doing :-)
I am really starting to wonder about something, when i was learning the night sky years ago, i always thought NGC 3293 was called the 'Gem' cluster { ref. 'The Southern Sky' David Reidy and Ken Wallace 92 edition pg 127 - Hartungs 'Astronomical objects for Southern Telescopes' David Malin and David J Frew pg 189 "..called the 'Gem Cluster' by H.C Russell,.." }
I have not seen one imager or observer on the net, or in this forum call it by that name - I have seen a few nick names for it so far now - but i think gem cluster is the best - and that is what myself and my friends have called it forever!? feels weird - am I nitpicking? anyway thanksfor great read and laugh - cheers

[CosMos]

Hi fringe_dweller, I have seen it called the Diamond and Ruby Cluster on the net, a title I quite like. In a large telescope, there are many faint red stars mixed through the brilliant diamonds. Whatever title, it is still a nice cluster. Glad that you like what I write and took the opportunity to respond. Hopefully the lack of response from others means that they are shy and not that they hate my work. ;) :confuse3:

[barees63]

Hey CosMos, FWIW, I downloaded and enjoyed the document when you first posted, it was excellent, I printed it out to keep it.

[fringe_dweller]

Gday Rich,
is nothing sacred! I can see the reasoning behind it no problems, it sounds like it was renamed by a visiting northern hemisphere visitor to me? sounds American?. But then it also sounds like it may be South African or maybe a Kiwi name? love the know the origin and history of these names in full! Thats a serious iconic southern cluster - one of the best!! its not like it is some obscure little one that no one cares about.
I know they can have multiple nick names these things. hehe oh well might start renaming famous landmark objects myself - seems to be the trend - how about we change the Jewel Box to the 'A-frame of Sparkly Jewels' cluster ;) makes it more of mouthful :)
I have often wondered were the mythical clearing house is for these unofficial nomenclature - is it just in the popular language of amateurs of the day? Is it like santa's home at the north pole? who decides?
It seems to me to be recently fuelled by the ever growing huge army of amatuer U.S.and European imagers, romantically naming there images, having a strong distaste for scientific sounding catalogue names - I could be way off?
re lack of response - you should of done an article on equipment (especially ep's) or planetary imaging - you would of faired a lot better ;) believe me