March obs. Challenge -Variety!

[orestis]

Hi everyone:hi:,

After noticing that Alex had not started the March obs challenge,I thought I might keep the ball rolling for all our visual observing friends out there.This Months challenge objects can all be seen from mid southern latitudes, 34*S is my latitude.

Open clusters-

Tau Canis Majoris cluster is a spectacular open cluster with a prominent central star tau which I think is actually part of the cluster itself a great mixture of bright and dim stars.

Double stars-

145 CMA is a most splendid double star which is located not far off from the tau cluster and at low power(25mm ep should do it) is easily split into 2 stars of beautifully contrasting colours similar to albireo of the north so this is our sourthern equvalent of a great double star,I notice an orange-red and light blue,what colours will you notice?

Beta Monocerotis is one of the best triple systems I have seen with beautifull blue colours,a truly amazing multiple star and best of all easy to find.

Planetary Nebula-

Eskimo Nebula(ngc 2392) located in Gemini and not to hard to find (I found it yesterday in the dob) bright star nearby for comparison.Lots of detail to offer for bigger scopes.

Blue planetary(ngc 3918) a planetary located in crux not too far off from delta crux a star chart will help.

Supernova Remnants-

Vela supernova complex found in vela is a faint nebula of a great bit of sky,can't comment on its diffficulty as I have yet to observe it,good luck.I think a wide field ep and OIII filter will help.

Planets-

Saturn rising in the east about 10pm edst and high up by about 12pm,What detail can you see on its surface and rings and how many moons can you spot?

Galaxies-

NGC 3115(spindle galaxy) at about magbnitude 10 it shines fairly bright in the consteleation of sextans,It is an edge on lenticular.Not many galaxies around in the evening skies of march and this is a bright canditate that I have chosen.A star chart will help with this one.

Good luck with the challenge and I hope you enjoy it!
Cheers Orestis:thumbsup:

[mental4astro]

:thumbsup: Orestis!

I had forecast having a lot on my plate around this time, and while I had started preliminary work on this month's Challenge, I've just been struggling to get it done.

I have one suggestion to add:

Leo Trio of Galaxies- M65, M66 & NGC 3628. Reaching meridian near midnight (its highest position for the evening), it is at its best now being bang in the middle of the Dark of the Night (the darkest portion of the evening is the four hours between 10pm and 2am standard time). These three will sit comfortably in a low power wide field eyepiece.

All three are spiral galaxies, M65 just about flush face on, M66 close to 45 deg tilt, and 3628 nearly edge on somewhat resembling a smaller Sombrero galaxy, with a dark central lane obvious in a 12" scope. M66 has arms that are among the easiest seen of all galaxies. Two can be seen faintly in a 10" scope, and very easily seen in a 16".

This trio is easy to locate, being very close to the star Theta in Leo.

[Suzy]

Oooh, nice list there Orestis. I especially like that you have added some star clusters. The Blue Planetary neb is actually on my next obs. list. You've done a wonderful job compiling the list, thank you.:)

[orestis]

Thanks Suzy:thumbsup:



I totally forgot about the leo trio, Great suggestion:thumbsup: and they can all be viewed with even small scopes I saw all tree with my 5'' scope,can't wait to turn the 12'' on them.

Thanks Alex
Cheers Orestis
ps-anymore suggestions are welcome:)

[orestis]

For those interested here is a sketch I produced of 145 cma.

Cheers Orestis:thumbsup:

[Paddy]

A very good list there Orestis and Alex.

[ausastronomer]

Hi all,

There is another nice trio of galaxies in Leo worth taking a look at whilst you are in this vicinity; M105, NGC 3384 and NGC 3389. They fit easily into the FOV of a medium power eyepiece. The three galaxies cover less than a 1/4 of a degree. M105 and NGC 3384 are fairly bright giant elliptical galaxies and NGC 3389 is a fainter lenticular galaxy. M105 and NGC 3384 are both bright galaxies and visible in small telescopes. NGC 3389 is fainter but easily visible in a 10" telescope under good skies. I have seen NGC 3389 in my 10" scope under "urban" skies and in my old 8" from darker skies.

Cheers,
John B

[Greenswale]

Orestis, great to see your nomination of 145 CMa. This has been my favourite double for quite a while - the colours are just splendid!

Congratulations on your sketch, certainly gives life to the double.

[Paddy]

What about also adding NGC 3226+3227 in Leo. Mag 12.3 and 11.1 respectively they comprise Arp 94 in his catalogue of peculiar galaxies - noted as "spiral with elliptical companion on arm. Just to the east Gamma Leonis they are not hard to find.

[orestis]

Nice suggestions guys I'll try give them a go if the skies clear.

cheers Orestis:thumbsup:

[glenc]

Orestis. Thanks for the list.
Here are some more suggestions. These were discovered in 1826 by a guy in Sydney.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=68087

[astrospotter]

145 CMa does remind one of Albireo and in several places it is called 'The Winter Albireo. As if it did not have enough names it is also h3945 or John Herschel 3945.

It is very low for me up at +36 dec so I bet it is stunning down below -30 dec. You all get all the good views! (well certainly the majority of good views but not all I guess).

A favorite triple of many folks in the local astronomy gang up here is 40 Eri which is also charted as omicron 2 Eri sometimes. Here you can see one of the few viewable red dwarfs as well as one of the few white dwarfs we can see from what I have been told. You all still have a shot at that one but it is gone at this time for us northern folk.

Thanks for the list

[michaellxv]

Prior to my lunar sketching I sought out Z CMa and was not disappointed. It is a very striking coloured double. Easily the match of Albireo. Too much moon about to go after the other targets.

[GrampianStars]

March is LEO Galaxy month for me :thumbsup:
NGC 3239 m11.7
NGC 3299 m14.1
M95 m10.5
M96 m10.1
NGC 3377A m14.3
NGC 3377 m 11.1
M105 m10.2
NGC 3384 m10.8
UGC 5923 m14.1
NGC 3412 m11.4
NGC 3489 m11.1
NGC 3593 m11.8
M65 m9.1
M66 m9.6
NGC 3628 m10.3
Extra Tough
IC 2787 m16.0
PGC 31877 m16.8
PGC 83339 m17.3
PGC 83341 m 17.5
PGC 32348 m16.1