Open Clusters

[beren]

The cooler months have some great gobular cluster sights particulary in the Sagit/scorpius region but the warmer months have a plethora of wonderful Open Clusters to check out.


Theres the Pleiades and Hyades of course but direct your attention and scope to canis major and youll find a number of Messier catalog examples like M41,M50,M93,M46,M47,M48. Near Saturn youll find the Beehive M44,M67 and nearby in the constellation Auriga M38,M36,M37,M35.

[iceman (Mike)]

I can't believe Sag and Scorpius are rising again already! (albeit at 4am )

They are my 2 favourite constellations..

So many objects in them.

[ving (David)]

i just want clear skies...
oh well.
open clusters sure are purdy.

[silvinator]

I love the winter constellations too. They are overhead here in Sydney too Stuart, at 34 degrees S. Can you actually see the MC's from your backyard? Not a chance in my location

And Ving, I concur, open clusters can be as breathtaking as anything else in the night sky. The Pleiades are a treat but nothing beats the Jewel cluster!

Hey Mike, those two are some of my favourite constellations too. Love scanning them on a cold winter's night, with no mozzies around! I still don't know what half of the objects are that I've found

[ving (David)]

on a moonless night i can se the MCs too (just). I tend to use them to judge the nights viewing.