October Challenge Object (OC) - cr399 (Brocchi's Cluster)

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi all.

We'd love you to take part in the October Observing and Imaging Challenge. Please post your reports and sketches in the Observational Astronomy forum, and your images in the Deep Sky Imaging forum.

Please ensure all images/sketches obey the posting guidelines when you attach them.

While it would be nice if the report, sketch or image were taken in the month of October, it's not essential so feel free to post older reports and images if you're unable to take some new ones.

We look forward to seeing your contributions!

[RapidEye]

OK - looks like I'm first up on this one - but it is easier for me than you guys

A couple of nits on the challenge page: the coathanger asterism is MUCH larger than 1 degree - more like 4 or so. Next time I can see past the bottom of the clouds, I'll give you a better estimate

In both my 4.5" and 10" it is way to large to see anything resembling a cluster or an asterism; however, in my 10x50 UltraView bincoulars, it really jumps out at you and looks like a coathanger with a straight bar (not the triangle style)

Depending on the orientation, it can sometime appear a bit like the Leo constellation - at least part of it

[dhumpie]

Yup Rapid this a nice one for small wide field scopes and binoculars. In fact the best views of the coathanger are at low powers. I have to sketch this one as it is a very easy catch from suburban skies. Have not looked at it under dark skies but my guess is that it is going to be swamped with fainter stars. We get quite good views here as well.

Darren