I offer this article to any of you who succumbed to my nagging about getting binoculars as well as those who already have binoculars.
We in the southern part of the country typically celebrate the Summer Milky Way, focusing on the plethora of objects within a relatively small area – around Sagittarius (the Archer), Scorpius (the Scorpion), Serpens (the Serpent), and Scutum the Shield). Let’s extend the celebration into autumn and check out some treats in other parts of our galaxy.
The Milky Way is overhead, emanating from the Southwest and exiting in the Northeast. If your viewing area is open enough and dark enough, the Milky Way seems to hover over us like a floating veil. I know, we are losing darkness. Give it a shot. I have included a sky chart to use during your tour.
I’m starting in the Northeast. M45, the Pleiades, will be rising around 9:30pm CDT in late September, as will Capella in Auriga (the Charioteer). While not in the best position to view, they are harbingers of the coming winter, and all the winter night sky delights! Jupiter will join them for your viewing pleasure.
Getting back to the Milky Way, open cluster M34 is at the eastern edge and the Double Cluster (NGC869 and NGC884) is more interior, accompanied by a denser field of stars.
Moving southwest, we get a little off trail to view M31, the Andromeda spiral galaxy. Then jump back in, across the Milky Way. Northwest of M31 lies open cluster M52 in Cassiopeia.
Open cluster M39 in Cygnus is nearly overhead and not far from Deneb, the Alpha star of Cygnus. Make a short hop from Alpha to Gamma Cygni and there is open cluster M29, a mere 1.7 degrees away. Keep going southwest down Cygnus and check out Albireo the Beta star of Cygnus. It is a stunning optical double star. Blue and gold. It’s better in a scope.
Next is a bit of a challenge. Southeast of Albireo, in Vulpecula (the fox) lies one of the nicest planetary nebulae, M27, the dumbbell. To some it resembles an apple core. It’s dimmish at magnitude 7.5 but catchable binoculars, better a scope.
South-southwest of M27 is bright star Altair in Aquila, the eagle. Following the Milky Way southwest from Altair you hit M11 in Scutum, the shield. M11 is also known as the “wild duck” cluster. Can you make out its V shape, resembling a flock of flying ducks?
Continuing southwest along the Milky Way we are headed into the mother lode of the summer Milky Way. But we’re also headed into the murk of light pollution and thick atmosphere. Venture in there if you dare.
I hope you have a fun tour.
What’s in the Sky?
September 19-25; Comet 103P/Hartley: If you’re willing to stay up late, this comet is traversing the body of Auriga (the Charioteer), so it’s easy to find. See the guide. You can glimpse it in binoculars, but a scope will improve the view.
September 23; 1:50 am CDT: Fall Equinox