By James Maynard
Star Date 05:28:97
Near Polaris (the north star),
are many open star clusters, almost posing in the nightly skies. These objects
are in a class known as circumpolar objects. This means they appear so close
to the north star, they never set, and are visible any clear night.
First, you will need to find the north star. For this, stand to the north,
look upwards, and look for the Big Dipper- from the edge of the pot furthest
from the handle, trace up from the bottom of the pot to the top. Keep going
in the same direction until you reach the next bright star. This is Polaris,
the north star- It always lies at the same altitude above the northern horizon
as the latitude of where it is viewed from. For this area, that means about
430 above the horizon.
Next, look directly north (towards the
horizon), and travel nearly 17 degrees until you see a dim star that is
still visible to the naked eye- This is the 4.1 magnitude star, SAO 4560.
From here, look down another eight and three quarter degrees until you can
see the star Epsilon-Cassiopeia. This star shines at magnitude 3.4, and
thus, is nearly twice as bright as SAO 4560. It is from here we shall begin
our journey through this section of sky.
Now look nearly 50 to the north west. It
is here you will find IC 1805, This is a cluster of stars, still surronded
by a nebulousity of the gas from which it formed. These stars are. like
all star clusters, poor in elements heavier than hydrogen and helium,
One degree further to the westl north west
lies NGC 1027, an open cluster (meaning a cluster of stars, only loosely
hold together by gravity). It shines at magnitude 6.7 just barely not visible
to the naked eye, even in the darkest of skies). This cluster of stars stretches
20 minutes of arc (1/3 of a degree) across the sky. Stars in clusters such
as this are not likely to develop rocky planetary systems (due to the lack
of heavy elements), but gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn are certainly
within reason. Star clusters, it would seem, do not make likely places to
find extra terrestrial life, but nature is incredibly diverse.
From our middle object NGC
1027, travel exactly towards where due north meets the horizon, just about
5-1/3 degrees. Here you should find tm clusters which appear so close, that
they are classified as one object. This object is thus knom as the twin
clusters. It stands at magnitude four, wwll within naked eye viewing in
very dark areas. This is one of the prettiest objects in the night sky,and
among the first objects I saw through a very large telescope. Absolutely
breathtaking. This collection of jewels is 1/2 degree across, making it
appear as large as the full moon as. seen from the Earth.
From here, go back to Epsilon-Causiopeia. Less than five degrees to the
north east of this star lies the bright magnitude 2-8 star, Ruchbah- Between
these two stars lay several objects of interest. These will be our stepping
stones to the clusters on the other side of Epsilon-Causiopoia. The first
(being nearest Ruhbah) is MI 03. It is a Small Cluster, occupying about
one tenth of a degree. Remember, the field of view (how much you can see
at one time) is about six or seven degrees with binoculars, and about one
degree with a telescope.
Next up is a trio of clusters, NGC 659,
NGC 663, and NGC 654. They can be found starting one degree to the south
west of M103, and each is within 1/2 of a degree of each other. They are
listed in the order they would be seen heading from M103, back to Epsilon-
Cassiopeia.
Clear skies, and good viewing.
