TheSkySearchers

If you have any target suggestions for the October 2020 challenge we would love to hear them!

You can put forward a suggestion for the Northern hemisphere or the Southern hemisphere or both if you like!
Also remember our 9th magnitude limit.

Let us know what tickles your fancy for October 2020 and post your suggestions to this topic.
We look forward to hearing them!

For the South: Helix Nebula NGC 7293

For the North: Andromeda Galaxy M31

For the North: NGC6823

NGC 6823 is an open cluster in a small reflection nebula NGC 6820 in Vulpecula. The reflection nebula and cluster are embedded in a large faint emission nebula called Sh 2-86.

Sounds interesting!

Regards

Graeme

For the North -- M110. It is easy to find M31 but not quite as easy to see M110.

For the south -- The Helix nebula (NGC 7293 or Caldwell 63) a bright but fairly difficult to find nebula because of it's extreme size and low surface brightness.

Cheers,
JT

My suggestions are as follows, and whichever ones are chosen ultimately, good luck to those that step up to the challenge.

North

NGC 752 a large and bright open cluster in Andromeda. At mag 5.7 it may be visible to some with the naked eye, and with its diameter of around 50' it is a nice target for binoculars and small apertures.

or

NGC 7662, a bright planetary in Andromeda informally known as the "Blue Snowball." At magnitude 8.3 and nice diameter of 32"x28", it yields a high mean surface brightness of around 6.5. Its attractive bluish tint is an added bonus to this marvelous nebula. Its dim central star is variable between the 12th and 16th magnitude, so don't be shocked if you don't spot it.

South

NGC 253 a large and very bright barred spiral in Sculptor. Discovered by Caroline Herschel on 23 Sep 1783 before her brother William began his famous sweeps. It glows brightly at magnitude 7.2 and with its whopping angular size of 27.5'x6.8' it yields a relatively high surface brightness of 12.7. This is a stupendous object.

or

NGC 7293; agree with the suggestions for this large planetary nebula in Aquarius. At magnitude 7.3 and its whopping angular size of 17.6' it yields a mean surface brightness of about 13.3. It indeed is a nice challenge for beginning observers and particularly those dealing with some light pollution. Watch for its mag 13.5 central star.