TheSkySearchers

If you have any target suggestions for the December 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 December 2020 and post your suggestions to this topic.

We look forward to hearing them!

Here are my suggestions for the month of December, of what I feel would make worthy targets for folks to observe and/or image.

North:

NGC 1023 is a fairly bright barred lenticular galaxy in western Perseus, discovered by William Herschel in 1786. At magnitude 9.4, its angular size of 7.4’x2.5’ yields a reasonably high surface brightness of about 12.3. If you have enough aperture, and a night of high transparency, be sure to look for signs of its low surface brightness companion, PGC 10139, at its eastern tip. The pair comprise the interacting pair Arp 135.

NGC 1502 is a bright open cluster in western Camelopardalis, the celestial giraffe. Discovered by William Herschel in 1787, it glows brightly at magnitude 6.9 and has an angular diameter of about 20.0’. Part of the Camelopardalis OB1 association, it contains about 40 stars, including the nice double star STF 485 (mag 7.0//7.1) at its center. The cluster lies at the southeastern terminus of the famous asterism Kemble’s Cascade, and looks like a pool that the string of stars of the asterism are flowing into.

South:

NGC 1316 is a bright barred lenticular galaxy in Fornax. With a visual magnitude of 8.5, its larger angular size of 11.0'x7.2' yields a respectable surface brightness of 13.0. Also known as the radio source Fornax A, it was discovered in 1826 by James Dunlop. This galaxy is part of the Fornax I galaxy cluster, the second richest cluster within 100 MLY of the Sun.

NGC 1261 is a globular cluster in the constellation Horologium, the pendulum clock. At magnitude 8.3 and angular size of 6.8’, it presents a small and tight globe of unresolved stars. Given its core concentration class of II, it only yields some resolution of its outer members. This object was another James Dunlop discovery during the year 1826.

Good luck to all!

Thanks Alan.

Here's my suggestions:

Northern hemisphere,

NGC 7635, also known as the Bubble Nebula, Sharpless 162, or Caldwell 11, is an H II region emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Southern hemisphere,

Eta Carinae; Keyhole Nebula; Includes numerous open clusters and dark nebulae. Designations, NGC 3372, ESO 128-EN013, GC 2197, h 3295, Caldwell 92.

Regards

Graeme

Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:50 pm Southern hemisphere,

Eta Carinae; Keyhole Nebula; Includes numerous open clusters and dark nebulae. Designations, NGC 3372, ESO 128-EN013, GC 2197, h 3295, Caldwell 92.

Scrub that one! As lovely as the Carinae Nebula is, it's a bit too low yet for a December challenge.

Instead, I would like to propose NGC 300 (aka C70) A spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor. It is one of the closest galaxies to the Local Group.

Regards

Graeme

Graeme, since you mentioned Sculptor (and NGC 300 is a worthy target indeed), I would also add a galaxy to the draw that I suggested in Oct/Nov but didn't get selected. The large and bright NGC 253 in Sculptor. A beautifully mottled disk is the primary visual feature of this barred spiral. At mag 7.2, its large angular dimensions of 29.0'x6.8' yields a nice surface brightness of 12.7.

Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:50 pm Here's my suggestions:

Northern hemisphere,

NGC 7635, also known as the Bubble Nebula, Sharpless 162, or Caldwell 11, is an H II region emission nebula in the constellation Cassiopeia.

Southern hemisphere,

Eta Carinae; Keyhole Nebula; Includes numerous open clusters and dark nebulae. Designations, NGC 3372, ESO 128-EN013, GC 2197, h 3295, Caldwell 92.

Regards

Graeme

I will have a shot at Caldwell 11, it's ambitious for me, but I like the constellation

Greenman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 12:07 am I will have a shot at Caldwell 11, it's ambitious for me, but I like the constellation

Cheers Tony.

Would you have any other suggestions for the December challenge to throw into the pot for all to observe, image or sketch?

Regards

Graeme

Graeme1858 wrote: ↑Sun Nov 29, 2020 9:24 am

Greenman wrote: ↑Wed Nov 25, 2020 12:07 am I will have a shot at Caldwell 11, it's ambitious for me, but I like the constellation

Cheers Tony.

Would you have any other suggestions for the December challenge to throw into the pot for all to observe, image or sketch?

Regards

Graeme

I will put my thinking cap on

Great conjunction of Jupiter & Saturn on the 21st (when they will only be 6 arc minutes apart). A chance to compare the colours of the planets together with the brightness. This is a rare conjunction, the last one being on 28th May 2000.

On the 16th & 17th there will be a chance to image a crescent moon and both planets in one wide-field image. In the UK the planets will, unfortunately, be at a low declination (around 16 degrees).