Observing-Challenge-Nov-2008

From OttawaRasc

Ottawa Centre Monthly Observing Challenges

Beginning in 2007, Ottawa Centre introduced a new item to its monthly meetings: an observing challenge object. Each month the centre will post a description of an interesting object. Members are invited to observe, sketch, photograph, or otherwise learn about this object. At the subsequent monthly meeting, an agenda item will provide an opportunity to share your thoughts, photos, sketches, or comments.

November 2008

Lunar: Early Moon Spotting

By Brian McCullough

On December 1, 2008, Venus, Jupiter, and a very thin crescent moon will all be very close together in the early evening sky. This should be a very attractive conjunction for observing and photography.

The challenge this month is: How early in the day can you spot the moon?

If you can find the thin crescent moon in daylight, you should then be able to use it to find Jupiter and Venus with binoculars or a wide-field telescope.

Image from Skymap Pro

Deep Sky: NGC 253 and NGC 288

NGC 253 and NGC 288

by Rolf Meier

This month's Deep Sky challenge is the pair of NGC objects, NGC 253 and NGC 288. These objects are low in the southern sky. Close to the horizon, and through much atmosphere, the challenge is just to find and observe them. To find them, locate Beta Cetus, then two triangles of bright stars below it.
In binoculars, the two objects should be in the field if you put the lower of the above two triangles right at the top of the field.
NGC 253, known as the "Silver Coin Galaxy" or the "Sculptor Galaxy", has an AGN (Active Galactic Nucleus), and is presented to us between face-on and edge-on. It was discovered by Caroline Herschel, sister of William Herschel, in 1783.	Image by Rolf Meier
NGC 288, a small Globular Cluster discovered by William Herschel on October 27, 1785, is very old - one of the oldest globulars.	Image by Rolf Meier