Category: constellations
Which constellation a deep sky object is in
Messier 11
This is Messier 11, aka The Wild Duck Cluster and some surrounding dark nebulae. The popular name comes not from the cluster being duck shaped but because the brighter stars form a “V” shape that looks like ducks flying in formation. However, that sure isn’t obvious in this image and I’ve never noticed it visually….
Collinder 350
Collinder 350 is a fairly unimpressive looking open cluster in Ophiuchus. There isn’t a lot to say about it. It’s part of a catalog of open clusters published by Swedish astronomer Per Collinder in 1931. I chose it because it made a good filter target during the early part of the night when the moon…
Abell 2151
Abell 2151 is also known as the Hercules Galaxy Cluster because of its location in Hercules. This cluster of galaxies is fairly distant at an average distance of 500 million light years. It’s staggering to think that we can see detail in galaxies so distant with amateur equipment! There are over 200 galaxies in the…
Messier 8
Messier 8, the Lagoon Nebula, is one of the showpiece nebulae of the summer sky. It’s in Sagittarius so it is low in the south for those of us at mid-northern latitudes. But, it is worth pointing the telescope that low! I’ve read that the Lagoon is actually bright and large enough to be seen…
Linda's Astronomy Adventures 