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    Tickle of Mythology: Logue of Nearly 8,000 Objects

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    Ant Green
    The Orion Nebula, M42, is one of the most magnificent objects in the sky. It is located 8,000 trillion miles away and stretches across 160 trillion miles. At its center are four young, hot stars known as the Trapezium that were born from the nebula and stimulate its gas to glow pink. They can be seen in a small telescope at 50x magnification. More stars are continuing to form in this nebula.

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    Tickle of Mythology: Logue of Nearly 8,000 Objects

    Uploaded by

    Ant Green
    192 views2 pages
    The Orion Nebula, M42, is one of the most magnificent objects in the sky. It is located 8,000 trillion miles away and stretches across 160 trillion miles. At its center are four young, hot stars known as the Trapezium that were born from the nebula and stimulate its gas to glow pink. They can be seen in a small telescope at 50x magnification. More stars are continuing to form in this nebula.

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    Star Map

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    The Orion Nebula, M42, is one of the most magnificent objects in the sky. It is located 8,000 trillion miles away and stretches across 160 trillion miles. At its center are four young, hot stars known as the Trapezium that were born from the nebula and stimulate its gas to glow pink. They can be seen in a small telescope at 50x magnification. More stars are continuing to form in this nebula.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    192 views2 pages

    Tickle of Mythology: Logue of Nearly 8,000 Objects

    Uploaded by

    Ant Green
    The Orion Nebula, M42, is one of the most magnificent objects in the sky. It is located 8,000 trillion miles away and stretches across 160 trillion miles. At its center are four young, hot stars known as the Trapezium that were born from the nebula and stimulate its gas to glow pink. They can be seen in a small telescope at 50x magnification. More stars are continuing to form in this nebula.

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    The Orion Nebula, M42 is one of the most magnicient objects in the sky.

    It is 8,000 trillion miles


    away and stretches across 160 trillion miles. At
    its center are four young hot stars, known as the
    Trapezium, that were born from the nebula and
    stimulate its gas to glow pink. They can be seen
    in a small telescope at 50x. More stars are forming in this nebula.

    NGC1977

    M42
    Trapezium
    i

    Deep Sky Objects & Double Stars

    Charting Terminology & Nomenclature


    Celestial Coordinates
    Astronomy uses coordinates
    analgous to latitude and longitude. Declination (Dec or d) is
    equivalent to latitude but uses +
    and instead of N and S. Right
    Ascension (RA or a) is equivalent
    to longitude but has 24 divisions
    representing hours because the
    stars circle the Earth in a day.
    M and NGC Catalogues
    Noted in this atlas are many
    Deep Sky Objects with their catalogue designations. The M
    numbers are from the Messier
    catalogue of over 100 objects
    compiled by Charles Messier in
    the late 1700s and is still used
    today because it lists the biggest
    and brightest objects visible from
    Pleiades, M42
    Open Cluster

    the northern hemisphere. NGC


    refers to the New General Catalogue of nearly 8,000 objects
    compiled by J.L.E. Dreyer in the
    late 1800s.
    Numbers & Greek Letters
    Some charts have numbers and
    Greek letters to indicate the
    brighter stars. The numbers are
    Flamsteed numbers and the
    Greek letters are Bayer letters,
    names of early astronmers who
    started this nomenclature.
    Magnitude of Stars
    The stars are classified by brightness using a system of magnitudes. For the stars visible to the
    naked eye, the scale ranges from
    about 1.4 (negative 1.4) for the
    brightest star Sirius in the con-

    Globular
    Cluster, M22

    Planetary
    Nebula, M57

    stellation CANIS MAJOR to +6


    or 6 for the faintest. The planet
    Venus shines as bright as 4.6
    and Jupiter as bright as 2.5.
    Milky Way Band
    The hazy band that stretches
    across the sky represents the
    faint glow from the majority of
    stars in our Milky Way Galaxy
    totalling about 100 billion. Our
    Sun is just one of these stars.
    Southern Magellanic Clouds
    From the Southern Hemisphere,
    you can see two milky patches
    detached from the Milky Way
    Band. They are called the Large
    and Small Magellanic clouds and
    are two dwarf galaxies that are
    companions to our Milky Way
    Galaxy.

    Crab Nebula, M1
    Supernova

    Andromeda
    Galaxy, M31

    Deep Sky Objects (DSOs) are Open Clusters,


    Globular Clusters, Planetary Nebulae, Nebulae,
    Supernova Remnants and Galaxies.
    An Open Cluster is a group of several to
    hundreds of stars that were born out of the same
    nebula cloud. The group often forms a pretty pattern. The Pleiades and Southern Pleiades are
    great examples. Open clusters reside in our Milky
    Way Galaxy. Our Sun is no longer in its group.
    Globular Clusters look like fuzzy balls because they contain tens of thousands stars held
    together by their mutual gravity. All of the globulars that can be seen in the sky are part of our
    Milky Way Galaxythere are about 200 of
    themand they surround our galaxy like a halo.
    M22 in SAGITTARIUS is a northern favorite.
    A Planetary Nebula has nothing to do with
    the planets. Instead, it is a round or symmetrical
    nebula that is the shed atmosphere of a dying
    star. At its center is a white dwarf star. When our
    Sun dies, it will create a planetary nebula. These
    objects have diameters of a few light years and
    are located in our galaxy. The Ring Nebula, M57,
    in LYRA is a favorite.

    Observing Tips
    Almost every object indicated in this atlas can
    be seen with a small telescope. Double stars
    can be observed in light-pollluted skies. A few
    can be split with binoculars but others require
    a telescope with powers up to 200x. DSOs are

    A Supernova Remnant is the remaining


    hydrogen gas from a very large star that has
    exploded at the end of its life. M1, the Crab
    Nebula in TAURUS is the easiest to observe.
    A Nebula is a giant hydrogen gas cloud
    that is located in our galaxy and can span 60
    light years or more. Within these clouds, concentrations of gas can occur and gravitationally condense to form stars and accompanying
    planets. A set of stars created by a nebula is
    known as an Open Cluster. The Orion Nebula,
    M42 is a favorite.
    Galaxies contain billions of stars. All
    galaxies are beyond our Milky Way Galaxy,
    where our Sun resides. When you are observing a galaxy, you are looking through our
    galaxy into the true depths of the universe.
    The Andromeda Galaxy, M31 can be seen
    with the naked eye.
    A Double Star is a star that looks like
    one star but when magnified sufficiently,
    it separates into two or more stars. Some
    are very pretty because of contrasting colors.
    Albireo in CYGNUS is a favorite as well as
    Castor in GEMINI.
    best observed in darks skies with no Moon
    using magnifications of 50x125x. Large
    objects, like the Pleiades are great in binoculars. The Milky Way Band is best in country
    skies and fun to scan with binoculars.

    Tickle of Mythology
    Arcas and his beautiful mother, Callisto were
    turned into the Little and Big Bears, URSA MAJOR
    and MINOR by jealous Juno, wife of promiscuous
    Jupiter.
    During an early war between the Titans and
    Olympians, DRACO was flung to the North and
    frozen in place by the cold.
    King CEPHEUS and Queen CASSIOPEIA
    ruled Ethiopia. Their beautiful daughter
    ANDROMEDA is being rescued by PERSEUS
    from the sea monster CETUS.
    AURIGA, the Charioteer supervised the royal
    livestock, including a goat that provided milk for
    growing Jupiter.
    The Pleiades or Seven Sisters rise before
    ORION, out-of-reach of his amorous clutches.
    Orion is a great Hunter and battles the Bull,
    TAURUS. Below his feet is LEPUS, the Hare.
    At his back is the ultimate prize for any hunter, the
    Unicorn MONOCEROS. His Big and Little Hunting
    Dogs, CANIS MAJOR and MINOR follow.
    ERIDANDUS, the River is before Orion, representing the water of life.
    GEMINI is the warlike Twins, Pollux and Castor, protectors of seafarers. Pollux is immortal but
    Castor is not.
    LEO the Lion has the star Regulus implying
    regal, king or mighty. Before him is CANCER, the
    Crab sent to prevent Hercules from killing the nine
    headed HYDRA as one of his twelve labors toward
    a virtuous life.
    When VIRGO is in the night sky, crops grow.
    The growing season is ended when she dips below
    the horizon.

    CANES VENATICI are the Hunting Dogs


    of BOOTES who is also seen as a Ploughman.
    CORONA BOREALIS is the crown of Bacchus,
    the god of wine.
    OPHIUCHUS is a healer handling the
    snake SERPENS that has medicinal powers.
    AQUILA is Jupiters Eagle that carries out
    tasks. SAGITTARIUS the Archer is a warlike
    centaur. Mother Earth lets SCORPIUS crawls
    out of the great Milky Way crack to kill
    ORION, for boasting, but it is kept at bay by
    Ophiuchus.
    LYRA the Lyre has enchanting powers.
    CYGNUS the Swan helped Helios find the
    pieces of his son, having fallen from the chariot
    that pulls the Sun across they sky.
    AQUARIUS is the water and cup carrier, a
    servant of the gods.
    CAPRICORNUS is a Seagoat, the partially transformed, half-goat, half-fish body of
    the god Pan who got scared and hurriedly escaped the monster Typhoon in order to warn
    Jupiter. The word panic is derived from Pan.
    PEGASUS, the Winged Horse is the deliver of Jupiters thunderbolts.
    ARIES, the Ram with the golden fleece
    can fly and was used by the god Nephele to
    rescue children.
    PISCES represents Venus and Cupid that
    changed themselves into two fishes tied together with a string to stay together and escape the monster Typhoon.

    60 Brightest Stars

    NGC5128

    OPHIUCHUS,
    the Healer
    holding SERPENS,
    the Snake

    The Coalsack next to


    CRUZ is a dark nebula
    that is blocking light
    from stars behind it.

    Eta Carinae Nebula

    Name

    Constellation

    Distance Magnitude
    Light Years

    Sun
    Sirius
    Canopus
    Arcturus
    Rigil Kent
    Vega
    Capella
    Rigel
    Procyon
    Achernar
    Betelgeuse
    Hadar
    Altair
    Acrux
    Aldebaran
    Spica
    Antares
    Pollux
    Fomalhaut
    Becrux
    Deneb
    Regulus
    Adhara
    Castor
    Gacrux
    Shaula
    Bellatrix
    Alnath
    Miaplacidus
    Alnilam

    CANIS MAJOR
    CARINA
    BOOTES
    CENTAURUS
    LYRA
    AURIGA
    ORION
    CANIS MINOR
    ERIDANUS
    ORION
    CENTAURUS
    AQUILA
    CRUX
    TAURUS
    VIRGO
    SCORPIUS
    GEMINI
    PISCIS AUSTRINUS
    CRUX
    CYGNUS
    LEO
    CANIS MAJOR
    GEMINI
    CRUX
    SCORPIUS
    ORION
    TAURUS
    CARINA
    ORION

    8.6
    313
    37
    4
    25
    42
    1,400
    11
    144
    1,400
    526
    16
    321
    65
    220
    522
    34
    25
    350
    1,500
    78
    400
    52
    88
    330
    1,400
    131
    111
    1,000

    26.8
    1.4
    0.6
    0.1
    0.01
    0.0
    +0.1
    +0.2
    0.4
    0.5
    0.5
    0.6
    0.8
    0.8
    0.9
    1.0
    1.1
    1.2
    1.2
    1.3
    1.3
    1.4
    1.5
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.6
    1.7
    1.7
    1.7

    Name

    Constellation

    Distance Magnitude
    Light Years

    GRUS
    57
    Alnair
    800
    ORION
    Alnitak
    Regor
    VELA
    840
    URSA MAJOR
    81
    Alioth
    630
    Mirphak
    PERSEUS
    Kaus Australis SAGITTARIUS
    76
    Dubhe
    URSA MAJOR
    124
    CANIS MAJOR
    2,000
    Wezen
    Alkaid
    URSA MAJOR
    101
    600
    Avior
    CARINA
    SCORPIUS
    270
    Sargas
    Menkalinan AURIGA
    82
    TRIANGULUM AUSTRALE 400
    Atria
    GEMINI
    100
    Alhena
    Delta () Velorum VELA
    80
    183
    PAVO
    Peacock
    URSA MINOR
    316
    Polaris
    Mirzam
    CANIS MAJOR
    500
    177
    HYDRA
    Alphard
    SAGITTARIUS
    170
    Nunki
    Algol
    PERSEUS
    93
    36
    LEO
    Denebola
    ARIES
    66
    Hamal
    Alpheratz
    ANDROMEDA
    97
    URSA MINOR
    126
    Kochab
    ORION
    78
    Saiph
    Deneb Kaitos CETUS
    96
    VELA
    600
    Alsuhail
    CARINA
    700
    Aspidiske
    CORONA BOREALIS
    78
    Alphekka

    1.7
    1.7
    1.7
    1.8
    1.8
    1.8
    1.8
    1.8
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    1.9
    2.0
    2.0
    2.0
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.1
    2.2
    2.2
    2.2

    Closest Stars

    Centaurus A Galaxy

    Celestial Tidbits
    There are a total of 88 constellations in
    the sky and all of them are shown in this
    atlas. Each constellation has a boundary. CRUX
    occupies the least area and HYDRA the most.
    SERPENS is the only constellation that is split
    between two parts of the sky, on opposite
    sides of OPHIUCHUS.
    We use the same constellations described by the ancient Greeks. However,
    most names of stars are from Arabic. Fourteen
    constellations in the southern hemisphere
    were charted by the French astronomer
    Nicolas Louis de Lacaille around 1750.
    About 5000 stars can be seen with the
    naked eye. Most people can see stars as
    faint as magnitude 6.
    Stars twinkle because of turbulence
    in the atmosphere and twinkle most when
    low in the sky. The visible planets do not
    normally twinkle but shine bright and
    steady.
    For a star, our Sun is average in size and
    middle aged, about 4.6 billion years old.

    A falling star or
    meteor is not a star
    but a gain of sand
    from space slamming
    into and burning up in
    our atmosphere. These
    grains of sand are shed
    from comets that come
    close to the Sun.
    Thuban was the
    North Star around
    2800 BC. Vega will be
    the North Star around
    14,000 AD. The Earths axis wobbles (called precession) around a great circle in the North every
    25,800 years and points close to several stars.
    A Light Year (ly) is a unit of length and is
    equal to the distance light travels in one year.
    Since light moves at the speed of 186,282 miles a
    second, one light year is nearly 6 trillion miles
    long. Our Milky Way Galaxy is about 80,000 light
    years in diameter.

    Our Sun is the closest star at just 93 million miles


    away. The closest nighttime star visible to the
    naked eye is Alpha ( ) Centauri in the constellation CENTARUS and it is also known as Rigel
    Kent or Rigel Kentaurus. Alpha Centauri shines
    brightly at magnitude 0.01 and is just 4.4 light
    years away. One light year (ly) is about 6 trillion
    miles. The very closest star is Proxima in CEN-

    TARUS at just 4.22 ly away (noted on chart). It is


    too faint to see with the eyes because it shines
    at magnitude +11. The second closest star visible to the naked eye is Sirius at 8.6 ly followed
    by Epsilon ( ) Eridani at 10.5 ly and Procyon
    at 11.4 ly. There are several stars closer than
    these three but they are too faint to be seen
    with the naked eye.

    The Planets move along the Ecliptic


    Beautiful M7 Cluster

    Sombrero Galaxy, M104

    The planets are not indicated in this atlas because


    they move through the fixed stars! However, the
    planets and Moon can always be found on or near
    the orange, sine-wave curve, which is a path in the
    sky called the ecliptic. If you could see the stars
    during the day, the ecliptic is the path that the
    Sun takes through the stars over the course
    of a year and is a result of Earths revolution
    around the Sun. The planets and Moon are always
    on or very near the ecliptic because they orbit in
    nearly the same plane as Earth. The five planets,
    visible to the naked eye, in order of brightness,
    are: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars and Mercury.

    If you see a bright star that is not in this atlas, it


    will be one of the five planets usually Venus
    or Jupiter. Normally, the planets do not twinkle
    and this is one way to help identify them. Visit
    www.whatouttonight.com for the location of the
    planets. The planets are best viewed with a telescope using magnifications from 50x to 200x.
    The ecliptic passes through the 12
    constellations of the zodiac which are listed
    to the left, along with their symbols. The list is
    in the order that the Sun passes through the
    constellations and starts with PISCES, where
    the Sun resides at the start of Spring.

    Field Guide

    Atlas
    Heavens
    of the

    With 200 Favorite


    Binocular & Telescope Objects

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