This week's DSO of The Week Object is a bright open cluster in the Cancer Constellation, with the brightest stars of the open cluster in the 6.4 to 6.7 mag visual range it is a great view in a set of modest binoculars. If you have a good dark site well away from the cities & intrusive mercury vapor lamps that seem to be popping up everywhere this fine open cluster can even be seen as a dim fuzzy patch with the naked eye! Individual stars can be resolved fair in that modest set of binoculars, and in a small telescope at 20x - 60x the individual stars are well resolved as sharp pin points of light. If you get the chance to get out yet in March The Beehive is well worth a few minutes of your time to observe!
To find this bright open cluster by star hopping is fairly easy using the star hopping method! First off get outside between the hours of 21:00 EST-DST (01:00 UT) and 23:00 EST-DST (03:00 UT). M44 will be located just south of the meridian and close to the zenith from the 21:00 hrs to after midnight making for the best possible viewing of it through that time. To find M44 First locate these three reference points:
1.) Locate the two bright stars of the Gemini Constellation, Pollux and Castor (see Triton Chart)
2.) Locate Procyon & Gomeisa the two bright stars of Canis Minor, Procyon being quite a bit the brighter of the two at a mag 0.38. Gomeisa being at a mag of 2.90. (see Triton Chart)
3.) Swing to the west of Procyon about 3hrs R.A. (Approximately 4 1/2 hand widths) and find Regulus the brightest star in the Leo Constellation at a mag of 1.35 (see Triton Chart)
4.) Now visually draw a large triangle in the sky using the stars Regulus; Procyon; and Castor as the three points of your triangle.
M44 The Beehive Cluster will be almost in the center of your triangle, just slightly to the south of center. You should also see a bright yellowish "star" with in this reference triangle you just drew in your mind's eye. If you take a look at this bright "yellow star" through your binoculars you will notice it has a slight oval or football shape to it. Well it is not a star at all, but our solar system's second largest gas giant planet Saturn. About as bright as Procyon it is easily found once you draw that triangle in your mind's eye. Swing your binoculars to the west of Saturn slightly and just slightly south, again you will find The Beehive Cluster.
Well now! What about Saturn you ask, now that you've found it you would like a closer look. In your binoculars up to about 10x you should be able to discern a moon or two of Saturn's. Using a modest refractor telescope in the 3" and above range you should be able to discern Saturn's distinctive ring(s) from magnifications in the 40x to 100X range. It's going to take a larger more expensive Reflector, Refractor, or Cassagrain telescope to be able to begin to see the more defined rings & gas striations of Saturn. Soon I will be posting some articles on telescope selections for the beginning amateur astronomer. Check back with the Star Deck Observatory later in the Reviews area for those articles!
Allow your eyes to dark adapt for a bit (20 minutes or so) & use the averted vision technique you should be able to get a good look at this cluster through your binoculars, If you have a good deal of light pollution in your observing area this cluster will be harder to distinguish in your binoculars and may require a telescope of F5 or above range 3 inches or above to get a good look at. The Moon rise times & phases over this week should allow you to get in some good observation time for this open cluster. Have fun take a little extra time go ahead and study Saturn too while you're in the neighborhood!
Clear Skies!
Mark Jordan
( 39.79020N x 85.81410W )
