Imaging the Caldwells for the Astronomical League
(Imaging Calwell Observing Program)
Updated 05/05/24 08:39 PM -0400

Caldwells done to date: 52

Seeing what the ZWO SeeStar S50 can do on another esteemed list of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies!  My goal is to image 70 of these for the silver level Caldwell certificate.
All images are 2-5 minutes of live stacking unless otherwise noted. Each image is the stacked jpg straight out of Seestar, no post-processing save for a quick contrast and desaturation before uploading in either the native iPhone photos app or the free version of Lightroom. Alternatively a few of the jpgs are instead run through a quick Topaz Denoise followed by a one-click adjustment in Photoshop (either HDR or auto curves); these are indicated by "TopazDN+PS" in the notes column. 

 All images are taken by myself using a ZWO SeeStar S50, a 50mm refractor at 202mm FL with the IMX462 imaging chip at Deerlick Astronomy Village, Sharon GA (33.553879, -82.761069) unless noted otherwise. All are 10 second images, live-stacked. Time and date stamps, plus total stack times, are captured in the image watermark. All times are local (Eastern time zone).

 

Caldwell Target List

C# NGC/IC Con. Type Date Local Time S/T Image Observing Notes R. A. Dec. Mag. Size
(arcmin)
Notes
1 188 Cep OC 1/29/24 20:10 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 1 (NGC 188) This open cluster is loosely concentrated and is composed of stars of varying size and magnitude. Long strings of stars spiral out as if the entire cluster is slowly spinning. This sense of movement is especially noticeable along the top edge of the cluster. 00 44.4 +85 20 8.1 14
2 40 Cep PN 1/29/24 221:33 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 2 (NGC 40) This planetary nebula was glowing with an atypical but prominent reddish cast to it tonight, likely due to the filter used. Although hard to see in this image but noticeable when viewing live, the nebula seemed to have identations on opposite sides (left and right in this orientation), giving it a hint of an apple core shape.   00 13.0 +72 32 11.6 0.6
3 4236 Dra SbG 4/29/24 01:20 T1/5
S1/5
thin clouds
Caldwell 3 (NGC 4236) What an unusual contorted wisp of a galaxy! It is elongated with a star-like core and has knots and twists in its spiral arms. It is so dim that I almost didn't see it  - shooting through high thin clouds made it challenging! I'd like to return to this object under better conditions. 12 16.7 +69 28 9.7 21 x 7
4 7023 Cep BN           21 01.8 +68 12 6.8 18 x 18 Reflection Nebula
5 IC 342 Cam SBcG 2/6/24 21:42 T2/5
S2.5/5
Caldwell 5 (IC 342) A rose-like beauty hiding as a dim galaxy in Camelopardalis! Such a pretty surprise once I enhanced the contrast to pull out the details. There is evidently a lot of Milky Way dust in between us and this galaxy. The bottom portion of it appears to be abruptly shadowed with a finger of darkness. 03 46.8 +68 06 9.2 18 x 17 [Topaz+PS]
6 6543 Dra PN 5/2/24 00:02 S3/5
S3/5
Caldwell 6 (NGC 6543) Cat's Eye Nebula The Cat's Eye Nebula is surprisingly small here but it is surrounded by the tell-tale turquoise-green haze characteristic of planetary nebula. It is fairly round but shows no structural details with this 2" scope. If you look closely though, you'll see a small scraggly turquoise squiggle which turns out to be the mag 15.7 planetary nebula, IC 4677. I was excited to find that! Another tiny object in this field is little NGC 6552, a 14th magnitude spiral galaxy visible as a vertical bit of fluff directly below the Cat's Eye. See a rough image with labels here. 17 58.6 +66 38 8.8 0.3/5.8 Cat's Eye Nebula
7 2403 Cam ScG 2/13/24 32:47 T4/5
S2/5
Caldwell 7 (NGC 2403) What a stunning galaxy! Look at us almost face-on, this galaxy shows off its lovely arms sqirling around a condensed core. One of the arms is sharply angled (to the left of the core) as if something has squashed it. A dozen pretty stars appear to be embedded in the arms, but I'm assuming that they are actually foreground stars. I'll definitely come back and visit this one again! 07 36.9 +65 36 8.9 18 x 10
8 559 Cas OC 1/29/24 21:23 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 8 (NGC 559) This is a fine-grained and tight cluster. A dozen or more star make a straight-line exit from the left side. Off-center in the core is a clump of brighter stars. Three noticeable voids lie in the field to the left, top, and right of this cluster as if something emptied out the stars and left dark pools. 01 29.5 +63 18 9.5 4
9 Sh2-155 Cep BN       .   22 56.8 +62 37 7.7 50 x 10 Cave Nebula
10 663 Cas OC 1/12/24 00:45 T3/5
S2/5
C10  NGC 663 I really like these Caldwell open clusters! This one is loosely packed with a void running into the center of it. A variety of star sizes can be seen, with two clumps of bright ones to the top and bottom right. To me it looks like a Chinese dragon with its mouth open. 01 46.0 +61 15 7.1 16
11 7635 Cas BN 1/31/24 22:01 T 2.5/5
T 4/5
Caldwell 11 (Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635) with M52 (NGC7 654) The Bubble Nebula is such a lovely and so three-dimensional nebula. Truly looking ike a bubble in motion, it is encased in a billowing cloud of rosy gas. The dense open cluster M52 lies to the above and right. 23 20.7 +61 12 7 15 x 8 Bubble Nebula
12 6946 Cep ScG . 20 34.8 +60 09 9.7 11 x 9
13 457 Cas OC 1/5/24 00:31 T4/5
S3/5
C13  M457 This is the Owl or "E.T." cluster, with two big bright stars for eyes (one brighter than the other), and a long arm of doublets stretching out to the left (complete with a bright star where the glowing fingertip should be.) If you;d like to interpret this as an owl, there are "wings" closer to his body. the left "wing" is made of three nice pairs of stars with a couple of smaller stars at the tip. This is one of my favorite clusters for outreach at schools. 01 19.1 +58 20 6.4 13 Phi Cas Cluster
14 869/884 Per OC 1/5/24 00:26 T4/5
S3/5
C14 Double Cluster This is the famous Double Cluster in Perseus, a fabulous binocular object. The upper cluster in this image is NGC 884 (chi Persei); the lower one is NGC 869 (h Persei). We can see my favorite little man asterism of bright stars (or maybe he's an astronaut) at the center of NGC 869. 02 20.0 +57 08 4.3 30 and 30 Sword Handle
15 6826 Cyg PN . 19 44.8 +50 31 9.8 0.5/2.3 Blinking Nebula
16 7243 Lac OC 1/29/24  19:56 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 16 (NGC 7243) This entire star field is packed with streamers of small stars with a handful of larger stars scattered throughut. The open cluster itself is loose and stretched out in a somewhat oblong formation of brighter stars. (Squint your eyes to pick it out.) The "cluster" (if you can call it that) has several doublets & triplets of stars accenting the group.  22 15.3 +49 53 6.4 21
17 147 Cas dE4G 1/31/24 20:33 T 2.5/5
T 4/5
Caldwell 17 (NGC 147) and Caldwell 18 (NGC 185) I somehow managed to squeeze Caldwell 17 and 18 into the same field here. C17, at the bottom right, is a very faint oval dwarf galaxy. It diffuse and hard to see, despite its offical magnitude of 9.7. Its companion, Caldwell 18, sits almost off-screen at the top left.  It has a much brighter, more obvious core, but its surrounding haze is still extremely faint. As such, it is deservedly given a brighter magnitude of 9.2. 00 33.2 +48 30 9.3 13 x 8
18 185 Cas dE0G 1/31/24 20:33 T 2.5/5
T 4/5
Caldwell 17 (NGC 147)  and Caldwell 18 (NGC 185) See observing notes above (in the same field with Caldwell 17). 00 39.0 +48 20 9.2 12 x 9
19 IC 5146 Cyg BN       .   21 53.5 +47 16 10 12 x 12 Cocoon Neb
20 7000 Cyg BN       .   20 58.8 +44 20 6 120 x 100 Nort American Nebula
21 4449 CVn IG 3/14/24 00:50 T2
S2/5 (smoke!)
Caldwell 21 (NGC 4449) This is an odd, irregular, blob of a galaxy. It is rectangular in shape, with a long, narrow, bright core. Unique! 12 28.2 +44 06 9.4 5 x 3 [TopazDN+PS]
22 7662 And PN 1/29/24 20:21 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 22 (NGC 7662) This planetary nebula is a favorite called the "Blue Snowball". It is round, bright, & definitely shines with a touch of electric blue! It sits just below a broad curve five bright field stars. Bright variable star 13 Andromedae sits on the upper right edge of the field. 23 25.9 +42 33 9.2 0.3/2.2
23 891 And SbG 1/11/24 21:09 T4/5
S2/5
C23  M891 This "silver sliver" edge-on spiral galaxy is a needle-like beauty sporting a tight and thin dust belt straight across its middle. It's sitting in a field of scattered stars, the brightest of which is mag 6.7 HD 14771, just above the galaxy to the right. It is reportedly similar in structure to our own Milky Way. 02 22.6 +42 21 9.9 14 x 2
24 1275 Per Seyfert 1/12/24 01:02 T3/5
S2/5
C24  NGC 1275 NGC 1275 plate solve This is a very small (2.2' x 1') spiral galaxy that really deserves a larger aperture than the Seestar S50. The small fuzzy "bean" in the center of the field (image1) is our galaxy NGC 1275, better known by its strong radio & xray source as "Perseus A". Below it (a hop just over bright star in between) is slightly dimmer galaxy NGC 1272. Just to NGC 1275's upper right is a tilted pair of fuzzy cats-eyes that are also galaxies. There are actually 20 galaxies in this image - see the plate solve (image2)! This galaxy cluster is catalogued as Abell 625. 03 19.8
+41 31 11.6 2.6 x 1 Per A radio source
25 2419 Lyn GC 1/29/24 20:55 T3/5
S2/5
Caldwell 25 (NGC 2419) This is a really cool globular cluster that joins two mag 7/8 stars to make a evenly spaced and sized line of three "stars". It takes a moment to realized that the bottom "star" is actually a dimmer and fuzzier globular cluster and not a star. Known as the "intergalactic wanderer", it was once thought to be located outside of the Milky Way.  07 38.1 +38 53 10.4 4.1
26 4244 CVn SG 3/13/24 23:33 T2
S2/5 (smoke!)
Caldwell 26 (NGC 4244) This is the "Silver Needle" galaxy. Aptly named, it is an edge-on spiral that is extremely thin and elongated, narrowing into tips at each end. The center core glows brightly and a nice dust band can just barely be detected crossing along the top of its midsection. The outer regions are a bit clumpy, but it's hard to resolve much detail. 12 17.5 +37 49 10.6 16 x 2.5 [TopazDN+PS]
27 6888 Cyg BN       .   20 12.0 +38 21 7.5 20 x 10 Crescent Nebula
28 752 And OC 1/11/24 23:59 T3/5
S2/5
C28  nGC 752 This is a large (1.25°) and loose open cluster that spreads out the width of this FOV (roughly 0.75° x 1.5°). At this magnification the perimeter of the oc is indistinct, but with a nice drizzle of stars extending into the field at the lower edge of center. A vdark oid encroaches into the center. 01 57.8 +37 41 5.7 50
29 5005 CVn SbG 3/20/24 6:10 T3/5
S1/5
Caldwell 29 (NGC 5005) This is a laid-back spiral galaxy. The brightness of its core overpowers the glow of its dusty encircling arms.  To the upper left in the field is bright mag 6.5 red giant star HD 114975; this star looks yellowish here. 13 10.9 +37 03 9.8 5.4 x 2
30 7331 Peg SbG       .   22 37.1 +34 25 9.5 11 x 4
31 IC 405 Aur BN 1/12/24 00:34 T3/5
2/5
C31  IC 405 Bright star AE Aurigae illuminates this large but low surface brightness nebula with rosy pinks and reds. The nebula can be imagined as the heated smoke from the flaming star. A proper image needs more time to bring out the lovely details, but I'm please that this short exposure with a small aperture scope conveys the overall nature of the nebula. 05 16.2 +34 16 6 30 x 19 Flaming Star Nebula
32 4631 CVn ScG 3/20/24 6:10 T3/5
S1/5
Caldwell 32 (NGC 4631) The Whale and the Pup Another favorite grouping, this is the Whale and its Pup (the little elliptical next to it on the right). The Whale is filled with knots and swirls and sports a twisted "lip" on its upper left side. A tattered needle-like galaxy with an abruptly turned up tip, NGC 4656, sits to the upper left in the frame. 12 42.1 +32 32 9.3 15 x 3 Whale & Pup
33 6992 Cyg SN       .   20 56.4 +31 43 - 60 x 8 East Veil Nebula
34 6960 Cyg SN       .   20 45.7 +30 43 - 70 x 6 West Veil Nebula
35 4889 Com E4G 3/30/24 23:42 T2.5/5
S2/5
Caldwell 35 (NGC 4884/4889) Calwell 35 field This is a super giant elliptical galaxy (center) in the middle of a swarm of smaller ones. A companion elliptcal, NGC 4872, sits nearby to the upper right. Three bright (mag 7-8) stars form a lazy "L" to the upper left. Another mag 12 galaxy, NGC 4921, stands out in the field, located straight down from our target. The labeled field (image #2) reveals the host of deep sky objects captured here! 13 00.1 +27 59 11.4 3 x 2 Brightest in cluster
36 4559 Com ScG 3/14/24 01:39 T2/5
S2/5 (smoke)
Caldwell 36 (NGC 4559) Nice elongated spiral with disturbed internal structure. Prominent dust lanes and knots can be seen. Its bright stellar core houses a black hole!  12 36.0 +27 58 9.8 10 x 4 [TopazDN+PS]
37 6885 Vul OC       .   20 12.0 +26 29 5.7 7
38 4565 Com SbG 3/30/24 22:05 T2.5/5
S2/5
Caldwell 38 (NGC 4565with NGC 4562) This is one of my favorites, the Needle Galaxy. It's an edge-on spiral that looks like a long, sharp shard of glass with a striking dust band running staight across its middle. A real showstopper!  A thin fluff of a galaxy sits next to it on the right, the small spiral NGC 4562. 12 36.3 +25 59 9.6 16 x 3
39 2392 Gem PN 1/12/24 00:13 T3/5
S2/5
C39 Eskimo Nebula Formerly known as the Eskimo Nebula, this planetary is now called the Lion Face or Clown Nebula due to the appearance of its surrounding "mane" of nebulosity at high magnification. However, at lower magnfications such as in this image, the nebula shows off an imediately identifiable blue-green plantary sheen to its slightly out-of-focus orb. Easy to find in the field due to its glowing turquoise color. 07 29.2 +20 55 9.9 0.2/0.7 Eskimo Nebula
40 3626 Leo SbG 3/13/24 22:34 T2
S2/5 (smoke!)
Caldwell 40 (NGC 3626) This spiral galaxy is quite small, but has an intensely bright core surrounded by a bright inner envelope, with a faint dusty haze encircling it on the outside. The bright central region seems to cut off abruptly on each of its long sides. A tiny little fluff of a galaxy (~1 arcmin in size, NGC 3639) can , sit s above it to the right. be seen about halfway down on the far left side of the field. 11 20.1 +18 21 10.9 3 x 2 [TopazDN+PS]
41 - Tau OC 2/6/24 21:11 T4/5
S2/5
Caldwell 41 (Hyades) The Hyades is a favorite naked eye target to admire as it hovers over Orion. Its distinctive V-shape makes stands out easily in the winter sky. Bright star Aldebaran reigns, but the range of sizes in the other stars in the group adds a lot of interest.The Hyades is always a favorite asterism to point out to guests. This is a hand-held iPhone photo, slightly cropped. 04 27.0 +16 00 1 330 Hyades
42 7006 Del GC       .   21 01.5 +16 11 10.6 2.8 Very distant globular
43 7814 Peg SbG       .   00 03.3 +16 09 10.5 6 x 2
44 7479 Peg SBbG       .   23 04.9 +12 19 11 4 x 3
45 5248 Boo ScG 5/1/24 22:50 T3/5
S3/5
Caldwell 45 (NGC 5248) What a pretty little galaxy! It is a face-on spiral with a well-defined oval core. Two prominent arms cradle the core as distinct arched segments, cupped like hands around it. Faint haze can be seen extending out from each end. Quite nice. 13 37.5 +08 53 10.2 6 x 4
46 2261 Mon BN 1/11/24 23:13 T3/5
S2/5
C46 NGC 2261 Called "Hubble's Variable Nebula", this is a small bright V-shaped object that looks more like a comet, complete with billowing tail, than a reflection nebula. I can imagine that when it was first discovered, its lack of movement across the star field must have been quite puzzling. Interesting too is the background field of stars: a long river of dark void just under the nebula flows diagonally from the top left corner to the bottom right, snaking its way all the way across the field. 06 39.2 +08 44 10 2 x 1 Hubble's Variable Neb.
47 6934 Del GC       .   20 34.2 +07 24 8.9 5.9
48 2775 Cnc SaG 1/11/24 23:44 T3/5
S2/5
C48  NGC 2775 This spiral galaxy in Cancer looks more like an oval elliptical because it is so bright at mag 10. It has a bright oval core surrounded by a hazy envelope, presumably spiral arms full of stars. 09 10.3 +07 02 10.3 4.5 x 3
49 2237 Mon BN 1/11/24 22:44 T4/5
S2/5
C49 C50 Rosetter with Open Cluster This is the famous Rosette emission nebula, usually processed so that it is seen in vibrant pink and rose. With my light pollution filter and only smart phone processing of a short low-res jpg, my image came out in reds, greens, and brown. It is still a stunning site to see with all of the billowing clouds of color and dust. It is larger than my image frame and I hope someday to make a panorama image that encompasses the entire nebula. In th central hole lies an open cluster of stars, the next Caldwell object below. 06 32.3 +05 03 - 80 x 60 Rosette Nebula
50 2244 Mon OC 1/11/24 22:44 T4/5
S2/5
C49 C50 Rosetter with Open Cluster This elongated and boxy open cluster climbs up into the center of the rosette like a ladder. Three main pairs of bright stars and another 8-12 smaller stars stand out.  On closer inspection the middle pair of stars in this ladder is actually a "pair of pairs" (two doublets). The bright star on the ladder's lower left is brighter and more yellow than its companions. 06 32.4 +04 52 4.8 24
51 IC 1613 Cet IG 1/31/24 19:56 T 2.5/5
T 4/5
Caldwell 51 (IC1613) What dwarf galaxy Caldwell 51 lacks in brightness is made up by size. It is quite large and rather amorphous. However, it is so faint, I had to really crank up the HDR (and unfortunately accompanying noise) to be able to see it here. A larger aperture and hours of exposure time are needed to do this galaxy justice. 01 04.8 +02 07 9 12 x 11
52 4697 Vir E4G 4/28/24 22.56 T1/5
S1/5
18% clouds
Caldwell 52 (NGC 4697) Shooting through thin clouds tonight, but this bright galaxy still shines through. The galaxy is an elongated elliptical with a bit of plumpness to it. It is relatively large with glowing oval core. At its left end, it seems to be resting its nose between a matched pair of field stars. 12 48.6 -05 48 9.3 6 x 3
53 3115 Sex E6G 2/14/24 00:48 T4/5
S2/5
Caldwell 53 (NGC 3115) This is a small but bright lenticular galaxy sitting at a 45-degree angle in the field. It is thin and elongated with a glowing core.  A round, dim bit of fuzz sits to its lower left. This is 12th magnitude galaxy PGC 29300. Star HD 87359 shines brightly to the upper right at mag 7.8. 10 05.2 -07 43 9.1 8 x 3 Spindle Galaxy
54 2506 Mon OC 1/11/24  23:23 T4/5
S2/5
C54 NGC 2506 What a busy field full of stars! This open cluster is compacted into a dense but rough wedge shape. Three groups of brighter stars punctuate the finely grained core. Very nice! 08 00.2 -10 47 7.6 7
55 7009 Aqr PN       .   21 04.2 -11 22 8.3 2.5/1 Saturn Nebula
56 246 Cet PN       .   00 47.0 -11 53 8 3.8
57 6822 Sgr IG . 19 44.9 -14 48 9.3 10 x 9 Barnard's Galaxy
58 2360 CMa OC 1/11/24 22:24 T4/5
S2/5
C58  NGC 2360 This is sometimes called "Caroline's Cluster", since it was discovered by Caroline Herschel. It appears in a dense star field in Canis Major as an arrow-shaped compact cluster. The brighter stars are in the tip of the arrowhead (to the upper right in this image), with a much looser structure of smaller stars in the wider/lower portion where we can see gaps of darkness between strings of stars. The tip of the arrow appears to be pointing at a bright (mag 5.4) star. There are 100's of stars here! 07 17.8 -15 37 7.2 13
59 3242 Hya PN 2/13/24 23:40 T4/5
S2/5
Caldwell 59 (NGC 3242) Ghost of Jupiter The tell-tale turquoise glow of this bright round object gave it away as a planetary nebula. It is so round and bright, I can see why they call this "Ghost of Jupiter". An easy-to-spot PN. It actually looks more turquoise than white when viewing in real time. Nice. 10 24.8 -18 38 8.6 0.3/21 Ghost of Jupiter
60 4038 Crv ScG 3/30/24 23:59 T2.5/5
S2/5
Caldwell 60 and 61 (NGC 1038 and 4039) Caldwell 60 and 61 are two interacting galaxies together known as the Antennae. Although their faint streaming "antennae" are not visible here, the chaotic cores of the two merging galaxies are stunning.  If visible, the antennae would stretch out in faint thin arcs off of the left center edge of these conjoined twins. The top galaxy has a more bulbous head and "eyes" on each side. The lower galaxy is has a large hazy outflow, seemingly towards the rear (away from us). Overall it is very three-dimensional and shows well the strong forces at work here.  12 01.9 -18 52 11.3 2.6 x 1.8 The Antennae
61 4039 Crv ScG 3/30/24 23:59 T2.5/5
S2/5
(see above image for C60) See description above. 12 01.9 -18 53 13 3.2 x 2.2 The Antennae
62 247 Cet SG       .   00 47.1 -20 46 8.9 20 x 7
63 7293 Aqr PN           22 29.6 -20 48 6.5 13 Helix Nebula
64 2362 CMa OC 1/11/24 23:34 T4/5
S2/5
C64  NGC 2362 This cluster is condensed but at the same time has a loose appearance cue to the range of star sizes within. One expectionally bright star dominates, the eponymous Tau CMa, at mag 4.4. 07 18.8 -24 57 4.1 8 Tau CMa Cluster
65 253 Scl SG       .   00 47.6 -25 17 7.1 25 x 7 Sculptor Galaxy
66 5694 Hya GC 5/2/24 00:14 T3/5
S3/5
Caldwell 66 (NGC 5694) This is a super cool object. At first it doesn't look like much, in fact it looks almost like a mirror image of the bright star with two smaller companion stars that sit just below it. But on closer inspection, it's not a star but a small globular cluster. It's reported to be one of the most distant globs from us, and according to Sky Safari, it "appears to be moving so fast that it is destined to escape from our Galaxy into intergalactic space." (Wow!) The loose stars sprinkling down on the lower two sides give the glob a windblown look - it's almost as if we can see it zooming through space! It is postulated that this cluster might have originally been part of the Magellenic cloud system and not of the Milky Way. 14 39.6 -26 32 10.2 3.6
67 1097 For SBbG 1/31/24 19:39 T4/5
S2.5/5
Caldwell 67 (NGC 1097) What a pretty spinning spiral! This face-on galaxy has two dramatic arms that reach out and then curve tightly back to hug the elongated barred core.  A companion galaxy can be seen just off the base of the right arm of this galaxy and in line with the core's bright main axis. This companion is starlike in this view, not quite round but slghtly squashed in shape. 02 46.3 -30 17 9.2 9 x 6
68 6729 CrA BN       .   19 01.9 -36 57 9.7 1 R CrA Nebula
69 6302 Sco PN       .   17 13.7 -37 06 12.8 0.8 Bug Nebula
70 300 Scl SdG       .   00 54.9 -37 41 8.1 20 x 13
71 2477 Pup OC 1/31/24 22:10 T4/5
S2.5/5
Caldwell 71 (NGC 2477) What an impressive open cluster! It fills much of this field with hundreds of stars of varying magnitudes. There are crowded clumps in the center, some loose loops on the outer edges, and a few chains reaching downwards towards bright star Naos (Zeta Puppis). An enjoyable view! 07 52.3 -38 33 5.8 27
72 55 Scl SBG       .   00 14.9 -39 11 8.2 32 x 6 Brightest in Scl Cluster
73 1851 Col GC 2/6/24 20:41 T2/5
S2.5/5
Caldwell 73 (NGC 1851) Big, bright, and grainy, this globular cluster was fun to come upon! It has a bright condensed core with loose stars nicely scattered around in the exterior halo. This image has a fuzzy spot just above the cluster. I don't see this in other images of NGC 1851, so I wonder if it's just an artifact of the seeing or is something else going on? (I don't see another small cluster or galaxy at this position.) 05 14.1 -40 03 7.3 11 [Topaz+PS]
74 3132 Vel PN 2/14/24 0:00 T4/5
S2/5
Caldwell 74 (NGC 3132) I had to go after this target several times before getting an image that even slightly revealed any subleties in the halo. This PN has an extremely bright (mag 8) central star with a poufy illuminated cloud surrounding it. Unfortunately I could not detect any color in this capture.  A nice "backwards question mark" of field stars circles around and embraces it, making it look somewhat like a light bulb. :) 10 07.7 -40 26 8.2 0.8 "Eight-Burst Nebula"
75 6124 Sco OC       .   16 25.6 -40 40 5.8 29
76 6231 Sco OC       .   16 54.0 -41 48 2.6 15
77 5128 Cen Peculiar Gx 4/29/24 01:56 T1/5 S1/5
Altitude only 10° with 73% moon rising!
(& was totally obscured by  clouds 30 minutes ago)
C77 Centaurus A (NGC 5128) This is one of my favorite southern hemisphere targets. The dramatic swoosh of the dust belt gives this Arp Peculiar Galaxy quite an air of mystery. This galaxy is actually the result of a merger of two smaller ones and is a well-known strong source of X-ray and radio emission. 13 25.5 -43 01 7 18 x 14 Cen A radio source
78 6541 CrA GC       .   18 08.0 -43 42 6.6 13
79 3201 Vel GC 3/13/24 23:15 T2/5
S2/5 (smoke!)
Caldwell 79 (NGC 3201) I was very excited to be able to capture this since it was only 8 deg above the southern horizon (as high as it ever gets here!) And look how yellow it is! I'm not sure now much its low altitude and tonight's hazy skies impacted the color, but Sky Safari says "With a low galactic latitude, it is known to experinece notable irregular variability of reddening across its face." So maybe a combination of factors are contributing to the golden hues. In this image, up is 14.7° east of north.  10 17.6 -46 25 6.7 18  [TopazDN+PS]
80 5139 Cen GC 4/29/24 00:46 T1/5 S1/5
Altitude only 8.75°!
(also fighting clouds)
C80 Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) Wow! What a stunning beauty - so big and bright with a golden glow! We only have one month where this is visible from this location, and at best it only reaches about 15 above the horizon at transit. Our weather has been so bad lately, I was determined to get this chance at it despite the thinning cloud cover. 13 26.8 -47 29 3.6 36 Omega Centauri
81 6352 Ara GC       .   17 25.5 -48 25 8.1 7
82 6193 Ara OC       .   16 41.3 -48 46 5.2 15
83 4945 Cen SBcG       .   13 05.4 -49 28 9.5 20 x 4
84 5286 Cen GC       .   13 46.4 -51 22 7.6 9
85 IC 2391 Vel OC       .   08 40.2 -53 04 2.5 50 o (Omicron) Vel Cluster
86 6397 Ara GC       .   17 40.7 -53 40 5.6 26
87 1261 Hor GC       .   03 12.3 -55 13 8.4 7
88 5823 Cir OC       .   15 05.7 -55 36 7.9 10
89 6087 Nor OC       .   16 18.9 -57 54 5.4 12 S Nor Cluster
90 2867 Car PN       .   09 21.4 -58 19 9.7 0.2
91 3532 Car OC       .   11 06.4 -58 40 3 55
92 3372 Car BN       .   10 43.8 -59 52 6.2 120 x 120 Eta Carinae Nebula
93 6752 Pav GC       .   19 10.9 -59 59 5.4 20
94 4755 Cru OC       .   12 53.6 -60 20 4.2 10 Jewel Box Cluster
95 6025 TrA OC       .   16 03.7 -60 30 5.1 12
96 2516 Car OC       .   07 58.3 -60 52 3.8 30
97 3766 Cen OC       .   11 36.1 -61 37 5.3 12
98 4609 Cru OC       .   12 42.3 -62 58 6.9 5
99 - Cru DN       .   12 53.0 -63 00 - 400 x 300 Coal Sack
100 IC 2944 Cen OC       .   11 36.6 -63 02 4.5 15 (Lambda) Cen Cluster
101 6744 Pav SBbG       .   19 09.8 -63 51 9 16 x 10
102 IC 2602 Car OC       .   10 43.2 -64 24 1.9 50 (Theta) Car Cluster
103 2070 Dor BN       .   05 38.7 -69 06 1 40 x 25 Tarantula Neb. in LMC
104 362 Tuc GC       .   01 03.2 -70 51 6.6 13
105 4833 Mus GC       .   12 59.6 -70 53 7.3 14
106 104 Tuc GC       .   00 24.1 -72 05 4 31 47 Tucanae
107 6101 Aps GC       .   16 25.8 -72 12 9.3 11
108 4372 Mus GC       .   12 25.8 -72 40 7.8 19
109 3195 Cha PN       .   10 09.5 -80 52 - 0.6