NGC Objects and other deep sky objects(In the order observed)

NGC 2392 (1/29/2005, 16x50 Binoculars) Planetary Nebula

In Gemini

NGC 2392 is nick named "The Clown Face" and the "Eskimo".

But when I see it through my binoculars, the first thing

I noticed was it's so small. And there's not much details

to see in binoculars. However, being able to find it in

binoculars makes me believe that I'll see the Eskimo

in the big reflector!

NGC 2362 (1/29/2005, 16x50 Binoculars) Open Cluster

In Canis Major

It's also Caldwell 64. Stephen J. O'Meara calls it "Northern

Jewel Box".

It is a "star" in some atlas. The Northern Jewel Box is a

bright "star" in my binoculars too. I couldn't see any nebulosity.

But that may just be the bad seeing and environment -- I was

watching it in a parking lot full of lights.

Relatively easy to find, being close to bright stars in Canis

Major, one of my favorite constellations. It's bright, shining

at a manitude of 4.1. I hope I can see it as an open cluster

one day!

NGC 1499 (2/04/2005, 16x50 Binoculars) Diffuse Nebula

In Perseus

NGC 1499, also known as "California Nebula", because of its

shape. It's easy to find (from Pleaides to Omega Perseus, then

turn further right) but not that easy to contrast from the

surrounding night sky. However if you look long enough and from

all different angles, you can see it's a long strip of light.

I think it should be in my "Star Watch" but it's not. Pity.

This is an easy target and must be lovely in small telescopes.

NGC 2244 (2/04/2005, 16x50 Binoculars) Open Cluster

In Monoceros

The first time I attemped NGC2244, I tried to navigate from

Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion. But after several

attempts, I found that navigating by Beta Canis Minor is

easier. And the software "Cartes du Ciel" has very good atlas

showing dim stars in this area. It helped me greatly finding

my way in this not so bright neighborhood.

But NGC 2244 and its neighbors are lovely to see. They are

large and bright, even more exciting to see than lots of

famous Messier open clusters. So, don't be fooled by the

darkness of Monoceros. There's plenty of treasures here.

I could see some stars (forming a triangle) in NGC 2244.

NGC 2237 (2/04/2005, 16x50 Binoculars) Open Cluster

In Monoceros

Seen together with 2244. Close neighbors. It's not as distinct

as its neighbors CR 106 and CR 107, but looks fairly alike.

CR 106 and CR 107 (2/04/2005, 16x50 Binoculars)

Open Cluster in Monoceros

Looks brighter than NCG 2237. Very lovely, triangle shaped

clusters. Don't know why they are not assigned NGC numbers.

Easy to see several stars inside both clusters. Prettier

than lots of Messiers. (That's why they are not easily

mistaken as comets and probably hence not included in Messier's

catalog for comet-look-alikes).