This is your guide to the Moon, Planets and Deep Sky Objects this summer! We will take a look at what the summer sky has to offer for July, August and September. This includes, the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Vega, Hercules, the Milky Way and many more!

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“The heavens declare the glory of God”-Psalm 19:1
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Last year, I wrote about my first steps into the world of Astronomical League Observing Programs. Having recently completed the “Lunar” program, I decided to expand my observing books to also include:

Constellation Logbook

Galileo Logbook

“Northern Skies Constellation Program”
I am not very good with names. Be it people or stars. This observing program should help to familiarize myself with the constellations and some of the major stars that form them. I particularly enjoy the observing programs that require some sketching, and after 39 Northern Constellations, I should be a good bit better at recognizing the night time sky. To assist me in these observations, I have purchased a “Planisphere”. As a child, I could never match these correctly with the stars. I’m hoping for better results in my 30’s.

The Planisphere

The Planisphere

The Planisphere

“Galileo Observing Program”
Retracing the history and observations of the man who birthed the hobby is the purpose of this observing program. From the Moon to the Sun and the planets, the goal is to recreate the observations of Galileo. This one involves a variety of challenges that I am greatly looking forward too.

“The Observing Books”

Constellation Logbook

Galileo Logbook

A year after beginning the Astronomical League’s Messier Observing Program,  I have completed half of the list. With 55 objects down and 55 to go, it has been a wonderful year of deep-sky observations. I anticipate the second half to go a bit slower than the first. Two factors will contribute to this. The first is light pollution from my primary observing location. I have run into difficulty finding galaxies and globular clusters that are dimmer than +9.00 magnitude. The second is my wife and I expecting our first child in July. Between light pollution and a little one, it will definitely take me longer to complete the second half of this list.

Objects Observed:

M1, M2, M3, M5, M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, M19, M22, M25, M28, M31, M32, M34, M35, M36, M37, M38, M39, M40, M41, M42, M43, M44, M45, M46, M47, M48, M50, M51, M52, M53, M54, M56, M57, M63, M64, M67, M73, M76, M77, M78, M79, M80, M81, M82, M92, M93, M94, M103, M110

Favorite Objects:

• M11-Wild Duck Cluster
• M13-Hercules Cluster
• M31-Andromeda Galaxy
• M37-Open Cluster
• M42-Orion Nebula
• M45-Pleiades
• M57-Ring Nebula
• M67-Open cluster
• M76-Little Dumbbell Nebula
• M81-Bode’s Nebulae
• M82-Bode’s Nebula

Winter is cold!  Whenever I conjure up enough bravery to observe during the cold late and early months of the year I can’t help but think of the poor kid in “A Christmas Story” who horrifically froze his tongue to the freezing pole. Now, I’m not suggesting that amateur astronomers are constantly licking their telescopes, but there have been a few instances when the freezing steel tube touched by my bare warm hands and froze to them for an instant. Thankfully, those months are behind us and the warmer nights of the spring are upon us. What am I looking forward to from the spring time nights? Well, I’m glad I asked, because here are my top 5 spring observation sights!

5. Orion’s Nebula-I Know, I know, stop your shouting! Now it may be cheating to include this in my spring list when it is considered a winter constellation, but I get the most enjoyable views of Orion’s mighty nebula in the warmer nights of the spring than the cold nights of the winter.  The greenish blue glowing inner clouds are brought out beautifully by low to medium powered observations.  Views through a 2 inch 38 mm eyepiece reveal the dark background of space against the ghostly clouds of the nebula, bringing out the contrast and internal detail even more.  Be sure to add a UHC filter to experience even more contrast and depth.

4. Beehive Cluster-Last year I came across this cluster for the first time while doing observations of Mars at Roanoke College.  It may not be the most impressive star cluster out there, but it is still quite a sight to spend some time on.

3. Bode’s Nebula (M81 & M82)-Two of my favorite galaxies come back into prominence during this time of the year.  The best part about these galaxies is that they are bright, at least as far as galaxies go, and you can observe them through a variety of ways.  View both together with medium and low power eyepieces or individual study them through high power observations.  Either way will provide rich views of the neighboring spiral and irregular galaxies.

2. Virgo Galaxy Cluster-No other spot of space has more beautiful galaxies crammed together than this bunch near the constellation Virgo which rises high during the months of spring.  Scanning through this expanse will reveal many of the Messier Lists most prominent galaxies.  Start out with low magnification and simply scan the field for the vague ghost smudges that are galaxies.  Once you come across the prominent ones, play around with the magnification and test out the light gathering capability of your scope to reveal detail in these faint fuzzies.

1. Saturn-The first love of many astronomers returns to prominence in the month of April and this time she is really putting on a show.  With her rings tilted more towards Earth, the incredible Cassini divide is once again visible, making Saturn must more impressive than the previous two years.  My hope is to have a new 6mm Zhumell planetary eyepiece for 200X observations of Saturn for the spring and early summer.

Every amateur astronomer needs a list.  Going out and blindly observing, without any idea of what you’re looking at, is enjoyable for a while, but wears thin overtime.  Compiling a variety of objects to view will help to hone your skills while making the most effective use of those few nights with exceptional seeing conditions.  Here is my starting list of  Double, Carbon and Red Giant Stars as well as Open and Globular Star Clusters I hope to view over the next few months and years.

• Double Stars:(Two or more stars orbiting each other)

Mizar-Middle Star in the handle of the Big Dipper
Gamma Arietis-Headlight Double
Gamma Virginis-Headlight Double
Albireo/Beta Cygina-Color
Delta Cephei-Color
Gamma Andromedae-Color
Antares-Color
Sirius-White Drawf Star Difficult to See

• Carbon Stars:(Glow Strong Red. Slightly defocus occasionally to bring out color)

Mu Cephei
R Leporis
Ruby Crucis

• Red Giants:(Glow Yellow Orange)

Betelgeuse
Aldebaran

• Open Clusters:(All stars can be individually resolved)

Pleiades-Low Power/Binocular Viewing
Beehive-Low Power/Binocular Viewing
NGC7789-Rich Cluster/100 or more stars
M11-Rich Cluster
Jewel Box Cluster, NGC4755-Rich Cluster, Ruby-red star in a field of blue stars
Gem Cluster, NGC3293-Rich Cluster
NGC457-Poor Cluster/Less than 50 stars, Apparently looks like E.T.
NGC 2169-Poor Cluster, Resembles the number 37 or an XY
NGC2477-Very rich open cluster, nearly a globular

• Globular Clusters:(Appear as a haze, harder to resolve individual stars)

M13
M3
M5
NGC288-Loosely concentrated
NGC5466-Loosely concentrated
NGC 5897-Loosely concentrated
M71
NGC2419-Very small, faint and distant, 300,000 light years
NGC7006-Very small, faint and distant, 185,000 light years
M55-Belongs to Sagittarius Dwarf.  A companion Elliptical Galaxy of the Milky Way

Source:The Backyard Astronomers Guide