Star Dog Dozen Observing Club

CMAA Observing Clubs

CMAA Observing Clubs - The StarDog Dozen Club

The StarDog Dozen Observing Club began with the "SubCanis Club," or "UnderDog Club" first proposed by CMAA member Paul Rothove. This writer has expanded the idea to the whole year by creating eleven more "mini-clubs" (with cards for each) that together lead to the StarDog Award. Completion of any one of the sub-sections makes the observer a member of that mini-club, while completion of all twelve makes the observer a "StarDog," and a certificate mounting all 12 cards (plus a "StarDog" card) will be sent by mail by the club chairman, free of charge. CMAA feels that everyone should be a StarDog!

This is an "on-line" club open to anyone. All an observer has to do is find the object, make a log entry as per the instructions below, and then e-mail the entry to CMAA Club Chair. After any three of the mini-clubs are completed and the logs submitted, signed mini-club cards for those three will be sent by e-mail, as high-quality images, to the observer. Completion of the entire group, as stated above, will gain the member a mounted set of all twelve, plus the coveted "StarDog" card! There is no age restriction, and unlike some other popular clubs, this one allows any type of acquisition. This includes "computerized GOTO telescopes" Why not start tonight?

The Mini-Clubs, Introduction

CMAA assumes the observer has at least a 4-inch telescope and 35mm or larger binoculars, plus a good star chart such as the Tirion Bright Star Atlas or Atlas 2000. This equipment, plus at least a fairly dark sky, should allow completion of all twelve mini-clubs. Darker skies are perhaps necessary for one or two of the objects included below, depending on the observers experience and instrument. The Veil Nebula, for example, is in this class and probably is the most difficult object among all that are listed.

The Mini-Clubs - The Log Entries

For each object please record the Day, Date and Time that your observation began. Please record the Type of Instrument and the Power used, and make a short statement about the Sky Conditions. If you have made a special trip to get darker skies than you normally have, please state this in a "notes" section. Finally, include a brief description of each object, considering if you would the questions we ask about some of them. See the sample log page included at the end of the Mini-Club descriptions.

Mini-Club No. 1 - The SubCanis Club (Canis Major) [Sirius, M-41, NGC-2360, NGC-2362, h5934, 17 & 19.]

Sirius is the brightest star in the sky; what color does it appear in your telescope? Are there multiple colors, perhaps flashing?

The beautiful star cluster M-41 is directly south of Sirius; how many stars can you count at around 50 power?

Move a few degrees east of M-41 to 17 & 19 Canis Majoris. One of these stars is a triple; what colors are involved? The other star is a double; what colors are involved there?

Find NGC-2360, east of Sirius about 15 degrees and just north of the variable R Canis Majoris. Compare it to NGC-2362, about 10 degrees south and surrounding Tau Canis Majoris. View each one with at least 75x. How do they compare with each other? Which is richer in number of stars? Which do you like the best?

Finally, observe John Herschel 3942, the fairly bright star just to the northwest of NGC-2362. It's called "The Winter Alberio" because it's yellow and blue, like the real Alberio in Cygnus.

Mini-Club No. 2 - The Mighty Hunter Club (Orion) [Rigel, M-42, Trapezium, Sigma, M-78, Collinder 69.]

Rigel is a blue supergiant star about 700 light years away. It was on Rigel III that Capt. Kirk was attacked and almost killed by the dreaded Rigellian bloodworms. If the Enterprise can cruise at Warp Six (216c) how long would it take the starship to get from the Earth to Rigel III? While you're thinking about that, compare Rigel to the star at the other end of Orion, Betelgeuse. How do the colors of these two stars differ?

Now take a look at the Orion Nebula, Messier-42, at low power, and please write a brief description of this celestial wonder. Can you see the "wings" that seem to extend from the bright center of the nebula? Now, raise the power and take a look at the four stars near the center, the Trapezium. Are all four easy to see?

Next, move north to Sigma Orionis, just below the left-hand star in the belt. This is a beautiful multiple star; how many can you see? Are there any colors?

Moving north and east to the other side of the belt, find M-78, a fairly difficult object in a small telescope. Does it have any shape or is it just a glow? You may have to search for this object.

Finally, take a look at Collinder 39, which is the very bright star group around and including Lambda Orionis, the giant's head. Binoculars are ideal for viewing these stars. How many do you think are a part of that group?

Mini-Club No. 3 - The Bully Bull Club (Taurus) [Aldebaran, M-45, The Crab, NGC-1647, 1807 & 1817.]

Is Aldebaran as red as Betelgeuse? Is it as bright? How many stars can you count in the Pleiades with your binoculars?

NGC-1647 is a large, sparse cluster just a few degrees north and east of Aldebaran. How many stars can you count?

The NGC objects 1807 and 1817 are about 15 degrees due east of Aldebaran, and are a faded replica of the famous Double Cluster in Cassiopeia. Which of these two clusters contains more stars?

Using your chart, find Messier-1, the Crab Nebula, which is near Zeta Tauri, straight north of Collinder 39 about 15 degrees. Does it have any shape at all or is it just a glow in your scope?

Mini-Club No. 4 - The Flying Horse Club (Pegasus) [Messier 15, NGC-7331 & 7814, Pi-1 & 57 Pegasi.]

Messier 15 is a beautiful globular near Enif, or Epsilon Pegasi. Does your telescope show any structure or is it a featureless glow?

Pi-1 Pegasi is north and east of Beta, which is at the NW corner of The Great Square. It's almost a straight line from Beta to Eta and then out to Pi-1 and Pi-2, which make a nice binocular pair. How many faint companions does Pi-1 have: two, three, more?

NGC-7331 is a fairly bright galaxy about five degrees north and a bit east of Eta Pegasi. Does it look oval-shaped in your scope?

57 Pegasi is about 7 degrees south of Alpha Pegasi, which is at the SW corner of The Square. Check your chart. This star has a beautiful if faint companion. What color is it?

NGC-7814 is another fairly bright galaxy a few degrees ENE of 88 (Gamma) Pegasi, which is in the SE corner of the Square. Does it have any shape in your scope or is it round?

Mini-Club No. 5 - The Cygnus Club [Alberio, M-39, The Veil Nebula, 61, NGC-6826.]

Alberio is one of the most beautiful double stars in the heavens, at "the beak" of the swan. If you've viewed "The Winter Alberio," how do they compare? Can your binoculars separate this star?

Moving down the swan's neck and out to its southerly wing tip we can find nearby 52 Cygni. Can you pick up The Veil Nebula right at 52? You may need a fairly dark sky site.

Now go north and east of 52 to the wide and beautiful double star 61 Cygni, one of the closest star systems to the sun. What color do they appear in your telescope?

M-39 is about 15 degrees north and east from 61, an irregular splash of fairly bright stars. How many can you count there?

Finally, about six degrees north of Delta Cygni, the northern wing tip, lies NGC-6826, "The Blinking Planetary." Can you see the bright central star? Use at least 100x.

Mini-Club No. 6 - The Lyra Club [Vega, Epsilon & Beta, The Ring, The "other" double-double.]

Some say that Vega has no color. What do you think? Just NE of Vega is "The Double-Double," Epsilon Lyrae. Binoculars show a very wide double, both stars of which are double again. Use at least 100x and try to split the two components.

Beta Lyrae is a variable star and a multiple star. Can you pick up the two 9.9-mag companions? Is there any color in them?

NE of Beta is The Ring, M-57. Will your telescope show the "darkened center" of this fine planetary nebula?

Using your chart, move NW of Beta several degrees to the double stars Struve 2470 and 2474. These two form "another double-double" of great beauty. How do they compare, in brightness, color and angle, with Epsilon?

Mini-Club No. 7 - The Arrow Club (Sagitta) [The Arrow + The Coathanger, M-71, Herschel 84.]

Using your binocular, view "the arrow" and "the coat hanger" star cluster, to the WNW about five degrees. Can you get any part of them both in the same field? Check your star chart.

The smallish globular M-71 is almost a part of the arrows shaft. Use your chart for the exact location. Will your telescope resolve any stars there? Use fairly high power.

About one degree south of the southern arrow feather is a 6th mag double star, discovered by Sir John Herschel. It has a beautiful color combination. What are those colors?

Mini-Club No. 8 - The DragonSlayer Club (Draco) [Thuban, Mu, Nu & The Cat's Eye planetary.]

Thuban, Alpha Draconis, is a nondescript 4th mag star between the Big & Little Dippers. Check your chart. This star is thought by some to have been Pole Star when the Great Pyramid of Cheops was built in Egypt about 5,000 years ago. Does it show any color?

Mu and Nu Draconis are far away from Thuban, nearer Vega and the Keystone of Hercules. Nu, in the Head of the Dragon, is a fine, wide double, while Mu will require some power to split. Do any of them show any color?

The Cat’s Eye planetary, NGC-6543, is on your chart due north of the Dragon's Head about ten degrees. Use at least 100x to view The Cat's Eye. Does it look like an eye?

What color is it to you?

Mini-Club No. 9 - The Zero-to-Hero Club (Hercules) [M-13 & 92 + Alpha, Rho, Mu & 100 Herculis.]

The beautiful M-13 is in the Keystone of Hercules. Use at least 100x. Do you have any resolution of this cluster into stars?

Check your chart and find M-92, another fine globular cluster in Hercules. Once again, does 100x show any resolution there?

Alpha Herculis is a beautiful double down south near Ophiuchus. What colors do you see at about 100x?

Rho (75) Herculis is near the NE corner of the Keystone. Do you see any color in these stars? Use at least 75x.

Check your chart and find Mu Herculis, out between the Keystone and southern Lyra. What color is the faint companion?

Finally, southeast of Mu is 100 Herculis. What color, if any, do these identical stars show?

Mini-Club No. 10 - The Great Bear Club (Ursa Major) [Mizar & Alcor, Messier 81 & 82, 97 & 108, + M-96.]

At the bend in the Dipper's handle are the beautiful Mizar & Alcor. Are there any stars between them? Use at least 75x.

Near the SW corner of the Dipper's Bowl you find the Owl Nebula, M-97, on your chart. Nearby is M-108. Do they have different shapes?

Near the SE corner of the Bowl is M-96, a galaxy. Does it have any shape or is it a featureless glow?

Check your chart and find M-81 & 82, which might show in your binoculars if it's truly dark. Do they have the same shape?

Mini-Club No. 11 - The Club of Shaula (Scorpius) [Antares, Messier 4. 6, 7 & 19, NGC-6231, The Sting.]

The name Antares means "Rival of Mars." Does the star look red to you, or more orange-ish? If Mars is nearby, is the title apt?

Messier-4 is near Antares. Can you resolve any stars at 100x?

Out to the east of Antares is Messier-19, a globular cluster. Will it resolve at all at 100x?

Moving down the body of the Scorpion we come to NGC-6231, an open cluster. How many stars can you count at 75-100x?

Shaula, The Sting, is at the tip of the tail. There are two bright stars there to the eye. Does the binocular show any more?

Messier 6 & 7 are said by some to be naked-eye objects and they are spectacular in binoculars. How many stars can you count in the two clusters in your binoculars?

Mini-Club No. 12 - The Sagittarius Club [Messier 8, 20, 17 & 22 + NGC-6522 & 6528.]

Messier-8 and 20, the Lagoon and Trifid, are close together. How many stars can you count in the clusters associated with each?

M-17 is "The Checkmark Nebula." Is the name apt for you?

M-22 is a terrific globular. Does it resolve at all for you at 75x?

NGC-6522 & 6528 are at the tip of the Teapot's spout. Find them! Which appears brighter?

[End -- Mini-Club Descriptions]

Sample Log Page:

Mini-Club No. 13 - The Cassiopeia Club

Observer: Val Germann Day/Date/Time: Tues., Nov. 14, '04; 8-11 pm. Sky Conditions: Clear and dark after front passed. Light wind, 35 d. F. Instruments: 15x70 binocs, 120mm refractor. Notes: Made trip to west edge of town for better skies.

1) NGC-7789 was seen in binoculars as a round glow. 120mm refractor showed large, rich cluster, very impressive.

2) M-103 seen in both binoculars and the telescope. Just a glow in the 15x70. Refractor showed a triangular group of stars, geometric almost.

3) Eta Cassiopeiae was easy to split in the 120mm, showed yellow and blue.

4) Iota Cassiopeiae was a beautiful triple star, also yellow and blue.