BYU Astronomical Society Observation Log Book

Transcription

1 BYU Astronomical Society Observation Log Book Introduction The NightLog is a combination of two elements designed for the amateur astronomer: an observation program, and a log book. Brigham Young University Astronomical Society NightLog was originally produced for the Brigham Young University Astronomical Society. Members of the society are entitled to a free copy and are encouraged to actively pursue each level of the observation program. Use of this log book is optional, but to qualify for club awards you must keep a record of your observations in some form. Log Book The NightLog Observation Log Book is intended to assist you in keeping a detailed record of your observations. Keeping an observation log structures your observing sessions and provides a personal record of your activities. In Volume I you will find entries for all of the Messier, bright solar system, and select NGC objects. Many of the best double stars, variable stars, and other miscellaneous objects are also included in this volume. Volume II contains entries for the Herschel 400. Observation Program The observation program is intended to help newcomers to the hobby of astronomy become experienced amateur astronomers. It is designed to be accessible using telescopes within an amateur s capabilities. By working to individually observe and record observations of celestial objects, you will learn to love and appreciate the night sky as well as become able to teach others about astronomy. Completing each level will bring a sense of accomplishment and increase your enjoyment of astronomy. The program consists of five levels. The first three levels explore the easiest and brightest objects in the night sky - mostly comprising the Messier list. The last two levels require observations of the most difficult objects within amateur astronomers capabilities. Volume I contains the logs accompanying the Beginner through Advanced levels. Volume II encompasses the Elite level. Observation Program Details To complete each program, observe the required objects for that level. It is recommended that you keep a detailed log to successfully complete each level. For a more enjoyable experience do not use the go-to functions of some telescopes. Sketch, photograph, or write a detailed description of each object. In addition to your sketch, photograph, or description, it is helpful to include: Your location Date and time of observation Model of telescope/binoculars used Magnifications used Seeing conditions (scale from 1-5) Astronomical transparency (scale from 1-7) o See pp. ix for additional information on these scales vii

2 Observation Program Levels Beginner 6 objects Observe any six objects. Refer to the Beginner list for suggestions on what to observe. The Beginner list includes the best and easiest to locate objects in the night sky. Learning to find and observe these objects will familiarize you with your equipment and the night sky. Basic 30 objects Choose any thirty objects from the basic or beginner lists to observe. Objects in the basic level will give you a taste of what the deep sky has to offer. These include well-known galaxies, the best nebulae, and the brightest globular and open clusters. Intermediate ~90 objects By completing the intermediate program you will have observed all of the objects on the Messier list, plus some. By now you should know the night sky better than the back of your hand! Advanced 101 objects Taken from sci.astro.amateur s list of the 200 best non-messier objects, the purpose of the advanced program is to take you beyond Messier. The SAA 200 list is crossreferenced with the Herschel 400 with duplicate items removed. Subsequent removal of all objects below -40 declination comprises this list. Elite 400+ objects The elite program consists of two goals: complete the Herschel 400 and photograph at least three very dim solar system objects such as Neptune (dim planet), Pluto (dwarf planet), Ceres (asteroid), Deimos (dim moon), or a comet. Object Type Abbreviation Key CLD DBL GC Glx Moon NbDF NbDRK NbEM NbOC NbRF OC Pla PN QSR SNR VAR Star Cloud Double Star Globular Cluster Galaxy Planetary Moon Diffuse Nebula Dark Nebula Emission Nebula Nebula/Open Cluster Reflection Nebula Open Cluster Planet Planetary Nebula Quasar Super Nova Remnant Variable Star viii

3 Constellation Abbreviation Key Greek Alphabet And Andromeda Lac Lacerta Ant Antlia Leo Leo Aps Apus LMi Leo Minor Aqr Aquarius Lep Lepus Aql Aquila Lib Libra Ara Ara Lup Lupus Ari Aries Lyn Lynx Aur Auriga Lyr Lyra Boo Boötes Men Mensa Cae Caelum Mic Microscopium Cam Camelopardalis Mon Monoceros Cnc Cancer Mus Musca CVn Canes Venatici Nor Norma CMa Canis Major Oct Octans CMi Canis Minor Oph Ophiuchus Cap Capricornus Ori Orion Car Carina Pav Pavo Cas Cassiopeia Peg Pegasus Cen Centaurus Per Perseus Cep Cepheus Phe Phoenix Cet Cetus Pic Pictor Cha Chamaeleon Psc Pisces Cir Circinus PsA Piscis Austrinus Col Columba Pup Puppis Com Coma Berenices Pyx Pyxis CrA Corona Austrina Ret Reticulum CrB Corona Borealis Sge Sagitta Crv Corvus Sgr Sagittarius Crt Crater Sco Scorpius Cru Crux Scl Sculptor Cyg Cygnus Sct Scutum Del Delphinus Ser Serpens Dor Dorado Sex Sextans Dra Draco Tau Taurus Equ Equuleus Tel Telescopium Eri Eridanus Tri Triangulum For Fornax TrA Triangulum Australe Gem Gemini Tuc Tucana Gru Grus UMa Ursa Major Her Hercules UMi Ursa Minor Hor Horologium Vel Vela Hya Hydra Vir Virgo Hyi Hydrus Vol Volans Ind Indus Vul Vulpecula Astronomical Seeing Scale 1 - Severely disturbed skies: Even low power views are uselessly shaky. 2 - Poor seeing: Low power images are pretty steady, but medium powers are not. 3 - Good seeing: You can use about half the useful magnification of your scope. High powers produce fidgety planets. 4 - Excellent seeing: Medium-powers are crisp and stable. High-powers are good, but a little soft. 5 - Superb seeing: Any power eyepiece produces a good crisp image. Astronomical Transparency Scale 0 - Completely cloudy or precipitating. 1 - Very Poor - Mostly Cloudy. 2 - Poor - Partly cloudy or heavy haze. 1 or 2 Little Dipper stars visible. 3 - Somewhat Clear - Cirrus or moderate haze. 3 or 4 Little Dipper stars visible. 4 - Partly Clear - Slight haze. 4 or 5 Little Dipper stars visible. 5 - Clear - No clouds. Milky Way visible with averted vision. 6 Little Dipper stars visible. 6 - Very Clear - Milky Way and M31 visible. 7 Little Dipper stars visible. 7 - Extremely Clear - M33 and/or M81 visible. Courtesy of the American Association of Amateur Astronomers ix

4 NightLog Observation Program Beginner List 6 Objects Observe any six objects through a telescope or binoculars. This list will help you choose some of the brighter and easier-to-find targets. Date(s) Observed Object Level Type Const Mag Season pp Beta Cygni Beg DBL Cyg 3.4 Su/F 58 Beta Mon Beg DBL Mon 5.4 W 58 Epsilon Lyra Beg DBL Lyr 6 Su 60 Jupiter Beg Pla 2 Mars Beg Pla 1 Moon - Crater Beg Moon 2 Moon - Mountain Range Beg Moon 3 Per Double Cluster Beg OC Per 4.5 F/W 73 Saturn Beg Pla 2 Venus Beg Pla 1 Zeta Uma Beg DBL UMa 2 Sp/Su 69 M 5 Beg GC Ser 5.6 Su 5 M 11 Beg OC Sct 6.3 Su 7 M 13 Beg GC Her 5.8 Su 8 M 31 Beg Glx And 3.4 F/W 14 M 37 Beg OC Aur 6.2 W 16 M 41 Beg OC CMa 4.6 W 17 M 42 Beg NbDF Ori 4 W 17 M 45 Beg OC Tau 1.6 F/W 18 M 57 Beg PN Lyr 8.8 Su 22 Basic List 30 Objects Observe thirty objects from the beginner and basic lists. Date(s) Observed Object Level Type Const Mag Season pp 4 Galilean Moons Bas Moon 3 Mizar Bas DBL UMa 2 Sp/Su 64 Titan Bas Moon 3 Trapezium Bas OC Ori W 73 M 1 Bas SNR Tau 8.4 W 4 M 2 Bas GC Aqr 6.5 F 4 M 3 Bas GC CVn 6.2 Sp/Su 4 M 4 Bas GC Sco 5.6 Su 5 M 6 Bas OC Sco 5.3 Su 5 M 7 Bas OC Sco 4.1 Su 6 M 8 Bas NbEM Sgr 6 Su 6

5 M 15 Bas GC Peg 6.2 F 8 M 16 Bas NbOC Ser 6.4 Su 9 M 17 Bas NbOC Sgr 7 Su 9 M 19 Bas GC Oph 6.8 Su 10 M 20 Bas NbOC Sgr 9 Su 10 M 21 Bas OC Sgr 6.5 Su 10 M 22 Bas GC Sgr 5.1 Su 11 M 23 Bas OC Sgr 6.9 Su 11 M 24 Bas CLD Sgr 4.6 Su 11 M 25 Bas OC Sgr 6.5 Su 12 M 27 Bas PN Vul 7.4 Su/F 12 M 28 Bas GC Sgr 6.8 Su 13 M 32 Bas Glx And 8.1 F/W 14 M 33 Bas Glx Tri 5.7 F/W 14 M 34 Bas OC Per 5.5 F/W 15 M 35 Bas OC Gem 5.3 W 15 M 36 Bas OC Aur 6.3 W 15 M 39 Bas OC Cyg 4.6 F 16 M 40 Bas DBL UMa 8.4 Sp 17 M 43 Bas NbDF Ori 9 W 18 M 51 Bas Glx CVn 8.4 Sp/Su 20 M 65 Bas Glx Leo 9.3 Sp 25 M 66 Bas Glx Leo 8.9 Sp 25 M 81 Bas Glx UMa 6.9 Sp 30 M 92 Bas GC Her 6.4 Su 34 M 93 Bas OC Pup 6 W/Sp 34 M 104 Bas Glx Vir 8 Sp 38 M 110 Bas Glx And 8.5 F/W 40 Intermediate List ~90 Objects Observe the remainder of the Messier list plus Mercury. Date(s) Observed Object Level Type Const Mag Season pp Mercury Int Pla 1 M 9 Int GC Oph 7.7 Su 6 M 10 Int GC Oph 6.6 Su 7 M 12 Int GC Oph 6.7 Su 7 M 14 Int GC Oph 7.6 Su 8 M 18 Int OC Sgr 7.5 Su 9 M 26 Int OC Sct 8 Su 12 M 29 Int OC Cyg 7.1 Su/F 13 M 30 Int GC Cap 7.2 F 13 M 38 Int OC Aur 7.4 W 16 M 44 Int OC Cnc 3.7 W/Sp 18 M 46 Int OC Pup 6 W/Sp 19 M 47 Int OC Pup 5.2 W/Sp 19 M 48 Int OC Hya 5.5 W/Sp 19 M 49 Int Glx Vir 8.4 Sp 20 M 50 Int OC Mon 6.3 W/Sp 20 M 52 Int OC Cas 7.3 F 21

6 M 53 Int GC Com 7.6 Sp/Su 21 M 54 Int GC Sgr 7.6 Su 21 M 55 Int GC Sgr 6.3 Su/F 22 M 56 Int GC Lyr 8.3 Su/F 22 M 58 Int Glx Vir 9.7 Sp 23 M 59 Int Glx Vir 9.6 Sp 23 M 60 Int Glx Vir 8.8 Sp 23 M 61 Int Glx Vir 9.7 Sp 24 M 62 Int GC Oph 6.5 Su 24 M 63 Int Glx CVn 8.6 Sp/Su 24 M 64 Int Glx Com 8.5 Sp 25 M 67 Int OC Cnc 6.1 W/Sp 26 M 68 Int GC Hya 7.8 Sp 26 M 69 Int GC Sgr 7.6 Su 26 M 70 Int GC Sgr 7.9 Su 27 M 71 Int GC Sge 8.2 Su/F 27 M 72 Int GC Aqr 9.3 Su/F 27 M 73 Int OC Aqr 9 Su/F 28 M 74 Int Glx Psc 9.4 F/W 28 M 75 Int GC Sgr 8.5 Su/F 28 M 76 Int PN Per 10.1 F/W 29 M 77 Int Glx Cet 8.9 F/W 29 M 78 Int NbEM Ori 8.3 W 29 M 79 Int GC Lep 7.7 W 30 M 80 Int GC Sco 7.3 Su 30 M 82 Int Glx UMa 8.3 Sp 31 M 83 Int Glx Hya 7.6 Sp/Su 31 M 84 Int Glx Vir 9.1 Sp 31 M 85 Int Glx Com 9.1 Sp 32 M 86 Int Glx Vir 8.9 Sp 32 M 87 Int Glx Vir 8.6 Sp 32 M 88 Int Glx Com 9.6 Sp 33 M 89 Int Glx Vir 9.8 Sp 33 M 90 Int Glx Vir 9.5 Sp 33 M 91 Int Glx Com 10.2 Sp 34 M 94 Int Glx CVn 8.2 Sp 35 M 95 Int Glx Leo 9.7 Sp 35 M 96 Int Glx Leo 9.2 Sp 35 M 97 Int PN UMa 9.9 Sp 36 M 98 Int Glx Com 10.1 Sp 36 M 99 Int Glx Com 9.9 Sp 36 M 100 Int Glx Com 9.3 Sp 37 M 101 Int Glx UMa 7.9 Su 37 M 102 Int Glx Dra 9.9 Su 37 M 103 Int OC Cas 7.4 F/W 38 M 105 Int Glx Leo 9.3 Sp 38 M 106 Int Glx CVn 8.4 Sp 39 M 107 Int GC Oph 7.9 Su 39 M 108 Int Glx UMa 10 Sp 39 M 109 Int Glx UMa 9.8 Sp 40

7 Advanced List 101 Objects Date(s) Observed Object Level Type Const Mag Season pp 12 Lyncis Adv DBL Lyn 4.9 W Draconis Adv DBL Dra 5.1 Su Com Adv DBL Com 6.6 Sp Ophiuchi Adv DBL Oph 4 Su Herculis Adv DBL Her 4.3 Su 56 Acamar Adv DBL Eri 2.9 F/W 56 Achird Adv DBL Cas 3.4 F/W 56 Algieba Adv DBL Leo 2 Sp 57 Almaak Adv DBL And 2.1 F/W 57 Alrisha Adv DBL Psc 3.8 F/W 57 Antares Adv DBL Sco 0.9 Su 58 Barnard 143 Adv NbDRK Aql 6 Su/F 74 Barnard 86 Adv NbDRK Sgr 5 Su 74 Beta Scorpii Adv DBL Sco 2.6 Su 59 Castor Adv DBL Gem 1.6 W/Sp 59 Collinder 65 Adv OC Ori 3 W 72 Cor Caroli Adv DBL CVn 2.9 Sp 59 Delta Herculis Adv DBL Her 3.1 Su 60 Delta Ser Adv DBL Ser 3.8 Su 60 Eta Aquilae Adv VAR Aql 3.9 Su/F 69 Eta Orionis Adv DBL Ori 3.3 W 61 Eta Persei Adv DBL Per 3.8 F/W 61 Gamma Ceti Adv DBL Cet 3.5 F/W 61 Gamma Del Adv DBL Del 5.2 Su/F 62 Hatsya Adv DBL Ori 2.9 W 62 HorseheadNb Adv NbDRK Ori 11 W 75 IC 1295 Adv PN Sct 15 Su 75 IC 1396 Adv NbOC Cep 3.5 F 73 IC 1848 Adv NbOC Cas 6.5 F/W 74 IC 4756 Adv OC Ser 5.4 Su 72 Iota Cancri Adv DBL Cnc 6.6 W/Sp 62 Izar Adv DBL Boo 2.4 Su 63 Jabbah Adv DBL Sco 4.3 Su 63 Jones 1 Adv PN Peg 15.1 F 75 Lambda Ori Adv DBL Ori 3.4 W 63 Mesarthim Adv DBL Ari 3.9 F/W 64 Mu Bootis Adv DBL Boo 4.3 Su 64 Omicron Cyg Adv DBL Cyg 4 Su/F 65 Porrima Adv DBL Vir 2.7 Sp 65 QSO J1 Adv QSR UMa 17 Sp 76 R Leporis Adv VAR Lep 7.8 F/W 70 Rigel Adv DBL Ori 0.1 W 65 S Aquilae Adv VAR Aql 10.2 Su/F 70 S Cephei Adv VAR Cep 7.5 F 70 Sigma Orionis Adv DBL Ori 3.8 W 66 STF 2470 Adv DBL Lyr 7 Su/F 66 T Lyrae Adv VAR Lyr 7.6 Su 71 Theta Aurigae Adv DBL Aur 2.6 W 66

8 Theta Orionis Adv DBL Ori 5 W 67 Theta Ser Adv DBL Ser 4.1 Su 67 U Cephei Adv VAR Cep 6.9 F/W 71 U Sagittae Adv VAR Sge 6.5 Su/F 71 UGC5470 Adv Glx Leo 11.2 Sp 76 V Hydrae Adv VAR Hya 7 Sp 72 Wasat Adv DBL Gem 3.5 W/Sp 67 Xi Bootis Adv DBL Boo 4.5 Su 68 Xi Scorpii Adv DBL Sco 4.2 Su 68 Zeta Cancri Adv DBL Cnc 4.7 W/Sp 68 Zeta CrB Adv DBL CrB 5.9 Su 69 NGC 147 Adv Glx Cas 10.6 F/W 40 NGC 210 Adv Glx Cet 11.8 F/W 41 NGC 281 Adv NbOC Cas 7.4 F/W 41 NGC 520 Adv Glx Psc 12.3 F/W 41 NGC 541 Adv Glx Cet 13.2 F/W 42 NGC 896 Adv NbDF Cas F/W 42 NGC 1360 Adv PN For 9.6 F/W 42 NGC 1514 Adv PN Tau 10 F/W 43 NGC 1560 Adv Glx Cam 12.1 F/W 43 NGC 1807 Adv OC Tau 8.3 W 43 NGC 1909 Adv NbDF Ori W 44 NGC 2071 Adv NbRF Ori 8 W 44 NGC 2368 Adv OC Mon 11.8 W/Sp 44 NGC 2477 Adv OC Pup 5.7 W/Sp 45 NGC 3003 Adv Glx LMi 12.4 Sp 45 NGC 3132 Adv PN Vel 8.2 Sp 45 NGC 3600 Adv Glx UMa 14 Sp 46 NGC 3628 Adv Glx Leo 10.3 Sp 46 NGC 3718 Adv Glx UMa 11.6 Sp 46 NGC 3735 Adv Glx Dra 12.4 Sp 47 NGC 4124 Adv Glx Vir 12.5 Sp 47 NGC 4157 Adv Glx UMa 12.1 Sp 47 NGC 4395 Adv Glx CVn 11.4 Sp 48 NGC 4517 Adv Glx Vir 11.1 Sp 48 NGC 4605 Adv Glx UMa 10.9 Sp 48 NGC 5053 Adv GC Com 9 Sp/Su 49 NGC 5529 Adv Glx Boo 12.7 Su 49 NGC 5905 Adv Glx Dra 13 Su 49 NGC 5921 Adv Glx Ser 11.8 Su 50 NGC 5985 Adv Glx Dra 11.9 Su 50 NGC 6242 Adv OC Sco 8.2 Su 50 NGC 6334 Adv NbOC Sco Su 51 NGC 6503 Adv Glx Dra 10.8 Su 51 NGC 6539 Adv GC Ser 8.9 Su 51 NGC 6804 Adv PN Aql 12.2 Su/F 52 NGC 6821 Adv Glx Aql 13.7 Su/F 52 NGC 6822 Adv Glx Sgr 9.4 Su/F 52 NGC 6995 Adv NbEM Cyg 7 Su/F 53 NGC 7023 Adv NbOC Cep 7.1 F 53 NGC 7027 Adv PN Cyg 10.4 F 53 NGC 7635 Adv NbEM Cas 11 F 54 NGC 7814 Adv Glx Peg 11.5 F/W 54