Monthly Messier Star-Hops; November #2
By Art Russell

Finally, if there was any doubt, the cool weather of Autumn has finally arrived (although it did take its own sweet time)! I'm certain that a number of beginners will seriously question their commitment to astronomy when the first hints of frost form on their telescopes. However, I maintain that now is the time to get serious about it! With the passing of each cold front we find the air is clear and free of haze, humidity, and other obscurants which hinder our visibility of most of the deep sky objects which many of us find interesting. In fact, it’s a well known secret that some of the best viewing is done immediately after the passing of a cold front. With that in mind, take advantage of the passing of the cold fronts and you'll enjoy transparency and darker skies than you may have previously seen. Moreover, objects you were only previously able to glimpse with a telescope may now be readily visible with much smaller telescopes or even binoculars.

This month our star-hops take us to several prominent naked eye objects, the Andromeda Galaxy and the 'Double Cluster;' and a strictly telescopic object, the faintest item on the Messier list, the planetary nebula, M76, 'the Little Dumbbell.'

Star-Hop #1. M31, NGC 224, The 'Great Andromeda Galaxy
Star-Hop #2.  M76, NGC 651, the “Little Dumbbell”
Star-Hop #3. NGC 869 and NGC 884, 'The Perseus Double Cluster'

Star-Hop #1. M31, NGC 224, The 'Great Andromeda Galaxy.' The 'Great Andromeda Galaxy' and its companions are alone worth an entire evening of study. In fact books have been written about the 'Great Andromeda Galaxy' alone. Under dark skies it is an easy naked eye target which stands our prominently to the ideal magnification provided by a set of small binoculars (one of my favorite ways to view this galaxy). An easy method to locate M31 is to start in the "Great Square of Pegasus." At this time of year it is located only about 5 degrees, or about the distance spanned by  3 fingers held together at arm's length against the night sky, to the southeast of the Zenith, or directly overhead. Once you have located the “Great Square of Pegasus”  find the northeastern most corner star, Alpha (a) Andromedae, Alpheratz (actually in the constellation Andromeda although a part of the “Great Square of Pegasus”).  From there imagine a letter “V” such as the “V for Victory” made with your first two fingers on your hand.  Extend this imaginary “V” to the northeast of Alpha  Andromedae for about 7 degrees, the distance spanned by your four fingers held at arms length against the sky (incidentally, the length of your fingers in a “V” are about the right length here as well).  Here you will find the stars Delta (d) Andromedae and Pi (p) Andromedae.  Continuing in the same general direction to the northeast, we extend another imaginary line about the same distance as before, except this time to the stars Mirach, Beta (b) Andromedae, and Mu (m) Andromedae.   From the northern most of these two latter stars, Mu (m) Andromedae, it is only about 1 1/2 degrees, or little more than the width of one of your fingers, to M31.  In binoculars and small telescopes, M31’s galactic bulge will appear as an oblong haze with an increasing concentration of  stars in its central nucleus.  The edges of the galactic bulge or halo fade uniformly although there are hints of lane structure evident.  Moderate sized telescopes will reveal a very bright center with and intense concentration of stars.  In size, M31 will generally be one of the biggest objects you can see in your binoculars or telescope (where it often takes up many fields of view even at the lowest magnification). If you are using a telescope, you may also be able to locate M110 about 1/2 degree to the northwest of M31, and M32 about 1/4 degree to the southeast of M31. Both M110 and M32 are companion galaxies to M31, similar, in a sense to the companion galaxies around our own Milky Way galaxy.

Star-Hop #2.  M76, NGC 651, the “Little Dumbbell.” Return once again to the star Mu (m) Andromedae.  Note the apparent distance between Mu Andromedae and our original starting point in the 'Great Square of Pegasus', the star Alpha Andromedae, a little less than the distance spanned between your index and little fingers against the sky.  Extend a line from Mu Andromedae to the northeast for about this distance and we arrive at the star Phi (f) Persei.  From Phi Persei, M76 is only about a degree, or the width of your little finger, to the north-northwest.  Distinctly a telescopic object, at low power in a telescope, M76 appears as a distinct smudge.  At higher powers, M76 takes on a distinct dumbbell appearance and is well worth the effort to find

Star-Hop #3. NGC 869 and NGC 884, 'The Perseus Double Cluster.' Easily seen under dark skies, and often even under the light polluted skies of Atlanta, the 'Double Cluster' is one of those rewards which often seduce the beginning astronomer. Uniquely beautiful, the 'Double Cluster' is best viewed with binoculars or small telescopes, but is easily found. Starting from Phi (f) Persei extend an imaginary line 11 degrees, or bit more than the distance spanned by your fist held at arm's length against the night sky northeast to the star Eta (h) Persei. From Eta (h) Persei extend a line west-northwest to for about 4 degrees, or a little less than the distance spanned by  3 fingers held together at arm's length against the night sky. Here to the naked eye, you'll notice a distinct nebulous patch under dark skies. With binoculars or a low power telescopic view, you'll find this pair of open clusters provides perhaps one of the most stunning views under the heavens. Messier missed this one, but there is no reason you should. Take your time here and in the local area. You'll also find many open clusters to challenge even the most experienced observer nearby.