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Z Piggyback Astrophotography Objects

 

This is a listing of deep sky objects that will show up well in a piggyback photo using 135mm or larger lens. They were made up on Saturday, February 29, 1992 (Leap Day!).

 

Abbreviations for the object names are as follows:
B=Barnard Cr=Collinder H=Harvard I=Index Catalog Mel=Melotte Sh=Sharpless Tr=Trumpler
Type abbreviations:
AST=Asterism of Stars Cl=open cluster Di=diffuse nebula DRK=Dark Nebula Gb=globular cluster
MW=Milky Way starcloud Pl=planetary nebula SNR= supernova remnant
Red=Red Star (Mostly ‘N’ Type)
For Red Stars the Size column is period in days.
Galaxy types
 Sp=spiral El=elliptical Ir=irregular
Sizes are in arc minutes.
Constellation abbreviations are the IAU standard.
Constellations which are marked with < > around them may be photographed in their entirety with a telephoto lens.
2000 coordinates, easy to use with Sky Atlas 2000 by Tirion.

 

JANUARY
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Auriga, <Caleum>, <Camelopardalis>, <Columba>, <Lepus>, Orion, Taurus
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
IC405 AUR Di 05 16.2 +34 16 — 30×19 Flaming Star Nebula
1907 AUR Cl 05 28.0 +35 19 8.2 7.0 30* mags 9…
M-38 AUR Cl 05 28.7 +35 50 7 18 100* mags 8…
M-36 AUR Cl 05 36.1 +34 08 6 16 bright but scattered
M-37 AUR Cl 05 52.4 +32 33 6 24 very rich, about 500*
IC342 CAM SBc 03 46.8 +68 06 12 18×17 low surface brightness
2403 CAM Sc 07 36.8 +65 37 9.5 17.8 face-on spiral
R LEP Red 04 59.6 -14.8 6 11 432 Hind’s Crimson Star
Sh264 ORI Di 05 35.0 +10 00 — 270 Lambda Ori Neby, huge
1973 ORI Di 05 35.1 -04 44 — 5×5 near M42
M-42 ORI Di 05 35.4 -05 27 6 66×60 Orion Neb, magnificent
M-43 ORI Di 05 35.6 -05 16 9 19×30 detached part of M42
Cr70 ORI Cl 05 36.0 -01 00 0.4 150 Incl Orion’s Belt *s
IC434 ORI Di 05 41.0 -02 24 — 60×10 B33 invl=Horsehead
2024 ORI Di 05 42.0 -01 50 — 30×30 Zeta Ori in field
M-78 ORI Di 05 46.7 +00 03 8 8×6 reflection neb
Sh276 ORI Di 05 48.0 +01 00 — 600 Barnard’s Loop
Alpha ORI Red 05 55.2 +07 36 0.4-1.3 — Betelgeuse
Sh261 ORI Di 06 08.9 +15 49 — 30×15 Lower’s Neb
M-45 TAU Cl 03 47.0 +24 07 02 120 Pleiades, incl neby
Mel25 TAU Cl 04 27.0 +16 00 1.0 330 Hyades, incl Aldebaran
Sh240 TAU SNR 05 39.1 +28 00 — 200 Simeis 147, big, faint

 

 

FEBRUARY
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Canis Major, <Canis Minor>, Gemini, Monoceros, Puppis
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-41 CMA Cl 06 47.0 -20 44 6 32 150*, orange * in centr
2359 CMA Di 07 17.8 -13 13 — 8.0 Duck Neb, UHC helps
Cr140 CMA Cl 07 23.9 -32 12 4.0 42 Tuft in the Dog’s Tail
M-35 GEM Cl 06 08.9 +24 20 6 29 NGC 2158 1/2 deg SW
2158 GEM Cl 06 07.5 +24 06 8.6 5.0 near M35, compact
IC443 GEM SNR 06 16.9 +22 47 — 50×40 Nr Eta GEM, use UHC
2244 MON Cl 06 32.4 +04 52 4.8 24 Rosette, Cl + neby
2261 MON Di 06 39.2 +08 44 — 2×1 Hubble’s Neb, comet like
2264 MON Cl 06 41.1 +09 53 3.9 60×30 Cone Nebula, Cl + Neb
M-50 Mon Cl 07 03.2 -08 20 6 16 between Sirius-Procyon
I2177 MON Di 07 05.1 -10 42 — 120×40 Eagle Nebula, faint
M-47 PUP Cl 07 36.6 -14 30 5 25 coarse cluster
M-46 PUP Cl 07 41.8 -14 49 7 27 150* mags 10…
M-93 PUP Cl 07 44.6 -23 52 6 18 bright and rich
2477 PUP Cl 07 52.3 -38 33 6 27 160* mags 6…
2539 PUP Cl 08 10.7 -12 50 6.5 22 rich, near M46 + M47

 

MARCH
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
<Cancer, Carina, Lynx, Pyxis, Vela>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-44 CNC Cl 08 40.1 +19 59 4 90 Beehive, 200* to mag 14
M-67 CNC Cl 08 50.4 +11 49 7 18 dark spot near center
Y LYN Red 07 28.2 +46.0 6.9 7.5 110 orange, nice field

 

APRIL
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
<Crater>, Hydra, <Leo Minor>, Leo, Ursa Major, <Sextans>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-48 HYA Cl 08 13.8 -05 48 6 30 scattered group
V HYA Red 10 51.6 -21.3 6.5 12 533 reddest * known
M-101 UMA Sp 14 03.2 +54 21 8 22×22 large face-on spiral

 

MAY
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
<Canes Venatici>, Centaurus, <Coma Berenices>, <Corvus>, Virgo
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
Y CVN Red 12 45.1 +45.4 5.0 6.4 158 La Superba
Mel111 COM Cl 12 25.0 +26 00 2.0 275 Coma Star Cluster
5128 CEN SOp 13 25.5 -43 01 8.0 18×15 equatorial dust lane
5139 CEN Gb 13 26.8 -47 29 3.7 36 Omega Centauri!
SS VIR Red 12 25.3 +00.7 6.0 9.6 355

 

JUNE
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Bootes, <Corona Borealis>, Draco, Libra, Serpens Caput, <Ursa Minor>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
T CRB Red 15 59.5 +26 00 2.3 10 recurrent nova
Alpha UMi AST 02 31.8 +89 16 2.0 120 Diamond ring, Polaris

 

JULY
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Draco, Hercules, Norma, Ophiuchus, Scorpius, Serpens Cauda
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-13 HER Gb 16 41.7 +36 28 6 23 Hercules Cl
I4604 OPH Di 16 25.6 -23 26 — 60×25 Rho OPH Neb, huge
M-12 OPH Gb 16 47.2 -01 57 7 12 loose for a globular
M-10 OPH Gb 16 57.1 -04 06 7 12 rich, M12 3 deg NW
B 72 OPH DRK 17 23.5 -23 38 — 30 the Snake, S-Nebula
B 78 OPH DRK 17 33.0 -26 00 — 200 Bowl of the Pipe Neb
I4665 OPH Cl 17 46.3 +05 43 4.2 41 30* mags 7…
Cr359 OPH Cl 18 01.0 +03 00 3.0 240
—- OPH AST 18 05.0 +02 30 3.0 240 Bull of Poniatowski
6633 OPH Cl 18 27.7 +06 34 4.6 27 large, sparse, bright
M- 4 SCO Gb 16 23.6 -26 32 6 23 beautiful star chains
Alpha SCO Red 16 29.6 -26.6 0.9-1 1730 Antares
I4628 SCO Di 16 57.0 -40 20 — 90×60 N edge Tr24
Tr 24 SCO Cl 16 57.0 -40 40 9 60 200* rich, =H12
M- 6 SCO Cl 17 40.1 -32 13 6 26 best at low power
M- 7 SCO Cl 17 53.9 -34 49 5 50 good in binocs or finder
Tau SER AST 15 40.0 +17 00 5 180 Tau1 to Tau8, nice AST
M-16 SER Cl 18 18.8 -13 47 7 8 Star Queen Neb + cluster
I4756 SER Cl 18 39.0 +05 27 5.4 52 scatrd Cl 80* mags 8…

 

AUGUST
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Aquila, <Lyra>, <Sagitta>, <Scutum>, Sagittarius, <Vulpecula>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
B142 AQL DRK 19 40.7 +10 57 — 80×50 2 irreg narrow lanes
B334 AQL DRK 19 36.8 +12 27 — 40×5 2 deg NE of B 142
M-26 SCT Cl 18 45.2 -09 24 8 9 bright, coarse cluster
B 318 SCT DRK 18 49.7 -06 24 — 90×2 E-W lane S of M11
M-11 SCT Cl 18 51.1 -06 16 6 12 very rich and comprsed
M-23 SGR Cl 17 56.8 -19 01 7 27 bright, loose
M-20 SGR Di 18 02.6 -23 02 5 29×27 Trifid, dark lanes
B 86 SGR DRK 18 02.7 -27 50 — 4 Ink Spot, small
6520 SGR Cl 18 03.4 -27 54 7 6 60*, compact, near B86
M- 8 SGR Di 18 03.8 -24 23 6 90×40 Lagoon, neb + cluster
M-21 SGR Cl 18 04.6 -22 30 7 12 sparse cluster
M-24 SGR MW 18 16.9 -18 30 5 90 Small Star Cloud
M-18 SGR Cl 18 19.9 -17 08 7 7 sparse cluster
M-17 SGR Di 18 20.8 -16 11 7 46×37 Swan, use UHC filter
M-25 SGR Cl 18 31.6 -19 15 6 35 bright but sparse
M-22 SGR Gb 18 36.4 -23 54 6 17 spectacular
6822 SGR Irr 19 44.9 -14 45 10 20×10 Barnard’s Galaxy
Cr399 VUL Cl 19 25.4 +20 11 4 60 The Coathanger
St 1 VUL Cl 19 35.8 +25 13 5.3 60 Easy in Binoculars
Sh 88 VUL Di 19 46.0 +25 20 11.5 18×6 Elongated streamer
I4954 VUL Di 20 04.8 +29 15 — 25 Cl Ros4 invl, 3 parts
6940 VUL Cl 20 34.6 +28 18 6 31 Rich cluster, 60*

 

SEPTEMBER
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Capricornus, Cepheus, Cygnus, <Delphinus>, <Eqquleus>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
7822 CEP Di 00 03.6 +68 36 — 60×30 Large, faint, UHC
6939 CEP Cl 20 31.4 +60 38 7.8 8 rich, 80*, near 6946
6946 CEP Sc 20 34.8 +60 09 10.5 14 diffuse, face-on
I1396 CEP Di 21 39.1 +57 30 3.5 50 Very large, Cl invl Tr37
Mu CEP Red 21 43.5 +58.8 3.7-5 IRR Herschel’s Garnet Star
I1318 CYG Di 20 22.2 +40 15 — 60×30 Neby near Gamma CYG
M-29 CYG Cl 20 23.9 +38 32 7 7 20* mags 8…
B348 CYG DRK 20 40.0 +42 00 — 180 Northern Coal Sack
6960 CYG SNR 20 45.6 +30 43 — 70×6 Veil, west half
6992 CYG SNR 20 56.3 +31 42 — 60×8 Veil, east, use UHC
7000 CYG Di 20 58.8 +44 20 — 120×100 North Am. Neb.
I5070 CYG Di 20 50.8 +44 21 — 80×70 Pelican Neb.
M-39 CYG Cl 21 32.2 +48 26 5 32 25* mags 7…

 

OCTOBER
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Aquarius, <Lacerta>, Pegasus, <Pisces Austrinus>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-73 AQR Cl 20 59.0 -12 38 09 2 4 stars; an asterism
M- 2 AQR Gb 21 33.5 -00 49 07 12 many faint stars
—- AQR AST 22 28.0 -00 01 04 120 Water Jar
7293 AQR Pl 22 29.6 -20 48 6.3 16×12 Helix, large, diffuse
7209 LAC Cl 22 05.2 +46 30 6.7 25.0 50*
7243 LAC Cl 22 15.3 +49 53 6.4 21.0 40*

 

NOVEMBER
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
M-110 AND El 00 40.4 +41 41 08 8×3 companion to M 31
M-31 AND Sp 00 41.8 +41 16 04 160×40 Great Andromeda Galaxy
M-32 AND El 00 42.8 +40 52 09 3×2 close companion to M31
752 AND Cl 01 57.8 +37 41 5.7 50 60* mags 8…
281 CAS Di 00 52.8 +56 37 7.4 27×23 Pac-man, irreg shape
457 CAS Cl 01 19.1 +58 20 6.4 13.0 rich, 80*
M-103 CAS Cl 01 33.2 +60 42 07 6 40* mags 10…
663 CAS Cl 01 46.0 +61 15 7.1 16.0 NGC’s 654 + 659 nearby
St 2 CAS Cl 02 15.0 +59 16 4.0 60 50*, bright, large
Mel15 CAS Cl 02 32.6 +61 27 7.0 21 39*, Neb IC 1805 invl
M-52 CAS Cl 23 24.2 +61 35 08 13 200* mags 9…
7789 CAS Cl 23 57.0 +56 44 6.7 16.0 very rich, many dim*
— PSC AST 23 40.0 +03.5 4.0 240 Circlet of Pisces
253 SCL Scp 00 47.5 -25 18 7.1 25×7 large
Dwrf SCL E0 00 59.9 -33 42 10.5 75 Very low surf bright
R SCL Red 01 27.0 -32.5 6.1-9 363 Very Red

 

DECEMBER
CONSTELLATIONS WELL-PLACED AT 9:00 P.M. MID-MONTH:
<Aries>, Eridanus, <Fornax>, Perseus, <Triangulum>
Name CON TYPE R.A.(2000) Dec Mag SIZE NOTES
Dwrf FOR Ep 02 39.7 -34 17 9.0 20 Low surface brightness
869 PER Cl 02 19.0 +57 09 4.3 30 Double Cluster w/NGC 884
M-34 PER Cl 02 42.0 +42 47 06 30 80* mags 8…
Mel20 PER Cl 03 22.0 +49 00 1.2 185 Alpha Per Cluster
1499 PER Di 04 03.3 +36 25 — 145×40 California Nebula
M-33 TRI Sp 01 33.9 +30 39 6 60×40 large face-on spiral

 

By A.J. Crayon and Steve Coe