TARGETS FOR SKIES OVER NEW YORK CITY
----------------------------------
John Pazmino
NYSkies Astronomy Inc
nyskies@nyskies.org
www.nyskies.org
2009 September 20 initial
2022 June 18 current
Introduction
----------
New York City, contrary to some popular accounts, is one of the
world's premiere places for home astronomy. This stature comes from
the local astronomers organizing into strong cohaerent groups and then
plugging into the resources of the City. Wholly distinct from the
situation elsewhere, an astronomy circle in New York is integrated
into the fabric of the surrounding community. It does not segregate
from the town and hide from it beyond the hills.
While stargazing conditions in New York are hardly close to ideal,
they are amazingly good for the humongous conurbation they sit over.
The skies of the City are not superundated with rampant luminous
graffiti or 'light pollution'.
Beginning in the mid 1980s, probably as a spinoff of Halley's
comet and the approach of the new millennium, the City embarked on a
vigorous campaign of resources management and conservation. This, now
called green movement, included curbing the reckless dumping of
luminous effluent into the sky.
From a clearsky transparency in 1980 of about 3-1/2 magnitude and
frequent waves of particulate absorbing material in the air, New York
by the mid 2-thous pushed transparency to quite 4-1/2 magnitude from
Central Park, Manhattan. This is verified by measurements taken for
GLOBE-at-Night and routine starviewing in the Park.
The outer boros of Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
enjoy occasional spells of darkness down to 5 to 5-1/2 magnitude. In
fact, the City is probably the only major town in the US that still
boasts of seeing the Milky Way once in a while from within its
praecincts!
Astronomers here set up two seasons for a Milky Way watch: fall
from September 1 thru November 30 and spring from May 1 thru June 30.
Altho weather in these periods can be hideously cloudy, even stormy,
there are good chances of clean dark air to let the brighter segments
of the summer Milky Way shine thru.
Grosser impediments
-----------------
Luminous graffiti, while a significant concern, is way the lesser
constraint against orthodox stargazing for us in New York. We have
light pollution down on the mat thru the overall greening of the City
and the menched up design of newer outdoor lighting.
The biggest obstacle, by far, is the lack of places for convenient
spontaneous stargazing. We don't got the backyards so prevalently
depicted in stargazing litterature.
That's because we live in high-density residences with hundreds of
homes on, litterally, a quarter acre of ground. They may live in
housing estates, the equal of large mid American towns, closing off
views of the sky. Our prospect on the sky may be what a certain window
of our flat offers. If a desired target does not pass thru that
window, it can not be seen.
We may be locked off of a roof, which may be occupied by the likes
of water tanks, squatter camps, swimming pools. Some of us may live in
hoods with unattractive street life, keeping us away from parks or lots.
In New York, almost unique among American towns, we typicly have no
automobile. We can not spontaneously leave town for a night of
stargazing at a darksky location.
Lack of a car constrains the size and bulk of gear the astronomer
may carry to what fits into rolling luggage or a backpack. Hence,
telescopes of City astronomers tend to be the smaller models, like
those promoted for airplane travel.
City stargazing
-------------
It is possible, given favored life status, to engage in stargazing
from within the City. It may be brief sorties outside with binoculars,
a telescope aimed thru an open and well-vented window, carrying gear
to a local park or waterfront.
The effort is surprisingly well rewarded with a hefty range of
target, many not considered accessible from an urban sky. There are
several galaxies, most globular clusters, lots of open clusters, and a
smattering of globular nebulae. The major deficiency is open nebulae,
which frankly do diffuse and blend into the grayish skies of the City.
Even so, the stars within in the nebulae are often seen well.
It does take a bit of patience and care, plus a realistic
anticipation of what to see. Yet, we in the City truly do experience
the wonders of the heavens while the subway rumbles under foot.
If this sound totally crazy, it's because the usual litterature
deprecates urban astronomy. Yes, there are in fact towns out there
where the sky is so miserable that only seven stars in all can be
seen. This counts the one that set before nightfall.
Such situations can make it real, like real, tough to appreciate
the vigor and vitality of astronomy in New York. 'New York City is X
times bigger than such-&-such town on this skyglow graph, so it must
have transparency of, oh, magnitude -5. Venus is a binocular target.'
The urban targets
---------------
The targets tabulated here are intended for the occasional or
novice stargazer with small instruments under the skies of New York
City. The lists consider the normal clearsky transparency of the City,
as at 2000, of +4-1/2 magnitude from Manhattan.
Each table is banded by constellation, the better to pick groups
of target according to the season and hour. On the whole, objects near
the horizons are harder to find and less satisfying to view than those
in high sky. Wait until they move into higher sky.
To account for skyline constraints and more obscuring sky near the
horizon, objects are listed only for declination north of -30 degree.
A selection of important targets is included south of this limit.
The lists are not limited to 'showcase' targets. The intent is to
provide alternative targets to cope with roving clouds and localized
poor transparency. Some are a bit of challenge and need some patience
and care. When the target is found, the view rewards the effort.
A staratlas is needed because no maps are here provided. Any of
the standard ones will do fine, as long as it covers stars to 7th or
so magnitude in the vicinity of the target. Charts cut from a computer
astronomy program are good, too.
The coordinates steer to the proper plate in the atlas or input
for a go-to scope. Only the basic specs are given, being that once a
target is selected, details can be taken from other astronomy
litterature.
Over the years, all of these targets, and others of similar
quality, were actually viewed with satisfaction from Central Park,
Manhattan, with small scopes at various starviewing sessions.
Like all starviewing from the City, we must select 'targets of
opportunity' based on the instant sky conditions. A solid fluency with
the sky is a genuine bonus skill.
DOUBLE STARS
============
Double stars are tolerant of poor skies. They are a fallback
target when other types of deepsky obhect are dulled or obscured.
There being many hundreds of double stars appreciable from New York
City, this table lists only those with a Bayer/Flamsteed name, primary
brighter than 6th magnitude, and secondary brighter than 9th. Such
stard are more likel labeled in atlases for small telescopes.
The colors of double stars are a cupcake parameter. Here they are
the schematic tints for the spectral class of the stars. Your tintage
may vary. In many entries only the primary star has a stated color.
Double stars alter appearance over the years as their components
orbit each other. Many of the specs here are ediurnate from lack of
recent data. Double star data are only occasionally updated. YEAR is
the epoch of the separation. It may have changed since then.
Modern telescopes can flip and rotate the eyepiece view, making it
tricky to lonw in which direction the secondary is from the primary. i
list just the separation, omitting the position angle.
A discussion of double star observing is 'Observing double stars'
in the NYSkies website at
www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/dbl-star.htm
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGA MAGB SEP COLORS YEAR
--- --------- -------- ------ ---- ---- ----- ------- ----
And gam1-gam2 02 03.9 +42 20 2.2 4.9 9.5 ora whi 2004
And pi 00 36.9 +33 43 4.4 8.6 36 ora 2006
And 59 02 10.9 +39 02 5.6 6.1 17 whi 1972
And 56 01 56.2 +37 15 5.7 5.9 201 ora-red 2001
----------------------------------------------------------
Aql alpha 19 50.8 +08 52 0.8 9.5 165
Aql nu 19 26.5 +00 20 4.7 8.9 201
Aql 31 19 25.0 +11 57 5.2 8.7 101 yel 2003
Aql 57 19 54.6 -08 14 5.7 6.5 36 b-w b-w 2006
Aql 5 18 46.5 -00 58 5.9 7.5 13 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Aqr zet1-zet2 22 28.8 -00 01 4.3 4.5 2.2 y-w whi 2009
Aqr sigma 22 30.6 -10 41 4.8 8.5 3.7 whi 1991
Aqr 104 23 41.8 -17 49 4.9 8.6 120 yel 2001
Aqr kappa 22 37.8 -04 14 5.0 8.8 93 ora 1980
Aqr 94 23 19.1 -13 28 5.2 7.6 13 yel ora 2006
Aqr 41 AB 22 14.3 -21 04 5.6 7.1 5.2 yel yel 2006
Aqr 41 AC 22 14.3 -21 04 5.6 9.0 212
Aqr 107 23 46.0 -18 41 5.7 6.7 7.0 whi y-w 2006
Aqr 12 21 04.1 -05 49 5.9 7.3 2.5 yel yel 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Ari gamma 01 53.5 +19 18 4.8 4.8 7.8 whi whi 2006
Ari lambda 01 57.9 +23 36 4.8 6.7 38 y-w y-w 2006
Ari 14 02 09.4 +25 56 5.0 8.0 107 2003
Ari pi 02 49.3 +17 28 5.2 8.7 3.5 b-w 2002
Ari epsilon 02 59.2 +21 20 5.2 5.5 1.4 whi whi 2006
Ari 33 02 40.7 +27 04 5.5 8.4 29 whi
Ari 10 02 03.7 +25 56 5.8 7.9 1.2 y-w whi 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
Aur theta 05 59.7 +37 13 2.6 7.1 3.8 whi yel 2004
Aur delta AB 05 59.5 +54 17 3.7 9.5 115
Aur delta AC 05 59.5 +54 17 3.7 9.5 197
Aur omega 04 59.3 +37 53 5.0 8.0 4.7 whi 2004
Aur 14 AC 05 15.4 +32 41 5.1 8.0 15 y-w 2006
Aur psi5 06 46.7 +59 27 5.3 8.7 31 yel 1998
Aur 26 05 34.5 +30 30 5.5 8.4 12 whi 2008
----------------------------------------------------------
Boo epsilon 14 45.0 +27 04 2.5 4.9 2.8 ora whi 2006
Boo delta 15 15.5 +33 19 3.6 7.9 102 yel 2004
Boo mu1-mu2 15 24.5 +37 23 4.3 7.0 107 y-w yel 2002
Boo kappa 14 13.5 +51 47 4.5 6.7 14 whi y-w 2004
Boo xi 14 51.4 +19 06 4.7 7.0 6.4 yel ora 2006
Boo iota 14 16.2 +51 22 4.8 7.4 40 whi ora 2004
Boo pi 14 40.7 +16 25 5.0 5.9 5.5 whi whi 2006
Boo 44 15 03.8 +47 39 5.3 7var 1.9 yel yel 2006
Boo 1 13 40.7 +19 57 5.8 7.4 209 2000
----------------------------------------------------------
Cae gamma 05 04.4 -35 29 4.6 8.1 3.2 ora 2001
----------------------------------------------------------
Cam beta 05 03.4 +50 27 4.1 7.4 83 yel 2003
Cam 11 05 06.1 +58 58 5.2 6.2 179 b-w 2002
Cam 1 04 32.0 +53 55 5.8 6.9 11 b-w b-w 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Cap bet1-bet2 20 21.0 -14 47 3.1 6.1 206 2002
Cap alp1-alp2 20 18.1 -12 33 3.6 4.2 381 yel yel 2002
Cap alpha2 AD 20 18.1 -12 33 3.6 9.3 155 yel
Cap alpha1 AC 20 17.6 -12 30 4.2 9.2 45 yel
Cap rho 20 28.9 -14 49 5.0 6.7 259 2001
Cap pi 20 27.3 -18 12 5.1 8.5 3.2 2002
Cap omicron 20 29.9 -18 35 5.9 6.7 23 whi whi 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Cas eta 00 49.1 +57 49 3.5 7.5 13 yel red 2005
Cas iota 02 29.1 +67 42 4.6 8.9 2.9 whi y-w 2004
Cas psi AB 01 29.5 +68 08 4.7 9.6 25
Cas psi AC 01 29.5 +68 08 4.7 9.7 23
Cas sigma 23 59.0 +55 45 5.0 7.1 3.2 2004
Cas 4 23 24.8 +62 17 5.0 7.8 99 old obs 1879
Cas phi 01 20.1 +58 14 5.1 7.0 135 b-w 2001
Cas 6 23 48.8 +62 13 5.5 8.0 1.4 whi 1994
Cas 2 23 09.7 +59 20 5.7 8.2 168 2001
----------------------------------------------------------
Cep beta 21 28.7 +70 34 3.2 7.8 13 b-w whi 1999
Cep kappa 20 08.9 +77 43 4.4 8.4 7.2 b-w 2003
Cep xi2 22 03.8 +64 38 4.4 6.5 8.3 whi whi 2009
Cep pi 23 07.9 +75 23 4.6 6.6 1.1 yel whi 2005
Cep omicron 23 18.6 +68 07 4.9 7.1 3.3 yel 2005
Cep delta 22 29.2 +58 25 4var 7.5 41 b-w 2004
----------------------------------------------------------
Cet gamma 02 43.3 +03 14 3.5 7.3 2.3 whi 2006
Cet chi 01 49.6 -10 41 4.9 6.9 185 y-w 2001
Cet 37 01 14.4 -07 55 5.2 7.9 48 y-w yel 2003
Cet 95 03 18.4 -00 56 5.6 7.5 1.2 yel yel 2004
Cet 66 02 12.8 -02 24 5.7 7.7 17 y-w yel 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
CMa alpha 06 45.1 -16 43 1.4- 8.5 4.6 whi whi 2000
CMa epsilon 06 58.6 +28 58 1.5 7.4 7.0 b-w 2000
CMa eta 07 24.1 -29 18 2.5 6.8 179 b-e 1999
CMa mu 06 56.1 -14 03 5.3 8.6 3.2 yel whi 2004
CMa nu1 06 36.4 -18 40 5.8 8.5 18 yel 2002
CMa 17 AD 06 55.0 -20 24 5.8 9.5 138
CMa 17 AC 06 55.0 -20 24 5.8 9.0 51
CMa 17 AB 06 55.0 -20 24 5.8 9.3 44 2002
----------------------------------------------------------
Cnc iota 08 46.7 +28 46 4.0 6.6 31 yel yel 2003
Cnc zeta AD 08 12.2 +17 39 5.0 9.7 288
Cnc zeta AC 08 12.2 +173 3 5.1 6.0 5.9 yel 2006
Cnc 66 09 01.4 +32 15 5.9 8.0 4.5 whi 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
Com 12 12 22.5 +25 51 4.9 8.9 65 2002
Com 24 12 35.1 +18 23 5.0 6.6 20 ora whi 2006
Com 35 12 53.3 +21 15 5.1 7.2 1.2 yel y-w 2004
Com 17 12 28.9 +25 55 5.2 6.6 146 whi 2002
Com 2 12 04.3 +21 28 5.9 7.4 3.7 y-w 1978
----------------------------------------------------------
CrB zeta 15 39.4 +36 38 5.1 6.0 6.3 b-w b-w 2006
CrB rho 16 01.0 +33 18 5.4 8.7 90 yel 1923
CrB sigma 16 14.7 +33 52 5.6 637 7.2 yel yel 2006
CrB eta 15 23.2 +30 17 5.6 5.9 1.0 y-w yel 1994
----------------------------------------------------------
CVn alpha 12 56.0 +38 19 2.9 5.6 19 whi whi 2004
CVn 25 13 20.3 +40 09 5.0 6.9 1.8 whi whi 2006
CVn 2 12 16.1 +40 40 5.8 8.1 12 red y-w 2005
CVn 17 13 10.1 +38 30 6.0 6.3 278 whi 2004
----------------------------------------------------------
Cyg delta 19 45.0 +45 08 2.9 6.3 2.6 b-w whi 2005
Cyg beta 19 30.7 +27 58 3.1 5.1 36 whi 2006
Cyg omicron1 20 13.6 +46 44 3.8 6.7 1.8 1926
Cyg omi1-omi2 20 13.6 +46 44 3.8 4.7 336 1999
Cyg 52 20 45.6 +30 43 4.2 8.7 6.4 yel 1997
Cyg mu AB 21 44.1 +28 45 4.8 6.9 1.8 y-w yel 2005
Cyg mu AD 21 44.1 +28 45 4.8 6.9 198 y-w y-w 2001
Cyg psi 19 55.6 +52 26 4.9 7.4 3.1 whi 2006
Cyg 26 20 01.4 +50 06 5.2 8.9 42 ora 2005
Cyg 61 21 06.9 +38 45 5.4 6.0 32 ora,ora 2009
Cyg 49 20 41.0 +32 18 5.7 7.8 3.0 yel 2003
Cyg 79 21 43.4 +38 17 5.7 7.0 150 whi 2001
Cyg 69 21 25.8 +36 40 5.9 8.9 53 2003
Cyg 16 19 41.8 +50 32 6.0 6.2 39 yel 1986
----------------------------------------------------------
Del gamma 20 46.7 +16 07 4.4 5.0 9.5 ora y-w 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Dra eta 16 24.0 +61 31 2.7 8.7 5.2
Dra epsilon 19 48.2 +70 16 3.8 7.4 3.2 yel 2005
Dra psi 17 41.9 +72 09 4.6 5.8 30 y-w y-w 2009
Dra omicron 18 51.2 +59 23 4.8 7.8 37 yel 2003
Dra nu 17 32.2 +55 11 4.9 4.9 63 whi whi 2006
Dra 39 AB 18 23.9 +58 48 5.0 8.4 3.8
Dra 39 AC 18 23.9 +58 48 5.0 7.4 89
Dra 26 17 25.0 +61 53 5.3 8.0 1.7 yel whi 2000
Dra 26 17 35.0 +61 53 5.3 8.5 1.6 yel 2000
Dra 17 16 36.2 +52 55 5.4 6.4 3.4 1976
Dra 16-17 16 36.2 +52 55 5.4 5.5 90 whi whi 2003
Dra 75 20 28.2 +81 25 5.5 6.7 197 2000
Dra mu 17 05.3 +54 28 5.6 5.7 2.4 y-w y-w 2006
Dra 40-41 18 00.2 +80 00 5.7 6.0 19 y-w y-w 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Equ alp 21 10.8 +10 08 4.7 6.1 338 2001
Equ gamma 21 10.3 +10 08 4.7 6.1 338 2001
Equ epsilon 20 59.1 +04 18 5.3 7.1 11 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Eri theta 02 58.3 -40 18 3.2 4.5 8.4 whi whi 2002
Eri 32 03 54.3 -02 57 4.8 6.1 6.9 yel-whi 2006
Eri 39 04 14.4 +10 15 5.0 8.5 6.3 ora 1996
Eri 66 05 06.8 -04 39 5.2 8.4 53
Eri 62 04 56.4 -05 10 5.5 8.9 66 b-w 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
For alpha 03 12.1 +28 58 4.0 7.0 4.8 y-w yel 2002
For omega 02 33.8 -28 14 5.0 7.7 11 b-w 2002
----------------------------------------------------------
Gem alpha AB 07 34.6 +31 53 1.9 3.0 4.6 whi whi 2009
Gem alpha AC 07 34.6 +31 53 1.9 8.8 73 whi
Gem delta 07 20.1 +21 59 3.6 8.2 5.7 whi ora 2005
Gem kappa 07 44.4 +24 24 3.6 8.1 7.2 yel 2002
Gem eta 06 14.9 +22 30 3var 8.8 1.8 red 2004
Gem zeta 07 04.1 +20 34 4.1 7.7 100 2005
Gem nu 06 29.0 +20 13 4.2 8.7 112 b-w 2002
Gem 38 06 54.6 +13 11 4.7 7.7 7.1 y-w yel 2000
----------------------------------------------------------
Her zeta 16 41.3 +31 36 2.9 5.5 1.5 yel 1994
Her alpha 17 14.6 +14 23 3 V 5.4 4.6 red y-w 2009
Her delta 17 15.0 +24 50 3.7 8.2 12 whi yel 2005
Her rho 17 23.7 +37 09 4.6 5.6 4.1 whi whi 2006
Her 52 16 49.2 +45 59 4.8 8.5 2.2 whi 1997
Her 95 18 01.5 +21 36 5.0 5.1 6.5 whi 2006
Her kappa 16 08.1 +17 03 5.0 6.3 27 yel yel 2009
Her 90 17 53.3 +40 00 5.2 8.5 1.5 ora 1999
Her 37 16 40.6 +04 13 5.8 7.0 69 2004
Her 100 18 07.8 +26 06 5.9 5.9 15 whi whi 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Hya epsilon 08 46.8 +06 25 3.8 6.8 2.8 yel whi 2005
Hya theta 09 14.4 +02 19 3.9 9.9 29
Hya tau1 09 29.1 -02 46 4.6 7.3 66 y-w 2002
Hya chi 11 05.3 -27 18 4.9 5.1 18 1960
Hya 27 09 20.5 -09 33 5.0 6.9 229
Hya 54 14 46.0 -25 27 5.1 7.1 8.6 1975
Hya N 11 32.3 -29 16 5.7 5.8 9.3 1967
----------------------------------------------------------
Lac 8 AD 22 35.9 +39 38 5.7 9.3 23 b-w b-w 2006
Lac 8 AE 22 35.9 +39 38 5.7 7.8 337
Lac 8 AB 22 35.9 +39 38 5.7 6.4 22 b-w b-w 1969
----------------------------------------------------------
Leo alpha 10 08.4 +11 58 1.4 7.7 176 b-w 2000
Leo gamma AC 10 20.0 +19 51 2.3 9.2 260 ora yel
Leo gamma AD 10 20.0 +19 51 2.3 9.6 333 ora yel
Leo gamma AB 10 20.0 +19 51 2.3 3.5 4.6 ora yel 2009
Leo zet 10 16.7 +23 25 3.5 6.0 333 2002
Leo iota 11 23.9 +10 32 4.0 6.7 1.7 y-w whi 2000
Leo iota 11 23.9 +10 32 4.1 6.7 1.9 y-w 2006
Leo 54 10 55.6 +24 45 4.5 6.3 6.5 whi whi 2006
Leo chi 11 05.0 +07 20 4.6 8.9 277
Leo TX 10 35.0 +08 39 5 V 8.5 2.4
Leo tau 11 27.9 +02 51 5.1 7.5 89 yel 2004
Leo 6 09 32.0 +09 43 5.2 8.2 37
Leo 49 10 35.0 +08 39 5.8 7.9 2.2 whi 2006
Leo 90 AB 11 34.7 +16 48 6.0 7.3 3.3 b-w
Leo 90 AC 11 34.7 +16 48 6.0 8.7 63 b-w
----------------------------------------------------------
Lep beta AB 05 28.2 -20 46 2.8 7.3 2.2 yel 1993
Lep gamma 05 44.5 -22 27 3.6 5.6 97 2002
Lep kappa 05 13.2 -12 56 4.5 7.4 2.0 b-w 2004
----------------------------------------------------------
Lib alp1-alp2 14 50.9 -16 02 2.8 5.2 231 2002
Lib mu 14 49.3 -14 09 5.8 6.7 1.8 whi
----------------------------------------------------------
LMi 42 10 45.9 +30 41 5.3 7.8 196 2002
----------------------------------------------------------
Lyn 38 09 18.8 +36 48 3.9 6.6 2.6 whi 2004
Lyn 12 AB 06 46.2 +59 27 5.4 6.0 1.8 whi whi 2006
Lyn 12 AC 06 46.2 +59 27 5.4 7.3 8.7 whi whi
Lyn 5 06 23.8 +58 25 5.4 7.9 96 ora 2002
Lyn 19 AB 07 22.9 +55 17 5.6 6.5 15 b-w b-w 2006
Lyn 19 AD 07 22.9 +55 17 5.6 8.9 215 b-w whi
----------------------------------------------------------
Lyr beta 18 50.1 +33 22 3.6 6.7 47 b-w whi 2005
Lyr eta 19 13.7 +39 09 4.0 8.0 28 b-w whi 1992
Lyr zet1-zet2 18 44.8 +37 36 4.3 5.7 44 y-w 2005
Lyr eps1-eps2 18 44.3 +39 40 4.7 5.1 208 whi whi
Lyr epsilon1 18 44.3 +39 40 5.0 6.1 2.6 whi y-w 2000
Lyr epsilon2 18 44.4 +39 37 5.2 5.4 2.4 whi y-w 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Mon epsilon 06 23.8 +04 36 4.4 6.7 12 whi y-w 2004
Mon 15 AD 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 9.6 41
Mon 15 AC 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 9.8 17
Mon 15 AB 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 7.5 2.9 2002
Mon 15 AE 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 9.9 74
Mon 15 AF 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 7.7 156
Mon 15 AK 06 41.0 +09 54 4.7 8.1 106
Mon beta AC 06 28.8 -07 02 4.7 6.1 9.9 b-w 1963
Mon beta AB 06 28.8 -07 02 4.7 5.2 7.1 b-w b-w 2006
Mon 3 06 01.8 -10 36 5.0 8.0 1.9 b-w 1996
----------------------------------------------------------
Oph 67 18 00.6 +02 56 4.0 8.1 54 2003
Oph 70 18 05.5 +02 30 4.1 6.0 5.3 ora whi 2006
Oph lambda AB 16 30.9 +01 59 4.2 5.2 1.4 whi whi 2006
Oph lambda AD 16 30.9 +01 59 4.2 9.9 314 whi
Oph zeta 17 21.0 -21 07 4.4 8.9 4.4 y-w 1989
Oph 41 17 16.6 +00 27 4.8 7.8 1.0 ora 2004
Oph 36 17 15.3 -26 36 5.1 5.1 4.9 ora ora 2006
Oph tau AB 18 03.1 -08 11 5.2 5.9 1.6 y-w y-w 2006
Oph tau AC 18 03.1 -08 11 5.2 9.3 100
Oph omicron 17 18.0 -24 17 5.2 6.8 10 yel 2006
Oph rho 16 25.6 -23 27 5.3 6.0 2.9 b-w 2001
Oph 53 17 34.6 +09 35 5.8 8.5 42 whi 2004
----------------------------------------------------------
Ori beta 05 14.5 -08 12 0.1 6.8 9.4 b-w 2005
Ori zeta 05 40.8 -01 57 1.9 4.1 2.6 blu b-w 2002
Ori delta 05 32.0 -00 18 2.4 6.8 53 b-w 2004
Ori iota 05 35.4 -05 55 2.8 6.9 11 2002
Ori pi3 04 49.8 +06 58 3.2 8.7 95
Ori lambda 05 35.1 +09 56 3.6 5.6 4.4 blu b-w 2006
Ori sigma 05 38.7 -02 36 3.8 6.6 13 2002
Ori eta AC 05 24.5 -02 24 3.8 9.4 115 b-w
Ori eta AB 05 24.5 -02 24 3.8 4.8 1.7 b-w 2003
Ori rho 05 13.3 +02 54 4.5 8.3 6.9 ora 2004
Ori psi 05 26.8 +03 06 4.6 8.6 2.9 b-w 1991
Ori 42 05 35.4 -04 50 4.6 7.5 1.1 b-w 1995
Ori 25 05 24.6 +01 49 4.9 8.1 158 old obs 1825
Ori 23 05 22.8 +.3 33 5.0 6.8 32 b-e 2005
Ori 33 05 31.2 +03 18 5.8 6.8 1.8 b-w 2006
Ori 52 05 48.0 +06 27 6.0 6.0 1.1 ehi 2003
Ori theta1 AC 05 35.3 -05 23 6.7 5.1 13 b-w b-w
Ori theta1 AD 05 35.3 -05 23 6.7 6.7 22 b-w b-w
Ori theta1 AB 05 35.3 -05 23 6.7 7.9 8.8 b-w b-w
----------------------------------------------------------
Peg eps 21 44.2 +09 52 2.4 8.4 143
Peg epsilon 21 44.2 +09 53 2.5 8.7 144 2006
Peg 1 21 22.1 +19 48 4.2 7.6 12 ora 2006
Peg 35 AB 22 27.9 +04 42 4.8 9.8 98
Peg 35 AC 22 27.9 +04 42 4.8 9.7 182
Peg 78 23 44.0 +29 22 5.0 8.1 1.0
----------------------------------------------------------
Per epsilon 03 57.9 +40 01 2.9 8.1 8.8 b-w
Per eta 02 50.7 +55 54 3.3 8.5 29 ora 2002
Per omicron 03 44.3 +32 17 3.8 8.3 1.0 b-w 2004
Per theta 02 44.2 +49 14 4.1 9.9 20 y-w red 2000
Per sigma 03 30.5 +47 51 4.4 6.2 23 ora
Per psi 01 05.6 +21 28 5.6 5.8 31 1972
Per 56 04 24.6 +33 58 5.9 8.7 4.2
----------------------------------------------------------
PsA beta 22 31.5 -32 21 4.4 7.9 30 whi 2006
PsA gamma 22 52.5 -32 53 4.5 8.0 4.0 whi 1992
PsA eta 22 00.8 -28 27 5.8 6.8 1.4 b-w 2006
----------------------------------------------------------
Psc alpha 02 02.0 +02 46 4.2 5.2 1.8 whi whi 2009
Psc zeta 01 13.7 +07 35 5.2 6.3 23 whi y-w 2006
Psc psi1 01 05.6 +21 28 5.3 5.6 30 b-w whi 2005
----------------------------------------------------------
Pup 19 08 11.3 -12 56 4.7 8.9 61 old obs 1899
Pup 5 07 47.9 -12 12 5.6 7.7 1.3 y-w 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
Scl epsilon 01 45.6 -25 03 5.4 8.6 4.9 y-w whi 2002
----------------------------------------------------------
Sco alpha 16 29.4 -26 26 1.2 5.4 2.7 red b-w 2000
Sco beta 16 05.4 -19 48 2.6 4.9 13 b-w 2005
Sco sigma 16 21.2 -25 36 2.9 8.5 20
Sco nu1-nu2 16 12.0 -19 28 4.3 6.4 41 b-w 2005
Sco 2 15 53.6 -25 20 4.7 7.4 2.1 b-w 1991
Sco xi 16 04.4 -11 22 4.9 7.3 7.5 yel 2005
Sco 12 16 12.3 -28 25 5.9 7.9 3.8 b-w 1999
----------------------------------------------------------
Ser delta 15 34.8 +10 32 4.2 5.2 4.0 y-w 2009
Ser nu 17 20.8 -12 51 4.3 8.3 46 whi
Ser theta 18 56.2 +04 12 4.6 5.0 22 whi whi 2006
Ser 59 18 27.2 +00 12 5.3 7.6 3.9 yel whi 2003
Ser 6 15 21.0 +00 43 5.5 8.8 3.0 ora 2000
----------------------------------------------------------
Sge zeta AC 19 49.0 +19 09 5.5 8.7 8.6
Sge epsilon 19 37.3 +16 28 5.8 8.4 88 yel 2002
Sge 15 AB 20 04.1 +17 04 5.9 8.1 191
Sge 15 AC 20 04.1 +17 04 5.9 6.8 214 2001
----------------------------------------------------------
Sgr beta1 19 22.6 -44 28 3.9 8.0 29 b-w y-w 1999
Sgr 21 18 25.3 -20 32 4.9 7.4 1.5 whi ora 1997
Sgr 54 19 40.7 +16 18 5.3 8.1 46 ora y-w 1845
----------------------------------------------------------
Tau eta 03 47.5 +24 06 2.8 6.3 118 b-w 2003
Tau the1-the2 04 28.7 +15 52 3.4 3.8 337 2002
Tau sig1-sig2 04 39.3 +15 55 3.4 3.8 438 2000
Tau tau 04 42.2 +22 57 4.2 7.0 63 b-w 1999
Tau 19 03 45.2 +24 28 4.3 7.1 72 b-w 2003
Tau delta3 04 25.5 +17 56 4.3 7.6 1.9 whi 1999
Tau 88 04 35.7 +10 10 4.3 7.4 69 2003
Tau 47 04 13.9 +09 16 4.8 7.4 1.2 yel whi 2001
Tau phi 04 20.4 +27 21 5.0 8.4 49 ora 1999
Tau kappa-67 04 25.4 +22 18 5.2 5.3 339
Tau chi 04 22.6 +25 38 5.5 7.6 19 b-w y-w 2004
Tau 103 05 08.1 +24 16 5.5 8.6 36 1997
Tau 81 04 30.6 +15 42 5.5 8.9 162 whi 2002
Tau 80 04 30.1 +15 38 5.7 8.0 1.6 y-w yel 2002
Tau 118 05 29.3 +25 09 5.8 6.6 4.7 b-w 2009
----------------------------------------------------------
Tri 6 02 12.4 +30 18 5.3 6.9 4.0 yel 2006
Tri 15 02 38.5 +34 41 5.4 6.7 142 red 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
UMa zeta-80 13 23.9 +54 56 2.2 4.0 709 whi whi 1991
UMa zeta AB 13 23.9 +54 56 2.2 3.9 14 whi whi 2006
UMa 23 09 31.5 +63 04 3.7 8.9 23
UMa xi 11 18.2 +33 06 4.3 4.8 1.8 yel yel 2000
UMa sigma2 09 10.4 +67 08 4.9 8.2 4.0 y-w whi 2004
UMa 78 13 00.7 +56 22 5.1 7.4 1.2 y-w whi 2005
UMa 57 11 29.1 +39 20 5.3 8.3 5.4 whi
----------------------------------------------------------
UMi alpha 02 31.8 +89 16 2.0 8.2 18 y-w 1990
----------------------------------------------------------
Vir gamma 12 41.7 -01 27 3.5 3.5 1.0 y-w y-w 2006
Vir beta 11 50.6 +01 45 3.8 8.8 12 b-w
Vir tau 14 01.6 +01 33 4.3 9.6 80
Vir chi 12 39.2 -08 0 4.8 8.8 176 2002
Vir 84 13 43.1 +03 32 5.5 7.9 2.8 yel 2006
Vir 84 13 45.9 -12 26 5.7 8.5 1.2 yel 1991
Vir 33 12 46.4 +09 32 5.8 8.7 145 ora 2002
----------------------------------------------------------
Vul alpha 19 28.7 +24 40 4.4 5.8 427 2009
Vul 13 19 53.5 +24 05 4.6 7.4 1.3 b-w 2003
----------------------------------------------------------
PLANETARY STARS
===============
The planetary stars here are those with Bayer/Flamsteed
designations north of -40d declination. These are almost all bare-eye
stars, Data for each planet of a star is given under the star.
The complete master table of planetary stars is 'Are those stars
looking back at us?' for the whole celestial sphere and includes bare-
eye stars lacking Bayer/Flamsteed designations. It is at
'www.nyskies.org/articles/pazmino/planstar.htm'.
Where a star has several planets, data for each is listed.
This section is updated occasionally for new discoveries and
revisions.
SUN is the apparent magnitude of Sun as seen from the star.
MJUP is the planet mass in Jupiter units
S M A is the semimajor axis of the planet orbit in AU
PERIOD is the planet orbital period in Earth days
YEAR is when the planet was announced
------------------------------------------------------------------
STAR CNS HD-NUM RA--2000--DE MAG SPEC PC SUN MJUP SMA PERIOD YEAR
---- --- ------ ------------ --- ---- --- --- ----- ---- ------ ----
54 Psc 3651 00 39 +21 16 5.8 K0.5 11 5.0 0.2 0.28 62.2 2003
eta Cet 6805 01 09 -10 11 3.5 K1.3 38 7.7 2.55 1.27 403.5 2014
3.32 1.93 751.9 2014
ups And 9826 01 37 +41 25 4.1 F8.5 13 5.4 0.62 0.06 4.6 1996
0.01 1.8 240.4 1999
23.6 2.55 1281.4 1999
1.06 5.25 3848.7 2010
tau Cet 10700 01 44 -15 56 3.5 G9.5 4 2.8 0.06 0.11 14.0 2012
0.01 0.20 35.4 2012
0.01 0.37 94.1 2012
0.01 1.34 636.4 2012
0.12 0.54 62.9 2012
0.01 0.13 35.3 2017
0.01 0.24 49.4 2017
109 Psc 10697 01 45 +20 05 6.3 G5.4 33 7.4 6.38 2.16 1076.4 1999
alp Ari 12929 02 07 +23 28 2.0 K2.3 20 6.3 1.8 1.2 380.8 2011
75 Cet 15779 02 32 -01 07 5.4 G3.3 82 9.4 3 2.1 691.9 2012
79 Cet 16141 02 35 -03 34 6.8 G5.4 36 7.6 0.23 0.35 75.6 2000
30B Ari 16232 02 37 +24 59 7.1 F6.5 39 7.8 9.88 0.995 335.1 2009
lam2 For 16417 02 37 -34 35 5.8 G1.5 26 6.8 0.07 0.14 17.2 2009
81 Cet 16400 02 38 -03 24 5.7 G5.3 97 9.7 5.3 2.5 952.7 2008
94 Cet 19994 03 13 -01 11 5.1 F8.5 22 6.5//1.37 1.31 466.2 2000
sig Per 21552 03 31 +48 00 4.4 K3.3103 9.9 6.5 1.8 579.8 2014
eps Eri 22049 03 33 -09 27 3.7 K2.5 3 2.3 1.55 3.39 2502 2000
0.1 40 9999 2003
c Eri 29391 04 18 -02 28 5.2 F0.5 29 7.1 7.0 14.0 9999 2015
eps Tau 28305 04 29 +19 11 3.5 K0.3 45 8.1 7.6 1.93 594.9 2007
alp Tau 29139 04 36 +16 30 0.9 K5.3 20 6.1 6.47 1.42 629.0 1998
51 Eri 29391 04 38 -02 28 5.2 F0.5 29 7.0 2.6 11.1 9999 2015
6 Lyn 45410 06 31 +58 10 5.9 K0.4 57 8.6 2.4 2.2 899 2008
nu2 CMa 47205 06 37 -19 15 4.0 K1.3 20 6.3 1.90 1.76 736.0 2011
0.06 2.14 988.9 2019
tau Gem 54719 07 11 +30 15 4.4 K2.3 92 9.6 20.6 1.17 306 2004
bet Gem 62509 07 45 +28 02 1.2 K0.3 10 4.9 2.9 1.69 589.6 2006
3 Cnc 65759 08 01 +17 19 5.3 K3.324311.7 20.76 2.52 853.6 2020
omi UMa 71369 08 30 +60 43 3.4 G4.2 56 8.5 4.1 3.9 1630 2012
pi2 UMa 73108 08 40 +64 20 4.6 K1.3 62 8.8 7.1 0.87 269.3 2007
rho1 Cnc 75732 08 53 +28 20 6.0 G8.5 13 5.4 0.84 0.11 14.7 1996
0.17 0.24 44.4 2001
3.86 5.45 4867.0 2001
0.03 0.02 0.7 2004
0.15 0.77 26+.0 2007
--- UMa 81688 09 29 +45 36 5.4 K0.3 89 9.5 2.7 0.81 184.0 2008
mu Leo 85503 09 53 +26 00 3.9 K2.3 38 7.7 2.4 1.1 357.8 2014
gam1 Leo 89484 10 20 +19 50 2.0 K0.3 39 7.7 8.78 1.19 428.5 2009
--- UMa 89744 10 22 +41 14 5.7 F7.5 40 7.8 7.99 0.89 256.6 2000
24 Sex 90043 10 23 -00 54 6.4 G5.5 75 9.2 1.94 1.33 452.8 2010
1.52 2.08 883 2010
44 UMa 94247 10 57 +65 35 5.1 K3. 200 1.3 12.11 12.16 785.7 2020
47 UMa 95128 10 59 +40 26 5.0 G0.5 14 5.5 2.53 2.1 1078 1996
0.54 3.6 2391 2001
1.64 11.6 9999 2010
83 Leo 99492 11 27 +03 00 6.5 K2.5 18 6.1 0.11 0.12 17.0 2004
0.36 5.4 4970 2010
ups Leo 100920 11 37 -00 49 4.3 G9.3 57 9.0 0.51 1.18 85.2 2021
bet UMi 131873 11 51 +74 09 2.1 K4.3 40 7.8 6.1 1.4 522.3 2014
11 Com 107383 12 21 +17 48 4.7 G8.311110.0 16.13 1.29 326.1 2008
chi Vir 110014 12 39 -08 00 4.6 K2.3 90 9.6 11.1 2.14 835.5 2009
38 Vir 111998 12 53 -03 33 6.1 F6.5 31 7.3 4.5 1.8 825.9 2016
--- Dra 113337 13 01 +63 37 6.0 F6.5 37 7.6 3.1 1 .03 323.4 2013
7.2 4.8 8624.7 2018
61 Vir 115617 13 18 -18 19 4.7 G5.5 9 4.5 0.02 0.05 4.2 2009
0.06 0.22 38.0 2009
0.07 0.48 123.0 2009
70 Vir 117176 13 28 +13 47 5.0 G4.5 22 6.5 6.6 0.48 116.7 1996
tau Boo 120136 13 47 +17 27 4.5 F7.5 15 5.7 4.13 0.05 3.3 1996
--- Hya 122430 14 02 -27 25 5.5 K3.313510.5 3.71 1.02 345.0 2003
24 Boo 127243 14 29 +49 51 5.6 G3.4100 9.8 0.91 0.19 30.4 2018
b Cen 129116 14 42 -37 48 4.0 B3.5 90 9.5 10.9 556.0 9999 2021
8 UMi 133086 14 57 +74 54 6.8 K0.015910.8 1.5 0.49 83.4 2015
23 Lib 134987 15 13 -25 19 6.5 G5.5 25 6.9 1.59 0.81 258.2 1999
0.82 5.8 5000 2009
11 UMi 136726 15 17 +71 49 5.0 K4.312011.2 11.08 1.54 516.2 2009
iot Dra 137759 15 25 +58 58 3.3 K2.3 32 7.3 16.4 1.48 510.9 2002
omi CrB 136512 15 35 +26 43 5.5 K0.3 84 9.4 1.5 0.83 187.3 2012
gam Lib 138905 15 36 -14 47 3.0 K0.3 50 8.3 0.29 1.24 415.2 2018
4.63 2.18 964.6 2018
lam Ser 141004 15 46 +07 21 4.4 G0.5 12 0.04 0.12 15.5 2021
ome Ser 141680 15 50 +02 12 5.2 G8.3 81 9.3 1.7 1.1 277.0 2013
kap CrB 142091 15 51 +35 39 4.8 K1.4 31 7.3 1.8 2.6 1251 2007
eps CrB 143107 15 58 +26 53 4.1 K2.3 68 9.0 6.7 1.3 417.9 2012
rho CrB 143761 16 01 +33 19 5.4 G0.5 17 6.0 1.05 0.22 39.8 1997
0.08 0.41 102.5 2016
14 Her 145675 16 10 +43 49 6.6 K0.5 18 6.1 5.22 2.77 1773.4 1998
2.09 5.81 --- 2005
5.8 16.4 6906 2006
chi Sco 145897 16 14 -11 50 5.2 K3.3116 9.9 4.52 1.45 528.4 2020
psi1 Dra 162004 17 42 +72 09 5.7 G0.5 22 6.5 1.53 4.43 3117.0 2015
nu Oph 163917 17 59 -09 46 3.3 G9.3 47 8.2 2.21 1.79 530.2 2004
24.66 5.93 3184.8 2010
42 Dra 170693 18 26 +65 34 4.8 K1.3 97 9.7 3.88 1.19 479.1 2009
59 Dra 180777 19 08 +76 34 5.1 A9.5 27 7.0 25.0 0.22 28.4 2016
16 Cyg 186427 19 42 +50 31 6.0 G2.5 21 6.5 1.68 1.68 799.5 1996
xi Aql 188310 19 54 +08 57 4.7 G9.3 63 8.8 2.8 0.68 136.8 2008
15 Sge 190406 20 04 +17 04 5.8 G0.5 17 6.0 61.5 14.0 ---- 2002
18 Del 199665 20 58 +10 50 5.5 G6.3 73 9.1 10.3 2.68 993.3 2008
gam Psc 219615 21 17 +03 17 3.7 F9.3 43 8.7 1.34 1.32 555.1 2021
51 Peg 217014 22 57 +20 46 5.5 G2.4 15 5.6 0.46 0.05 4.2 1995
alp PsA 216956 22 58 -29 37 1.2 A3.5 8 4.2 2 115 9999 2008
psi1 Aqr 219449 23 16 -09 05 4.2 K0.3 46 8.1 3.32 0.7 181.4 2003
14 And 221345 23 31 +39 14 5.2 K0.3 76 9.2 4.68 0.83 185.8 2008
gam Cep 222404 23 39 +77 38 3.2 K2.5 14 5.5 1.85 2.05 903.3 2002
--- Oct 221420 23 33 -77 23 5.8 G2.4 32 7.3 9.7 --- 9999 2019
kap And 222439 23 41 +44 20 4.2 B9.4 52 8.4 44.0 55 --- 2013
------------------------------------------------------------------
GALAXIES
========
Galaxies, except for the Andromeda galaxy M31, are often dismissed
as suitable targets for New York City. There are some 30 galaxies that
are usually discernible from the City with clear dark skies. Most are
in the Virgo galaxy cluster, of which a couple examples are listed
here. Only the central cores show up with the outer zones blended into
the surrounding sky. M31 itself is occasionally seen by bare-eye as an
other dim star in Andromeda.
------------------------------------------------------------
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGN SIZE OTHER NAME
--- --------- ---------- --------- ---- --------- ----------
And NGC 224 00 42 44.3 +41 16 06 4.5 189'X62' M 31
And NGC 205 00 40 22.1 +41 41 05 8.0 20'X12' M 110
And NGC 221 00 42 41.8 +40 51 55 8.7 8'X6' M 32
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cam NGC 2403 07 36 50.6 +65 36 04 8.4 18'X11'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cen NGC 5128 13 25 27.8 -43 01 06 7.0 27'X20'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cet NGC 247 00 47 08.3 -20 45 38 8.8 21'X6'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Com NGC 4826 12 56 43.8 +21 40 57 8.5 9.3'X5.4' M 64
-----------------------------------------------------------
CVn NGC 4258 12 18 57.8 +47 18 23 8.3 18'X8' M 106
CVn NGC 5194 13 29 52.6 +47 11 42 8.4 11'X8' M 51-A
CVn NGC 4736 12 50 53.1 +41 07 15 8.5 11'X9' M 94
CVn NGC 5055 13 15 49.0 +42 01 57 8.6 12'X8' M 63
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyg NGC 6946 20 34 52.1 +60 09 10 8.8 11'X9.8'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hya NGC 5236 13 37 00.2 -29 52 04 8.5 11'X10' M 83
-----------------------------------------------------------
Leo NGC 3521 11 05 48.8 -00 02 15 8.9 10'X5'
Leo NGC 2903 09 32 09.7 +21 29 55 8.9 13'X7'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Scl NGC 253 00 47 34.3 -25 17 32 7.1 26'X6'
-----------------------------------------------------------
Tri NGC 598 01 33 51.9 +30 39 27 5.7 69'X42' M 33
-----------------------------------------------------------
UMa NGC 3031 09 55 33.5 +69 04 00 7.2 23'X11' M 81
UMa NGC 5457 14 03 12.4 +54 20 56 7.7 27'X26' M 101
UMa NGC 3034 09 55 51.4 +69 40 45 8.4 12'X4' M 82
-----------------------------------------------------------
Vir NGC 4594 12 39 59.3 -11 37 23 8.3 9'X4' M 104
Vir NGC 4472 12 29 46.7 +07 59 58 8.4 9'X7' M 49
Vir NGC 4486 12 30 49.4 +12 23 28 8.7 7'X7' M 87
Vir NGC 4649 12 43 39.8 +11 33 09 8.8 7'X6' M 60
-----------------------------------------------------------
GLOBULAR NEBULAE
================
These are compact and condensed to allow fainter ones to be seen,
if only as tiny dots. Globular nebulae take magnification well,
revealing details missing in the usual low-power views.
NGC 6543 and 7662 pass near the zenith of New York, making them
easier to see thru thinner air.
These targets are usually called 'planetary nebulae'. With the new
study of planetary stars and planet-related nebulae around them, it's
better to shift the nomenclature. Most globular nebulae are roundish,
so a name appealing to their shape, like for the other kinds of
deepsky object, is used here.
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGN SIZE OTHER NAME
--- --------- ---------- --------- ---- --------- ---------
And NGC 7662 23 25 53.9 +42 32 06 8.3 32"X28"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Aqr NGC 7293 22 29 38.4 -20 50 13 7.4 720"X600"
Aqr NGC 7009 21 04 10.8 -11 21 49 7.8 44"X23"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Cyg NGC 7027 21 07 01.7 +42 14 10 8.5 18"X10"
Cyg NGC 6826 19 44 48.2 +50 31 30 8.8 27"X24"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Dra NGC 6543 17 58 33.3 +66 37 59 8.3 23"X17"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Her NGC 6210 16 44 29.5 +23 48 00 8.8 48"X8"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Hya NGC 3242 10 24 46.1 -18 38 33 7.8 45"X36"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Lyr NGC 6720 18 53 35.1 +33 01 45 8.7 86"X62" M 57
-----------------------------------------------------------
Oph NGC 6572 18 12 06.4 +06 51 13 8.1 16"X13"
-----------------------------------------------------------
Vul NGC 6853 19 59 36.3 +22 43 16 7.2 480"X342" M 27
-----------------------------------------------------------
GLOBULAR CLUSTERS
=================
Of the scores within reach from the City, an ample selection is
given here. Globular clusters do well in poor skies due to their
concentrated light. The outer reaches and resolution of the stars may
be lost. NGC 5139, omega Centauri, is included for the annual spring
challenge to see it from New York City.
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGN SIZE OTHER NAME
--- --------- ---------- --------- ---- ----- ---------
Aqr NGC 7089 21 33 29.3 -00 49 23 6.5 13' M 2
-------------------------------------------------------
Cap NGC 7099 21 40 22.0 -23 10 45 7.3 11' M 30
-------------------------------------------------------
Cen NGC 5139 13 26 45.9 -47 28 37 3.5 36' omeCen
---------------------------------------------------------
Com NGC 5024 13 12 55.3 +18 10 09 7.8 13' M 53
-------------------------------------------------------
CVn NGC 5272 13 42 11.2 +28 22 32 6.3 16' M 3
-------------------------------------------------------
Her NGC 6205 16 41 41.5 +36 27 37 5.8 17' M 13
Her NGC 6341 17 17 07.3 +43 08 11 6.3 11' M 92
-------------------------------------------------------
Hya NGC 4590 12 39 28.0 -26 44 34 7.7 12' M 68
-------------------------------------------------------
Lep NGC 1904 05 24 10.6 -24 31 27 7.7 9' M 79
-------------------------------------------------------
Oph NGC 6273 17 02 37.7 -26 16 05 6.8 14' M 19
Oph NGC 6254 16 57 08.9 -04 05 58 6.9 15' M 10
Oph NGC 6218 16 47 14.5 -01 56 52 7.2 15' M 12
Oph NGC 6402 17 37 36.1 -03 14 45 7.9 12' M 14
-------------------------------------------------------
Peg NGC 7078 21 29 58.3 +12 10 01 6.7 12' M 15
-------------------------------------------------------
Sco NGC 6121 16 23 35.5 -26 31 31 5.8 26' M 4
Sco NGC 6093 16 17 02.5 -22 58 30 7.3 9' M 80
-------------------------------------------------------
Ser NGC 5904 15 18 33.8 +02 04 58 5.7 17' M 5
-------------------------------------------------------
Sgr NGC 6656 18 36 24.2 -23 54 12 5.9 24' M 22
Sgr NGC 6626 18 24 32.9 -24 52 12 7.4 11' M 28
-------------------------------------------------------
OPEN CLUSTERS
=============
Open clusters are so varied in spectacularity that there are
surely several that perform nicely in most skies. However, low
transparency will veil the dimmer stars, losing the 'cluster' effect
of a given object.
Open clusters have many alternate names, as noted in the last 3
column: CR = Collinder, MEL = Melotte, TR = Trumpler
Open clusters mass up along the Milky Way. They trace the path of
the Milky Way when the band itself is not in sight.
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGN SIZE CR MEL OTHER
--- --------- ---------- --------- ---- ---- --- --- -----
And NGC 7686 23 30 12.0 +49 08 00 5.6 14'
And NGC 752 01 57 48.0 +37 41 00 5.7 50' 23 12
----------------------------------------------------
Aql NGC 6709 18 51 30.0 +10 21 00 6.7 13' 392 214
----------------------------------------------------
Aur Cr 62 05 22 30.0 +41 00 00 4.2 28' 62
Aur NGC 2281 06 49 18.0 +41 04 00 5.4 14' 116 51
Aur NGC 2099 05 52 24.0 +32 33 00 5.6 23' 75 38 M37
Aur NGC 1960 05 36 06.0 +34 08 00 6.0 12' 71 37 M36
Aur NGC 1912 05 28 42.0 +35 50 00 6.4 21' 67 36 M38
--------------------------------------------------------
Cam Cr 464 05 22 00.0 +73 00 00 4.2 120' 464
Cam Pazmino 03 16 20.0 +60 02 00 6.5 18' St23
Cam NGC 1502 04 07 42.0 +62 20 00 6.9 7.0' 45
---------------------------------------------------------
Cas St 2 02 15.0 +59 16 4.4 60'X60' St2
Cas Cr 463 01 48 24.0 +71 57 00 5.7 36' 463
Cas Cr 33 02 59 18.0 +60 24 00 5.9 39' 33
Cas NGC 457 01 19 06.0 +58 20 00 6.4 13' 12 7
Cas IC 1848 02 51 12.0 +60 26 00 6.5 12' 32
Cas IC 1805 02 32 42.0 +61 27 00 6.5 21' 26 15
Cas NGC 654 01 44 06.0 +61 53 00 6.5 5.0' 18 19
Cas NGC 129 00 29 54.0 +60 14 00 6.5 21' 2
Cas NGC 7789 23 57 00.0 +56 44 00 6.7 15' 460 245
Cas NGC 1027 02 42 42.0 +61 33 00 6.7 20' 30 16
Cas Cr 34 03 00 54.0 +60 25 00 6.8 25' 34
Cas NGC 7654 23 24 12.0 +61 35 00 6.9 12' 455 243 M52
--------------------------------------------------------
Cep IC 1396 21 39 06.0 +57 30 00 3.5 50' 439 Tr37
Cep NGC 7160 21 53 42.0 +62 36 00 6.1 7.0' 443
------------------------------------------------
CMa Cr 121 06 54 12.0 -24 38 00 2.6 50' 121
CMa Cr 140 07 23 54.0 -32 12 00 3.5 42' 140
CMa Cr 132 07 14 24.0 -31 10 00 3.6 95' 132
CMa NGC 2362 07 18 48.0 -24 57 00 4.1 8.0' 136 65
CMa Cr 118 06 47 00.0 -20 44 00 4.5 38' 118
CMa NGC 2287 06 47 00.0 -20 44 00 4.5 38' 118 M41
CMa NGC 2354 07 14 18.0 -25 44 00 6.5 20' 131
------------------------------------------------
Cnc NGC 2632 08 40 06.0 +19 59 00 3.4 95' 189 88 M44
Cnc NGC 2682 08 50 24.0 +11 49 00 6.9 29' 204 94 M67
--------------------------------------------------------
Com Mel 111 12 25 00.0 +26 00 00 1.8 275' 256
------------------------------------------------
Cyg NGC 7092 21 32 12.0 +48 26 00 4.6 31' 138 236 M39
Cyg NGC 6871 20 05 54.0 +35 47 00 5.2 20' 413
Cyg Cr 419 20 18 06.0 +40 43 00 5.4 4.5' 419
Cyg NGC 6913 20 23 58.0 +38 29 30 6.6 6.0' 422 M29
Cyg NGC 6811 19 38 12.0 +46 34 00 6.8 12' 402 222
----------------------------------------------------
Gem NGC 2168 06 08 54.0 +24 20 00 5.1 28' 82 41 M35
Gem Cr 89 06 18 00.0 +23 38 00 5.7 35' 89
Gem NGC 2129 06 01 00.0 +23 18 00 6.7 6.0' 77
------------------------------------------------
Hya NGC 2548 08 13 48.0 -05 48 00 5.8 54' 179 82 M48
--------------------------------------------------------
Lac NGC 7243 22 15 18.0 +49 53 00 6.4 21' 448 240
----------------------------------------------------
Mon NGC 2232 06 26 36.0 -04 45 00 3.9 29' 93
Mon NGC 2264 06 41 06.0 +09 53 00 3.9 20' 112 149
Mon Cr 106 06 37 06.0 +05 57 00 4.6 45' 106
Mon NGC 2244 06 32 24.0 +04 52 00 4.8 23' 99 47
Mon Cr 107 06 37 42.0 +04 44 00 5.1 35' 107
Mon Cr 97 06 31 18.0 +05 55 00 5.4 21' 97
Mon NGC 2323 07 03 12.0 -08 20 00 5.9 16' 124 50 M50
Mon NGC 2301 06 51 48.0 +00 28 00 6.0 12' 117 54
Mon Cr 91 06 21 42.0 +02 22 00 6.4 17' 91
Mon NGC 2343 07 08 18.0 -10 39 00 6.7 6.0' 128
------------------------------------------------
Oph Mel 186 18 01 00.0 +03 00 00 3.0 240' 359
Oph IC 4665 17 46 18.0 +05 43 00 4.2 70' 349 179
Oph NGC 6633 18 27 42.0 +06 34 00 4.6 20' 350 201
Oph Cr 350 17 48 06.0 +01 18 00 6.1 45' 350
-----------------------------------------------------
Ori Cr 70 05 36 00.0 -01 00 00 0.4 150' 70 Belt
Ori NGC 1980 05 35 24.0 -05 54 00 2.5 13' 72
Ori Cr 69 05 35 06.0 +09 56 00 2.8 64' 69
Ori Cr 65 05 26 00.0 +16 00 00 3.0 220' 65
Ori NGC 1976 05 35 24.0 -05 23 00 3.7 47' M42,theOri
Ori NGC 1981 05 35 12.0 -04 26 00 4.2 25' 73
Ori NGC 2169 06 08 24.0 +13 57 00 5.9 6.0' 83
Ori NGC 1662 04 48 30.0 +10 56 00 6.4 20' 55
Ori NGC 2175 06 09 48.0 +20 19 00 6.8 18' 84
------------------------------------------------
Per Mel 20 03 22 00.0 +49 00 00 1.2 185' 39 20 alpPer
Per NGC 1039 02 42 00.0 +42 47 00 5.2 35' 31 17 M34
Per NGC 869 02 19 00.0 +57 09 00 5.3 29' 24 DblClus,
Per Mel 13 02 19 00.0 +57 09 00 5.3 29' 13
Per Cr 29 02 37 18.0 +55 59 00 5.9 20' 29 Tr2
Per NGC 884 02 22 24.0 +57 07 00 6.1 29' 25 14 DblClus,
Per NGC 1545 04 20 54.0 +50 15 00 6.2 18' 49
Per NGC 1528 04 15 24.0 +51 14 00 6.4 23' 47 23
Per NGC 1444 03 49 24.0 +52 40 00 6.6 4.0' 43
Per NGC 1342 03 31 36.0 +37 20 00 6.7 14' 40 21
----------------------------------------------------
Pup NGC 2422 07 36 36.0 -14 30 00 4.4 29' 152 68 M47
Pup NGC 2437 07 41 48.0 -14 49 00 6.1 27' 159 75 M46
Pup NGC 2447 07 44 36.0 -23 52 00 6.2 22' 160 76 M93
Pup NGC 2546 08 12 24.0 -37 38 00 6.3 40' 178
Pup NGC 2520 08 05 18.0 -28 10 00 6.5 22' 174
Pup NGC 2539 08 10 42.0 -12 50 00 6.5 21' 176 83
Pup NGC 2423 07 37 06.0 -13 52 00 6.7 19' 153 70
----------------------------------------------------
Sco Cr 302 16 26 00.0 -26 00 00 1.0 505' 302 alpSco
Sco NGC 6231 16 54 00.0 -41 48 00 2.6 14' 315 153 zetSco
Sco Cr 316 16 55 30.0 -40 50 00 13.4 05' 316
Sco NGC 6405 17 40 06.0 -32 13 00 4.2 33'2341 178 M6
Sco NGC 6475 17 53 54.0 -34 49 00 2.8 80' 354 M7
-----------------------------------------------------------
Sct NGC 6705 18 51 06.0 -06 16 00 5.9 13' 391 213 M11
--------------------------------------------------------
Ser IC 4756 18 39 00.0 +05 27 00 4.6 40' 386 210
Ser NGC 6605 18 17 06.0 -14 58 00 6.0
Ser NGC 6611 18 18 48.0 -13 47 00 6.0 21' 375 198 M16
Ser NGC 6604 18 18 06.0 -12 14 00 6.5 4.0' 373
------------------------------------------------
Sgr NGC 6603 18 18 24 -18 25 3.1 95' M24,I4715
Sgr IC 4725 18 31 36.0 -19 15 00 4.6 32' 382 204 M25
Sgr NGC 6530 18 04 48.0 -24 20 00 4.6 14' 362 M8
Sgr NGC 6494 17 56 48.0 -19 01 00 5.5 30' 356 184 M23
Sgr NGC 6531 18 04 36.0 -22 30 00 5.9 15' 363 188 M21
Sgr NGC 6618 18 20 48.0 -16 11 00 6.0 11' 377 M17
Sgr NGC 6514 18 02 18.0 -23 02 00 6.3 13' 360
Sgr Cr 394 18 53 30.0 -20 23 00 6.3 22' 394
Sgr Cr 367 18 09 36.0 -23 59 00 6.4 37' 367
Sgr NGC 6613 18 19 54.0 -17 08 00 6.9 9.0' 376 M18
--------------------------------------------------------
Tau Hyades 04 27 00.0 +16 00 00 0.5 330' 50 25
Tau Pleiades 03 46 54.0 +24 07 00 1.3 110' 42 22 M45,etaTau
Tau NGC 1746 05 03 36.0 +23 49 00 6.1 42' 52 28
Tau NGC 1750 05 03 54.0 +23 39 00 6.1
Tau NGC 1647 04 46 00.0 +19 04 00 6.4 45' 54 26
----------------------------------------------------
UMa Cr 285 12 03 00.0 +58 00 00 0.4 1400'285 Big Dipper
---------------------------------------------------------------
Vul Cr 399 19 25 24.0 +20 11 00 3.6 60' 399
Vul NGC 6940 20 34 36.0 +28 18 00 6.3 31' 424 232
----------------------------------------------------
OPEN NEBULAE
============
This is the most optimistic of the categories because any graying
of the sky will mask out the glow of an open nebula. In most cases
only the core of an open nebula, where its embedded stars light it up
most strngly, may be visible.
Four of the targets are usually dependibly seen: M42 & M43 (often
treated as one target, being adjacent nebulae), M8, and M20. The
others are iffy on most occasions. NGC 7000, the North American
nebula, is likely always absent from the city sky because its lumens
are spread over so large an area on the sky.
When a nebula is not sighted, its embedded stars may still be
discerned, making the target a cluster. Some open nebulae are in fact
cataloged twice, once for the nebulous feature with one designation
and again for the cluster with a separate designation. The Rosette
nebula NGC 2238 is normally not discernible, but its stars NGC 2244,
in the Open Clusters table, are.
CNS DESIGNATN RA2000 DC2000 MAGN SIZE OTHER NAME
--- --------- ---------- --------- ---- --------- ---------
Cas IC 1795 02 25 48.0 +61 58 48 6.7 12'X12'
------------------------------------------------------------
Cyg NGC 7000 21 01 48.0 +44 12 00 4.5 120'X100' HD199579?
------------------------------------------------------------
Mon NGC 2238 06 32 38.0 +04 57 36 6.0 80'X60'
------------------------------------------------------------
Ori NGC 1976 05 35 28.0 -05 28 12 3.7 90'X60' M42
Ori NGC 1982 05 35 36.0 -05 16 00 7.0 20'X15' M43
Ori NGC 1973 05 35 06.0 -04 44 00 7.0 5'X5'
Ori NGC 1975 05 35 24.0 -04 41 00 7.0 10'X5'
------------------------------------------------------------
Per NGC 1499 04 01 16.0 +36 38 24 6.0 160'X40' xiPer
------------------------------------------------------------
Sgr NGC 6523 18 05 25.8 -24 23 39 5.0 40'X35' M8
Sgr NGC 6514 18 02 02.0 -23 00 00 6.3 28'X20' M20
------------------------------------------------------------
Conclusion
--------
Stargazing in New York is not at all easy, but it is feasible as
long as the expectations are tempered. The descriptions written in
observing litterature come from darksky locations and almost never
from a brightsky town. Also missed out of the litterature is mention
of failed sessions due to weather or seasonal shutdown of the site.
The newcomer City astronomer can lapse into looking at the same
five or six targets over and over again without realizing that others
nearby can be equally easy to find and satisfying to examine.
Double stars are tabulated here to arouse a renewed interest in
them. In the preWWII era, when scopes were tiny (due to expense),
deepsky objects were for the most part out of reach. Double stars were
the king of target, as can be seen in older stargazing books. The
excitement from gamma Virginis in the 20 thous further helped stir up
double star awareness.
Remember that the roster of objects assumes actually clear skies.
Humidity, haze, moonlight can veil many of the targets. That's why a
wide seelction is needed to work around adverse sky conditions.