A new binocular challenge

How did you do with the binocular challenge from two weeks ago? I didn't do too bad. I found all the objects except for the elusive M38. Mars and M35 were no problem, but chasing down the other three proved a challenge. Especially since you had to have been almost laying down or bent over almost backwards to get a good view of the sky almost directly overhead.

I will keep trying though. Mars will be in the general vicinity for another week to use as a helpful marker in finding the objects.

How about another binocular challenge? This one perhaps a little easier, at least you won't have to bend nearly over backward.

At about 8 p.m. local time find a nice dark place away from city lights and look to the southeast to find bright Saturn next to almost equally bright Regulus in Leo the Lion. Just to the lion's upper right find the twin stars Castor and Pollux, the brightest stars in the constellation Gemini. You will know it is Gemini because Mars will be found in its feet.

Now for the challenge. Look between the two constellations for the upside down "Y" shape of Cancer, the Crab. It consists of four relatively dim stars no brighter than 4th magnitude; that is why dark country skies will be helpful. In the middle of the "Y," you will find a very nice star cluster located about 250 light years away called M44, or the Beehive Cluster.

M44 is a nice sight even without binoculars if you are in a dark location, but the optical aid will bring out some of the brighter stars making up the cluster and you will be able to see where it got its name, the Beehive.

How about an even better challenge? Find the star that is at the end of the lower left leg of the "Y."

That is Acubens or Alpha Canceri, the brightest star in the constellation. Look to its right, in the same field of view in your binoculars, to find another star cluster. This one is M67, At four billion years old, it is one of the oldest of the open star clusters in our sky.

You will find it is more tightly packed than the Beehive. That is because it is located in a more remote part of the galaxy where gravity interference from other objects has not pulled it apart.

Now that you know where Cancer is, keep an eye on it because at the end of May, Mars will be right in the middle of it.

SKY WATCH:

Time to look for the space station again. Up until yesterday the space shuttle Endeavour, STS-123, was docked with it. Wednesday, March 26, look in the south-southwest at about 9 p.m. CDT for the bright, glowing dot traveling to the east. That will be the space station. It will pass very close to the planet Saturn. Thursday night, March 27, look in the west-southwest at about 9:30 p.m. CDT for the dot traveling to the northeast. On Friday look in the south-southwest at 9:19 p.m. CDT going to the east-northeast. The station will again pass very near the planet Saturn, at least as seen from the Earth. On Saturday, March 29, look in the west-southwest at 8:45 p.m. traveling to the northeast. More traverse times can be found at http://www.heavens-above.com/. You will need to put in your local latitude and longitude but there are helps on the site which will make the task easy enough.

Next time:

More astronomical blathering.