Searching the sky for Messier objects

Anybody get up early on the morning of March 23, to attempt to see the penumbral eclipse of the moon? Yeah, I didn't either. That kind of eclipse is difficult if not next to impossible to see.

However, something we can see can be found in the early evening sky these early spring evenings. Here is a "Top Ten" list of things to look for.

First, go to you favorite dark-sky location away from any artificial light because for this kind of observing trip dark skies are essential.

Next, dig out your favorite pair of binoculars. For some of these objects a telescope is ideal, but a good pair of binoculars will work just as well. After all, a pair of binoculars is really just two small telescopes placed side by side.

Now, about an hour after local sunset--which in Southwest Nebraska that is just after 7 p.m. MDT -- be in your place looking west for our old friend Taurus, the Bull. The familiar "V" shape of stars about halfway up the sky.

Just to the right of the "V" (which is the bull's face) is another of our old friends, the Pleiades star cluster. It is a great sight in binoculars because it is too large for a telescope. While it is also called the Seven Sisters, in binoculars you can see a lot more stars.

For number two on our list, swing your view slightly right to find Orion, the Hunter with his three-star belt and sword.

Examine the middle star of the sword for a bit, that is the Great Orion Nebula, M42, and not a star at all. A large amalgamation of gas, dust, and starlight . Again, a telescopic sight would be better, but for our purposes binoculars work just as well.

While we are there take some time to look at the other "stars" in Orion's sword, they are just small star clusters in their own right.

For number three on our list, swing your view upward to find the two bright stars Castor (on the right) and Pollux. Look down in the area of what would be Gemini's feet just above Orion's head for a dim fuzzy spot of light. That is our next target, the open star cluster M35.

The "M" in the designation stands for Messier, or more specifically the French comet hunter Charles Messier. During his hunt for comets he kept running across the same fuzzy patches so he started listing them so the object wouldn't be confused for a comet again.

That list became the famous Messier's List which amateur astronomers attempt to find in a marathon event in one night each spring.

For number four look to the right of the Gemini/Orion/Taurus area to find a polygon of stars with the very bright Capella on the right side. In the lower third of this polygon are three more "M" designated star clusters, two inside and one just outside.

They are--in order from left to right--M37, M36, and M38.

M37 is sort of dim, but can be found. If you place it in the 9:00 position in your field of view (FOV), you should be just able to see M36 at about the 5:00 position in the same field of view. If you then slide your FOV slightly right that should put M36 and M36 in the same FOV.

SKY WATCH: Moon at third-quarter tomorrow, March 31.

NEXT WEEK: The rest of our "Top Ten" list and more astronomical blathering.