A question mark over M71.

[Cloudwatcher]

Did you know that at one time there was some doubt as to M71's status.....was it a true globular or a tight open cluster.

Have look at the attached image and you will see the actual question mark hanging over M71......

(Anyone else like looking for asterisms..... )

[asteele3]

haha

[Astro Imp]

[Si W]

It's a young globby..........

[DazC]

Very good.

[Siriusmeg]

Great photo - I'm going to have to go and look at M71 again now to see if I can spot this!

[JamesF]

(Anyone else like looking for asterisms..... )

I make up asterisms all the time when I'm star-hopping to help recognise groups of stars as I switch between the telescope and stellarium. M107 for instance is right next to an arrow, whilst there are a couple of Messier objects around Canis Major near a fruit bowl, one in Ursa Major is near a paw-print and there's a bent tuning fork in Auriga that's a guide for M38.

James

[cantab]

Nice one Beyond my instruments though.

[JamesF]

Nice one Beyond my instruments though.

The question mark probably is, yes. Most of those are mag 11 or mag 12 stars. M71 itself might be visible in your 15x70s though if you're somewhere fairly dark.

James

[JamesF]

Doh! Just noticed you already have it on your list

James

[Black Knight]

I make up asterisms all the time when I'm star-hopping to help recognise groups of stars as I switch between the telescope and stellarium. M107 for instance is right next to an arrow, whilst there are a couple of Messier objects around Canis Major near a fruit bowl, one in Ursa Major is near a paw-print and there's a bent tuning fork in Auriga that's a guide for M38.

James

I find I do this all the time as well. It's the only way I know of being able to get my bearings and enable me to repeatably navigate my way back to newly observed objects. The other night I found a sweeping curve I characterised as a reversed bass clef pointing straight at M11. First time I'd seen M11 as well!

[Spec-Chum]

Hehe, reminded my of the flashing neon "Secret hideout this way -->" in bugs bunny cartoons