A Forgotten Constellation & Three Nice Clusters

[cloudsweeper]

Went out to the ST120 at 10.30 - Jupiter and Vega were on show.  Arcturus appeared soon after, followed by Muphrid to the west a little later.  Several more stars were visible in the 'scope only - beautiful sharp points in the EP at x14, although the sky was still quite light.

But the main target was the forgotten constellation (now asterism) Taurus Poniatovii, which is why I was using the widefield 'scope.  Some of its stars are categorised as Cr 359, the TP open cluster.  

I found Cabalrai, and saw the SummerBeehive Cluster in the same FOV (>4 deg), then moved on to Gamma Oph.  From there, the old constellation was visible, again with >4 deg of field.  It comprised 66, 67, 68, 70, and 73 Oph in a V like the bull's head Hyades.  Moving north, I took in a horn with 71 and 72 Oph.

Next was open cluster NGC 6633 - dozens of quite bright stars in loose array at x33 and about 2.5 deg. - perhaps going beyond the cluster itself.

Finally, another open cluster, Graff's Cluster IC 4756 in Serpens, comprising more stars, tighter, fainter, looking really beautiful at x60, and filling the >1 deg field.  

A very enjoyable two-hour session with a manual, widefield telescope!

Doug.

 

[FenlandPaul]

Nice report Doug -I've not heard of Taurus Poniatovii before.  Good to get some time in on these nights of scarce darkness!

Paul

[alan potts]

Very nice report but have to join Paul in the I have never heard of it camp. I must have a look.

[cloudsweeper]

2 hours ago, alan potts said:

Very nice report but have to join Paul in the I have never heard of it camp. I must have a look.

Thanks, Alan - it translates to Poniatowski's Bull  - a former constellation, named after a king of Poland. 

The head is very like Hyades, only smaller and with fewer and fainter stars.

Here are images from the Cambridge Star Atlas to illustrate........

Doug.

 

[cotterless45]

Neat ! Graff's is a favourite,

Nick.