My new favorite object......

[WayBig]

The owl cluster, or less descriptively ngc457

Saw it for the first time this evening, so sweet, it brought a smile to my face. I think it's going to become one of my regulars, still grinning now!

[Doc]

I saw it last night as, but not my first time. It's lovely and I prefer it's other name ET Cluster.

[WayBig]

Ha ha, i'd heard of the ET cluster, I was going to try to find that tonight...hadnt realised they were the same thing!!

[Moonshane]

thanks for the heads up on this one. will have a look tonight if this clear sky continues

[DarkerSky]

I'm in the Owl camp It is a beautiful cluster I wholeheartedly agree

[perrin6]

I was looking at the owl cluster last night (didnt realise it was called that until now). It is particularly lovely. I noticed an orange star in it which Redshift 4 names as V0466 CAS, an LC class variable which is a 'slow irregular' variable supergiant 1690 ligt years away.

Alan

[Talitha]

Look right in the center of ET's tummy and find the little question mark.

[acey]

It was discovered by W. Herschel on 18 October 1787. Happy birthday ET/Owl/Spaceman!

[WayBig]

It's the spaceman too.....crikey, at this rate i'll have ticked all my clusters off in one go!

[acey]

Also the "Kachina Doll" (according to Wikipedia).

[WayBig]

That's just scary. I prefer the owl

[bish]

Haven't had my scope on it for a while but had a quick look with my 15x70's (along with M103) last night.

[Moonshane]

found this great little cluster last night for the first time after reading this thread and then M76 too (also a first)!

[Perryellis]

I call it the Johnny five cluster!

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:cOYYUZ1GdLOAQM:http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh18/forshizzle_2008/johnny5isalive.jpg&t=1