Observing Challenges for January

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Year Beginner Intermediate Advanced Lunar
2023 Messier 35
- Open cluster in Gemini
- 5.3 magnitude in brightness
- 28’ apparent size
NGC 2174
- Also known as the Monkey Head nebula
- Emission Nebula in Orion
- 6.8 magnitude in brightness
- 40’x40’ apparent size
IC 2196
- Elliptical Galaxy in Gemini
- 13.91 magnitude in brightness
- 1.7’ x 0.9’ in size
- 230 Mly away
Crater Langrenus
- Lunar impact crater near the eastern lunar limb
- 132 km in diameter
- 2.7 km deep
 
2022 Messier 64
The Little Dumbbell Nebula
Planetary nebula in Perseus
10.1 magnitude
2.7’ x 1.8’ apparent size
NGC 896
Bright knot in the western edge of the Heart Nebula
Emission nebula in Cassiopeia
7.5 Magnitude
20’ apparent size
NGC 2474 & NGC 2475
Interacting galaxies in the constellation Lynx
14th Magnitude
0.6’ apparent size
Montes Riphaeus
Irregular mountain range on the west-northwestern edge of Mare Cognitum & eastern edge of Oceanus Procellarum
 
2021 Messier 45
Open star cluster in the constellation Taurus
Also known as the Pleiades
~444ly away
Visible to the naked eye under suburban skies, great binocular target
NGC1055
Spiral galaxy in Cetus
52Mly away
11.4 apparent magnitude
7.6’x2.7’ apparent size
IC1613
Irregular dwarf galaxy in Cetus
9.9 apparent magnitude
2.4 Mly away
16.2’ x 14.5’ apparent size
Large, but low surface brightness
Mare Cognitum
Ancient lunar impact crater
350km diameter
Landing site of Ranger 7 lunar probe
 
2020 Messier 64
AKA “Black Eye Galaxy”
Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices
~8th magnitude
10.7’ x 5.1’ apparent size
NGC 5529
Spiral Galaxy in Boötes
11th Magnitude in brightness
6.2’ x 0.8’ apparent size
NGC 6578
Planetary Nebula in Sagittarius
13.5th magnitude
8”x8” size
Crater Catharina
Ancient lunar impact crater
Located near Rupes Altai
100km wide
3.1km deep
 
2019 M42 - The Orion Nebula
Star forming nebula in the constellation Orion
Forms part of the “sword” of Orion, hanging just off Orion’s fashionable belt
Easy object in binoculars, and a wonderful object to look at in any telescope
Abell 12
Planetary nebula in Orion
Magnitude 13.9 in brightness
About 37” in size
Very close to Mu Orionis — requires a clear night as any haze in the sky may require an UHC or O-III filter to help bring it out of the glare

Abell Galaxy Cluster 426
Galaxy Cluster in Perseus
Many Galaxies in the cluster, How many can you spot?
18 NGC Objects, 11 UGC Objects, 6 IC Objects, 1 PGC Object

Craters Armstrong, Aldrin & Collins
Located within Mare Tranquilitatis near the Apollo 11 landing site.
Best viewed on lunar days 5 & 19
Armstrong crater is about 5km in diameter, Collins & Aldrin each about 3 km.