Sky Tonight—January 22, Faint, fuzzy object near Sirius is a star cluster
Posted By admin On January 21, 2011 @ 9:59 pm In Earth & Sky | Comments Disabled
Courtesy of EarthSky
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www.EarthSky.org [1]
[2]
[3]A reader wrote, “On November 4, I went to study the constellation Orion, but first I had to see the star Sirius and there was a glimmer below Sirius and upon looking, it seemed to be a very nice comet. Has anyone else seen this? I am a newby … (and) would like someone to verify if they see this. I am quite up and excited.”
It was not a comet, but very likely was a lovely star cluster called M41 [4]. So, the identification with a comet was wrong, but it is a reasonable mistake. The nuclei of comets look like fuzzy patches, much like M41 in a small telescope.
The confusion with a comet and this cluster is not a new one. In the late 1700s, Charles Messier [5] gave this object the number 41 on his list of “objects to avoid.” He was a comet hunter who wanted others to realize that this object, which looks like a comet, really is not.
There are over 100 of the so-called ‘Messier objects’ or “M-objects” known today. Today’s amateur astronomers consider them among the most prized objects to be viewed through binoculars and small telescopes. Here is a list of M-objects [6]. Advanced amateurs can observe them all, and can earn a Messier certificate [7] from the Astronomical League.
Throughout the winter season, look for this faint fuzzy object near the bright star Sirius – M41 – a star cluster masquerading as a comet.
Written by Larry Sessions [8]
Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA/JPL [9]
EarthSky: Space [10]
CHANDRA Photo Album [11]
U.S. Naval Observator Astronomical Information cente [12]r
Universe Today [13]
StarDate Online [14]
Sky and Telescope [15]
National Geographic [16]
Space Com [17]
Simostronomy Blog [18]
Amazing Space [19]
The York County Astronomical Society [20]
Scope City [21]
Article printed from Recorder Online: http://www.berthoudrecorder.com
URL to article: http://www.berthoudrecorder.com/2011/01/21/sky-tonight%e2%80%94january-22-faint-fuzzy-object-near-sirius-is-a-star-cluster/
URLs in this post:
[1] www.EarthSky.org: http://www.EarthSky.org
[2] Image: http://www.berthoudrecorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/phase22.gif
[3] Image: http://www.berthoudrecorder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/jan22.jpg
[4] M41: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/messier/m41.html
[5] Charles Messier: http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/Biographies/MainBiographies/M/Messier/1.html
[6] M-objects: http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~dolan/constellations/messier_list.html
[7] Messier certificate: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/messier/mess.html
[8] Larry Sessions: http://earthsky.org/author/larrysessions/
[9] Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA/JPL: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
[10] EarthSky: Space: http://earthsky.org/space
[11] CHANDRA Photo Album: http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/
[12] U.S. Naval Observator Astronomical Information cente: http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications/astronomical-information-center/astronomical-information-center
[13] Universe Today: http://www.universetoday.com/
[14] StarDate Online: http://stardate.org/
[15] Sky and Telescope: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/
[16] National Geographic: http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/
[17] Space Com: http://www.space.com/nightsky/
[18] Simostronomy Blog: http://simostronomy.blogspot.com/
[19] Amazing Space: http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/tonights_sky/
[20] The York County Astronomical Society: http://www.ycas.org/tonights_sky.htm
[21] Scope City: http://www.scopecity.net/
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