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Chesmayne · 10-09-2008, 02:14 AM

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Andromeda constellation description for the ground crew.......

01 She is the beautiful daughter [Princess] of Queen Cassiopeia who was chained to a rock and offered to the sea monster. This constellation is in the shape of a ‘V’. Her head is marked by ‘Alpheratz’ [see ‘Pegasus’], which means ‘The Navel of the Horse’. Alpheratz is also known as ‘Sirrah’ [Arabic: ‘Al Surrat al Faras’ which means ‘The Navel of the Horse’]. Sirrah is a blue-white star of spectral type B8IvpMnHg, +2.06. In one arm of the ‘V’ are the stars Mirach [which mark the lions] and Almak ‘Weasel’ [which mark Andromeda’s foot]. Just above Alpheratz is the double star Groombridge-34.

This pair of stars [Groombridge-34] are our 16th nearest neighbours. Nearby is M031, the Great Andromeda Galaxy. This fuzzy patch can be seen on a dark night with the unaided eye! It is in fact a giant spiral galaxy at a distance of 2.9+ million ly. Nearby are M032 and NGC-205 [satellite galaxies of Andromeda] and the equivalent of our own Milky Way Magellanic Clouds. It is composed of several hundred billion suns. Andromeda is also a member of our ‘Local Group’ of 20+ galaxies. Galaxies come in the following shapes:- elliptical, lenticular [lens-shaped], Spiral, barred-Spiral and irregular. ‘p’ is sometimes added to indicate ‘peciular’. Nearby the star Mirach is the spiral M033 which is known as the ‘Pinwheel’ [it is in fact in the constellation of Triangulum]. For southern hemisphere observers this is a northerly constellation and is only visible for an hour or two each night. On the South Island [New Zealand] the most northerly parts of Andromeda do not rise above the horizon. Thus there is a fairly brief window of opportunity to see M031 during the hours of darkness in southern climes.

Andromeda and the Monster has a similar ring to the story of George and the Dragon. The heroine is Andromeda, daughter of KI Cepheus of Ethopia and his vain wife QU Cassiopeia whose boasting knew no bounds. QU Cassiopeia claimed that she was more lovely even than the Nereids - an alluring group of sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus, a god of the sea. KI Cepheus appealed to the Oracle of Ammon for an answer and was informed that he must sacrifice his virgin daughter to appease the sea monster Cetus. QU Cassiopeia angered the god Poseidon who sought his revenge for her vanity. QU Cassiopeia watched from the shore with remorse as her daughter was tied to a rock on the wave-lashed cliffs, pale with terror and crying pitifully at her impending doom. Perseus was passing, fresh from his exploit of beheading Medusa the Gorgon monster. His heart was all-aflutter at the sight of the frail Andromeda in distress, chained to a rock awaiting her impending fate.

At first sight Perseus thought she was a marble statue, but when the wind ruffled her hair and he saw the warm tears on her cheeks he realized she was human. Perseus asked Andromeda her name but she did not reply as she awaited the slavering jaws of Cetus. Finally, she told Perseus her story but broke off with a screech as she saw the monster breasting the waves as it approached her. Perseus swooped down, killed Cetus, released Andromeda to the applause of the watching crowd and claimed her for his bride. Athene placed Andromeda between Perseus and her mother Cassiopeia. Now the constellation of Pisces - the Fishes separates her from the dreaded Sea Monster [Cetus] in our night sky in rememberance of this epic story.

02 Andromeda is the 19th largest of the 88 constellations as seen from earth. Any decent tour of the night sky includes M031, our neighbouring galaxy. It can be seen with the naked eye from a dark country site. This is considered one of the all time best showpieces of the night sky. Arriving just in time for the harvest season, it contains a wealth of spectacular deep sky objects for the amateur astronomer. It becomes obvious in a pair of 10 x 50mm binoculars as an oval shaped fuzzy patch of light. It is said to be the most distant object that is visible to the unaided eye at 2.9+ million ly. Through my 16-inch Newtonian the dust lanes of Andromeda become visible. The center of the galaxy appears as a bright condensed core and the entire field of view is filled with the diffuse glow from the spiral arms. Two other galaxies are nearby [M032 and NGC-205] - these are in fact sister galaxies to M031 and both are elliptical galaxies. NGC-205 measures 17m x 10m in size. Nearby is the lenticular galaxy NGC-404 at +12. Gamma Andromedae is a fine double-star and considered a showpiece of the sky. The two components are of differing colours and are separated easily in 60mm to 100mm telescopes, the brighter member being +2.2 and the latter +5.0. NGC-891 [the ‘Outer Limits Galaxy’] is seen edge-on and my 16-inch reveals the dust lane bisecting the nucleus of this galaxy. It measures 12m x 1m and appears like a thin pencil line. It was used in the opening of the TV show ‘The Outer Limits’ and hence the name. It is truly a spectacular galaxy in a larger telescope. In a 200m telescope it looks like a nice spindle of a galaxy with a hint of a dust lane. In 16-inch and larger telescopes it begins to look spectacular and in a Collins-I3 image intensified eyepiece the view is really amazing. NGC-752 is an easy open cluster. 70+ stars of this cluster can be seen with a pair of binoculars which measures about 0.5° in size.

NGC-7662 is a good planetary nebula at +8. You will need high magnification to see it properly. The smudge of light at Andromeda’s knee is M031. In a dark sky the disk of M031 extends as far as 5° across the field of view as a milky glow. Many are impressed with this galaxies magnificent presence in an ultra-wide 100° eyepiece. NGC-205 is sometimes referred to as M110 - Messier missed this one! It is necessary to nudge your telescope slightly away from M031 in order to see NGC-205 in all its splendor without the interfering light of M031 getting in your way. M031 itself is a mighty assemblage of a few hundred billion stars. It is nearly twice the size of our own Milky Way home. Its tremendous distance reduces M031 to a soft naked eye glow in our skies. In 1924 Edwin Hubble made the announcement that M031 was not a nearby cloud of interstellar gas but a distant galaxy in its own right - an island universe! Before this time astronomers believed this object to be a single star in the process of forming its own solar system. Charles Messier numbered it ‘31’ on his list of annoying comet-look-alikes in the 18th century. Under dark skies it looks like a gray, oval patch of light to the unaided eye. Patient observers will note that the northwest side has a sharp edge. The southeast side will be seen to fade into the sky background. M110 is difficult to see in binoculars, so you may have to resort to a telescope. M033 in Triangulum and M074 in Pisces are not far away from Andromeda. Andromeda consists of a line of +2 stars extending from Alpheratz [Alpha] to Almach [Gamma]. It is also known as ‘The Princess of Ethiopia.’ Some observers are able to visually detect M033 - the spiral galaxy in Triangulum - making it and not M031 the farthest object that can be seen with the naked eye - can you?

Gamma Andromeda or Almach is a multiple star system - the two brightest are seen as blue and orange. M031 can be found about 1° west of Nu Andromedae. At a dark site its full diameter will definitely exceed 4°. A low power wide-angle eyepiece is recommended for viewing this galaxy - a 100 degree Nagler! It is also called the ‘Little Cloud’ and was mentioned by Al Sufi in 905 AD and first seen telescopically by Simon Marius in 1611 AD. In larger scopes [8-inch and up] a prominent dark lane will be seen on the northwestern edge which can be seen in the photos of M031? It is tilted 15° from an edge-on view and has a spiral pattern. In 1953 it was found that the stars are composed of two types - Population-I in the spiral arms and Population-II in the nuclear hub. This galaxy [the nearest one to us here on Earth] is 2.9 million ly distant - our Sun would appear as +29.1 at this distance - very f..a…i….n…..t. It may have 300+ billion distinct stars - fifty stars for each person on earth! It measures about 200,000 ly across. Seven spiral arms have been observed. NGC-206 may be found near the southern tip. The nucleus of Andromeda is about fifty ly in diameter and contains about 10 million stars. Some of these stars may only be a couple of hundred AU apart. There are 140+ globular star clusters surrounding this huge galaxy which is moving towards us at 35+ km per second. 100+ novae have peppered the Andromeda galaxy since 1923. In the past two million years it is estimated that 50+ million novae have appeared in M031. She has four satellite companions NGC-221, 205, 185 and 147 which we may be able to visit in the future in space ships as seen in the Star Trek television series.

03 A nice pair of delightful objects that can be seen in the same field of view are B-Andromedae [a yellow-orange star at 75 ly distance] and NGC-404 [an elliptical galaxy at +11) at 15s distance from B-And. A definite nucleus will be observed if you can spot it?

04 Within the 4° x 1° elongated cloud of M031 are many fine objects for the dedicated observer with a large telescope of 16+ to 40+ inches. To give you an idea of the size of this galaxy: through a telescope 1-minute of M031 equals a span of 850 ly! M031 is 20% more massive and 40% bigger than our Milky Way Galaxy and is approaching us at 135,000 miles per hour! At low power it spreads out into a milky cotton glow with a bright knotted nucleus and tenuous outer disk which is crossed by a narrow lane of darker dust. Many open and globular clusters can be glimpsed in the Andromeda Galaxy. You will need to use high power [300x to 650x]. NGC-206 or A-076 is an OB-Association measuring 2m x 4m in extent. Others include A-054, A-061, and A-067.

Globular clusters orbit the parent galaxy like bumble bees at a hive and include G-076, G-078, G213, G-233, G-244, G-251, G-257, G-272 and G-28. G001 is 130,000 lys distant from M031’s nucleus and may be found 2.5° south-west of M031’s core in 10-inch and larger scopes at +13.5. These clusters are in the range +13.5 to +18.1 with an apparent size of 4s to 10s and visible in medium to large telescopes. This globular cluster [G001] alone contains over a 1,000,000 stars and is the largest globular cluster in our Local Group of galaxies. G001 has been imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope and has been found to contain 5,000+ red giant stars. This is the brightest globular in our local group of galaxies. G001 is not in our own galaxy - it is in our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda! G001 is also called Mayall II. It is not a point source - it has ‘size’ in larger telescopes. This is noticeable when you compare it to the two foreground stars that flank G001 in 10-inch and larger telescopes from a dark site. To find G001 begin your star hop at M032 and wend your way down to the general area. Once you are in the right area change to a high powered eyepiece. G001 lies almost in the middle of two similar magnitude foreground stars. This is helpful when it comes to actually locating it. It is not a stellar point! If you do see G001 you can rest assured that you will be one of the lucky few to have done so. A 20-inch Dobsonian and a Collins-I3 eyepiece gives an excellent view. 20+ globular star clusters in Andromeda are to be imaged by the HST over the next few years.

M031 has 300+ globulars compared to 150+ in our own Milky Way galaxy. G076 may be found 11m south-west of NGC-206 - bright and easily seen. At 600x it shows a fuzzy halo with a bright central region. Open Clusters include C-179, C-202/3, C-263, C-275, C-306, C-311-12-13 and C-410. You may want to spend at least an hour or more touring M031 with your telescope? It spans 200,000+ ly in size. M032 is positioned just 24m south of M031’s core and shines at +8.2. M032 will look like a condensed fuzzy star the first time you see it - take a closer look and you will notice its fuzzy edges. NGC-205 [also known as M110] at +8 is located 36m north-west of M031 and may be seen in a 3-inch refractor or a 4.5-inch reflector. It is smooth, elongated and bright over its entire surface, except at its very edges. NGC-185 and NGC-147 are found 7° north of Andromeda. Galaxy 185 is +11.8 with a distinct oval shape and 147 is +12. These smaller satellite galaxies of Andromeda each contain millions of individual stars themselves! M032 and NGC-205 orbit the Andromeda galaxy much like the ‘Small’ and ‘Large Magellanic Clouds’ which orbit our own Milky Way star system. From an astronomical point of view these companion satellite galaxies are quite tiny when compared with their parents. NGC-205 and M032 are 12,000 ly and 5,000 ly in diameter. M031 is best seen in the autumn months at +3.6 [Northern hemisphere]. It is in fact an easy naked eye or binocular object found 7.5° north-west of Beta Andromedae. To see many of the alluring objects in and around Andromeda all you need is a pair of 10 x 70mm ‘premium’ binoculars mounted ideally on a portable lightweight tripod, or a telescope in the 3 to 4-inch range [ideally, a Takahashi]. M033 in Triangulum [galaxy], M074 [galaxy], NGC-752 and the Pleiades in Taurus [star clusters] and NGC-1499 [California Nebula] will be found in this same part of the sky. See if you can find them on your next night out under the stars? Just above Andromedae you will notice the ‘W’ of Cassiopeia and you will also observe the Double Cluster, NGC-457, M052 and NGC-7789.

05 Alpha or Alpheratz is also called ‘Sirrah’, +2.06 at 120 ly distance. It is moving towards us at seven miles per second! It is also a spectroscopic binary with a period of 96.7 days. Beta is known as ‘Mirach’, +2.03 at 75 ly distance and moving away from us at 0.2 miles each second. It also has a companion star of +14 at a distance of 28s in PA-202°. As a viewing bonus NGC-404 [galaxy] will be found in the same eyepiece view! Take a moment and study beta carefully - you will notice something that looks like a reflection in the lens of your eyepiece. This is a galaxy known as Mirach’s Ghost - NGC 404. Success lies in finding the galaxy and recognizing it for what it is rather than discarding it as a reflection or trick of the light.

Gamma is also called ‘Almach’, +2.12, double [yellow and blue components] at 260 ly distance. This companion is also a double! Gamma Andromedae is a pretty double star suitable for viewing in autumn and winter skies [when Albireo in Cygnus is not conveniently placed for telescopic viewing]. Albireo is regarded as one of the finest double stars in the heavens, one member being distinctly orange and its companion blue. ‘Almach’ [gamma], is composed of a +2.1 golden-coloured primary and a +5.1 blue secondary. The colour contrast of these two stars is readily apparent in any telescope. It is regarded as a true physical double, since the stars lie at the same distance in space and share the same proper motion. Gamma is really a multiple star system. The secondary is itself a close binary. The two components are +5.5 and +6.3, both with the same spectral classification. The combined brightness of these two stars is what makes the secondary system appear as +5.1. If that were not enough in itself, the brighter member of the secondary system also happens to be a spectroscopic binary, making Gamma a quadruple system! Binary stars can only be detected by attaching an accessory called a spectroscope to your telescope. The primary and secondary are easy to split, being separated by about 10s. Splitting the secondary, however, is more difficult. The maximum separation is a tiny 0.55s and occurred in 1982. Since then the two components have become even closer at about 0.30s. Using the standard formula for resolution under ideal observing conditions, this means that a telescope of 16-inches or more is needed to separate/split the pair. Take a look the next time you are in this region of the sky on a dark winter night? It is easy enough to locate. You will not be disappointed with the view?

Delta +3.25, 160 ly distant is approaching us at 4.5 miles per second. Zeta +4.06, binary, 100 ly distant is only separated by about four million miles. Lambda +3.88 at 80 ly. Omicron is +3.63 and rotates at 200+ miles per second at its equator - one of the fastest rotating stars at 500 ly distance. Pi +4.43 has two visual companions. Omega +4.84 [Burnham-82 is in the same field of view]. 36 is +5.45 [double, both suns being yellow], 160 ly distant and separated by about 50 AU. R-Andromedae is a long-period variable [sometimes over 9 magnitudes], visible in binoculars at maximum with a period of 400+ days and a distance of 800+ ly. Z-Andromedae, variable [a recurrent nova], has outbursts of three magnitudes. GRB-34 is a red dwarf binary - one of the nearest double stars to our own star [the Sun] at 11.7 ly. It has a large proper motion of 2.89s per year in PA-82°. These two stars are about 160 AU apart. NGC-752 is a cluster of stars, 45m in size and best seen in a pair of 80mm binoculars. With a 100 degree wide field eyepiece, scan eastward from gamma and look for a large open cluster [NGC 752]. It is best seen in a pair of binoculars or a wide field telescope due to its large size. In a 100mm telescope the best views are at 36x where you will see a couple of dozen stars. Look for two bright golden stars in the field lying just outside the cluster itself. . NGC-891, a spiral galaxy, 12m x 1m, +12 [superb example of an edge-on spiral], appearing frothy and nebulous with a dusty inner halo. A dust lane runs along its midplane which may be seen visually in 12-inch and larger telescopes. NGC-7662 is a planetary nebula, 30m x 26m, blue-green, +8.5, the expanding remnants of a dying star. A white dwarf star is at its core and may be seen visually. It is also known as the ‘Blue Snowball’. Epoch 2000 coordinates are RA 23:25.9, Dec. 42:33° for those of you lucky enough to have DSCs [Digital Setting Circles] fitted on your telescope.

It is brighter than M057 but about 33% its size. Use averted vision and you may see it visually. Its blue colour, faint outer halo, central hole and weaker western edge may be seen in 12-inch and larger Newtonian, Schmidt and Dobsonian telescopes. The trick to finding it lies in the three bright stars that are oriented mostly North to South. From a dark site they are naked eye stars. 7662 - the Blue Snowball is worth the effort in locating it. It is non-stellar in a 100mm refractor and an amazing shade of blue in larger telescopes. It is a planetary nebula which means that it can support high magnifications. You may also use a UHC or OIII filter as well to increase contrast.

Andromeda contains many fine double and multiple stars to suit all size of optical instrument. The constellation consists mainly of a line of 2nd magnitude stars extending eastwards from Alpha to Gamma. Almach [or Gamma] is one of the most attractive colour contrast binaries in our sky. The primary is golden-yellow with a blue-green companion [separated by 10s] and best seen in a medium power ocular. 59-Andromedae is a pleasant pair with both stars being bluish-white. 56-Andromedae may be found on the southern edge of NGC-752 [this is an open cluster of stars]. This optical pair are orange and easily split in a pair of 10 x 50s as they are separated by 3m. The best view is seen using a low magnification eyepiece with both the cluster and double star in the same field of view! Two degrees north of Delta you will find 4th magnitude Pi with its bluish-white and smaller deep blue partner. They are 30s apart [not difficult to split].

10-09-2008, 02:14 AM	#17
Chesmayne Avalon Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dublin, Ireland Posts: 24	Andromeda constellation....... http://www.chesmayne.info Andromeda constellation description for the ground crew....... 01 She is the beautiful daughter [Princess] of Queen Cassiopeia who was chained to a rock and offered to the sea monster. This constellation is in the shape of a ‘V’. Her head is marked by ‘Alpheratz’ [see ‘Pegasus’], which means ‘The Navel of the Horse’. Alpheratz is also known as ‘Sirrah’ [Arabic: ‘Al Surrat al Faras’ which means ‘The Navel of the Horse’]. Sirrah is a blue-white star of spectral type B8IvpMnHg, +2.06. In one arm of the ‘V’ are the stars Mirach [which mark the lions] and Almak ‘Weasel’ [which mark Andromeda’s foot]. Just above Alpheratz is the double star Groombridge-34. This pair of stars [Groombridge-34] are our 16th nearest neighbours. Nearby is M031, the Great Andromeda Galaxy. This fuzzy patch can be seen on a dark night with the unaided eye! It is in fact a giant spiral galaxy at a distance of 2.9+ million ly. Nearby are M032 and NGC-205 [satellite galaxies of Andromeda] and the equivalent of our own Milky Way Magellanic Clouds. It is composed of several hundred billion suns. Andromeda is also a member of our ‘Local Group’ of 20+ galaxies. Galaxies come in the following shapes:- elliptical, lenticular [lens-shaped], Spiral, barred-Spiral and irregular. ‘p’ is sometimes added to indicate ‘peciular’. Nearby the star Mirach is the spiral M033 which is known as the ‘Pinwheel’ [it is in fact in the constellation of Triangulum]. For southern hemisphere observers this is a northerly constellation and is only visible for an hour or two each night. On the South Island [New Zealand] the most northerly parts of Andromeda do not rise above the horizon. Thus there is a fairly brief window of opportunity to see M031 during the hours of darkness in southern climes. Andromeda and the Monster has a similar ring to the story of George and the Dragon. The heroine is Andromeda, daughter of KI Cepheus of Ethopia and his vain wife QU Cassiopeia whose boasting knew no bounds. QU Cassiopeia claimed that she was more lovely even than the Nereids - an alluring group of sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus, a god of the sea. KI Cepheus appealed to the Oracle of Ammon for an answer and was informed that he must sacrifice his virgin daughter to appease the sea monster Cetus. QU Cassiopeia angered the god Poseidon who sought his revenge for her vanity. QU Cassiopeia watched from the shore with remorse as her daughter was tied to a rock on the wave-lashed cliffs, pale with terror and crying pitifully at her impending doom. Perseus was passing, fresh from his exploit of beheading Medusa the Gorgon monster. His heart was all-aflutter at the sight of the frail Andromeda in distress, chained to a rock awaiting her impending fate. At first sight Perseus thought she was a marble statue, but when the wind ruffled her hair and he saw the warm tears on her cheeks he realized she was human. Perseus asked Andromeda her name but she did not reply as she awaited the slavering jaws of Cetus. Finally, she told Perseus her story but broke off with a screech as she saw the monster breasting the waves as it approached her. Perseus swooped down, killed Cetus, released Andromeda to the applause of the watching crowd and claimed her for his bride. Athene placed Andromeda between Perseus and her mother Cassiopeia. Now the constellation of Pisces - the Fishes separates her from the dreaded Sea Monster [Cetus] in our night sky in rememberance of this epic story. 02 Andromeda is the 19th largest of the 88 constellations as seen from earth. Any decent tour of the night sky includes M031, our neighbouring galaxy. It can be seen with the naked eye from a dark country site. This is considered one of the all time best showpieces of the night sky. Arriving just in time for the harvest season, it contains a wealth of spectacular deep sky objects for the amateur astronomer. It becomes obvious in a pair of 10 x 50mm binoculars as an oval shaped fuzzy patch of light. It is said to be the most distant object that is visible to the unaided eye at 2.9+ million ly. Through my 16-inch Newtonian the dust lanes of Andromeda become visible. The center of the galaxy appears as a bright condensed core and the entire field of view is filled with the diffuse glow from the spiral arms. Two other galaxies are nearby [M032 and NGC-205] - these are in fact sister galaxies to M031 and both are elliptical galaxies. NGC-205 measures 17m x 10m in size. Nearby is the lenticular galaxy NGC-404 at +12. Gamma Andromedae is a fine double-star and considered a showpiece of the sky. The two components are of differing colours and are separated easily in 60mm to 100mm telescopes, the brighter member being +2.2 and the latter +5.0. NGC-891 [the ‘Outer Limits Galaxy’] is seen edge-on and my 16-inch reveals the dust lane bisecting the nucleus of this galaxy. It measures 12m x 1m and appears like a thin pencil line. It was used in the opening of the TV show ‘The Outer Limits’ and hence the name. It is truly a spectacular galaxy in a larger telescope. In a 200m telescope it looks like a nice spindle of a galaxy with a hint of a dust lane. In 16-inch and larger telescopes it begins to look spectacular and in a Collins-I3 image intensified eyepiece the view is really amazing. NGC-752 is an easy open cluster. 70+ stars of this cluster can be seen with a pair of binoculars which measures about 0.5° in size. NGC-7662 is a good planetary nebula at +8. You will need high magnification to see it properly. The smudge of light at Andromeda’s knee is M031. In a dark sky the disk of M031 extends as far as 5° across the field of view as a milky glow. Many are impressed with this galaxies magnificent presence in an ultra-wide 100° eyepiece. NGC-205 is sometimes referred to as M110 - Messier missed this one! It is necessary to nudge your telescope slightly away from M031 in order to see NGC-205 in all its splendor without the interfering light of M031 getting in your way. M031 itself is a mighty assemblage of a few hundred billion stars. It is nearly twice the size of our own Milky Way home. Its tremendous distance reduces M031 to a soft naked eye glow in our skies. In 1924 Edwin Hubble made the announcement that M031 was not a nearby cloud of interstellar gas but a distant galaxy in its own right - an island universe! Before this time astronomers believed this object to be a single star in the process of forming its own solar system. Charles Messier numbered it ‘31’ on his list of annoying comet-look-alikes in the 18th century. Under dark skies it looks like a gray, oval patch of light to the unaided eye. Patient observers will note that the northwest side has a sharp edge. The southeast side will be seen to fade into the sky background. M110 is difficult to see in binoculars, so you may have to resort to a telescope. M033 in Triangulum and M074 in Pisces are not far away from Andromeda. Andromeda consists of a line of +2 stars extending from Alpheratz [Alpha] to Almach [Gamma]. It is also known as ‘The Princess of Ethiopia.’ Some observers are able to visually detect M033 - the spiral galaxy in Triangulum - making it and not M031 the farthest object that can be seen with the naked eye - can you? Gamma Andromeda or Almach is a multiple star system - the two brightest are seen as blue and orange. M031 can be found about 1° west of Nu Andromedae. At a dark site its full diameter will definitely exceed 4°. A low power wide-angle eyepiece is recommended for viewing this galaxy - a 100 degree Nagler! It is also called the ‘Little Cloud’ and was mentioned by Al Sufi in 905 AD and first seen telescopically by Simon Marius in 1611 AD. In larger scopes [8-inch and up] a prominent dark lane will be seen on the northwestern edge which can be seen in the photos of M031? It is tilted 15° from an edge-on view and has a spiral pattern. In 1953 it was found that the stars are composed of two types - Population-I in the spiral arms and Population-II in the nuclear hub. This galaxy [the nearest one to us here on Earth] is 2.9 million ly distant - our Sun would appear as +29.1 at this distance - very f..a…i….n…..t. It may have 300+ billion distinct stars - fifty stars for each person on earth! It measures about 200,000 ly across. Seven spiral arms have been observed. NGC-206 may be found near the southern tip. The nucleus of Andromeda is about fifty ly in diameter and contains about 10 million stars. Some of these stars may only be a couple of hundred AU apart. There are 140+ globular star clusters surrounding this huge galaxy which is moving towards us at 35+ km per second. 100+ novae have peppered the Andromeda galaxy since 1923. In the past two million years it is estimated that 50+ million novae have appeared in M031. She has four satellite companions NGC-221, 205, 185 and 147 which we may be able to visit in the future in space ships as seen in the Star Trek television series. 03 A nice pair of delightful objects that can be seen in the same field of view are B-Andromedae [a yellow-orange star at 75 ly distance] and NGC-404 [an elliptical galaxy at +11) at 15s distance from B-And. A definite nucleus will be observed if you can spot it? 04 Within the 4° x 1° elongated cloud of M031 are many fine objects for the dedicated observer with a large telescope of 16+ to 40+ inches. To give you an idea of the size of this galaxy: through a telescope 1-minute of M031 equals a span of 850 ly! M031 is 20% more massive and 40% bigger than our Milky Way Galaxy and is approaching us at 135,000 miles per hour! At low power it spreads out into a milky cotton glow with a bright knotted nucleus and tenuous outer disk which is crossed by a narrow lane of darker dust. Many open and globular clusters can be glimpsed in the Andromeda Galaxy. You will need to use high power [300x to 650x]. NGC-206 or A-076 is an OB-Association measuring 2m x 4m in extent. Others include A-054, A-061, and A-067. Globular clusters orbit the parent galaxy like bumble bees at a hive and include G-076, G-078, G213, G-233, G-244, G-251, G-257, G-272 and G-28. G001 is 130,000 lys distant from M031’s nucleus and may be found 2.5° south-west of M031’s core in 10-inch and larger scopes at +13.5. These clusters are in the range +13.5 to +18.1 with an apparent size of 4s to 10s and visible in medium to large telescopes. This globular cluster [G001] alone contains over a 1,000,000 stars and is the largest globular cluster in our Local Group of galaxies. G001 has been imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope and has been found to contain 5,000+ red giant stars. This is the brightest globular in our local group of galaxies. G001 is not in our own galaxy - it is in our neighbouring galaxy, Andromeda! G001 is also called Mayall II. It is not a point source - it has ‘size’ in larger telescopes. This is noticeable when you compare it to the two foreground stars that flank G001 in 10-inch and larger telescopes from a dark site. To find G001 begin your star hop at M032 and wend your way down to the general area. Once you are in the right area change to a high powered eyepiece. G001 lies almost in the middle of two similar magnitude foreground stars. This is helpful when it comes to actually locating it. It is not a stellar point! If you do see G001 you can rest assured that you will be one of the lucky few to have done so. A 20-inch Dobsonian and a Collins-I3 eyepiece gives an excellent view. 20+ globular star clusters in Andromeda are to be imaged by the HST over the next few years. M031 has 300+ globulars compared to 150+ in our own Milky Way galaxy. G076 may be found 11m south-west of NGC-206 - bright and easily seen. At 600x it shows a fuzzy halo with a bright central region. Open Clusters include C-179, C-202/3, C-263, C-275, C-306, C-311-12-13 and C-410. You may want to spend at least an hour or more touring M031 with your telescope? It spans 200,000+ ly in size. M032 is positioned just 24m south of M031’s core and shines at +8.2. M032 will look like a condensed fuzzy star the first time you see it - take a closer look and you will notice its fuzzy edges. NGC-205 [also known as M110] at +8 is located 36m north-west of M031 and may be seen in a 3-inch refractor or a 4.5-inch reflector. It is smooth, elongated and bright over its entire surface, except at its very edges. NGC-185 and NGC-147 are found 7° north of Andromeda. Galaxy 185 is +11.8 with a distinct oval shape and 147 is +12. These smaller satellite galaxies of Andromeda each contain millions of individual stars themselves! M032 and NGC-205 orbit the Andromeda galaxy much like the ‘Small’ and ‘Large Magellanic Clouds’ which orbit our own Milky Way star system. From an astronomical point of view these companion satellite galaxies are quite tiny when compared with their parents. NGC-205 and M032 are 12,000 ly and 5,000 ly in diameter. M031 is best seen in the autumn months at +3.6 [Northern hemisphere]. It is in fact an easy naked eye or binocular object found 7.5° north-west of Beta Andromedae. To see many of the alluring objects in and around Andromeda all you need is a pair of 10 x 70mm ‘premium’ binoculars mounted ideally on a portable lightweight tripod, or a telescope in the 3 to 4-inch range [ideally, a Takahashi]. M033 in Triangulum [galaxy], M074 [galaxy], NGC-752 and the Pleiades in Taurus [star clusters] and NGC-1499 [California Nebula] will be found in this same part of the sky. See if you can find them on your next night out under the stars? Just above Andromedae you will notice the ‘W’ of Cassiopeia and you will also observe the Double Cluster, NGC-457, M052 and NGC-7789. 05 Alpha or Alpheratz is also called ‘Sirrah’, +2.06 at 120 ly distance. It is moving towards us at seven miles per second! It is also a spectroscopic binary with a period of 96.7 days. Beta is known as ‘Mirach’, +2.03 at 75 ly distance and moving away from us at 0.2 miles each second. It also has a companion star of +14 at a distance of 28s in PA-202°. As a viewing bonus NGC-404 [galaxy] will be found in the same eyepiece view! Take a moment and study beta carefully - you will notice something that looks like a reflection in the lens of your eyepiece. This is a galaxy known as Mirach’s Ghost - NGC 404. Success lies in finding the galaxy and recognizing it for what it is rather than discarding it as a reflection or trick of the light. Gamma is also called ‘Almach’, +2.12, double [yellow and blue components] at 260 ly distance. This companion is also a double! Gamma Andromedae is a pretty double star suitable for viewing in autumn and winter skies [when Albireo in Cygnus is not conveniently placed for telescopic viewing]. Albireo is regarded as one of the finest double stars in the heavens, one member being distinctly orange and its companion blue. ‘Almach’ [gamma], is composed of a +2.1 golden-coloured primary and a +5.1 blue secondary. The colour contrast of these two stars is readily apparent in any telescope. It is regarded as a true physical double, since the stars lie at the same distance in space and share the same proper motion. Gamma is really a multiple star system. The secondary is itself a close binary. The two components are +5.5 and +6.3, both with the same spectral classification. The combined brightness of these two stars is what makes the secondary system appear as +5.1. If that were not enough in itself, the brighter member of the secondary system also happens to be a spectroscopic binary, making Gamma a quadruple system! Binary stars can only be detected by attaching an accessory called a spectroscope to your telescope. The primary and secondary are easy to split, being separated by about 10s. Splitting the secondary, however, is more difficult. The maximum separation is a tiny 0.55s and occurred in 1982. Since then the two components have become even closer at about 0.30s. Using the standard formula for resolution under ideal observing conditions, this means that a telescope of 16-inches or more is needed to separate/split the pair. Take a look the next time you are in this region of the sky on a dark winter night? It is easy enough to locate. You will not be disappointed with the view? Delta +3.25, 160 ly distant is approaching us at 4.5 miles per second. Zeta +4.06, binary, 100 ly distant is only separated by about four million miles. Lambda +3.88 at 80 ly. Omicron is +3.63 and rotates at 200+ miles per second at its equator - one of the fastest rotating stars at 500 ly distance. Pi +4.43 has two visual companions. Omega +4.84 [Burnham-82 is in the same field of view]. 36 is +5.45 [double, both suns being yellow], 160 ly distant and separated by about 50 AU. R-Andromedae is a long-period variable [sometimes over 9 magnitudes], visible in binoculars at maximum with a period of 400+ days and a distance of 800+ ly. Z-Andromedae, variable [a recurrent nova], has outbursts of three magnitudes. GRB-34 is a red dwarf binary - one of the nearest double stars to our own star [the Sun] at 11.7 ly. It has a large proper motion of 2.89s per year in PA-82°. These two stars are about 160 AU apart. NGC-752 is a cluster of stars, 45m in size and best seen in a pair of 80mm binoculars. With a 100 degree wide field eyepiece, scan eastward from gamma and look for a large open cluster [NGC 752]. It is best seen in a pair of binoculars or a wide field telescope due to its large size. In a 100mm telescope the best views are at 36x where you will see a couple of dozen stars. Look for two bright golden stars in the field lying just outside the cluster itself. . NGC-891, a spiral galaxy, 12m x 1m, +12 [superb example of an edge-on spiral], appearing frothy and nebulous with a dusty inner halo. A dust lane runs along its midplane which may be seen visually in 12-inch and larger telescopes. NGC-7662 is a planetary nebula, 30m x 26m, blue-green, +8.5, the expanding remnants of a dying star. A white dwarf star is at its core and may be seen visually. It is also known as the ‘Blue Snowball’. Epoch 2000 coordinates are RA 23:25.9, Dec. 42:33° for those of you lucky enough to have DSCs [Digital Setting Circles] fitted on your telescope. It is brighter than M057 but about 33% its size. Use averted vision and you may see it visually. Its blue colour, faint outer halo, central hole and weaker western edge may be seen in 12-inch and larger Newtonian, Schmidt and Dobsonian telescopes. The trick to finding it lies in the three bright stars that are oriented mostly North to South. From a dark site they are naked eye stars. 7662 - the Blue Snowball is worth the effort in locating it. It is non-stellar in a 100mm refractor and an amazing shade of blue in larger telescopes. It is a planetary nebula which means that it can support high magnifications. You may also use a UHC or OIII filter as well to increase contrast. Andromeda contains many fine double and multiple stars to suit all size of optical instrument. The constellation consists mainly of a line of 2nd magnitude stars extending eastwards from Alpha to Gamma. Almach [or Gamma] is one of the most attractive colour contrast binaries in our sky. The primary is golden-yellow with a blue-green companion [separated by 10s] and best seen in a medium power ocular. 59-Andromedae is a pleasant pair with both stars being bluish-white. 56-Andromedae may be found on the southern edge of NGC-752 [this is an open cluster of stars]. This optical pair are orange and easily split in a pair of 10 x 50s as they are separated by 3m. The best view is seen using a low magnification eyepiece with both the cluster and double star in the same field of view! Two degrees north of Delta you will find 4th magnitude Pi with its bluish-white and smaller deep blue partner. They are 30s apart [not difficult to split]. Last edited by Chesmayne; 10-09-2008 at 02:03 PM.