“Known as the Owl Cluster, this is one of the finest in the region”
1
NGC 663
8,000 light years away, this seventh-magnitude open cluster covers just 15’ of sky and contains around 60 stars. Most are much fainter than seventh magnitude. It looks best in a high-power eyepiece.
2
MESSIER 103
The final object catalogued by Messier, this cluster is a beautiful sight in a large telescope’s low-power eyepiece. Its 40-plus stars make a distinct arrowhead shape, with a vivid red star at its centre.
3
CALDWELL 8 (NGC 559)
Also known as Caldwell 8, this magnitude +9.5 cluster is barely 4.4’ across and is little more than a spray of faint stars. A challenge for large telescopes even on dark, Moon-free nights.
4
OWL CLUSTER (NGC 457)
Known as the Owl Cluster, this is one of the finest in the region. Triangle-shaped, large telescopes will resolve its compressed centre and the three lines of fainter stars leading away from it.
5
IC 59 AND IC 63
This close pair of bright, arcshaped nebulae look very pretty in a large telescope’s highpower eyepiece. IC 63 is closest to Gamma Cassiopeia and is by far the brighter of the two.
6
PACMAN NEBULA (NGC 281)
Nicknamed the Pacman Nebula, this bright nebula has some fascinating interior detail – like streamers, clumps and knots of material – only visible in larger telescopes.