The Coathanger
α Mini-W
NGC 7209
π ι β
NGC 7243
IC 5146
NGC 7082 κ
NGC 7027
NGC 7063
M39
NGC 7000
ν ζ
σ
τ ξ
From Scutum we’re now going to traverse the stars of Aquila and Sagitta to focus on a wonderful sight in the realm of Vulpecula, the Fox. The Coathanger – also known as Collinder 399 or Brocchi’s Cluster – sits about four and half degrees to the south of the star Anser (Alpha (a) Vulpeculae).
It’s a great target for a pair of binoculars, as the cluster appears about one and a half degrees across on the sky and contains mostly fifth and sixth magnitude stars.
There are several ways you can go about tracking it down, but probably the easiest is to slowly scan the region between the bright stars Albireo (Beta (b) Cygni) in Cygnus, and Altair (Alpha (a) Aquilae) in Aquila. From a dark-sky location it is a fine sight, situated among the granular star fields and dark galactic dust lanes.
ν
α
Deneb
IC 5070
Northern Cross
IC 4996
Collinder 419
NGC 6888
Biurakan 2
εGienah
Veil Nebula Complex
Sadr γ
NGC 6826
M29
NGC 6940 θ
NGC 6871 η
M27
δ γ ι
NGC 6811 dark path to NGC 6940 is easily visible to the naked eye under dark skies, you’ll need a larger scope to see the cluster well. If you’re using a manual mount, find
NGC 6819
Albireo
M71 φ
δ
Sulafat γ
NGC 6823 β θ β
α
α η
δ
M56
Vega α
ζ Stephenson 1
β
Sheliak
M57
Collinder 399 ζ
ε κ the target by first selecting a low power eyepiece – around 30x magnification is ideal. Next, place the fourth magnitude star 41 Cygni on, or near to, the westernmost θ
ο