The Moon slides from Aquarius into a tight knot of not visible planets. Jupiter approaches Wasat. It's a great week to observe Mizar and galaxies in Ursa Major and Canes Venatici. These include M51, M63, M94, M101 & NGC 5229, 5256, 5473, 5477, 5484, 5486 & 5486. #LutherCollege youtu.be/4xVu3mMserY
Jupiter is still prominent in the evening sky as it moves toward Wasat. Binary stars Algieba and 39 Leonis are well placed for observing. Leo also offers the Hickson 44 Galaxy Group and galaxies M65, M66, NGC 3628, NGC 3162 and NGC 3216. #LutherCollege youtu.be/8e6C74Mhmgg
Jupiter and its bright Galilean moons separate from 44 Geminorium as Venus emerges from the sunset glow. The open star clusters near Jupiter include NGC 2331, NGC 2420, NGC 2304, NGC 2266 and M35. #LutherCollege youtu.be/mLMvrzlXadM
In between sliding past Jupiter and the Beehive Cluster, the waxing Moon occults Kappa Geminorium before meeting up with Regulus. Epsilon Virginis is a leaping off point for many galaxies: M58, M59, M60, NGC 4733, 4694, 4762, 4606, 4607, 4637, 4638, 4647 & 4660. #LutherCollege youtu.be/2FtGnKfXwkQ
A crescent Moon is near the Pleiades. Jupiter approaches 44 Geminorium. Beautiful galaxies M104 and NGC 3115 lie between bright stars Spica and Alphard. Starhop from Alphard to planetary nebula NGC 3242 and galaxy NGC 3290. #LutherCollege youtu.be/Pi1-M1rnU_I
The waning gibbous Moon meets Spica. Open clusters in Canis Major and Puppis - M41, M46, M47, M93 & NGC 2354 - are ideally placed for observing. Binary star Adhara and nebula NGC 2359 are also great targets. Rho Puppis is an interesting variable star. #LutherCollege youtu.be/CMFvG3L4Toc
The Moon passes the Pleiades, Jupiter, Pollux & Regulus. Between bright stars Vega & Arcturus find globular clusters M13 & M92, & binary stars 68 Her & Epsilon Boo. Galaxies NGC 6194, 6196 & 6197 lie near M13. The Abell 2065 Galaxy Cluster is in Corona Borealis. #LutherCollege youtu.be/H6WGeotKzA8
Saturn pairs with a thin crescent Moon as Jupiter retrogrades through Gemini. See brighter galaxies M95, M96 & M105 in Leo, M108 in Ursa Major & NGC 3432 in Leo Minor. Planetary nebula M97 is near M108. Many fainter galaxies are a challenge in Leo Minor. #LutherCollege youtu.be/DuKXaMbkL2E
The waning Moon grazes stars in Scorpius and passes above open star clusters M6 and M7. The Beehive Cluster, M67 and M48 are additional great open cluster targets. Galaxies NGC 2744, 2745, 2747, 2749, 2751,2752 and 2761 are challenging objects. #LutherCollege youtu.be/EH_5FoH-qp8
The Moon occults Regulus and passes near Spica. Jupiter and Saturn are still good to observe. Hop Aldebaran to Zeta Tauri and on to the Crab Nebula, binary star Sigma 742 and open star cluster M35. Drop south to nebulosity NGC 2174 and 2175. #LutherCollege youtu.be/b6LOs6dzpLw
A waxing gibbous Moon passes Elnath then Jupiter as the planet pulls away from Wasat. Compare binary Algieba to 39 Leonis. Bright galaxies M95, M96 & M105 are top targets in Leo but the Hickson 44 galaxy group: NGC 3190, 3193, 3185 & 3187, is also good. #LutherCollege youtu.be/4Z3_ZCAU9Jo
Jupiter passes Wasat, Saturn passes very near 24 Piscium. Hop Wasat open star cluster M35 with faint cluster NGC 2158. Nearby are galaxy NGC 2365, fine open cluster NGC 2420 & planetary nebula NGC 2392. Great open clusters M36, M37 & M38 are in the area. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VYZXN5Y2kAs
Merry Christmas to you and yours from a place that is special to me. May this holiday season be a time to rest and recharge with those who are important to you, and may you have a happy, healthy, and hearty new year! www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlWa... #luthercollege
Saturn, Jupiter and Ursid meteors are highlights. Double star Omega 2 Aquarii sits near famous variable star R Aquarii. NGC 253 and NGC 7721 are fine spiral galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/N-tW1LhmpaM
The Moon wanes sufficiently to allow a good look at the Geminid meteor shower. Gamma Ceti is a fine binary system for the small telescope. Galaxies M77 and NGC 1055 are worthy targets while a nearby group of faint galaxies presents a challenge. #LutherCollege youtu.be/kNOxEMxSkPA
Even in the toughest of Moon weeks we find interesting things to see, including the retrograde motion of Jupiter, open star clusters M29 an NGC 6811, and double stars Albireo, Delta Cygni, Mu Cygni and Kappa Pegasi. The Veil Nebula is a late week stretch. #LutherCollege youtu.be/QE9mvhl8O3c
It's a good week to track the orbits of the Galilean moons of Jupiter. It's a short hop from Jupiter to Procyon and the nebulae and open star it guides the way to, including the Rosette Nebula, Thor's Helmet, M46, M47, M48, M56 and NGC 2244. #LutherCollege youtu.be/LVzd_Zf4OwY
Find Saturn's moon Titan and dwarf planet Ceres. The brighter stars of Cetus, including Diphda, guide the way to double star 37 Ceti, galaxies NGC 210 and NGC 255, and planetary nebula NGC 246. #LutherCollege youtu.be/oAOuONbJTYs
Saturn, Neptune and interesting double star 34 Piscium are found west of the Moon before it moves toward Elnath and Jupiter in the morning sky. It is a good week to catch two eclipses of eclipsing binary Algol in Perseus. NGC 7814 is a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/o7F2qWeB9iA
The Moon passes Deneb Algedi & Saturn. The Double Cluster and Andromeda Galaxy are showcase features in Perseus & Andromeda, along with Gamma Andromeda but the region also holds superb open star clusters M34 & NGC 1245, & NGC 891, a fine edge-on spiral galaxy. #LutherCollege youtu.be/zED6vy2xmHs
Little Moon all week helps with Comet Lemmon and Orionid meteor observing. Saturn, Fomalhaut and globular star clusters M2 and M15 frame the stars of Aquarius, including binary Zeta. NGC 7293, the Helix Nebula, is a great example of a planetary nebula. #LutherCollege youtu.be/PXrkSWw7ptQ
Luther College inaugurates 12th president on Homecoming weekend
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Venus & Jupiter grace the morning sky. The Moon passes Saturn & Neptune. Uranus lies between Gamma Tauri & the Pleiades. Faint galaxy NGC 7785 is near Omega Piscium. Theta Piscium guides the way to galaxies NGC 7619, NGC 7626 & NGC7611 and many fainter galaxies. #LutherCollege youtu.be/iknTyGVjIto
The September equinox is on Sep. 22. Jupiter sits about 1 degree above very nice planetary nebula NGC 2392. A wing of Pegasus guides the way to galaxy NGC 7331. Find Stephan's Quintet just south of 7331 and many fainter galaxies in the region. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VhNyK1YvtAs
The Moon slides from Jupiter to Venus. In Hercules we find globular clusters ranging from stunning to challenging: M13, M92, NGC 6229. Faint galaxy NGC 6207 lies near M13 & Zeta Herculis provides an observing challenge & a bit of interesting history. #LutherCollege youtu.be/z7e4x3LVg5U
The Moon starts near Saturn then occults Elnath for some. Epsilon Lyrae, the Double Double star, is observable all night. Galaxies and globular clusters mingle in and near Pegasus. Find M2, M15, NGC 7132 and NGC 7479. #LutherCollege youtu.be/lxUW8nvuT3o
The waxing gibbous Moon slides past Nashira & Deneb Algedi. Saturn is near variable star BU Piscium & binary 27 Piscium. Venus is between open star clusters M44 & M67. Jupiter is near Wasat with galaxy NGC 2365 & excellent planetary nebula NGC 2392 also nearby. #LutherCollege youtu.be/aHsPl-qmakQ
The waxing crescent Moon moves from near Mars in Virgo to Antares in Scorpius. Venus, now almost 20 degrees from Jupiter, ends the week near M44, the Beehive Cluster in Cancer. Double star Albireo, star clusters M52 & M56 and nebulae M8, M20, M27 & NGC7635 shine. #LutherCollege youtu.be/VnTpoCjfQS8
A beautiful crescent Moon slides by Jupiter & Venus early week, as Saturn separates from Neptune. Fantastic open star clusters M6 & M7 sit above the tail of Scorpius. Nearby star clusters NGC 6404, NGC 6416, NGC 6425 & NGC 6441 provide observing challenges. #LutherCollege youtu.be/AC9xWVh1JHA
