| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 06/12/08 05:27 PM |
| Attachment |
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Binocular Icon 19 : Taurus Poniatovii.
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There is a little constellation, so small that it will fit in the field of view of a pair of binoculars. Taurus Poniatovii is the old name of this asterism of five stars in a V-shape, between Serpens Cauda and Ophiuchus. This old constellation was once created to honour the King of Poland. With caution, the five stars can be seen with the naked eye under a dark sky, right at the shoulder of Ophiuchus. Look for the small V-shape asterism just 5° east-south-east of Beta Ophiuchi. It reminds me of the Hyades, which are much brighter. The five stars are also part of a loose open cluster : Collinder 359 or Melotte 186.
Site : Bekkevoort, Belgium
Date : June 9, 2008
Time : around 22.30UT
Binoculars : Bresser 8x56
FOV: 5.9°
Filter : none
Mount : Trico Machine Sky Window
Seeing : 2,5/5
Transp. : 3.5/5
Nelm : 5.1
Sketch Orientation : N up, W right.
Digital sketch made with Photo Paint, based on a raw pencil sketch.
(Note: if the sketch does look too dark on your monitor, try to darken the room.)
| frank5817 |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 06/12/08 10:07 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 19 : Taurus Poniatovii.
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Rony,
This is a great sketch of this little old constellation which is now part of Ophiuchus. I remember that I was at a sky show presentation at the Adler Planetarium when I first learned about Taurus Poniatovii. That was 1959.
The bright star above the large bright triangle at the one o'clock position in your sketch is, as you probable know, the variable star 66 Ophiuchi. Using this star as the starting point and moving in the two o'clock direction you arrive at the location of the large proper motion star known as Barnard's star about half way to the edge of your sketch from 66 Oph.. Barnard's runaway star has the largest proper motion of any star in the sky and is a red dwarf at only 6 light years distance.
Your sketch is so good it makes a perfect finder chart for this famous star. Wonderful--Rony.
Frank
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 06/13/08 06:25 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 19 : Taurus Poniatovii.
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Frank,
Thank you!
I did not have Barnard's star in mind while observing, I must confess. Thank you for the little note about this famous star.
| CarlosEH |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 06/14/08 10:11 AM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 19 : Taurus Poniatovii.
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Rony,
An excellent observation of an interesting asterism/constellation. It does remind one of "small Hyades" as you point out. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
Carlos
| rodelaet |
| (Post Laureate) |
| 06/15/08 04:54 PM |
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Re: Binocular Icon 19 : Taurus Poniatovii.
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Carlos,
Thanks!
I look forward to your future observations.
