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Starobserver
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 20
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Observing report
NGC 2266 is an open cluster that can be found a little less than two degrees north of Mebsuta or 27 epsilon Geminorum. It is a very compact open cluster, and it is not easy to locate. However once you spotted the four brighter components, you can see NGC 2261 as a smudge of light using averted vision. If you really want to resolve this little gem, you have to use higher magnifications. With my 300mm f/5 telescope the 7mm Pentax XW (229x) provides the ideal magnification. When using this eyepiece, NGC 2266 looks more or less well detached from the background, but you still have to use averted vision to see most of the fainter cluster members.
The four brighter stars lie in crooked line, a sort of very flat bowl-shape. The other cluster members lie south of this bowl. There are only 20 to 30 stars visible, using averted vision, and there is definitely a background glow of unresolved stars. Visually it's a poor cluster in the 12-inch. Most stars are just barely visible. I do not see a real central star. I do not detect any double stars or stars with a color.
Besides the four bright components, there are no real chains of stars in NGC 2266. There are however three small asterisms visible. First there is a small diamond shape made up of 4 stars. Below this diamond I see a kind of fishhook, also composed out of four stars. Last but not least I detect an arrow shaped form, again made up of four very dim stars, resembling the constellation Sagitta, the arrow.
Sketch of NGC 2266
For more info, details about the sketch and observation, images, finder chart and color magnitude diagram please follow this link to my homepage
Edited by Starobserver (09/26/09 01:40 PM)
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 625
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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A "poor cluster"; I agree. Per notes w/4" ETX is was only a misty haze, no "stars" seen. With 10" SCT a few bright stars visible within a hazy glow; weak, use AV; not cluster looking at all. Think a 16" might reveal more.
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JakeSaloranta
sage
Reged: 09/18/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Sisu, Sauna, Sibelius...
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I find this cluster a charming one and containing at least 50* in total once you give it a proper gaze.
8" Orion DSE
Object: NGC 2266
Obs. place: Kallahti, Helsinki, Finland
Date: 1./2.11.2005
NE Lim.mag: 6.2m
Background sky: 2-3
Seeing: 2
Weather: +6°C, humidity ~60%, clear.
Description: Small, compact cluster. Stars mags 11-14 with a faint background glow visible @ 122x. About 30 stars within 8' and a swarm of extremely faint stars in the background. Obvious string of 3 stars mags 9-11 S side of the cluster. Slightly concentrated towards the center.
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Maine
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Starobserver:
Great report, a popular cluster with todays audience.
My notes from Feb. 13, 2009: In the 140, "@100x bounded @ S by an arc of 6*. A wedge of unresolved stars to north, mottling of stars @ 166x. Brightest stars can handle direct vision, dimmer ones averted." Another note was to put it on my "view again" list.
Jim
--------------------
Vixen 140 refractor
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