Telescope Reviews: small binocs M44 star counts and galaxies

Some information about the population of stars in M44 gives a very good indication of magnitude ranges. The 25 brightest stars all range between mag 6.3 to mag 8.0. M44 has 80 stars to mag 10.0 and has 100 stars to mag 10.9. My chart (see link) has just over 200 stars plotted, 140+ stars plotted within the boundary and 60 more within the 2° square periphery. I can see every star on this chart (plus more) when tested with my 5" scope that has a measured LM of 13.1, so this chart reaches to about mag 13.

Follow this for a link to the M44 Chart

On the west there is a very distinct N-S line of 5 bright stars (in a 8x40 it's 4 bright and 1 dim), running from top to bottom of the cluster. On the south there is a distinct string of mostly bright stars just outside the true boundary that I use as my defining limits. On the left (the east) there is a very noticable barren area that helps clearly define that edge. These recent observations overlooked 4-6 stars on the extreme periphery that were included in early observations.

Previously, With various binoculars I have seen
56 stars using Pentax PCF WP 10x50 sky5.2
67 stars using Fujinon 10x70 sky5.2
72 stars using Nikon Superior E 12x50 sky5.2
70 stars using Orion Minigiant 15x63 sky5.0
80 stars using Oberwerk 15x70 sky5.0

Under mag 5.0 skies, the Oberwerk 15x70 just reaches the limit of mag10 stars.

Here are results from recent observations over a two night period. Both nights were about mag 4.9.

42 stars - Captain's Helmsman 7x50
41 stars - William Optic 7x50
39 stars - Oberwerk Mariner 7x50
39 stars - Captain's Storm King (old single coated Swift) 7x50
40 stars - Bushnell Legend 8x42 roof
40 stars - Nikon AE 8x40
48 stars - Nikon AE 10x50
51 stars - Nikon AE 12x50

If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say 40 stars is mag 9 and 50 stars is about mag 9.6 to 9.8. In all cases, each of these binoculars saw just a few stars on the limit borderline needing averted vision.

Several other observations.
M81-M82 were both seen in all binoculars. In the AE 12x50, AE10x50, WO7x50 and CN7x50, both were fairly bright and some shape and orientation could be seen (elongated axis). The AE8x40, BL8x42, OM7x50 and CSK7x50, could not see these bright enough to say any more than both spots were seen.

Only one member of the M65-M66 pair was seen, and only in the AE12x50, AE10x50, WO7x50 and CN7x50, and in all cases just barely seen.

edz

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