Binocular Universe: Connect the Dots

Binocular Universe: Connect the Dots December 2013 Phil Harrington

 

One of the things I enjoy most about binocular stargazing is the ability to step back and just scan the sky in search of buried treasures.  Some of my favorite things to hunt for are small patterns among the stars, such as little arcs or other geometric patterns.  This month, join me as we search out some of these small asterisms hidden in plain sight among the stars of late autumn and early winter.

Above: Autumn star map adapted from Star Watch by Phil Harrington.

Above: Finder chart #1 (Taurus) for this month's Binocular Universe.

Chart adapted from Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas (TUBA)

 

Let’s begin with one that we have all undoubtedly seen many times, but never noticed.  Take aim at the Pleiades, arguably the most striking open star cluster visible through binoculars.  I could devote an entire column to the Pleiades alone -- and in fact did back in December 2009.  But while most observers look at the brightest stars in the Pleiades in awe, let’s study the surroundings a little more deeply.  That’s just what amateur astronomer Stephen Saber did when he christened a notable chain of stars running south and east from the Pleiad Alcyone.  Saber, who has a wonderfully creative command of English, called this chain Ally’s Braid, "the flowing locks of Lady Alcyone."  Ally’s Braid is formed from seven stars ranging in brightness from 6th to 8th magnitude.  Three fainter stars continue the braid further still.  From end to end, the line-up spans a little less than a degree.

The V-shaped group of stars, the Hyades, shapes Taurus, the Bull’s head.  While the Hyades is a bona fide star cluster, save for the unrelated foreground star Aldebaran, a curious asterism lies within that often goes unnoticed.  To my knowledge, the first person to “discover” it was CN reader Bill Zmek.  He described an asterism called the Triple Double.  It consists of three double stars arranged roughly in an equilateral triangle. Each double is aligned at right angles to a line running from that double to the triangle’s center.  To find the Triple Double, take aim at Theta-1 and Theta-2 Tauri just southeast of Aldebaran.  These form the asterism's western corner.  Two fainter stars, SAO 93975 and SAO 93981, lie at the triangle’s northeastern corner, while 80 and 81 Tauri mark the southeastern corner.  Admit it, how many times have you looked at the Hyades, but never noticed this distinctive pattern?  I know I have, probably more times than I could possibly count.

Zmek’s observation prompted me to do a little asterism mining of my own within the Hyades.  Take a look at Delta Tauri along the Hyades’ western leg.  By combining Delta with the fainter nearby stars 63, 64, and 68 Tauri, I can imagine a tailless Delta Wing Jet here.  See it?  You’ll find it and the other asterisms here overlain on the finder chart above.

A second asterism worthy of note is found to the north of the Hyades.  It was the creative eye of Massachusetts observer John Davis more than a decade ago that came up with a heavenly canine now known to many as Davis’s Dog.  From west to east, the group consists of Omega, 51, 53, 56, 65, 67, 69, and 70 Tauri.  Omega marks the tip of the dog's nose, 53 represents one of its eyes, while 51 and 56 form the tips of the dog's pointy ears. The crooked tail is outlined by the arc of Kappa-1, Kappa-2, Upsilon, and 72 Tauri, while its body and legs are formed from a pair of fainter triangular patterns to the south.

Above: Finder chart #2 (Auriga) for this month's Binocular Universe.

Chart adapted from Touring the Universe through Binoculars Atlas (TUBA), www.philharrington.net/tuba.htm

Let's hop borders into the constellation Auriga, where we find the well documented asterism known as The Kids.  Often depicted as a slender isosceles triangle formed by Eta, Zeta, and Epsilon Aurigae, the Kids were first referred to by the Greek astronomer Cleostratus.  Traditionally, Auriga is drawn holding a goat over his left shoulder (marked by Epsilon) and two kids (Eta and Zeta) under his left arm -- quite a handful!

A smaller version of Auriga's flock, known as the False Kids or the Little Kids, can be found just west of Theta Aurigae.  Look for Nu, Tau, and Upsilon Aurigae shining between magnitudes 4 and 5 and oriented 180° to the "real" kids.  Red giant Upsilon, at the triangle's tip, shines with a distinctive ruddy tint.

Many readers are also probably familiar with the next asterism in south-central Auriga.  Its six stars all shine between 5th and 6th magnitude, and so are just detectable without optical aid under dark skies. Through binoculars, they are obvious.  Many know the pattern as the Flying Minnow, although to my eyes, they’ve always looked more like a crooked lacrosse racket.  Four stars -- 17, 18, 19, and IQ Aurigae -- make up the racket's net, while 14 and 16 Aurigae form what’s left of the damaged handle.  Use your imagination; you may see something entirely different.

M38 is one of three Messier open clusters within the confines of Auriga.  All are worth revisiting whenever you head out this winter.  While you are admiring M38, take a look just to its south for an 8-star asterism that collectively resembles the smiling face of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.  CN member Ben Cacace from New York , NY , described it that way when he became the person to recognize the pattern back in 2002.  His notes detail "8 stars ranging from 5th to 7th magnitude, with 2 stars for the eyes and another 6 in an arc for the mouth."

Finally, we have a triangular group of no fewer than 8 stars nestled in the northeastern corner of Auriga that some imagine as William Herschel's monstrous, scaffold-hanging reflecting telescope.  The stars involved all carry the Greek designation of Psi, and are assigned subordinate designations Psi-2 through Psi-9.  Collectively, they make a large triangle (the telescope’s scaffold) with telescope tube held in place with blocks and tackles.  Admittedly, it’s a stretch, but see what you see.  And if you are fortunate enough to be viewing from very dark surroundings, you may also catch a hint of the open cluster NGC 2281, which lies within and is plotted on the finder chart above.

These asterisms are just the beginning of what lies in wait inside this month’s Binocular Universe.  The list below includes more targets to enjoy in December and throughout the winter.

 

Until we meet next month, enjoy these winter sights.  And remember that, for both, two eyes are better than one.

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	About the Author: Phil Harrington is the author of nine books on astronomy, including Touring the Universe through Binoculars.  Visit his web site at www.philharrington.net for previews of each.
Phil Harrington's Binocular Universe is copyright 2013 by Philip S. Harrington.  All rights reserved.  No reproduction, in whole or in part, beyond single copies for use by an individual, is permitted without written permission of the copyright holder.