Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 39

Gary Seronik
Binocular Highlight

Facing

When

17

Late December
Early January
Late January
Early February
Late February

These are standard times.

C

Y

G

U

N

S

c

b

ne

_

De

b

61
39

+80$

_

M

+

TA

CE
PH
EU
S

c
¡

b

2

`

+
`

c

Circlet

OM

R
AND
PISCES

a

d

`

_

_

M33

`

a

M34

_

M31

+60$
a

at
Gre
are
Squ

b

TRIANGULUM
`
AR
IES

a

¡

_

_

CAMELOP

a
_

EDA

+80$

S
S E` U
R
E
P
Algol

Facing West

IA

The winter sky is tremendously bountiful for binocular observers - enough showpiece objects
cross the meridian on February evenings to keep
you busy for hours. For me, one of the most enjoyable stretches of sky is found in Auriga, which features the ﬁne Messier trio of M36, M37, and M38.
The Auriga open clusters are appealing for a
number of reasons, not least because each one is
distinct. And noting their diﬀerences is a good way
to sharpen your observing skills. Let's begin with
the easternmost cluster, M37. Although easy to see
in my 10×30 image-stabilized binoculars, M37 is the
toughest of the bunch when it comes to resolving
individual stars. Even in my 15×45 ISBs, it's just a
round, slightly grainy haze of starlight. Shift your
gaze roughly one binocular ﬁeld westward to pick
up neighboring M36. This is the easiest of the
three to see and resolve. In my 10×30s, it's a compact grouping with perhaps a half dozen individual
stars visible. The extra magniﬁcation and light
grasp of the 15×45s doubles the star count and ﬁlls
in the cluster's arrowhead shape.
Moving another bino ﬁeld westward brings
you to my favorite of the three, M38. Although
it's the least obvious, it's still an easy catch under
decent skies. M38 is an opulent gathering with a
few individual cluster stars ﬂickering in and out of
view against a box-shaped haze. What makes this
cluster extra appealing is the company it keeps.
M38 is positioned in a rich ﬁeld crossed by a couple
of attractive strings of 6th- and 7th-magnitude
stars, and, if you have dark skies, there's even a
little bonus open cluster nearby, NGC 1907, which
shows up reasonably well in my 15×45s. ✦

a

f

_

j
k

Clusters Aplenty in Auriga

_

rix

a

PE

h

TAURUS

h

23

Moon
Feb 11

Moon
Feb 14

H ya d e s

US
AS
G
PE

AS
S

IO

le
Doub er
Clust

d

M5

C

_

a
¡

C

R

f

c

LA

E

`

¡

Pleiades

$
debaran
_

c
Fa

in

g

N

W

20

h

+60$

_

Zenith

11 p.m.
10 p.m.
9 p.m.
8 p.m.
7 p.m.

AURIGA
in

`

k

¡

C

b

2

US
AN
D
I
ER

e

a

oc

u la

r vi ew

5° b

o

igel

E

T

c

U

M

S

ira

d

e

T O R
E Q U A

$

M38

-20$

$

1907

FO

M36

SW

RN

AX

2h

c
Fa

f

M37

g

_

in

-1
M
CAELU

5h

g South

0
1
2
3 Star
4 magnitudes

`

Sk yandTelescope.com Februar y 2016

39

http://www.SkyandTelescope.com

Sky and Telescope - February 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - February 2016

Contents
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 1
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 3
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - A
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - B
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 4
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 5
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 6
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 7
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 8
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 9
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 10
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 11
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 12
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 13
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 14
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 15
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 16
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 17
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 18
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 19
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 20
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 21
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 22
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 23
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 24
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 25
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 26
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 27
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 28
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 29
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 30
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 31
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 32
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 33
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 34
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 35
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 36
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 37
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 38
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 39
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 40
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 41
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 42
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 43
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 44
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 45
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 46
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 47
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 48
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 49
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 50
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 51
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 52
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 53
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 54
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 55
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 56
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 57
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 58
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 59
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 60
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 61
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 62
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 63
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 64
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 65
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 66
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 67
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 68
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 69
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 70
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 71
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 72
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 73
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 74
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 75
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - 76
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - Cover3
Sky and Telescope - February 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com