daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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I was looking/sketching a few objects in Monoceros tonight (i don't usually visit this constellation) and fond m50 to be somewhat indiscriminate from the surrounding fairly rich star fields. i have included a rather poor sketch which has made somewhat brighter the 2 brightest stars, but the cluster is really centred toward bottom centre.
I looked for several minutes panning back & forth - mostly from beta MOno (where i had just visited 2322)
I was just after some opinions, is m50 a not so bright/interesting object
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rookie
Good Night Nurse
Reged: 01/14/06
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Quote:
I was looking/sketching a few objects in Monoceros tonight (i don't usually visit this constellation) and fond m50 to be somewhat indiscriminate from the surrounding fairly rich star fields. i have included a rather poor sketch which has made somewhat brighter the 2 brightest stars, but the cluster is really centred toward bottom centre.
I looked for several minutes panning back & forth - mostly from beta MOno (where i had just visited 2322)
I was just after some opinions, is m50 a not so bright/interesting object
Daniel,
What instrument were you using to see M50?
Ken Graun, in his book "The Next Step Finding and Viewing Messier Objects" describes M50 while using his 4" refractor at 48x thus:
"This cluster does not stand out like others. Contains one star that is brighter than the rest. Around 20' in diameter. Can see more stars with averted visiton. It's shaped like a spiral galaxy with arms radiating from the center... Don't be suprised if you pass this cluster by a few times before identifying it."
I believe you described and sketched M50 very well, especially if you were using lower power. 
It's probably a better target at higher powers. The NSOG describes it as "large, splendid assembly of bright stars in a rich star field". However, that observer was using 75X.
BTW could the object you described as 2322 near Beta Mon be Open Cl. 2232?
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F.Meiresonne
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/22/03
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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I saw it a few weeks ago. As a fuzzy spot, rather bright, could not see stars.
Last week i did not catch it, to low, bad skies.
In both cases i used my 22x85
Edited by F.Meiresonne (01/10/10 03:22 PM)
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Mark9473
Postmaster
Reged: 07/21/05
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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Great to see another observing report posted in this forum. Thanks Daniel!
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Tony Flanders
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/06
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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I have a soft spot for M50, though it's certainly better in a telescope than in conventional binoculars. It doesn't do well in heavy light pollution, but it's pretty in a dark suburban sky or darker. Here are some notes:
naked eye, semi-dark sky -- visible, but barely so
7x35 city -- barely visible, no stars resolved
7x35 outer suburbs -- small, well-defined bright patch
15x45 outer suburbs -- big, bright, resolve 2 stars easily, 4 more averted vision, elliptical NS
15x70 outer suburbs -- quite pretty, 2 bright stars plus 3-4 others averted vision, stands out well
15x70 semi-dark sky -- pretty. One bright star on edge, possibly an impostor, plus 5-6 stars averted vision. Compact, circular, bright.
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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i was using my 15x70, thanks for the replies guys. (its fairly high for me)
Actually monoceros i am finding is a fairly rich region star wise, the open clusters do not really stand out at all from the background
here is another sketch oc 2244, core of brighter stars (actually not brighter but the ones that stand out to me when i sketch)
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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lastly oc 2264 slight arrow type pattern, apart from the bright centre star most wre fairly dim
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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oops forgot oc 2232, mentioned at beginning, beta mono is at top right. stars were well separated and seen as separate points.. no discernible color visible in the stars
keep in Mind this will be around the wrong way for you Northeners
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Man in a Tub
Postmaster
Reged: 10/28/08
Loc: Fogpatch, CA
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Hi Daniel,
I can't comment on your sketch of M 50 because I have never doted upon this open cluster, but your sketches of NGC 2244 and NGC 2264 are great. Thanks for posting them. I've also been perfunctory when viewing NGC 2232, but you certainly have captured the area well as far as I can tell.
Thanks to Rookie for posting Ken Graun's description of M 50. To my eyes, "spiral galaxy"-type patterns are also visible in M 36 (Auriga) and NGC 1582 (Perseus).
Additionally, skyAtlas 2000.0 mentions a red star in the "southern verge" of M 50. Anyone noticed it?
I'll pay more attention to M 50 next time I'm sweeping around the Unicorn's starry meadow. Two challenges here (well, for me).
About M 50 and its brightness: I rarely have trouble spotting it here — unlike hazy, old M 46 (Puppis) which can be visually degraded, if not entirely so, by the Moon and light pollution.
Clear skies!
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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thanks Todd i did look for the redish star because stellarium showed it but i saw very little, not something i would draw orange..just off white
the other night i also saw the auriga three, which is diffcult here because they are reasonably low
the skies are clear here at the minute but temps are 100+
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F.Meiresonne
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/22/03
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Tomorrow evening it may be clear for a couple of hours.
That particular region has been in my mind for a couple of weeks now.
M50 is nice but also M46/M47 and small others.
M46 has a planetary nebulae in it, i believe. In big aperture this is fantastic but thistime i want to explore that region in my binoculars.
Let's just hope IT GETS CLEAR....
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rookie
Good Night Nurse
Reged: 01/14/06
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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It's really such a beautiful part of the sky. Without any vieiwng aide, there's not much visible. Medium-powered binoculars bring out so many details, it's almost startling.
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captain11
sage
Reged: 10/11/09
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Quote:
Additionally, skyAtlas 2000.0 mentions a red star in the "southern verge" of M 50. Anyone noticed it?
Yes i have noticed it. It is one of the brighter members of the cluster.
From Burnham's Celestial Handbook Volume 2 page 1194, "Curving arcs of stars give the perimeter a rather heart- shaped outline, nicely high-lighted by a single reddish star some 7' south of the cluster center. This star, a red M-giant, is not quite the "blood-ruby star" that CE Barns described, but still stands out rather prominently against a background of blue and white stellar points."
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Man in a Tub
Postmaster
Reged: 10/28/08
Loc: Fogpatch, CA
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To Daniel and Rookie,
Just a moment to say thanks to you and Cloudy Nights. During this sodden winter, I've managed to revisit M50 a few times for a longer look. I observed each time with my new Pentax 20x60 PCF WP II mounted on my Garrett Optical monopod. Presently, I may not be adding many DSOs to my observed list, but I will say this thread increased my knowledge and taught me to slow down. M50 is definitely worth a more "studied" look.
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F.Meiresonne
Post Laureate
Reged: 12/22/03
Loc: Eeklo,Belgium
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Also in the region but much lower is M93, a very fine cluster that shows up really well in binoculars
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Man in a Tub
Postmaster
Reged: 10/28/08
Loc: Fogpatch, CA
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Quote:
Also in the region but much lower is M93, a very fine cluster that shows up really well in binoculars
Yes, I've seen it many times. Wonderful cluster — as if someone decorated the archetypal comet with starry lights.
M50 has hitherto been an open cluster that I have only observed rapidly and then moved on.
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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if m93 is much lower ..that puts it into prime position for me being upside down..will look for it on the weekend..i am off to the snake valley astro assoc autumn star party
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Man in a Tub
Postmaster
Reged: 10/28/08
Loc: Fogpatch, CA
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FYI
For quite a while, I have had a SEDS Messier image catalog on my computer.
I just "rediscovered" this Messier image catalog which I've seen before. This time I've put it in my favorites.
2MASS Atlas Image Gallery: The Messier Catalog
Interestingly, M50 at 1.4Mb is among the large jpg's in the display. (M93 is 1Mb.)
Enjoy if you so choose and clear skies!
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RichD
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/08/07
Loc: Derbyshire, UK
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Daniel, M93 will be in a good position for you south of the equator. It's a rather fine triangular or wedge shaped cluster - quite rich too!
Try also to check out NGC 2451, another open cluster further south in Puppis. This has a more remote cluster nearby in the same field, ngc 2477 which is fainter.
I've only observed this region a few times while on holiday in portugal and spain from dark skies - I don't know the region well and it's easy to get lost as there's so much to see!
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daniel_h
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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thanks will add them to my list
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