PATCHED NGC: What They Are and How to See Them
PATCHED NGC: A Guide to Naked-Eye Deep-Sky Observing
Have you ever wondered what you can see in the night sky without a telescope? You might be surprised by how many deep-sky objects are visible with just your eyes or a pair of binoculars. In this article, we will explore some of the most interesting and beautiful PATCHED NGC objects, which are clusters, nebulae, and galaxies that have NGC numbers but are not part of the famous Messier catalog. We will also give you some tips on how to find them and what to look for.
PATCHED NGC
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What is PATCHED NGC?
PATCHED NGC is an acronym that stands for Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, Triangulum Galaxy, Coma Berenices Star Cluster, Hyades, Epsilon Lyrae Double-Double, Rosette Nebula, Orion Nebula, Sirius, Taurus Molecular Cloud, Eta Carinae Nebula, and Crux. These are some of the most prominent and easy-to-find deep-sky objects that have NGC numbers but are not included in the Messier catalog, which is a list of 110 bright nebulae, clusters, and galaxies compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century.
The Messier catalog is very popular among amateur astronomers because it contains some of the most spectacular and well-known objects in the sky, such as the Crab Nebula (M1), the Ring Nebula (M57), and the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51). However, there are many more deep-sky objects that are worth observing, especially if you have dark skies and good eyesight. PATCHED NGC is a handy way to remember some of these objects and to challenge yourself to find them without a telescope.
How to observe PATCHED NGC?
To observe PATCHED NGC, you will need a clear night with no moon or light pollution. You will also need a star chart or an app that can help you locate the objects in the sky. You can use your naked eye or a pair of binoculars to see most of these objects, but some of them may require a small telescope to see more details. Here are some tips on how to observe each object:
Pleiades (NGC 1432)
The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters or M45, is one of the most famous and beautiful star clusters in the sky. It is located in the constellation of Taurus, and it is easily visible with the naked eye as a bright and compact group of stars. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see dozens of stars shining with a blue-white color. The Pleiades are about 440 light-years away from Earth and have an apparent diameter of about 110 arcminutes.
Andromeda Galaxy (NGC 224)
The Andromeda Galaxy, also known as M31, is the nearest major galaxy to our own Milky Way. It is located in the constellation of Andromeda, and it is visible with the naked eye as a faint and elongated smudge of light. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its bright core and its spiral arms extending for about 3 degrees across the sky. The Andromeda Galaxy is about 2.5 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 190 arcminutes.
Triangulum Galaxy (NGC 598)
The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as M33, is another spiral galaxy that belongs to our local group of galaxies. It is located in the constellation of Triangulum, and it is visible with the naked eye as a very faint and diffuse patch of light. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its bright core and its spiral arms dotted with star-forming regions. The Triangulum Galaxy is about 3 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 70 arcminutes.
Coma Berenices Star Cluster (NGC 188)
The Coma Berenices Star Cluster, also known as Melotte 111 or Collinder 256, is an open cluster of stars that lies in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is visible with the naked eye as a loose and scattered group of stars that covers a large area of the sky. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see more than 40 stars of different colors and magnitudes. The Coma Berenices Star Cluster is about 5,000 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 275 arcminutes.
Hyades (NGC 1532)
The Hyades, also known as Collinder 50 or Melotte 25, is another open cluster of stars that lies in the constellation of Taurus. It is visible with the naked eye as a V-shaped group of stars that forms the face of the bull. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see more than 100 stars of various brightness and colors. The Hyades are about 150 light-years away from Earth and have an apparent diameter of about 330 arcminutes.
Epsilon Lyrae Double-Double (NGC 6720)
Epsilon Lyrae, also known as the Double-Double or Struve 2470 and Struve 2474, is a pair of binary stars that lies in the constellation of Lyra. It is visible with the naked eye as a single star of magnitude 5.0. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see that it is actually composed of two pairs of stars that orbit each other. Each pair can be resolved into two stars with a small telescope or a high magnification. Epsilon Lyrae is about 160 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent separation of about 210 arcseconds.
Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237)
The Rosette Nebula, also known as Caldwell 49 or Sharpless 2-275, is a large emission nebula that lies in the constellation of Monoceros. It is visible with the naked eye as a very faint and diffuse glow in a dark sky. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its circular shape and its central cluster of stars, NGC 2244. The Rosette Nebula is about 5,000 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 80 arcminutes.
Orion Nebula (NGC 1976)
The Orion Nebula, also known as M42 or Caldwell 43, is one of the most famous and spectacular nebulae in the sky. It is located in the constellation of Orion, and it is visible with the naked eye as a bright and fuzzy patch below Orion's Belt. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its complex structure and its colorful gas and dust clouds. The Orion Nebula is about 1,300 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 65 arcminutes.
Sirius (NGC 2362)
Sirius, also known as Alpha Canis Majoris or the Dog Star, is the brightest star in the night sky. It is located in the constellation of Canis Major, and it is visible with the naked eye as a brilliant white star that flashes with different colors. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its faint companion star, Sirius B, which is a white dwarf. Sirius is about 8.6 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of -1.46.
Taurus Molecular Cloud (NGC 2068)
The Taurus Molecular Cloud, also known as M78 or NGC 2068, is a dark nebula that lies in the constellation of Taurus. It is visible with the naked eye as a dark patch that obscures the background stars. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its reflection nebulae that shine with a blue-green color. The Taurus Molecular Cloud is about 1,600 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 8 arcminutes.
Eta Carinae Nebula (NGC 3372)
The Eta Carinae Nebula, also known as NGC 3372 or Caldwell 92, is a bright emission nebula that lies in the constellation of Carina. It is visible with the naked eye as a large and complex cloud of gas and dust that surrounds the massive star Eta Carinae. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its intricate details and its famous features such as the Keyhole Nebula and the Homunculus Nebula. The Eta Carinae Nebula is about 7,500 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent diameter of about 120 arcminutes.
Crux (NGC 4755)
Crux, also known as the Southern Cross or Caldwell 95, is a constellation that lies in the southern hemisphere. It is visible with the naked eye as a distinctive pattern of four bright stars that form a cross shape. With binoculars or a telescope, you can see its fifth star, which is a red giant, and its famous star cluster, NGC 4755, also known as the Jewel Box or Kappa Crucis Cluster. Crux is about 88 light-years away from Earth and has an apparent size of about 6 degrees.
Why observe PATCHED NGC?
Observing PATCHED NGC is a great way to enjoy the beauty and diversity of the deep-sky objects that are accessible to anyone with a pair of eyes or binoculars. It is also a fun and rewarding challenge to find these objects and to learn more about them. By observing PATCHED NGC, you will be able to appreciate some of the most amazing sights in the universe, such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. You will also be able to witness the history and evolution of the stars and the cosmos.
Conclusion
PATCHED NGC is a term that refers to a collection of deep-sky objects that have NGC numbers but are not part of the Messier catalog. These objects are some of the most interesting and beautiful ones that can be seen with the naked eye or binoculars. They include clusters, nebulae, and galaxies that span across different constellations and distances. Observing PATCHED NGC is a rewarding and enjoyable activity that can enrich your knowledge and appreciation of the night sky.
FAQs
What does NGC stand for?
NGC stands for New General Catalogue, which is a catalog of deep-sky objects compiled by John Louis Emil Dreyer in 1888. It contains 7,840 objects, including nebulae, clusters, and galaxies.
What is the difference between Messier and NGC objects?
Messier objects are a subset of NGC objects that were cataloged by Charles Messier in the 18th century. Messier was looking for comets and listed 110 objects that he wanted to avoid because they looked like comets but were not. These objects turned out to be some of the brightest and most spectacular deep-sky objects in the sky. NGC objects are more numerous and diverse than Messier objects, but some of them are fainter and harder to find.
How can I find PATCHED NGC objects in the sky?
You can find PATCHED NGC objects by using a star chart or an app that can show you their positions and names. You can also use some bright stars or constellations as reference points to locate them. For example, you can find the Pleiades by following the line from Orion's Belt to Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus. You can find the Andromeda Galaxy by following the line from Pegasus' Square to Mirach, a star in Andromeda.
What are the best times and places to observe PATCHED NGC?
The best times to observe PATCHED NGC are when the sky is dark and clear, and when the moon is not too bright or too close to the objects. The best places to observe PATCHED NGC are away from city lights and sources of light pollution. Some of these objects are visible all year round, while others are seasonal. For example, you can see the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula in winter, while you can see the Eta Carinae Nebula and Crux in summer (in the southern hemisphere).
What can I see with binoculars or a telescope?
With binoculars or a telescope, you can see more details and colors of these objects than with your naked eye. You can also see more stars in clusters, more structures in nebulae, and more features in galaxies. For example, with binoculars or a telescope, you can see the blue nebulosity around the Pleiades stars, the dust lanes in the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Keyhole Nebula inside the Eta Carinae Nebula. dcd2dc6462