Fall Objects

M15

You can find this gorgeous globular cluster by following the outline of Pegasus' neck just a little past his nose.

M2	About three binocular fields below M15 you can spot another globular cluster. This slightly fainter one rests within the boundaries of Aquarius.

M39

This is an attractive cluster in northern Cygnus. Although it stands out well in binoculars it can be a bit of a tricky starhop for the novice. One way to locate it is to follow the outline of the constellation eastward, two binocular fields past Deneb, and then hop one field down. Once it's in the field it'll be unmistakable.

Mu Cephi

This is Herschel's "garnet star", one of the reddest stars known. Sweep the bottom of Cepheus between zeta and alpha and you'll see it along the way. If you look at it month to month you'll also see that it varies in brightness between magnitude from 3.7 to 5.0. Some observer's even claim that it varies in tint too! What do you see ?

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy

How easy or difficult this object is to see is probably more dependent on your sky conditions than your optics. Although some prefer to start their star-hop from Cassiopea, I've always found it easier to simply follow the outline of Andromeda to the second pair of stars and scan the area just to the north. Take a good long look and see if you can spot either of its companions.

NGC 869 & 884 - Double Cluster

If you scan the Milky Way between Cassiopeia and Perseus under a dark sky, these two beauties will be hard to miss. Even without binoculars you'll probably see a misty patch that betrays the presence of one of the northern skies' grandest sights.

Stock 2

This is one of the clusters that is often ignored because it lies right near the dazzling double cluster. In fact, you can fit all three in the same binocular field. Take a long careful look at the north edge of your field the next time you're drawn to the double cluster.

Melotte 20

Also know by some authors as the Alpha Persei group, this is a large scattering of stars surrounding the brightest star in Perseus. A beautiful field well worth a long careful look.

Kemble's Cascade & NGC 1502

From Alpha Persei, go two binoculars towards Polaris and you'll see a long chain of stars leading to a faint little cluster. The chain is named after Fr. Lucian Kemble, a very active and well know amateur astronomer.

M34

If you sweep with your binoculars from the tip of Triangulum towards the brightest star in Perseus, you'll pass by this beautiful cluster.