Downloadable Deep Sky Field Guides at Amazon (click book cover for info.)

How to Use Reference Line Maps to locate deep sky objects.

Notes:

1. This naked eye cluster is a beauty under low power.  Greek astronomers noted its presence as early as 300 B.C., considering it a portent of rain.
2. Hipparchus, observing from 39 degrees North at Rhodes, included the Beehive Cluster in the first star catalogue, compiled between 146 and 127 B.C.  He called the double clusterin Perseus “a little cloud”.
3. This was one of two nebulae included in Hipparchus’ catalog.  The other was the Double Cluster in Perseus.
4. Smyth: ” Long known as a nebula, components not being separately distinguished by the naked eye.”

Credits, Links & Resources:

1. The images of  galactic position of eemission nebulae, star clusters and planetary nebulae relative to our own Sun  are provided courtesy of thinkastronomy.com.
2. A complete online resource for  distances, sizes and locations of deep sky objects is available at seds.org.
3. Sky and Tleescope’s This Week’s Sky At A Glance is worth checking before every stargazing session.
4. Danko’s  Clear Sky Chart provides a 48 hour forecast of observing conditions for every  location  in North America.
5. Reference Line Maps are produced by Project DeepSkyMap, a collaborative venture of observers who enjoy  knowing the heavens and  locating objects for themselves.