AAQ Visual Observing Section

Selected Deep Sky Objects In Delphinus

While Delphinus is not the most prominent constellation, winter is a good time to find some of the gems hidden in this pretty constellations set amongst the northern areas of the Milky Way. All observations were made with a 150mm f8 refractor.

Gamma Del. (20h 46.6m RA, +16° 08' Dec.) While 40x will separate these two stars, 120x gives a good view of this pair of similar magnitude stars. Look for the blue/green colour of the secondary.

Struve 2725 (20h 46.2m RA, +15° 55' Dec.) This fainter double can be seen in the same field of view as Gamma Del. and can be resolved with 120x.

NGC 7006 (21h 01.5m RA, +16° 11' Dec.) This globular was just visible with 40x, and could not be seen with the finderscope. A hint of central condensation could be seen with 120x - a bigger aperture is required.

Struve 2690 (20h 31.3m RA, +11° 16' Dec.) A good contrast of doubles can be found with this pair near Epsilon Del. The first pair of similar magnitude stars can be easily split with 40x, while the second pair I could not resolve with 240x. This whole area is again set in a fine star field. See how you go with the closer pair.

NGC 6934 (20h 34.2m RA, +07° 24' Dec.) With difficulty I could locate this globular cluster with the finder, being slightly brighter than NGC 7006. Amongst a pretty background field, 40x showed a very condensed image. 120x gives a good view, but I was still unable to see any individual stars. Look for the brighter field star very close by to help you locate 6934.

Near NGC 6891 (20h 15.2m RA, +12° 42' Dec.) is a pretty L-shaped asterism in a very attractive field of brighter and fainter stars (I was unable to locate this planetary nebula). In the same field of view with 40x you should easily see very wide doubles at either end.

NGC 6905 (20h 22.4m RA, +20° 07' Dec.) This faint planetary nebula was barely visible in my finder scope. With 120x it could be located at the end of an arc of 7 faint stars. Look for a small hazy patch that requires a bigger aperture and dark skies.

BU 987 (20h 30.3m RA, +19° 26' Dec.) This nearby double of similar magnitudes is very easy with 40x, and is set in an attractive star field. Close by in the same field of view you should be able to see a tiny triangular asterism of stars. The fainter of the three stars is just visible with 40x, and clear with 120x.

Struve 2679 (20h 24.4m RA, +19° 36' Dec.) At the other end of this L-shaped arc is another easy double, while fainter and closer than BU 987 this unequal pair is still easy with 40x.

Back To Deep Sky Observing Articles

Back To Visual Observing Section Main Page

Astronomical Association of Queensland 2006. www.aaq.org.au