AAQ Visual Observing Section

Selected Deep Sky Objects In Scorpius

Scorpius, like Orion is a bright easily distinguished constellation which is ideal for using the star-hopping method to locate the many interesting objects contained within it. Scorpius is one of the most recognised winter constellations. Listed below is a selection of the many fine sights available in Scorpius. The comments below are based on observations made with a 150mm f8 refractor.

12 Scorpii (16h 12.3m RA, -28° 45' Dec) – requires 120x for a clear split

HN 39 (16h 24.7m RA, -29° 42' Dec) – pretty pale yellow pair of similar brightness clearly resolved at 80x. Nearby is another fine wide pair with a pale yellow primary clearly visible at 40x. Like many doubles in this area of the sky, they are set in a beautiful background star field.

Beta 1116 (16h 44.3m RA, -27° 28' Dec) – requires 120x for a clear split, a good test for your scope.

Beta Scorpii (16h 05.4m RA, -19° 48' Dec) – set in a pretty star field and very easily split with 120x. The yellow/gold primary contrasts beautifully with a striking blue/green companion.

Nu Scorpii (16h 12.0m RA, -19° 28' Dec) – attractive and interesting double with wide separation at 120x, the secondary has a close companion of similar magnitude which requires 160x for clear separation. While there, have a closer look at Nus primary star, it too has a very close companion which I needed to use a Barlow lens giving 320x to split.

Sigma Scorpii (16h 21.2m RA, -25° 36' Dec) – this is a very easy split at 80x, with a hint of blue green colour for the fainter secondary.

Trumpler 24 (16h 57.0m RA, -40° 40' Dec) – a pretty open cluster, look for the strong red colour of the brightest star in the main group. Using a UHC filter I was able to glimpse traces of the adjacent emission nebula IC4628 (16h 57.0m RA, -40° 20' Dec).

While in Scorpius, try to locate the faint companion to Antares, I have been unable to see it so far. The globular cluster M4 (16h 23.6m RA, -26° 32' Dec), believed to be one of the closest globulars to us, is easily found close by, with many individual stars resolved even at 40x. Look for the band of brighter stars across the middle. For a complete contrast then try the nearby globular NGC6144 (16h 27.3m RA, -26° 02' Dec) where I needed to use averted vision to glimpse a hazy condensation.

Take your time in this constellation, as you will be well rewarded for a few nights viewing with the rich array of open and globular clusters, nebulae and double stars to be found. I use “Hartung’s Astronomical Objects for Southern Telescopes” as an excellent source of information on objects visible to the amateur scope. If you don’t have a copy for your own use, the AAQ library has one available, or it can usually be found for sale at the various telescope retailers.

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