Globular Clusters

NGC 104/ 47 Tucanae

Globular Cluster Tucana

Ilford NSW Australia 17/10/09

56cm f5 Dobsonian Telescope

Field: 17′ Magnification: 354x. White pen, soft white pencil, hard white pencil, white pastel chalkI have made numerous attempts at sketching this remarkable globular cluster over the years, mostly in small telescopes at low power where it is just a bright ball. At higher magnification in my 56cm dob it is a vastly different object.

NGC 2808

Globular Cluster

CarinaIlford NSW Australia 30/01/11

56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope

Field: 17′ Magnification: 354x. Black Canford paper, white pen, white pastel pencil, white pastel chalk, white oil pencil, paint brush. This sublime globular cluster proved to be a difficult object to sketch. I almost threw in the towel on this one, as it was so dense with innumerable stars that it was just not turning out as planned. Then I thought so what if a few stars are miss-plotted, a sketch of a deep sky object is never 100% perfect otherwise you may just as well copy it off an image. 3½ hours at the eyepiece later and I was satisfied enough to call it a day on this one.

NGC 5139 Omega Centauri

Globular Cluster Centaurus

Ilford NSW Australia 09/08/10

76mm Televue Apo Refractor

Field: 62′ Magnification: 48x. I always find NGC 5139 a bit much in large scopes, a more elegant view of this grandiose globular can be had in smaller instruments. As rain had been forecast I had packed the 56cm dob away, but I left my 76mm Apo set up just in case. I went into the shed to lay down and listen to some music. About an hour later I felt the urge to proceed to the toilets, and lo and behold it was completely clear.

It was not long before I was at the 76mm Apo with a bino view and two 14mm Radian eyepieces. Needless to say it was a splendid view with the globular just barely giving the chance to resolve a smattering of tiny stars. I just had time to complete this sketch when the clouds rolled back in, and then it began to rain, and rain, and rain. Come the next morning it was still raining, and I could not get out of the place quick enough and go back home.

NGC 5286

Globular Cluster Centaurus

Ilford NSW Australia 18/03/10

56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope

Field: 27′ Magnification: 218x. This rather quaint little globular cluster was mostly resolved in the 56cm dob at 218x mag. The bright orange/yellow tinged star in the field is the spectroscopic binary M Centauri, a G-type star which lies around 257 ly from Earth. Both the star and the globular cluster together make for a most pleasing view.

NGC 6266 (M62)

Globular Cluster Ophiuchus

41cm f4.7 Dobsonian telescope

Ilford NSW Australia

Field: 31′ Magnification: 159xBlack Canford paper, white pen, white pencilThis Globular Cluster was very pretty at fairly low magnification, some nice stars are scattered throughout the 31′ field.

NGC 6541

Globular Cluster Corona Australis

Ilford NSW Australia 11/06/10

56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope

Field: 17′ Magnification: 354x. Black Canford paper, white pen, white pastel pencil, white pastel chalk, blending stump. This lovely globular cluster was first discovered by Nicolo Cacciatore on 19th of March 1826, and later in the same year by James Dunlop.

In the 56cm dob it is quite impressive, and proved to be a challenge to sketch as the night was cold with a stiff breeze buffeting the telescope at intervals. While the wind made me feel like I was rounding the Horn, I persevered, and by 1.00 am it suddenly died off allowing me to complete the finishing touches in reasonable comfort.

NGC 7089 (M2)

Globular cluster Aquarius

Ilford NSW Australia 08/08/10

56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope

Field: 27′ Magnification: 218x. Black Canford paper, white pen, white pencil, white pastel chalk, paint brushNGC 7089 is a very pretty globular cluster and I spent a considerable time at the eyepiece painstakingly detailing and plotting all the stars as accurately as possible. In the 56cm dob the cluster was well resolved into stars, with even the central core showing a sprinkling of tiny points. This object was a very enjoyable experience.

Palomar 8

Globular Cluster Sagittarius

Ilford NSW Australia 08/08/10

56cm f5 Dobsonian telescope

Field: 17′ Magnification: 354x. Black Canford paper, white pen, white oil pencil, paint brushThe Palomar globular clusters numbering 15 in total were discovered on the original National Geographic-Palomar Sky Survey plates of the early 1950′s.

Those who first determined their nature as globulars were the likes of George Abell, Edwin Hubble, Walter Baade, Fritz Zwicky and Halton Arp. Some of the globulars such as Pal 8 seen here are faint but not beyond the reach of amateur telescopes under good dark skies. Palomar 8 in the 56cm was quite diffuse and partially resolved, but visible without averted vision.