SMC Observations Chart 2
These notes with links to the objects on charts, to images and relevant articles will gradually include not only my own notes, but those of other observers. Each observation is preceed by the initials of the observer (in alphabeticla order of surname). The key immediatley below this text gives their full names and links to their web site if available. If you have your own observation notes on Magellanic Cloud objects, please email me at [email protected] as I would love to post them on this site. Data for NGC and IC objects are from the NGC/IC project and those for other objects are from the ASNSW's presentation of catalogues revised and summarised by Mati Morel. The Digitised Sky Survey images have been downloaded from the Space Telescope Science Institute's web site and are 10'x10' unless the object is larger than this.
SG = Steve Gottlieb (18" observations from Magellan observatory, Australia, 30" from Coonabarrabran, Australia
MJ= Mark Johnson
PK= Patrick Kavanagh (observations from Strangways, Victoria, Australia unless otherwise noted - mag 6.5 skies)
| Object | Charts | Notes | Links |
| NGC 330 Open Cluster | SG/PK SG 18" (7/6/02): this is one of the brightest SMC clusters and a fascinating object at 228x. It appears as a bright, extremely rich knot of stars, just 1'- 1.5' diameter, which was only partially resolved. Streaming out from the dense core are numerous mag 12 and fainter stars, some arranged in a curving chain off the following side of the core. The bright outliers seem scattered about to at least 5'. Located 20' SW of the remarkable HII region N346 within a rich star field! PK (16") 4/11/10 175X Larger than Lindsay 56 but smaller than the core of NGC 346, this is a very beautiful little pack of stars, very bright in the centre with a distinct N-S s- curve of brightness and resolvable stars giving an appearance akin to an open spiral galaxy. Perhaps about 2’x1’. Enhanced by UHC filter, but not to the extent that NGC 346 is.
| Cepheid variables in NGC330 in PhD thesis
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| Object | Charts | Notes | Links |
| NGC 376 Open Cluster | SG/PK SG 18" (7/11/05): moderately bright, small, round, 30" diameter, a few individual stars are clumps are resolved. A 10' string of stars passing ~4' north and angles towards the NE. N419 follows by 20'. Observations through thin clouds. PK 16" 175X A small quite bright cluster of resolvable stars forming a narrow triangle (base to east, apex west) against an E-W oval haze. Very few field stars.
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| Object | Charts | Notes | Links |
| NGC 416 Open Cluster | SG/PK SG 18" (17/10/05) 18" (7/10/05 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 228x, this SMC cluster appeared fairly bright, moderately large, round, 1.2' diameter. A mag 13 star lies 1' N. Located in a rich faint star field. Located 31' N of N419 and 27' SE of N371. PK 16" 175x Round haze, very faint with no resolvable stars 2’ dia
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| Object | Charts | Notes | Links |
| NGC 419 Open cluster | SG/PK SG 30" (11/6/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): very bright, large, impressive, large bright core, fainter halo, 2' diameter. Mottled and lively but not resolved. A mag 9 star lies 8' S and a mag 7 star lies 9' SE. PK 16"175X A very round regular disc of luminosity, concentrated in the centre and gently fading out to a broad halo. Significantly larger than NGC 376. No resolvable stars. To the south of NGC 419 are 2 pairs of stars, each pair comprising a bright and fainter star, the westernmost pair is fainter than the easternmost pair. Following a line from NGC 419 through the fainter star of the western pair brings me to IC 1644
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| Object | Charts | Notes | Links |
| IC 1611 Open Cluster | SG/PK SG 30" (11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): IC 1611, IC 1612 and Kron 22 are a trio of clusters just 10' SE of N346, the best emission nebula in the SMC and the general field is striking. IC 1611 is fairly bright, irregular shape, elongated SW to NE, ~1 diameter. A couple of very faint stars are resolved at the edges, though this object appears to be primarily an emission nebula. Two mag 12 stars lie 1' NNE and 1' ENE. IC 1612 is 2.4' SSE and Kron 22 4' SE. PK 16"175X Another bright but small knot of luminosity, this is somewhat larger than Lindsay 56 but smaller and fainter than NGC 330. It forms a triangle with 2 other small fainter discs of light. The first ( to the southwest and is larger and fainter than IC 1611 and the smallest of the 3 is further to the south. IC 1611 remains distinct with UHC filter, but the other two areas dim markedly.
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