(IAAC) Obj: NGC457 (ET cluster, Phi Cas cluster) - Inst: 12x45 binoculars

Ante Perkovic albireo at vip.hr
Wed Aug 25 09:01:17 EDT 2004


  Observer: Ante Perkovic
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: August 12th 2003, 1.23h
Location of site: Tugare, near Split, Croatia (Lat 43.4 N, Elev 250m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5.6 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing:
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 12x45 binoculars
Magnification: 12x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): NGC457 (ET cluster, Phi Cas cluster)
Category: Open cluster
Class:
Constellation: Cas
Data: mag 6.4  size 13'
Position:
Description:
This cluster is next to star Phi Cas that doesn't belong to the cluster. 
Phi cas and a little dimmer star to the W make "eyes" of the "ET". 
Around 15' to the N are 2 stars that make the "shoes" (not part of the 
cluster). The cluster can be seen as a moderately bright round glow, 10' 
in diameter, starting from "eyes" and stretching 2/3 of the way to the 
"shoes".

Regarding "eyes" and "shoes" - those star pairs are reminiscent of parts 
of ET only in scope, binos won't show You the ET. I saw the "ET" through 
my 114mm dob before, and I easily recognised "eyes" and "shoes" in binos 
this time.




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