(IAAC) Obj: NGC457 (ET cluster, Phi Cas cluster) - Inst: 120mm KONUS refractor, f/8.33, equatorial

[Ante Perkovic]

Observation Poster: Ante Perkovic <albirejo_without_j at vip.hr>

Observer: Ante Perkovic
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: March 15th 2003
Location of site: Perkovic, near Sibenik, Croatia (Lat 43.5 N, Elev 200m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5.3 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing:
Moon presence: Major - gibbous or near object
Instrument: 120mm KONUS refractor, f/8.33, equatorial (named "Lukrica" :)
Magnification: 100x
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 definitely looks like an alien!
Two widely separated "eyes", 2 waving hands with  3 stars in each, 2 legs
and 2 shoes. In the  "abdomen", where the "hands" connect, I see 2 groups
of 3 to 4 *, each cramped in less than 1'.

Phi Cas (one of 2 eyes) is "in" the cluster that doesn't belong to it.