1	Night Sky : Gemini SMAS March 04 Meeting
2	Legend of Gemini “Twins” concept dates back 6,000 years to India and the “Twin Horsemen of the Dawn” (Spring equinox). Ancient Romans referred to this constellation as the "Twin Brethren" and associated it with the principle of brotherhood. Best known legend is from Greek mythology. Recall Cygnus and the story of Zeus and Leda where Zeus disguised himself as a beautiful swan in order to seduce her. From that union was born Helen of Troy and Pollux. Castor was the mortal son of Leda's husband, Tyndareus, King of Sparta.
3	Legend of Gemini Castor and Pollux were also Argonauts, being among the crew who sailed with Jason in the Quest for the Golden Fleece. During the voyage a storm abated when two stars appeared above the heads of Castor and Pollux – hence, since considered protectors of sailors. Apostle Paul sailed from the Isle of Melita during his journey to Rome on a ship adorned with Castor and Pollux figureheads. The twins slew Idas and Lynceus in battle for the daughters of Leudippus – Castor was mortally wounded. Pollux was so distraught that Zeus placed them together in the sky as symbols of brotherly love.
4	M35 and Surrounding Region Rich area of the Milky Way dense with stars and nebula Excellent viewing with binoculars or RFT
5	M35 Large cluster – one of the finest Size: 28.0' Mag: 5.1 Brightest star: 8.2 Number of stars: 200 Superb binocular object Look for NGC 2158 ½ degree southwest of M35 NGC 2158 is six times more distant
6	NGC 2129 Open cluster about 2° west of M35 Size: 7.0' Mag: 6.7 Brightest star: 7.4 Number of stars: 40 Try using 100x under a dark sky to glimpse the fainter members
7	NGC 2175 Cluster and associated nebula located in Orion (neighborhood of M35) Size: 18.0' Mag: 6.8 Brightest star: 7.6 Number of stars: 60 Try UHC filter in RFT and 8-inch or larger scopes
8	IC 443 Also know as the Jellyfish Nebula Use larger scopes and an O-III filter to observe the brighter NE edge under a very dark sky Supernova remnant Distance: 5,000 ly Estimated age: 35,000 years Contains a neutron star (Chandra and VLA data)
9	IC 443 and Hydrogen Clouds Beautiful H-alpha shot by John Gleason
10	NGC 2266 Compact, dense open cluster Size: 7.0' Mag: 9.5 Brightest star: 11.0 Number of stars: 50 Nice view with 8-inch and larger scopes under a dark sky Look for star chains
11	NGC 2371-2 Double-lobed planetary nebula Size: 1.2' x 0.9' Mag: 13.0 Central star: 14.8 Use up to 200x with larger aperture scopes O-III enhances contrast Observed at TAO in 12.5-inch
12	NGC 2420 Another compact, dense open cluster Size: 10.0' Mag: 8.3 Brightest star: 11.1 Number of stars: 100 Almost globular appearance due to background haze of faint stars
13	NGC 2392 Eskimo Nebula Bright planetary, excellent object for all scopes Size: 47.0" x 43.0" Mag: 8.6 Central star: 10.6 Central star easily visible O-III filter not necessary Use higher powers to resolve shell structure if seeing allows
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15	NGC 2355-6 YACDOC (Yet another compact, dense open cluster) Size: 9.0' Mag: 9.7 Brightest star: 13.0 Number of stars: 40 Needs a larger scope for impact, but seemingly easy to find
16	Challenging Objects “Medusa Nebula” PK 205+14.1 Find cluster NGC 2395 and then move SE about ½ degree Observed at TAO with wide-field EP and O-III filter in 12.5-inch Mag: 14.1 Size: 10.0' x 6.0'
17	Challenging Objects NGC 2339 Spiral Galaxy Magnitude: 12.5 Surface brightness: 13.1 mag/sq arcmin Size: 2.7' x 2.0' Larger scope and dark sky obviously required
18	Double Stars in Gemini