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2
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- “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.
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- 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.
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- Rich area of the Milky Way dense with stars and nebula
- Excellent viewing with binoculars or RFT
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- 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 ˝ degree southwest of M35
- NGC 2158 is six times more distant
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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)
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- Beautiful H-alpha shot by John Gleason
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10
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- 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
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- 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
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12
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- 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
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13
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- 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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14
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15
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- 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
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- “Medusa Nebula” PK 205+14.1
- Find cluster NGC 2395 and then move SE about ˝ 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'
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- 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
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18
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