U 319
07:12 to 07:44
-17° to -28°
CMa, Pup

A RICH PORTION OF MILKY WAY crosses this map, which shows almost equal portions of Canis Major and Puppis.

FEATURED OBJECTS: NGC 2352, NGC 2354, NGC 2358, Haff 5, ESO559-SC002, NGC 2362, Ru 150, Ru 15, NGC 2367, Ru 16, Ru 17, Ru 18, NGC 2383, NGC 2384, Ru 19, Trumpler 6, Trumpler 7, Sanduleak 3-5, ESO559-SC013, Mayer 3, Ru 23, ESO492-SC017, Boch 5, NGC 2409, Boch 6, Ru 40, Haff 11, Gum 7, NGC 2421, Ru 25, Cz 31, Ru 27, ESO493-SC003, NGC 2432, Ru 29, NGC 2440.

NGC 2352

RA 07:13:36
Dec -24°06.0'

H VII-015: "a small cluster of pretty compressed stars, not very rich."

RNGC: nonexistent object; NOCL S.

NGC 2354
Cr 131
RA 07:14:17
Dec -25°43.0'
Open cluster

H VII-016: "a cluster of scattered stars, considerably rich, 20' diameter."

Listed by the Herschel Club, described as “very large cluster, dim and scattered, roughly circular in shape, does not stand out well. 6-inch, 48x.”

Tom Lorenzin: “7M; 25' diameter; 60-plus faint members; large, open mass of stars in a crowded area at the base of the Great Dog's tail.”

Donald J. Ware:”Relatively large, this open cluster is about 15-20' in diameter, round, and composed of relatively bright stars and a sprinkling of fainter stars. The center seems empty, with very few stars.”

Steve Coe, using a 17.5” f/4.5, notes: “Bright, large, not compressed at 100X. 40 * in Milky Way field, several dark lanes in group with nice chains of stars. Just seen in 10X50 binoculars.”

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: Using 52x, this is a neat but very faint object. It is a very large scattered cluster of exquisitively small stars, forming a large roughly round patch of small light-points with a few larger stars thrown in. Not at all separated from the background, and careless viewing renders it invisible. (suburban skies) [AS]

10-inch f/5 Newtonian: A 10-inch f/5 at 30x shows it as a most faint cluster, with maybe four or five brighter members (9-10th mag) but the majority are extremely faint. At this low power they almost merge together into a nebulous mass, lying on the verge of resolvability. Applying the slightest averted vision, it appears as a textured patch sown with many, many faint stars. At 120x it appears less well-defined, less well-separated from the background than the 30x eyepiece shows, but it also appears more irregular, since more individual stars are seen, with even fainter ones remaining. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 2358

RA 07:16:47
Dec -17°03.0'

H VIII-045: "a coarsely scattered cluster of stars, not rich."

RNGC: nonexistent object - NOCL S.

Haff 5
ESO492-SC008
RA 07:18:02
Dec -22°39.7'
Open cluster

ESO559-SC002

RA 07:18:05
Dec -18°35.7'
Open cluster

NGC 2362
Tau Canis Majoris Cluster
Mel 65, Cr 136, Rb 52
RA 07:18:47
Dec -24°56.0'
Open cluster

H VII-017: "a very beautiful cluster of pretty large stars, very rich. Contains the 30 Canis."

h: "a fine cluster of discrete stars, 60 or 70 in number. R, gbM, 8' diameter."

Hartung notes: "This most beautiful cluster contains about forty stars grouped around the very bright white 30 CMa which is set like a jewel in their midst. Near it are two companions (10.0, 8 arcsec, pa 90 deg; 11.2, 14 arcsec, 78 deg) forming an elegant triplet, both of which 7.5cm will show with close attention. The cluster is irregularly round and makes a charming telescopic object."

Burnham calls it as "unusually attractive and interesting cluster of stars surrounding the 4th magnitude Tau or 30 CMa ... In very small telescopes the object may at first present the appearance of a nebulosity about the star, but any good 2-inch telescope should resolve it easily into a rich little cluster of some 40 stars. The apparent diameter is about 6' and the magnitudes of the members range from 7.5 to about 13.

Listed by the Herschel Club, described as “a very pretty cluster, resembles a temple, look closely, some 40 stars counted, large and bright star in centre. 6-inch, 48x.”

Tom Lorenzin: “4M; 6' extent; 50-plus 5M and dimmer members; STRIKING! center blue star = 4M Tau CMA”

Donald J. Ware:”A small but very pretty open cluster surrounding the star Tau CMa. It is about 6' in diameter, compact, and well concentrated. I counted about 40 stars with most of them being moderate in brightness.”

Steve Coe, using a 17.5” f/4.5, notes: “pretty bright, pretty large, somewhat compressed, round at 165X. Tau CMA and about 45 stars. Tau has dark band around it, then cluster members. Tau has two companions that form almost a straight line. Tau is white, the two comes are bluish and both are on one side of Tau. Having a bright triple star in the center of a cluster is quite unique and I return to this object often.”

2-inch f/9 refractor: In hand-held 7x50 binoculars, the cluster is quite challenging, but a two-inch refractor gives a most pleasant and surprising view. If you look directly at Tau, you only see it and two or so other stars, but with the slightest averted vision, the bright cluster jumps into view as a sparkling mass, with Tau offset from the middle. (suburban skies) [AS]

10-inch f/5 Newtonian: 10-inch f/5 at 30x shows this really interesting object; if you stare directly at Tau, you see about 12 stars arranged in a rectangular shape; the slightest averted vision and the empty black space between these stars suddenly fills in with fainter members. Overall the cluster forms a roughly triangular grouping. (suburban skies) [AS]

Ru 150
ESO427-SC031, ESO559-SC004
RA 07:19:32
Dec -19°37.5'
Open cluster

Ru 15

RA 07:19:42
Dec -19°39.0'
Open cluster

NGC 2367
Cr 137
RA 07:20:06
Dec -21°55.0'
Open cluster

H VIII-027: "a small cluster of scattered stars, not rich, nor very compressed."

Ru 16
ESO559-SC007
RA 07:23:08
Dec -19°28.2'
Open cluster

The SAC 4.0 database comments: "Asterism?"

Ru 17
ESO492-SC011
RA 07:23:35
Dec -23°11.3'
Open cluster

Ru 18
ESO492-SC013
RA 07:24:39
Dec -26°11.8'
Open cluster

NGC 2383
Cr 141
RA 07:24:42
Dec -20°55.0'
Open cluster

h: "cluster, irregularly round, pm compressed, 6'. Stars of mixed magnitudes." The second record reads: "cluster, 7th class, pretty compressed, 4' or 5' in extent. Stars 12th mag. ."

Tom Lorenzin: “8.5M; 4' diameter; 50-plus 12M and dimmer members; very small and compressed group”

Steve Coe, using a 17.5” f/4.5, notes: “not much at any power, faint brightening, small nebulous spot at 100X.”

NGC 2384
Cr 142, Cr 143
RA 07:24:59
Dec -21°01.0'
Open cluster

h: "a cluster composed to two groups of bright stars separated in RA by a dark interval. Chief star of preceding group taken." On a second occassion he called it "Place of a double star, chief of a cluster 8th class."

Hartung writes: "In this glorious region, spangled thickly with stars in bright knots on a profuse background, this is the southfollowing of two clusters about 7' apart, each about 4' across. A fine orange star (8.0 9.5 6 arcsec 211 deg) is northfollowing and even small apertures will show something of these features."

Ru 19
ESO559-SC010
RA 07:25:51
Dec -21°34.5'
Open cluster

Trumpler 6
ESO492-SC015, Cr 145
RA 07:26:24
Dec -24°12.4'
Open cluster

Trumpler (Lick Obs Bul, Vol 14, No. 420) gives the diameter as 5.5' and the class as 1 2 p. He notes: “Found on Bd.Atl. pl10. Pretty well defined clustering of faint stars, not rich, but regular in structure and outline.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty faint, pretty large, somewhat rich, somewhat compressed. 16 stars and a fuzzy backround at 100X.”

10-inch f/5 Newtonian: A 10-inch f/5 shows this as a very small collection of at most 10 very faint stars. 30x shows only a small nebulous patch with a brighter, 9th mag, star in the northwest. (suburban skies) [AS]

Trumpler 7
ESO492-SC016, Cr 146
RA 07:27:21
Dec -23°56.4'
Open cluster

Trumpler (Lick Obs Bul, Vol 14, No. 420) gives the diameter as 5.5' and the class as 2 3 p. He notes: “Mentioned by Barnard (Bd.Atl. pl10). Well defined dense clustering of 20-30 stars 10-15th mag, slightly irregular.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty faint, pretty small, not rich, somewhat compressed, 17 stars counted at 135X.”

10-inch f/5 Newtonian: This small cluster can be seen whilst sweeping with a 10-inch f/5 at 30x as a nebulous patch. It has two 9th mag stars on its northern border, and the rest of the cluster seems to extend away to the south and east of these. At 30x it appears poor, consisting of faint members. 120x shows an additional three small stars between the two 9th mag stars, and the south-eastern extension is seen as a straight line of four or five stars. Counting the considerably faint stars, I would geustimate the cluster has 15 members. (suburban skies) [AS]

Sanduleak 3-5
ESO559-PN012
RA 07:28:26
Dec -17°57.7'
Planetary nebula

ESO559-SC013

RA 07:28:42
Dec -20°49.5'
Open cluster

Mayer 3

RA 07:29:22
Dec -18°31.0'
Open cluster

Ru 23

RA 07:30:22
Dec -23°19.0'
Open cluster

ESO492-SC017
OCL 632
RA 07:30:41
Dec -23°22.6'
Open cluster

Boch 5

RA 07:30:59
Dec -17°04.0'
Open cluster

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “7 stars counted at 100X. This small asterism has one orange star and 6 white stars in a horseshoe shape.”

NGC 2409

RA 07:31:35
Dec -17°11.0'

h: "a small but brilliant group of 6 or 8 large stars, 8, 9 and 10th mag, within a very small compass."

RNGC: nonexistent object - NOCL S.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty faint, small, 8 stars counted at 135X. There are two pretty bright stars, approximately 9th mag and 6 other stars of mags 11 to 13 in this small asterism.”

Boch 6

RA 07:31:58
Dec -19°26.0'
Open cluster

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “15 stars of mags 11 and less counted at 135X.”

Ru 40
ESO559-SC017
RA 07:33:27
Dec -20°31.1'
Open cluster

Haff 11
ESO429-SC003
RA 07:35:24
Dec -27°42.6'
Open cluster

Gum 7
ESO560-*N001, RCW 12, Mink I-5
RA 07:35:33
Dec -18°45.6'
Bright nebula

NGC 2421
Mel 67, Cr 151, Rb 54
RA 07:36:16
Dec -20°36.0'
Open cluster

H VII-067: "a cluster of compressed stars, considerably rich."

h: "a large fine rich cluster, not much compressed, but nearly filling the field. Stars 11..13th mag, no conspicuous star, place that of a coarse double stars 11th mag."

Listed by the Herschel Club, described as “some 50 stars counted, large, fairly rich, stars of similar magnitude, no definite shape. 8-inch, 48x.”

Tom Lorenzin: “9M; 8' diameter; compact and rich; 60-plus 11 thru 13M members.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty bright, pretty large, pretty rich, somewhat compressed, 28 stars of mags 11 and dimmer counted at 135X.”

Ru 25
ESO493-SC001
RA 07:36:46
Dec -23°23.3'
Open cluster

Cz 31
ESO560-SC003
RA 07:36:58
Dec -20°31.6'
Open cluster

Ru 27
ESO493-SC002
RA 07:37:34
Dec -26°30.0'
Open cluster

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Faint, pretty large, elongated 2X1 PA 90, 14 stars of mags 12 and less counted at 100X.”

ESO493-SC003

RA 07:39:44
Dec -27°17.6'
Open cluster

NGC 2432
Mel 73, Cr 157, Rb 60
RA 07:40:53
Dec -19°04.0'
Open cluster

H VI-036: "a very compressed cluster of stars and some large stars, E nearly in meridian. The most compressed part is about 8' long and 2' broad with many scattered to a considerably distance."

h: "a rather irregular cluster of 8th class, pretty much compressed. The most compressed part forms a ridge or body of stars elongated in the meridian. Stars 12..15th mag with larger outliers."

Tom Lorenzin: “10.5M; 7' diameter; small and sparse; 30-plus faint members”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty bright, pretty large, somewhat compressed, 26 stars counted at 135X. This cluster is much elongated (3X1) in PA 0. Averted vision will add in many faint stars within the cluster region.”

AJ Crayon, using an 8” f6 Newtonain, notes: “It is 10' has 5 stars of 10m arcing 10' west, 6 stars of 11m trailing north out of a 5' center and 10 stars of 12m in 3' area at 100X. This is a real nice open cluster, don't miss it. “

Ru 29
ESO493-SC004
RA 07:41:18
Dec -24°21.1'
Open cluster

NGC 2440
ESO560-PN009, PK234+02.01
RA 07:41:53
Dec -18°46.8'
Planetary nebula

H IV-064: "a beautiful planetary nebula, of a considerably degree of brightness; not very well defined, about 12 or 15 arcseconds diameter."

h: "an object which, owing to general bad definition to-night, and not being able to follow beyond its transit (being north of zenith), I could not perfectly make out. Certainly not a star; but if a planetary nebula, it is one of the less sharply defined ones."

In the 5th edition of Webb's Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes it is described as "planetary nebula, bright, pale bluish white. At 64x, like a dull 8th mag star; with more power, small, brilliant, undefined, surrounded with a little very faint haziness. In a glorious neighbourhood. E. of Rosse, a red star 9-10th mag following."

Listed by the Herschel Club, described as “stands out well, greenish tint, circular, found easily. 8-inch, 48x.”

William P. Clarke (San Diego, California, USA) writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 11, January 1993: "Looks like a small spiral galaxy at low power. Two elongated 'nuclei' are evident; these are parallel and extended in PA 60 degrees. Two smaller condensations appear at each end. The outer envelope is much fainter and is about 1' long, extending SW-NE. A small star lies at the NE end. Very high contrast with OIII filter; much dimmer with H-beta. (21-inch f/20, x350)"

Tom Lorenzin: “11.5M; 20" diameter core with 50" diameter outer envelope; tiny li'l thang!”

Donald J. Ware: “This planetary nebula appears as an out of focus star, about 20" in diameter, with a bright center fading to the edges. No central star was seen in this blue-green nebula.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Bright, pretty large, much brighter in the middle, elongated 3X1 in PA 30 at 270X. The central star will become stellar in moments of good seeing but most of the time it is just a bright area in the center of this planetary. Averted vision will about double the size of the nebula. It was immediately recognized as non-stellar at 100X. This nebula is a nice lime green at all powers. Sentinel 13" 8/10--100X, found easily, pretty bright, pretty large, elongated 1.5 X 1 in PA 45, 220X--pretty suddenly much brighter middle, edges fuzzy, not well defined central bright spot is never stellar. 330X--amazing detail in bright central section, looks turbulent, several bright areas interconnected, averted vision makes it elongate.”

Terzian Y (1980) Q.J. R.astr.Soc vol 21, p82-92 [09.16.1] notes that this planetary shows multiple shell structure. He notes that the inner core is expanding faster than the outer halo by a velocity difference of a factor of about 2. Different shell ejections separated in time by about 10 000 years is a possibility. Minkowski has said for NGC 2440 'it is an example of an object so complicated it defies description'. " Terzian notes that it is considered to be a proto-planetary or very young planetary nebula. It is an infrared source, indicating the presence of dust in the envelope.