U 378
18:20 to 19:00
-28° to -39°
CrA, Sgr

FEATURED OBJECTS: Ru 140, Longmore 17, NGC 6723, NGC 6637 (M 69, Ben 112), NGC 6715 (M 54, Ben 118), NGC 6681 (M 70, Ben 115), NGC 6624 (Ben 109), NGC 6652, ESO458-PN009, IC 4776, ESO457-PN012, MCG-06-41-001.

Ru 140
ESO395-SC001
RA 18:21:50
Dec -33°12.6'
Open cluster

Longmore 17
ESO395-PN007
RA 18:27:49
Dec -37°15.9'
Planetary nebula

NGC 6723
ESO396-SC010, GCL-106, Dun 573
RA 18:59:36
Dec -36°37.9'
Globular cluster

Dunlop 573: he recorded it on 6 occassions, describing it as “a beautiful bright round nebula, about 3.5' diameter, moderately and gradually condensed to the centre. This is resolvable. The moderate condensation, and the bluish colour of the stars which compose it, give it a very soft and plesant appearance. This is rather difficult to resolve, although the condensation is not very great.”

h: “globular, B, L, R or vlE, vgbM, diam 5', perfectly resolved into stars 14..16m, with stragglers extending to 8' diam.”

Houston notes: “It is just north of the curve of stars marking the Southern Crown and in the same low-power field as 5th mag Epsilon CrA. Recently, I looked at NGC 6723 with my 4-inch refractor and estimated its total magnitude at 7 and diameter as 5.5'.

Glen Cozens calls it an “impressive cluster .. though difficult to resolve, is beautifully round and bright.”

William P. Clarke (San Diego, California, USA) writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 10, July 1992: “In same low power field as the nebulae NGC 6726-7-9. This globular cluster is large and well-resolved but only slightly brighter towards the centre. (21-inch f/20, x140).”
In (1992, Webb Society Quarterly Journal, 89, 1-7, 'A Visual Survey of the Complex Field Around R CrA & TY CrA') he writes that NGC 6723 “is a large object, with a diameter of about 11' and appears to be of roughly inform surface brightness and density except for the fading at the outer edge. Stars around the edge are resolved even at x48 using the 25-cm telescope, and resolves very well at x140 in the 53-cm. A slight elongation N.p.-S.f. is noticeable.”

Tom Lorenzin: “6M; 7' diameter; barely resolved in deep S sky; requires low horizon and excellent seeing; bright and large; looks a little irregular”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Bright, large, round, much brighter in the middle, about 30 stars resolved at the edges at 135X. There are several long chains of stars that wind their way out from the edges. This very nice southern globular was easy to spot in the 10X50 binoculars.”

11x80: Strange - no Messier number! Brightest globular on this Uranometria chart; about 7th magnitude; moderately concentrated. Close by to 5-6th mag stars. (suburban skies, moderate conditions.) [AS]

8-inch Meade, 18mm eyepiece, 36.2’ fov: Large, clear, bright, irregular round globular cluster. Very much brighter to the middle, with stars extended in outliers, and a relative bright star to the south. The cluster resembles a much smaller Omega Centauri. About 7 to 8 arc minutes in size. [MS]

NGC 6637
Bennett 112
Messier 69
ESO457-SC014
RA 18:31:23
Dec -32°21.0'
Globular cluster

This globular was discovered by Lacaille and included in his 1755 catalogue as Class I No. 11. In his half-an-inch 8x telescope he saw it as being “like a small comet nucleus.”

Messier discovered it in August of 1780, seeing at as “a nebula without star in Sagittarius... Near to it is a 9 mag star; the light is very faint; can be seen only in a good sky, and the least illumination of the micrometer wires extinguishes it... This nebula has been observed by M. de Lacaille and reported in his catalogue. It resembles the nucleus of a little comet. Diam. 2'.”

In the Philosophical Transactions, 1814, William Herschel wrote “I.51 and Connoissance des Temps [NGC 6637] are second miniatures of the 53d [NGC 5024].” In the Phil. Trans, 1818, he wrote: “1784, 20 feet telescope. Very bright, pretty large, easily resolvable, or rather an already resolved cluster of minute stars. It is a miniature of the 53d of the Connoissance des Temps.”

Dunlop 613 “a pretty bright round well-defined nebula, about 1 1/4' diameter, gradually condensed to the centre; there is a small star about 1' south of the nebula.”

h: “all clearly resolved into stars, 14-15 mag. A blaze of stars.” He recorded it as “globular, B, R, vgbM, resolved into stars 14..15m, diam 10 seconds in RA.” On a second occassion he called it “globular, pB, R, 3' diam, stars 14..15m.” His third observation was recorded as “globular, vB, R, gvmbM, 3.5', all clearly resolved into stars 14..16m. A blaze of stars.”

Burnham notes that in moderate telescopes it is a mere hazy spot, however, becoming truly impressive only in large instruments. The apparent diameter is given by various observers as 2' or 3'; it increases to about 4' on long exposure photographs.”

Hartung writes: “it is a beautiful well-resolved cluster about 2.5' across in a fine field with a bright star 4' Np, and is somewhat elliptical and moderately compressed with the outliers not widely scattered. Resolution is apparent with a 6-inch and it is an easy round haze with a 3-inch.”

Houston writes: “This 8th mag glow spans about 3'; in small telescopes it seems a bit brighter, in large ones a bit bigger.” He adds that it does not stand out well from the rich milky way field.

Stewart Moore (Fleet, Hampshire, UK), observing with a 12-inch f/5, writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 10, July 1992: “A rather poor cluster, but in a pleasing field of stars. Looked distinctly elongated east-west.”

Tom Lorenzin: “7.5M; 4' diameter; very soft and unresolved glow with brighter center; 8M star 5' NNW; not one of the more impressive M-objects, but fairly bright and easy to find”

11x80: A small, reasonably bright globular cluster, just like a slightly defocused star. Broad centre. (suburban skies, moderate conditions) [AS]

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: Observing with a 6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian at 52x, this cluster is a pB, pL, round nebulous patch. It appears quite similar to the nearby NGC 6652, since both clusters have a field star to the north-west. The companion star of NGC 6637 lies closer than that of NGC 6652. (suburban skies) [AS]

12-inch Meade, 40mm eyepiece, 53’ fov: “Small globular cluster brighter towards the middle, resembles a glimpse of a halo and somewhat elliptical shape. Compressed globular in a medium starfield. A whitish star visible a small distance from this globular in the field.” (suburban skies, fair sky conditions) [MS]

NGC 6715
Bennett 118
Messier 54, GCL-104
RA 18:55:05
Dec -30°29.0'
Globular cluster

Discovered by Messier in July 1778, he called this globular a “ very bright nebula, discovered in Sagittarius.. It is bright in the centre and contains no star, seen with an achromatic telescope of 3.5 feet”.

In the Appendix to the 1912 'Scientific Papers of Sir William Herschel' this object is described as “1784, June 24. A round, resolvable nebula. Very bright in the middle and the brightness diminishing gradually, about 2.5' or 3' diameter. 240 power shews two pretty large stars in the faint part of the nebulosity, but I rather suppose them to have no connection with the nebula. I believe it to be no other than a miniature cluster of very compressed stars resembling that near the 42nd Comae [M53]. It is like that under Delta Sagittarii [I.50 = NGC 6624], but rather larger and brighter tho' not much. 1784, July 13. A cL, vB, R, nebula, mbM, and breaking off suddenly, the rest being much fainter.”

Dunlop 624 “a very beautiful nebula, with a very bright round well-defined disk or nuclei, about 15 arcseconds diameter, surrounded by a gradually decreasing light or chevelure, about 1 1/4' diameter, this is exceedingly bright immediately at the centre.”

h: “globular, B, R, gmbM, diam in RA = 9 seconds, clearly resolved with left eye.” On a second occassion he called it “globular, B, pL, vlE, gbM, 2.5' diameter, resolved into stars 15m, with a few outliers 14m.” His third observation was recorded as “vvB, R, psvmbM, to a large nipple, diam 2.5', pos of a star 13m almost involved = approx 147 degrees.” On July 16, 1836 he wrote: “Observing in equatorial [5-inch refractor] zone review; B, sbM, 90 arcseconds.”

Burnham notes that “M54 seems perfectly round, showing no evident ellipticity, and has a rather high surface brightness which permits fairly high magnification. Although quite bright and strongly compressed, this is not as easy cluster to resolve; under good conditions it may show some sign of granularity with a 10- to 12-inch aperture; smaller telescopes show only a round fuzzy spot.”

Houston notes that this cluste is about 8th mag and has a 2.7' diameter in his 4-inch refractor. He reports that KG Jones writes: “looks almost like a planetary nebula at first sight”.

Hartung notes that a 12-inch shows granularity but no real resolution.

Stewart Moore (Fleet, Hampshire, UK), observing with a 12-inch f/5, writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 10, July 1992: “Very bright and small, with a diameter of about 4'. Stands magnification well. Stars only resolved at edge of cluster. Perfectly round.”

Tom Lorenzin: “9M; 6' diameter; barely resolved round glow with very bright core; compressed and dense; 13M star SE of core.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “(M 54) Bright, pretty large, round, much, much brighter in the middle at 165X. Resolved 5 stars at 220X. It could be seen in the 11X80 finder.”

11x80: Small bright 8th mag glow, softly focussed star, but the distinguishing envelope readily seen. (suburban skies) [AS]

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: At 52x, the one-degree field is free of bright stars. The cluster is bright, and has a small bright nucleus. (suburban skies) [AS]

8-inch Meade, 18mm eyepiece, 36.2’ fov: Moderately bright, medium in size, round compressed globular cluster, with a core becomes gradually brighter. Resolved stars, with a diffuse envelope. Busy starfield. (suburban skies) [MS]

NGC 6681
Bennett 115
Messier 70
GCL-101
RA 18:43:12
Dec -32°18.0'
Globular cluster

This small globular cluster was discovered by Messier in August 1780. He described it as “a nebula without star, near the preceding [M 69] and on the same parallel. Near to it is a 9 mag. star and four small telescopic stars, almost in the same straight line, close to one another and situated below the nebula as seen in a reversing telescope. Diam. 2'.”

In the Appendix to the 1912 'Scientific Papers of Sir William Herschel' this object is described as “1784, July 13. easily resolvable, cB, pL, iR, a very faint red perceivable.”

h: “globular, B, R, gmbM, diam in RA = 7 seconds; resolved into stars 14..17m.” On a second occassion he called it “globular, B, R, gbM, resolved into stars 15m.”

The Herschels found M 70 to be a compact globular, with stars 14-17 magnitude, and a bright condensed centre. The appearance is very similar to that of M 69; on Lowell Observatory 13-inch camera plates, notes Burnham, M 70 seems slightly the fainter of the two, and also somewhat more irregular in outline, with a more granular or “clumpy” structure around the outer edges. The 9th magnitude star mentioned by Messier is 14' to the west and a little south. On the NE edge of the cluster there is also a small extending arc of stars described by K.G. Jones as “a little slightly curved 'tail' of small stars, shooting off like sparks to the NNE. These may be the stars mentioned by Messier.” This group consists of a small clump connected with the cluster, plus two brighter field stars.

Hartung finds an aperture of 6-inch necessary to resolve stars in this cluster, and goes on to describe it as a “bright round compact well-resolved cluster with outliers about 1.5' across, and lies in a fine starry field.” He notes that a 3-inch telescope shows it as an easy hazy spot.

Stewart Moore (Fleet, Hampshire, UK), observing with a 12-inch f/5, writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 10, July 1992: “Not resolved at powers up to x250. Although a featureless object it is nevertheless a pleasing cluster in an attractive field.”

Tom Lorenzin: “8M; 4' diameter; unresolved round glow with much brighter core; a rather cool lick of flame for SGR's Teapot.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “(M 70) Bright, large, round and has a very bright middle at 100X. This globular has 10 stars resolved at 220X and there is a curved band of stars within the cluster that form an arc from the core to the NW edge, in a PA of about 45 degrees. This chain of stars is brighter than the general glow of the cluster. M 70 really grows with averted vision. It is easy in the 11X80 finder.”

11x80: Similar to NGC 6637. Forms one corner of a Corvus-shaped asterism of 8-9th mag stars. (suburban skies) [AS]

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: At 52x, the one-degree field centered on this globular makes a very attractive sight. It shares the busy field with 2 straight lines of four stars, which lie to the south of the cluster. One chain, running west-east, is made up of 9th mag stars, while the second chain (lying NE-SW) consists of 10-11th mag stars. On the western edge of the field, and slightly south, lies an 8th mag double star, which has a vF companion SE. As if to break the austere linearity and add a bit of chaos, there is a third line of four stars, starting to the NE of the cluster and winding irregularly towards the cluster. This line is K.G. Jones' “sparks to the NNE.” The cluster is a really intriguing and beautiful object -- must be wonderful in the 15.5-inch. The 6-inch at 144x shows 2 small stars on the NE edge of the cluster. Is there perhaps a small star on the SE edge of the cluster, or is the cluster perhaps not evenly concentrated? (suburban skies) [AS]

8-inch Meade, 18mm eyepiece; 36.2’ fov: Medium size, considerably bright, round, compressed globular cluster, brightens to a starlike core. A few stars running out to the north to show the way to some brighter stars. About 3 to 4 arc minutes in size. [MS]

NGC 6624
Bennett 109
ESO457-SC011, GCL-93, H50
RA 18:23:42
Dec -30°21.6'
Globular cluster

Discovered in 1784 by William Herschel (H I-050) “cL R vbM milky.”

h: “globular, vB, R, psvmbM, diam in RA = 5 seconds; all clearly resolved into stars barely discernible.” On a second occassion he called it “globular, B, R, psmbM, diam 6 seconds in RA, barely resolved so as to be sure it consists of stars.” His third observation was recorded as “globular, B, R, stars first g, then psvmbM, 3.5' or 4' diameter, clearly resolved into stars 16m, a fine object.”

Tom Lorenzin: “8.5M; 3' diameter; unresolved glow with brighter center; 45' SE of 3M Delta SGR.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Bright, pretty large, much compressed and round. It has a very bright middle and is resolved into 18 stars against a grainy backround at 165X. This a nice globular that doesn't get observed often.”

11x80: Quite like NGC 6652. In a group of 9th mag stars; it shows up as one of three in a row. (suburban skies) [AS]

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: At 52x, the one-degree field is not too crowded. Two close-by 9th mag stars point to the cluster. Almost due west but slightly south of cluster is a small star, about 11th mag. The cluster is small and pretty bright. (suburban skies) [AS]

12-inch Meade, 40mm eyepiece, 53’ fov: “Very small starlike eliptical globular well distinguished in faint pin-point stars. Some mottled areas visible. The halo and core appear to be more or less the same size.” [MS]

NGC 6652
ESO395-SC011, GCL-98
RA 18:35:48
Dec -32°59.0'
Globular cluster

Dunlop 607 “a rather bright well-defined round nebula, about 12 or 14 arcseconds diameter, following a star of the 6th mag.”

h: “B, pmE in parallel, gmbM, 1' long, 35 arcseconds broad, all clearly resolved.” On a second occassion he called it “vB, S, 40 arcseconds, resolvable. Among close stars, which give it an elongated appearance, but do not seem to belong to it.” His third observation was recorded as “pB, S, lE, 90 arcseconds long, 75 arcseconds broad, stars 15m.” The final observation was recorded as “vB, pL, E, gmbM, resolved into stars rather large for the size of the neb. It is much like an oval cluster nebula, of which there are plenty in the Nubecula Major.” On July 16, 1836, he notes: “Observed in equatorial [5-inch refractor] zone review; pF, E, 1' long.”

Houston calls this a 9th mag glow only 2' across. It is easily overlooked unless one has first located M69. He adds that it does not stand out well from the rich milky way field.

Tom Lorenzin: “8.5M; 2' diameter; bright and small; unresolved glow with brighter center.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Pretty bright, pretty small, much compressed, much brighter in the middle and little elongated N-S at 220X. This globular was resolved into 8 stars and it grows with averted vision. It can just be spotted with the 11X80 finder.”

11x80: Tiny globular cluster, about 9th magnitude, shows as a hazy star in a field of large and small stars. (suburban skies) [AS]

6-inch f/8.6 Newtonian: At 52x, this cluster lies in a not too busy field -- there is an 8th mag star north-west. The cluster appears as a pB, pS, round nebulous patch. It appears quite similar to the nearby NGC 6637, since both have a star to the north-west. (suburban skies) [AS]

8-inch Meade, 18mm eyepiece; 36.2’ fov: Thinly scattered and small faint globular cluster definitely elongated with a loose gradually brighter core. Faint fringy outliers. Bright stars in the starfield surroundings. About 2 arc minutes in size. [MS]

ESO458-PN009
PK003-14.01
RA 18:55:37
Dec -32°48.5'
Planetary nebula

IC 4776
ESO396-PN002, PK002-13.01
RA 18:45:49
Dec -33°39.4'
Planetary nebula

ESO457-PN012
PK002-09.01
RA 18:29:11
Dec -31°23.9'
Planetary nebula

MCG-06-41-001

RA 18:36:07
Dec -37°57.5'
Galaxy