NGC 6802: Open Star Cluster (Vulpecula) RA: 19h 30.6m / DEC: +20° 16'.0 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
Vulpecula, the fox, quietly stalks the summer sky. Huddled between Cygnus and Aquila, this nondescript constellation is easy to miss. But the celestial treasure within his confines are not to be overlooked. NGC 6802 is a small, rich open star cluster in southern Vulpecula, just across the border from Sagitta. In fact, the closest bright star is 4.4 magnitude Alpha (5) Sagittae, 3.2 degrees to the southeast. The sketch at left presents NGC 6802 as viewed in the 10-inch Starfinder equatorial at 148X (Celestron 23-mm w/ 3X Barlow). The cluster is centered. A tangle of about fifteen 12th to 14th magnitude stars runs north-south through the heart of NGC 6802. The glow of tens of unresolved stars provides the backdrop. This gives the cluster an odd 3'x1'.5 profile in the Starfinder. An 11th magnitude GSC star is visible 3' due north of the cluster. A close pair of 9th magnitude stars shine 6' to the northwest. Six arc minutes to the northeast, a pair of 11th magnitude stars is seen. Another 18 field stars complete the view. |
Home | About Cosmic Voyage | Getting Started | Deep-sky Observing | Planetary Observing | Astrophotography | Sketching | Glossary | Web Links
URL: http://www.cosmicvoyage.net
Layout, design & revisions © W. D. Ferris
Comments and Suggestions: wdferris1@gmail.com
Revised: October 7, 2002 [WDF]