Binocular/Small Telescope: M3 & M13 (Hercules Globular Cluster)
Large Telescope: M20 (Trifid Nebula) & M21 (Webb’s Cross)
Astrophotography: NGC 4565 (Needle Galaxy) & M63 (Sunflower Galaxy)
Double Stars: ν Draconis (Nu Draconis or Kuma) & ε Lyrae (Epsilon Lyrae or the Double Double)
Variable Stars: η Aquilae (AAVSO: eta Aql) , χ Cygni (AAVSO: khi Cyg), R Lyrae (AAVSO: R Lyr)
Resources:
- FBAC is a member of the Astronomical League which provides many different Observing Programs. These programs are designed to provide a direction for your observations and to provide a goal. The programs have certificates and pins to recognize the observers’ accomplishments and for demonstrating their observing skills with a variety of instruments and objects. Even if you aren’t actively working on an observing program, the Astronomical League has a number of resources and tools to guide you in making observations: https://www.astroleague.org/observing-program-division/.
- The AAVSO (American Association of Variable Star Observers) has a number of resources and tools to help variable star observers. Here’s a link to some beginner tutorials: https://www.aavso.org/tutorials. A number of FBAC members are also members of the AAVSO and can help guide you in making variable star observations.
Image:
- Hubble’s composite image of the core of this star cluster–Messier 13, the Great Hercules Cluster–was created using observations taken between 1999 and 2006 in both visible and infrared wavelengths.
- NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: C. Bailyn (Yale University), W. Lewin (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), A. Sarajedini (University of Florida), and W. van Altena (Yale University)
