NGC6939/6946 in small aperture

Yesterday I looked at this open cluster and its ghost, a face-on galaxy in the same low power FOV, on the border between Cepheus and Cygnus. I started to see traces of faint stars in the cluster at 22x, and could resolve about ten stars in the cluster at 127x. I didn't see the galaxy as such, but I could tell that the sky colour was not as black between the two mag 10 stars where the galaxy is supposed to be, as it was black elsewhere. With this approach, it was hard to estimate the size.

A few days earlier I went outside with a 10x50 binocular for a quick look, and I think I saw them both. The binocluar was hand-held and shaking, and this, together with the low power, made it a little easier.

Anyone looked at this pair with small aperture lately?

Dmitri

Dmitri,
I don't have a small scope, but I have observed the objects many times. Generally it is a bad idea to start the session with such faint objects - they require good observing conditions and dark-adapted eyes. Under suburban skies the galaxy, NGC6946, is a difficult object in an 8-inch in my experience. Good conditions, however, work wonders. The cluster is one of the best open clusters in the northern sky.
With 12.5-inches of aperture, dark conditions and transparent atmosphere this cluster/galaxy combo is a great view at low magnification. I have, however, never been able to make out the spiral structure of the galaxy.

Inge S

Tonight I grabbed the last opportunity of the year for deep sky. We had five hours of clear skies between two low pressure systems. The Moon set at half past seven, the skies cleared at 8, and I was at my dark place at nine together with my wife. While she browsed Milky Way in Auriga/Perseus/Cassiopeia for open clusters with 10x50 binocular, I looked at 6939/6946 again. The sky was fairly light near the horizon but very dark at zenith. I saw M33 with naked eye. I also swear that I saw nebulosity in Pleiades with my naked eye!

Both the open cluster and the galaxy were immediately obvious already at 11x in my finding eyepiece. The best view of the galaxy was at 22x in my new Ultima. It could still be seen clearly at 100x, and it looked mottled. I borrowed my wife's binos and they both were obvious. Now I know that I saw them in binocular from my backyard a few days ago, without being properly dark-adapted. Inge, cheapest of the cheapest 10x50 will show this pair, given a reasonably dark sky.

After that I re-visited NGC891. I do confirm that it is a difficult object in 80mm that requires a lot of patience. The galaxy is seen only rarely, and an impression builds up gradually. The best view was at 100x - a 10' long needle of light.

Soon after we had had absolutely spectacular views of M31/M32/205 we were forced to leave by dew and cold. On our way home the clouds came. A brilliant ending of a year of observing!

Dmitri