SPACE JOCKEY

Located between the constellations of Leo and Bootes lies the ambiguous Coma Berenices. Made up of three stars that all shine at magnitude 4: α Com, β Com and γ Com, it is a faint constellation and especially so under skies saturated with light pollution.  However, while Coma Berenices may seem to be an uncomplicated and uninteresting constellation it is in fact a treasure trove of deep sky objects just waiting to be found.

It was here early on Friday morning (06.02.09) that I concentrated my hunt for two Messier objects: the globular cluster M53 and The Black Eye Galaxy M64. With the waxing gibbous Moon hanging over the north western horizon, conditions were less than cooperative. That’s not to say that the actual sky conditions were bad, on the contrary the seeing was excellent and transparency was the best I’ve seen for a few weeks, but with the setting Moon casting it’s achromatic light, deep sky observing was made all the harder.

Finding Coma Berenices was the hardest part of this observing session, but once I did it was all pretty straightforward from there on in. Aiming the 25×100s on α Com I was surprised to find that M53 (just sitting north west of the star) was clearly visible as a dense, vivid smudge against the washed out sky. I spent around fifteen minutes studying this condensed globular which was (in my opinion) far superior to the view that M92 offered a few mornings earlier. Averted vision yielded little more detail than I could already make out, perhaps because of the Moon light or perhaps because they’re was no more detail to be had. Either way, I’m looking forward to returning to this globular in darker conditions to carry out an extended observation of it.

The Black Eye Galaxy or M64 as it is better known was the next object on the agenda, but considering the conditions I was less than optimistic about grabbing a successful observation. I made a try for it regardless, but as I predicted this was one galaxy that was just out of reach, at least for the moment. Leaving M64 behind for another time I took the opportunity to take in another view of M13 in Hercules - even under a Moon lit sky this mighty globular cluster still delivers a truly fabulous sight. It really is quite something else to realise that you are gazing upon several thousand (possibly millions) of stars lying over 25,100 light years away. If that doesn’t make you dizzy with awe, I don’t know what will! With the time hitting 03:15 UT I decided to call time on my session - just as well really, as a vast bank of cirrocumulus slowly began to consume the sky as it drifted south eastwards. I’ll return to M53 and M64 later in the month (weather allowing) when the Moon rises later; I’ll also be on the lookout for the open cluster M39 in Cygnus so watch this space!