Epsilon Lyrae

Located at the top of Lyra this is the famous double-double. Although you'll only be able to split the group in two with binoculars. Now take a look at the other stars that make up the outline of Lyra. How many other doubles can you find?

Coathanger

Also know as Collinder 399, this distinctive group of stars lies two binocular fields below Beta Lyrae, the head of the swan.

M27 - Dumbbell Nebula

If you've managed to locate the Coathanger, look for the outline of Sagitta the arrow nearby. The Dumbbell Nebula or M27 can be found by scanning one binocular field north of the tip of the arrow.

M11

This open cluster lies in one of the densest parts of the summer milky way: the Scutum Star Cloud. You can find the "wild duck" cluster as admiral Smyth called it one binocular field west of Aquilla's beak. You should see two pairs of stars nearby.

M24

The Sagittarius star cloud is another dense portion of the milky way that, like the Scutum star cloud, is best appreciated with a pair of binoculars. On some charts it's mislabeled as the open cluster NGC 6603. M24 is in reality the star cloud surrounding NGC 6603. You can find both just below the Scutum star cloud.

M23

Just a little over one binocular field west of M24 lies this rich open cluster made up of over 120 faint stars. Although through a pair of 10x50 binoculars, you may begin to resolve them into individual stars.

M8

Better known as the lagoon nebula. The winter sky has Orion, the summer sky has the lagoon. Located one field below M23 this huge cloud of gas is bisected at one end by a dark lane or a "lagoon" if you prefer.

M25

Slew your binoculars about one field east of the M24, the Sagittarius star cloud, and you'll be rewarded with a view of this attractive little cluster.

M22

This globular cluster is almost a magnitude brighter than the well know M13. Look for a nebulous disk just one field north north-east of the top of the teapot.

M7

You'll need a clear southern horizon to view this beauty. This large cluster is located one binocular field north east of Scorpio's tail. It can be easily resolved into individual stars in just about any pair of binoculars.

M6

The "butterfly" cluster can be found just to the northwest of M6. In fact, you can probably squeeze both of them in the same field of view.

Introduction | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall | Homepage