Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 43

CANIS MINOR
α
cin
g
5
°
M48
b
i
Denebola
LEO
Regulus
Mars
n
γ
Sickle
Moon
May 5
o
Alphard
c
ν
µ
u
7h
SEXTANS
ing
l
C
Fac
a
T
I
r
L I
P
α
v
O
R
i
2
E
CRATER
e
δ
α
β
w
CORVUS
γ
δ
β
ε
α
M3
BOÖTES
CVn
γ
β
COMA
BERENICES
M64
M85
M53
α
M100
M91
Binocular Highlight by Mathew Wedel
Comparing Clusters
Close to Coma
F
β
α
CANES
VENAT ICI
γ
COMA
BERENICES
+20°
Virgo
Galaxy
Cluster
γ
η
or a small constellation with no stars brighter
than 4th magnitude, Coma Berenices, or
Berenice's Hair, has a lot to offer: one of the finest
nearby open clusters (see S&T: Apr. 2019, p. 43);
galaxies galore in the Coma-Virgo Cluster; and an
easy-to-find globular cluster, Messier 53. First locate
4.3-magnitude Alpha (α) Comae Berenices, the star
also known by the beautiful name of Diadem. Almost
exactly 1° to the northeast you should spot 8th-magnitude
M53 as a round, fuzzy glow. Like all globular
clusters, it's just a blob of fluff, even in my 15×70
binos. As usual with such objects, the romance is in
the mind: taking in the combined light of hundreds
of thousands of stars that shine back at us across a
distance of 58,000 light-years from the diffuse galactic
halo of the Milky Way.
One of my favorite observing pastimes is compar-20°
ing
objects in the sky. Messier 3 is another glob in
the same neighborhood that's often mentioned in
the same breath as M53 (turn to page 54 for more on
this cluster). M3 is over the border in Canes Venatici,
the Hunting Dogs, but it's an easy star-hop from
Coma Berenices. Draw a line from Gamma (γ) Comae
Berenices, past Beta (β), and onward a little less than
7° to the east, where M3 gleams at 6th magnitude.
M3 and M53 are similar in intrinsic brightness, but
WHEN TO
3h
g Sou
USE THE MAP
Late March 2 a.m.*
Early April 1 a.m.*
Late April Midnight*
Early May 11 p.m.*
Late May Nightfall
*Daylight-saving time
M3 is only about half as far away from us, at 33,000
light-years. So the difference in brightness between
the two clusters is mostly a function of their differing
distances, and by comparing them we can start to get
a feel for the grand scale of the galaxy. Now that's a
view worth seeking out.
¢ MATT WEDEL is obsessed with exploring the Milky
Way Galaxy, starting with the mountains and deserts
of southern California from which he observes.
sk yand tele scope .o r g * MAY 2022 43
M88
URSA
MAJOR
Big
Dipper
α
δ
ο
+80°
Polaris
α
+80°
CAS
+60°
1h
gnic
Q
U
A
T
E C
ANTL IA
µ
β
ι
ε
δ
aF
AURIGA
Capella
α
M38
M36
caF
LYNX
gni
W
N
β
F
a
β
LEO
MINOR
α
α
M44
M67
CANCER
Procyon
W
e
st
Moon
May 8
HYDRA
S
W
10h
th
4h
γ
µ
Pollux
α
GEMINI
M35
CAMELOPARDALIS
PERSEUS
Castor
M37
M81
M82
α
γ
Double
Cluster
β
δ
ε
ξ
β
θ
γ
δ
β
α
α
ε
ζ
α
ε
γ

Sky & Telescope - May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky & Telescope - May 2022

Contents
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - Cover1
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - Cover2
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 1
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - Contents
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 3
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 4
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 5
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 6
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 7
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 8
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Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 10
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 11
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Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - 84
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - Cover3
Sky & Telescope - May 2022 - Cover4
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