Constellation of the Month: June
Serpens (The Serpent) - Serpens Cauda & Serpens Caput

by: John Mirtle.
Page last updated: May 3, 2004

Contents
Small Scope Objects    Big Scope Objects    Challenge Objects    Maps    Photos

Small Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  M5!
(NGC 5904)		 15hr 18.6m +02° 05' A bright globular cluster, 17.4 arc minutes in size. Mag. 5.8, should be naked eye under good skies. Partial resolution with a 6" scope at high power, full resolution to the core with large scopes. (Serpens Caput)
  NGC 5921 15hr 22m +05° 04' A mag. 10.8 barred spiral galaxy, a few degrees N. E. of M5. 4.9' x 4.2' arc minutes in size, with a bright nucleus. (Serpens Caput)
  M16
(NGC 6611)		 18hr 18.6m -13° 58' The "Eagle Nebula" - an emission nebula with an embedded open cluster. The open cluster contains 60 stars, magnitude 8 and fainter, covering 25 arc minutes. The associated nebula is more elusive, use a nebula filter. (Serpens Cauda)
  H 19
(NGC 6604)		 18hr 18m -12° 14' A compact open cluster, 5 arc minutes in size. Located 1/2° N.W. of M16. 40 stars, mag. 12 and fainter. (Serpens Cauda)
  IC 4756 18hr 39m +05° 29' A large, bright open cluster, 70 arc minutes in size. Consists of 80 stars, mag. 7 and fainter for a total integrated magnitude of 6.0. Should be easily visible in binoculars. (Serpens Cauda)
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Big Scope Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  NGC 6118 16hr 22m -02° 17' A mag. 12.3 SBb spiral galaxy. 4.7 x 2.3 arc minutes in size, may be visible in a 6" scope under good skies. (Serpens Caput)
  NGC 5953 and
NGC 5954		 15hr 35m +15° 12' A faint pair of galaxies, almost in contact. Mags 13.1 and 13.6. Sizes are 2' x 1.7' and 1.3' x 0.7'. (Serpens Caput)
  NGC 6535 18hr 04m -00° 18' A faint, compact globular cluster only 3.6 arc minutes in size. Magnitude 10.6. (Serpens Cauda)
  NGC 6539 18hr 05m -07° 35' Another faint globular, larger and brighter than NGC 6535. Mag. 9.6, 6.9 arc minutes in diameter. (Serpens Cauda)
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Challenge Objects:

Name R.A. Decl. Details
  Palomar 5 15hr 16m -01° 07' A difficult class 12 globular cluster. Mag. 11.7, 6.9 arc minutes in diameter. Very low surface brightness. Use good skies, a big scope, bottled oxygen, viewing hood and parabolic steroids. 3° south of M5. (Serpens Caput)
  NGC 6027 Group
(Seyfert's Sextet)		 15hr 59m +20° 45' "Seyfert's Sextet" - a challenging group of 14th and 15th magnitude galaxies. NGC 6027 is 0.4 x 0.2 arc minutes in size. The whole grouping fits in an area only 2.2 x 1.2 arc minutes. Attempt only if Palomar 5 is easy! (Serpens Caput)
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Constellation Maps:

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Lines No Lines Reverse Reverse No Lines No Map

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Photos:


 
Photo 1
South is at top to match the view in an inverting telescope.
Photo credit: John Mirtle.
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