Observing podcast: Open cluster NGC 7209, the Cocoon Nebula, and the Spare Tire Nebula
September 16-23, 2010: Open cluster NGC 7209 makes a nice target for beginning observers, while the Cocoon Nebula and the Spare Tire Nebula provide nice targets for telescope owners.
Published:
September 16, 2010
 IC 5146 is both a blue reflection nebula and a red emission nebula. Hydrogen gas envelops an open star cluster containing several 12th-magnitude stars. The Cocoon, which lies about 4,000 light-years distant, has an apparent magnitude of 7.2 and spans 12'. Find the Cocoon Nebula about 2° below and to the right of magnitude 4.5 star 81 Pi2 [p2] Cygni.
Photo by Ted Wolfe
In each episode, Michael highlights:
- One object you can see without any optical aid
- One object you can see with a small (4-inch) telescope
- One object you can see with at least an 8-inch telescope
Targets for September 16-23, 2010
Naked eye: Open cluster NGC 7209
Small telescope: Cocoon Nebula
8-inch or larger telescope: Spare Tire Nebula
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