October 2013 Indiana Astronomical Society Novice/Urban Observing List

Philip Dimpelfeld from the Indiana Astronomical Society creates a Novice/Urban Observing List each month for newbies like myself with not-so-dark skies and not-so-powerful equipment. The September 2013 list was very challenging, but now that I've got my prime focus figured out, and the sun is setting earlier each day, I can't wait to tackle October 2013!

Xi Cephei, Double Star in Cepheus, 22h 03.8m, +64° 38', mag = 4.4, 6.5, sep = 7.7"

NGC 7243 (Caldwell 16), Open Cluster in Cassiopeia, 22h 15.3m, +49° 53', mag = 6.4, size = 21.0'

Zeta Aquarii, Double Star in Aquarius, 22h 28.8m, -00° 01', mag = 4.3, 4.5, sep = 1.8"

Delta Cephei, Variable/Double Star in Cepheus, 22h 29.2m, +58° 25', mag = (v3.5 – 4.4), 6.3, sep = 41". Primary is the prototype of famed Cepheid variables – period 5.4 days.

94 Aquarii, Double Star in Aquarius, 23h 19.1m, -13° 28', mag = 5.3, 7.3, sep = 12.7"

NGC 7662, “The Blue Snowball” Nebula, Planetary Nebula in Andromeda, 23h 25.9m, +42° 33', mag = 8.3, size = 32" x 28"

NGC 7789, “The White Rose” Cluster, Open Cluster in Cassiopeia, 23h 57.0m, +56° 44', mag = 6.7, size = 15.0'

Sigma Cassiopeiae, Double Star in Cassiopeia, 23h 59.0m, +55° 45', mag = 5.0, 7.1, sep = 3"

Mare Undarum, first quarter Moon

Gassendi, third quarter Moon

Challenge Object: 8 Lacertae, Double (Quadruple) Star in Lacerta, 22h 35.9m, +39° 38', mag = 5.7, 6.5/10.5, 9.1, sep = 22.4"/49”, 82”. Nice blue-white pair. The two fainter companions form a delicate quadruple system with bright pair.