Caldwell catalogue

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The Caldwell Catalogue is an astronomical catalog of 109 bright star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies for observation by amateur astronomers. The list was compiled by Patrick Caldwell-Moore as a complement to the Messier Catalogue.

The Messier Catalogue is used frequently by amateur astronomers as a list of interesting deep-sky objects for observations, but Moore noted that the list did not include many of the sky's brightest deep-sky objects, including the Hyades, the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884), and NGC 253. Moreover, Moore observed that the Messier Catalogue, which was compiled based on observations in the Northern Hemisphere, excluded bright deep-sky objects visible in the Southern Hemisphere such as Omega Centauri, Centaurus A, the Jewel Box, and 47 Tucanae.[1][2] He quickly compiled a list of 109 objects (to match the number of objects in the Messier Catalogue) and published it in Sky & Telescope in December 1995.[3]

Since its publication, the catalogue has grown in popularity and usage within the amateur astronomical community. However, the original list is criticized for some small compilation errors (listed below), and Moore may be criticized for what could be perceived as an egocentric-approach to compiling the list, including the use of one of his surnames to name the list and the use of "C" numbers to rename objects with more common designations.[4]

As stated above, the list was compiled from objects already identified by professional astronomers and commonly observed by amateur astronomers. Unlike objects in the Messier catalogue, which are listed in the order they were discovered, the Caldwell catalogue is ordered by declination, with C1 being the most northerly and C109 being the most southerly, although two objects (NGC 4244 and the Hyades) are listed out of sequence.[1] The original list also incorrectly identified S Norma Cluster (NGC 6087) as NGC 6067 and incorrectly labelled the Lambda Centauri Cluster (IC 2944) as the Gamma Centauri Cluster.[1]

A natural progression for the amateur astronomer wishing to observe deep sky objects would be to view the Messier catalogue, followed by the Caldwell catalogue, and then the Herschel 400 Catalogue. At the end of this exercise the observer would have viewed nearly 600 objects. Although there are 618 objects listed in these three catalogues the Herschel 400 Catalogue does contain some objects from the Messier and Caldwell catalogues.

Contents

[edit] Caldwell Star Chart

Caldwell Star Chart. Original file requires a browser with either native or plugin SVG support
Caldwell Star Chart. Original file requires a browser with either native or plugin SVG support

[edit] Number of objects by type in the Caldwell catalogue.

Dark nebulae 1
Galaxy 35
Globular clusters 18
Nebulae 9
Star Clusters 25
Star Clusters and Nebulae 6
Planetary Nebulae 13
Supernova remnant 2
Total 109

[edit] Caldwell objects

[edit] Key

Star cluster
Nebula
Galaxy

[edit] 1-10

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C1 NGC 188     Open Cluster 4.8 Cepheus 8.1
C2 NGC 40   Planetary Nebula 3.5 Cepheus 11
C3 NGC 4236     Galaxy 7,000 Draco 9.7
C4 NGC 7023     Open Cluster and Nebula 1.4 Cepheus 7
C5 IC 342     Galaxy 13,000 Camelopardalis 9
C6 NGC 6543 Cat's Eye Nebula Planetary Nebula 3 Draco 9
C7 NGC 2403   Galaxy 14,000 Camelopardalis 8.4
C8 NGC 559     Open Cluster 3.7 Cassiopeia 9.5
C9 Sh2-155 Cave Nebula   Nebula 2.8 Cepheus -
C10 NGC 663     Open Cluster 7.2 Cassiopeia 7.1

[edit] 11-20

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C11 NGC 7635 Bubble nebula   Nebula 7.1 Cassiopeia -
C12 NGC 6946   Galaxy 18,000 Cepheus 8.9
C13 NGC 457 E.T. Cluster   Open Cluster - Cassiopeia 6.4
C14 NGC 869 & NGC 884 Double Cluster, H Persei   Open Cluster 7.3 Perseus 4
C15 NGC 6826 Blinking Planetary   Planetary Nebula 2.2 Cygnus 10
C16 NGC 7243     Open Cluster 2.5 Lacerta 6.4
C17 NGC 147     Galaxy 2,300 Cassiopeia 9.3
C18 NGC 185   Galaxy 2,300 Cassiopeia 9.2
C19 IC 5146 Cocoon Nebula   Open Cluster and Nebula 3.3 Cygnus 7.2
C20 NGC 7000 North America Nebula Nebula 1.8 Cygnus -

[edit] 21-30

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C21 NGC 4449     Galaxy 10,000 Canes Venatici 9.4
C22 NGC 7662 Blue Snowball   Planetary Nebula 3.2 Andromeda 9
C23 NGC 891     Galaxy 31,000 Andromeda 10
C24 NGC 1275 Perseus A Galaxy 230,000 Perseus 11.6
C25 NGC 2419     Globular Cluster 275 Lynx 10.4
C26 NGC 4244     Galaxy 10,000 Canes Venatici 10.2
C27 NGC 6888 Crescent Nebula   Nebula 4.7 Cygnus -
C28 NGC 752     Open Cluster 1.2 Andromeda 5.7
C29 NGC 5005     Galaxy 69,000 Canes Venatici 9.8
C30 NGC 7331   Galaxy 47,000 Pegasus 9.5


[edit] 31-40

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C31 IC 405 Flaming Star Nebula   Nebula 1.6 Auriga -
C32 NGC 4631     Galaxy 22,000 Canes Venatici 9.3
C33 NGC 6992 Veil Nebula   Supernova Remnant 2.5 Cygnus -
C34 NGC 6960 Veil Nebula   Supernova Remnant 2.5 Cygnus -
C35 NGC 4889     Galaxy 300,000 Coma Berenices 11.4
C36 NGC 4559     Galaxy 32,000 Coma Berenices 9.9
C37 NGC 6885     Open Cluster 1.95 Vulpecula 6
C38 NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy   Galaxy 32,000 Coma Berenices 9.6
C39 NGC 2392 Eskimo Nebula/Clown Face Nebula Planetary Nebula 4 Gemini 10
C40 NGC 3626     Galaxy 86,000 Leo 10.9


[edit] 41-50

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C41 Mel25 Hyades Open Cluster 0.151 Taurus 0.5
C42 NGC 7006     Globular Cluster 135 Delphinus 10.6
C43 NGC 7814     Galaxy 49,000 Pegasus 10.5
C44 NGC 7479     Galaxy 106,000 Pegasus 11
C45 NGC 5248     Galaxy 74,000 Boötes 10.2
C46 NGC 2261 Hubble's Variable Nebula   Nebula 2.5 Monoceros -
C47 NGC 6934     Globular Cluster 57 Delphinus 8.9
C48 NGC 2775     Galaxy 55,000 Cancer 10.3
C49 NGC 2237 Rosette Nebula Nebula 4.9 Monoceros -
C50 NGC 2244     Open Cluster 4.9 Monoceros 4.8


[edit] 51-60

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C51 IC 1613     Galaxy 2,300 Cetus 9.3
C52 NGC 4697     Galaxy 76,000 Virgo 9.3
C53 NGC 3115 Spindle Galaxy   Galaxy 22,000 Sextans 9.2
C54 NGC 2506     Open Cluster 10 Monoceros 7.6
C55 NGC 7009 Saturn Nebula Planetary Nebula 1.4 Aquarius 8
C56 NGC 246   Planetary Nebula 1.6 Cetus 8
C57 NGC 6822 Barnard's Galaxy   Galaxy 2,300 Sagittarius 9
C58 NGC 2360     Open Cluster 3.7 Canis Major 7.2
C59 NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter   Planetary Nebula 1.4 Hydra 9
C60 NGC 4038 Antennae Galaxies Galaxy 83,000 Corvus 10.7

[edit] 61-70

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C61 NGC 4039 Antennae Galaxies Galaxy 83,000 Corvus 13
C62 NGC 247     Galaxy 6,800 Cetus 8.9
C63 NGC 7293 Helix Nebula Planetary Nebula 0.522 Aquarius 7.3
C64 NGC 2362     Open Cluster and Nebula 5.1 Canis Major 4.1
C65 NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy/Silver Coin Galaxy Galaxy 9,800 Sculptor 7.1
C66 NGC 5694     Globular Cluster 113 Hydra 10.2
C67 NGC 1097     Galaxy 47,000 Fornax 9.3
C68 NGC 6729     Nebula 0.424 Corona Australis -
C69 NGC 6302 Bug Nebula Planetary Nebula 5.2 Scorpius 13
C70 NGC 300   Galaxy 3,900 Sculptor 9

[edit] 71-80

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C71 NGC 2477     Open Cluster 3.7 Puppis 5.8
C72 NGC 55   Galaxy 4,200 Sculptor 8
C73 NGC 1851     Globular Cluster 39.4 Columba 7.3
C74 NGC 3132 Eight Burst Nebula Planetary Nebula 2 Vela 8
C75 NGC 6124     Open Cluster 1.5 Scorpius 5.8
C76 NGC 6231     Open Cluster and Nebula 6 Scorpius 2.6
C77 NGC 5128 Centaurus A Galaxy 16,000 Centaurus 7
C78 NGC 6541     Globular Cluster 22.3 Corona Australis 6.6
C79 NGC 3201     Globular Cluster 17 Vela 6.8
C80 NGC 5139 Omega Centauri Globular Cluster 17.3 Centaurus 3.7


[edit] 81-90

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C81 NGC 6352     Globular Cluster 18.6 Ara 8.2
C82 NGC 6193     Open Cluster 4.3 Ara 5.2
C83 NGC 4945     Galaxy 17,000 Centaurus 9
C84 NGC 5286     Globular Cluster 36 Centaurus 7.6
C85 IC 2391 Omicron Vel Cluster   Open Cluster 0.5 Vela 2.5
C86 NGC 6397     Globular Cluster 7.5 Ara 5.7
C87 NGC 1261     Globular Cluster 55.5 Horologium 8.4
C88 NGC 5823     Open Cluster 3.4 Circinus 7.9
C89 NGC 6087 S Norma Cluster   Open Cluster 3.3 Norma 5.4
C90 NGC 2867     Planetary Nebula 5.5 Carina 10


[edit] 91-100

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C91 NGC 3532     Open Cluster 1.6 Carina 3
C92 NGC 3372 Eta Carinae Nebula Nebula 7.5 Carina -
C93 NGC 6752     Globular Cluster 13 Pavo 5.4
C94 NGC 4755 Jewel Box   Open Cluster 4.9 Crux 4.2
C95 NGC 6025     Open Cluster 2.5 Triangulum Australe 5.1
C96 NGC 2516     Open Cluster 1.3 Carina 3.8
C97 NGC 3766     Open Cluster 5.8 Centaurus 5.3
C98 NGC 4609     Open Cluster 4.2 Crux 6.9
C99 - Coalsack Nebula Dark Nebula 0.61 Crux -
C100 IC 2944 Lambda Centauri Nebula Open Cluster and Nebula 6 Centaurus 4.5


[edit] 101-109

Caldwell number NGC number Common name Picture Object type Distance to object in thousands of light years Constellation Apparent magnitude
C101 NGC 6744   Galaxy 34,000 Pavo 9
C102 IC 2602 Theta Car Cluster   Open Cluster 0.492 Carina 1.9
C103 NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula Open Cluster and Nebula 170 Dorado 8.2
C104 NGC 362     Globular Cluster 27.7 Tucana 6.6
C105 NGC 4833     Globular Cluster 19.6 Musca 7.4
C106 NGC 104 47 Tucanae Globular Cluster 14.7 Tucana 4
C107 NGC 6101     Globular Cluster 49.9 Apus 9.3
C108 NGC 4372     Globular Cluster 18.9 Musca 7.8
C109 NGC 3195     Planetary Nebula 5.4 Chamaeleon -

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c O'Meara, Stephen James (2002). The Caldwell Objects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82796-5. 
  2. ^ Caldwell Club Introduction. Retrieved on 2006-09-08.
  3. ^ Moore, Patrick (December 1995). "Beyond Messier: The Caldwell Catalog" (subscription required): 38. Sky & Telescope. 
  4. ^ Ling, Alister. A Good Idea Gone Bad - Besides, Several Good Ideas Already Exist. Retrieved on 2006-08-29.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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