Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theatre :: Life List for FDO

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Meade 16" SCT Life List

The following Life List combines all targets seen through the Frosty Drew Observatory since the installation of our Meade 16" LX200 SCT at the end of July 1999. This list will be kept up to date sporadically. The latest update was made in January 12, 2007 . There are 708 entries in our list not counting constellations or asterisms (which are noted with asterisks below).

Multiple stars generally are not listed individually. A few exceptions (like the Trapezium) exist. For example Albireo does not mention the sapphire and topaz pair of stars. We have not listed inconsequential background stars. Messier objects are listed under their NGC or IC catalog numbers. All Messier objects (except the non-existent M40) have been viewed.

You may wonder why we don't list a few famous comets like Shoemaker-Levy 9 or Hale-Bopp. These were indeed seen at FDO, but were in the sky prior to our telescope's arrival. We have not reported on objects not seen through the Meade LX200 16" telescope. For example our very successful 2000 and 2001 Leonid Showers Parties are not listed.

Solar System Objects

Body Comments
Mercury phases
Venus phases, some dim cloud structure
Earth Radio towers, Block Island Light, Clouds
   Moon numerous craters, mare and rilles
Mars Syris Major, polar caps, clouds
   Phobos  
   Deimos  
Ceres Asteroid
Juno Asteroid
Pallas Asteroid
Vesta Asteroid
Jupiter 10+ bands, Red Spot, whorls, tints
   Io transits, shadows on Jupiter, eclipses
   Europa transits, shadows on Jupiter, eclipses
   Ganymede transits, eclipses
   Callisto  
   Himalia  
Saturn several subtle bands
   Rings Cassini and Encke divisions, Crepe ring
   Mimas  
   Enceladus  
   Tethys  
   Dione  
   Rhea  
   Titan  
   Hyperion  
   Iapetus  
Uranus  
   Ariel  
   Umbriel  
   Titania  
   Oberon  
Neptune  
   Triton  
Pluto  
Ikeya-Zhang Comet
Tempel-Tuttle Comet
McNaught-Hartley Comet
Schamasse Comet
1998 WT24 Near Earth Asteroid
1999 S4 Linear Comet
2003 T7 Linear Comet
2001 WM1 Linear Comet
2002 NEAT Q4 Comet
2001 YB5 Near Earth Asteroid

Deep Space Objects

Catalog # Common Name or Comment
Basel-11B  
Biurkan-10  
Bochum-2  
Bochum-3  
Bochum-4  
Bochum-5  
Bochum-6  
CR-89  
Dolidze-10  
Kemble's Cascade  
Sh2-155 Cave Nebula
Stock 23  
Tombaugh Cluster  
PGC62532 Galaxy near M57
IC 405 Flaming Star
IC 418  
IC 434 Horsehead Nebula
IC 694  
IC1295  
IC1296  
IC2118 Witch's Head
IC2157  
IC2163  
IC2411  
IC2574 Coddington's Nebula
IC3583  
IC4725 M25
IC4756  
IC5146 Cocoon Nebula
IC5309  
NGC 1  
NGC 2  
NGC 128  
NGC 158  
NGC 205 M110
NGC 221 M32, M31's Satellite
NGC 224 M31, Andromeda Galaxy
NGC 246  
NGC 247  
NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy
NGC 254  
NGC 255  
NGC 257  
NGC 258  
NGC 281  
NGC 288  
NGC 317  
NGC 360  
NGC 365  
NGC 367  
NGC 368  
NGC 404  
NGC 457 φCas Cluster
NGC 488  
NGC 490  
NGC 520  
NGC 533  
NGC 534  
NGC 536  
NGC 581 M103
NGC 584  
NGC 586  
NGC 596  
NGC 598 M33, Triangulum
NGC 600  
NGC 609  
NGC 615  
NGC 628 M74
NGC 650 M76
NGC 663  
NGC 720  
NGC 752  
NGC 761  
NGC 869 Double Cluster
NGC 884 Double Cluster
NGC 891  
NGC 908  
NGC 956  
NGC1023  
NGC1039 M34
NGC1053  
NGC1055  
NGC1068 M77
NGC1232  
NGC1275 Perseus A
NGC1297  
NGC1342  
NGC1365  
NGC1370  
NGC1400  
NGC1407  
NGC1479  
NGC1491  
NGC1499  
NGC1528  
NGC1535  
NGC1537  
NGC1579  
NGC1600  
NGC1647  
NGC1788  
NGC1804 M79
NGC1807  
NGC1817  
NGC1851  
NGC1893  
NGC1904  
NGC1922 M38
NGC1931  
NGC1952 M1, Crab ,SN 1054
NGC1960 M36
NGC1964  
NGC1976 M42, Orion Nebula
NGC1977  
NGC1981  
NGC1982 M43, Orion Nebula
NGC1999  
NGC2023 Flaming Nebula
NGC2068 M78
NGC2099 M37
NGC2112  
NGC2129  
NGC2141  
NGC2158  
NGC2168 M35
NGC2169  
NGC2174  
NGC2175  
NGC2186  
NGC2194  
NGC2204  
NGC2207  
NGC2217  
NGC2237 Rosette Nebula
NGC2238  
NGC2239 Rosette Nebula
NGC2244  
NGC2252  
NGC2261 Hubble's Variable
NGC2262 Cone Nebula, Christmas Tree Nebula
NGC2280  
NGC2286  
NGC2287 M41
NGC2298  
NGC2301  
NGC2303  
NGC2323 M50
NGC2324  
NGC2354  
NGC2359 Thor's [or Viking's] Helmet
NGC2360  
NGC2362 τCMa Cluster
NGC2367  
NGC2383  
NGC2384  
NGC2391  
NGC2392 Eskimo/Clown Nebula
NGC2394  
NGC2395  
NGC2403  
NGC2420  
NGC2421  
NGC2422 M47, "Lost" Messier
NGC2423  
NGC2432  
NGC2437 M46
NGC2438  
NGC2440  
NGC2447 M93
NGC2548 M48, "Lost" Messier
NGC2625  
NGC2632 M44, Praesepe, Beehive
NGC2664  
NGC2667  
NGC2672  
NGC2673  
NGC2682 M67, Hydra Cluster
NGC2683  
NGC2696 Hydra Cluster
NGC2697 Hydra Cluster
NGC2698 Hydra Cluster
NGC2699 Hydra Cluster
NGC2702 Hydra Cluster
NGC2708 Hydra Cluster
NGC2743  
NGC2787  
NGC2803  
NGC2809  
NGC2903  
NGC2918  
NGC2974  
NGC2976  
NGC3031 M81
NGC3034 M82
NGC3077  
NGC3115 Spindle Galaxy
NGC3166  
NGC3169  
NGC317a  
NGC317b  
NGC3242 Jupiter's ghost
NGC3264  
NGC3289  
NGC3338  
NGC3351 M95
NGC3364  
NGC3368 M96
NGC3379 M105
NGC3384  
NGC3389  
NGC3398  
NGC3412  
NGC3489  
NGC3521  
NGC3556 M108
NGC3587 M97, Owl
NGC3598  
NGC3599  
NGC3605  
NGC3606  
NGC3607  
NGC3608  
NGC3613  
NGC3619  
NGC3623 M65
NGC3627 M66
NGC3628  
NGC3629  
NGC3642  
NGC3684  
NGC3690  
NGC3705  
NGC3745  
NGC3746  
NGC3748  
NGC3750  
NGC3751  
NGC3753  
NGC3754  
NGC3945  
NGC3946 Copeland's Sextet
NGC3948 Copeland's Sextet
NGC3951 Copeland's Sextet
NGC3953 Copeland's Sextet
NGC3954 Copeland's Sextet
NGC3992 M109
NGC4027  
NGC4030  
NGC4038 Ringtail Galaxy
NGC4192 M98
NGC4237  
NGC4253 M106
NGC4254 M99
NGC4303 M61
NGC4312  
NGC4321 M100
NGC4340  
NGC4350  
NGC4360  
NGC4361  
NGC4374 M84
NGC4382 M85
NGC4388  
NGC4394  
NGC4402  
NGC4406 M86
NGC4413  
NGC4422  
NGC4425  
NGC4435  
NGC4438  
NGC4449  
NGC4461  
NGC4463  
NGC4467  
NGC4468  
NGC4468a  
NGC4468b  
NGC4472 M49
NGC4476  
NGC4478  
NGC4485 M87, Virgo A
NGC4486 M87, Virgo A
NGC4486a  
NGC4486b  
NGC4490 M87, Virgo A
NGC4501 M88
NGC4548 M91
NGC4552 M89
NGC4559  
NGC4564  
NGC4565  
NGC4567  
NGC4568  
NGC4569 M80
NGC4579 M58
NGC4580 M68
NGC4590  
NGC4594 M104, Sombrero
NGC4605 M59
NGC4618 M59
NGC4621 M59
NGC4627  
NGC4631  
NGC4636  
NGC4638  
NGC4647  
NGC4649 M60
NGC4656  
NGC4657  
NGC4667  
NGC4697  
NGC4699  
NGC4736 M94
NGC4782  
NGC4783  
NGC4826 M64, Black Eye
NGC4889 Coma Cluster
NGC5005  
NGC5024 M53
NGC5033  
NGC5055 M63
NGC5194 M51, Whirlpool
NGC5195  
NGC5236 M83
NGC5247  
NGC5272 M3
NGC5295  
NGC5457 M101, Pinwheel
NGC5634  
NGC5804 M5
NGC5839  
NGC5840  
NGC5845  
NGC5846  
NGC5846a  
NGC5850  
NGC5866 M102
NGC5897  
NGC5904  
NGC6093 M80
NGC6121 M4
NGC6144  
NGC6171 M107
NGC6205 M13, Hercules Cluster
NGC6207  
NGC6209  
NGC6210  
NGC6217  
NGC6218 M12
NGC6229  
NGC6254 M10
NGC6266 M62
NGC6273 M19
NGC6287  
NGC6302 Bug Nebula
NGC6309  
NGC6333 M9
NGC6341 M92
NGC6350  
NGC6355  
NGC6366  
NGC6402 M14
NGC6405 M6, Butterfly
NGC6475 M7
NGC6494 M23
NGC6503  
NGC6514 M20, Triffid
NGC6523 M8, Lagoon
NGC6530  
NGC6531 M21
NGC6543 Cat's Eye Nebula
NGC6544  
NGC6552  
NGC6567  
NGC6568  
NGC6572  
NGC6595  
NGC6603  
NGC6611 M16, Eagle
NGC6613 M18
NGC6618 M17, Swan,Omega
NGC6626 M28
NGC6629  
NGC6637 M69
NGC6656 M22
NGC6681 M70
NGC6688  
NGC6694 M26
NGC6705 M11, Wild Duck
NGC6712  
NGC6715 M54, Dwarf Galaxy
NGC6720 M57, Ring Nebula
NGC6729 Crater Nebula
NGC6741  
NGC6749  
NGC6760  
NGC6765  
NGC6772  
NGC6779 M56
NGC6781  
NGC6791  
NGC6803  
NGC6804  
NGC6809 M55
NGC6811  
NGC6818  
NGC6819  
NGC6820  
NGC6822 Barnard's Galaxy
NGC6823  
NGC6826 Blinking Nebula
NGC6838 M71
NGC6853 M27, Dumbbell Nebula
NGC6864 M75
NGC6866  
NGC6879  
NGC6882  
NGC6885  
NGC6888 Crescent Nebula
NGC6891  
NGC6894  
NGC6905  
NGC6910  
NGC6913 M29
NGC6919  
NGC6934  
NGC6939  
NGC6940  
NGC6946  
NGC6960 Veil
NGC6981 M72
NGC6992 Veil
NGC6994 M73
NGC6995 Veil
NGC7000 North America Nebula
NGC7006  
NGC7009  
NGC7023 Reflecting Nebula
NGC7027  
NGC7048  
NGC7078 M15
NGC7082  
NGC7089 M2
NGC7092 M39
NGC7099 M30
NGC7184  
NGC7209  
NGC7293 Helix Nebula
NGC7332  
NGC7339  
NGC7611  
NGC7612  
NGC7619  
NGC7623  
NGC7626  
NGC7631  
NGC7635 Bubble Nebula
NGC7640  
NGC7654 M52
NGC7662  
NGC7789  
NGC7824  

Stars

Designation Common Name Comments
α And Alpheratz  
α Aql Altair  
α Aqr Sadalmeik  
α Aur Capella  
α Boo Arcturus  
α Cap Geidi Prime  
α Cas Schedar  
α Cep Aldermin  
α Cet Deneb Kaitos  
α CMa Sirius  
α CMi Procyon  
α Crb Alphecca  
α CVn Cor Coroli  
α Cyg Deneb  
α Gem Castor  
α Her Rasalgethi  
α Leo Regulus  
α Lib Zubenesgenubi  
α Lyr Vega  
α Ori Betelgeuse  
α Per Mirfak  
α PsA Formalhaut  
α Sag Rukbat  
α Sco Antares  
α Tau Aldebaran  
α Tri Atria  
α UMa Dubhe  
α UMi Polaris  
α Vir Spica  
α Vul    
β And Mirach  
β Aqr Sadalsuud  
β Aur Menkelinan  
β Cas Kaph  
β Cyg Albireo  
β Del    
β Eri Cursa  
β Gem Pollux  
β Leo Denebola  
β Lib Zubeneschamali  
β Ori Rigil  
β Per Algol  
β UMa Merak  
γ And Almach  
γ Aql Tarazed  
γ Cyg Sadr  
γ Gem Alhena  
γ Leo Algieba  
γ Ori Bellatrix  
γ UMa Phecda  
γ Vir    
δ And    
δ Aql    
δ Cap    
δ Cas Ruchbad  
δ Cma    
δ Cyg    
δ Gem Wasat  
δ Her    
δ Oph Yed Prior  
δ Ori Mintaka  
δ Per    
δ Sco Dschubba  
δ UMa Megrez  
ε CMa    
ε Lyr Double-Double  
ε Ori Alnilam  
ε Oph Yed Posterior  
ε Sag    
ε UMa Alioth  
ζ Aqu    
ζ Boo    
ζ Her    
ζ Oph    
ζ Ori Alnitak  
ζ UMa Mizar  
η Gem    
η Ori    
κ Ori Saiph  
μ Her    
μ Sag    
ν Ori    
σ Ori    
τ CMa    
θ1 Ori    
θ2 Ori Trapezium Stars A-F and maybe G
θ Lyr    
θ Oph    
θ Tau Alcyone Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
θ UMa Alkaid  
17 Tau Electra Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
19 Tau Taygeta Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
20 Tau Maia Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
23 Tau Merope Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
27 Tau Atlas Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
28 Tau Plione Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
32 Ori    
21 Sag Maia Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
40 Eri    
44 Cap    
52 Cyg    
70 Oph    
52 Ori   νOri
5 Ser   νOri
80 UMa Alcor  
AE Aur    
BD+16_1598    
BD+16_1586    
BD+16_3945    
BD+18_4232    
BD-11_4258    
CU Dra    
GSC2835-1047    
GSC2835-1051    
GSC5632-9010    
R Lep   Hind's Crimson Star
T Lyr   Pleiades;Seven Sisters M45
TY148-2162-1    
TY591-1742-1    
TY656-6265-1    
HD 117   
HD 124   
HD 159   
HD 200   
HD 201   
HD 1654   
HD 4809   
HD 5657   
HD 22156   
HD 22156   
HD 25202   
HD 35162   
HD 35339   
HD 37016   
HD 37017   
HD 37040   
HD 39183   
HD 42871   
HD 56577   
HD 56578   
HD 57190   
HD 73634   
HD 92993   
HD117200   
HD117201   
HD117436   
HD117675   
HD117848   
HD118024   
HD119149   
HD122408   
HD124224   
HD125184   
HD125608   
HD125818   
HD125906   
HD126128   
HD126201   
HD126248   
HD126868   
HD127119   
HD127168   
HD127352   
HD148479   
HD152585   
HD158704   
HD158704   
HD164492   
HD165887   
HD165887   
HD167356   
HD167356   
HD167863   
HD167883   
HD168815   
HD173446   
HD178849   
HD178911   
HD183275   
HD185622   
HD200724   
HD205829   
HD212370   
HD221272   
HD221562   
HD232078   
HD250289   
HD250290   
HD353339   

Asterisms

Name Description
Beehive * Praesepe in Cancer
Big and Little Dippers * Ursa Major and Ursa Minor
Coat Hanger * In Cygnus
Great Square * In Pegasus
Men's Campfire * Hyades in Taurus
Milky Way Galaxy *
Realm of the Galaxies * Oval formed by Big Dipper handle Arcturus, Spica and Leo
Seven Sisters * Plieades in Taurus
Stargate * In Corvus
Summer Triangle * Principle stars of Lyra, Cygnus and Aquila
Teapot * In Sagitarius, center of Milky Way Galaxy

Constellations

All the constellations that rise at least in part above the southern horizon have been viewed at one time or another by our telescope. These include:

Latin Name English Equivalent
Andromeda * Princess of Ethiopia
Antlia * Bellows
Aquarius * Water Bearer
Aquila * Eagle
Aries * Ram
Auriga * Charioteer
Bootes * Herdsman
Camelopardalis * Giraffe
Cancer * Crab
Canes Venatici * Hunting Dogs
Canis Major * Great Dog
Canis Minor * Little Dog (Pup)
Capricornus * Goat
Cassiopeia * Queen of Ethiopia
Cepheus * King of Ethiopia
Centaurus * Centaur
Cetus * Whale
Columba * Dove
Coma * Bernice's Hair
Corona Australis * Southern Crown
Corona Borealis * Northern Crown
Corvus * Crow
Crater * Cup
Cygnus * Swan (Northern Cross)
Draco * Dragon
Equuleus * Pony
Eridanus * River Eridanus
Gemini * Twins
Hercules * Hercules (Hero)
Hydra * Female Water Snake
Lacerta * Lizard
Leo * (Great) Lion
Leo Minor * Little Lion (Cub)
Lepus * Hare
Libra * Scales
Lupus * Wolf
Lynx * Lynx
Lyra * Lyre
Microscopium * Microscope
Monoceros * Unicorn
Ophiuchus * Snake Handler
Orion * Orion (Hunter)
Pegasus * Flying Horse
Perseus * Perseus (Hero)
Phoenix * Phoenix
Pisces * The Fishes
Piscis Austrinus * Southern Fish
Puppis * Deck (of Argo)
Sagitta * Arrow
Sagittarius * Archer Centaur (Teapot)
Scorpio * Scorpion
Scutum * Shield
Serpens * Snake
Taurus * Bull
Triangulum * Triangle
Ursa Major * Great Bear (Big Dipper)
Ursa Minor * Small Bear (Bear Cub)
Virgo * Maiden
Vulpecula * Fox

* Not counted in total of objects viewed