Cassiopeia

M 103 : Open cluster

Small but quite bright. A pretty little cluster with a distinctive 'A' shape of bright stars with a sprinkling of fainter ones.

129 : Open cluster.

Appears quite large, but very loose, mostly faint stars. Not an easy target under moonlit conditions. Counted about 24 stars that look like they could be cluster members.

225 : Open cluster.

A medium sized, medium bright cluster. Quite loose in structure with only about a dozen stars.

133 : Open cluster (asterism?).

Appears as just a small group of 3 stars. The SAC database suggests this might not be a true cluster just an asterism.

146 : Open cluster.

I've only observed this under moonlit conditions and have only managed to make out a small group of about 6 stars 11mag and lower.

King 14 : Open cluster.

Not too bad, about 14 faint stars in a small but loose grouping. Worth seeking out on a clear, moonless night.

NOTE: Although the above three clusters (146, 133, King14) are rather small and unremarkable clusters on their own, all three make an attractive group in the same field-of-view as shown in the sketch below.

NGC 103 : Open cluster. (not to be confused with M 103)

At low power looks like a tiny fuzzy patch, very easy to overlook. At x200 I could resolve about 8 stars embedded in a faint, grainy, misty glow. Not easy. Further obs have revealed approx. 12 stars in a faint arrowhead shaped group. Not too bad on a very transparent night at high powers.

189 : Open cluster.

A tiny but loose looking group of 7 faint stars, looks better at higher powers.

559 : Open cluster.

Visible as a tiny smudge at the end of a chain of faint stars. At higher powers a few stars were resolved with hints of quite a few more.

637 : Open cluster.

A very small, tight group of about 8 stars in a distinctive triangle shape.

Tr 1 : Open cluster.

The only obvious cluster here is a tiny group of 4 stars in a straight row separated by only a few seconds. If anyone has any observations otherwise I'd be pleased to hear from them!

654 : Open cluster.

A small faint(ish) scattering of stars. Interesting but nothing special.

663 : Open cluster.

Quite large and fairly bright. A loose collection of many stars. Looks great at x126, when there's no moon!

659 : Open cluster.

A small loose(ish) collection of medium-faint stars. Nothing special.

436 : Open cluster.

A tiny, very faint group of stars. Not easy but gives rewarding views at high powers.

457 : Open cluster.

This gorgeous cluster is quite large, fairly loose but richer towards the middle. Appears (to me) to be composed of 2 intertwined chains of stars with a knot in the center. Also has a few nice doubles. Fills the field at x126. One of Cassiopeias prettiest clusters.

7789 : Open cluster.

A large fine cluster containing hundreds of stars. How did Messier miss this one?

7538 : Emission nebula.

Small patch of misty light, very faint. Best with OIII and averted vision.

Mrk 50 : Open cluster.

Very fain, tiny group of about 6 stars. Needs high power and a clear, haze free night.

7510 : Open cluster.

Very small, but bright cluster with a very striking 'triangle' shape. Nice

King 19 : Open cluster.

Very faint and small, yet conspicuous, grouping of stars.

M52 : Open cluster.

Compact cluster, very bright. Appears fan shaped at high powers.

STF3022 : Double star.

Nice double, makes an attractive group with another nearby double star.

7788 : Open cluster.

Loose, mostly faint stars, brightens towards centre.

Frolov 1 : Open cluster.

Tiny but conspicuous group of stars. Appears slightly fuzzy in centre at higher powers.

Harvard 21 : Open cluster.

Small loose grouping of faint stars.

King 12: Open cluster.

Faint, but brighter than nearby Harvard21. Distinctive pattern of around 15+ stars.

King 21 : Open cluster.

Visible only as a slightly fuzzy triple star. Very faint.

Stock 24 : Open cluster.

A tiny cluster, easily overlooked. At x48 a faint group of 8 stars with the suggestion of a few more.

136 : Open cluster.

At low power viewing no discernable cluster is visible, stepping it up a bit shows a very, very faint, tiny grouping of approx. 6(?) stars. Quit difficult on anything less than a very transparent night.

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