Observation Examples

You may either select from a number of pre-configured examples or create your own observation request starting with a blank form.

If you have not used the MRO telescope facility before, you may prefer to select among the pre-configured examples below.

Planetary Nebula Planetary nebulae consist of bodies of gas that have been expelled from an exploding star. Several are visible within our own galaxy at distances of a few thousand light years.
Select this or another example of a Planetary Nebula.	The Dumbbell Nebula M27 (NGC 6853) in Vulpecula, at a distance of 1,250 light years, has an apparent size of 8 arc-minutes and a magnitude of 7.4. It is best viewed in the months of June - September.

Globular Cluster Globular clusters are groups of a few hundred thousand stars, many of which are associated with our own galaxy, the Milky Way.
Select this or another example of a Globular Cluster.	The Globular Cluster M2 (NGC 7089) in Aquarius, at a distance of 36,200 light years has an apparent size of 12.9 arc-minutes and a magnitude of 6.5. It is most easily viewed during the months of July - October.

Spiral Galaxy Spiral galaxies are spinning whirlpools of hundreds of billions of stars, similar in structure to the Milky Way. They are millions of light years away.
Select this or another example of a Spiral Galaxy.	The Spiral Galaxy M74 (NGC 628) in Pisces, at a distance of 35,000,000 light years has an apparent size of 10.2 arc-minutes and a magnitude of 9.4. It is best viewed in the months of August - November.

Pulsating Variable Star A pulsating variable star expands and contracts, oscillating in brightness with a regular period over the course of several days.
Select this or another example of a Pulsating Variable Star.	Delta Cephei varies in magnitude from 3.48 to 4.37 every 5 days, 8 hours and 47 minutes. This star is the prototypical example of a class of stars called "Cepheid variables" that have played an important role in measuring stellar distances: the longer the period of the star, the greater its intrinsic brightness. Delta Cephei can easily be viewed any night from June - November.

Cataclysmic Variable Star
Cataclysmic, or eruptive variable stars display violent outbursts. One common type, the novae consist of close binary star system in which material from one star falls into the other, producing a large explosion from time to time. Periods range from one to several hundred days and the brightness varies by 7-16 magnitudes.

Select this or another example of a Cataclysmic Variable Star.

RS Ophiuchi is a recurrent nova, consisting of a red giant and a blue companion star. It has undergone five known outbursts, in 1898, 1933, 1958, 1967 and 1985, reaching maximum brightness between 5th and 6th magnitude in a day. Between outbursts, it oscillates between magnitudes 9.6 and 11.3. RS Ophiuchi can be seen in the southern sky June - September.

reference: B.Oppenheimer and J.A.Mattei

Eclipsing Binary Stars Eclipsing binaries are systems of two stars revolving in an orbital plane that happens to lie along the line of sight to the observer. The stars periodically eclipse one another, causing a change in apparent brightness of the system.
Select this or another example of an Eclipsing Binary Star.	Algol, or Beta Persei consists of two stars very close together, with masses of 3.7 and 0.81 solar masses respectively. The system varies in visual magnitude from 2.1 at maximum to 3.4 at minimum, with a period of 2.87 days, as one star passes in front of the other. Algol can be seen from October - March. reference: Talcott Mountain Science Center

Credits:
Photographs on this page were taken by Stacy Palen.
Light curves were borrowed from the AAVSO Web site.