Sky Objects for Binoculars Visible in Northern Latitudes

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This map is a circular projection of the sky centered on the north celestial pole. Near the center of the map the constellations are not distorted, but at the edges (near the southern horizon), they are. Below are 16 pictures of the sky taken from Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid. They show how the constellations actually look in each direction in spring, summer, autumn and winter. The exercise is to correctly identify these 25 objects for binoculars or small telescopes by referring to the circular map. If you are going to memorize them, learn them in the order of the numbers. Numbers 1-12 are essential, they are all very good in binoculars. The last 13 mostly require a small telescope.

Coma Berenices, a constellation, which is really a star cluster that is beautiful in binoculars.
The Perseus association, which is a very loose cluster.
The Virgo cluster of over 1,000 galaxies.
The Double Cluster in Perseus (almost in Cassiopeia).
The Hyades, a beautiful star cluster in binoculars.
M4, a beautiful globular cluster right by Antares.
M6, a bright open cluster, great in binoculars.
M7, an even brighter open cluster in the summer sky.
M8, the Lagoon Nebula, best nebular to see in the summer.
M11, the Wild Duck Cluster, a fine open cluster.
M13, a fine open cluster in Hercules.
M17, the Omega Nebula, shaped like a horseshoe.
M20, the Trifid Nebula, in same field as Lagoon Nebula.
M24, a bright star field which isn't really a cluster.
M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, our big sister galaxy.
M33, a fine spiral galaxy in the constellation Triangulum.
M35, a fine open cluster by the foot of Gemini.
M37 & M38, two open clusters in Auriga.
M41, a fine open cluster in the winter sky.
M42, the Great Nebula in Orion, best in all the sky.
M44, the Beehive Cluster, also called the Praesepe.
M45, the Pleiades or Seven Sister, best in binoculars.
M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, a perfect top view of spiral.
M57, the Ring Nebula, best of the summer planetary nebulas.
M81, a circumpolar spiral galaxy.
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