Sagittarius Constellation Video-Astronomy

A 6-minute astronomical tour of the constellation Sagittarius, with tips on how to find and recognize the constellation. Views of the Milky Way Galaxy, the globular cluster M22, the great Lagoon Nebula (M8), and more!
www.zachsinger.com
Zachary Singer Creative

[@swftwlly]

Keep up the great work, Zach. Only 83 constellations to go!

[@thenightskywithzacharysinger]

Thanks Bill! Working on 'em! ;)

[@petset77]

Excellent video. Thanks. I compiled a list of targets with directions in both Scorpius and Sagittarius and am looking that way tonight (and beyond!). I used Stellarium on my laptop and zoomed in, giving me more targets than I knew were there. I'll be looking for M22, M8, M20, popping over to open clusters M21 and M23, the "Patch" M24, globular M28 on the way from Kaus Borealis to the multiple Mu Sag (Polis), to M25, continuing up to M17 then M16 in Serpens. It should be fun. If I can stay awake, in lower Scorpius I want Caldwell 76, the double/multiple Sargas, to Ptolemy's cluster M7 and up to Butterfly cluster M6. Whether I get everything is doubtful (especially if I hang around with something especially striking- I always stay on M92 for example), but it's been cloudy more evenings than not, so I'm going to have a good time. Clear skies to all, and thanks again!

[@thenightskywithzacharysinger]

I'm glad you liked the video, and I think your observing list is pretty cool (a nice mix of targets). I took advantage of a break in the clouds last weekend, myself--as it happens, I hit some of those on your list. M24 is a favorite of mine, though I suspect many folks miss it--and good on you for hitting M92, it's another oft-overlooked target (in this case, because people only go to M13). NGC 6231, aka your Caldwell 76--a neat little cluster! Did you notice how blue many of the stars are? (I haven't been to that one in a while now, but the last time was in my 12-inch, so it was pretty spiffy.) Anyway, thanks for sharing your enthusiasm, and wishing you clear skies back!

[@petset77]

@@thenightskywithzacharysinger Thanks for replying. I got the Caldwell 76 description off one of the diagrams online. I use the Cambridge atlas and Stellarium on the laptop for ideas for searches, and follow up with online search of constellation breakdowns/star names. I use SkyView Lite on my phone for quick directions (especially to new constellations I'm not familiar with), then follow what I wrote down. As for M92, I think it's a prettier cluster than M13, but they're both stunning. I also really like M11, and visit it every session. I haven't split the doubles/multiples in Aquila yet, but that's on my list for this evening, as well as the clusters NGC6709 and 6755 there. I wasn't able to split Sargas the one night I tried. Seeing wasn't ideal, being slightly hazy with a breeze picking up. I got the objects across the bottom of the teapot pretty easily a couple of nights ago, but I didn't follow up on my handwritten notes to make the quick jaunt up to NGC6624 near Kaus Media, but will tonight. ...I must have just bypassed M24 when I hopped up that rich area. It's on my list, and I hopped two paths- one from Polis to M25, 18, and 17, and the other Kaus Borealis to M28, M8 and 20, stopping at M21. I'll head up to M24 this evening if the clouds don't build too much. Anyway, thanks again.

[@rebanelson607]

Excellent!

[@thenightskywithzacharysinger]

Thanks, Reba! :)

[@AllieThePrettyGator]

Sagitarius contains the most number of Messiar Objects