Andrew Cooper
Apr 18, 2022    Waikoloa, HI (map)
15cm f/4 Newtonian, Makaʻiki Mk2 @ 27x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 6.5 Moon: 0%

Quite bright and obvious, 20' in diameter, resolved, stars 10th magnitude and fainter in a rich galactic starfield, rich and well concentrated with a well defined extent, the density of stars dropping off quickly at the edge of the cluster rather than fading into the background

Andrew Cooper
Dec 26, 2020    Waikoloa, HI (map)
20cm f/6 Newtonian, Cave Astrola @ 76x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

Big, bright, 20' diameter, rich, resolved, a very well defined cluster with distinct boundaries, a few dozen 9-10th magnitude stars punctuating a rich swarm of fainter stars, the orange 60 Cnc is 1° east, 1°45' west of Acubens

Andrew Cooper
Mar 1, 2011    Hale Pohaku, HI (map)
46cm f/4.5 Newtonian, Deep Violet @ 175x
Seeing: 6 Transparency: 6 Moon: 0%

Large, bright, coarse, about 20' across, arranged in clumps and chains

Andrew Cooper
Nov 17, 2009    Hale Pohaku, HI (map)
46cm f/4.5 Newtonian, Deep Violet @ 95x
Seeing: 7 Transparency: 7 Moon: 0%

A modest cluster, fully resolved, a few dozens of apparent members arranged in clumps over a 20' area

Andrew Cooper
Feb 5, 1998    Sycamore House, Tucson, AZ (map)
20cm f/10 SCT

Small open cluster with about 50 stars visible, fairly dim with only one bright star

Rev. T.W. Webb
May 19, 1885    Hardwick, Herefordshire, England (map)

Cluster (h., about 200 stars, 10-15 mg.) visible in finder.

― Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes, T. W. Webb, 1917

Captain William Henry Smyth
Mar 10, 1836    No. 6 The Crescent, Bedford, England (map)
150mm f/17.6 refractor by Tully 1827

A rich but loose cluster, at the root of the Crab's southern claw; where a line from Rigel through Procyon, into the east-north-east, will find it about 5° north of ε Hydræ. It consists principally of a mass of stars of the 9th and 10th magnitudes, gathered somewhat in the form of a Phrygian cap, followed by a crescent of stragglers. It was first registered by Messier in 1780, and resolved by Sir W. Herschel in 1783. The place here given was obtained by differentiation from δ Cancri: and though differing so largely in RA from Messier, it is evidently his object. With a power of 157 on his large telescope, Sir William Herschel saw above 200 stars at once, in the field of view; and on gazing at it with my refractor, of far inferior light, but excellent definition, charged also with a power magnifying 157 times, as shown by a dynameter, the object appears as herewith represented.

― A Cycle of Celestial Objects Vol II, The Bedford Catalogue, William Henry Smyth, 1844

John Herschel
Mar 20, 1830    

Superb cluster, very rich and brilliant; fills field; stars from 9th to 15th magnitude; straggling edges and not very compressed in the middle.

Charles Messier
Jan 6, 1780    

Cluster of small stars with nebulosity, Below the southern claw of Cancer. The position determined from the star α

― Connaissance des Temps, 1781

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

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