Light Cup
Palatable Deep Sky Objects

Connoisseur Observation Scale:
      FS JJJ = Filet Mignon steak: wow, awesome, spectacular, unbelievable, must see to believe!
      NS JJ = New York steak: nice, ok, satisfying, good.
      GS J = Ground steak: yawn, will do, give me aperture or give me Nagler eyepiece!
      SL &  = Galactic salad: on photon diet, real tough object to observe.   See also The Light Cup holy grail
      Light Cup favorite (color coded)

Symbol: ® - seen by TV-102 Light Cup ® - seen by NP127 Light Cup
® - other observers with 4-inch TV refractor ® - other observers with 4" refractor 
J - other observers with 4½" Newtonian Å - other observers with 85mm, 80mm or less
  ³ - visible only with nebula filter NGC - part of Herschel 400 List3
   


Updated: XX/03/06
 Total non-Messier objects bagged by Light Cup: 216.       Herschel-400 objects: 111.
Total non-Messier objects harvested by 4-inch refractor: 408.

Object ID

 Cons Typ Scale

Comments
Messier Objects - - - See the Ambrosial Messier Objects.
NGC 1 ? Peg GX   This has got to be an interesting object, being #1 on the NGC list I mean.  Although this galaxy is listed at magnitude 13 and a minimum aperture of 8 or 10 inches have been stated, it may be within a striking distance of a 4-inch.  So let us 4-inchers give it a try!
NGC 23 ® Peg GX    
NGC 40 ®J   Cep PN FS A grand planetary nebula with great view all the way up to 293x!  Most interesting in that the central star appeared to be much brighter than the nebula itself!  A must see!
NGC 55 ® Scl GX   Houston noted that NGC 55 reminded him of the better known, but smaller, M82.
NGC 128 ? Psc GX   Houston saw it through his 5-inch, but wrote "it is beyond the grasp of his 4-inch Clark."  If he were still here with us today, I bet he would challenge us to see if we can nail it through the 4-inch.
NGC 134 ® Scl GX    
NGC 147/185 ® Cas GX    
NGC 188 ® Cep OC    
NGC 246 ®®J Cet PN FS A very interesting and strange planetary nebula  in that there are a few stars “embedded” in it!    A must see!
NGC 247 ®® Cet GX NS Best view at 110x, which looks like a comet tail with the star GSC 8549:2326 as the coma.
NGC 253 ®® Cet GX NS "Sculptor Galaxy".  Alas, light pollution sculptured out some of the beauty of this galaxy.   A darker sky may make it taste like FS J.
NGC 255 ® Cet GX    
NGC 281 ®®Å Cas EN NS Some dubbed it "Pacman Nebula".   The TV-102 couldn't detect any shape.  But with UHC filter, it became a more pleasing object.
NGC 288 ® Scl GC    
NGC 404 ®® And GX NS Also known as "Mirach's Ghost".  Ed Ting used this galaxy to compare contrast between the FS102 and AP Traveller.  Very interesting galaxy as it contrast with the very bright star Mirach.
NGC 436 ÅJ Cas OC    
NGC 457 ®ÅJ Cas OC FS "ET Cluster".   Definitely looked like an ET through the TV-102, not an Owl!  The “eyes” are the most striking feature, which gives the impression of being crossed-eye: the 5th magnitude 34 Phi Cassiopeiae being a much brighter “eye” than the 7th magnitude SAO 22187 eye”.   Hence, my Light Cup has re-christened this favorite cluster to the "Crossed-Eye ET Cluster" J.
NGC 467/470/474 ® Psc GX SL Not at all easy. Walter Houston only wrote about NGC 470.  The toughest one for the TV-102 was NGC 467.
NGC 488 ®® Psc GX GS Another galaxy in close proximity to a star. 
NGC 520 ® Psc GX GS Another galaxy in close proximity to a star. 
NGC 524 ® Psc GX    
NGC 578 ® Cet GX    
NGC 584/596 ® Cet GX    
NGC 604 Å Tri EN    
NGC 654 ® Cas OC GS Same FOV as M103.  Dimmer than its mag 6.5.
NGC 663 ® Cas OC GS Same FOV as M103.  Dim.
NGC 720 ® Cet GX    
NGC 752 ® And OC NS Large, almost fill the 3º FOV at 22x, even though it is listed at only 50'.  Two bright yellow stars of equal magnitude to the south.
NGC 772 ®® Ari GX GS This galaxy is extremely faint smudge like M74 but perhaps smaller.
NGC 821 ® Ari GX NS Another galaxy in close proximity to a star. 
NGC 869/884 ®® Per OC FS "Double Cluster".  How can an observation be written for such a beautiful cluster?   There are two interesting yellowish white stars of equal brightness in NCG 869 that looked like eyes: 6.6 mag SAO 23178 and 6.6 mag SAO 23182.  The eyes looked like they belong to a face hidden behind a veil.  Above SAO 23178, there is a group of stars that forms a semi-circle that looked like an eyebrow (at 60x).   The eyebrow is very notable at 110x. The stars that made up the eyebrow are: 9.4 mag GSC 3694:1772, 8.1 mag GSC 3694:3804, 8.6 mag GSC 3694:3807, and 9.3 mag GSC 3694:2324.   An all-time favorite and a required observation!
NGC 891 ®® And GX SL This galaxy almost got put into my 4-inch holy grail, but perseverance paid off.   Torturously dim and very difficult.  This was the galaxy that convinced me that tough galaxies can be kidnapped by a meager 4-inch aperture.
NGC 925 ®® Tri GX SL Large and much dimmer than NGC 972 and not a piece of cake as I thought before observing.
NGC 936 ® Cet GX    
NGC 972 ® Ari GX SL Prior to NGC 972, my TV-102 and I had a dimmo-phobia from dim galaxies.  I used to limit my list to galaxies brighter than 10th magnitude.  The magnitude 12.2  NGC 972 was the dimmest galaxy the keen-eye TV-102 caught last year and source of encouragement to include magnitude 12 galaxies into my list!
NGC 1022 ® Cet GX    
NGC 1023 ®Å Per GX    
NGC 1032 ® Cet GX    
NGC 1055 ® Cet GX  
NGC 1084 ® Eri GX GS Definite oval shape with brightening toward the center.
NGC 1232 ® Eri GX    
NGC 1300 ® Eri GX    
NGC 1316/1317 Å For GX    
NGC 1332 ® Eri GX GS Very elongated with bright core.
NGC 1365 Å Eri GX    
NGC 1432 ® Tau RN SL "Maia Nebula."    RASC Deep Sky Challenge Object. Round shape is quite evident.
NGC 1435 ®®® Tau RN SL "Merope Nebula."  RASC Deep Sky Challenge Object. The fan shape is quite evident.
NGC 1491 ®Å Per EN NS Christened by the Light Cup as the "Fan Nebula".  A fan shape is well seen under an 8mm TV Radian (110x).
NGC 1499 ®® Per EN ? "California Nebula".   I spent a lot of time on this nebula last year without filter and I thought I caught a glimpse.  Alas, the astro-wagon train to California stopped short L for the Light Cup.  But we're due for a rematch in Episode II: Attack of the Filter J .
NGC 1501 Å Cam PN    
NGC 1502 ® Cam OC FS "Kemble's Cacade".  A must see for a 4-inch and use a wide field eyepiece for a 3º panoramic FOV; otherwise, it can't be fully appreciated!  Did you dive into the waterfall?
NGC 1514 ® Tau PN   "Crystal Ball Planetary".  Houston noted that the central star can be seen in his 4-inch Clark stopped down to 2-inch!
NGC 1535 ®J Eri PN FS "Cleopatra's Eye".  I dare assert that this planetary nebula is as beautiful as Elizabeth Taylor in her movie Cleopatra!   Bright and green color (like Elizabeth 's eyes) through my TV-102 all the way up to 293x!  I glimpsed the 12.1 magnitude central star (3 times) at 293x; could this be the “Cleopatra’s Eye” as its name suggest?   If the Light Cup ever chair the Royal Astronomical Society, this nebula would have been renamed to the "Elizabeth's Eye" nebula J .
NGC 1555 ® Tau RN   "Hind's Variable Nebula".  This one just wouldn't get into the cup of the Light Cup last year.  A definite rematch in Episode II.
NGC 1569 ? Cam GX   Houston wrote that it is “well within the range of an 8-inch instrument, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it were picked up by a skilled observer using a 4-inch.”  We 4-inchers accept the challenge.
NGC 1637 ® Eri GX    
NGC 1644 ® Aur OC   Some dubbed it the "Kite Cluster".  
NGC 1788 ® Ori RN FS This is one incredible nebula.  Two knots could be seen through only 4-inch of aperture!  Can take magnification well up to my 5mm TV Radian (176x).  Some observers mentioned a peanut shape.  Another must see!
NGC 1807/1817 ® Tau OC    
NGC 1851 ® Col GC    
NGC 1857 ® Aur OC    
NGC 1883 ® Aur OC    
NGC 1893 ® Aur OC    
NGC 1999 ® Ori RN  NS The photo shows a small "T" shape dark nebula? inside this reflection nebula.  Very nice view with the 5mm Radian (176x) and amazingly still bright with the 3mm Radian (293x).  Alas, the "T" shape could not be seen L.  A must see nebula nonetheless.
NGC 2017 ® Lep - NS Who says stars are dreary?  A pretty asterism of 5 stars with 3 contrasting colors.
NGC 2022 ® Ori PN NS Dim gray at all magnification.
NGC 2023 ®® Ori RN SL
 NS 		Need maximum contrast between background sky such as from the TV-102 to catch this one.  With UHC filter, it's considerable easier.
NGC 2024 ®Å Ori EN SL  "Flame Nebula", also called "Tank's Track Nebula".   Incinerated by the TV-102 with UHC filter.  12mm TV Radian (73x) gave the best view; dark rift could be seen!
NGC 2071 ®® Ori RN NS John Mallas noted that it is visible through his 4-inch Unitron refractor.  A great double reflection nebulae with M78 which is still in the same FOV with the 8mm TV Radian (110x).
NGC 2112 ® Ori OC GS Remarkably dim under my light polluted sky through my NP127, much dimmer than its mag 9.1.  Saw about 20 stars at 110x showing central clumping with averted vision.
NGC 2126 ® Aur OC    
NGC 2158 ®®Å Gem OC NS Many observers reported as difficult.  More puzzling are these comments I found by Houston and Burnham.  Houston wrote “it is generally too difficult for apertures of less than 5 inches, and I have only one other report of it being seen in a 4-inch.   Burnham wrote “A very rich and distant galactic star cluster, located about half a degree southwest of M35, looking like a faint nebulosity in a 6-inch glass… Inconspicuous in the small telescope, resolvable only in large instruments…”  Well, this cluster was easily caught by the TV-102 at 22x and looked like a dim, hazy galaxy!  It was also seen by Tom Trusock's TV-102.   One extremely experienced observer told me that he had seen it through his 70mm Tele Vue Pronto - Wow!
NGC 2194 ®® Ori OC GS Very dim, about 10 stars seen, many more with averted vision.  Pretty good consider the brightest star is this OC is mag 13.
NGC 2174/2175 Å Ori O/N   Open cluster NGC 2175 seen by an 80mm ST refractor.
NGC 2207/IC 2163 ® CMa GX SL "Kissing" galaxies.  Quite difficult, extremely dim, near the edge of detection.  Could not detect IC 2163 L.
NGC 2237/2244 ®Å Mon O/N SL "Rosette Nebula".  Most of the time, my TV-102 Light Cup feels like a light mug.  But if there is one nebula that seems to make it feel like a light "copita" (a tiny glass for imbibing tequila), this must be it L.  Zero, zip, nada (without filters of course).   Worse off, a few observers with an 80mm ST refractor with UHC or O-III reported as having seen it!  Talking about being astro-embarrassed big time!  A clear object for Episode II: Attack of the filter.
NGC 2261 ® Mon RN FS "Hubble's Variable Nebula".  After having failed at "Hind's Variable Nebula", my expectation was low.  Boy, was I wrong!  This nebula is spectacularly unusual with only 4-inch.  A fan shape clearly seen by the TV-102!  Even with my 4mm TV Radian (220x), it retains its shape and still bright to see.  My Light Cup sure likes Mr. Hubble more than Mr. Hind J.   A must see showpiece!
NGC 2264 ® Mon OC NS "Christmas Tree Cluster".    After 3 astro-strikes L, the "Cone Nebula" went into my 4-inch holy grail.
NGC 2335/2343 ® Mon OC GS A very dim double looking clusters
NGC 2346 ® Mon PN NS "Hourglass Nebula".   Nice view through the TV-102 with the 5mm TV Radian (176x).  Alas, the "hourglass" shape was not seen L.  
NGC 2353 ® Mon OC GS Loose open cluster (about 20 stars) with outer stars  in the NW forming a "helmet".
NGC 2359 ® CMa EN - "Duck Nebula", never did like the "Thor's Helmet" name.  I was hoping the TV-102 would be served a roast duck.  Well almost, it ate everything except for the "duck bill" shape L.  Ok, maybe filter would help.
NGC 2360 ®J CMa OC GS Look a lot like M13 with my 20mm TV Plossl (44x) but no where near as dense.
NGC 2362 ®Å CMa OC FS If anyone in the astro-audience still thinks that open clusters are boring (as I used to until I read Sue French's Small Scope Sampler column), the TV-102 invites you to emerse into NGC 2362.  You'll see a strong 3-D resemblance to looking at a small glass pebble with a bubble at the center and tiny little bubbles scatter around inside the pebble at this magnification.   The cluster using a 12mm TV Radian (73x) gave a strong impression that Tau Canis Majoris exploded and is spitting out stellar matter (those pin pricked surrounding stars)!  A must see for open cluster heretics of all ages and experience!
NGC 2371/2372 ® Gem PN FS Some called this the "Micro-Dumbbell".   As Bud Abbott would have said, "I get it, Lou [Costello].   With the 6mm TV Radian (146x) and the TV-102, there - a hint of a tiny dumbbell."
NGC 2392 ®®J Gem PN FS "Eskimo Nebula".   If the Light Cup were to be asked to choose the best planetary nebula from the NGC Catalog (and it would be one heck of a tough choice), it would choose the "Eskimo".  For with only 4-inch of aperture, not much details can be seen in the NGC planetary nebulae, except this one!  For on one excellent night, grainy texture could be clearly seen from 352x (5mm Tak LE eyepiece and 2X Ultima barlow) all the way up to an incredible 586x,  That's 146X/inch folks!  The central star is child's play!  Blue-green color like jade all the way up to 220x!  Much, much brighter than M57!  Oh, let's not forget his "wife", a  yellowish 8.2 magnitude star SAO 79428 “standing besides him!  If you haven't seen any NGC planetary nebula, this one is a must see!
NGC 2403 ®® Cam GX FS This is one large galaxy that can be seen so well through a 4-inch.   Looking like an amoeba (most elongated spiral galaxy looks like amoeba to me), it is very large, bright and easily found at 22x; elongation is obvious. At 30x, it reminds me of M78 with 2 eyes embedded in the galactic ghostly face staring at me! The 2 eyes are mag 9.9 GSC 4120:1000 and mag 10.3 stars.  However, this ghost seems to have one weak eye (the mag 10.3 star) that kept winking at me.  Since there is no name for the galaxy, the TV-102 christened NGC 2403 as the "Weak-Eye Ghost" J . 
NGC 2419 ® Lyn GC SL "Intergalactic Wanderer", the most remote globular cluster known in the Milky Way.  Very dim, the dimmest globular cluster through the TV-102 in 2001.  Well, until the Light Cup met up with NGC 5053 which makes NGC 2419 feel like a child's play by comparison!
NGC 2438 ®®JÅ Pup PN FS This is one fun planetary nebula!  It is small, but actually a lot larger than many of the NGC planetary nebulae.  What makes it tough is because it is well hidden inside the open cluster M46.  The TV-102 spent some fun time playing hide-and-seek without filter and finally tagged the nebula "you're it" J.  Note that most observers use nebula filter, which exposes it right away, ruining all the fun!
NGC 2440 ® Pup PN FS The TV-102 made an astounding realization that seem to match an observation made from a 18-inch reflector!  There are two bright knots that appeared at 352x and 440x, about ½ as bright as the photo on this (favorite) web site.   I guess luck + excellent seeing helped a great deal.  A must see for a 4-incher affectionado!  
NGC 2451 ®Å Pup OC NS Looks a lot like faced on spiral galaxy with spiral arms without the dusty clouds of course, especially when defocused.  Try it.
NGC 2452 ® Pup PN GS A very dim planetary nebula, so dim I wasn't sure of its shape!
NGC 2467 ® Pup DN FS Normally, the TV-102 doesn't do well with diffused nebula, but this one is a gem.  It has an orange star in the middle of a round nebula!  Might easily fool a 4-incher into thinking it is a planetary nebula!  Henceforth, the Light Cup christened this nebula as the "Fool's Gold Planetary" J.
NGC 2477 ®Å Pup OC    
NGC 2506 ®® Mon OC GS Dreary view until 176x; doesn't look like a dense GC.
NGC 2509 ® Mon OC    
NGC 2537 ® Lyn GX SL "Bear Paw Galaxy", most of the most unique looking galaxy!    Quick difficult and very dim through the TV-102.  The Light Cup was unable to see the 3 claws L, but with fierce determination, a rematch has been scheduled.   See this wonderful photo.
NGC 2539 ® Pup OC    
NGC 2655 ® Cam GX NS This galaxy looked like it got trapped inside a triangular belly of the Giraffe which are made up of the stars: SAO 6692, SAO 6656, SAO 6687 at 73x.
NGC 2672/2673 ®® Cnc GX GS "Kissing" galaxies.  Very dim, don't think I saw NGC 2673.
NGC 2681 ® UMa GX    
NGC 2683 ®®J Lyn GX NS This galaxy is still bright at 146x.  Begin to see graininess within the galaxy central portion
NGC 2692 ® UMa GX    
NGC 2749 ® Cnc GX    
NGC 2764 ® Cnc GX    
NGC 2768 ® UMa GX    
NGC 2775 ®®J Cnc GX GS Dim overall.
NGC 2782 ® Lyn GX    
NGC 2784 ® Hya GX    
NGC 2841 ® UMa GX    
NGC 2855 ® Hya GX    
NGC 2859 ® LMi GX    
NGC 2903 ®® Leo GX FS Large, graininess seen.  Can take high magnification of 220x!
NGC 2962 ® Hya GX    
NGC 2976 Å UMa GX   Can be seen through a 60mm Unitron refractor!