Most Difficult Messier Object

[WWPierre]

Here is another screenshot with a wider angle showing Juno. The line of stars is in the lower right corner.

[darkskies]

Hey Pierre, I tried to find that but I can't see it. Also, how do you change you FOV? I looked everywhere but can't figure it out.

[MarkM]

Originally Posted by WWPierre

Here is another screenshot with a wider angle showing Juno. The line of stars is in the lower right corner.

OK, now I see it as well.

Will def check this out tonight, probably first item on the menu.

[EricFD]

Originally Posted by WWPierre

Here is another screenshot with a wider angle showing Juno. The line of stars is in the lower right corner.

That is awfully strange. I saw it, too, when I used Stellarium last night. I can't imagine what that could be, unless it's an error in the program. But, if it isn't an error, then, like you said, it's has got to be one of the strangest cosmic coincidences of all times. Thanks for posting, Pierre.

Eric

[MarkM]

clouds came in for my attempt--will try using binos from a blue zone tonight or tomorrow.

Oddly, Cartes du Ciel doesnt show this asterism.

[WWPierre]

I just posted this on the Stellarium Forum at Sourceforge.

Hi Everybody,

I use Stellarium a lot as moderator over at Astronomyforums.net to help answer questions posed by the less-experienced members.

I also use it to keep track of Juno, and last time I checked, she was approaching an asterism of about 30 13ish mag stars in an almost perfect straight line.

I would have to have perfect seeing in order to resolve this in my scope, but I am interested, none the less, in how this group of stars came to be.

I couldn't find it in CDC, but that may be because CDC isn't intuitive, and I have been spoiled by Stellarium.

In any case, There is a thread over there with screenshots.

[Registered users can see links. ]

Is it possible that this is an artifact in the program? Perhaps an easter egg?

Thanks,

Peter

[WWPierre]

Right now, I don't think it exists, other than in Stellarium. From what I know about celestial mechanics, if they are just along our line of sight, that would be so coincidental that they would be known among people such as us.

If, in fact, they are a system, they would have to be a circlet of stars revolving around a black hole or a central star edge on to us. I have never heard of this phenominon before....Well....that's not saying much.

Anyway, I'll get back to you as soon as I hear back from the guys who gave us Stellarium.

[EricFD]

Here's a closeup of what Pierre has been talking about. As he said, not one of these stars has an identification, and yet, I don't believe this is a software error.

Pierre, I'm curious. Have you gone to the Stellarium forum and inquired about this anomaly? It is most definitely one of the oddest things I have ever seen.

Eric

[WWPierre]

Heh, great minds........

[EricFD]

....great minds!

I checked the the [Registered users can see links. ] on astrometry, but it was of no help. Oh well, it was worth a shot. LOL

Eric