Collinder 62 is a little-observed open cluster found about 5° south of Capella. Look for a fairly obvious triangle of three 5th-magnitude stars. Collinder 62 includes the two southern stars in the triangle along with several of the fainter suns in the area.
NGC 1857 is set about 2° south of Collinder 62. This small but dense collection of stars may just be visible through steadily braced 10×50 binoculars.
Stock 10 is located about 4° west-northwest of Theta Aurigae and 4° north of M36. The cluster’s three brightest stars form a small arc of 6th-magnitude stars.
by Phil Harrington
“Every sport culminates in an ultimate contest to determine the best of the best: for baseball, it’s the World Series; for football, the Super Bowl; for hockey, the Stanley Cup. Other athletes compete in the Olympics, the Ironman Triathlon, and the Tour de France. All present challenges of speed and prowess in their respective sports. So how can astronomers test their observing skills? In a Messier marathon.”
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