Imagine an owl with bright eyes, outstretched wings and talons extended descending on you in the dark of night and you are picturing the delightful and humorous Owl Cluster. The first look of this bright cluster often results in laughter among stargazers.
The Owl Cluster, also known as NGC 457, is easy to find. First find Cassiopeia. Then star hop from Segin to Ruchbah and continue in the same basic direction until reaching the next bright star. This star is actually both eyes of the owl when viewed with a telescope.
While it is possible to view the cluster with binoculars, a tripod is likely needed to see any details. It is best viewed under low power in a telescope, especially a reflector without a diagonal, so that the owl appears upright and in attack-mode.
Look for two bright eyes, strings of stars defining the wings and 'talon' stars below. The photo above shows it normally, meaning upside-down. In a reflecting telescope, the owl is upright and that's why stargazers are often startled in a delightful way the first time it is viewed. Click the toggle above to see for yourself.
Some books name NGC 457 the E.T. Cluster for the alien but, at Starry Hill, we prefer the Owl Cluster. Have a look... what name do your think fits best?
Viewing Owl Cluster
Level
Easy
Rating
Best Viewing
September through February
Find
To find the Owl Cluster, first find Cassiopeia. Then hop from Segin to Ruchbah and continue to the first bright star.
To the naked-eye, the Owl Cluster will appear as a single star. This marks the eyes.
At least 10x power is needed and probably a tripod to see any detail.
With a telescope, use low power. A telescope with a diagonal will show the Owl Cluster as it appears upside-down. But a telescope without a diagonal will flip it and show it right-side up and easier to see the attacking owl.
