Surely it can't be, can it?

[iain666]

So here I am, just the far side of the Statue of Liberty nebula.

Then I spot a tight little cluster of very bright stars in the sky box. It can't be that, I think. It must be eight or nine kylies away but then again it is hauntingly familiar.

Still, it can't be - can it?

 

[BanzaiZAP]

Of course it is. It always is. NGC 7822 is the most visible, and most asked about object in the sky. If you are anywhere to the West of the Bubble, and see a bright thing in the sky, its NGC 7822. Always.

Still, its also one of the coolest early/intermediate Exploration trips out there. Seeing that bright spot get bigger jump by jump brings home the scale of the Galaxy, and what it means to be an Explorer.

 

[iain666]

Found it, and it isn't. The closeness to the right direction is a coincidence.

I'm end on to a ~200ly tube of B class mostly 2MASS stars. HD 306185 is about in the middle of it.

 

[Kenneth McGrew]

Found it, and it isn't. The closeness to the right direction is a coincidence.

I'm end on to a ~200ly tube of B class mostly 2MASS stars. HD 306185 is about in the middle of it.

http://i.imgur.com/OnI2UsB.png

yep this, I did this trip about 4 months ago and went down the same train of thought... what the hell is that, lets go see - let me know if you see my graffiti there

 

[Jackie Silver]

Nice - I see there's a similar bunch nearby in IC 2944 - CPD-62 2198 etc.

 

[iain666]

Nice - I see there's a similar bunch nearby in IC 2944 - CPD-62 2198 etc.

That one makes a nice fish shaped constellation for a few hundred ly as you fly from Eta Carina to Statue of Liberty.