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How to See Kemble’s Cascade With A Telescope?

Kemble’s Cascade is an asterism in the constellation Camelopardalis featuring more than 20 stars, with the open cluster NGC 1502 at one end. This star pattern is an unofficial arrangement of stars known as an asterism and is not one of the recognized constellations in the night sky. HIP 18505 is the star in the center of Kemble’s Cascade with a magnitude of +4.9, which spreads from it to the southeast and northwest by degrees. The primary “structure” is made up of stars between mag. +7 and +8, but fainter members as low as mag. +10 supports the illusion of a straight line. Low-power telescope views are recommended since they show off the gorgeous star colors.

What is Kembles Cascade?

Kemble’s Cascade is an asterism, not a single object, located in the constellation Camelopardalis. It is a captivating line of more than 20 colorful stars arranged in an apparent straight line spanning about 3 degrees in the night sky. The asterism appears to “flow” into the compact open cluster NGC 1502, which can be found at one end. The asterism was discovered by Father Lucian Kemble while sweeping the sky with a pair of 7×35 binoculars. Kemble’s Cascade extends a degree from the center star HIP 18505 northwest and 1.5° to the southeast. The open star cluster NGC 1502 at the southeastern end of the cascade reveals some 25-30 stars in a triangular pattern in a small telescope at 60-70x. The stars in Kemble’s Cascade are of 5th to 10th magnitude, with a single 5th-magnitude star mid-span. The asterism lies over the border of Cassiopeia in the constellation Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, and due to its proximity to the north celestial pole, this object is not visible to observers well south of the equator. Kemble’s Cascade was named by Walter Scott Houston in honor of Father Lucian Kemble. The exact distance of Kemble’s Cascade from Earth is not mentioned in the provided context (the article mentions an approximate distance of 7,500 light-years, but this is not found in the given context). The asterism is not visible to observers well south of the equator due to its proximity to the north celestial pole. The exact size of the central star in Kemble’s Cascade is indeterminate as it is an asterism composed of multiple stars.

How far is Kembles Cascade from planet Earth?

Kemble’s Cascade is an asterism located in the constellation Camelopardalis in the northern sky. The approximate distance from Earth to Kemble’s Cascade is 3,300 light-years. The asterism is an apparent group of stars that is not a physically bound star cluster. The asterism is approximately 1,000 light-years away from Earth according to the constellation Camelopardalis. The approximate diameter of Kemble’s Cascade is around 3 degrees or five moon diameters. The asterism has a relative brightness of 5th to 10th magnitude, making it visible to the naked eye. The best time of year to view Kemble’s Cascade with a telescope is in the early nights of November and December.

Can you see Kembles Cascade with a telescope?

Yes, Kemble’s Cascade is visible with a standard telescope. A telescope with a smaller aperture, such as a 70mm telescope, can be sufficient to view Kemble’s Cascade in space. The resolving power of a telescope needed to see space object Kemble’s Cascade is 1.16 arcseconds with an aperture of 100mm. The recommended field of view for observing Kemble’s Cascade with a telescope is at least 3 degrees, and the approximate size of Kemble’s Cascade when viewed through a telescope is 3 degrees. The recommended magnification for viewing Kemble’s Cascade with a telescope is between 30x and 48x. Kemble’s Cascade can be found in the constellation Camelopardalis in the night sky, specifically in the northeast at nightfall. The diffraction limit impacts the resolution of a telescope when observing space objects like Kemble’s Cascade by defining the smallest detail that can be distinguished. Atmospheric conditions, light pollution, telescope quality, and the position of Kemble’s Cascade in the sky can all impact visibility through a telescope.

Quick Guide to Observe Kemble’s Cascade.

Kemble’s Cascade is best spotted in the early evenings of November and December with binoculars or a small telescope. Head north and find the two stars that make up the ends of the constellation. Imagine a line from Epsilon Cassiopeiae to Beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) (Segin). Imagine drawing a second line that is almost the same length as the first and travels in the same direction. Use your telescope to look for Kemble’s Cascade in the area where the line stops. Low-power telescope views are recommended since they show off the gorgeous star colors.

How to find Kemble’s Cascade?

Kemble’s Cascade is easily spottable in the sky. However, you can use any star map like Stellarium, SkySafari, and so on to find it. The Night Sky can help you personalize a custom star map that will display the alignment of the stars you prefer on the specific location and date you choose.

  1. Face north when you step outside on any clear, dark night this month. Even though Kemble’s Cascade is in the constellation Camelopardalis, you will probably only be able to see four of its stars unless you are viewing from a place with a dark sky that is largely free of light pollution.
  2. Depending on the time of night or season you are observing, the constellation Cassiopeia can either resemble the letter M or the letter W. Simply choose the letter you prefer because the constellation is currently standing on end in the early evening.
  3. Locate the two stars that make up the constellation’s endpoints. Draw an imaginary line from Beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) to Epsilon Cassiopeiae (Segin).
  4. Next, draw a second imaginary line that is nearly the same length as the previous one and runs in the same direction.
  5. With your telescope, search the region where the line ends to find Kemble’s Cascade. Depending on the size of the telescope you’re using, it will appear as a diagonal string of 15 to 25 stars that is about 2.5 degrees long and is equivalent to five full moons lined up in a row (this is why the Cascade is best seen with the wider field of view provided by telescopes rather than the more constrained eyepieces).

What is the best time to observe Kemble’s Cascade?

Stars appear to descend in a vertical cascade into the open star cluster NGC 1502 at the foot of Kemble’s Cascade. The best times to observe it with binoculars or a small telescope are in the early nights of November and December. Find the two stars that make up the constellation’s ends by facing north. Imagine a line from Epsilon Cassiopeiae to Beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) (Segin). Imagine drawing a second line that is almost the same length as the first and travels in the same direction. It will look like a diagonal string of 15 to 25 stars, roughly 2.5 degrees long and equivalent to five full moons lined up in a row, depending on the size of the telescope you’re using (this is why the Cascade is best seen with the wider field of view provided by telescopes rather than the more constrained eyepieces).

What telescope to see Kemble’s Cascade?

Both the Meade 6″ f/4.1 LX85 Reflector and the Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector are excellent telescopes for viewing Kemble’s Cascade. A list of telescopes has more telescope options that can see Kemble’s Cascade very clearly.

What size telescope to see Kemble’s Cascade?

With a 70mm telescope, you can view Kemble’s Cascade extremely clearly. The greater the aperture, the clearer and better the vistas and details.

What magnification is required to see Kemble’s Cascade?

A 50x magnification is sufficient to display the entire Kemble’s Cascade. To observe the details, 150x magnification is preferable. Most observers prefer a lower magnification, but if you have an eyepiece with a large field of vision, you can increase this.

Enjoying Kemble’s Cascade? Here are other things to see with your telescope.

Without a doubt, the vista of Kemble’s Cascade is magnificent. However, you may see thousands of jewels in the night sky with the same telescope. The moons and other features of the planets of our solar system can be seen best. The greatest ways to watch the largest planet in our solar system may be found in  Viewing Jupiter Through A Telescope. You can learn how to locate different nebulae with a scope by reading Viewing Nebula Through A Telescope . To make the most of your time stargazing, pick any of the objects from the ‘List of things to see with a telescope’ instead.

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