The two gigantic stellar arcs are unique, and unutterably beautiful at all magnifications

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My dearest friend, Petro, with her husband Elbie, and without whose friendship this website would never have seen the light of day

It is absolutely superb observing these two exotic arcs at all magnifications, beginning with a pair of binoculars! The Quadrant is so gigantic and star-filled that it is clearly visible as a shimmering arc in 10×50 binoculars. Lacking any nebulosity and saturated with stars, the Quadrant, like all star clouds, gives up its stellar secrets in stunning fashion with increasing magnification.

The Quadrant. Image: Aladin JPG

The smaller Sextant too, is plainly visible in my 10×50 binoculars as a small, glowing arc. And in the telescope, the Sextant is absolutely beautiful. Its smaller size, fewer stars, two superbubbles and intricate nebulosity make it a very different, but equally superb, observing experience to the sparkling Quadrant.

The Sextant. Image: Aladin JPG