Printable View
Last night, I somehow managed to tease out and sketch this very faint interacting galaxy pair N 5257/58, (VV 55, Arp 240) in Virgo. Using my 10" Dob at 170x and all the AV I could muster I could, from time to time, see this facinating pair. Both showed as extemely faint knots, like spots beside each other. I certainly did not have any hopes of seeing any faint tidal connection between them. They may show better in my 12.5" Dob next time.
Phil
Thats excellent! I love to hear observers pushing their own limits as well as their equipment.
Any chance of sharing the sketches with us Phil?
I am planning on getting a digital camera in the next few months. I have lots of galaxy sketches I'd like to post Dragan.
Phil,
I had a look at Arp 240 two nights ago and had my best all time view of these dancing galaxies. The bridge between them was direct vision and HII knots on the edge of NGC 5258 were resolved into separate clumps.
Attachment 1616
Here's a transcript of my observation of this pair with Jimi's 48" scope. Of course, it is nowhere close in my 18"!
Attachment 1799
I found a sketch with my 27". Bridge was visible with averted vision.
27", 419x, Seeing II, NELM 6m5+
Attachment 1802