Object of the Week Apr 1, 2012 - Hickson 55 aka VV 172 - "Mr Galaxy-Chain" itself

[Marko]

A pattern is emerging in many of the threads here on DSF. Allow me to speculate:
Perhaps a 48" scope in deep Texas dark skies offers a better view than a 20" range dob.
Again, this is just a theory but several observations on DSF 'seem' to support that theory ... ;-)
(Thanks for the perspective SteveG)

[Steve Gottlieb]

A pattern is emerging in many of the threads here on DSF. Allow me to speculate:
Perhaps a 48" scope in deep Texas dark skies offers a better view than a 20" range dob.
Again, this is just a theory but several observations on DSF 'seem' to support that theory ... ;-)
(Thanks for the perspective SteveG)

You learn fast, (not so) young grasshopper

[RolandosCY]

Hi there,
a group of observers has observed Hickson 55 earlier this evening from the mountain site of the Cyprus Astronomical Society at Amiantos (alt approximately 4,500ft) with excellent transparency. The group was "easily" seen through a 16" Meade Lightbridge with direct vision, though I was not (yet) told how many of the individual galaxies were resolved. The galaxy string was described as "fascinating". It's kind of funny, I asked them to observe it since due to night shifts I was unable to get there myself. Hopefully I'll observe it later this week...