Observations -- Galaxies in Cancer & Dorado, 28th & 29th January 2017.
Hi All,
By way of introduction to this forum, here are some observations of a number of galaxies I observed on the 28th & 29th January 2017 using my 46cm f/4.9 Dobson mounted Newtonian. I commenced observing in Cancer at about 11.30pm where I have a substantial list of "yet to be seen" objects. After doing a few there, I decided it was a bit low on the horizon for my back (on the night) and thought I'd wait for them to get a little higher in the sky on another night.
I then switched my attention to Dorado and started there just before midnight. Following a hot (38 deg C day), it was still 25 deg C with no wind, dew or cloud and New Moon. The SQM-L reading at the start of the 2 hrs session was 22.09 and at the conclusion 22.04, with very good seeing -- at the start 7/10 and at the end 8/10.
Here are the observations that include two AGCS (463 & 585) galaxy clusters along an array of other galaxies. First in Cancer:
-77 is found between two small triangles of mag 11-13 *s to its NE and SW about 12' apart. Elong in about PA 120, fairly good SB about 1' x 30" growing broadly and mod to centre where there is a small, mod brighter zone and faint, spot-type nucleus. -43 is just beyond the triangle to the NE.
-43 is somewhat lower in SB and seems to have a superimposed mag 13.5* at centre or just fractionally off-centre to the E. Round or poss slight elong in about PA 0, 1.25' diameter and slightly larger than its NGC companion, growing broadly and slightly to centre without zones, core or apparent nucleus. There is a mag 14 * just S of the edge of the halo.
This is a very small, probably tiny eg found just to the NW of a small tri of mag 12, 12, 13 *s. 20-30" diameter, round, growing evenly and mod to centre without any apparent core, zones or nucleus.
This is a very faint, very low SB and tiny eg in PA 0, a ministule sliver of gossamer, 20 x 5" with no other apparent structure. Pointed at from the S by the longest side of a small I tri of mag 13 & 14 *s.
This eg is in an adjacent field NE from IC 2043, and SE of the most SE *, in a small almost RA Tri of mags 11.5 - 13.. Small to tiny, 30" diameter and seems off-round in PA 90??, growing broadly and slightly to centre with no evidence of core or nucleus.
This eg is W of 2 *s mags 12 with which it makes a small RA tri, those two *s are aligned almost exactly N-S. Elong in PA 90 pointing one of the two *s that makes the RA. Very LSB and very faint, a small wisp, 50" x 10" of consistent SB, V,V LSB mist.
These two eg lie in the N outliers of AGCS 462, though their R/V's are inconsistent with them being members. They are 4' apart and point at a mag 6.5 * SAO 322512 about 7' NW. -73 and -71 are both elong in about PA 60.
-73 is the most distant and presents as a small oval of mist 50 x 30" mod LBS, with diffuse edges gowing broadly and slightly to centre with no core, zones or nucleus. Faint but imm visible in the ep.
-71 is very similar, fainter and somewhat lower in SB and a little smaller, 30" x 15" with no visible structure.
x185 27' TF
The following 4/5 eg are all probable members of AGCS 463 in Dorado
The IC objects seen here along with ESO 157-36 are all faint but definitely seen. -82 is the brightest of all and lies near the presumed heart of the AGCS. It is 7' NW of mag 8 SAO 233541. Pretty close to round, maybe just off round in PA 135, 40" diameter, growing broadly and slightly to centre where there is a tiny slightly brighter zone, overall probably no more than 40" dia but possesses reasonable SB for its size.
-81 is 13' N of -82 and is similar to it though a little fainter, 40-odd arc sec across, round brightening slightly to centre. It is the 2nd brightest of the group.
-79 is about 7' NW of -82 and ESO 157-36 5' NE and the three form a S tri. These two look quite similar to each other though -36 is the fainter. Both in PA 135 as very small elong ovals brightening weakly to axis near centre and having somewhat lower S.B that -82 no other structure. Both are mod to quite faint.
PGC 15223 -- I am pretty confident though not convinced this was seen, 3' SW of -82 as an ephemeral, tiny spot of gossamer. The field (using 9mm at x247 appears to swim with tiny occasionally/fleetingly visible ephemeral dots of gossamer but difficult to hold them.
This eg lies on the south eastern outliers of AGCS 463 and is 16' from -82 -- the central eg in that cluster.
This eg is in the midst of a short line of 3 mags 13 *s and just a little N of the star in centre of the line. Very diffuse and LSB eg, probably <30" diameter of consistent LSB mist with no apparent structure.
This eg is pointed at from the WNW by 2 mag 10 *s. Very small eg, tiny, V/LSB, maybe 20" diameter, round, brightening broadly and slightly to centre but no apparent core, zones or nucleus.
This one is very easily picked up despite seeming very faint on the DSS. No *s imm associated. Slight elong in PA 120, 50" x 40" growing broadly and slightly to centre, mod low SB but no evidence of core, zones or nucleus. Mod faint only.
Found about 15' E of the LMC O.C NGC 1793, and 8' NE of NGC 1801, also an LMC O.C. Quite to very low S.B, quite elong, 2.5'x20" growing weakly to the axis near centre but no apparent core or nucleus.
This eg is almost due N of mag 8 SAO233832 by 10'. Very attracted very elong sliver in about PA 150, probably 3' x 20", ill-defined tips but flanks look harder, grows weakly to the axis near centre where there is a hint of a very faint streak-like zone, possibly 40" x 5" in the centre but no nucleus.
This is another quite attractive edge on or nearly so eg in PA 45 and points at a mag 12* just off it's NE tip. Edge on spiral form, 2.25 x 20", tips aren't sharp but the flanks are fairly well defined grows broadly and slightly across the axis nr centre to an occasional, weakly brighter, small streak-like core but no nucleus. Very attractive.
Found SW of a mag 7.5 * by 9' and in the same field as the LMC O.C NGC 2136. Presents as a LSB very small to tiny eg 20-30" diameter, round grows evenly and mod to centre where it is dominated by a mag 15 stellaring at centre.
-87 is decidedly the brighter of the two that are almost in contact, though it is still small, 30-40" diameter but has near centre a very small mod brighter core with a faint *ar nucleus. -87 is almost appended to the SW, 15" diameter, substantially lower S.B, growing weakly to centre.
This eg actually looks better in the ep than the DSS and found to the WSW
of a small tri of mag 10.5 - 11 *s by about 8'. 40-50" diameter, round, growing slightly and evenly to centre where there is an occasionally visible stellaring marking the core/nucleus.
NGC 2235 is the major member of this group and found immediately SW of an 11th mag *. Small, round, almost tiny 20-30" diameter round eg that grows broadly and slightly to centre and has not bad SB for its size. The three other NGC egs are in a short line about 5' long almost running N-S about 6' SW of -35. They run -29, 30 & 33 N-S and are each only about 2' apart.
-29 is the brightest of the three NGC eg in a line 20-30" diameter, grows slightly to centre and occasionally seems to have a stellaring at centre. Going further S there are two faint *s, mags 14.5 - 15 then -30.
-30 is small and round, 20" diameter, a little fainter than -29, tiny halo a little brighter near centre with a very faint stellaring at centre. Next one is -33.
-33 is a little larger and possibly slightly elong in PA 45, grows weakly to the axis nr centre but no other structure, 20" x 10" tiny halo.
2' N of -29 is a very, very faint ephemeral spot of occasionally visible haze -- PGC 75671. Not labelled on Megastar or Realsky but is visible on Realsky. Difficult.
3' E of -30 is a similar extremely faint spot of occasionally visible gossamer -- PGC 75689. Not labelled on Megastar or Realsky but is visible on Realsky. very difficult. Very occasionally visible at best.
Best,
Les D
Last edited by NGC7702; February 9th, 2017 at 12:31 AM.
Reason: Accidently omitted to include notes on MCG +4-20-23.