Object of the Week August 5, 2012 – IC 1296

[deepskytraveler]

Object of the Week August 5, 2012 – IC 1296

Barred Spiral Galaxy
Morphology: SBbc (NED)

Lyra

RA 18 53 18.8 DEC +33 03 57

Size: 0.9’ x 0.5’ Mag: 14.8 (P) (MegaStar – RC3)
Size: 1.1’ x 0.9 Mag: 14.8 (NED)

IC 1296 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Lyra. It is a low surface brightness galaxy that lies in line of sight 4' to the northwest of the more famous planetary nebula M57 Ring Nebula. IC 1296 is much farther away - an estimated distance of ~221-million light years (NED data) as compared to M57's mere 2300LY. (Wikipedia)

You’ve likely crossed paths with IC 1296 dozens of times without seeing it – after all it is only 4’ from M57 the Ring Nebula. However IC 1296 is a low surface brightness face-on barred-spiral galaxy. Though its condensed star like core should be readily visible with 10”-12” and larger aperture, its spiral arms are the challenge. This one really requires some clear, dark, and steady skies as well as knowing exactly where to look for it.

IC1296DSS.jpg

Dragan Nikin provides these directions for locating IC 1296. “I use an asterism of stars that make up a small "smiley face". You can see it in the DSS image to the lower left of M57. The two brightest stars are its eyes and you can make out a nose and mouth (the mouth comprises of a couple close doubles). IC1296 lies immediately to the side of the nose back towards the Ring.”

IC1296 smiley face.jpg

My observation of IC 1296:
2010 July 13 23:55 CDT @ Green River State Wildlife Preserve near Dixon, IL
Seeing: 4/5 Transparency: Average
Obsession 25” f/5 (Toto) at 353x (UO 9mm Ortho) and 453x (UO 7mm Ortho, TV Nagler 7mm) – Easily located within a circular star pattern. Bright, stellar core easily visible. Unable to see the very faint arms with direct vision. With averted vision a hazy smudge popped in and out. Unable to discern any structure. A tough one.


What do you see?

"GIVE IT A GO AND LET US KNOW"

GOOD LUCK AND GREAT VIEWING!

[Dragan]

Thanks for the posting Mark!

This is a great little object that is definitely a challenge! BUT I have found that if I show the smiley face asterism to fellow observers, it helps out immensely.

[RolandosCY]

My best yet sighting of this great object. Unfortunately, no distinct hint of the arms, but the core was steadily visible!

1296a1.jpg