Fourcade-Figueroa Object
ESO 270-017 = Arp-Madore 1331-451 = MCG -07-28-004 = PGC 47847
RA: 13h 34m 47.3s
DEC: -45° 32' 51"
Type: SBm?
Size: 11.5'x1.4'
P.A.: 118°
Mag: V = 11.7, B = 12.2
Despite an total V magnitude of 11.2 (Carnegie-Irvine Survey gives V = 11.7), the surface brightness is very low so this is a tough visual object. It requires dark skies and probably a minimum aperture of 10 or 12 inches. Furthermore, due to a declination of -45.5° U.S. observers above +30° latitude will be fighting haze and atmospheric extinction, so a larger aperture is probably required. Perhaps a target for the upcoming Texas Star Party?
I was able to take a look at the Fourcade-Figueroa Shred 3 weeks ago at the
OzSky Star Safari in Coonabarabran, NSW (-31° latitude). I was using a 14-inch f/4.5 dob (Zambuto optics) but knew it wouldn't be an easy object. After the observation I asked Andrew Murrell to verify my observation, as I knew he had observed it before. Here are my notes:
At 160x, an extremely faint, very elongated glow was definitely seen, particularly extending east-southeast of a mag 11 star. The very low surface brightness glow was "pointing" just south of a mag 9 star (HD 118087), which is 8' ESE of the mag 11 star (roughly the center of the Fourcade-Figueroa System), and extended ~2.5'x 0.4'. A short extension on the west-northwest side of the star was difficult to confirm but was marginally glimpsed. The mag 11 near the center forms the northeast vertex of a small quadrilateral (sides 1.2' or less) of mag 10.5, 12.5 and 13 stars. The faintest star is superimposed on west-northwest extension of the galaxy.
I'd very much like to hear from other observers who have viewed this galactic shred from either downunder (Les Dalrymple or Allan Wade?) or from southern U.S. sites.
GIVE IT A GO AND LET US KNOW!