Posts Made By: Jeff Young

Arp74 11/30/2008 20:20UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Not seen.

Arp145 11/30/2008 20:30UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Not seen.

Arp166 11/30/2008 20:40UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

A small bit of a bar with two bulges along it, each containing an averted-vision semi-stellar core. The N one is slightly larger.

Arp229 11/30/2008 21:30UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

A whole lot going on in this field. A pair of galaxies in the center (NGC507 & 508) first present themselves -- 507 is the larger and brighter of the two, while both show semi-stellar cores. To the NNW lies another large galaxy (NGC499), this one with a well condensed core elongated ENE-WSW. To the SW lies another large galaxy (IC1685), with extremely weak condensation.

Further careful study at 235x and 335x reveals a small nearly stellar galaxy to the S of NGC507, which flirted between direct and averted vision with the seeing. Always averted vision and holdable perhaps only 35% of the time was IC1687, a tiny little smudge near the trio of stars at the center of the field. Of similar brightness, but with a hint of condensation was MCG+05-04-048, to the NE of 507/508. Even the hint of a condensation was enough to hold this one closer to 75% of the time in averted.

I was pretty chuffed about pulling in a couple of ICs and my first MCG, but I also missed several NGCs in the field (501, 503 and 510 -- I did capture 495 to the E of 499, but I mis-identified it as a star).

M33 11/30/2008 22:15UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Central core semi-stellar, with a bright fan-shaped condensation extending S and E. NGC604 very prominent, with parts of two main arms direct vision. Somewhat mottled in averted. Only NGC592 is visible of the two dimmer, wider arms.

M82 3/7/2010 20:40 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Three angular dustlanes separating two distinct core regions and two outer disk regions. WSW core contains a semi-stellar condensation, while the larger ENE core contains several brighter knots. WSW outer disk somewhat brighter than ESE, and contains a distinct angular feature pointing SW.

NGC3077 3/7/2010 21:10 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Very poor condensation with an extended core tapering uniformly to E, somewhat less-so to S and NE, and abruptly to NNW. Somewhat grainy at 150X, giving it more the look of an unresolved globular than a galaxy, and the shape contributes to a cometary appearance at 335X. Interior dust regions not visible.

Nice tight double to NNW and another (outside field) to W. [ADS7611 and ADS7603. Both are about 3.3" separation, and have an interesting history of being confused with each other.]

Arp82 (NGC2535, 2536) 3/7/2010 21:46 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Quite small and dim. Borderline direct/averted vision, but too small to make out any detail at 150X. 235X helps image scale and provides fleeting glimpses of a stellar core (perhaps 25%), but the galaxy is distinctly averted-vision at this exit-pupil. 335X too dim.

235X also reveals second galaxy to SSE [NGC2536], with a similarly fleeting stellar core. It's also visible in averted-vision at 150X when you're looking for it.

HCG57 3/7/2010 22:00 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
400mm Mak-Cass @ 325X

Smudgy area at 150X, with one definite condensation and another probable. 235X confirms both [NGC3750, 3753], with haloes nearly touching, and adds 2 more possibilities to the NW of the first pair. 335X confirms second pair [NGC3746, 3748]. [NGC3745, which lies between them, not seen.]

[Southern-most field star of sketch is likely the core of NGC3751.]

Arp94 (NGC3226, 3227) 3/7/2010 23:01 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Fairly bright pair at 150X. Southern component [NGC3227] with stellar core and N-S elongation, northern [NGC3226] with semi-stellar core and roughly circular shape. Haloes touching, or nearly so. At 235X, southern component shows a dark lane to the E of its core.

NGC2903 3/8/2010 22:41 UT; Pickering 9, NELM 6.5, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

Elongated moderately condensed core with further mottling surrounded by a large elongated disk. Dark lanes to both sides of core, all along W west edge but only along northern half of E edge. Bright section at NE extend of disk sweeping toward NW. Core brighter than most field stars at 150X.

IC750 3/8/2010 23:00 UT; Pickering 9, NELM 6.5, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

IC750 shows as a reasonably bright, small streak with a highly condensed, elongated core. IC749 larger and circular, but much dimmer and with no appreciable condensation. A bright field star forms the 3rd member of an interesting trio. [The sketched field star due S of 750 turns out to be the stellar core of IC751.]

Abell 1367 3/8/2010 23:16 UT; Pickering 9, NELM 6.5, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 110X

Glare of SAO 81972 really nukes this field. I get 4 members at 110X, all with stellar cores, but it isn't very visually rewarding. HCG57 was much more interesting.

NGC4147 3/8/2010 23:40 UT; Pickering 9, NELM 6.5, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 325X

Clumpy, but no stars resolved at 110X. 235X resolves 4 stars around the periphery while 335X resolves a few in the core. Past that the gains start to tail off; 450X shows a total of perhaps 8 or 10 stars across a milky background.

UGC3697 Integral Sign 3/9/2010 00:10 UT; Pickering 9, NELM 6.5, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Poor condensation, roundish. Is this even the right galaxy? [No, it's UGC3714.]

Oh, wait, there's a very dim ghostly streak to NNW of elliptical. I had thought the bent ends would be out of reach, but the whole thing has a nearly uniform brightness, with the curl at the east end perhaps somewhat more detectable than the west. "Detectable" is key here; I can't really say I can "see" any of it, but the narrowness of it seems to be an excellent trigger for the eye's edge detection when sweeping across it. At any rate, it's very easy to reacquire in averted vision, particularly for a target this dim.

Fantastic target: breathtakingly etherial, with an emotional impact similar to NGC891 or the Veil.

M67 3/9/2010 22:16 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 110X

Large cluster of about 100 members, mostly of a similar magnitude and color, with one prominent straw-coloured star to the NE edge.

NGC2775 3/9/2010 22:26 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Moderately condensed circular core surrounded by slightly elongated halo. Averted vision shows relatively abrupt edge between core and halo at 235X. The effect is diminished at 335X, where an inner, semi-stellar core appears. Suffers from Drogheda's light bloom.

NGC2859 3/9/2010 22:40 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 325X

Tiny, with a semi-stellar core and not much of a halo. Hints of a bar aligned NE-SW.

[I must have been seeing elongation in the inner core. Bar actually runs NNW-SSE, and it and the outer ring are well outside the extent sketched. In fact, the bar runs almost to the dim foreground star to the N, while the outer ring is entirely outside that in radius.]

NGC2964 NGC2968 3/9/2010 23:05 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

NGC2964 shows reasonably bright disk but very dim, stellar core. NGC2968 smaller with marginally brighter but semi-stellar core. 2964 irregular in shape with indistinct mottling and a dimmer area to the NE; looks somewhat like a smaller Crab Nebula.

Arp206 NGC3432 3/9/2010 23:30 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

Interesting bent-stick of a galaxy with the brighter but somewhat frayed end anchored by a pair of foreground stars and a dimmer, narrower section extending off to the ENE. Very weak condensation just before dimmer section.

NGC3294 3/9/2010 23:45 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Slightly elongated halo (WNW-ESE) of uniform brightness with no core visible at 150X. 235X shows some mottling and a very weak, non-stellar core. 335X shows further mottling, but no more strength to core.

NGC3414 3/9/2010 23:55 UT; Pickering 8, NELM 6, SQM 20.7
400mm Mak-Cass @ 325X

Bright, semi-stellar core with a small halo at 150X. 335X shows more extended halo and a stubby NNE-SSW bar. Pretty similar in the eyepiece to NGC2859.