[Lismore Bloke (Paul)]

OBSERVATIONS 10-5-2010
8 TILL 11 PM
12” DOBSONIAN
22, 12 AND 7 NAGLERS, UHC FILTER
SEEING AND TRANSPARENCY 3 OUT OF 5.

NGC 4361 PN (CORVUS) Class IIIa(II)
RA 12.24.30 DEC -18.47.05
SIZE 114”
MAG 10.9
I’ve had another look at this one and spent quite a long time observing it with a number of EP’s. The 7mm Nagler without a barlow gave the best view (I hate barlows!!). The view seemed to vary as I looked at it, making me think that I have some tube current issues, as I have noticed the same thing observing form and shape with other DSO’s. It is often difficult to observe detail in faint objects except for short moments. The fan at the mirror end doesn’t work, that won’t be helping). The S shaped structure that Sab referred to was there, but came and went. At times it was simply an oval haze and it was hard to see much in it. An O-III filter may improve things.

NGC 4038 GX – ANTENNAE GALAXY – (CORVUS) CLASS Sc/I
RA 12.01.52 DEC -18.51.54
SIZE 3.4’x2’
MAG 10.7
Found by extending a line from Delta through Gamma for about the same distance. Quite a striking object. Appeared as two comma shaped galaxies merged at the small ends with a noticeable gulf between. I could not see any real detail in them, they were pretty evenly illuminated. One was definitely brighter than the other but both seen easily by direct vision.

NGC 3962 GX (CRATER) CLASS E
RA 11.54.39 DEC -13.58.31
SIZE: 2.9’x2.6’
MAG 10.6
Fairly large, bright and slightly oval shaped. This one had a small, bright, round and concentrated core but no stellar central region. Outer regions were easy to see by averted vision.


NGC 3887 GX (CRATER) CLASS Sc
RA 11.47.04 DEC -16.51.16
SIZE 3.3’x2.7’
MAG 11
It’s pretty easy to find this one by imagining it is at the tip of a triangle with Eta and Zeta. This one showed as a slightly oval shaped, evenly bright haze with no discernable central region. A star is at the tip of one end.


NGC 4594 GX – M104 - (VIRGO) CLASS Sb-, Sy 1.9
RA 12.39.59 DEC -11.37.23
SIZE 8.9’x4,1’
MAG 8.3
With so much of the galaxy-rich northern sky hidden by the house, it was a treat to catch up with this famous galaxy. A beautiful sight with its bright elongated centre and outer regions extending to sharp points. The dust lane seemed to cut right across the bottom like a knife cut, with a much smaller area of the galaxy below the lane. No need for averted vision with this one. A beauty.

NGC 5986 GC (LUPUS) CLASS VII
RA 15.46.03 DEC -37.4710
SIZE 9.8’
MAG 7.5
Bright globular with a few stars resolved at edges and a mottled appearance. The core was large and very dense, with no resolution at all. Found by imagining it at the tip of another triangle with Chi and Theta at the base.

NGC 5824 GC (LUPUS) CLASS 1
RA 15.03.58 DEC -33.04.03
SIZE 6.2’
MAG 7.8
This globular is found by extending a line from Gamma through Phi and extending it the same distance, but a bit bent. This one is quite small with a concentrated core, but quite easy to see.

IC 4406 PN – (LUPUS) CLASS IV (III)
RA 14.22.26 DEC -44.09.04
SIZE 102”x36”
MAG 10.3
This remarkable PN is found by extending a line from Zeta through Alpha. I watched it for some time with a variety of EP’s, and thought that it had a somewhat boxy appearance. Quite chuffed to see it as I imagine most IC catalogue objects to be too faint for my location. I would be interested if other observers with better eyes, an O-III filter and dark skies can see more detail in this one.
Thanks for looking.