Pt 6 ...
When I got up on Saturday morning at 6am to … ummm … water s tree it was steady gentle rain. When we woke a second time at about 10am it was still intermittent showers and a fairly dirty sky.
I had good intentions for this particular morning but ended up doing very little (Mudgee just gets you that way). By some miracle a text message managed to make it to my phone (there is usually no reception at Gratti) to let me know that sniffles and flu had arrived at home. I headed toward town (just close enough to get a signal) to make a call and in the end after the call thought about those Kebabs again and, well went and bought one before heading back.
Saturday afternoon was the “semi-formal” part of the star-party with a couple of presentations and the talks. The boys and girls at the G-star conference over at Frog-Rock observatory joined in a swelled the numbers along with a few locals from the fledgling Mudgee Society.
Some hack did a bit of a run-down on the history of Globular Clusters, their history and why they are fundamentally different objects to other clusters. John Sarkissian of the Central West Astronomical Society also entertained us all with a terrific talk about the history of radio astronomy in Australia. That over we headed outside for the obligatory group photo and to find the sky was much better than I’d been expecting. I’d written Saturday night off early in the day but maybe a miracle was going to occur …
Well not quite. The early part of the evening was a parade of cloud and a few heavy showers and by 10.30pm, a lot of people were heading to their tents. John Vetter was hoping for a brief break to spot the “Virgo Flasher” – a failed Japanese geostationary satellite that slowly crawls backward through the sky every third night. For a pic and a bit of a write up see here:
http://www.mudgeeobservatory.com.au/...o-flasher.html
The sky finally obliged at about 11pm and quite a few of us saw it naked eye and then through “Tweety” – John’s 16” f/5 dobsonian mounted Newtonian that was used to discover Comet Lee in 1999. The sky continued to improve and by 12mn it was time to take the wraps off the ‘scope and have a bit of a look round. John Sarkissian was pretty keen for a look through my and Gary’s ‘scopes which were the biggest there.
The sound-track for this evening was: Out of the Blue – ELO, Incantations – Mike Oldfield.
We only got about an hour and a half but it was enough time to give John a few “eyegasms”. They were so good, I’m told John was audible over 200m away. The best one as I recall was NGC 5189 – the spiral planetary in Musca. We also looked at the bug and NGC 6337 and another big eyegasm was NGC 4565 – which put on a stunning view with the 16mm TII at x139.
It was all over in just over an hour when the clouds returned and it started drizzling lightly again. Off to bed a little early at 2am.
The next morning bought little encouragement, weather-wise anyway. It was cloudy and cool all day and the forecast for the night was for wind. The news spoke of snow in the southern alps and even as far north as the Brindabella’s south of Canberra. There was one small piece of good news — they were also forecasting a possible frost which usually means no cloud.
During the early afternoon I set up my P.S.T and took a look at the Sunthrough breaks in the clouds – not a lot to report. Not a jot or titter to be seen and no flares either. Some mild granulation was present but that was about it. I can’t remember a time when I’ve ever seen the Sun so quiet in my time in Astronomy and I’m beginning to feel a little regret that I invested in a H-Alpha ‘scope when so little is to be seen. I guess time will change that.
At 2pm it looked so poor that I though about packing it all up to head home and save some brownie-points with the family. At 3pm the clouds began to lift a little and we all went up the big shed for a slide show of old SASI pics going all the way back to the early 70s – good memories!
By the time that was finished it was nearly 4.30 and just enough time to get it all packed up and head home – if the cloud-picture warranted it. There was just barely enough encouragement to make me stay. So after a quick meal, it was time to sit-down and watch the cloud.
I made the ‘scope ready in about 80% cloud more as an act of defiance than hope – and it worked. By 7pm it was clearing rapidly and stayed that way all night! So off I went into some more Leo galaxies. The soundtrack for the night was:
Rumours – Fleetwood Mac, The Best of Blondie – Blondie, Revolver – The Beatles
Animals – Pink Floyd, Stratosfear – Tangerine Dream, Hyperborea – Tangerine Dream, The Songs of Distant Earth – Mike Oldfield, Hergest Ridge – Mike Oldfield, The Mathematician’s Air Display – Pekka, The Odyssey – David Bedford, Ommadawn – Mike Oldfield.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3274 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 32m 17.0s Dec: +27° 40' 08"
Mag: 13.2 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.39 Size: 2.3'x1.4' Class: SABd?
P.A.: 94 Inclination: --- R.V.: +519 Source: RC3 *
This is a fairly small slightly elong eg which is sitting in the middle of a tri of 1 11th and 2x 13th mag *s pointing in PA 120. It is almost a RA tri. The br * has a small companion. eg is elong in PA 90, 1.25' x 1' growing broadly and slightly to centre with no apparent core or zones except for the hint of a little big of a spot or LSB stellaring a little off centre to the W end.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3279 (IC 622) Galaxy *
RA: 10h 34m 42.7s Dec: +11° 11' 54"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.9'x0.3' Class: Sd
P.A.: 152 Inclination: 6 R.V.: +1422 Source: RC3 *
This eg is a very thin, very elong LSB spindle shaped eg in PA 150, and it makes a RA tri with a mag 11.5 & a mag 12 * which are to its N and E by about 4 & 2.5'. 2.25' x 10" growing slightly to the axis nr centre but there is no evidence of any zones, core or nucleus. Very attractive.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3287 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 34m 47.8s Dec: +21° 39' 03"
Mag: 12.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.1'x0.9' Class: SB(s)d
P.A.: 20 Inclination: --- R.V.: +1151 Source: RC3 *
This is a small quite elong eg that is between mag 6 & 8 *s aligned NE - SW 8' apart. It is a little off-centre to the NE between the two. Eg is in PA 30, The star to the SW looks yellowish. LSB 1.5' x 30" growing broadly and slightly to the axis nr centre. At centre is an occasionally visible weakly brighter small capsule-shaped zone.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3299 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 36m 23.9s Dec: +12° 42' 27"
Mag: 13.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.1'x1.5' Class: SAB(s)dm
P.A.: 3 Inclination: --- R.V.: +641 Source: RC3 *
NGC 3306 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 37m 10.3s Dec: +12° 39' 06"
Mag: 14.0 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.4' Class: SB(s)m?
P.A.: 137 Inclination: 6 R.V.: +2887 Source: RC3 *
-99 is the dominant member of this pair and is a fair-sized, 2.0' diameter , or slightly over round, extremely LSB diffuse eg. Gossamery character. Brighten weakly if at all to centre. Maybe slightly elong in PA 30. No zones , core or nucleus. -06 is SE by 10' to the SW of a mag 12*.
-06 smaller but better SB. Small slightly oval glow in PA 135, growing broadly and slightly to centre with no zones, core or nucleus. 40 x 30".
x185 27' TF
NGC 3332 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 40m 28.4s Dec: +09° 11' 00"
Mag: 13.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.4'x2.4' Class: (R)SA0-
P.A.: --- Inclination: 1 R.V.: +5727 Source: RC3 *
This is a very small round eg which has to its SE a mag 13 * not far off the halo. Very diffuse edges, LSB outer halo growing broadly and weakly at first to centre and then nr centre is a zone that is mod brighter growing strongly to centre where there is a spot. Overall seems nearly 1.75' diameter.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3356 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 44m 12.2s Dec: +06° 45' 35"
Mag: 13.8 (B) S.B.: 12.8 B-V: +0.50 Size: 1.7'x0.8' Class: Sbc
P.A.: 102 Inclination: 5 R.V.: +5800 Source: RC3
NGC 3349 Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 10h 43m 50.5s Dec: +06° 45' 49"
Mag: 15.2 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.5'x0.5' Class: Sc
P.A.: --- Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *
NGC 3362 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 44m 51.7s Dec: +06° 35' 49"
Mag: 13.5 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.6'x1.2' Class: SABc
P.A.: 39 Inclination: 1 R.V.: +8322 Source: RC3 *
Of these three the dominant member is -56 which is due N of an 11th mag * by 3'. Quite faint and LSB, maybe slightly elong in PA 90. Brightens broadly and slightly to centre and occasionally there is a whiff of a small slightly elong weakly brighter zone in the centre. Overall seems 1.25 x 50".
-49 is to the W by 6' and is a tiny round spot about 30" diameter with a broad slightly concentration to centre. Very LSB. -62 is 15' SE of -56 to the W of a 9th mag *.
-62 is almost as good as -56 fairly diffuse cottony LSB eg, round and about 1.25' diameter growing broadly and mod to centre without evidence of zones or nucleus. In hindsight, the SB is a little better than -56.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3352 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 44m 14.9s Dec: +22° 22' 16"
Mag: 13.5 (B) S.B.: 12.8 B-V: +0.98 Size: 1.6'x1.1' Class: S0
P.A.: 0 Inclination: --- R.V.: +5744 Source: RC3 *
NGC 3363 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 45m 09.5s Dec: +22° 04' 41"
Mag: 14.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.8' Class: S?
P.A.: 0 Inclination: 4 R.V.: +5766 Source: RC3 *
-52 is a moderately LSB slightly elong eg mod faint and small and found N of a mag 10.5* by 4-5'. Small halo, 40" x 30" growing broadly and mod to centre and a little more strongly nr centre but no real core or nucleus.
-63 is 20' SE and is W by 3' from an mag 12 *. Very small and faint slightly elong in PA 0, oval 50" x 30" growing broadly and slightly to centre without zones or nucleus.
x185 27' TF
IC 642 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 48m 08.2s Dec: +18° 11' 18"
Mag: 13.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x1.2' Class: E?
P.A.: 38 Inclination: --- R.V.: +5928 Source: RC3 *
This eg forms a small I tri with 13th and 14th mag *s to its E and SE about 3' away. Round, mod lsb grows evenly and slightly at first then nearer centre moderately to a small maybe 10" dia slightly brighter spot with no nuclear brightening within the spot. Overall seems a bit over 1' diameter and round.
x185 27' TF
NGC 3391 Galaxy *
RA: 10h 48m 56.4s Dec: +14° 13' 10"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.6' Class: S?
P.A.: 35 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2959 Source: RC3 *
This eg is almost superimposed on a mag 13.5*, the * is just to the W of its halo Very small LSB halo, 20-30" diameter -- the * is a distraction in observing it. Appears to grow broadly and slightly to the centre there is a weak stellaring. Quite faint.
Pt 7 to follow ...