[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Observing Report 19/3/10
All observations made using Dobsonion mounted 305mm Newtonian reflector at f/5. Eyepieces use are 32mm (47x) 24mm Panoptic (67x) 13mm Nagler T6 (115x) or 13mm Nagler with Barlow (230x)
Charts Uranometria 2000 (2nd ed.) Data derived from Uranometria (2nd ed) Deep Sky Field Guide.
I have started to include data such as position and magnitude to provide more information and confirm the visual impressions I get
Observations 19/3. Seeing good, transparency fair (still some smoke).

NGC 3626 (Caldwell 40) Galaxy in Leo

RA 11 20 03.5 Dec +18 21 23 Mag(V) 11 Dim’ 2.7x1.9 SB 12.6 Class (R)SA(rs)0+ Ringed late stage lenticular galaxy

From Delta Leonis (Zosma) there are 2 mag 6.5 stars just to the South. These point at a mag 8 star 1.5deg away to Sf which is just visible in finder. Move about 40’ due South and scan this area. Galaxy is very small, initial estimate of magnitude is around 11 to 12. Listed magnitude is 11. Core is very dense, easily mistaken for a star at low power

NGC 3608, 3607, 3605 Trio of galaxies in Leo

NGC 3608 RA 11 16 59.1 Dec +18 08 54 Mag(V) 10.8 Dim’ 3.2x2.8 SB 13.1 Class E2 Elliptical galaxy with some flattening
NGC 3607 RA 11 16 54.6 Dec +18 03 07 Mag(V) 9.9 Dim’ 4.7x3.9 SB 12.9 Class SA(s)0o: S Shaped barred spiral intermediate stage.
NGC 3605 RA 11 16 46.5 Dec +18 01 00 Mag(V) 12.3 Dim’ 1.5x1.0 SB 12.7 Class E4-5 Intermediate flattened elliptical galaxy

From NGC 3626 move about 45’ Sp scanning with low power eyepiece at 67x. Brightest member of trio is NGC 3607 which appears as an obvious galaxy with a glow initially visually estimated at 10. Appears more elliptical than spiral at first look. As it is close to NGC 3626 and brighter, could be mistaken for it, presence of companions confirms it as target. NGC 2608 initially estimated at mag 12 and lies about 5’ to North. Just South of NGC 3607 is a very faint glow only detectable with averted vision which is NGC 3605. Structure was not visually detectable in any of the 3, dark transparent skies may make some visible in NGC 3608.

NGC 4697 (Caldwell 52, Hartung 492)

RA 12 48 35.9 Dec -05 48 04 Mag(V) 9.2 Dim’ 7.2x4.7 SB 13.0 Class E6 Flattened elliptical

From Gamma Virginis (Porimma) move to a mag 6 star 0.5deg to f then South following 2 more mag 6 stars in hops of 1.5deg and 1deg. Pair of mag 7 stars aligned roughly fp are about 50’ further on. Scan area about 1deg South of these. Target is very obvious large glow. Appears to be quite elongated rather than a normal elliptical, this impression is also reported by O’Meara. One side of the galaxy appears more prominent than the other, almost giving an impression of a spiral. Classificatiojn of this galaxy has been uncertain with recent work suggesting it is lenticular, I have gone with Uranometrias published class as this conforms to the eyepiece view.