[barx1963 (Malcolm)]

Full report now is below. Many other objects observed during the nights at SN and a few tried for but not seen. These are the new objects to my log.


Observing Report 4/3/11 – 5/3/11 Snake Valley


Observations made at Snake Valley Astro camp. Friday nights observations 4/3/11 were made in two session, each of approximately 1 hour between clouds banks moving in from south. First session commenced approx 10-30 pm and second session commenced approx 1-30am. At its best on that night seeing and transparency would rate very good. Saturday night on 5/3/11 were all made after midnight. Transparency was poor maybe due to smoke from burnoffs to the south, seeing was fairly steady.
On both nights some light pollution from Ballarat was obvious running from NE to SE.

My thanks to Paddy for his assistance in some of these observations and for the use of his 16” scope to make additional observations.

All observations made using Dobsonion mounted 305mm Newtonian reflector at f/5. Eyepieces use are 34mm Meade 4000(44x) 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 (DSFG) with additional data from The Night Sky Observers Guide (NSOG) .

NGC 4736 (M 94) Galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 12 50 52.7 Dec +41 07 07 Mag(V) 8.2 Dim’ 14.4 x 12.1 SB 13.7 Type (R)SA(r)ab II Early unbarred ringed spiral

Locate Cor Caroli (Alpha Canum Venaticorum) by naked eye. Locate 3 stars (15,16 and 17 Canum Venaticorum) about 3.5deg to p which form a tight grouping. Move back via a mag 7 star about 3deg to Nf. This points at target. Bright compact core, large extended halo with not much structure.

Post Observation Notes: DSFG notes an extremely bright nucleus and an inner ring. NSOG also comments on core and mentions that hints of spiral structure may be observed in larger scopes of 16+”. Low position and 12” aperture did not allow this. DSS image here http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!4736!=!M94&r=12: 50.9&d=+41:07&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=G IF&c=none shows the bright core and the inner ring is included in the bright area at middle. Would suggest that getting any structure in this target would be a major achievement for any southern hemisphere observer.

NGC 5055 (M 63) Galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 13 15 49.3 Dec +42 01 50 Mag(V) 8.6 Dim’ 12.6 x 7.2 SB 13.3 Type SA(rs)bc II-III Unbarred ringed spiral

A group of 4 mag 6 to 6.5 stars lies 2.5deg to Nf of 15, 16 and 17 Canum Venaticorum. These form a triangle pointed N with northern star being 19 Canum Venaticorum. Target lies just over 1deg N of this star. Very low to horizon so view is limited. Faint with a very stellar core. No details in faint halo.

Post Observation Notes: DSFG notes a very bright nucleus. NSOG notes nucleus as stellar. DSS image at http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!5055!=!M63&r=13: 15.8&d=+42:02&e=J2000&h=14.76&w=14. 76&f=GIF&c=none is not very high quality. There are some better ones here http://www.seds.org/messier/more/m063_more.html which show the stellar core a bit better. NSOG comments on spiral pattern being “flocculent” meaning lots of short arcs rather than a small number of long graceful arcs one would see in a “grand design” spiral. Given low position, as with NGC 4736 it would be a lucky southern observer to see this structure.

NGC 5236 (M83) Galaxy in Hydra
RA 13 37 01.0 Dec -29 51 44 Mag(V) 7.5 Dim’ 12.9 x 11.5 SB 12.8 Type SAB(s)c II Mixed spiral.

Previously observed this object in 12” scope. This time observed with Paddy’s 16” dob.
Found large triangle of stars Zeta, Theta and Iota Centauri. A naked eye group of 3 stars lies just over 1deg wide consisting of 1,2 and 3 Centauri lies just to N of this. 2 stars on P side point at target. Very large with clear core. Prominent arm divided by a dark lane from rest of galaxy lies on p side. Prominent arcs also on f side.

Post Observation Notes: When previously observed in March 2010 I noted that bar was suggested by elongation of core area. AAT images here http://www.seds.org/messier/more/m083_aat.html certainly support this.

Observations 5/3/11

NGC 5085 Galaxy in Hydra
RA 13 20 18.2 Dec -24 26 22 Mag(V) 11.1 Dim’ 3.4 x 3.0 SB 13.5 Type SA(s)c II Non barred S shaped Spiral

From Gamma Hydrae a pair of mag 7 stars lie 1deg to Sf. Aligned NS about 45’ apart. Target lies just to p of S star and has a mag 8.5 star on S edge. Quite large with low surface brightness. No visible core.

Post Observation Notes. DSOG describes core as faint. DSS Image here http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!5085&r=13:20.3&d =-24:26&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=GIF&c=non e indicates that core is not prominent.

NGC 5101 Galaxy in Hydra
RA 13 21 46.2 Dec -27 25 50 Mag(V) 10.7 Dim’ 5.4 x 4.6 SB 14.0 Type (R)SB(rs)0/a Ringed Barred S shaped Spiral

From NGC 5085 move 1.5deg to SSf to a mag 8.5 star then a further 1.5deg slightly p of S to a mag 9 star. Target lies just to f of this. Short bar is apparent and a mag 10 star lie just to N.

Post Observation Notes. DSOG has a sketch that clearly shows elongation of core that is seen as a bar. DSS image here http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!5101&r=13:21.8&d =-27:26&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=GIF&c=non e also indicates this feature. Ring that is indicated by type is not so obvious in image.

NGC 5078 Galaxy in Hydra
RA 13 13 49.6 Dec -27 24 38 Mag(V) 11.0 Dim’ 4.0 x 1.9 SB 13.0 Type SA(s)a: sp S Shaped Unbarred Spiral, spindle

Lies 30’ to p of 5101 Elongated, dark lane appeared obvious with averted vision.

Post Observation Notes. Faint nearby companion IC 879 not seen. DSOG notes presence of observed dust lane. A nice image of this galaxy is to be found here http://www.noao.edu/outreach/aop/observers/n5078.html clearly showing dust lanes and companion. IC 879 appear to be distorted by NGC 5078?

NGC 5061 Galaxy in Hydra
RA 13 18 05.2 Dec -26 50 09 Mag(V) 10.4 Dim’ 3.5 x 3.0 SB 12.9 Type E0 Elliptical

Lies 35’ to N of NGC 5078. Mag 8/9 star lies to f. No structure, clear core. Obvious elliptical.

Post Observation Notes. DSOG notes indicate a very bright core and DSS image http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!5061&r=13:18.1&d =-26:50&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=GIF&c=non e confirms this.

NGC 5068 Galaxy in Virgo
RA 13 18 54.6 Dec -21 02 18 Mag(V) 10.0 Dim’ 7.2 x 6.3 SB 14.0 Type SAB(rs)cd III Mixed transitional Spiral

Lies 2deg N of Gamma Hydrae. Large with low surface brightness, bar is not visible.

Post Observation Notes. DSS image http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!5068&r=13:18.9&d =-21:02&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=GIF&c=non e clearly show bar. Low surface brightness contributes to lack of detail.

Malcolm