NGC6822, Sagittarius
Date 05/08/2006 pm local
Telescope, 304mm Dob
Location, Gosnells, WA
My first entry, here goes
Barnards Galaxy, an irregular dwarf galaxy belonging to the local group of galaxies. It was found quite easily with the Dob no doubt aided by some convenient guide stars. At first I just barley made out the faintest smudge in the eyepiece (13mm Nagler) but nudging the tube of the telescope confirmed I was indeed viewing the galaxy. NGC6822 was orientated almost N-S in the eyepiece with a subtle variation in brightness across the object with no central condensation. The north of the galaxy appeared slightly brighter and as I examined the galaxy closely more detail became apparent, This object rewards patient observation. I also noticed I could see a few exceedingly faint stars
within the galaxy. At first I thought they were foreground stars from our own galaxy, but I am reasonably sure they are stars from NGC6822. Burnhams celestrial handbook states the brightest stars in Barnards galaxy shine at the 15th magnitude, right at the threshold of my viewing capabilities with a 304mm Dob in a moderately light polluted part of the sky, transparency was excellent. Barnards galaxy reminded me a bit of a very faint version of the SMC.
Cheers, Mick