Here is this month’s
challenge.
For the experienced observers, I ask that you observe and report on all the targets listed if possible please, so that people with less experience can learn and draw from your skills.
I look forward to as many participants as possible, including those that don’t normally write
observing reports or enter them into the forum. So please join in – it’s a great way to sharpen up
observing skills and learn.
I’ve decided to do something a little bit different on this
challenge, in that we all observe the same constellation. Putting the focus on one constellation can be a lot fun and educational. Newbies in particular should enjoy the tour around a single constellation.
Therefore, I have chosen the constellation Hydra which sits nice and high at 8pm for these targets.
Please report all observations on this thread.
Easy:
M48 – Star Cluster.
This is a large open cluster with around 80 stars and is also a fine binocular object. Catch this first, as it’s currently sitting fairly low in the horizon- at the moment at 7.30pm has it sitting around 26 deg. As it’s fairly large- about the size of the full moon, it’s best suited to low power.
NGC 3242 - Ghost of Jupiter - Planetary Nebula. Magnitude: 9.
One of the best showpiece planetary nebula in the sky. At 16 arc seconds it’s only just a little smaller than Saturn. It’s very easy to find, laying only one deg. to the left of mu hydra. At 8pm it will be nice and high sitting at 70 deg.
Start with medium power, this will reveal a bright Aqua disc. See if you can tease out the notches on either side and the bright star in the middle using 175 x mag. If your scope is 12 inches and over, see if you can see the bright oval inner ring using 200 x mag.. Depending on seeing condition, high mag may just make it look like a blurry white disc, so start with medium power (around 80x) which shows off its blue colour beautifully.
Medium
M83 (NGC 5236)- The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (a barred spiral galaxy similar to ours). Magnititude: 7.6
This galaxy has been the host of more supernovae than other Messier objects. Six all up. It’s also one of the brightest and closest galaxies (aside from our local group).
This is a large face on spiral galaxy with a bright core. It’s spiral arms should be visible in apertures of 6 inches.
8 inches of aperture using a 100x, and averted vision should reveal the arms appearing as if they curve into each other and a bright circular core sitting inside a bar.
Apertures over 12 inches using 125x should reveal an interesting spiral arm pattern around the core amidst a bar which should appear quite bright. Dark lanes within the spiral arms should be apparent.
NGC 3621 - Galaxy. Magnitude: 8.9 v 12.9 sb (
Ron's pick)
A face on spiral galaxy with a large bright core. It's situated within a large kite-shaped asterism.
V Hydra. Carbon star.
V Hydra is the reddest known carbon star and is reddest when it is at its dimmest. It has an orange/red colour to it. Refer to the link supplied at the end for more information.
M68 (NGC 4590)- Globular cluster. Magnitude: 8.
Apertures over 100mm will just start to resolve it. In binoculars it will appear as a fuzzy star.
Difficult
PK238+34.1 (Abell 33)- Planetary Nebula. Magnitude 12.4.
Difficult and you like punishment
NGC 3200- Galaxy. Magnitude 12.2 v / 13.8 sb
Apertures of 16": Where inside the disk can you see a 13.5 mag. star? Describe the core and the shape of the disk please. There is also a pair of 13 mag. stars 15" wide - where do they lay?
Moving on from Hydra....
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE... Quasar 3C273, in Virgo.
(Mental's pick) See post no. 21 for the map.
This is the brightest quasar visible to amateur size scopes at around magnitude 13.8, meaning that you'll need a 12" scope or over. While in a scope it only appears stellar-like, the
challenge here lies in identifying the quasar from the surrounding star field, which also lacks any outstandingly bright stars to assist in star hoping. Cool! This one is real "beat your chest" stuff. Some intrepid IIS members have also managed to photograph this tiny speck of light.
Quasars are some of the most distant, and brightest objects in the Universe. Quasar 3C273 is some 3 billion light years away, at this distance the brightest known galaxy would appear at magnitude 19!
Check out Steve Coe’s observing report on Hydra entitled, “What’s up Hydra?” here www.cloudynights.com/item.php?item_id=1427
You may see some other further objects of interest to you while you are there.
I hope everyone has fun touring Hydra. Good luck to all!
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I am glad you are enjoying the challenges.
