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  #1  
Old 04-09-2009, 09:45 PM
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ngcles
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Observing Report NGCLes -- Mudgee in August 2009 Pt 1

Hi All,

I had a long weekend (4 nights) up at Mudgee a fortnight ago with a few of my mates from the Sutherland Astronomical Society and here is an extracted account of what we did at what is one of my favourite places on Earth.

I left at 11am on Thursday the 20th and ˝ hr later realised I’d left the transistor radio at home on the kitchen table. Doh !! How am I going to listen to the cricket now! Thankfully that was the only thing I forgot. Enjoyed a sunny drive all the way up. Had a brief pause at Lithgow and then at Pearson’s Lookout for a few pictures and then went shopping in Mudgee for a few essentials arriving at Observatory Downs just on 4.15pm. That left about 90mins to get “Gerald’s Rest” (the van) into shape, make a bit of dinner, install Gerald in his rightful place guarding the front door and set up the ‘scope. I was ready to go the moment it got really properly dark about 7.30pm.

As it turned out, this was one and only night to write home about: clear from dusk ‘till at least 3am. All the observations below were made that night. It was great that I was able to achieve a small milestone in my observing career on this trip by passing 4,000 logged/observed individual objects (I went past the 2,000 and 3,000 marks at Mudgee too). To put that in context, Hartung’s venerable work for Southern Observers has just over 1,000 objects listed.

By coincidence, entry No 4,000 also happened to be my exact 1,000th object from Herschel’s old General Catalogue – the predecessor to the NGC and it was also my exact 1,100th recorded observation from Observatory Downs at Mudgee. A few zeros lining-up there nicely. The “winning entry” on this occasion was NGC 7310 in Aquarius. Coincidentally, No 2,000 in 1999 (?) was a galaxy in Leo, 3,000 in 2005 was a galaxy in Virgo. Bit of a trend there too — all ecliptic constellations.

I also (think I’ve) completely finished clearing out Libra and Microscopium down to 15th magnitude. You wouldn’t have believed there are a total of 105 things worth looking at in Libra and even more surprisingly, 42 in Microscopium (depending of course on how you define “worth looking at”).

After a few checks to make sure everything was okay off I went to a few favourites and a quick look a Jupiter (still low then). During the early evening Mel turned up (we weren’t expecting her yet and Grahame ad we all enjoyed some photons and Grahame (& Mel??) took some images. The SQM readings at the start of the night were 21.35 and by 1.30am 21.78. Off into Libra:


x185 27' TF

NGC 5663 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 33m 56.2s Dec: -16° 34' 52"
Mag: 15.3 S.B.: --- B-V: ---Size: 1.3'x1.1' Class: SA0-:
P.A.: 57 Inclination: --- R.V.: ---

This eg is just a little N of a small distinctive group of *s consisting of a small tri <1' and two others. All are about 14th & 15 mag. Small eg, about 30" diameter mod faint, diffuse edges growing broadly and slightly to centre without zones with a suggestion of a very faint, threshold mag stellaring in the centre.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5744 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 46m 38.8s Dec: -18° 30' 47"
Mag: 14.2 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.7' Class: (R')SB(rs)d:
P.A.: 108 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This one took a little while to pick up because it has such low SB. Very diffuse. Approaching 1' diameter, and round. Very, very LSB grows hardly at all to centre without evidence of zones or nucleus. Grows weakly to centre.


x185 27' TF

NGC 5661 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 31m 57.5s Dec: +06° 15' 04"
Mag: 14.1 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.8'x0.5' Class: SBb:
P.A.: 29 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2389 Source: RC3 *

In a fairly well sprinkled field. In the centre of an I Tri 10' x 7' of mag 10 & 11 *s that points W. Mod faint, nearly 1' diameter and has a quite diffuse LSB outer halo with a 10-15" diameter core zone brightening further to centre where there occasionally seems to be a stellaring.



x185 27' TF

IC 4468 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 38m 26.8s Dec: -22° 22' 02"
Mag: 13.8 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.6'x0.6' Class: SB(s)c?
P.A.: 155 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2447 Source: RC3 *

ESO 580-5 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 38m 15.9s Dec: -22° 19' 26"
Mag: 15.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.2'x0.2' Class: S
P.A.: 100 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This is quite a nice, small, quite elong eg in PA 150. Probably 1.25' x 15" lens shaped mod faint growing broadly and slightly to the axis nr centre but no apparent core or nucleus. It is found S of W from an 8th mag 8* by 8'. 3' NW is an intermittently visible slip of haze -- ESO 580-5.

ESO 580-5 is a tiny 10" long sliver of intermittently visible gossamer that is only occasionally visible. Extremely faint and difficult. Ephemeral at best.

Here’s a portrait of the two:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=

I told you ESO 580-5 was small and faint didn’t I!


x185 27' TF

IC 1060 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 51m 47.3s Dec: -07° 13' 57"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: ---B-V: --- Size: 1.5'x0.8' Class: (R')SB(r)a:
P.A.: 101 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

In a fairly well populated field this is a very small and faint eg about 40" x 20" in about PA 90, fat lens shape or oval mod to quite faint growing broadly and slightly to centre where there is a very small slightly brighter zone.


x185 27' TF

IC 1080 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 57m 59.9s Dec: -06° 43' 26"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x0.9' Class: S0- pec:
P.A.: 51 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -1-38-12 PGC 53503 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 58m 29.6s Dec: -06° 49' 11"
Mag: 14.6 (B) S.B.: 13.7 B-V: +0.81 Size: 1.5'x1.0'
Class: SAB(s)c P.A.: 74 Inclination: --- R.V.: +7606 Source: RC3 *

This eg is found 4' E from a 9th mag *. Small but pretty easy to see, round looking like a very distant elliptical eg 30" diameter with diffuse edges growing evenly and slightly to the centre and nr centre somewhat more strongly to a small faint stellaring type nucleus. 10' SE is MCG -1-38-12.

This is no more than a tiny spot of ephemeral gossamer about 15" diameter.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5781 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 56m 41.4s Dec: -17° 14' 35"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.7' Class: (R')SBb pec sp
P.A.: 40 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -3-38-25 PGC 53303 Galaxy *
RA: 14h 54m 40.5s Dec: -17° 24' 21"
Mag: 14.2 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.9'x0.8' Class: SAB(rs)bc:
P.A.: 19 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

-81 is a small fairly faint elong "bar-shaped" eg about 1' x 20" in PA 30 with a broad slight brightening to centre but no zones or nucleus. There is a mag 15.5 * on axis to the SW not far off the halo.

MCG -3-38-25 is one field to the W about 30' away. It is a very LSB wisp about 1.25' x 20" with a weak central brightening and a mag 15 * to the NW by 1'. No zones, core or nucleus visible.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5815 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 00m 29.1s Dec: -16° 50' 02"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.8'x0.4' Class: Sb
P.A.: 22 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This is a very small a slightly elong eg in a fairly well populated field. Seems to be slightly oval in PA 30, only 40x30" faint but of consistent lowish SB and no apparent concentration to centre, core or nucleus.


Pt 2 to follow ...
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  #2  
Old 04-09-2009, 09:47 PM
ngcles's Avatar
ngcles
The Observologist

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Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
Observing Report NGCLes Mudgee August 2009 Pt 2

Pt 2 ...

x185 27' TF

NGC 5812 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 00m 55.8s Dec: -07° 27' 29"
Mag: 12.2 (B) S.B.: 12.3 B-V: +1.03 Size: 2.1'x1.8'
Class: E0 P.A.: 49 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2010 Source: RC3 *

IC 1084 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 01m 14.9s Dec: -07° 28' 29"
Mag: 15.1 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.83 Size: 0.7'x0.5' Class: S?
P.A.: 158 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2158 Source: RC3 *

NGC 5812 is a small but bright eg looking like an elliptical type about 1.5' diameter, round and has diffuse, faint edges growing mod and evenly to centre where there is a bright almost stellar nucleus. About 4' E is IC 1084.

IC 1084 is a very small very faint companion eg about 20-30" diameter, round and concentrates slightly to centre no apparent zones.



NGC 5872 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 10m 55.6s Dec: -11° 28' 47"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.5'x0.9' Class: SAB0^:
P.A.: 10 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This eg is 5' W of a 6th mag * which is very, very distracting. Small and slightly elong in PA 0. 40" x 20" with a 15th mag * on the E halo edge. Grows broadly and slightly without zones to the centre.



x185 27' TF

IC 4536 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 13m 17.3s Dec: -18° 08' 12"
Mag: 13.7 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.1'x1.7'
Class: SB(s)dm P.A.: 30 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2176 Source: RC3 *

This is an extremely low SB eg that is fair-sized. Maybe 1.75' diameter, round and of consistent extremely low SB with a hint of a threshold mag spot in the centre. Makes a RA tri with a couple of mag 12 *s, 5' NE and 3' NW.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5880 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 15m 01.2s Dec: -14° 34' 44"
Mag: 15.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.6'x0.6' Class: E
P.A.: --- Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

NGC 5883 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 15m 10.2s Dec: -14° 37' 02"
Mag: 14.8 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.9'x0.5' Class: S0
P.A.: 120 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

MCG -2-39-10 PGC 54398 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 14m 25.5s Dec: -14° 39' 20"
Mag: 15.3 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x0.4' Class: SBb
P.A.: 118 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

The two NGC egs are pretty similar in appearance, though -83 is slightly the brighter and a bit bigger. Both are probably just under 30" diameter and rise slightly to the centre azonally. -80 is 3' NW of -83. A small faint pair is just N of -80 mags 12 & 13.

MCG -2-39-10 is 10' WSW of -80 as an extremely faint spot about 10-20" diameter with no apparent structure.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5891 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 16m 13.4s Dec: -11° 29' 37"
Mag: 15.0 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.8'x0.5' Class: Sbc
P.A.: 140 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This is a very, very tiny spot of haze found to the SE of a 7th mag * by 10'. Probably no more than 20" diameter and has no structure or apparent central brightening.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5959 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 37m 22.3s Dec: -16° 35' 42"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.9'x1.5' Class: E+:
P.A.: 25 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -3-40-3 PGC 55634 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 37m 30.4s Dec: -16° 35' 25"
Mag: 16.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.5'x0.4' Class: S
P.A.: 70 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

NGC 5959 is between to faint pairs of stars NE and SW that point straight at it. Mags 14-15.5. Good size, 1.5' diameter, round and brightens evenly and slightly to centre where there is a 15" diameter mod brighter core zone. MCG -3-40-3 is 2' E not far outside the halo of NGC 5959.

It is a very small and extremely faint spot of gossamer about 15" diameter with no structure.

And here are the two:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=



x185 27' TF

NGC 5973 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 40m 15.6s Dec: -08° 36' 08"
Mag: 16.1 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.3' Class: S0/a
P.A.: 140 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This is a very tiny and extremely faint eg, slightly elong in PA 45 about 20" x 5" with no other structure visible.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5978 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 42m 27.2s Dec: -13° 14' 04"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.8'x0.7' Class: Sa
P.A.: 166 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This is an extremely faint and very tiny eg that is no more than a 15" diameter scrap of extremely LSB gossamer with no central brightening. No stars nearby of note.



x185 27' TF

NGC 5995 Galaxy *
RA: 15h 48m 25.0s Dec: -13° 45' 26"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.9'x0.7' Class: S(B)c
P.A.: 126 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

A very tiny a fairly faint eg in a field with many faint stars. Maybe only 20" diameter brightens broadly and slightly to centre. Round.


And that was the end for Libra …

Jupiter was now pretty high in the sky and now the ‘scope had been out for more than three hours and the mirror completely settled and the seeing improving. I was a very nice view at both x185 and x247 with the 12mm TII and 9mm TI Naglers with plenty of detail in the SEB and the EqZ including several thin filamentary festoons. The impact spot discovered by Anthony Wesley in mid-July was still visible but a little difficult to separate from its surroundings. It looked like two adjacent, mod elongated, smallish, greyish, slightly darker smudges with diffuse edges and consistent shade & colour (not darker at centre). They were connected by a short thin wisp. Very nice indeed. After a cup of coffee and a chat with the others it was on to Microscopium:


x185 27' TF

IC 5019 Galaxy *
RA: 20h 30m 47.1s Dec: -36° 04' 36"
Mag: 15.4 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.9'x0.4' Class: (R')SAB(r)bc:
P.A.: 85 Inclination: --- R.V.: +12020 Source: RC3 *

Note the R.V!! Is found a bit over 1 field E of the bright eg IC 5013. Fairly faint field, it is a small quite elong eg 40" x 5" in PA 90. Grows broadly and slightly along the axis to centre without zones or nucleus.



x185 27' TF

IC 5041 (IC 5047) Galaxy *
RA: 20h 43m 33.9s Dec: -29° 42' 14"
Mag: 12.6 (V) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.55 Size: 2.6'x1.4'
Class: SAB(s)d P.A.: 28 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2702 Source: RC3 *

IC 5039 (IC 5046) Galaxy *
RA: 20h 43m 14.0s Dec: -29° 51' 12"
Mag: 13.3 (B) S.B.: 13.1 B-V: +0.51 Size: 2.4'x0.6' Class: Sbc: sp
P.A.: 156 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2701 Source: RC3

These two are pretty much = bright egs, -41 is perhaps a fraction brighter and they are aligned SW-NE sep by 10'. -41 is in PA 45 oval, lowish SB with a 1' x 40" growing broadly and slightly to the centre with no zones or apparent core or nucleus.

--39 is in PA 165, a little fainter and lower in SB, a longish oval 50" x 15 growing broadly and slightly to the centre without any apparent core or nucleus.



x185 27' TF

IC 5049 (ESO 341-14) PGC 65377 Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 20h 47m 23.5s Dec: -38° 24' 58"
Mag: 15.1 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.7' Class: E
P.A.: 164 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

ESO 341-13 Galaxy *
RA: 20h 47m 08.8s Dec: -38° 05' 18"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x0.9' Class: S0?
P.A.: 16 Inclination: --- R.V.: +6949 Source: RC3 *

It would seem that IC 5049 and ESO 341-14 are the same object. The DSS shows a small elliptical that looks like a double galaxy with twin nuclei.

ESO 341-13 is a pretty small very faint eg that wasn't too hard to pick up. Not bright though. Found near a small bow-tie shaped knot of mag 12 + 13 *s that is from the eg 6' SE. Small, round elliptical eg 30" diameter grows evenly and slightly to the centre without apparent nucleus.

IC 5049 is S by about 15' from ESO 341-13 and is similar in SB to -14. Seems to be round, similar size -- 40" diameter growing broadly and mod to centre without apparent nucleus.


Pt 3 to follow ...
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  #3  
Old 04-09-2009, 09:48 PM
ngcles's Avatar
ngcles
The Observologist

ngcles is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Billimari, NSW Central West
Posts: 1,664
Observing Report NGCLes Mudgee August 2009 Pt 3

Pt 3 ...

x185 27' TF

IC 5086 Galaxy *
RA: 21h 08m 32.1s Dec: -29° 46' 08"
Mag: 13.8 (B) S.B.: 12.7 B-V: +0.95 Size: 1.5'x1.4' Class: SA0-
P.A.: 39 Inclination: --- R.V.: +5953 Source: RC3 *

This is a quite small round eg that forms a small I tri with a couple of mag 13.5 *s to the ESE and SSE about 4' away. Round, 50" diameter grows evenly and mod to the centre where there is a very faint stellaring.




x185 27' TF

IC 5065 Galaxy *
RA: 20h 51m 45.9s Dec: -29° 50' 49"
Mag: 14.6 (B) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.92 Size: 1.8'x1.0' Class: SB0: pec
P.A.: 139 Inclination: --- R.V.: +9800 Source: RC3 *

This eg is found almost due S by about 4' from a distracting 7th mag * which is quite distracting. Almost *ar, 20" diameter, a small patch of fuzz of reasonable SB dominated at the centre apparently by a faint mag 15.5 *ar nucleus.

And that was the end for Microscopium. I’ve seen everything this constellation has to offer down to 15th magnitude. Will I ever return to this small desert?


And on to Aquarius …


x185 27' TF

NGC 7239 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 15m 01.4s Dec: -05° 03' 11"
Mag: 14.8 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.6' Class: SAB0-
P.A.: 63 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

Took a while to pick up it is a very small, quite faint and very diffuse looking little eg. Maybe 30" diameter, round and a slight central brightening and an occasional hint of a stellaring at centre.



x185 27' TF

IC 1437 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 15m 45.0s Dec: +02° 03' 57"
Mag: 14.5 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x1.0' Class: (R')SA(r)0/a
P.A.: 66 Inclination: 1 R.V.: +8911 Source: RC3 *

This eg is found midway between a couple of mag 11 *s that are aligned SE - NW. The eg is fairly small, round and mod faint 40-50" diameter and rises mod and evenly to centre where there is a small mod brighter zone but no real nucleus.



x185 27' TF

IC 1438 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 16m 29.5s Dec: -21° 25' 55"
Mag: 12.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.4'x2.0' Class: (R')SAB(rs)a:
P.A.: 115 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2616 Source: RC3 *

IC 1439 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 16m 40.2s Dec: -21° 29' 08"
Mag: 14.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.8' Class: (R)SB(rs)a:
P.A.: 35 Inclination: --- R.V.: +9634 Source: RC3

ESO 602-3 Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 22h 16m 50.7s Dec: -21° 15' 03"
Mag: 14.7 (B) S.B.: 14.5 B-V: +0.41 Size: 2.1'x0.6' Class: IB(s)m:
P.A.: 90 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2571 Source: RC3 *

The dominant one of these is -38 which is no worse than mod faint, obvious in the ep and seems to have a quite bright core. Outer halo seems roughly round but it has a faint bar through it in PA 90 that is weakly brighter than the halo. At centre is a considerably brighter small but non-stellar nucleus. Seems 1.75' -2' diameter.

-39 is a few arc-mins to the SE and is a somewhat fainter round diffuse patch but does not seem to have any core zone or nucleus.. About 50” diameter.

ESO 602-3 is 10' NNE and is found not far from a mag 12/13 pair. Elong in PA 90, very LSB 1.5' to 1.75' long and about 10" across brightening broadly and slightly across the axis and weakly to centre. No evidence of core or nucleus.

An image here show the three of them:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=



x185 27' TF

IC 1440 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 16m 33.2s Dec: -16° 00' 58"
Mag: 15.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.3' Class: E?
P.A.: 73 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This eg is almost pointed at from the W by a mags 10 & 11 stars -- not too hard to see. Small, elong in PA 90 spindle shaped halo 40" x 10" rising slightly to the axis and slightly to centre where there is an occasionally visible threshold stellaring.



x185 27' TF

IC 1443 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 19m 03.6s Dec: -20° 56' 21"
Mag: 13.5 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x1.1' Class: E2:
P.A.: 50 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a fairly small non-descript e that is no worse than mod faint. Not hard to see. Probably slightly elong in about PA 60 growing mod and broadly to centre where there is a small round not well defined zone - core/nucleus that is mod brighter.



x185 27'

NGC 7246 (IC 5198 -- see NGC/IC project) Galaxy *
RA: 22h 17m 42.7s Dec: -15° 34' 15"
Mag: 15.4 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.8'x1.0' Class: (R)SA(r)a:
P.A.: 154 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

From The NGC/IC project:

IC 5198 = NGC 7246. Malcolm Thomson has sorted this one out. Bigourdan made several errors in his search for N7246 (which is just where the Herschels saw it), the first of which was to search half a degree too far south. Thus, his not finding N7246 is not surprising.

Casting about the area, however, he came across two other objects, one of which (IC 5194, which see) does not exist. He has eight measurements of the other (I5198) with respect to two "anonymous" stars. Unfortunately, neither of his comparison stars is where he says they are: 10 seconds preceding, 21.5 arcmin north; and 17 seconds following, 15.5 arcmin north of BD -16 6057. Malcolm noticed, however, that there are stars matching Bigourdan's estimated magnitudes (9-10 and 11.5, respectively) at the same RA offsets but at 27.5 arcmin and 24.5 arcmin north of the BD star. Applying Bigourdan's measurements of IC 5198 to these stars points to within an arcsecond of NGC 7246. The identity is thus sure, but the errors (6 and 9 arcmin) are unusual.
- Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

This eg is found just to the W of a small tri of mag 11/12 *s as a pretty LSB good sized oval haze in PA 0 1.5' x 30" almost reaching the closest star of that tri. Reasonable SB grows broadly and slightly to centre where there is a whiff of a faint/threshold stellar nucleus.



x185 27'

NGC 7247 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 17m 41.2s Dec: -23° 43' 49"
Mag: 13.4 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x0.8'
Class: SB(s)b: P.A.: 174 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2456 Source: RC3 *

This eg is found only 2' to the SE of a mag 9/11 pair sep by 20" -odd. Seems to be round, lowish but reasonable SB. Fairly consistent SB halo grows weakly and broadly to centre with no evidence of zones, core or nucleus.



x185 27'

NGC 7251 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 20m 27.1s Dec: -15° 46' 24"
Mag: 12.6 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.9'x1.6' Class: (R')SA(rs)a?
P.A.: 47 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -3-57-1 PGC 68593 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 20m 13.0s Dec: -15° 56' 53"
Mag: 14.0 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x0.6' Class: (R')SB(r)b?
P.A.: 76 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a mod bright eg in a field of scattered stars. It has lowish SB but not too bad. Looks like a face on spiral, round 1.5' diameter with a broad slight concentration to the centre without evidence of zones, core or nucleus.

MCG-3-57-1 is 10' SSW of -51 is of lower SB and somewhat elong in PA 90. Seems about 1.25' x 15" oval shaped very LSB halo brightening weakly to centre with no core or nucleus.



x185 27'

NGC 7260 (NGC 7257) Galaxy *
RA: 22h 22m 36.5s Dec: -04° 07' 14"
Mag: 13.7 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.8'x1.3' Class: SAB(rs)bc
P.A.: 19 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a quite small eg in a pretty blank field. Seems slightly elong in PA 01.25' x 1 with diffuse edges to the halo. Broad weak concentration to the centre with a weakly brighter small central zone.



x185 27'

NGC 7266 Mkn 910 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 23m 59.0s Dec: -04° 04' 23"
Mag: 14.8 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.9'x0.7' Class: Sa
P.A.: 79 Inclination: --- R.V.: +4870 Source: PGC *

This is a very small e in a pretty barren field. Very tiny. 20" x 10" in about PA 90 lowish SB growing broadly and slightly to the centre without apparent nucleus. It forms a small flat tri with a couple of mag 10.5 to 11 *s to its N and NE by about 13 & 6' away respectively. Occasionally you get a whiff of a sub-stellar nucleus at threshold.



x185 27'

NGC 7256 (NGC 7254) Galaxy *
RA: 22h 22m 36.1s Dec: -21° 44' 12"
Mag: 13.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.6' Class: SBb?
P.A.: 122 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This eg is found to the SE of a bright and distracting 4th mag * 17'' to the NW. It is a lowish SB slightly oval halo about 40" x 30" in PA 90 growing broadly and slightly to the centre without apparent core or nucleus. There is a mag 15.5* involved just on the N flank above centre.

Pt 4 to follow ...
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Old 04-09-2009, 09:52 PM
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ngcles
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Observing Report NGCLes Mudgee August 2009 Pt 4 (final)

Pt 4 ...

x185 27'

NGC 7288 Mkn 912 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 28m 15.0s Dec: -02° 53' 01"
Mag: 15.0 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 2.3'x1.5' Class: S0/a pec sp
P.A.: 104 Inclination: --- R.V.: +4807 Source: RC3

This is a pretty small but slightly elong eg in about PA 90. Maybe oval 50" x 30" lowish SB dominated at centre by a small slightly brighter core and a bright (in context) sub-stellar nucleus.


x185 27'

NGC 7287 (NGC 7287A) (ESO 602-20) Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 22h 28m 48.4s Dec: -22° 12' 14"
Mag: 16.8 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.5'x0.3' Class: S0
P.A.: 169 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC

From the NGC/IC project home page:

17.5": very faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. This identification
of this galaxy with N7287 is very uncertain and the number may apply to a double
star at 22 27 17.2 -22 07 03.

Discovered by Muller (II) and described as a "slightly nebulous **." . His
position is 0.2 tmin W and 4' N of E602-020A. Identified as a double star by Howe although the seeing was poor. This galaxy is identified as N7287A = E602-020A in RC3. ESO equates N7287 with E602-020 which is one magnitude fainter at the identical position as E602-020A.

Burnham (Publ of Lick Observatory, II) found two very faint objects about 20" apart although the following one appeared to a faint star only. I only recorded a single object in my visual observation.

Corwin notes N7287 may be a double (or triple) star as Muller originally stated (See NGCBUGS). But his position falls in a group of galaxies and it may have been the faint galaxy described here (Corwin feels this is less likely).- by Steve Gottlieb


Well I can only see one apparent eg here and assume that if this is a pair of eg in close proximity it must be a merged halo. Extremely tiny 5" - 10" a tiny, ephemeral scrap of haze that is found about 9' almost due S of a 7th mag *. Possible very, very faint spot in centre -- uncertain.

This is how it looks on the DSS (at centre):

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=

Well it is almost 17th magnitude … whaddaya expect it to look like?


x185 27'

NGC 7301 Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 22h 30m 34.8s Dec: -17° 34' 22"
Mag: 14.1 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.0'x0.5' Class: SB(s)ab pec:
P.A.: 1 Inclination: --- R.V.: +7212 Source: RC3 *

This is a quite small and faint eg in a mod populated field. Oval in PA 0 40" x 20" seems to grow slightly to centre and appears to have a bit of a weak streak across the axis near centre but there is no apparent core zone or nucleus.


x185 27'

IC 1445 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 25m 30.4s Dec: -17° 14' 32"
Mag: 13.5 (B) S.B.: 12.7 B-V: +0.84 Size: 1.6'x1.3' Class: SA(s)0-:
P.A.: 80 Inclination: --- R.V.: +2615 Source: RC3 *

This is not too difficult to see, it seems to be round, about 50" diameter and quite LSB with an almost consistent SB. Perhaps grows weakly to centre. No evidence of core zone or nucleus. There is a mag 14.5 * a little off the halo south.

x185 27'

NGC 7308 (IC 1448) Galaxy *
RA: 22h 34m 32.0s Dec: -12° 56' 00"
Mag: 13.8 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.2'x0.8' Class: (R')SAB(r)0-?
P.A.: 145 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -2-57-18 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 34m 48.5s Dec: -12° 54' 44"
Mag: 16.0 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.2' Class: S?
P.A.: 143 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

From NGC/IC:

NGC 7308 = IC 1448. The poor position from the first Leander-McCormick list led Javelle to overlook the NGC number. Herbert Howe, however, caught the mistake and correctly identified the galaxy. It is about 40 seconds of time east and 3 arcmin north of Leavenworth's position. A sketch would not have helped to identify this as Leavenworth correctly notes, "No star in field." - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

* * *

This is a very small round non-descript little eg in a pretty blank field. About 40" diameter and seems to grow evenly and slightly to centre where there is a small stellaring at threshold. To its E 3' is MCG-2-57-18

MCG-2-57-18 is a small slightly elong patch that is somewhat fainter than its NGC companion. Very low SB, 30" x 10" grows slightly in brightness to the axis near centre and seems to be elong in PA 150. Interestingly there is a star (not a “non-star”) shown at the NW tip of this eg on Megastar -- GSC 5817-1064 at mag 15.2 that is also in the A2 as 0750-21254623 or -11 or -33 (multiple entries -- unresolved as to which "star" it is at mags 15.5 to 16.2. Does not look convincingly like a star on Sky-Map or the DSS, but may be a small enhancement near the tip of the halo. Either way it wasn't seen in the ep.

The DSS image is here:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=





x185 27'

NGC 7309 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 34m 20.7s Dec: -10° 21' 26"
Mag: 13.0 (B) S.B.: 13.3 B-V: +0.54 Size: 1.9'x1.7' Class: SAB(rs)c
P.A.: 113 Inclination: --- R.V.: +3938 Source: RC3 *

This eg is about 7' S of of a 10th mag *, 1.25' diameter maybe even 1.5', round, diffuse looking growing broadly and slightly to the centre azonally without nucleus. This eg has a very interesting appearance on the DSS – it appears quite asymmetric in structure. The bright arms are unusually strong and well defined. It almost looks like a three armed spiral with the arms 120 deg apart. Slightly curious appearance.

An image of this slightly unusual looking spiral eg is here:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=

The arms in themselves are a little reminiscent of the appearance of M61’s arms. I see that it has been imaged in the infra-red by HST (NICMOS) but there doesn’t seem to be any papers on it and it isn’t in the Arp or Markarian lists – which is a little odd because it looks peculiar to me. Its classification doesn’t say much SAB(RS)c. Simbad lists it as an emission-line galaxy and a couple of papers refer to it as an active galaxy but there are no papers that seem to study it in detail.



x185 27'

NGC 7310 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 34m 36.8s Dec: -22° 29' 05"
Mag: 14.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.9'x0.7' Class: SB(rs)bc:
P.A.: 36 Inclination: --- R.V.: +9686 Source: RC3 *

This eg is a 8' NE of an 8th mag * and is no more than a very small, round blob of mist around 30" diameter with a weak azonal central brightening and no evidence of core or nucleus.

This was my 1000th Herschel General Catalogue Object and … the 4000th individual object in my log!!

Just for the record here’s an image:

http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_...e&fov=NONE&v3=



x185 27'

NGC 7364 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 44m 24.4s Dec: -00° 09' 41"
Mag: 13.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.7'x1.0' Class: S0/a pec:
P.A.: 65= Inclination: 3 R.V.: +4906 Source: RC3 *

This eg is just a little away from the mid-point between a couple of mag 11 *s aligned SW-NE 17' apart. Small, 40" diameter, mod faint, round and grows evenly and slightly to centre where there is small faint stellaring dead-centre that tends to dominate it to an extent.



x185 27'

NGC 7365 Galaxy *
RA: 22h 45m 10.0s Dec: -19° 57' 07"
Mag: 13.7 (B) S.B.: 12.0 B-V: +0.89 Size: 1.5'x0.9' Class: SA(rs)0-:
P.A.: 36 Inclination: --- R.V.: +3081 Source: RC3 *

This eg forms a the RA in a RA tri between a wide mags 12-14 pair to its SE and 12th mag * to the NE each about 4' away. Small round, looking like a distant elliptical about 40" diameter grows evenly and mod to centre where there is an almost *ar nucleus at about mag 15 -- almost looks like a superimposed *.



After another long look at Jupiter and a few early-summer favourites, it was time to get to bed at almost 3am (it had been a 6.30am start for me). Just before I settled into my sleeping bag, I saw a few light high clouds beginning to drift up from the west.

On waking at 10am, the weather had taken a decided turn for the worse. The sky was more than 50% cloud and it was breezy from the northwest. After brekkie and a stumble around, I headed into Mudgee for a look-round to buy some liquid refreshments and a cheap and nasty transistor radio to listen to the cricket from England (more on this later). Also couldn’t resist an early lunch kebab from the IPSA shop who serve the best kebabs in the known Universe – they’re cheap too.

That done, back out to John’s and spent most of the rest of the afternoon attempting (in vain) to get some macro shots of the wattle in bloom at Observatory Downs. It was a futile exercise because of the wind and they were essentially all duds.

Gary turned up having driven from Sydney at about 4pm by which time the sky was completely clouded with the possibility of rain. The transistor I’d bought worked okay on FM but AM reception (where the cricket was being telecast on the ABC) was virtually non-existent it was so under-powered. So I just stowed it in the hope it would be useful one day. Something I didn’t realise was that it had a built-in alarm clock …

Cut a long story short there was no observing, the night was spent with a few drinks, a few nibbles, a good meal watching a bit of cricket on the T.V, and … that’s about it. We waited up until after 2am in hope but when we hit the sack, it was light, steady rain.

Saturday morning, for some reason, I woke at 6.45am and the eyes were not going to shut again. Gary was still deep asleep so, seeing a bit of sunshine and no wind outside, I decided to take a wander and see whether some wattle shots were possible. After a quick reconnoitre it looked good and I headed back to the car to listen to the 7am news on the radio and pick up the camera. Seconds later, Gary’s head at the door of the van said,

“So why is the alarm on your transistor radio set for 7am?”

Doh !! The little radio somehow had it’s alarm set and not at a good time.

So brekkie, a few wattle shots, a wander and it was time to head off to town, maybe a winery or two and whatever the day bought. And that’s what happened. Another kebab (they are that good), a visit to Steins for a few bottles and we popped out to visit Steve Quirk at Frog Rock Observatory. The cloud still hung around but as the day wore on thickened again so that by sunset, not a star to see. We spent most of Saturday night like we did the night before except that Richard and his daughter Alex turned up and we had a few glimpses through the ‘scopes with breaks in the clouds that offered just enough sucker-holes to keep you on your toes and hoping for better. Strangely, there were a few occasions during the evening when it sprinkled rain out of a clear nearly cloudless sky.

Sunday and the Sunday night that followed was almost an exact copy of Saturday save that we slept in without the alarm until nearly 11am and decided to give the Kebab a miss for today. It did finally clear up to an almost cloudless sky but waited till about 1.30am so we made hay while the stars shined. It was the warmest August night I think I can remember and the temperature didn’t dip below 20 deg C until after sunrise.

I spent a lot of time just scanning the SMC and then LMC. Last seen was the Horsehead nebula before the final pack-up and having slept in so long and having had a 2 hr snooze on the lounge while the cricket was on in the early evening meant I didn’t feel too tired and decided to drive to Sydney and get some kip at home.

Despite the less-than co-operative weather, it was still a terrific weekend. Thanks from all of us who went to John and Patti Vetter for hosting us so well – again!

http://www.mudgeeobservatory.com.au/


Best,

Les D
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Old 04-09-2009, 10:20 PM
Rob_K
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Great report again Les, so much detail! Was a bit worried at the start with your emphasis on Aquarius, Leo & Virgo and significant numbers that you were drifting into astrology and numerology, but it was alright in the end!

And where do you get this clear sky from??

Cheers -
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Old 04-09-2009, 10:28 PM
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Thats about the most detailed obs report I have ever read. Was this all done with the 16"?
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Old 04-09-2009, 10:32 PM
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Great Read their Les some stirling work at the Telescope, and congratulations on your 4000 recorded observation
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Old 05-09-2009, 05:37 PM
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Another fantastic report Les. Geez that ALOT of objects for one night, well done! Hunting faint galaxies, my absolute favourite thing to do

Shame about the lame weather....we should sign a petition to outlaw all cloud from Australia

Cheers
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Old 08-09-2009, 12:28 AM
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Thanks

Hi All,

Thanks for your comments -- much appreciated.

Rob, you've nothing to fear from me and any "foray" into astrology let me assure you. I have a lot of fun with people heavily into it when they come to Sydney Observatory.

By the way, object 1,000 (in 1996 or 1997 I think) was in ... Pictor -- so that kinda mucks up that little set. As you all know, Pictor (like Microscopium) is one of the sky's little deserts.

One thing I forgot to add Ron is that on the first night at about 8pm, I had another go at trying to see the PNn (central star) in the Ring Nebula (M57). The seeing was goodish without being brilliant. Used magnifications up to x464 and spent up to 10 mins looking -- no dice.

Saw IC 1296 (the little nearby barred spiral) again at x247 & x317, but no central star in the Ring.

David, all the obs were done with an 18" -- the Argus Panoptes. See my signature block.

If I had to pick a "most interesting thing" seen on the Thursday night, I'd go for NGC 7309 in Aquarius. Not so much for what is visible in the ep, but it seems to me to be a peculiar looking galaxy. On the DSS (see the link with the note) it nearly looks like a 3-armed spiral. I don't think three-armed spirals are "prohibited", but they are rare if not very rare. The brightness and filamentary nature of the arms is also strange if not intriguing. I'd like to see Hubble image it one day -- especially with all the new hardware they installed a couple of months ago. When they call for suggestions next time for the Hubble Heritage, I'll nominate it.

Thanks again for the feedback.



Best,

Les D
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Old 27-10-2009, 12:33 PM
esram (Esra)
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nicely Detailed rreport.. + thanx for the nice comments on our Kebab shop ....... hehe
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