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Old 27-01-2017, 01:16 PM
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ngcles
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Observations -- Galaxies in Pictor, Reticulum, Fornax & Puppis 26/27 January 2017

Hi All,

Observed last night (26-27th January 2017) at home and tackled some small and faint eg from my "yet to be observed" list in Pictor, Reticulum, Fornax & Puppis. I commenced the session about 10pm when the temperature was 21 deg C, no cloud, no dew no wind and an SQM-L reading of 22.07 at zenith. About 90 minutes into the session, after I had finished the galaxies in Pictor & Reticulum, a gusty, slight north-easterly breeze came up, the humidity rose, the seeing deteriorated from a 6 to a 4/10 and the SQM-L reading dropped to 21.92, then 21.83. After a couple of galaxies in Fornax I decided the conditions weren't up to doing really faint stuff so I spent about 40 minutes cruising some bright favourite galaxies and globulars and tested out my newly acquired 15x80mm binoculars -- thanks Wal. They were everything I could hope for in that aperture range.

After about 30mins, the breeze swung around to the south and lessened somewhat with a consequent improvement in the seeing. I tackled a couple of faint galaxies in Puppis while my dog (Thug the wonder dog) was agitating and urging me to pack up and hit the sack. To appease him, I finished at 12.45am. Here are the notes.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2101 Galaxy *
RA: 05h 46m 23.7s Dec: -52° 05' 26"
Mag: 13.7 (V) S.B.: --- B-V: +0.42 Size: 1.9'x1.2' Class: IB(s)m pec
P.A.: 45 Inclination: --- R.V.: +1204 Source: RC3 *

This eg is pointed at from the SW by three mag 11 *s that form a rough line. Pretty low SB, mod faint and small eg 1.25 x 40" in PA 90 with a slight, broad concentration to centre without evidence of core, zones or nucleus. There are a faint *s, mags 14 off the southern flank and east end just off the halo.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2087 Galaxy *
RA: 05h 44m 16.4s Dec: -55° 31' 57"
Mag: 14.6 (P)S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.8'x0.6' Class: SB(r)a: pec
P.A.: 136 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This eg is very small and mod to quite faint, forming the NW point of a rough square made up with three mags 7.5 - 8 *s and is about 10' a side. Quite small, no more than 40-50" diameter, possibly slightly elong in PA 150, of consistent quite low SB mist brightening broadly and slightly to centre without core, zones or nucleus.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2104 Galaxy *
RA: 05h 47m 04.5s Dec: -51° 33' 11"
Mag: 13.2 (B) S.B.: 13.6 B-V: +0.48 Size: 2.3'x1.0'Class: SB(s)m pec
P.A.: 167 Inclination: --- R.V.: +1181

This is a mod faint, LSB eg about 1.5 - 1.75 x 1' in PA 0. Appears in a field where there is a "V" shaped asterism of mags 13 & 14 *s pointing E about 6' a side, and the eg is located on the open end of the "V" between the open branches. Very diffuse edged oval-shaped, growing weakly to centre where there is an occasionally visible inconclusive hint of a small roundish weakly brighter zone. Te halo on the W flank appears to have a slightly harder edge to it than its counterpart.

x247 20' TF

NGC 2115 Multi-Galaxy Sys *
RA: 05h 51m 20.0s Dec: -50° 34' 57"
Mag: 14.1 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.2'x1.0' Class: S0?
P.A.: 114 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

This eg is a few arc mins to the NNE of a small, narrow I Tri of mags 10, 11 & 12 *s. Doubtfully visible at x185, x247 is better, slightly elong very small smudge 40 x 15 in about PA 30, Small faint halo and a 15th mag sub-stellar nucleus. NGC 2115A is supposed to lie imm S of 2115, just off the halo -- I couldn't see it.


x185 27' TF

NGC 2148 Galaxy *
RA: 05h 58m 45.8s Dec: -59° 07' 35"
Mag: 14.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x0.9'Class: SA(rs)b pec:
P.A.: 150 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This eg appears imm W of a mag 12.5 *. Pretty small, faint and seems round, possesses slight elong in PA 0, 40 x 30" in PA 0. Grows broadly and slightly to centre without core, zones or nucleus. Overall it has very LSB.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2152 Galaxy *
RA: 06h 00m 55.2s Dec: -50° 44' 29"
Mag: 14.7 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x1.0' Class: (R')SB(r)a: pec
P.A.: 69 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This eg appears imm SW of a mag 13.5 * that is just off the halo. Quite faint, V/LSB eg slightly elong oval on about PA 135, probably 45 x 20" . Brightens broadly and slightly to centre where there is a whiff of a tiny slightly brighter, not well defined zone.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2178 Galaxy *
RA: 06h 02m 47.3s Dec: -63° 45' 50"
Mag: 13.6 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x0.9' Class: E1
P.A.: 68 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

ESO 86-56 (PGC 18359) Galaxy *
RA: 06h 03m 59.2s Dec: -63° 41' 59"
Mag: 14.4 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.6' Class: SAB(r)a
P.A.: 165 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

-78 appears to the WSW by 3' from a mag 9*. Faint but pretty easy to see due to its compact nature, probably only 30" diameter, round and grows mod and evenly to centre without core zones or nucleus. Mag 15 * a little off the NW side of the halo. ESO 86-56 is 10' NE on the other side of the mag 9*.

-56 very faint and diaphanous oval smudge of V V/LSB in PA 0, 1' x 30" of consistent very LSB mist with weak central brightening if at all.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2297 Galaxy *
RA: 06h 44m 24.8s Dec: -63° 43' 03"
Mag: 13.4 (B) S.B.: 13.6 B-V: +0.69 Size: 1.4'x1.2'
Class: SAB(rs)bc P.A.: 19 Inclination: --- R.V.: +3395

This eg is found 7' NW of a small RA tri of a mag 12 & 2x mag 12.5 *s. Oval in PA 0, mod elong candle-flame shaped halo about 1.5' x 30" in PA 0. Flanks nor tips are well defined though it possesses a mod brighter compact and round core/nucleus that seems to occasionally possess a very faint stellaring.

On to Reticulum:

x185 27' TF

IC 1980 Galaxy *
RA: 03h 36m 59.0s Dec: -57° 58' 24"
Mag: 14.9 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.1'x0.4' Class: Sb? sp pec
P.A.: 19 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

This is a tiny but reasonable SB eg that at first glance almost seems *ar. 10' SW from a mag 9 * . Very tiny 20" di halo brightening mod and evenly to centre where there seems to be an occasional stellaring. Fair SB given its size.

IC 1997 Galaxy *
RA: 03h 44m 51.7s Dec: -59° 08' 17"
Mag: 13.9 (B) S.B.: 12.5 B-V: +0.55 Size: 1.2'x0.5' Class: Sa? pec
P.A.: 73 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

Mod faint eg but not too hard to see, slightly elong oval halo 1.2 x 30" in PA 90 growing weakly to centre without core zones or nucleus. There is a mag 15.5 * that is just off the W tip of the halo that's doing a bit of a supernova impression. Not hard to see.

Then Fornax:

x185 27' TF

IC 1811 Galaxy *
RA: 02h 30m 38.1s Dec: -34° 15' 50"
Mag: 14.3 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.4'x1.0' Class: (R')SB(r)ab
P.A.: 28 Inclination: --- R.V.: +4791 Source: RC3 *

IC 1813 Galaxy *
RA: 02h 30m 49.4s Dec: -34° 13' 15"
Mag: 14.2 (P) S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.2'x0.8' Class: SA(rs)0+ pec:
P.A.: 102 Inclination: --- R.V.: +4453 Source: RC3 *

IC 1813 is 4' NE of -11. -13 is probably very slightly the brighter of the two and appears round. Elong slightly in PA 90, quite small, maybe 40" x 30" brightening broadly and slightly to centre where there is an occasionally visible stellaring.

-11 has a very faint *, mag 15-odd just off the E bit of the halo. has a slightly larger halo, about 40" diameter and appears round, brightens weakly to centre where there is an ill-defined slightly brighter core region .

Then Puppis:

x185 27' TF

NGC 2501 Galaxy *
RA: 07h 58m 30.0s Dec: -14° 21' 17"
Mag: 14.5 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 1.3'x0.9' Class: SAB(r)0^?
P.A.: 82 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

In a very starry field this is a pretty easy to see small, mod faint eg that seems round, possibly 50" rising evenly and slightly to centre. At centre there seems to be a nuclear stellaring that is occasionally glimpsed.

x185 27' TF

NGC 2578 Galaxy *
RA: 08h 21m 24.3s Dec: -13° 19' 06"
Mag: 13.5 (B) S.B.: 13.1 B-V: +0.92 Size: 2.0'x1.2'
Class: SB(r)0/a pec P.A.: 80 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: RC3 *

MCG -2-22-3 (PGC 23449) Galaxy *
RA: 08h 21m 33.5s Dec: -13° 21' 03"
Mag: 14.9 S.B.: --- B-V: --- Size: 0.7'x0.5' Class: Sb
P.A.: 127 Inclination: --- R.V.: --- Source: PGC *

-78 is a mod faint, lowish SB eg in a quite starry field and -2-22-3 lies to its SE by about 3' and is imm E of a mag 11* that hinders its observation.

-78 is oval in about PA 90, not overly large, probably 1.25' x 45" in PA 90, rising weakly from an ill-defined outer halo to centre where there is a very small slightly brighter spot-type core nucleus.

-22-3 is SE by 3' and is close to a mag 11 *. Tiny and slightly elong eg, quite faint, 20" x 10" with no apparent central brightening or core, zones or apparent nucleus.

All for now.

Best,

L.
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Old 28-01-2017, 09:05 PM
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Benjamin (Ben)
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Love the detail in these observations. Again a bit of a newbie question but how do you measure the PA (or determine where the NCP is?) through the eyepiece? Watching the stars drift could give the East West orientation of things I guess or is it more down to experience?
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Old 29-01-2017, 10:29 AM
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ngcles
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Guesstimating P.A

Hi Ben,

Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin View Post
Love the detail in these observations. Again a bit of a newbie question but how do you measure the PA (or determine where the NCP is?) through the eyepiece? Watching the stars drift could give the East West orientation of things I guess or is it more down to experience?
Back in the "olden days" using a GEM on my old 31cm or 25cm, I'd give the Dec slow motion a little twiddle either way and that would tell you north & south, and it is easy to work out from there.

Really is it too fiddly to do with a dobson mounted newtonian. I work in the field with the planetarium software Megastar on my laptop. After identifying the galaxy I will look for a couple of stars (that obviously make a line) in the field, then refer to the map and see what way they point, then use this as a reference to determine approximately where north is in the field, and then guesstimate the P.A (if any). With my old GEM, I could reliably estimate PA to within 15 degrees. Using my present 46cm, it is really a guesstimate from either 0, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150 degrees.

Best,

L.
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Old 29-01-2017, 02:34 PM
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Thanks Les, that makes a lot of sense. I've been using SkySafari Pro to hunt down objects recently so that should help me establsih the PA orientations although they might be rather more familiar galaxies than the faint fuzzies you are describing. Again many thanks for the report and sharing the techniques.
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