Observation Report Tuesday 23/06/09

[astroron]

Observing Report 23/06/09
I started the nights observing with Comet C/2008 Q3 Garradd which was just about on the zenith, it looked quite bright in the 30mm eyepiece in amongst the bright stars of Hydra
there was no hint of tail and no colour,but still a nice sight, at a guess mag 7 "The Sky" gives it at mag 12 ?
I then went to Comet C/2009 G1 Stereo which is low down in Darado,Faint round round patch against against the back ground sky, no other detail.
Given mag as 11.4.
I should have looked for this comet earlier.

Galaxy cluster Abell 3627
A challenge was issued by a well known 'Deep Sky' observer Steve Gottlieb on another Web site to observe some of the brighter
galaxies in ABELL galaxy cluster 3627 on the boarder of Triangulum Australe and Norma.
I have observed this cluster a few times in the past couple of months but have not written down my observations.
Last night I rectified that.
ABELL 3627 consist of 59 galaxies with the brightest being mag 12.46 and the faintest observed in my scope mag 14.84.
All the galaxies in this cluster are ESO Catalogue objects.
I will report these galaxies in the order I observed them.

I Started the observation 09:00 UT 19:30 local time with ESO 137-6 A Large elliptical haze brighter towards the middle, given mag 13.08.
There is a mag 13.0 star due north.
This galaxy is seperated from ESO 137-8 by a trapezium of stars with the brightest being mag 9.3.

Eso 137-8 Elliptical galaxy brighter in the middle, this galaxy seemed fainter to me but the given mag is 12.84,
as it is a bit larger this may account for it seeming to be a bit fainter.
Both these galaxies where seen with direct vision in both a 13mm Nagler and a 6mm Radian.

ESO 137-11 Seen as a faint round haze south of ESO 137-10, best seen with averted vision but also seen directly.
Given mag is 14.63.6MM Radian, just hinted at in 13mm Nagler.

ESO 137-10 Large round faint shows brightening towards the middle, mag 12.46. 6mm Radian 13 mm Nagler

ESO 137-2 Faint streak seen at times with direct vision, but best seen with averted vision. mag 14.84. 6mm Radian.

ESO 137-1 Faint haze seen direct and slightly better with averted vision.no detail. Mag 13.75 6mm Radian

ESO 137-3 Faint elongated haze, two stars of mag 10-11 made it difficult to to discern any shape or form.mag 13.55
6mm Radian

ESO 137-7 faint oval seen with averted vision, no other detail.mag 13.9 6mm Radian.

There is also a Planetary Nebula in the field PK 325-7.1 but I think I only just glimpsed it, O111 did not bring it out.

The sky is brilliant with stars in this area which made the observation of the fainter galaxies even more difficult.

What started of as a 9-10 night sky quickly deteriorated as the mist came in so called it a night at 10:30 UT 20:30 local
A short but productive observation session:astron::stargaze:

[ngcles]

Hi Ron & All,

Thanks very much for posting those observations -- much appreciated. I've been wanting to have a go at this cluster since it was raised by Steve.

Clouds have been a problem ...

Hopeful per'aps of this Sat night -- your notes look like an excellent guide.

Thanks,


Best,

Les D

[astroron]

Hi Les , the cluster improves with magnification and also the black cloth over the head:D
I look forward to your report on this cluster:thumbsup:
Are you a member of "The Webb Society"?
Cheers

[DavidU]

Excellent Ron, what scope was used?

[astroron]

Thanks David, 40cm(16") truss Newtonian:)
Most of those galaxies would not be seen in anything below 35cm(14") note I said most;)

ESO 137-6/8 would be within the scope of a 14" but probably not the others :thumbsup:

[DavidU]

Ah, yes a 16" and not a lot of light pollution.
I live 1km away from a major shopping complex (Knox City) here in Melbourne and it's lit up like a christmas tree. I have not had a good view from a dark site for years.
I enjoyed reading your nights travels.

[astroron]

Thanks David, I am glad you enjoy my posts:)
If you are ever up Queensland's Sunshine Coast way I would be glad to show you the "Dark Night Sky":astron:

[jjjnettie]

It was a beaut night wasn't it Ron.
You were more productive than I though.
I enjoyed reading your report.
Thanks.

[hotspur]

thats really good Ron,i enjoy these written observing sessions.

To my mind,viewing at the eye piece and making the observations like

you do, is really what amateur astronomy is all about.i find it far more

interestin than sitting in front of a computer screen taking pictures.

Well done on your fine skills.

cheers Chris:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[astroron]

Thanks Chris:)
Here is an image of this cluster taken with a 2mtr Telescope:eyepop:
The trapezium of stars is in between the two large galaxies at the bottom of this photo, you can only see the bright ninth magnitude star which overwhelms the other stars.
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap000104.html

[astroron]

Thanks JJJ, the night was good but finished to quick for me as the mist came in.
Cheers