Bright Southern Galaxies

[glenc]

These are the brightest galaxies south of declination -30, listed by magnitude.
Object Mag
LMC 0.9
SMC 2.7
NGC 5128 7.8
NGC 0055 8.8
NGC 0300 9.0
NGC 6744 9.1
NGC 1313 9.2
NGC 1291 9.4
NGC 1316 9.4
NGC 7793 10.0
NGC 1399 10.0
NGC 2997 10.1
NGC 3621 10.2
NGC 1097 10.2
NGC 1553 10.3
NGC 1672 10.3
NGC 1365 10.3
NGC 1566 10.3
NGC 5102 10.4
NGC 1532 10.7
NGC 1433 10.7
NGC 1549 10.7
NGC 5643 10.7
NGC 1808 10.8
NGC 1792 10.9
NGC 5253 10.9
Reference http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/forms/byparams.html

[astro744]

Nice list but pity you didn't start at -25 Declination as you would have included NGC253; one of the finest galaxies in the entire sky.

Note galaxies of the same magnitude will only appear similar brightness if their size and orientation is similar. eg, a small 10 mag edge on spiral will appear much brighter than a large 10 mag face on sprial since the light is spread over a smaller area.

[Robh]

Yes, the question of just how bright a galaxy appears has come up a few times in our discussions before. Under dark skies the visual magnitude works well but where there is any significant skyglow, surface brightness is often a better indicator. However, some measure must be applied and based on visual magnitude, the list is very useful. I'm sure if a list was drawn up based on surface brightness, different galaxies would appear and likely exclude some of the brighter vmag-based ones.

Regards, Rob

[Lismore Bloke]

Thanks for posting the list Glen. Regardless of the relative worth of visual magnitude versus surface brightness, it is a very good observation list. One that I will certainly be using soon. The reference web site is excellent.

[glenc]

This list comes from LEDA and is for galaxies south of declination -20.
SB is the surface brightness.
Name SB Mv
LMC xx, 0.3
SMC xx, 2.3
NGC5128 22.5, 6.8
NGC0253 21.3, 7.1
NGC5236 21.3, 7.2, M83
NGC0055 21.6, 7.9
NGC0300 22.8, 8.2
Fornax Dwarf 25.2, 8.2
NGC6744 22.5, 8.3
NGC4945 22.5, 8.5
NGC1316 21.3, 8.5
NGC7793 21.9, 8.9
NGC0247 23.0, 9.1
NGC1313 22.5, 9.2
NGC2997 22.5, 9.2
NGC1097 21.5, 9.4
NGC1553 20.9, 9.4
NGC1399 22.0, 9.5
NGC3621 22.1, 9.5
NGC5102 21.2, 9.5
Sculptor Dwarf 26.5, 9.6
NGC3109 23.1, 9.6
NGC1395 21.4, 9.6
NGC1398 21.5, 9.7
NGC1365 22.1, 9.7
NGC1566 21.4, 9.7
NGC1672 21.6, 9.7
NGC1549 21.1, 9.8
ESO121-006 21.1, 9.8
NGC3923 21.6, 9.8
NGC3585 20.9, 9.9
NGC1532 22.3, 9.9
IC5152 21.3, 9.9
NGC1404 20.0, 9.9
NGC1232 22.6, 9.9
Reference http://leda.univ-lyon1.fr/

[spacezebra]

Thanks Glen for the information.

Cheers Petra d.

[Robh]

Glen,

Thanks for taking the trouble to extend the list.
Appreciate it.

Regards, Rob

[seanliddelow]

Has anyone seen the Fornax Dwarf or the Sculptor Dwarf?
Will they be viewable through my 12"?

[GrampianStars]

Da! :thumbsup:
Sculptor Dwarf Dia 40′ × 31′Mag 10.1
Fornax Dwarf Dia 7′.0 × 12′.6 Mag 9.3

[glenc]

Yes I have seen both with a 12" but the surface brightness is very low.
See http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=38077&highlight=Sculptor+Dwarf

[seanliddelow]

Does anyone have a finderchart for the galaxy?

[Lismore Bloke]

This site has a map showing the position of the Sculptor Dwarf:

http://messier45.com/cgi-bin/dsdb/dsb.pl?ss=126035092389795&id=10572&str=MCG-06-03-015&view=fullmap

[glenc]

These two images of the Fornax and Sculptor dwarf galaxies (field 112') are from wikisky.org.
They are not bright galaxies.