May/June Observing Challenge (by Suzy, yeah!).

[Suzy]

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 (http://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!

[Suzy]

As we're half way through the month already and the moon is now very bright, I've made the challenge as a combination for both May/June.

So how's the list shaping up? Any suggestions for further objects?

[astroron]

My pick for an Easy to Medium challenge would be face on spiral galaxy NGC 3621. At mag 10 and quite large,it is in a kite or cross like asterism.
I observed this galaxy using a Celestron 8" SCT for a number of years as part of a visual Supernova search.
Cheers

[Suzy]

Great suggestion Ron. :thumbsup:
I will add that it in.

I'm also going to add in M48- an open cluster which will also be an excellent target for binos in the easy category.

[mental4astro]

Nice selection there, Suzy.

New comers to astro should note that the galaxy M83 is also just visible in binoculars from urban areas. Not all urban areas, alas, but if you can see the Eta Carina nebula naked eye, you'll be able to nab M83 in binos in 50mm and over in size.

I'd like to add one object here, please. I pinned it to Stu's thread for May, so, if you are feeling brave:

Quasar 3C273, in Virgo. 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!

[Suzy]

Ooooh nice one Alex.
I'm concerned some folk might need medicating tho.:lol:

I have added it to the challenge. :thumbsup:

[orestis]

Awesome,Great set of objects Suzy:thumbsup:.

Its been fairly clear here but the moon is not letting me hunt down any of the faint stuff even the sombrero looks faint under a gibbbous moon.

I'll try next clear night without the moon about.

Alex,I think 3c273 is infact 2 billion light years away not 3 according to the latest measurements.Though i'll definately try to see this one.

Cheers Orestis:D

[Paddy]

Interesting list Suzy. I look forward to chasing them down. Well done.

[Giorgio]

Me tooo:jump:
Can you pass a link where it explain how it work please? :confuse3:

Giorgio

[Suzy]

Hi Giorgio,

It's a (usually) monthly list of targets for different levels of experience.

If you can report on this thread describing what you saw that would be fabulous too. If you are going to do a report, at the top of it, put the date of the observation, equipment & magnification used, including any filters etc used. Then list your objects with a report next to each one. There's no special way to write what you saw, just just describe what you see. Writing notes or using a voice recorder is a good way of recording information while you view an object. If we leave it up to our memory, often there is much we forget when it comes down to writing a report.
For an example of some reports, have a look in the "Observation Reports" forum which is a sub category to the Observation & Visual Astronomy forum (right at the top of the page).

I excitedly look forward to you joining us using your large binoculars!! How awesome! :D Your report with the binos will ad some nice variety.
Wait till the moon goes away (with the exception of the star cluster).

[Giorgio]

Very well Suzy, I got the idea. I guess more than a report, mine will look more like a list of questions...:lol:

Cheers

[mental4astro]

A sketch or two would be nice too, ;) :rolleyes:.

[SMan]

What a brilliant concept!
Can't wait to have a go at this as soon as I get some clear sky.

Cheers,
H

[ZeroID]

Most of my sky seems to be grey and going sideways at 100 kms per hour .. and some of it keeps falling on my head ... :sadeyes:

[Stu Ward]

Thanks for the great thread Suzy.
I'll be sure to hit these as soon as I get home.
Quick question though, would the quasar be listed in a goto system ?
I promise to search old school first but if I'm struggling will I be able to cheat ???

Grats again on a great thread. I love these monthly challenges.

Stu

[Suzy]

Hi Stu,
:thanx: I am glad you are enjoying the challenges.

What's the size of your scope?
I didn't know you'd upgraded - congratulations!

[Stu Ward]

12" skywatcher goto.
She's a beaut !!

[Paddy]

Stu, if it's not in your go-to list, you could look up the celestial coordinates (RA/declination) and plug them in to the system

[Stu Ward]

Great paddy thanks.

If I can do that I think the goto allows you to store them too

Stu

[Suzy]

Congratulations Stu!!! :2thumbs:

Stu, I have the co-ordinates plus a map for that Quasar in Virgo.
I will post it here today.

I see you like punishment on the challenge :lol:.
This one is a bit of out of my depth.:rolleyes:

[Suzy]

Here is the map for the Quasar 3C 273 in Virgo (map view through a finder).
As you can see, the two bright stars there are gamma & eta, so plot along from there. :)
94499

[astroron]

Here is a pic with the field of C3 273 and a couple of galaxies I use to help find it.
With Suzy's Chart and this photo you should have no trouble finding it;):)
Cheers:thumbsup:

[astroron]

Completed the challenge tonight:D
Report soon:thumbsup:
Cheers

[Rob_K]

Had a go at a few of the targets tonight, although it was a bit late for some which had set or were in mist to the west. Observing through Tasco 4.5" f8 reflector & 21mm Celestron X-Cel eyepiece (43x). Sky conditions (other than seeing!) were pretty good, but there was a little light mist in the valley.

NGC 3621 was a nice, reasonably bright galaxy which wouldn't want to have been any lower in my sky. Showed as an oval glow perhaps 7 arcminutes long, with a pair of small stars on the south and a faint star just inside the northern end of the galaxy. Averted vision helped.

NGC 4590 was a nice little globular, quite bright. Centrally condensed but not strongly. M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy was a big roundish smudge (but not round), with the faint extensions flickering in and out. No sign of the arms, which I have spotted before in this scope.

With 3C 273 a bit beyond this rig, I did a quick cruise around some biggies including gc Omega Centauri, gx Centaurus A, Lagoon Nebula, Trifid Nebula, gc M22 (you forget how good this one is!!), oc Jewel Box, and finished with Saturn and bright star Porrima in the same FOV. Even at 43x, Saturn was flaring & breaking up, awful seeing, but any view of Saturn is a good one!

Thanks Suzy! :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[pgc hunter]

M83 's arms in a 4.5 incher - great stuff Rob! I agree with you on the seeing, absolute trash this record crap year, worst I've ever seen it, and it'sconsistant as well.

[astroron]

Suzy's observation challenge:thumbsup:

25/05/11 start of observations 09.45UT=19.45AEST

Seeing 7-10 trans 7-10, Telescope 16"f4.5 Truss Dob

NGC 3200 Hydra
21mm plossl,87xmag This edge on spiral galaxy was plainly seen as a faint but noticable streak
Mag 10 star to the west,star on northern tip hinted at.

13mm Nagler x140 mag
Galaxy shows a nuculus which was not seen in the 21mm plossl.
Mag 12 star SS/E
6mm Radian,x304,mag,Nucleus star like and 13mag star on northern tip plainly seen.
A Small triangle of stars in between the 10mag star in the west and the galaxy just seen with averted vision

Hood helps to bring out the details of this galaxy.

10.20 UT 20.20 AEST

3C 273 Quasar in Virgo.

21mm plossl,Elongated triangle of three stars, with Quasar being the top N/E of the three.
it is the brighter of the three 12-13 mag stars.
No other detail visible.

Edge on spiral galaxies NGC 4527and NGC 4536 where visited and and just fitted into the FOV of the 13mm nagler

10.45UT 20.45 Aest

NGC 2548 (M48)
30mm plossl 60xmag.
left it a bit late to observe this object as it was low down.
Large Open Cluster with small bar of bright stars in center
Fills the FOV of the 30mm plossl.
In 10x60 binoculars some halo of stars was observed with the small bar of stars making a nucleus.
Still a nice cluster in Binoculars.

10.52UT 10.52 AEST

NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter Planetary Nebula

30mm plossl 60xmag
Bright blue/green ball stark against the dark sky, similer to Uranus in colour
13mm nagler140xmag has large halo,brightness increases with UHC filter, O111 seems a bit duller but more
nebula is seen.
Elongated East/west but no central star was seen
6mm Radian 304xmag elongation more pronounced but still no central star?
Both filters as above.

11.11UT 21.11 AEST

NGC 5236 (M83)Just about on the meridian

30mm plossl 60xmag
large bright face on Spiral galaxy,very bright nucleus,double star south west split
13mm nagler 140x mag ,South west spiral arm seen with straight vision and northern arm with averted vision.
Fills the FOV of the eyepiece
some mottling was seen.
Bar was not pronounced on this occassion.
seeing was starting to deteriorate.


11.23 UT 21.23 AEST

NGC3621

30mmplossl 60xmag
Broad elongated glow inside an asterism shaped like an upside down cross or kite.
thicker toward the north where a small cluster of 11mag stars make up the base of the cross.
Some mottling was seen with 13 mm nagler.
Stars to 14.5 mag seen
I observed this galaxy for many years as part of my Supernova search.

11.52 UT 21.52 AEST

V Hydra Carbon Star

Took some time to find this star as I was expecting a much brighter object.
Easily seen in a 30mm plossl was to me more toward the deaper red than Ruby Crusis,
but this could be because of the brightness of Beta Crucis.
I compared both,and Beta Crucis seems more toward purple to me.
Also used 13mm nagler.

1159 UT 21.59 AEST

NGC 4590 (M68)

30mm plossl 60xmag

Globular Cluster,with condensed nucleus some outlyers where resolved.
13mm nagler resolves more star toward center.
6mm Radian resolved more stars in the center but the seeing was now very poor
with stars just a blob.
Tried to spot this glob with the 10x60 binoculars,did not, but bumped into M83 in doing so.

I have one more object of the challenge which I missed PN Abell 33

Last object observed was Saturn and it was just a big bright splodge,so called it a night even though the sky looked beautiful the seeing was terrible.

Cheers

Continuation of obsrevation report.

27/05/11 10.25UT 20.25 AEST Seeing 7-10 Trans 7-10

Abell 33 PK 238+34.1 Planetary Nebula


Took a great deal of time to observe this PN.

30mm plossl 60x mag not seen even with either O111 or UHC filters.

13mm nagler shows a very faint haze but only with averted vision.
O111 filter shows an extended haze but no oval shape was discernible.

9mmTMB 203x mag showed a very faint oval with the 10th mag star giving
one the impression of of the diamond ring effect of Solar Eclipse.
UHC did not improve the view of the nebula but more stars where seen.
6mm Radian, was able to observe Double star in the top east of the nebula, but not split it.
O111 filter shows slight more circular detail but not much.
More observation is required to tease more detail out of this PN.
This was the most difficult of the observation target

11.24 UT 21.24 AEST

NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter (revisited)
30 mm plossl 60xmag very bright Azure slightly elongated ball.
30mm plossl with X 2.5 Barlow 152 x mag, Wow central star plainly seen and the duality of the nebula was seen giving one the impression
of an eye,with the exstensions plainly seen.
The O111 filter brightens the nebula so much that the double nature of the planetary almost disappears, the eye and central star is not seen.
Also same with the UHC.

17mm Nagler 107xmag Just stunning,so beautiful and crisp and bright,
I was blown away by how crisp the eye and exstensions where
THE 17mm gives the best view closely followed by the 30mm+2.5xBarlow
The filters where as above .

13mm nagler and 7mm where just to much power and so spoiled the impression
of the eye in the sky effect.

This image appoximates what I observation PN of Abell 33

[Suzy]

For all of you'll who are in Brissy, it is a beautiful, clear and moonless night tonight, so out there with your scopes and start the challenge! :D

Terrific reports there Rob and Ron! :thumbsup::thumbsup:
Thank you. :thanx:

How's everyone else doing???

[Suzy]

Bump! :D

It's that time again, so I thought why not use the same challenge for those that missed it last year. :thumbsup:

I had trouble doing this challenge last year because of persistent bad weather and then when it did eventually fine up, Hyrdra was gone! :mad2: So now's my chance, can't wait. :D
I think many others on the eastern board of Australia had trouble with the weather too at the time.

Is there still any interest in the monthly challenge?

Because this was the last one that was done. :shrug:
If so, I'll put my head together with Ron's (me choosing easier stuff and him choosing the harder stuff as he's got a lot more experience under his belt), along with further input from you guys if you wish, to come up with one for July.
Unless Mental wants to take it up again?

Anyway.. just looking for interest in general.

[Paddy]

I think the challenge is a good idea. It seems to need someone to put it together regularly or it falls off the radar. Sounds like you might be that person Suzy.

[boomstix]

Great idea Suzy. Weather permitting I will be out tomorrow night to try hunt down some of these objects. Have never seen any of them so will be an exciting hunt :)

[Suzy]

Woohooooo! Good on you Pat! :D:thumbsup:

Thanks for the positive feedback Paddy, much appreciated.:)

[astroron]

If so, I'll put my head together with Ron's (me choosing easier stuff and him choosing the harder stuff as he's got a lot more experience under his belt), along with further input from you guys if you wish, to come up with one for July.

I will be happy to put my Two Bobs worth in Suzy :D
Cheers :thumbsup:

[ZeroID]

Yep, good idea. I've nearly got 'SkySlab' in operation and any suggestions and motivation to check it out is worthwhile.
Do we get points for observing 'The Great Grey Nebula' above ??

[andyc]

Seems like a good idea - though Hydra objects will be tough with the brightening Moon this week (if the Melbourne skies ever clear!). I'd definitely be up for future observing challenges - seems like a good way to spark up more interest in the visual astronomy threads.

[pgc hunter]

How about this: Seyfert's Sextet in Serpens. Tiny, very faint clump of 5 galaxies (the 6th "galaxy" is just a tidal plume). The brightest member has a visual mag of approx 14 and the whole group is clustered within a mere 2' space.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/ngcicdb.asp

[astroron]

Good Challenge:)

Link don't work for me ,only gives me a blank page :shrug:
Cheers :thumbsup:

[pgc hunter]

hmmm, I get a blank page aswell. :shrug:

I will be checking it out next clear night, but being so small, faint and its northerly declination will make it a real test :)

Anyway, here's a pic of the group:

[astroron]

I have tried this one before,and all i got was a faint smudge,even fainter than Stephens Quintet :(
Rises here at 18:05 Transits at 23:23 and sets at 04:45 tomorrow .
I would like to give it a go again if the weather and most of all the seeing clears.:D
Cheers :thumbsup:

[Suzy]

Hi everyone,

I've posted a target list here (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=93668)for July/August (it's not called the challenge though).

Thanks Sab for your input & I've added it to the list. I apologise for not getting back to your suggestion at the time you posted- it slipped by me I'm sorry.:sadeyes: Sab, perhaps you may find some of the "difficult" ones challenging to you. :question: Let me know what you think.

[pgc hunter]

Hi Suzy, I haven't actually observed Seyfert's Sextet. I've have however hunted down the "Spare tyre" in Grus, from memory it wasn't too hard, faint yes but its shape was apparent.

I've also seen IC4329 a while back, which is the primary member of Galaxy Cluster Abell 3574. One interesting object in the vicinity missing from your list is NGC 5291, which forms an interacting pair with AM 1344-301, often referred to as the "Seashell Galaxy" located only 0.6' SW. This pair is about 20' WSW of IC4329 and is a member of the cluster. NGC 5291 has a V Mag of 14.2 and the "Seashell" is smaller and slightly fainter. NED gives it a blue (photographic) magnitude of 15.2. A rough rule of thumb when converting B magnitudes to V is to add approx 1. So the "Seashell Galaxy" would be approx 14.2 visual.

NGC 6337 is one object I've always wanted to hunt down but never got 'round to it because Melbourne has the worst climate in the observable universe.

[Suzy]

Thanks Sab, I've just added it to the list. :thumbsup: