SMC observations 26/10/11

[Paddy]

Here are some notes that I've just got to typing up from a couple of weeks ago. I was hoping to get to sketch the supernova in IC 4901 but clods moved in before I got to it. I did get to observe some bright and more challenging objects in the Small Magellanic Cloud

Telescope 400mm f4.9 tri-dob reflector
Eyepieces 28mm UWAN, 17,13,9 mm Naglers, Paracorr
Navigation: SMC charts from cloudsofmagellan.net.au (http://cloudsofmagellan.net.au/)

Transparency and seeing good.

NGC 330 OC in SMC

175X A real gem. A tight clump resolved stars and haze which keeps revealing more with inspection. There is a bright 2’x1’ knot elongated preceding-following with quite a number of resolved stars and an especially bright line down the centre. The knot widens with averted vision. The knot is embedded in a fainter haze about twice the size with some resolved stars and a little cap on the following end. Not responsive to UHC.

NGC 376 OC in SMC

175X A bright triangular knot of stars with about half a dozen resolved. A fainter halo surrounds the 50” bright knot. Unresponsive to UHC filter

Lindsay 331/335 OC in SMC

175X These clusters lie just to the following side of a line drawn from NGC 330 to 376. Lindsays 331 & 335 form a tight triangle with a faint foreground star. Both are distinct but not bright and look elongated preceding-following about 1’x1 1/2’. 331 appears to have one star in the middle but is otherwise a smooth glow and 335 seems to have a bright bar running down the centre. There is another small clump of haze near the star that forms the apex of the triangle.

Kron 34 OC in SMC

175X A round smooth and faint 1’ glow that really needs averted vision. I have the impression of a brighter inner disc within a fainter round halo. Nearly disappears with UHC filter.

Clouds end the session before I get to visit the supernova in Pavo.

[pgc hunter]

Damn those flamin' clods!

Still you saw a few sights with your usual standard of reporting :) Keen to check out the Magellanics myself. Lots of fun to be had there. Isn't it a spectacular coincidence that the SMC also serves as a signpost to one of the sky's greatest globular clusters?

Paddy, I read somewhere that the LMC contains over 400 individually observable objects. Is this true? I know it's a treasure trove, but 400 in a few square degrees of sky?!?!?

cheers and don't let the clod bugs bite!

[Paddy]

Thanks Sab.

There are heaps of things to browse in the LMC. My charts at Clouds of Magellan http://http://www.cloudsofmagellan.net.au/ (http://http//www.cloudsofmagellan.net.au/) have about 490 LMC objects which are pretty well all observable in 10-16" scopes and most in 8". Mind boggling.

[pgc hunter]

nearly 500! btw, I tried to access your site and my anti virus comes up with "malicious website blocked" :eyepop:

[Paddy]

Looks like the address went in with too many http's - the link in the post didn't work for me but the one in my signature did. Do you still get that message if you use the link in the signature?

[pgc hunter]

cheers mate it's all good now :thumbsup:

[Robh]

HI Paddy,

Thanks for the interesting report.

Generally, I haven't found information on the Magellanic Clouds to be all that adequate, especially in identifying objects and navigating to them.
That makes your website rather unique and a great resource.

The charts are very useful and I like that you designed ones particularly for binocular users.

Regards, Rob

[Paddy]

Thanks Rob.