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Finding Centaurus A* (NGC 5128)
Hi Chris,
I notice you are using an equatorial mount and I've got an (pretty easy)alternative method that you might also want to try.
If you take a look at a map, you will notice Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) and Centaurus A* have very similar values for Right Ascension. Centaurus A* is about 1 minute of RA west of Omega Centauri and therefore they lie almost exactly North-South of each other 4.4 degrees apart (about 4 to 5low-power eyepiece fields apart).
Your mount won't need to be aligned on the pole accurately, so long as the polar axis is within a few degrees of the SCP.
Locate Omega Centauri in a low power eyepiece, but don't centre it. Instead place Omega Centauri in the far eastern side of the eyepiece field and then continuing to look through the eyepiece, use the dec slow-motion control to move the 'scope north by 3.5 degrees in declination and Centaurus A* should be centred. That journey is about 4 or 5 low-power fields (count them as you go).
Though Centaurus A* is a bright galaxy, being spread over a large area it's sufrace brightness is somewhat lower. It will appear in a 5" 'scope less than 1/4 the diameter of Omega Centauri and a lot fainter.
Hope this helps, good luck and let us know how you go.
Best,
Les D
Contributing Editor
AS&T
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