Quote:
Originally Posted by mental4astro
Very nice collection of targets there, Suzy. They really compliment the techniques I described in the first part of this two part challenge.
If I may suggest one more object, Polarrisima Australis, NGC 2573 - This is the closest object to the South Celestial Pole that is observable by amateur sized scopes.
With its position in the sky it is circumpolar all over Australia, meaning it can be seen at any time of the year.
It is a tiny, faint object, and I know some of you have pinned it already. This IceInSpace link has some descriptions and charts to help find this galaxy.
To spot this little bugger will take some patience and technique. Averted vision and a little movement will be your best friends to track it down.
Though it is little, take your time with it as its details are subtle, and if conditions are good load up the magnification on it. It is a good test piece for learning how to see detail in small faint fuzzies. |
Hi Alex, I have observed Polarissima Australis ( I think it was the last session with the 12" before I replaced the primary with a Zambuto)
Here is my report of this object:
Polarissima Australis (NGC 2573)
Octans, GX, RA 01 41 43, Dec -89 20 04, Size= 2x0.8' , Mag V = 13.6
I've been wanting to hook this one for a while now! Finally got it. Spotted at 167x after a few minutes of scrutinising the area, but superior at 267x. Faint, and takes perserverance to spot, but quite straightforward once you pinpointed the location and give it a bit of magnification. Slightly elongated E-W and brightens slightly toward the core. A stellaring in the core was seen popping in and out of vision. NED gives a distance of 111.6 million light years.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Suzy
I've just added another object to the "difficult" list: NGC 5291.
Thanks Sab.  |
cool thanks. I will make an attempt at this object next year next time it reaches its prime as this record cold and record crap fail-whale melbournecast winter is a write off. Worst climate on Earth.