Mission find more Galaxies

[Astro78]

Well it's been some time since locating the one and only galaxy thus far, NGC 6744.

The log from that November night reads - "Easily see spiral arms. Best views high power. Averted vision bright as!"

That's some time between drinks!

Can anyone recommend some Galaxies worth hunting down at this time of year?

Seems that the magnitude is not only a consideration but size too - so what magnitude / size ratios can one expect with a well collimated 8"? Seems the magnitude limits available are for point light sources only.... hmm

clear skies,
Trav

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

Hi Trav,

One target/field I find quite neat is NGC 3166/3199 in Sextans. This is perfectly placed near the zenith at present. This is a pair of interacting galaxies, with the core of NGC 3166 being slightly brighter than the core of NGC 3169. Whilst the cores should be reasonably easy in your 8" scope from nice dark skies, the ansae will be exceedingly difficult, if not impossible. I can just get hints of the ansae in my 18" scope under pristine conditions. This interacting pair form a very nice galaxy field with the smaller and much dimmer NGC 3165 being a little to the South West, but in the same FOV.

Cheers,
John B

[§AB]

Some galaxies to find are:

NGC 3115 in Sextans,
M104 in Virgo,
M49/M86/87 in Virgo,
M65/66/105 in Leo
NGC4945 in Centaurus
NGC5128 in Centaurus,
NGC 5102 in Centaurus
NGC4039 and 4027 in Corvus
M83 in Hydra
NGC5078 in Hydra
NGC 5068, also in Hydra

[Astro78]

Hi John and thanks very much for this info.

That would be stellar to get two or even three galaxies in the same field of view!

Seems Saturn isn't far off these guys either, which means a patient wait until about midnight before coming into view over here (did love trees until discovering astronomy!).

Thanks too SAB! This will keep me busy. Just having a quick look these all seem to be small and up to about 10mag, interesting.

[§AB]

No worries dude. I see you have an 8" reflector, 10th magnitude should be easily attainable. I've seen 14th mag galaxies with my 10" from my backyard.

[glenc (Glen)]

Here are 30 large southern galaxies.
It is an Excel file.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=28860

[Astro78]

Thanks Glenc!

Hope to have reports shortly

[leinad (Dan)]

Hey astro,

I have an 8" Dob also.

You can see M95 & M96 in the same view in Leo. they seem to be quite bright galaxies, as I didn't have too much effort finding them.

Then you can move slightly over to M65 & M66 for a slightly harder challenge, as I found these to be a bit fainter then the above.

[hector (Andrew)]

There are many good galaxies withing reach of an 8" scope at this time of the year. In the early evening try NGC1566 and NGC1515 in Dorado. The first is a good tight spiral galaxy and the other is an interacting pair and you may even see the second galaxy. After observing them look for NGC2442 a big Barred Sprial in Volans. One arm is very strong while the other is quite faint. Then moove on to NGC2997 in Antlia a face on spiral on the edge of a milky way field with lots of background stars. You will have a bit of a wait for the next few bright galaxies as they need to rise higher for best view. While waiting look at the bright planetaries Ghost of Jupiter and the Eight Burst and the Globular NGC2808. Look north when Leo has risen and find M95 Barred Spiral and FAINT for a Messier, M105, then M65,66 pair. You should with a good sky also see the galaxy NGC6328 a faint edge on. Once they are seen you should have time to look for Cen A NGC5189 and NGC4945. NGC4945 is an edge on again in a bright stary field due to it location on the edge of the Milky Way field. Moove further out to NGC5102 and M83. The latter being a bright face on Barred Spiral. End the evening with the interacting galaxy pair NGC4038-4039 then the sombrero M104. There are many galaxies to observe after that as you head into Virgo and the Local supercluster of galaxies.
If you can down load images from the DSS
http://stdatu.stsci.edu/cgi-bin/dss_form
and use these at the eyepiece as they will help you see the most in the galaxy. you can even use these to look for Supernova.

Enjoy your galaxy hunt

Andrew

[§AB]

Ah NGC 2442 - that's one that's been at the back of my mind. Damn you full moon!

Dorado has a good collection, butI've never actually seen any of 'em.

Try the Virgo cluster- M86, M87, M49 - this is a very rich field and you'll see lots of galaxies!

[Astro78]

Thanks fellas really appreciate this great info and battle plans.

Away now until early May, will report from there.

"life's a trip, so trip hard", TG