There were only three outings this lunar month, and one was for a self-hosted star party on our back deck for some of my music students. We were also away for a week, missing one or two clear nights on approach to new moon. Not one of our nights was a fine, clear night. The final one started out promising, but we saw clouds move in just after dark, and were soon clouded out completely (despite the weather predictions of "mostly clear").
A total of 9 new NGC/IC objects were observed, and one that was observed many years ago with the 8". Officially, all objects observed were galaxies. However, I spent my time with a few globulars, doubles, and Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
LEO
eg 3016: 1'.3 x 1'.1; Mag. 12.9: One of a galaxy quartet, but my sky conditions changed before I could sort everything out. Though smaller and fainter than nearby eg 3020, this one is not difficult. Round, somewhat bright middle, best at 125x.
eg 3020: 3'.2 x 1'.8: vis. mag 11.9; sb mag. 13.5: Easy to spot, very large, oval, and a slightly bright middle. Recommended object. I will likely have to wait until next year to find the other two.
eg 3837: 1' x 0.9: Mag. 13.1: In Abell 1367, an area crammed with galaxies. Don't come here with a 12" scope unless you have a very detailed star chart! I use the close-up one in the back of Uranometria 2000. An easy object but not too bright. With two other NGC at 125x (see below).
eg 3841: 0'9 x 0'4: Mag. 13.15: A close pair with the much brighter eg 3842, and a triple with eg 3837. The is the smallest of the three, a faint, elongated haze that makes a triangle with eg 3842 and an 11 mag. star.
eg 3842: 1'.2 x 1': A large galaxy, very easy to see, just south preceding a mag. 11 star, one of 4 in a line NE to SW. Makes a nice pair with eg 3841 at 187x, and a triple galaxy at 125x with eg 3837.
eg 3860: 1'.3 x 0'.7: Mag. 13.05: The first night I tried for this object I could not find it. However, on a different night it posed no problem. Oval, faint, but not too difficult to study. On the preceding side of two N/S stars, and making a triangle with them.
eg 3873: 1'.1 x 1': Vis. Mag. 12.9: One of a close pair of galaxies, and the brighter of the pair. Located just following two stars in a N/S line, not far from eg 3860. Round. Double galaxies seen at 125, 150 and 173x. Recommended pair.
eg 3875: 1'.3 x 0'.3: Vis. Mag. 13.7: Fainter, smaller and elongated. Sometimes it looked like one galaxy, but with good seeing and higher power it was a double! 3875 seen best with averted vision.
eg I. 2951: 1'.4 x 0'.7: Mag. 13. 65: Very faint but not difficult to see. Stellar core noted at 125 and 200x.
BOOTES
eg 5523: 4'.7 x 1'.1: A nice, bright and large galaxy, though I saw it as clouds and haze were rolling in. I will return here first in the new session. Seen previously with the 8", and quite impressive in the 12". Cigar-shaped and recommended.
Mapman Mike
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