#89--Lepus: The NGC Objects

Lepus is a tricky constellation for me.  For one thing, it's best in very late autumn or mid-winter.  If the cold doesn't get you then the cloudy nights do.  Lepus is also very low in the south, often near or at my usable horizon limit for faint galaxies.  Thus it has taken me many years to complete this constellation.  One of the main highlights is not an NGC object, but the famous variable star R.  I observe this wonderful object with every opportunity I get!  Orion must be very high in the sky before one should attempt objects in Lepus, especially living north of 40 degrees Latitude.

eg 1710:  1.'5 x 1'.2: Vis. 12.7; SB 13.2:  A surprisingly difficult object, finally glimpsed at 150x and 183x.  It was not small; it was round and very faint.  It makes a "L" with two faint stars, south.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1710.jpg

eg 1716:  1'.4 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.4:  Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was faint but distinct.  The center was somewhat brighter.  It was small and oval, so I was likely only seeing the central area.

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1716.jpg

eg 1730:  2'.3 x 1':  Vis. 12.3; SB 13.1:  Seen from my light-polluted back deck, but not officially reported.  Later at my dark sky site it was spotted at 100x.  It was oval at 150x, lying between two faint stars.  Though good at 187x, it was fading at 200x.  Hind's Crimson Star (R) is 1 degree north preceding.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1730.jpg

eg 1738:  1'.3 x 0'.7:  Vis. 12.9; SB 12.6:  38 is a large oval, and quite faint.  It was viewed at 100x

eg 1739:  1'.4 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.3:]  and up to 200x.  39 was just separated from it, and appeared smaller.  It was also oval.  They were an eyepiece pair even at high power, though not easy to see at the same time.

 

 http://dso-browser.com

eg 1744:  7'4 x 3'.5:  Vis. 11.1; SB 14.5:  Spotted at 60x, and also viewed at 100x and 125x.  It was very faint, large, and hazy.  It had a stellar center or a small star deep in there.  I had bigger hopes for this object.  I observed on a less than perfect night.

http://dso-browser.com

eg 1780:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.7; SB 12.7:  Ghostly and exceedingly faint, it was not always on view, and sometimes looked like a fuzzy star.  Vaguely oval, but mostly just vague.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1780.jpg

eg 1784:  4'.1 x 2'.6:  Vis. 11.7; SB 14.1:  Spotted at 100x and 120x, it was large, elongated, and dim.  It was fading at 150x.  However, an enormous oval shape was noted at 187x and 200x.  I had tried many times from my back deck.  This needs a dark sky.

 http://dso-browser.com

eg 1821:  1'.2 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.1:  Spotted at 125x.  It was oval, faint, but not nearly as tricky to find as 1710.  Also observed at 150x and 183x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1821.jpg

eg 1832:  2'.6 x 1'.7:  Vis. 11.3; SB 12.8:  I only have notes for this one from March 2000 with my Edmund 8".  I need to update this with a new 12" observation asap.  Not located at first, but at 72x it was clearly seen.  Slightly elongated at 112x.  Very challenging object.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1832.jpg

eg 1888:  3' x 0'.8:  Vis. 12.1 x 12.9:  Located at 100x, 88 has a bright core despite being very faint

eg 1889:  0'.6 x 0'.4:  Vis. 13.1; SB 11.6:]  overall.  89 is attached, giving 88 a slightly larger appearance, with an indistinct "L" shape at 200x.  Neither galaxy is very bright.

 http://dso-browser.com

gc 1904, Messier 79:  7'.5; Mag. 8.4:  At -24 degrees M79 is not the lowest Messier object.  However, it is pretty low for a globular.  I observed it from my back deck, not the best location.  It was very bright at 60x, but there was no resolution.  Views improved from 100x-200x, when more and more stars resolved, especially in the north preceding section.  The core was showing detail at 200x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1904.jpg

eg 1906:  0'.9 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.6; SB 12.7:  Spotted at 100x, it appeared as an oval haze north preceding a faint star.  It was a threshold object with my inferior right eye, but an easy sighting with my near-perfect left eye.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1906.jpg

eg 1954:  4'.2 x 2':  Vis. 11.8; SB 14:  54 was seen on multiple nights, appearing as a faint haze
eg 1957:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.9:]  south following two dim, close stars.  57 was seen at 150x and 200x, but it was a threshold object. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1954.jpg

eg 1964:  5'.6 x 1'.8:  Vis. 10.8; SB 13.2:  At 100x the small, bright center was spotted.  Even 150s only showed the core area.  However, 187x and 200x (using averted vision) shows the full length.  It appeared in glimpses only, never steadily.  This is a good object, and would be even better from  a more southerly location.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1964.jpg

eg 1979:  1'8 x 1'8:  Vis. 11.8; SB 13.1:  Noted at 150x, it was very small but bright.  It preceded a faint star.  Seen at 187x and 200x with averted vision it was round, bright and still quite small (.7 x .7?).

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1979.jpg

eg 1993:  1'.5 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.4 x  SB 13.3:  Located at 125x, and also viewed at 183x.  Not difficult, despite its proximity to Alpha.  It was round, and had a bright middle section. 

http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1993.jpg

oc 2017 (h3780):  This "cluster" is actually a multiple star.  Here are the details.  Located not far
6.8-8/76"  from Alpha, this interesting group includes at least one orange star.  All the listed stars
     -9/89"  were seen at 60x, though 120x gave a much nicer view.
    -10/60"
  8.5/129"

http://www.baskies.com.ar/small/NGC%202017%20LRGB%20N_small.jpg

eg 2073:  1'.5 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.4; SB 13.3:  Spotted at 100x, where it was very faint and round.  It was considerably easier to see and better at 125x and 150x.  Up to 200x showed the galaxy decently.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2073.jpg

eg 2089:  1'.9 x 1'.2:  Vis 11.9; SB 12.9:  Located at 100x, at the north end of a small star pattern.  An easy object to spot, it was oval and had a bright middle.  Up to 200x was applied with success.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2089.jpg

eg 2106:  2'.7 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.1; SB 13.4:  Located at 100x.  It was faint but medium-large, very elongated, and had a bright middle.  It was also viewed at 125x and 150x. 

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2106.jpg

eg 2124:  2'.7 x 0'.9:  Vis. 12.6; SB 13.4:  Located at 100x, it was large, oval, and faint overall.  It did have a bright center.  The 'slash' was seen well at 125x and 150x, though extensions were much fainter than the center.  It was fading at 183x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2124.jpg

eg 2131:  1'.1 x 0'.4:  Vis. 14; SB 12.9:  This was very small and difficult, but viewed at 150x.  Seen on a near-perfect March evening.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2131.jpg

eg 2139:  2'.4 x 1'.9:  Vis. 11.6; SB 13.1"  Located at 60x, very close to my self-imposed minus 25 declination for galaxy hunting.  Viewed successfully up to 183x, it was large and oval, placed between two stars, and all running north-south.

https://in-the-sky.org/image.php?style=medium&userimg=dss_NGC2139.png

eg 2179:  1'.1 x 0'.9:  Vis. 12.3; SB 12.1:  Located at 100x, it was round, preceding a very faint star.  Best viewed at 125x and 150x, it was a pretty easy object down near -22 degrees declination.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2179.jpg

eg 2196:  2'.8 x 2'.2:  Vis. 10.9; SB 12.7:  Located at 60x, it has a faint star south and another north following.  It is already large and oval.  Best views were at 125x and 150x, where its bright middle and full size was evident.  Quite a good object!  On the border with Canis Major.

 http://dso-browser.com

I observed some, but not all, of the IC objects in Lepus.


pn I. 418:  14" x 11"; Cent. * mag. 11:  This bright object was seen at 60x, where it appeared suspicious.  At 120x it was confirmed as the tiny but striking planetary nebula, coloured grayish-blue.  Though it was best viewed at 150x tonight, it was still really bright at 300x.  It appeared to be round, surrounding the easily-viewed central star.  This object is nicknamed the "Spirograph Nebula."

http://www.richweb.f9.co.uk/astro/images/IC_418.20071218.im243230-32.av3x30s.C.50pc.an.jpg

eg I .438:  2'.8 x 2'.2:  Vis. 12; SB 13.8:  This galaxy was amazingly huge, and spotted easily at 100x.  Up to 183x showed an oval object, a little brighter in the center.  A faint star is north.

 http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic4.htm#ic438

eg I. 2132:  1'.5 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.2:  It appeared as a threshold oval object north preceding eg 1954 and 1957.

eg I. 2152:  1'.7 x 1'.2:  Vis. 12.5; SB 13.1:  Preceding two close 9.5 mag. stars, it was not difficult to locate.  125x and 150x was used.  Oval.

There you have it.  Lepus would be a lot more fun and less challenging from a more southerly location (and a warmer one!).  My latest winter project has been observing the NGC objects in Taurus, which will take at least one more year to complete, likely two.
Clear skies!

Mapman Mike

 

#41 Monthly Summary #1, February-March 2014

It continues to be a long, drawn out winter of misery, unless you happen to like very cold air and plenty of snow.  There hasn't been much in the way of astronomy observations to report on until now.  I had a session on Nov. 30th and another on Dec. 27th that needs mentioning.  So far in 2014 I have managed three sessions, all of them very cold ones. There were none in January, two in February, and one to date in March.

In late 2013 I inched along in Cetus and Cassiopeia.  I only have about 9 objects remaining in Cassiopeia.  Cetus continues to prove difficult due to poor south skies, but I may have recently come across a solution for this (a somewhat distant site looks promising).

Winter 2014 brings me back to Lepus (another poor sky area for me) and Monoceros (somewhat better, as it is higher).  I am hoping to try my new dark sky site after next full moon to locate some Lepus galaxies.  I will now report on progress within each constellation.  All observations were with the 12" Orion Intelliscope.

Cassiopeia

IC Catalogue
oc 1805  Fine cluster with some nebulosity (using filter).  Large, with many bright members.

Other Catalogues
oc Cz 9:  2 brighter stars involved with small cloud of fainter ones.
oc Cz 10:  8 stars at 200x.  More impressive asterism almost adjacent.
oc King 4:  Decent group showing about 20 stars between 100x and 200x.
oc Mrk 6:  Bright stars, okay for smaller scopes, too.
oc Tom 4:  Not many stars, and all very faint.  12" resolves well at 150x.

Cetus

NGC Catalogue
eg 64:  Glimpsed at 125x.  Ghostly, oval, and requires a very good sky.
eg 102:  Very faint oval patch at 125x, though less faint than eg 64.
eg 191:  Easily seen, big and round.  IC eg 1563 attached.
eg 7821:  A "slash" galaxy, seen clearly at 125x and 150x.  Possible stellar core.

Lepus

NGC Catalogue

gc 1904 (M 79):  The official sighting of this object, which I have viewed informally many times, was the best view I've had of it from my light-polluted back deck.  It was an outstanding night with low humidity, and I could actually see the stars in Lepus with naked eye.  Wonderful globular!  Very bright at 60x.  More stars resolved with each increase in power.  I used up to 200x to steadily resolve about 20 stars, with many more winking in and out.  I also had my best view ever of Jupiter that night, watching the red spot transit.  It was Sunday, Feb. 23rd.  It was 21 F (-9 C).

Monoceros

NGC Catalogue

oc 2251:  Attached on the north end to oc Bas 8 (see below).  Elongated, perhaps crescent-shaped cluster, seen well up to 125x.  Medium large, with brightest star a lovely and close double.

gn 2261:  Variable R was seen easily tonight.  "Hubble's Variable Nebulae" is an outstanding sight in a 12" mirror.  I saw it best with no filter.  High magnifications work well here.

IC Catalogue

gn 448:  A poor object, seen best with sky-glow filter (though it is reflection-type).  Oval haze surrounding bright star 13 Monoceros.  Nearby is 14, a good double star.  It's in a line of three, pointing towards oc Bas 8 and oc 2251.

Other  Catalogues

oc Bas 7:  Immediately following oc 2251.  A faint, curving line of stars leads to the main body.  Reminds me of a mini Hydra.  Not noticed in my milky sky until 100x.

oc Bas 8:  Lovely orange and blue double near the center, the brightest one in this large group.  I counted 35 stars at 60x.  Easy to hop between it and oc 2251, which are attached on maps.  Obviously 2251 is much further away.

oc Tr 5:  Hopelessly faint stars (below mag. 17); all that can be glimpsed here is a very faint, large patch.  Even 18" telescopes will have trouble resolving this group, which is reportedly quite rich in stars.

Mapman Mike

#39 Winter Observing In Canada

When November (2013) rolled around I had great plans for upcoming observing sessions.  Not a whole lot became of my plans.  One of the severest winters in memory struck (and continues to strike), dashing hopes of getting much of anything accomplished.  A few looks at Jupiter here, a couple of the Orion Nebula there.   Obscenely cold temperatures coupled with high winds, along with continually falling and blowing snow made even the most stalwart observer helpless and confused.  I managed two sessions in November, one in December, none in January, and two in February.  Though we had more clear nights than that, they were simply unusable.

It's not that we don't have the clothing for it, though the one weak link in the chain continues to be good gloves.  Being able to switch an eyepiece, focus properly, turn a page from the map book or hold a pencil is impossible if fingers are properly protected.  And if they aren't, then watch out!  Here is a list of my typical winter gear for observing.

-lined pants (extremely warm!)

-snow pants overtop

-T-Max Heat* thermal base layer shirt, long sleeves.

-turtle neck sweater

-T-Max Heat* sweater, zippered high

-light jogging jacket, zippered tight

-snorkel parka, full length, synthetic down

-warm socks

- heavy over-socks, T-Max Heat*

-lined winter boots

-winter ear band

-toque

-jacket hood, if required

-two pair light gloves (dollar store), with T-Max Heat* hand warmers inside

-pair of large, very bulky, very warm winter mittens overtop double gloves.  Mitten comes off temporarily for eyepiece or other work.

*T-Max is part of Wind River brand, sold at Marks Work Warehouse in Canada

It takes quite a while to get dressed and ready to go outside!  And once dressed, you must go outside or you will faint!  Now the back deck must be prepared, too.  The home site is inundated with light pollution from nearby subdivisions and county roads.  The south sky is polluted by the lights of my hometown, Amherstburg, Ontario.  We erect tarps on two sides (south and east) to protect our eyes from oncoming traffic headlights.  A third side is protected by the garage which is attached to our house (west), and the fourth side from a large hedge (north).  Our north and west sky is polluted by lights from the Windsor/Detroit megapolis.  If it is too windy we cannot erect the tarps, and thus we cannot observe.  Our best sky is overhead and east, though we have no problems with clusters, nebula, double stars etc, in almost any direction.  Finding galaxies is a challenge.

Now it's time to set up the two telescopes.  The 12" takes about fifteen minutes from basement to deck, while the 6" requires less than five minutes.  In conclusion, serious winter observing is a huge undertaking.  I remember our first session in February of this year (2014).  We got set up, began observing, and clouds rolled in.  We waited patiently for an hour before calling things off.  In came the scopes, down came the tarps, off came the clothing.  Suddenly, it cleared up and remained clear the rest of the night!  We had no ambition to redo our setup, so we just remained indoors and in bad moods the rest of the night.

Finally, on the night of the 23rd of February, we hit the jackpot!  Clear skies, light winds, and temperatures that were tolerable if one was properly dressed (-6 C).  We were very snug in our little environment, and the observing was top notch!  I observed a number of deep sky objects and had the best look at Jupiter I ever have.  The red spot was in the very center of the planet (though north of the equator), and was so distinct and three dimensional that it just popped out at the viewer.  It was a deep orange, almost the same colour as Hind's Crimson Star in Lepus.  Detail on the equatorial belts was similarly astounding!

Lepus is my current winter constellation, and though very few of the fine galaxies within its borders can be seen from my deck, the double star viewing is amazing.  Several highlights of Lepus include M 79 (I had my finest view of it ever that night, resolving nearly 20 stars with the 12" in a very low and light polluted area of sky), Hind's Crimson Star (which I always check on during any winter session), a multiple star that also has an NGC designation (oc 2017), and double stars galore.  My favourite doubles are Kappa, a difficult object if south skies are too fluid, Gamma (lovely in very small scopes, too), ADS 4741 (a stunning triple), h 3750 and h 3752.  Also of interest in Lepus is pn IC 418.  Although it requires a large aperture and very high power (and thus a night of good seeing) to see much, observing the famous "Spirograph Nebula" is also a highlight of spending an hour or two in Lepus.  The nebula can be seen in small scopes, but it is tiny.  If a dark south sky is available, there are any number of galaxies to visit, several within range of 6" scopes.  Sadly my home sky does not permit this.

While overall winter observing this year was fraught with obstacles, even one or two good nights make the season worthwhile.  As Spring slowly begins to overpower Old Man Winter I will begin to observe in Monoceros, and then Leo.  Nights will still be cold for some time, but hopefully we will be able to make use of  them a little more often.

Mapman Mike