#110 Hercules NGC Project Part 4: Uranometria Chart 68

This is a busy chart, so I will do it in 2 sections, both seen below.

Chart 68, Right Side 

eg 6201:  0'.3 x 0'.2:  Vis. 14.6; SB 11.4:  Using a hand-drawn detailed star chart (I use Deep Sky
eg 6203:  0'.6 x 0'.6:  Vis. 14.4; SB 13.1:  Objects Browser, an excellent on-line resource), I eventually found the correct area to search.  Both galaxies can be glimpsed at 187x.  6903 is larger and easier to see, though it appears stellar at times.  6201 is stellar at 187x.  250x, 272x, and 378x give good glimpses of 6903, using averted vision.  In this range even 6201 improves somewhat.  It is very small with averted vision.  Both galaxies are close to pn 6210.  A 16" would be a much better search tool.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

pn 6210:  21"; Vis. mag. 8.8; Cent. * mag. 12.6:  Spotted at 60x, it is an incredibly bright object,and fun to observe.  A filter is not needed.  The central star is not easy to distinguish because of the overall brightness.  I was able to observe the nebula up to 500x, one of the very times I use this high a magnification.  It appears oval and pretty large at 375x and 500x.  There seems to be fainter edges.  The object is almost football-shaped.  It was seen well back in the old 8" days, and no doubt can be viewed with a 6".

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6228:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14; SB 13.3:  I needed another diagram for this faint object.  Observed at 136x (barely), it is a very faint cigar at 187x and 250x.  It is pretty small.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6233:  1'.4 x 1'.1:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.5:  Suspected at 100x, the galaxy sighting was confirmed at 136x.  At 187x a brighter center is noted, with fainter haze surrounding.  At 250x it is ghostly, large, and very oval.  It now shows a stellar core.  A 9.5 mag. star is just south following, making location fairly easy.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6243:  1'.1 x 0'.4:  Vis. 14.1; SB 13.1:  Observed at 136x, 187x, and 250x.  I saw a pretty large but very faint very elongated oval.  The middle area is much brighter.  Seen best with averted vision.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg I. 4630:  0'.8 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.6; SB 12.5:  This one seemed within reach.  It was suspected at 136x and confrimed at 187x.  It has a stellar core, is very small, and very faint.  At 250x it formed a dim cigar shape.  At 272x a bright core is visible, with a much fainter surrounding envelope.  Averted vision shows it best.  Tricky to see at first.

eg 6267:  1'.3 x 1':  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.3:  Spotted at 100x, as the sky kept getting better and better tonight (July 26th/16).  At 136x the galaxy is pretty large, oval, and showing a bright center.  It is easy to spot in this range.  At 187x and 200x it is large and pretty faint.  It appears evenly lit.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6276:  0'.4 x 0'.3:  Vis. 14.6; SB 12.2:  78 was seen at 100x, being small but very bright.  Up to
eg 6278:  2' x 1'.2:  Vis. 12.4; SB 13.2:  272x shows a very bright center, oval.  The extensions are not obvious; it just seems large and oval.  The galaxy appears significantly smaller than its given dimensions.  76 was spotted at 136x.  It is not difficult to identify, but too small to notice anything much.

eg I. 1236:  1' x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.6; SB 13.2:  Glimpsed at 100x, it is a bit easier to identify at 136x.  Seen well at 187x, it is slightly oval and pretty big.  It sits between 2 faint stars, though not directly between.  The galaxy fades at 250x, with a bright star nearby masking it (mag.7.7).

Next, a group of 8 galaxies, all located in the same half degree field.  Look between +27 and +28 degrees, and between 16 hours 56 minutes R.A. and 17 hours.

eg 6261:  1'.4 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14; SB 13.4:  Spotted at 136x.  It becomes a faint but decent slash at 187x.  Views are still good at 250x.  The galaxy is pretty wide and fairly long.  

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6263:  0'.0 x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.7; SB 13.4: Spotted at 100x, north of a faint star, and between it and a 9.3 mag. star.  The galaxy is very close to the fainter star.  Good views can be had at 136x and 187x, best with averted vision.  There is a bright stellar core.  The object is fading at 250x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6264:  0'.7 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14.5; SB 13.2:  65 can be spotted at 136x, preceding 6269 (below).  It is
eg 6265:  0'.9 x 0'.6:  Vis. 14.2; SB 13.4:  pretty large, very oval, and pretty bright with averted vision.  Good views were had at 187x and 250x.  6264 is much smaller and much fainter, sighted at 187x, 200x, and 250x.  It can be found north following a faint star, and only with averted vision.  It is very small and very faint.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6269:  2' x 1'.6:  Vis. 12.2; SB 13.5:  This big, fairly bright galaxy sits at the heart of a cluster of 8 NGC galaxies.  Most are very faint.  69 was spotted at 60x.  At 100x it showed a big oval shape, pretty bright, especially the center.  136x shows a stellar core.  187x shows at least 2 very faint stars south, and another north.  200x and 250x give good views, especially of the large, central area, brighter than the outskirts.  The best object of this tight group of 8 galaxies.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6270:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.3; SB 11.9:  Don't believe the hype!  This is the most difficult of the group!  Think at least 2 mag. fainter than given.  It is very, very small and very, very faint, a threshold object at 187x, 200x, and 250x.

  http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6271:   0'.6 x 0'.6:  Vis. 14.1; SB 12.8:  
eg 6272:   0'.5 x 0'.2:  Vis.  14.5; SB 11.9:  Both of these galaxies were easier than 6270.  71 was not difficult using averted vision.  72 is very small and very faint.  It can be glimpsed using 187x and averted vision.  72 is not for the faint of heart.  Both are seen at 250x.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

                                                                                                                                           

eg 6308:  1'.2 x 1'.1:  Vis. 13.4; SB 13.5:  Observed at 136x and 187x, preceding a field of faint stars.  The galaxy is large, pretty bright, and round.  It is very close to the pair 6314/15, which are just south following.

  http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6314:  1'.4 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13; SB 12.8:  14 is pretty large, bright, and elongated.  It was spotted at
eg 6315:  0'.8 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.2; SB 12.3:  136x.  It just precedes a double star, a close pair and pretty faint.  6215 is small and faint, located between 6214 and a bright star.  187x shows both objects well.

  http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6321:  1'.1 x 1':  Vis.  and SB 13.4:  Spotted at 136x, it is small, round, and faint.  At 187x it is best with averted vision, being close to 2 stars.  It is round and faint.  Views are best at 200x.  It fades at 250x.  A bit tricky to locate.

NOTE:  For eg 6274, 6274A, 6282, 6330, 6364, 6486, 6487, UGC  11017, see blog entry for Chart 50 (forthcoming).

Chart 68, Left Side

eg I. 1256:  1'.6 x 1':  Vis. 13.2; SB 13.7:  Located at 136x, the galaxy is large, oval, and faint.  Best view is at 187x, as it is fading at 250x.  It is pretty large, though, and lies in a bright star field.

eg 6371:  0'.8 x 0'.3:  Vis. 14.3; SB 12.6:  6372 was spotted at 100x, and the much smaller and
eg 6372:  1'.7 x 1'.1:  Vis. 12.9; SB 13.4:  fainter 6371 at 136x.  72 is bright, oval, and quite easy to see, especially with averted vision.  71 was seen best at 187x, and only with averted vision.  It is small, oval, and very faint.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6408:  1'.6 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.7; SB 13.4:  Spotted at 100x, it was pretty large, round, and very faint.  150x shows it moderately better, with a brighter center now seen.  187x gives the optimum view, showing it to be big and round, but not very bright.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6417:  1'.4 x 1'.2:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.5:  Suspected at 100x ,the galaxy is located easily at 136x, despite its proximity to a mag. 7 star.  It is round, reasonably bright, and relatively close to the star.  It becomes more ghostly at 187x, and quite large, especially if the offending star is kept out of the field.  It appears to be evenly lit.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6427:  1'.6 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.1:  Spotted at 136x, it was round, bright, and showing a stellar core.  At 187x a few faint stars are seen very near.  Views are still good at 250x, though I am only seeing the central globe.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6429:  1'.9 x 0'.6:  Vis. and SB 13.1:  Spotted easily at 136x, it is bright and very oval.  At 187x a very faint star lies in or close to the haze.  250x gives a good view.  272x shows a bright stellar core, and good views overall.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6430:  1'.7 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.2:  Uranometria does not list the NGC number, instead calling this UGC 10966.  Other sources informed me that this is, indeed, eg 6430.  Spotted at 187x, it was very elliptical and very faint.  It is located just north of a bright star (mag. 9.5) and south of a faint asterism.  My telescope computer calls 6430 an asterism.  Interesting stuff!

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6442:  1'.9 x 1'.5:  Vis. 12.6; SB 13.7:  Spotted at 100x, it appeared oval in shape.  At 150x it is pretty bright, though not very large.  187x and 200x occasionally show it as a much bigger object.  It can be found just preceding a tiny, faint triangle of stars.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6452:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14.4; SB 12.7:  Glimpsed at 150x and 187x, it is elusive, small, dim, and round.  It is just preceding a faint group of 3 stars.  At times the galaxy appears stellar.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6458:  1'.3 x 0'.9:  Vis. and SB 13.4:  Both galaxies can be seen at 100x.  At 150x 58 seems a bit
eg 6460:  1'.9 x 1'.1:  Vis.  13.1; SB 13.8:   brighter, and though appearing pretty large, 60 is still showing well.  It is now quite elongated, with a slightly brighter middle.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6467:  2'.6 x 1'.7:  Vis. 12.6; SB 14.1:  Spotted at 100x, it was large, oval , and very faint.  At 150x the full extent of the galaxy is trying to come through, causing flaring in all directions with averted vision.  Seen best at 187x, the galaxy is involved with several very faint foreground stars.  A possible stellar core was noted.  It sits between two relatively bright stars, the south one being double.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6482:  2' x 1'.7:  Vis. 11.4; SB 12.8:  At 60x and 100x, the galaxy looks like a very bright planetary nebula.  150x shows some very faint haze with averted vision, but the center is extremely bright.  187x, 200x, and 250x show a large, round, very faint haze surrounding an almost blindingly bright central core.  A bright galaxy but otherwise unexciting.

eg 6484:  1'.9 x 1'.9:  Vis. 12.3; SB 13.6:  Spotted at 100x and observed well at 136x.  It is very large, round, and pretty bright.  Good views were had at 187x, 250x, and 272x.  It is very large, round, pretty bright, and has a stellar core.  Also seen back in the day with the Edmund 8".

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg I. 1269:  1'.7 x 1'.3:  Vis.  12.8; SB 13.5:  Located at 100x, it was large and oval, and sitting within a bright triangle of stars, approx. mag. 11.5.  Though faint overall at higher powers, the central area stays pretty bright up to 200x.

eg 6490:  1.'1 x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.3:  This turned out to be a lovely pair of galaxies, and I
eg 6495:  2'.1 x 1'.8:  Vis. 12.2; SB 13.5:  spent considerable time here.  The pair are separated by the base line of a faint triangle of stars, with the north preceding one being double.  Both galaxies were seen at 100x, but it was at 150x that the size difference really comes through.  95 appears to be a tiny bit brighter overall than 90, but not by much.  They remain in the same field of view at 187x and 200x.  Recommended with a 12".

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6500:  2.'2 x 1'.6:  Vis. 12.2; SB 13.4:  Despite a 7.4 magnitude star in the field, both galaxies
eg 6501:  2' x 1'.8:  Vis. 12; SB 13.3:   were seen at 100x, where they already appear to be very bright and quite large.  150x shows them as remarkably similar in appearance, and still really bright.  At 187x and 200x things remain very bright, and stellar cores are noted.  6500 now appears oval.  200x and 250x show both objects well, and they make another fine pair, worth seeking out with a 12".  I applied 300x, but it did not improve things over 250x.  Now, if it weren't for that 7.4 mag. star...

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6513:  1'.2 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.1:  At first I could not find it.  I looked long and hard, before finally giving up.  I came back later in the night, then realized I had been looking at the wrong two guide stars.  As soon as I found the correct spot, there it was.  The galaxy was pretty big and bright at 136x.  It was very good to view at 187x, but fading somewhat at 250x.  At high power it is very oval, and still fair to view with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6518:  0'.4 x 0'.4:  Vis. 13.9; SB 11.8:  This was an easy one!  It was located at 136x.  It lies south of a fairly bright star, and reminded me of a medium-sized planetary nebula.  At 187x views were good, with the galaxy being bright and very round.  At 250x a stellar core is noted, with a possible faint star on the preceding lip of the envelope.  The galaxy remains bright with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6527:  1'.4 x 1':  Vis. 13.4; SB 13.6:  Located at 100x, south of a mag. 11 or mag. 12 star, just following a tiny, dim mini-cluster of stars.  150x shows a bright center.  Though pretty faint at 187x and 200x, the oval shape is noted, along with a brighter middle.

http://www.ngcicproject.org 

I am now five days away from the next two-week observing period.  I should have time to get Chart 67 up before then.  the rest will have to wait until the August session is completed.  By then, I should also be able to report on the deep sky objects of Scutum.  Until then, clear skies!

Mapman Mike

#109 Hercules NGC Project Part 3: Uranometria Chart 69

The left side of Chart 69 includes many galaxies in Hercules.  Also present is the north half of close-up Chart A-9.  That chart will have its own blog entry soon, and so those galaxies will be omitted from this entry.

eg 6032:  1'.6 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.4:  The galaxy is large, but faint and very elongated.  It has a wide middle, and was located at 136x.  It was best seen at 187x with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6035:  0'.9 x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.1:  Round and pretty large, it is considerably brighter than 6032.  Located north of a triangle of bright stars.  32 and 35 are both fading at 200x, though 35 is easier to see.  Even so, it is a pretty faint object. 

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6052:  0'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13; SB 12:  Previously viewed with the 8".  Located tonight at 60x, it was bright, round, and reminded me of a planetary nebula.  It is very bright at 100x, and still round.  At 136x it begins to look oval.  It is located between two stars (midway), and there is also a faint star preceding.  At 187x and 250x the galaxy is very bright, oval, but quite small.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6060:  2'.1 x 1'.1:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13.8:  An impressive galaxy--yay!  Spotted easily at 60x, it is already big and very elongated at 100x.  Very good views are had at 136x.  At 187x and 200x it is very large and still pretty bright.  Recommended viewing.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6062:  1'.2 x 0'.9:  Vis., SB 13.6:  62 is flaring oval at 136x.  It seems pretty bright and pretty

eg 6062B: 0'.4 x 0'.4:  Vis. 15.3; SB 13.2:  large.  The center is brighter than the edges.  At 187x views are pretty good.  62B can be (barely) glimpsed at this range, south of the main galaxy and separate from it.  It has a stellar core, is very faint, small and round.

http://www.ngcicproject.org 

eg 6075:  0'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.9; SB 13.5:  Spotted at 100x, it was small but pretty bright ,especially when compared to 6148.  At 136x I noticed a stellar core.  There are good views at 187x.  At 200x it appears oval, and it is fading at 250x.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6084:  1' x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.9; SB 13.2:  This one is tricky to see due to its proximity to a mag. 10 star.  I searched everywhere else first, then finally spotted it just north following the bright star.  A very faint oval was glimpsed with averted vision at 187x and 250x.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6098:  1' x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13:  Seen at 136x as one long oval object.  It is rather faint.  At 

eg 6099:  0'.9 x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.4: SB 13:  187x and 250x they become a very tight pair, likely interacting.  Both galaxies have stellar cores, and are pretty small and faint.  One is oval and the other is round.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6148:  0'.5 x 0'.3:  Vis. 16.1; SB 13.8:  This might be the most challenging NGC object to date.  Even using a very detailed pinpoint hand-drawn map, this galaxy is extremely difficult and elusive.  I had near-perfect transparency to aid me, finally catching glimpses of a very small, very dim oval immediately following the middle star of a faint trio.  It was glimpsed at 250x, 272x, and 375x.  NB:  Just as an aside, I was able to glimpse the central star in M 57 tonight, at 272x.  It was the best sighting yet with the 12"!

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6149:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  Vis., SB 13.2:  Noted at 100x, it is bright but small.  At 136x it is small, oval, and very bright.  At 187x and 250x it is oval, has a very bright middle and has a fainter outer envelope.  It is a fairly elongated oval.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6168:  1'.4 x 0'.3:  Vis. 14.2; SB 13.1:  This galaxy appears as a long, very elusive slash.  It was spotted at 250x first, then viewed at 272x.  As full darkness was finally reached (June 27th/16) it was also seen at 187x, and then even at 136x.  A bright star is south (10.6 mag.).  Two very faint stars follow it.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6181:  2'.5 x  1'.1:  Vis. 11.9; SB 12.5:  Viewed previously with the 8", and sketched at that time.  Tonight it was spotted at 60x, and viewed up to 272x.  It is large, very bright, and very elongated.  The central area seemed brighter, as if a bar ran through the length of the galaxy.  The edges are noticeably fainter.  Good views were had at 250x.  A rather impressive galaxy!  

http://www.ngcicproject.org

 

eg 6186:  1'.7 x 1'.3:  Vis. 12.9; SB 13.6:  Spotted at 100x, it is large, pretty bright, and oval.  136x shows a stellar core.  A very faint star is south.  It was also viewed at 250x, 272x, and 375x.  It is very oval, bright, and pretty large.  Fortunately it is far enough away from Beta to be seen well.

Mapman Mike

 

#108 Hercules NGC Project Part 2: Uranometria Chart 86

Only a few NGC galaxies appear on Chart 86, so this will be a short entry.  A few of the galaxies also appear on other charts.  NGC 6347, for example, has already been discussed on the page with Chart 87 (see Part 1).

CHART 86

eg 6375:  1'.6 x 1'.6:  Vis. 13.9; SB 14.9:  I expected trouble here, but I located the galaxy quite easily at 100x.  Transparency was excellent at the time.  It was also observed at 136x and 187x, being large, round, and showing a stellar core.  At 187x I noted a very faint star immediately north following.

                                                      http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6379:  1'.1 x 1':  Vis. 12.9; SB 12.8:  It was spotted at 100x and observed well thru 250x.  It is quite faint, and it follows a bright star.  It was round and seen best with averted vision, though it was easy to see.  However, no detail could be discerned.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6389:  2'.8 x 1'.9:  Vis. 12.1; SB 13.7:  One of the largest and brightest galaxies in Hercules.  Spotted easily at 60x, it was large, bright, and oval.  Views were quite nice at 100x and 136x, showing a stellar core, bright central globe, and fainter haze all around.  At 187x and 250x it is still bright and very large.  Recommended viewing.

 http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6574:  1'.4 x 1'.1:  Vis. 12; SB 12.3:  Viewed at 60x, and very bright at 110x and 136x.  It sits at the north end of a faint star stream.  It has a very bright center, and it is very oval.  At 187x a faint star is seen just south (mag. 14?).  250x shows a very bright stellar core.  Viewed years ago with an 8".

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6627:  1'.3 x 1'.1:  Vis. 13.3; SB 13.5:  Spotted at 100x, it was small but pretty bright.  At 136x and 187x it was a bit easier to view.  It appears slightly oval in this range.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6635:  1' x 0'.9:  Vis. 13.4; SB 13.1:  Only suspected at 100x, the galaxy was confirmed at 136x.  At 187x it is small, oval, but pretty bright.  At 250x it becomes ghostly.  It is immediately north of a bright star (mag. 11?), which helps to hide it.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

NOTE:  eg 6467 and eg 6555 are discussed elsewhere, Charts 68 and 67 respectively.

 

#107: The Hercules NGC Project, Part 1: Uranometria Charts 107 and 87

The Hercules NGC project commenced June 21st, 2015.  That summer I managed to observe in Hercules 13 times for at least part, if not all, of my night observing time.  I continued working there during the summer of 2016 with 14 sessions, and concluded this year (2017) with 5 sessions.  So, 32 sessions later, I have logged all of the NGC objects in Hercules.  There are over 200 of them, and they are mostly galaxies.  It goes without saying that many of those are faint.

I use Uranometria 2000 Deep Sky Atlas, All Sky Edition, which devotes 11 charts to Hercules (I don't count Chart 88, as it duplicates Chart 87 and Chart A-9).  The charts are: 107, 87, A-9, 69, 68, 67, 51, 50, 49, 35, and 34.  If you use the charts you will know why they are listed in that order.  This entry will focus on 2 of the charts, though mostly #87.  Reporting all of the NGCs will take some time, so please be patient--they are coming as fast as I can manage. 

CHART 107

Only 1 NGC object in Hercules is on this chart, and it was the first object I observed on my adventure.

eg 6230:  0'.9 x 0'.8:  Vis. 14.4; SB 14.1:  Spotted at 120x and again at 150x.  It was round, not too small, and surprisingly not too difficult.  It either had a stellar core or a faint star involved.  One of the faintest objects yet seen!

                                                       http://www.ngcicproject.org

CHART 87

eg 6081:  1'.8 x 0'.6:  Vis. 13.1; SB 13:  Spotted at 100x and observed up to 250x.  It was very elongated, with a bright middle.  It was large with averted vision.  This is a nice elliptical galaxy.  It immediately follows a very faint stellar pair.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg I. 1205:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.7; SB 12.1:  Located very near an 8.5 mag. star, the galaxy was oval, bright, and easy to observe at 100x, 150x, and 187x.  It is located immediately following the bright star.

eg I. 1206:  1'.2 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.6; SB 13.4:  The galaxy appeared round, faint, and ghostly.  It was seen at 100x, 125x, and 150x.  It was quite small, even at 200x.

pn I. 4593:  42":  Vis. 10.7; Cent. * Mag. 11.2:  I had higher hopes for this object, which turned into a larger star, somewhat fuzzy. Up to 250x was used, and though very bright, it did not approach its stated size.  This object has also been seen back in the day with my Edmund 8".

eg 6074:  0'.4 x 0'.4:  Vis. 14.4; SB 12.3:  Easily seen at 150x and 200x, despite lying between 2 fairly close bright stars.  It was small, round, very faint, and best using averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6078:  0'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 15.2; SB 13.8:  Seen nicely at 125x, it was round and a pretty good size.  It is possibly enhanced somewhat by eg M+2-41-18, on its S edge, though I could not distinguish it.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6083:  0'.9 x 0'.5:  Vis. 14.6; SB 13.6:  Hercules galaxies are certainly not opening with a visual bang!  It's been a bit of a struggle, not to mention disappointment.  This one was seen at 150x and 200x, though it was "best" at 250x.  It is very faint, elongated, and was the most challenging of the Hercules galaxies observed during the first night.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6106:  2'.5 x 1'.4:  Vis. 12.2; SB 13.5:  I finally scored a decent hit, the first object of my second night in Hercules!  Located at 60x, it was quite small, oval, and faint.  It was much larger at 100x, and not nearly as faint.  At 150x it displayed a brighter middle section with a fainter envelope surrounding it.  A very faint star is involved or just beyond the haze.  The galaxy is now pretty large.  200x still gives a good view of this impressive object.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg UGC 10337:  1'.2 x 0'.4:  Vis. 14; SB 13.1:  Lying south preceding 6106, and just north of a mag. 8 star, I thought I would check this one out, too.  I tried it for fun at random, with no specs with me.  I spotted a faint, small oval patch at 150x and 200x.  It is just S of a faint star.  No doubt only the brighter center was seen.

eg 6132:  1'.5 x 0'.5:  Vis. 13.6; SB 13.2:  This one is very faint and small.  It was spotted at 125x, where I saw it as oval.  It was only seen positively with averted vision, and was near my threshold of visibility.  It was a good observing night, too.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg I. 1209:  1'.1 x 0'.8:  Vis. 13.3: SB 13.1:  An 8.7 mag. star lies very close, making this one a challenge.  The sighting was confirmed at 200x and 250x.  It was very small, and glimpsed between the bright star and a much dimmer one.

eg 6113:  1' x 0'.6:  Vis. 14.1; SB 13.4:  Located using a hand-drawn pinpoint map (I use Deep Sky Objects Browser if I can't find an object the old fashioned way).  It resembled a faint, flaring star at 100x.  It was observed to slightly better advantage at 125x, 150x, and 187x, and it was now oval and pretty bright using averted vision.  It was viewed at 200x, but it was fading at this range.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6219:  0'.7 x 0'.7:  Vis. 14.2; SB 13.3:  Though small and faint, it was seen at 136x, though better at 187x.  A stellar core shows at 250x.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6224:  1' x 1':  Vis. 13.5; SB 13.3:  A pair with 6225.  My lower western skies were not so good at this point, and the humidity was building (90%!).  It was small and round at 187x, and seen best with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg 6225:  1' x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.2:  A pair with 6224.  It was seen at 250x, very faint and very oval, almost elongated to a slash.  This may be due to a possible star involved or alongside.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

eg I. 4621:  0'.9 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.8; SB 13.1:  Located at 136x, hiding between 2 faint stars, one of which is 11.7 mag.  The galaxy is small and ghostly, best with averted vision.  It's slightly better at 187x.  250x shows it as being oval, and its full size (pretty small) can be seen.

eg 6347:  1'.2 x 0'.7:  Vis. 13.7; SB 13.2:  The sighting of this tricky object was finally confirmed at 187x.  It is very faint, round, and small.  It lies just a bit south of a very faint star group, and north preceding 2 much brighter stars.  At 250x it is merely a faint, fuzzy patch, possibly somewhat oval with averted vision.

http://www.ngcicproject.org

oc DoDz 7:  6'; 6 stars:  The only "cluster" on the chart.  It was easy to locate at 60x, where 5 bright stars show up in a concentrated area.  At 100x and 136x, many more stars appear in an area more than twice as large (15'?), perhaps 20 stars.  The main group is likely a bright asterism, but the nearby area is quite rich.

Mapman Mike





 

#106: Cloudy Spring

We've had them before, where the two weeks from last quarter moon to first quarter are completely useless for deep sky work.  However, that does not stop the disgust and outrage for and at Mother Nature on my part.  Especially when the period from first quarter moon to last quarter provided 8 beautifully clear nights.  This is not a conducive time to view Leo and Bootes galaxies, however.  And it is not conducive to maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

May and June are difficult months for observers anyway, as at my latitude (42 N) it isn't really dark enough to begin until at least 10:45 pm.  That makes for very late nights, and if one is working the next day (I am semi-retired, and still work three days a week), then it is nearly impossible to stay out all night.  Even an all-night session this time of year barely goes 5 1/2 hours anyway.

Up till early April I managed a good late Winter/early Spring session, nabbing 47 new galaxies in Leo.  However, as of early June I have not logged a single galaxy in Bootes, a constellation I had hoped to complete this year.  A large part of the reason for that has been the lousy weather.  Also, I went to London England on a short holiday in late April, right smack in the middle of the new moon season.  I usually try to book my holidays around the full moon, but this time I messed up.  So I undoubtedly missed two or three nights of observing.  When we returned on May 1st, the skies could not give us enough dark nights.  Of course, the high Spring moon was there, getting bigger and brighter all the time.  After 8 such nights it finally came to last quarter.  Clouds, rain, haze, and more clouds.  There are few words that accurately describe the feeling one gets when an entire two months of already short observing goes missing.

Anyway, there is really no one to officially take my complaint to, so I am forced to live with it.  As a result, Deb and I fired up the 6" reflector on our back deck last week.  We managed three lunar observing sessions in a row, along with that of Jupiter.  A 6" scope is more than enough firepower for lunar work, and almost enough for Jupiter.  So our lunar work was more successful.  The highlights were observing a few famous details, including the Alps, the Caucasus, and the Apennine Mtns.  There were also spectacular views of the Alpine Valley, Straight Wall, and Hyginus Cleft.

Alpine Valley and Lunar Alps

 http://www.astrocruise.com/solar_system/l_alpine.jpg

 Hyginus Cleft

https://lpod.wikispaces.com/file/view/LPOD-Nov8-10.jpg/177304865/LPOD-Nov8-10.jpg

 Straight Wall, near Birt Crater.

http://www.visit-the-moon.com/imgs/pages/21951_70767374050473853d831c.jpg

Happily, we also sought out the landing site of Apollo 15, snuggled beneath Mons Hadley, in the northern end of the Apennines.  I found a very helpful photo on the internet that gives a pretty good indication of just how high that mountain is.  From the shadow we saw that night in the scope, it is one impressive beast.  It rises over 4,000m above the plains, where the astronauts were galavanting.

 Apollo 15 astronaut beneath Mons Hadley.  Someone has cleverly inserted the world's tallest building into the background, against the mountain.  The building is 828m, and the mountain is 4200m, which is about 5x higher.
http://i.imgur.com/FPJ4G5Y.jpg

Hopefully I will still be able to get some work done this year in Bootes.  Dark sky work can begin again around June 18th for me (I am going to be away again for the first part.  Sigh).

Clear skies, wherever you are.  Hopefully not where I am, because there seems to be no such thing.

Mapman