Out again last night with Big Blue, and this time the seeing was better, 7/10. Went to the Double Double in Lyra first, really good image, so I thought to try 90 Her before it starts to set too late in the evening:
90 Her = BU 130: Yes! Looks better at 553x, less jumpiness. Need stillness, it coalesces from the diffraction to a light orange point at 553x (grey at 885x). No doubt about it, star, point like. For the first 10 minutes of observing seeing allowed me to glimpse it 1 of every 10 seconds. But after a while seeing was better and I could hold it pretty consistently in both magnifications. At 553x it's in the first ring, at 885x it's in the second.
17H 53M 18.03S +40° 00' 28.6" P.A. 110 SEP 1.6 MAG 5.28,8.76 SP K3III DIST. 108.46 PC (353.8 L.Y.)
STF 2282: White and very slightly orange B, 3", half delta mag. [3 star system, AB and AC all the same mag, but BC is a 0.2" pair with only one observation...]
18H 06M 30.47S +40° 21' 39.6" P.A. 81 SEP 2.6 MAG 7.93,9.43 SP A1V DIST. 512.82 PC (1672.82 L.Y.)
STF 3130: Extremely faint but present DV, white A an blue B, 4" 3-4 delta mag. Nearby R Lyr a pretty orange. [AB,C seen; AB 0.4" -- try again!]
18H 55M 57.14S +44° 13' 41.9" P.A. 258 SEP 2.7 MAG 6.97,10.52 SP A2
Dawes 9: Faint but perfect star images showing. 3 delta mag, ~5". B as bright as BU 130B?
16 Lyr = HJ 1362: Faint star at edge of DV/AV, fairly well separated.
19H 01M 26.36S +46° 56' 06.1" P.A. 289 SEP 46.9 MAG 5.01,10.60 SP A7V
Dju 4 = 13 Vul: Very bright white A and 3- delta mag B, ~1.5-2", west PA (platform ended its cycle so no tracking).
19H 53M 27.69S +24° 04' 46.6" P.A. 246.8 SEP 1.37 MAG 4.63,7.37 SP B9.5III DIST. 102.56 PC (334.55 L.Y.)
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
brief mars
The night of the 24th had a brief session with Big Blue. Seeing wasn't particularly good and there was marine haze; the nearly full moon didn't help. Had a look at Mars 277x with the apodizing mask and planetary filter, and had a good view of Styris Major and some other features which covered most of the visible globe, given the planet's inclination.
I poked around Lyra a bit, including of all things M57. One double star observation:
BU 648: In diffraction but steady disk of B within it, 2" 3 delta mag. [Several other fainter & wider pairings.]
18H 57M 01.61S +32° 54' 04.6" P.A. 236.7 SEP 1.31 MAG 5.34,7.96 SP G0V DIST. 14.87 PC (48.51 L.Y.)
And that was about it!
I poked around Lyra a bit, including of all things M57. One double star observation:
BU 648: In diffraction but steady disk of B within it, 2" 3 delta mag. [Several other fainter & wider pairings.]
18H 57M 01.61S +32° 54' 04.6" P.A. 236.7 SEP 1.31 MAG 5.34,7.96 SP G0V DIST. 14.87 PC (48.51 L.Y.)
And that was about it!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
some hercules doubles
Thursday night had some pretty good seeing, for a change, 8/10, with transparency starting 4/5 the dropping 3/5 after midnight. Quarter moon but I went for some doubles:
90 Her = BU 130: I wanted to reobserve this after CalStar. I had several seconds of airy disk at 553x, and moments of stillness at 885x, though the diffraction was less stable; there was some marine haze developing. I viewed both with and without an apodizing mask, at 553x and 885x. The best I can say is I had a definite snowman or bulge to the disk, very subtle, but no split. I thought maybe this was because the star had approached closer since 2009's measure of 1.6" -- but indeed it's not the case. Whatever deformity I saw was not the secondary, which remains a faint star perhaps hidden by the diffraction disk.
17H 53M 18.03S +40° 00' 28.6" P.A. 110 SEP 1.6 MAG 5.28,8.76 SP K3III DIST. 108.46 PC (353.8 L.Y.)
STF 2282: Faint yellow white, 3", half delta mag. 553x. [I need to try this again since the B star is also a pair, but only 0.2"]
18H 06M 30.47S +40° 21' 39.6" P.A. 81 SEP 2.6 MAG 7.93,9.43 SP A1V DIST. 512.82 PC (1672.82 L.Y.)
BU 1127: Very tough but a small point of a star resolved at the rim of the diffraction ring at both 553x & 885x, using kind of a partial averted vision. [Aa,Ab is 0.7" but no B mag given...]
18H 02M 30.89S +44° 14' 02.6" P.A. 42 SEP 0.8 MAG 7.31,9.20 SP F5V DIST. 81.3 PC (265.2 L.Y.)
STF 3129: White and wide separation, 2 delta mag fainter orange B.
18H 01M 07.16S +45° 21' 03.3" P.A. 168 SEP 30.7 MAG 7.59,10.64 SP B9 DIST. 132.28 PC (431.5 L.Y.)
HU 235: Very certain point sitting just outside the diffraction ring; brightens and sharpens with seeing. 2" 2-3 delta mag 553x. [This is supposed to be a good analog of BU 130, and I did return to BU 130 after this but still did not see it.]
17H 57M 05.08S +45° 51' 21.4" P.A. 285 SEP 1.6 MAG 6.88,9.04 SP F7IV DIST. 70.03 PC (228.44 L.Y.)
STF 2242: Easy matched yellow pair, 3"
17H 51M 10.32S +44° 54' 28.0" P.A. 327 SEP 3.4 MAG 8.14,8.28 SP F0 DIST. 118.06 PC (385.11 L.Y.)
AC 15: Extremely faint B, just on diffraction ring, with seeing, both 553x & 885x. 1"
18H 07M 01.61S +30° 33' 42.7" P.A. 331.4 SEP 1.44 MAG 5.13,8.96 SP F7V DIST. 15.64 PC (51.02 L.Y.)
90 Her = BU 130: I wanted to reobserve this after CalStar. I had several seconds of airy disk at 553x, and moments of stillness at 885x, though the diffraction was less stable; there was some marine haze developing. I viewed both with and without an apodizing mask, at 553x and 885x. The best I can say is I had a definite snowman or bulge to the disk, very subtle, but no split. I thought maybe this was because the star had approached closer since 2009's measure of 1.6" -- but indeed it's not the case. Whatever deformity I saw was not the secondary, which remains a faint star perhaps hidden by the diffraction disk.
17H 53M 18.03S +40° 00' 28.6" P.A. 110 SEP 1.6 MAG 5.28,8.76 SP K3III DIST. 108.46 PC (353.8 L.Y.)
STF 2282: Faint yellow white, 3", half delta mag. 553x. [I need to try this again since the B star is also a pair, but only 0.2"]
18H 06M 30.47S +40° 21' 39.6" P.A. 81 SEP 2.6 MAG 7.93,9.43 SP A1V DIST. 512.82 PC (1672.82 L.Y.)
BU 1127: Very tough but a small point of a star resolved at the rim of the diffraction ring at both 553x & 885x, using kind of a partial averted vision. [Aa,Ab is 0.7" but no B mag given...]
18H 02M 30.89S +44° 14' 02.6" P.A. 42 SEP 0.8 MAG 7.31,9.20 SP F5V DIST. 81.3 PC (265.2 L.Y.)
STF 3129: White and wide separation, 2 delta mag fainter orange B.
18H 01M 07.16S +45° 21' 03.3" P.A. 168 SEP 30.7 MAG 7.59,10.64 SP B9 DIST. 132.28 PC (431.5 L.Y.)
HU 235: Very certain point sitting just outside the diffraction ring; brightens and sharpens with seeing. 2" 2-3 delta mag 553x. [This is supposed to be a good analog of BU 130, and I did return to BU 130 after this but still did not see it.]
17H 57M 05.08S +45° 51' 21.4" P.A. 285 SEP 1.6 MAG 6.88,9.04 SP F7IV DIST. 70.03 PC (228.44 L.Y.)
STF 2242: Easy matched yellow pair, 3"
17H 51M 10.32S +44° 54' 28.0" P.A. 327 SEP 3.4 MAG 8.14,8.28 SP F0 DIST. 118.06 PC (385.11 L.Y.)
AC 15: Extremely faint B, just on diffraction ring, with seeing, both 553x & 885x. 1"
18H 07M 01.61S +30° 33' 42.7" P.A. 331.4 SEP 1.44 MAG 5.13,8.96 SP F7V DIST. 15.64 PC (51.02 L.Y.)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
quick moon looks
Out last night with Big Blue, for looks at Mars and the moon. Nothing too special to report; the seeing was poor and I mostly stayed at low power moon gazing, trying to see as much detail as I could -- especially mountains along the limb. Just very nice to be outside and observing. More good weather this week so it should be good getting out.
Saturday, September 15, 2018
2018 CalStar fourth night
Conditions remained about the same as the previous night, ~21.6 SQM with 6-7/10 seeing. I entertained some people with the Springsonian and tried a few observations -- next time, I won't just have it there as a curiousity or to "relax" -- I will develop an observing program for it to actually put it to some work. If it's as good a telescope as some said it was, I should really use it in addition to enjoying it.
90 Her = BU 130: Seeing is poor but it resolves momentarily to be just split in the diffraction, 1" [I don't think I saw it -- the PA was to the west, either SW or NW, but the PA in WDS is to the east... will save as a challenge from home.]
17H 53M 18.03S +40° 00' 28.6" P.A. 110 SEP 1.6 MAG 5.28,8.76 SP K3III DIST. 108.46 PC (353.8 L.Y.)
NGC 16: Bright nucleus and what looks like a double core? Diffuse halo & fading edges.
NGC 112: Small, fairly faint, gradually brighter to the middle, quasi-stellar nucleus, 3:1 WNW-ESE. [v13.6, Sc]
HGC 99: Three small glows close together in an arc or L shape. Each with quasi-stellar nucleus. Very small and faint, at the edge of direct vision. 333x. [a, b, c seen; d and e not seen].
NGC 7806 & 7805: Three small glows with quasi-stellar nuclei. Very small and faint, at the edge of direct vision. [The third glow, to the east, is MCG +05-01-026, is excessively faint and I have to wonder if I really saw it -- however my sketch matches, and I can tentatively claim it, as only two galaxies were plotted on the chart.]
NGC 7819: Sits as the diamond in a ring of stars. Diffuse 2:1 oval E-W, small bright core; faint and small overall [v13.5 SBb].
NGC 130: Small and round. [Not seen; this is a small group of four galaxies.]
NGC 39: Pretty faint, and small, with a round, broken and mottled halo, quasi-stellar nucleus, and a faint star inside the southern rim. 205x. [v13.5, Sc]
NGC 43: Faint, small, round halo with a small bright core elongated 2:1 E-W. [v12.6 SB0]
NGC 70: Seven faint galaxies. Three brightest and largest (NGC 70, 68, 71) in a triangle mingled with some faint stars. All are moderately faint, slightly elongated with bright cores. The other galaxies are scatters, much smaller and fainter: NGC 67 extremely small and to the SW of the NGC 70 trio; NGC 69 same description, to the south; NGC 72 slightly brighter, to the SE. At the far eastern edge of the field is the very small and faint glow of NGC 74. Like so many rice grains scattered... [In the photo NGC 70 has a sweeping spiral halo, which was not seen visually.]
NGC 76: Stellar nucleus, small and faint, diffuse halo slightly E-W elongated. [Close eastern companion MCG +05-01-073 not noticed.]
NGC 97: My notes mention three galaxies, which I sketched in a line, with a bright central one. However the actual galaxy does not have companions -- it's possible I misinterpreted the stars N and S of the NGC 97 as galaxy, either due to faintness or seeing. In any case, NGC 97 is bright, small, dominated by a large bright core and stellar nucleus, and very thin haze of a halo, slightly elongated N-S.
NGC 108: Stellar nucleus, very diffuse, faint round halo; core elongated E-W. [DSS shows a tie-fighter light appearance of the core and nucleus, and a ring halo.]
NGC 140: Stellar nucleus and a faint, relatively large mottled and disordered round halo. Three stars trail to the SE from the rim like a tail. [v13.2, Scd]
NGC 183 & AGC 71: Many other very faint glows in the area, too hard to draw; nice to just take them in. NGC 183 is the brightest and largest, stellar nucleus, round diffuse halo.
CGCG 500-74: 3:1, fairly small, fairly bright, direct vision, gradually brighter to middle halo.
<<CHECK ATLAS>>
IC 43: Very faint and diffuse, need averted vision to see at first. Small, with a just stellar nucleus and a very faint mottled round halo. Another galaxy "felt" with averted vision, a quarter field to the north [IC 45, 15.3B]
NGC 233: Small, fairly faint, dominated by large core and diffuse and mottled halo [12.4v, E0]
NGC 243: 3:1 with strong mottling in core. Just to east of bright 10th mag star. [13.7v S].
NGC 266: Fairly bright round glow, oval core E-W; view somewhat hindered by nearby star to south. [11.6v, SBab].
Using the 10-inch I made the star hop down from Beta Ceti down through NGC 247 The Dusty Hand, to NGC 253 and the globular NGC 288 -- all of which were visible in the 50mm finder, if dimly in comparison to prior observations in the 20-inch. I then went in search of the Sculptor Dwarf. I spent a good while searching for the dwarf and thought I had some brown mass of a boarder visible when holding a yellow filter in front of the eyepiece, but nothing certain. The area was encroached by the Paseo Robles light dome. I went further down to NGC 300, probably the lowest declination DSO I've seen. Somehow it appeared better in the 50mm finder, brighter and more cohesive as a dim elongated glow, but highly broken and distorted in the 10-inch at 37x.
NGC 262: Stellar nucleus, bright round core; small. Halo is faint and somewhat elongated E-W from the core, with am "eyebrow" rim (possibly a detached arm) on the north side. [There is a 2MASS galaxy on the eastern rim which I did not make note of. 13.1v S0-a]
NGC 287: Very faint small elongation, N-S, moderately bright but small, with almost no halo. [14.0v, S0-a]
NGC 296: Near star. Gradually brighter to middle, 3:1, fairly large. [Seem I looked at the wrong one; the galaxy to the north UGC 567 is near a star, and what is more has a second galaxy, face on spiral UGC 566, nearby.]
NGC 282: Small and fairly faint, brighter core and 2:1 NE-SW. Hindered by the 8.4 mag star to the south.
NGC 315 Group: 5-6 very faint galaxies in a jagged line. Did not sketch since Steve called me over to look at 5 Cas, a pretty 2+1 double. [Could be I saw only 2 galaxies, the others unresolved stars -- I didn't have time to study this field.]
NGC 404: Bright nucleus and core, strong impression of spiral. Next to a very bright star to the SE which strongly interferes with the view--throws out diffraction spikes. [10.3v, E-S0. The spiral is an illusion -- I wonder if it is the concentric rings which show when doing a star test -- maybe I was out of focus?]
NGC 431: Bright compact round core, and 4:1 dim halo elongated 4:1 NE-SW. Suspect two other galaxies in the field. [likely just faint stars. 12.9v, SB0]
NGC 447: Large oval with bright round core with a foreground star just east of the core, NE-SW extensions coming from the core. There halo is very diffuse and round, very faint. There are three faint stars on the SW rim and some more scattered to the SW.
90 Her = BU 130: Seeing is poor but it resolves momentarily to be just split in the diffraction, 1" [I don't think I saw it -- the PA was to the west, either SW or NW, but the PA in WDS is to the east... will save as a challenge from home.]
17H 53M 18.03S +40° 00' 28.6" P.A. 110 SEP 1.6 MAG 5.28,8.76 SP K3III DIST. 108.46 PC (353.8 L.Y.)
NGC 16: Bright nucleus and what looks like a double core? Diffuse halo & fading edges.
NGC 112: Small, fairly faint, gradually brighter to the middle, quasi-stellar nucleus, 3:1 WNW-ESE. [v13.6, Sc]
HGC 99: Three small glows close together in an arc or L shape. Each with quasi-stellar nucleus. Very small and faint, at the edge of direct vision. 333x. [a, b, c seen; d and e not seen].
NGC 7819: Sits as the diamond in a ring of stars. Diffuse 2:1 oval E-W, small bright core; faint and small overall [v13.5 SBb].
NGC 130: Small and round. [Not seen; this is a small group of four galaxies.]
NGC 39: Pretty faint, and small, with a round, broken and mottled halo, quasi-stellar nucleus, and a faint star inside the southern rim. 205x. [v13.5, Sc]
NGC 43: Faint, small, round halo with a small bright core elongated 2:1 E-W. [v12.6 SB0]
NGC 70: Seven faint galaxies. Three brightest and largest (NGC 70, 68, 71) in a triangle mingled with some faint stars. All are moderately faint, slightly elongated with bright cores. The other galaxies are scatters, much smaller and fainter: NGC 67 extremely small and to the SW of the NGC 70 trio; NGC 69 same description, to the south; NGC 72 slightly brighter, to the SE. At the far eastern edge of the field is the very small and faint glow of NGC 74. Like so many rice grains scattered... [In the photo NGC 70 has a sweeping spiral halo, which was not seen visually.]
NGC 76: Stellar nucleus, small and faint, diffuse halo slightly E-W elongated. [Close eastern companion MCG +05-01-073 not noticed.]
NGC 97: My notes mention three galaxies, which I sketched in a line, with a bright central one. However the actual galaxy does not have companions -- it's possible I misinterpreted the stars N and S of the NGC 97 as galaxy, either due to faintness or seeing. In any case, NGC 97 is bright, small, dominated by a large bright core and stellar nucleus, and very thin haze of a halo, slightly elongated N-S.
NGC 108: Stellar nucleus, very diffuse, faint round halo; core elongated E-W. [DSS shows a tie-fighter light appearance of the core and nucleus, and a ring halo.]
NGC 140: Stellar nucleus and a faint, relatively large mottled and disordered round halo. Three stars trail to the SE from the rim like a tail. [v13.2, Scd]
NGC 183 & AGC 71: Many other very faint glows in the area, too hard to draw; nice to just take them in. NGC 183 is the brightest and largest, stellar nucleus, round diffuse halo.
CGCG 500-74: 3:1, fairly small, fairly bright, direct vision, gradually brighter to middle halo.
<<CHECK ATLAS>>
IC 43: Very faint and diffuse, need averted vision to see at first. Small, with a just stellar nucleus and a very faint mottled round halo. Another galaxy "felt" with averted vision, a quarter field to the north [IC 45, 15.3B]
NGC 233: Small, fairly faint, dominated by large core and diffuse and mottled halo [12.4v, E0]
NGC 243: 3:1 with strong mottling in core. Just to east of bright 10th mag star. [13.7v S].
Using the 10-inch I made the star hop down from Beta Ceti down through NGC 247 The Dusty Hand, to NGC 253 and the globular NGC 288 -- all of which were visible in the 50mm finder, if dimly in comparison to prior observations in the 20-inch. I then went in search of the Sculptor Dwarf. I spent a good while searching for the dwarf and thought I had some brown mass of a boarder visible when holding a yellow filter in front of the eyepiece, but nothing certain. The area was encroached by the Paseo Robles light dome. I went further down to NGC 300, probably the lowest declination DSO I've seen. Somehow it appeared better in the 50mm finder, brighter and more cohesive as a dim elongated glow, but highly broken and distorted in the 10-inch at 37x.
NGC 262: Stellar nucleus, bright round core; small. Halo is faint and somewhat elongated E-W from the core, with am "eyebrow" rim (possibly a detached arm) on the north side. [There is a 2MASS galaxy on the eastern rim which I did not make note of. 13.1v S0-a]
NGC 287: Very faint small elongation, N-S, moderately bright but small, with almost no halo. [14.0v, S0-a]
NGC 296: Near star. Gradually brighter to middle, 3:1, fairly large. [Seem I looked at the wrong one; the galaxy to the north UGC 567 is near a star, and what is more has a second galaxy, face on spiral UGC 566, nearby.]
NGC 282: Small and fairly faint, brighter core and 2:1 NE-SW. Hindered by the 8.4 mag star to the south.
NGC 315 Group: 5-6 very faint galaxies in a jagged line. Did not sketch since Steve called me over to look at 5 Cas, a pretty 2+1 double. [Could be I saw only 2 galaxies, the others unresolved stars -- I didn't have time to study this field.]
NGC 404: Bright nucleus and core, strong impression of spiral. Next to a very bright star to the SE which strongly interferes with the view--throws out diffraction spikes. [10.3v, E-S0. The spiral is an illusion -- I wonder if it is the concentric rings which show when doing a star test -- maybe I was out of focus?]
NGC 431: Bright compact round core, and 4:1 dim halo elongated 4:1 NE-SW. Suspect two other galaxies in the field. [likely just faint stars. 12.9v, SB0]
NGC 447: Large oval with bright round core with a foreground star just east of the core, NE-SW extensions coming from the core. There halo is very diffuse and round, very faint. There are three faint stars on the SW rim and some more scattered to the SW.
2018 CalStar third night
Conditions were better and I felt more relaxed, and I was likely more productive. Observing without a plan has the charm of finding new discoveries, but one needs a particular frame of mind to keep interest and attention, and to keep the observing pleasurable. At times I wished I had a plan to keep me more focussed. I was not over tired and that helped keep me going, though I petered out at around 2:30am. It would have been nice to keep going since the sky conditions were very good. Tonight should be the best night yet so I hope to rest up and be able to make the most of it. I do feel tired this morning and have the beginnings of a sore throat.
As I go through my notes I find I observed some of the same objects twice within this session -- I simply forgot from a few minutes before what I had seen before.
NGC 7013: 205x. Fairly bright and large, bright small core, elongated 3:1 NNW-ESE, diffuse but mottled halo with fading edges. Faint star on the NNW tip of the halo. Faint tumbling satellite passed by in the FOV during the observation, fun to watch it flash and flicker.
MWP 1: 205x. Exceedingly faint large shell seen with averted vision & OIII filter only; it hangs from a string of stars like a water drop. Brighter on the SW rim, and barely there through the rest of the shape; seems to have ghostly rings inside the shell? Edges are soft but not diffuse. A small star is green with the OIII but it is not central to the nebulosity and not clear to me it is a central star. [According to Kent Wallace in his Visual Observations of Planetary Nebula, it is called the "Methuselah Nebula" due to its age, estimated at 150,000 years, old for a PNe; the shells of most dissipate within 50,000 years. He also says the first known visual observation of this object was made during 2002 CalStar, probably in the same baseball field I was set up in, also in a 20-inch, and that a certain Jeff Gortatowsky verified the sighting!]
Alves 1 = ALV1 (PN G079.8-10.2): Very marginal observation. Large amorphous glow in a scattering of stars, irregular shape, very exceedingly faint -- more felt than seen; maybe seen because I thought something should be there. 205x & OIII only. [Credit for the image, the full version of which also includes MWP 1, is here.]
NGC 7037: Poor cluster, arc of stars and a triangle; 205x. [I only noted the ~10 brighter stars; there are fainter stars in the group -- needed to have a wider field to show it separated from the rich field.]
UGC 11761: Small extremely faint, elongated with brighter nucleus. Two bright stars to the north and north east. 205x [Doubtful if seen; 0.19"x0.19", 13.8b -- well maybe?]
UGC 11781: Round core, very faint extended halo which brightens with averted vision. 205x [v13.05, S0]
IC 1392 & UGC 11775: The IC has a bright 2:1 E-W elongated core, with a very faint halo haze around it; it is preceded by a group of five brighter stars, which include some faint doubles. The UGC is very faint, small, and round 4' to the SE; it has a star just to the SE of the core. 205x
Abell 78: Very soft, faint large oval glow between two stars. After some longer looks, the shell has a brighter arc along the southern rim. 205x w/ OIII
UGC 11762: Small, faint, round!
BU 167: Elongation but not in the right PA; some faint stars about but too far.... 667x [consider not seen...]
21H 36M 13.98S +30° 03' 19.5" P.A. 88 SEP 1.7 MAG 6.37,9.95 SP G8III
NGC 7116: Averted vision to see but can then hold with direct vision. Moderately large and fairly faint, 4:1 WNW-ESE halo with a gradually brighter core offset to the NW.
UGC 11834: Extremely faint E-W elongated glow, even surface brightness; hindered by star on south rim. 205x
NGC 7137: Halo looks like a stumpy comet tail attached to a faint star attached to the rim and preceding it it to the NW. The glow is wedge shaped with a uneven surface brightness. Interesting! [v12.4, SBc]
Abell 74: Barest hint of round faint round nebulosity. Large. Barely there. OIII only 205x.
NGC 7052: Bright elongated / bulging core with hazy halo, 3:1 NE-SW.
NGC 7080: Rather faint halo, mostly round, fairly small, within a triangle of bright stars. Interesting curve shape in the halo -- may be barred spiral? [v12.3, SBb]
And-G1: I see a faint round haze, rather large, fairly bright (direct vision) at the star hop location -- but I remember reading I should be seeing "Mickey Mouse" ears composed of two stars plus the globular. So I'm not sure what I saw.
And I = PGC 2666: 4:1 elongated glow, extremely faint. Used yellow filter which seemed to help a little. Doubt the observation a little. [Did not see -- the galaxy is far fainter and more diffuse than described.]
Baade A & B: Two extremely faint, slightly elongated glows, both with stellar nuclei.
Need to find a photo...
NGC 317: Small, fairly faint, 3:1 elongation E-W, with a gradually brighter core. There's a small but bright non-stellar round glow hugging the NW rim of the galaxy. 205x, SBbc, v13.4 [The non-stellar glow is UGC 593, v13.56, SAB0a. UGC 594, not noticed, is in the eastern spiral arm].
Mad 1: I tried up to 667x, no close split. There is an orange star preceding a pretty blue bright star. [Not seen...]
01H 00M 35.58S +47° 19' 14.6" P.A. 358.2 SEP 0.76 MAG 7.66,9.05 SP A2
IC 66: Curve shaped spiral 4:1 elongated NW-SE, pretty large, bright core. Two stars on edge of SE end. [Seems the curve shape comes from the brighter halo on the NW end giving the galaxy a twist look in visual. 205x.]
UGC 522: Faint, moderately large, very faint stellar nucleus with hints of spiral in the halo. 205x
NGC 278: Quasi-stellar nucleus and large round bright mottled halo -- wants to show spiral but not quite. Bright star due north. 333x. [v10.8, SBb].
BU 257: Wide split 2-3 delta mag. [Not seen, this is a close double...]
00H 40M 13.00S +47° 15' 21.0" P.A. 253 SEP 0.6 MAG 8.06,9.11 SP G0 DIST. 246.31 PC (803.46 L.Y.)
NGC 185 = Hodge V: Glowing ball-like core slightly brighter than larger halo, 3:2 E-W, with knots scattered within. Wants to show some kind of structure but remains hazy. 205x.
NGC 147: Very large 3:1 NE-SW glow with a gradually brighter core and a central star or stellar nucleus. I see a dark lane or cut-off running along the SE side. Quite diffuse and large. [It is a foreground star in the center of the galaxy.] 205x
BU 394: Faint, 3 delta mag, wide separation. [Not seen, is a close separation.]
00H 30M 45.56S +47° 31' 47.5" P.A. 277.6 SEP 0.84 MAG 8.49,8.77 SP G0 DIST. 49.33 PC (160.91 L.Y.)
Perseus Cluster: A dozen and more galaxies in each eyepiece view, swarming. I did not try to sketch or describe, only to take it all in. After a while of looking into the far distance, I pulled away from the scope, and looked into our own galaxy -- perhaps much like those I had seen at such a great distance. I was isolated on the field, with its night sounds and wind, but felt what I was seeing, though strange and wondrous, was familiar, and was home.
As I go through my notes I find I observed some of the same objects twice within this session -- I simply forgot from a few minutes before what I had seen before.
NGC 7013: 205x. Fairly bright and large, bright small core, elongated 3:1 NNW-ESE, diffuse but mottled halo with fading edges. Faint star on the NNW tip of the halo. Faint tumbling satellite passed by in the FOV during the observation, fun to watch it flash and flicker.
MWP 1: 205x. Exceedingly faint large shell seen with averted vision & OIII filter only; it hangs from a string of stars like a water drop. Brighter on the SW rim, and barely there through the rest of the shape; seems to have ghostly rings inside the shell? Edges are soft but not diffuse. A small star is green with the OIII but it is not central to the nebulosity and not clear to me it is a central star. [According to Kent Wallace in his Visual Observations of Planetary Nebula, it is called the "Methuselah Nebula" due to its age, estimated at 150,000 years, old for a PNe; the shells of most dissipate within 50,000 years. He also says the first known visual observation of this object was made during 2002 CalStar, probably in the same baseball field I was set up in, also in a 20-inch, and that a certain Jeff Gortatowsky verified the sighting!]
Alves 1 = ALV1 (PN G079.8-10.2): Very marginal observation. Large amorphous glow in a scattering of stars, irregular shape, very exceedingly faint -- more felt than seen; maybe seen because I thought something should be there. 205x & OIII only. [Credit for the image, the full version of which also includes MWP 1, is here.]
NGC 7037: Poor cluster, arc of stars and a triangle; 205x. [I only noted the ~10 brighter stars; there are fainter stars in the group -- needed to have a wider field to show it separated from the rich field.]
UGC 11761: Small extremely faint, elongated with brighter nucleus. Two bright stars to the north and north east. 205x [Doubtful if seen; 0.19"x0.19", 13.8b -- well maybe?]
UGC 11781: Round core, very faint extended halo which brightens with averted vision. 205x [v13.05, S0]
Abell 78: Very soft, faint large oval glow between two stars. After some longer looks, the shell has a brighter arc along the southern rim. 205x w/ OIII
UGC 11762: Small, faint, round!
BU 167: Elongation but not in the right PA; some faint stars about but too far.... 667x [consider not seen...]
21H 36M 13.98S +30° 03' 19.5" P.A. 88 SEP 1.7 MAG 6.37,9.95 SP G8III
NGC 7116: Averted vision to see but can then hold with direct vision. Moderately large and fairly faint, 4:1 WNW-ESE halo with a gradually brighter core offset to the NW.
UGC 11834: Extremely faint E-W elongated glow, even surface brightness; hindered by star on south rim. 205x
NGC 7137: Halo looks like a stumpy comet tail attached to a faint star attached to the rim and preceding it it to the NW. The glow is wedge shaped with a uneven surface brightness. Interesting! [v12.4, SBc]
Abell 74: Barest hint of round faint round nebulosity. Large. Barely there. OIII only 205x.
NGC 7052: Bright elongated / bulging core with hazy halo, 3:1 NE-SW.
NGC 7080: Rather faint halo, mostly round, fairly small, within a triangle of bright stars. Interesting curve shape in the halo -- may be barred spiral? [v12.3, SBb]
And-G1: I see a faint round haze, rather large, fairly bright (direct vision) at the star hop location -- but I remember reading I should be seeing "Mickey Mouse" ears composed of two stars plus the globular. So I'm not sure what I saw.
And I = PGC 2666: 4:1 elongated glow, extremely faint. Used yellow filter which seemed to help a little. Doubt the observation a little. [Did not see -- the galaxy is far fainter and more diffuse than described.]
Baade A & B: Two extremely faint, slightly elongated glows, both with stellar nuclei.
Need to find a photo...
NGC 317: Small, fairly faint, 3:1 elongation E-W, with a gradually brighter core. There's a small but bright non-stellar round glow hugging the NW rim of the galaxy. 205x, SBbc, v13.4 [The non-stellar glow is UGC 593, v13.56, SAB0a. UGC 594, not noticed, is in the eastern spiral arm].
Mad 1: I tried up to 667x, no close split. There is an orange star preceding a pretty blue bright star. [Not seen...]
01H 00M 35.58S +47° 19' 14.6" P.A. 358.2 SEP 0.76 MAG 7.66,9.05 SP A2
IC 66: Curve shaped spiral 4:1 elongated NW-SE, pretty large, bright core. Two stars on edge of SE end. [Seems the curve shape comes from the brighter halo on the NW end giving the galaxy a twist look in visual. 205x.]
UGC 522: Faint, moderately large, very faint stellar nucleus with hints of spiral in the halo. 205x
NGC 278: Quasi-stellar nucleus and large round bright mottled halo -- wants to show spiral but not quite. Bright star due north. 333x. [v10.8, SBb].
BU 257: Wide split 2-3 delta mag. [Not seen, this is a close double...]
00H 40M 13.00S +47° 15' 21.0" P.A. 253 SEP 0.6 MAG 8.06,9.11 SP G0 DIST. 246.31 PC (803.46 L.Y.)
NGC 185 = Hodge V: Glowing ball-like core slightly brighter than larger halo, 3:2 E-W, with knots scattered within. Wants to show some kind of structure but remains hazy. 205x.
00H 30M 45.56S +47° 31' 47.5" P.A. 277.6 SEP 0.84 MAG 8.49,8.77 SP G0 DIST. 49.33 PC (160.91 L.Y.)
Perseus Cluster: A dozen and more galaxies in each eyepiece view, swarming. I did not try to sketch or describe, only to take it all in. After a while of looking into the far distance, I pulled away from the scope, and looked into our own galaxy -- perhaps much like those I had seen at such a great distance. I was isolated on the field, with its night sounds and wind, but felt what I was seeing, though strange and wondrous, was familiar, and was home.
2018 CalStar second night
The sky was more transparent though seeing remained average. So I didn't try hard on doubles. I didn't try hard on much -- my observing has been lackadaisical and undirected, so the number of objects observed are few. The quality of the observations was not good either. The Argo/Servo still gave me problems. I need to set it up at home again and really work out the tracking and the handpad control. I can't do it at a star party when I should be using the time to observe.
I swept some more with the Springsonian, sharing views with Marko and Bill. At the end of the night around 2am I looked at comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner after seeing it in Steve's scope -- something the scope is meant to do. This morning at Chez Dan several people were interested in the scope, so I expect visitors tonight. And tonight I should really put the hammer down -- don't bother with the Argo, just observe. I think I'll pick some galaxy cluster and work it hard using the Uranometria charts.
Transparency 3/5 Seeing 6/10
WSI 110 / STF 2725: The Struve was easy, half delta mag and wide. I was after the super close WSI but had no hope of seeing it.
20H 46M 13.31S +15° 54' 26.4" P.A. 321 SEP 0.1 MAG 7.90,8.90 SP K0
AC 15: Tried this at Steve's suggestion, he was not able to resolve the B star -- I gave it a try too but after many passes at different magnifications I could not see it either -- will need to keep trying. [I found out I was looking at 90 Her, when AC 15 is actually 99 Her. So I need to try again!]
Poskus 1: ~30 brighter stars in a wide oval shape, some fainter behind, around 1/4 degree.
NGC 7006: Very faint galaxy-like, without star resolution, small. It is a very densely packed cluster of faint stars, so looks more uniform in surface brightness. 205x; did not try higher magnification to resolve...
NGC 7094: ! Some barest hint of round shell without filter, but only having seen it with averted vision first then can hold direct; central star is hazy without filter. OIII shows it best, brightens the nebula considerably. The edge is crisp and there is some brightening along the west and south rim. Somewhat irregularly bright middle.
NGC 7101: Very faint, need averted vision to notice. Quasi-stellar nucleus, low surface brightness halo with diffuse edge, round. [C v13.5]
MCG+01-55-005: Edge on 6:1 NNE-SSW but some gentle incline; very faint halo, moderately large. Stellar nucleus flashing with averted vision. In spite of its faintness I have a strong sense of spiral structure. [b14.9]
BU 75: Yellow white and faint blue, well split [Saw AB,C. AB is 1.1" equal mag.]
21H 55M 31.42S +10° 52' 49.5" P.A. 211 SEP 35.3 MAG 7.72,12.50 SP G5
MLB 282: Did not see -- may not have been looking at the correct star. It should be near equal triple with 4" separation.
NGC 14 = Arp 235: 333x. Fairly large, fairly faint, diffuse halo gradually brighter core, non-stellar knot on the west side of the core with what seems to be a spiral arm separated from the knot like a parenthesis also to the west. Strong appearance of spiral, or at least mottling; core orientated N-S. [v12.1, IBm]
NGC 7814: Large, bright oval / bulging central core, uneven surface brightness, mottled wide extended halo with diffuse edges. NW-SE. 333x [The mottling may have been hints of the dramatic dust lane.]
Arp 130: 205x Two quasi-stellar nuclei share a round small faint halo.
UGC 148: Small, elongated, very faint, nebulous. Just barely stellar nucleus, barely brighter core offset to the south, elongated 6:1 E-W, long diffuse tips. Very pretty. [SAc b14.0]
IC 4: Small, fairly faint, quasi-stellar nucleus, gradually brighter core N-S, round halo. [In fact a pretty barred spiral.]
NGC 57: Moderately large, stellar nucleus, bright round core, faint round diffuse halo. [E1, v11.6]
NGC 100: Beautiful. Very faint edge-on, lengthens and brightens with averted vision, very long, NE-SW. Quite a sight. Some mottling in the core area suggesting spiral or dust lanes.
UGC 1154: Very faint, very small, round, stellar nucleus. [b14.4, S].
NGC 661: Small, bright, intense oval core NE-SW, diffuse thin halo. [E2, v12.2]
MCG+5+5-11: Averted vision only, small, even surface brightness, N-S elongation.
NGC 670: 4:1 N-S, edge on, bright bulging core and fading tips. [S0, v12.7]
NGC 672 [SBc v10.9] & IC 1727 [v11.5 SB]: Dramatic pair of large fairly bright spiral galaxies. NGC 672 is brighter, with a prominent bright core and a large diffuse halo 3:1 NE-SW; the SW halo is brighter and larger (the near-side spiral arm) and is peppered with five faint knots. IC 1727 is fainter, and more chaotic in appearance: bright but small elongated core NW-SE, with a large faint sweeping halo giving strong impression of spiral structure. William Herschel discovered NGC 672; how could he miss IC 1727? Other than the IC's fainter surface brightness, he should have been able to see it. 205x & 333x.
NGC 684: Stellar nucleus, bright small core, elongated 4:1 E-W. 333x [v12.4, Sb]
IC 1737: 3:1 Gradually brighter to the middle, diffuse edges, near the "Putter Cluster" XXXXX
-- Check atlas, wrong designation?
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner: 10-inch Springsonian, 37x: Bright coma and a lot going on (mottling) in the coma and tail. Long wide tail and a stubby anti-tail. Comet filter dims the main tail but livens up the coma. Steve's 24-inch showed streamers radiating from the coma into the main tail, which appeared larger and with a larger/longer antitail. Prominently green color.
I swept some more with the Springsonian, sharing views with Marko and Bill. At the end of the night around 2am I looked at comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner after seeing it in Steve's scope -- something the scope is meant to do. This morning at Chez Dan several people were interested in the scope, so I expect visitors tonight. And tonight I should really put the hammer down -- don't bother with the Argo, just observe. I think I'll pick some galaxy cluster and work it hard using the Uranometria charts.
Transparency 3/5 Seeing 6/10
WSI 110 / STF 2725: The Struve was easy, half delta mag and wide. I was after the super close WSI but had no hope of seeing it.
20H 46M 13.31S +15° 54' 26.4" P.A. 321 SEP 0.1 MAG 7.90,8.90 SP K0
AC 15: Tried this at Steve's suggestion, he was not able to resolve the B star -- I gave it a try too but after many passes at different magnifications I could not see it either -- will need to keep trying. [I found out I was looking at 90 Her, when AC 15 is actually 99 Her. So I need to try again!]
Poskus 1: ~30 brighter stars in a wide oval shape, some fainter behind, around 1/4 degree.
NGC 7006: Very faint galaxy-like, without star resolution, small. It is a very densely packed cluster of faint stars, so looks more uniform in surface brightness. 205x; did not try higher magnification to resolve...
NGC 7094: ! Some barest hint of round shell without filter, but only having seen it with averted vision first then can hold direct; central star is hazy without filter. OIII shows it best, brightens the nebula considerably. The edge is crisp and there is some brightening along the west and south rim. Somewhat irregularly bright middle.
NGC 7101: Very faint, need averted vision to notice. Quasi-stellar nucleus, low surface brightness halo with diffuse edge, round. [C v13.5]
MCG+01-55-005: Edge on 6:1 NNE-SSW but some gentle incline; very faint halo, moderately large. Stellar nucleus flashing with averted vision. In spite of its faintness I have a strong sense of spiral structure. [b14.9]
BU 75: Yellow white and faint blue, well split [Saw AB,C. AB is 1.1" equal mag.]
21H 55M 31.42S +10° 52' 49.5" P.A. 211 SEP 35.3 MAG 7.72,12.50 SP G5
MLB 282: Did not see -- may not have been looking at the correct star. It should be near equal triple with 4" separation.
NGC 14 = Arp 235: 333x. Fairly large, fairly faint, diffuse halo gradually brighter core, non-stellar knot on the west side of the core with what seems to be a spiral arm separated from the knot like a parenthesis also to the west. Strong appearance of spiral, or at least mottling; core orientated N-S. [v12.1, IBm]
NGC 7814: Large, bright oval / bulging central core, uneven surface brightness, mottled wide extended halo with diffuse edges. NW-SE. 333x [The mottling may have been hints of the dramatic dust lane.]
Arp 130: 205x Two quasi-stellar nuclei share a round small faint halo.
UGC 148: Small, elongated, very faint, nebulous. Just barely stellar nucleus, barely brighter core offset to the south, elongated 6:1 E-W, long diffuse tips. Very pretty. [SAc b14.0]
IC 4: Small, fairly faint, quasi-stellar nucleus, gradually brighter core N-S, round halo. [In fact a pretty barred spiral.]
NGC 57: Moderately large, stellar nucleus, bright round core, faint round diffuse halo. [E1, v11.6]
NGC 100: Beautiful. Very faint edge-on, lengthens and brightens with averted vision, very long, NE-SW. Quite a sight. Some mottling in the core area suggesting spiral or dust lanes.
UGC 1154: Very faint, very small, round, stellar nucleus. [b14.4, S].
NGC 661: Small, bright, intense oval core NE-SW, diffuse thin halo. [E2, v12.2]
MCG+5+5-11: Averted vision only, small, even surface brightness, N-S elongation.
NGC 670: 4:1 N-S, edge on, bright bulging core and fading tips. [S0, v12.7]
NGC 672 [SBc v10.9] & IC 1727 [v11.5 SB]: Dramatic pair of large fairly bright spiral galaxies. NGC 672 is brighter, with a prominent bright core and a large diffuse halo 3:1 NE-SW; the SW halo is brighter and larger (the near-side spiral arm) and is peppered with five faint knots. IC 1727 is fainter, and more chaotic in appearance: bright but small elongated core NW-SE, with a large faint sweeping halo giving strong impression of spiral structure. William Herschel discovered NGC 672; how could he miss IC 1727? Other than the IC's fainter surface brightness, he should have been able to see it. 205x & 333x.
NGC 684: Stellar nucleus, bright small core, elongated 4:1 E-W. 333x [v12.4, Sb]
-- Check atlas, wrong designation?
Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner: 10-inch Springsonian, 37x: Bright coma and a lot going on (mottling) in the coma and tail. Long wide tail and a stubby anti-tail. Comet filter dims the main tail but livens up the coma. Steve's 24-inch showed streamers radiating from the coma into the main tail, which appeared larger and with a larger/longer antitail. Prominently green color.
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