[sac-forum] Call for July

I know it doesn't look good for observing this weekend, but just in case here 
is the next installment and is meant for the July newsletter.  I have also 
included the objects the following month in Ophiuchus, just in case.

For July begin with the E1 M84 and E3 M86 both in Leo and in same field of view 
next is E4 M49 in Virgo.  For the barred spirals begin with the SBa NGC3227 in 
Leo then SBb M95 in Virgo and SBc NGC4535 in Virgo.  Now which do you prefer, 
elliptical, spiral or barred spiral galaxies?  Personally I prefer spiral or 
barred spirals.

 

There are a plethora of others, which also includes irregulars and dwarf along 
with the many subdivisions.  For more study see 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galaxy_morphological_classification that covers 
lots more.  See also Luginbuhl and Skiff, Observing Handbook and Catalog of 
Deep-Sky Objects; Kepple and Sanner, The Night Sky Observer's Guide and 
Steinicke and Jakeil Galaxies and How to Observe Them.

 

There seems to be more time for another pass at Ophiuchus.  This time we will 
concentrate on globular clusters of varying magnitudes and concentrations.  
Starting out one of the brighter ones is NGC6235, you should be able to resolve 
some of the 14th to 16th mag stars - count them!  Take extra care in locating 
the next 3 because there are 3 others with in 5°.  First of the 3 is NGC6293 
and is a little brighter than the first one but about twice as big.  Moving on 
to NGC6304, towards the southeast, check to see if the brighter middle is 
noticeable.  To the northeast is NGC6355 with its gradually brighter middle.  
These 3 form an equilateral triangle about 3° on a side and are part of the 
Herschel 400 list.  Moving on to a challenge is IC 1257 a small, faint globular 
cluster.  It was identified as a distant globular cluster in 1996.  Perhaps 
even more of a challenge is HP 1, which I also will call small and faint.  As 
an aid to finding the globular its location is 17 31.1  -29 59.  The HP is for 
Haute Provence, a French Observatory.  The final globular is located almost 
between beta and gamma Ophiuchi.  It is NGC6426, another Herschel 400 entry.  
Can you detect the elongation described in the NGC description?

 


AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

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