[sac-forum] Call for Observations

I have enough observations for the Bowl of Ursa Major, thanks to observers like 
Charlie, Dick, Joe and Ken.  The article already exceeds the 2 page limit and I 
thank our editor-in-chief for permitting our excess.

Don't feel left out with Ursa Major because here's the next 3 months.  Note the 
last one, Draco, hasn't been published -yet.  This early announcement will give 
us more to add to observing lists.

We've got weekends coming up and look forward to clear skies and good observing.
 
Call for Observations
 

There are about 40 objects in Coma Berenices that are in the Messier, 110 Best 
NGC, Herschel 400 or the Caldwell lists.  To this add one large naked eye 
asterism.  That is enough for many appearances of this constellation and this 
is the first one.  To begin with there are some good selections here for any 
size telescope from a dark site, their magnitudes range from 9.4 to 10.4 as all 
are, at least, on the 110 Best NGC list and near the Coma Star Cluster to boot. 
 Most are barred spirals, save two, so look for as much detail as possible not 
only within the middle but in the arms.  Try to work on estimating the size and 
magnitude of each and then compare your results with published values.  Keep at 
this long enough and you will get a feeling about these dimensions and get 
better and better at estimating.  First one to review is NGC4274 and its 
Saturn-like structure.  Up near the Canes Venatici border is NGC4414, a late 
spiral but what kind of detail can you observe in its middle?  Next is NGC4494, 
the sole elliptical.  Continuing to move westward is the very elongated 
NGC4559.  Next, just to the east of the cluster is one of my all time 
favorites, the spiral NGC4565 and an even more elongated galaxy.  Can you 
detect the central dark lane?  Lastly, and moving away from the cluster is 
NGC4725.  Can you detect other galaxies in the field?  With that we will have 
many more enjoyable sessions to come.

 

The middle section of the Serpent, Hydra mostly made up of galaxies.  The first 
entry is 1.5° to the southeast of 5th magnitude SAO155588 and is the elliptical 
NGC3091.  Second is the almost round, barred spiral NGC3313, and at magnitude 
11.4 is the faintest of the selections.  Next is the almost edge-on spiral 
NGC3717, is about 60' north of 5th magnitude SAO202553.  Continuing the 
eastward march is NGC3904 at magnitude 10.9.  Then a scant 35' northeast is 
NGC3923, which is the brightest of the selections at 9.8.  Both of these 
galaxies are elliptical.  The final selection is the interacting pair NGC4105 
and NGC4106.

 

Keeping with an extra month ahead because of monsoon the next selection will be 
Draco.  There is quite a bit here to choose from, especially since it crosses 
many lines of Right Ascension.  Here we'll keep to the region around the head 
of the dragon and find them all, save one, galaxies.  The magnitude range for 
the galaxies is 9.9 to 12th.  The first selection is NGC6140 a nice elongated 
barred spiral.  Next jump is to NGC6340 a nearly face-on early type spiral.  
There are other galaxies in the field.  Can you count and identify them?  The 
Draco Dwarf, UGC10822 and a member of the Local Group of Galaxies, is next and 
its magnitude is listed as 9.9. Beware this can be misleading because its size 
is 33.5'X18. 9'and that gives it a low surface brightness.  You might try to 
ferret out some detail with averted vision while waiting for a moment of good 
seeing.  Continuing on our way finds NGC6412 a barred spiral with some detail.  
Again, try to get as much out of this one as you can.  Our last galaxy is 
NGC6654, at 12th mag.  Not clear, to me, if it has some faint stars involved or 
bright HII regions.  What do you think?  Finally comes an asterism named after 
Fr. Lucian Kemble called Kemble 2 and located at RA 18h35.0m Dec +72° 23'.  It 
is 7th mag, 30' and forms a ''Mini-Cassiopeia'' like asterism.  Mag 3.5 chi 
Draconis is in the field.  Perhaps why it has a 7th mag rating?



AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

Other related posts: