[sac-forum] Eridanus Objects

I know everyone would like to get out and observe tomorrow evening.  Yes we 
WOULD like to but the moistons seem to have some sort of a grudge against us.  
Regardless, here are the object for February and are found in Eridanus.  I have 
copied and pasted the information directly from the newsletter.  Enjoy!

For February we are going out on a limb for our visit to a constellation I 
haven’t been to since January 1984.  It is the southerly constellation 
Eridanus, which has many galaxies and one planetary.  The SAC database has 337 
entries with 46 brighter than 12th magnitude, but none larger than 6’.  From 
a list of 35 entries, above the southern end of Canis Major, all but one are 
galaxies.  From that here are the selections, in increasing R.A order.  The 
late spiral NGC1084, at magnitude 10.7, is our first goal.  Can you, at least, 
see a brighter middle?  Next is the elliptical NGC1209 at magnitude 11.4.  The 
barred spiral NGC1300, along with its brighter middle follows.  Does the 
brighter middle seem elongated to you?  That’s the bar!  The faintest of this 
set, NGC1353, is next with its 11.4 magnitude.  This is another barred spiral, 
but its bar should not be as prominent as the prior.  NGC1395 is amongst the 
brightest of the galaxies for this month, at magnitude 9.6; yet its size gives 
it a low surface brightness.  The elliptical NGC1400, paired with NGC1407, are 
next.  Although the latter has a brighter magnitude, their surface brightness 
are about the same, primarily caused by it size.  Finally the planetary nebula, 
NGC1535 completes the list.  Try as much magnification as the evening permits 
along with any filters available to see what kinds of details become visible to 
your eye.  Beware; most of the above Eridanus galaxies have a pretty low 
surface brightness.  Happy Hunting!

Clear skies,
aj

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