[sac-forum] Leo #2, et al

This weekend we have more changes to observe Leo.  So far I've only got 
observations from Charlie Whiting and I know there are more out there to be 
submitted.  Soo I've included the list again - with correction.

For June I have scheduled Leo and will pick some of its brighter galaxies, 
staying towards the western part.  This way the eastern part is saved for 
another clear night.  This list will be quite different than ones in the past 
and I'm not sure how it will work.  But SAC observers have a habit of 
surprising me.  So, surprise me!  First start with NGC2903, a nice multi-armed 
barred spiral up near the blade part of the Lion's head.  The next selections 
field of view contains two or three galaxies, depending on telescope size.  The 
two easy ones are NGC3226 and NGC3227 at magnitude 12.4 and 11.3 respectively.  
Don't let this fool you, as the latter of the two is the larger.  Give us a 
good, detailed description of what you see.  The next field to view also 
contains two galaxies and they are M95 and M96, both being barred spirals.  
Compare and contrast the two.  From this field we can hop a mere 50 arc-minutes 
northeast to the next 3, count them three, galaxies.  They are M150M105, 
NGC3371 and NGC3389 all ellipticals.  The NGC galaxies have other names; look 
them up and include with your observations.  The final galaxy is NGC3377, 
another elliptical.  If you center this in a one-degree field there are other 
things to see and distract you.  Identify those and include with observation. 

 

While at it here's the list for the following month - 



This will be the first and only pass at Crater, the wine goblet.  I gave some 
thought to not doing this constellation because there were no bright galaxies.  
But eventually gave in as the faintest in our quest for this month is mag 11.8. 
 But don't let that fool you very much because some have low surface 
brightness.  Regardless all should be within reach of an 8" telescope from SAC 
sites and, if you are an experienced observer, they can be glimpsed in a 6".  
Our hunt this month begins in the southwest part of the constellation with 
NGC3511, an elongated barred spiral. Ten arc-minutes east of southeast and in 
the same 30' field of view will be NGC3513, another barred spiral but this one 
is more face-on.  For more on these two galaxies see the April 1996 Sky & 
Telescope article Edge-on Galaxies of Spring by Tom Polakis.   Now, hopping to 
the north central part of the constellation, find NGC3672 - a late type 
elongated spiral.  If you have difficulty finding or observing these keep in 
mind their surface brightness's are mag 13.5.  Going south some more, find 
NGC3887, a mag 10.6 somewhat round barred spiral galaxy.  Pay particular 
attention to your observations of its brighter middle.  By staying somewhat in 
the middle of the constellation try NGC3892, a fairly bright galaxy.  Going 
back to the southern part of the constellation look up NGC3957, an edge-on 
lenticular galaxy.  In the same neighborhood slew to NGC3962 that is 
considerably bright.  Finally NGC3981, at the western edge, is a nearly edge-on 
spiral.

 

OK, we're on a roll.  Here's the list for next following month -

 

The constellation Serpens is divided into two parts, separated by Ophiuchus.  
For this session the western part will be studied and the east will be saved 
for another time.  First for this session is the extremely faint globular 
cluster Palomar 5.  To get there, it is 29' in PA 172 deg from 4 Serpentis.  If 
you don't have a 20" or larger telescope try using a hood and averted vision 
while waiting for moments of good seeing.  Don't forget that lightly tapping 
the telescope will help bring out the brighter stars.  It probably won't have 
the characteristics of a globular, but a few faint stars, that come and go, 
should be good enough.  After this gem the incomparable M 5 awaits.  There 
shouldn't be a problem locating and observing.  If it is visible in your 
finder, please include that in your comments.  After these two globular 
clusters it is all galaxies and we begin with the barred spiral NGC5921.  At 
mag 10.8 can you discern the bar, even if it is an elongated, slightly brighter 
middle?  Next, slew on over to NGC5957.  This 11.7 mag galaxy has an NGC 
designation of cometary.  Do you agree?  The next hop is to NGC5962, an 11.3 
mag late type spiral galaxy.  Slewing north about 4 deg and a little to the 
west is NGC5970; a mag 11.5 late type barred spiral galaxy.  Be careful not to 
let the 7th mag stars interfere with your observation.  The last two galaxies 
are close to the eastern edge of this part of the constellation.  Start with 
NGC6070, an 11.8 mag that is joined by some pretty faint galaxies; but about 
all we will see is the elongation.  NGC6118 is the last, at magnitude 11.7.  It 
is the more elongated of the last two and, perhaps, has the lowest surface 
brightness.  So don't expect much.

 

That's it, enough of a roll.  Let's have some fun observing.



Clear skies,

aj

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