[AZ-Observing] Hicksons and Pals, Part Deux
- From: BillFerris@xxxxxxx
- To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sat, 27 May 2006 14:03:19 EDT
I accidently sent the earlier email without including my notes and links for
the following Hickson compact galaxy clusters:
Hickson 70: _http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson70.html_
(http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson70.html)
Hickson 70 resides in far eastern Canes Venatici. The magnificent M3 can be
found just 7 degrees to the southwest. But this cluster presents more
challenging fare. My sketch combines 199X and 272X views in the 18-inch
Obsession.
Seven member galaxies in this tightly-packed cluster are visible. Hickson 70A
is cataloged as UGC 8990 (=MCG +06-31-59, PGC 50139) and is often
misidentified as IC 4371. The 16.1(B) magnitude galaxy resides at 14 hrs., 04
min., 10
sec,; +33 deg., 20.3 minutes and is nearly centered in my sketch. It features
a stellar core and covers a 0'.7 by 0'.3 area. Hickson 70D (=IC 4370, MCG
+06-31-60) appears as a tiny, 16th magnitude smudge along the northern edge of
Hickson 70A. About 2' to the south, Hickson 70B (=IC 4371, MCG +06-31-61, PGC
50140) displays a stellar core embedded within a 0'.5 by 0'.3 oval glow. 11.0
magnitude SAO 63918 simmers another 2'.3 to the south. The thin sliver of
light 2' to the east of Hickson 70B is MCG +06-31-064. This 16.2(B) magnitude
galaxy covers a 0'.5 by 0'.2 area and is aligned northeast to southwest. Three
galaxies are grouped to the southwest of Hickson 70A. These include 16.2(B)
magnitude Hickson 70E (=IC 4369, MCG +06-31-58, PGC 50134), 17.3(B) magnitude
Hickson 70F (=MCG +06-31-57, PGC 50133), and 17.4 magnitude 2MASX
J14040011+3319540. Hicksons 70E and 70F are very close to each other and just
1'.3
southwest of Hickson 70A. High magnification was needed to consistently
separate
the two.
Hickson 72: _http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson72.html_
(http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson72.html)
My observation records four members of this quintet. They form a neat line
just 1'.6 west of the 13th magnitude GSC star at the center of the field.
Hickson 72A is northernmost in the string. This 16.1(B) magnitude S0-type
galaxy
is also cataloged as MCG +03-38-17 (=PGC 52844). A faint star simmers about an
arcminute to the northwest. An equal distance to the southeast, Hickson 72B
(=MCG +03-38-21) and 72D (=MCG +03-38-20, PGC 52848) are seen. Separating
them requires high power (272X) in the 18-inch. 16.1(B) magnitude Hickson 72B
is
the more northern of this pair. Similarly bright Hickson 72D lies
immediately to the south. This duo lies 1'.6 due west of the 13th magnitude
star at the
center of my drawing. Finally, 15.8(B) magnitude Hickson 72C (=MCG
+03-38-22, PGC 52851) is seen at the southeast end of this string. Tiny, 18th
magnitude Hickson 72E is not visible. The four that are appear as tiny
circular
stains upon the sky. Hickson 72 is also cataloged as Arp 328.
Hickson 80: _http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson80.html_
(http://members.aol.com/billferris/hickson80.html)
The four-pack of faint galaxies in my sketch comprise the compact galaxy
cluster, Hickson 80. A pair of 14th magnitude stars stand separated by just 30"
near the center of the field. Hickson 80A and 80B, paired to the north, appear
to mirror that stellar duo. Hickson 80A is the 15.7(B) magnitude sliver
covering a 0'.8 by 0'.2 area and aligned roughly north-south. It is cataloged
as
2MASX J15591912+6513579, according to the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database
(NED). Hickson 80B (=PGC 56590) is the tiny, 16.4(B) magnitude smudge just 30"
to the south. Hickson 80C lies an arcminute due west of 80A. It is a 16.1(B)
magnitude galaxy cataloged as PGC 56572. The most challenging member of the
quartet is 16.8(B) magnitude Hickson 80D. This faint little stinker resides
50" southeast of Hickson 80C and is only visible with averted vision. You'll
find this collection banished to the far northern reaches of the heavens, in
Draco.
Regards,
Bill in Flagstaff
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