[sac-forum] Re: Call for Observations
- From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
- To: <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 6 Aug 2010 11:23:27 -0700
David et al, normally I like observations to be submitted about a week or more
before the meeting. Normally there is a week between new moon weekend and the
meeting but that is not the case for August as the DOTM weekend (13/14) is the
week before our meeting (20). Trying to follow that schedule isn't clear
because I don't know what the production schedule is for the NL.
Rick, can you tell me what the plans are for the NL? Knowing this tidbit of
information would help answer David's question.
AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ
----- Original Message -----
From: David Hofland
To: sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Friday, August 06, 2010 8:24 AM
Subject: [sac-forum] Re: Call for Observations
Here in Alabama its been pretty humid and mucky for the past month but we're
expecting some "clear" skies perhaps as early as Sunday night and hopefully
through Tuesday or even Wednesday night, nice timing since the moon will be
new. Of course even eastern Virgo is getting a bit west for me after midnight
when the glare of neighboring porch lights goes away. If the transparency
really does turn out to be good and I can get some new observations I'll send
them of course, if not I'll dust off some old ones. When do you need them by
to make the publication?
David Hofland
Director, Student Services - BSN
hofland@xxxxxxx
256-782-5276
----- Original Message -----
From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
To: "SAC Forum" <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, August 6, 2010 12:50:40 AM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: [sac-forum] Call for Observations
Here's the list for this and next month. Hopefully we can get some new
observations for the next column but, if not, then use some from days gone by.
It is rather surprising to me that Virgo has only been done once in this
series of observing sessions. This means, naturally, time for a second pass.
Because of the rather late time of year for this constellation, our selections
will remain in the easterly region. We begin in the east or northeast part of
the constellation with NGC5566 a barred galaxy with ring. The dimensions
indicate an elongated galaxy, but the NGC description doesn’t follow up on
this. What do you see here? Note there are two other galaxies in the field,
but they are fainter than 12th mag. Going a little further east and about
one-degree south is the elliptical galaxy NGC5576. Its E2 class would indicate
very little elongation. In addition to this note there are two other galaxies
in the field, but like out last object, there are fainter than 12th mag. Our
next object will be somewhat of a surprise. Our slew takes us on a more
southerly route to NGC5634 a globular cluster! What sort of resolution do you
see? Moving more to the northeast is barred galaxy NGC5746. It is located
just 20’ west of northwest from 109 Virginis. Although it is elongated can you
detect central condensation or brightening. Also in the field of view is
NGC5740, another galaxy listed as mag 11.9. Inching more eastward, near the
Serpens Caput border, is NGC5846. This is another elliptical galaxy that
should appear round to you eye. Is it? Beware here, our last object NGC5850
is in the same field of view and it is up to you to identify which is which.
Making this a more challenging project is the fact that there are other
galaxies in the same field and near-by. You will not find a count of the
galaxies here, it is up to you to determine the count and what you see in your
telescope. Report your observations giving angle and distance of all from
either of the two last ones on this list. Another note about which the reader
and observer should be aware. All but the last are on the Herschel 400 list.
Even if you have already observed these, go out and do so again and don’t
compare notes until after you have re-observed. What do you find of interest?
After completing these observations, take a few minutes and look towards the
east. What do you see?
Now for the following month we have a new comer – Serpens also called Serpens
Cauda, which I sometimes call Serpens to the east as in east of Ophiuchus.
After that brief introduction we will look for numerous stellar collections and
will start with Ru 135 located at 17 58.0 -11 39. It doesn’t have a magnitude
but is listed as 11’ with 20 stars of similar brightness. Second is NGC6535 a
class XI globular cluster and its 9.3 mag and 1.3’ should be easy to spot.
Swinging much farther south is 6th mag NGC6605 with stars from 10th to 12th
mag. Did you find it? Now we move on to the choice of choices objects for
this month – M16! Need more be said about this? Yes, describe the stars and
nebulosity in your field of view and try some filters to see the results. Now
we will try a dark nebula - LDN 564. While dark nebula don’t have magnitudes
its size is listed as 45’X15’. Have a look and see what you think. Coming
down to the final two is IC4756 an open cluster. It has about 80 stars from
mag 8.7 on down in 39’. Our final one, another open cluster, comes from our
good friend in Flagstaff - Archinal 1, located at 18 54.7 +05 33. It is about
4° west of IC4756, is 1.5’ and has 24 stars from mag 13.4. It won’t be very
easy to spot. Can’t you just see Brent grinning from ear to ear?
AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ
Other related posts:
