[sac-forum] Call for Observations - again

  • From: "AJ Crayon" <acrayon@xxxxxxx>
  • To: "SAC Forum" <sac-forum@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Wed, 20 Apr 2011 11:23:08 -0700

This is a second call for observations in Ursa Major west of 11 hours Right 
Ascension.  So far only two have been sent - Charlie Whiting and Rick Rotramel. 
 A number of my observations have been added but I'd  really, really like for 
more to be turned in by SAC observers.

Not sure when our new, esteemed, editor wants the observations, me suspects 
middle of next week.  So we have some time but let's not tarry around and 
overlook this opportunity.

AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: AJ Crayon 
To: SAC Forum 
Sent: Monday, April 18, 2011 10:59 AM
Subject: [sac-forum] Call for Observations


This call is for the objects that are west of 11hrs Right Ascension, the lists 
of which follows.  But you need to know that observations sent a few weeks ago 
were lost.  This includes, if memory serves me correctly, Charlie Whiting, Dick 
Harshaw and Rick Rotramel.  So, could you 3 gentlemen re-send your observations.

Here's the list for the upcoming installment.

For a re-beginning the first constellation will be Ursa Major but we will 
confine our observations to the west of 11 hours Right Ascension.  Naturally 
this means we will be looking at galaxies, galaxies and more galaxies so get 
ready.  The selections seem to be in 2 major areas and we will start with the 
more southerly one.  That means the very first is NGC3184 a pretty bright 
barred spiral near the Leo Minor border.  Can you see the attached star in the 
northern part of the spiral arms and the 2 very faint HII regions connected on 
the west side?  These 2 regions are labeled NGC3180/81.  A little more to the 
north is NGC3198 another barred spiral but is elongated rather than face-on.  
Can you see any bar structure for these 2 galaxies.  Also, can you see the 
double star just off the northern edge pf 3198?  If so estimate magnitudes, 
position angle and separation.  Now, moving to a more northerly position find 
NGC2639 towards the southwest corner of the constellation.  It is bright 
elongated and has a brighter middle.  So what other identifying feature do you 
see?  Next is the barred spiral NGC2787 found a little more than 3° west of 
M81.  What about the several faint stars involved and near-by?  While at it 
what is it about the bar?  Now for Coddington’s Nebula, named after Edwin 
Coddington and is IC 2574 listed as faint, large and irregular.  Keep in mind 
that Coddington also discovered 1 comet and 3 asteroids.  Now, moving closer to 
the 11h limit is NGC3310 found up near the bowl of Big Dipper.  This is a 
peculiar barred spiral.  What seems peculiar to your eye?  Our final selection, 
near the west edge of the bowl is NGC3488 and isn’t very bright but a little 
elongated.  In his 72” telescope Lord Rosse called it considerably bright.  OK 
we don’t have a 72” telescope but out optics are far superior, so would you 
call it considerable bright.  Finally amongst the selected galaxies NGC3184, 
NGC3198, NGC2787 and NGC3310 are Herschel 400 objects.  So if you haven’t 
started the Herschel 400, now is a good time to start.


AJ Crayon
Phoenix, AZ

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