Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

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Arctic
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Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#1

Post by Arctic »


I think I must have been in one of the few smoke-free areas in the entire US last night, as the night was exceptionally transparent and dark. There were no new H2 objects for me to bag during the evening, so I turned my attention to the galaxy/blazar UGC 10599/Markarian 501 in Hercules. I had printed off a finder chart from the April 2019 article Bob King had written in Sky and Telescope on quasars visible in smallish telescopes and set out star-hopping with the 8-inch.

It didn't take me long to find the field, and Markarian 501 was actually easier to see than I had predicted, visible at mags ranging from 83x to 227x as a stellar point in a circular parch of "nebulosity" using ES 68* and 82* series eyepieces. Being an object that varies in brightness from mag 13.6 to 14.5, I suspect it was at the brighter end of that range. An object being that "bright", despite its distance of 456 million light years, gives you an idea of just how much energy is being emitted. Markarian 501 is actually a blazar and powerful source of gamma rays. The extremely active nucleus of the galaxy likely results from matter being pulled into a black hole, and the resulting jet faces directly toward Earth.

Bortle 3 sky and very good seeing. Way cool.
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#2

Post by Shabadoo »


Way cool!
Nice report.
Jeff
Dad Joke King (ask my kids); Cereal killer
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#3

Post by kt4hx »


Very nice Gordon. Though I have observed over 150 galaxies in Hercules, I have not targeted this one. Something to do at some point. Thanks for an interesting observation and target.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
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"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#4

Post by John Baars »


Very nice report.
Never seen this one.
Thanks!
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#5

Post by Arctic »


kt4hx wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:16 pm Very nice Gordon. Though I have observed over 150 galaxies in Hercules, I have not targeted this one. Something to do at some point. Thanks for an interesting observation and target.
Should be easy with your light bucket lol
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#6

Post by kt4hx »


Arctic wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:03 am
kt4hx wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2020 9:16 pm Very nice Gordon. Though I have observed over 150 galaxies in Hercules, I have not targeted this one. Something to do at some point. Thanks for an interesting observation and target.
Should be easy with your light bucket lol
Yeah, I don't anticipate it presenting much of a problem honestly. I should be able to check it out Saturday night (19th) as we are planning to head over to the dark site house for three nights. Transparency is forecast to be excellent during the period though of course forecasts have been known to turn on a dime. Also will be chilly, with lows in the lower 40s to mid 30s. So will have to dress heavier than I have in several months. With the elevation of over 2700 feet, it cools quickly once the Sun heads down. :)
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#7

Post by terrynak »


Wonderful observing Gordon!
Scopes: Reflectors, refractors, and 1 catadioptric. Ranging in aperture from 50mm to 150mm.
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#8

Post by Peter802 »


Great observing report Gordon.
Thank you for the share.
Clear Skies.
Regards,

Peter
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#9

Post by Arctic »


kt4hx wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:04 am Transparency is forecast to be excellent during the period though of course forecasts have been known to turn on a dime. Also will be chilly, with lows in the lower 40s to mid 30s. So will have to dress heavier than I have in several months. With the elevation of over 2700 feet, it cools quickly once the Sun heads down. :)
Cool weather is already a reality up here. Several frosts and freezes over the last couple of weeks. 25 F yesterday morn lol.
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#10

Post by kt4hx »


Arctic wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 2:11 pm
kt4hx wrote: Sat Sep 19, 2020 4:04 am Transparency is forecast to be excellent during the period though of course forecasts have been known to turn on a dime. Also will be chilly, with lows in the lower 40s to mid 30s. So will have to dress heavier than I have in several months. With the elevation of over 2700 feet, it cools quickly once the Sun heads down. :)
Cool weather is already a reality up here. Several frosts and freezes over the last couple of weeks. 25 F yesterday morn lol.
Not surprised in the great white north! :) Coolest we've had here this fall thus far. Anyway, I did see your Blazar last night. What I saw pretty much matches what you described, a bright stellar core centered on a small diffuse rounded glow. Not overly bright even in the 17.5 inch, but still easily seen. While conditions were good, I've seen better here. Seeing was a tad compromised and there was a bit of moisture in the air and dew became an issue eventually. The MW was bright and well structured, but it seemed a tad muted to the eye.

We arrived later than originally hoped for last night so I didn't even get the gear out until around 2130. Since I was in a bit of a rush and fatigued from the four hour trip, I wasn't as prepared when I did go out. But I have the luxury of time today and tomorrow. Hope your conditions hold up there.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#11

Post by Arctic »


Smoky skies now lol
Gordon
Scopes: Meade LX10 8" SCT, Explore Scientific AR102 Refractor on ES Twilight 1 Mount, Oberwerks 15X70 Binos, Nikon Action Extreme 10X50 Binos.
Eyepieces: ES 68* 24mm, ES 68* 20mm, ES 82* 11mm, ES 82* 8.8mm
Observing: Messier Objects--110/110, H1 Objects-- 400/400. Hundreds of additional NGC Objects. Significant Comets: Kohoutek, West, Halley, Hyakatake, Hale-Bopp, McNair, Neowise. Transits of Mercury and Venus.
2017 Total Solar Eclipse
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#12

Post by kt4hx »


Yeah, I hear a lot of folks have that problem nowadays! Looking good here as of the moment. My first target tonight is likely to be the mag 14.3 (depending on source) Type Ia supernova in the lenticular NGC 7722 (nag 12.4) in Pegasus. Should not be too difficult depending upon the brightness of the core and its separation from it.
Alan

Scopes: Astro Sky 17.5 f/4.5 Dob || Apertura AD12 f/5 Dob || Zhumell Z10 f/4.9 Dob ||
ES AR127 f/6.5 || ES ED80 f/6 || Apertura 6" f/5 Newtonian
Mounts: ES Twilight-II and Twilight-I
EPs: AT 82° 28mm UWA || TV Ethos 100° 21mm and 13mm || Vixen LVW 65° 22mm ||
ES 82° 18mm || Pentax XW 70° 10mm, 7mm and 5mm || barlows
Filters (2 inch): DGM NPB || Orion Ultra Block, O-III and Sky Glow || Baader HaB
Primary Field Atlases: Uranometria All-Sky Edition and Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Astronomers, we look into the past to see our future." (me)
"Seeing is in some respect an art, which must be learnt." (William Herschel)
"What we know is a drop, what we don't know is an ocean." (Sir Isaac Newton)
"No good deed goes unpunished." (various)
Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don't you think?” (Scarecrow, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#13

Post by helicon »


Nice catches Gordon, particularly of the Blazar. Excellent observing, sir!
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: Markarian 501 Blazar in Hercules.

#14

Post by Bigzmey »


Nice catch Gordon!
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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