As I exited the garage to head around the corner to where I always set up the scope (and I noticed this the previous evening), I felt my sensitivity to the cold was more pronounced than it was a month ago. The only thing that has changed was having had my first COVID vaccination two days prior. The whole time I was out this second evening it seemed I was chilled, and even my hands were cold though I wore gloves about 95% of the time. The wind was particularly biting to me this evening. I don’t know if there is any basis in fact for this, but just something I noticed.
Regardless of the cold and general feeling of fatigue that was a carryover from the previous day, I carried on with my observing. My intent was to hit three galaxy clusters in Lynx as well as a galaxy group, and then see where my wanders took me. In the end, I spent just over two hours out before cold and fatigue got the better of me. Clouds were present from time to time, but not to the same extent as the previous evening.
I would only spend time in one of the galaxy clusters, which was not excessively elevated, allowing me to keep my feet on the ground. The other planned targets were high enough that I would have had to utilize the step stool to reach the eyepiece and I simply did not wish to expend the extra energy to constantly go up and down to make notes. Hopefully I can hit them again another evening by starting a bit later in order for them to move away from the zenith more. Simply put, I just felt a general sense of tiredness, so I tried to make my efforts easier in order to be more productive. So let’s get cracking and see what happened in another short but sweet session.
(Equipment used)
17.5 inch
Ethos 21mm (94x, 1.1° TFOV, 4.7mm exit pupil)
Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm exit pupil)
XW 10mm (199x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm exit pupil)
XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm exit pupil)
(Treasure found)
Abell 779 (Lynx, galaxy cluster, size=50.4’, number of galaxies=32):
Aiming the scope at mag 3.1 Alpha Lyncis, I slipped about 40’ SSW to the field for this galaxy cluster. About four years ago I observed the first two objects below about four years ago with the 12 inch from our typical suburban backyard. Now it was time to return to the field with the 17.5 inch from dark skies and dig deeper into this cluster.
Quickly finding the field in the
Staying at 152x I noticed a very dim thin sliver of diffuse light immediate southwest of the central pair. It was quite diffuse and even at 199x it remained homogenous. (New)
About 4’ southeast of the central pair I pinned down another pretty dim glow. Round in shape it remained a homogenous dust bunny even at 199x. (New)
Almost 8’ to the southeast of the previous galaxy, I pinned down this dim and small round puff of light. Like most of the galaxies, while dim it was not difficult to see and even at 199x remained homogenous to the eye. (New)
Returning to the central pair, I nudged west and about 5’ out I noticed this small and dim oval glow. Evenly illuminated across its disk, it remained dim but easily seen at 199x. (New)
About 7’ to the south of the previous object I located this very thin sliver of light. With 152x it was a diffuse finger, with no internal brightness noticed. At 199x it was easily seen but remained homogenous. (New)
LEDA 139185 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=15.1, size=0.7’x0.5’, SBr=13.6):
Just 3’ NNE of
Also catalogued as
Over 3’ east of
Just under 5.5’ to the ENE of the previous galaxy I picked up another dim dust bunny. Homogenous in appearance, it still was not exceedingly difficult to discern in the dark sky. Oval in shape it was of similar appearance to the previous two. (New)
Just over 9.5’ northwest of
MCG +6-21-6 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=14.8, size=0.7’x0.6’, SBr=13.6):
Moving to the western side of the cluster field, almost 13’ to the southwest of the previous galaxy, I studied the field for a pair of galaxies just over 2’ apart. The easternmost was this very dim and small rounded mote. Viewing up to 283x it was only an intermittent presence in the field. Never held steadily, rather drifting in and out of view. (New)
MCG +6-21-4 (Lynx, spiral galaxy, mag=14.5, size=0.7’x0.6’, SBr=13.3):
Immediately to the west of the previous object and in the same field of view, this small rounded dust bunny looked almost like its twin. It would also not stay visible 100% of the time, but did drift in and out of view repeatedly. Both were very threshold and very tough. (New)
I spent over half an hour in the field of this galaxy cluster ferreting out some of its member star islands. So I took a momentary break before heading into Leo to take another look at
I revisited this bright and large galaxy for the second evening in a row. Conditions were a little better this evening, and it showed with this galaxy. Its delicate spiral structure was more apparent, and the bright HII region,
Moving on, just over a third of the way from Mu to Zeta Leonis in the head, I swept up this small but somewhat bright thin sliver using 94x. Trying both 152x and 199x, it was small but quite easily seen. Within its slender envelope lay a stellar core was readily apparent. (New)
UGC 5420 (Leo, lenticular galaxy, mag=13.5, size=1.0’x0.7’, SBr=13.0):
About 2.5° SSE of the previous object I located this small lenticular at a small and dim rounded glow. Viewing with 152x and 199x, it remained small and easier to see, while a stellar core made its presence known. (New)
MCG +4-24-11 (Leo, spiral galaxy, mag=15.0, size=0.5’x0.1’, SBr=11.5):
Just over half a degree west of the last object I picked up the next one. At 94x it was a small rounded puff of dim homogenous light. Trying at 152x it remained weak but still easily seen. At times I caught a hint of slight elongation to the galaxy’s disk as if some more of its envelope was being picked up. At 199x and 283x, there was definitely some very faint extension to the galaxy disk showing. As I found out after the fact, this little bit of extension was in fact a second galaxy in contact with
About 1.5° northeast of Mu Leonis, I located this very small rounded glow with 94x. It presented dim and small rounded homogenous glow just east of a field star. At 152x it was more obvious and easily seen though it remained diffuse. Using 199x I caught flashes of an intermittent stellar core popping in and out. (New)
Just over 2° NNW of the last object I located this little out of round glow nestled between two field stars (9th and 10th mag). Generally dim to the eye, the two stars framing it were slightly distracting. Pushing up to 152x and 199x, a stellar core was revealed in the center of its disk. Though it remained slightly dim, it was obvious within the field. (New)
Moving south of the lion’s head and about 3° east of
About 7.5’ northeast of the previous object and in the same
UGC 5470 (Leo, dwarf spheroidal galaxy, mag=10.2, size=10.7’x8.3’, SBr=14.8):
This member of the Local Group of Galaxies, known as Leo I, is a notoriously challenging object, due to its proximity to Regulus and its low surface brightness. One has to be cautious of glaring and light scatter from the star. Playing with magnification (94x to 283x) to try and keep Regulus out of the field I studied the area just north of the bright star and northwest of a hook of five stars (10th and 12th mag). Letting my eye relax, alternating between direct and averted vision and employing my Orion Sky Glow filter to give a subtle contract boost, I finally picked up its presence. At best it was only a very subtle largish oval of soft light. Always tenuous, it was nonetheless seen clearly multiple times. (New)
When I initially began studying the area north of Regulus for Leo I, I encountered a smaller dim oval glow that I mistakenly thought might be my target. But looking at the surrounding star field I realized that it was in the wrong spot for Leo I. So I inadvertently came across this little spiral. Observed at 152x to 283x, it presented a small and dim homogenous oval. It remained a weak player in the field. (New)
Nearly 2° northwest of Regulus I corralled this lenticular with 94x. It presented a very small round dim disk that was evenly illuminated. It was positioned next to a bright 7th mag field star. Viewed with both 152x and 199x it was obvious but remained small and homogeneous. Initially I thought this one was not in my log, but I found that I had indeed observed it almost two years ago with the 12 inch from our suburban backyard.
Just over 1° to the southwest of the last object I found my next one. Initially at 94x I was uncertain if I was catching momentary glimpses of this spiral or not so I moved on to 152x. I know had a more certain suspicion that it was in the field, though it remained a weak intermittent homogenous mote. Using 199x its presence was confirmed as a small round disk. Trying at 283x it was easier but still remained weak within the field. (New)
Almost 4.5’ southwest of
I nudged southwest to mag 5.3 Nu Leonis, then 2° south to find my next target. Easily spotted with 94x it was a small oval that was slightly dim to the eye, and contained a stellar core in its center. Viewed at both 152x and 199x it stood out well in the field. Its halo remained diffuse, with the stellar core sparkling through. (New)
My final object for this outing was located about half a degree WNW of the previous object. Studying the field, it was unseen at 94x. Then at 152x it was weakly confirmed, as a very dim round mote. Using 199x it was easier, but still weak, and revealed a stellar core within its envelope. Interestingly I found later that another galaxy,
For the last several minutes I was looking for a jumping off point as I was getting tired of the cold and general fatigue was taking its toll on me. I could tell my ability to focus my mind to the task at hand was also suffering. So about 2200 hours I said enough was enough and brought my gear back into the garage and headed in for the blessed warmth of the house and company of my beloved. Thanks for following along, and hope to see you back out there soon.
