Anyway, I went out around 2000 hours and while waiting for astronomical darkness (at 2010), I located Neptune using the Pentax 10x50 binoculars. It of course was a stellar object in the binoculars, but it shined brightly at mag 7.8. and was easily identified by its position which I had plotted for 2000 hrs in Sky Tools 3.0. As is typical below is the equipment utilized for this outing:
17.5 inch
TV Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm
Pentax XW 10mm (198x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm
Pentax XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm
References utilized were the Interstellarum Deep Sky Atlas (IDSA) and Uranometria All-Sky Atlas, as well as various specialized charts/images which I had printed out previously. I also took the following
2000 hrs = 21.12
2122 hrs = 21.24
2200 hrs = 21.28
2300 hrs = 21.41
0030 hrs = 21.30
Anyway, let's get started shall we? My first object for this evening was the northern challenge object for October,
Easily spotting M31 with the naked eye, I quickly aimed the scope using the Rigel Quikfinder unity finder and quickly studied the larger field through the 8x50
It was extremely bright and large, stretching about halfway across the field of view in its major axis. Overall it was quite diffuse in appearance, and its core was a subtle broadly bright presence within the galactic disk. Studying it further at 152x and 198x, its light seemed to be fleetingly uneven at times, perhaps indicative of its elusive dark lanes, but could not confirm this to be the case.
G73 (Andromeda, globular cluster in M110, mag=14.9):
I next targeted the brightest globular cluster in M110 (G73), utilizing an image plotting its position about 6’ east of the galaxy’s core. Orienting myself to the field utilizing the image, I thought I caught a brief glimpse of a stellar point at the correction position at 110x and went up to 152x. I then could hold the object steadily though it changed in intensity as the seeing shifted. Using 198x it was easier as a steady yet dim (mag 14.9) stellar point at the correct position almost 1’ SSW of a mag 12.66 field star. (New)
I next moved over into western Aquarius to being my galaxy hunting for the evening. About 4.5° northeast of Delta Capricorni I located my first object. Swept up with 110x it presented a small and slightly bright homogeneous oval. Viewed with 198x it was obvious within the field. (New)
In the same
PGC 67698 (Capricornus, lenticular, mag=14.5, size=0.6’x0.3’, SBr=12.5):
Just over the border into the celestial sea-goat, I picked up this object, which is mis-identified as
Anyway, picked up at 110x as a very dim and very small oval mote. Looking at 198x the tiny homogenous oval was seen next to a very dim 15th mag field star just off its eastern end. (New)
Working my way in the direction of the southern challenge object for October, I swept up this galaxy using 110x. It appeared as a small but somewhat bright homogeneous oval. Looking with 198x it was easy and bright dominating the
After chasing a few galaxies in western Aquarius I broke off to pay a return visit to the southern challenge object for this month. Hopping down to 47 Aquarii, I swept ENE toward Upsilon Aquarii and easily picked up the famous “Helix Nebula” in the 8x50
Aiming the scope I easily saw a large out of round and very bright glow at 110x without a filter. Its annular appearance was easily spotted and brighter areas along the northeastern and southwestern edges of the rim. The western end of the annulus appeared weak and the because of this the nebula put me in the mind of a horseshoe with the weaker western edge being the opening. I tried the O-III filter as well but didn’t find any substantial difference from the NPB because of its good responsiveness in the O-III range.
The mag 13.5 was very obvious and there were upwards of a dozen stars imposed upon the disk when viewed without a filter. I viewed it from 110x to 283x both with and without filters. It was nice with no filter, but using either th NPB or O-III made it pop better to the eye.
Continuing on with me Aquarius galaxy hunt, I picked up this galaxy, also listed as
This elliptical was easily spotted at 110x as a slightly bright small round glow. It displayed a very small concentrated non-stellar core. Using 198x the core now appeared stellar, while the galaxy was slightly out of round and small. (New)
About 48’ southwest of the previous galaxy I picked up my next one. At 110x I found it slightly dim and small, oval in shape and diffuse in appearance. Taking a peek at 198x it remained small but much stronger in the
In the same
Nearly 1° southwest of the previous pair I swept up this small lenticular. It presented as a dim homogeneous oval at 110x. Using 198x it remained a little weak visually, but still easily seen. (New)
O’Neal 14 (Aquarius,
I noted in the IDSA this
Back to the galaxy hunt, I easily spotted this small and pretty bright slightly oval glow. At 110x it displayed an intermittent stellar core. Using 198x it was quite obvious to the eye and larger as more of your fainter extensions became visible. The stellar core continued to pop in and out as seeing shifted. (New)
Another easy one at 110x as a small oval that appeared homogeneous. Using 198x it was obvious in the field and remained a diffuse, fairly bright oval. (New)
Picked up at 110x this lenticular presented a small and slightly dim diffuse oval. It formed a triangle with two 11th mag field stars to its northeast and southeast. With 198x it remained a little weak in the field, and displayed an intermittent stellar core. (New)
Picked up at 110x it was a small and slightly bright oval just north of a 9th mag field star. An intermittent stellar core was pinned to its center. Viewing at 198x it was an obvious presence in the field, as a small oval that now had a steady stellar core at its heart. (New)
This galaxy appeared small and dim at 110x, and evenly illuminated. Using 198x it was easier but remained a small homogeneous oval. (New)
Picked up at 110x, it was a pretty dim small rounded dust mote. At 198x while easier to discern, it remained pretty weak visually and homogeneous to the eye. (New)
Though found at 110x, it was small and pretty dim. Even at 198x it remained weak and homogeneous to the eye. (New)
Small and diffuse at 110x, it presented as slightly bright to the eye and round in shape. Visually a little larger at 198x it was obvious in the field, and evenly illuminated. (New)
Moving across the border into Pisces now, I picked up this spiral which was the brightest of a small grouping of galaxies within a 10’ field. Observed at 152x 198x and 283x it was a homogeneous oval, small in size. (New)
About 9’ northeast of the previous object I spotted this decidedly dimmer and small homogeneous oval. Like all members of this group it was observed at 152x to 283x and changed little other than becoming a little more obvious. (New)
Next up was this even dimmer dust mote about 4’ south of
This very small dust bunny was spotted about 3’ east of
This weak homogeneous oval was picked up about 17.5’ northeast of the previous small galaxy grouping at 198x after nudging to its field. Overall it was dim and small, oval in shape and evenly illuminated across its envelope. (New)
I now decided to shift over to eastern Pisces a bit. I stopped by this sometimes challenging
Now moving to the host of a currently active supernova, the galaxy was slightly large and bright at 110x. Oval in shape and generally homogeneous, the supernova was easily spotted ENE of the galaxy center. I viewed the galaxy at both 152x and 198x and it was quite obvious, dominating the view. (New)
SN 2020uxz (Pisces, SN in
As mentioned above, the supernova was easily spotted about 46” ENE of the galaxy center at 110x though shifts in seeing caused it to dim and brighten periodically. At 152x and 198x its diamond sparkle was steady and obvious within the disk. (New)
Next up was this very small and dim dust mote noted at 110x. Viewing with 152x it was a small homogeneous oval. (New)
At 110x this highly inclined spiral presented a slightly bright thin sliver. There seemed to be a couple of foreground stars involved with its disk. Then at 152x and 198x these dim stars (16th mag) were more apparent though still quite dim. Still small and obvious as a flattened oval with a stellar core. (New)
Nearby was this previously observed object so I took a quick gander before moving on to my next target. At 110x it was pretty bright and slightly large. Round it shape it contained a broadly brighter core within a diffuse halo. This is the dominant galaxy of loose collection of galaxies known as the
A few minutes north of
As with the previous object, this too was missed during that earlier session at home when
Observed at 152x and 198x it presented a small and pretty dim homogeneous oval. (New)
This one pretty much mirrored the appearance of
Next up in this group was this previously observed member. Seen at 152x and 198x it presented a small and just subtly bright round glow that displayed a stellar core.
Small and a little bright at 152x and 198x, the next member of the group appeared as a squat oval that was generally homogeneous to the eye. (New)
This one was a very dim, small and homogeneous oval at both 152x and 198x. There was a dim foreground star involved at the southern edge of its disk. Overall it was the weakest of the group. (New)
In keeping with the general theme of the galaxy group, this spiral presented a small and dim homogeneous oval, though more flattened than most. It was likewise observed at both 152x and 198x. (New)
I had noticed that for whatever reason I had not previously targeted this nearby (~11.1 MLY) member of the Sculptor group of galaxies. So moving into Cetus, at 110x it was easy and quite large in extent. It appeared very diffuse in nature and generally homogeneous. A bright mag 9.5 field star was at its southern tip. Viewed at 152x it was very large and very bright and extremely diffuse and dusty looking. Its core was subtly and broadly brighter in the major axis. Having the darker skies most definitely helped with this eerie and ghostly object. (New)
Observing with just 152x (Ethos 13mm) this galaxy presented a small but slightly bright round homogeneous glow. (New)
Viewed at 152x this was a dim and small rounded glow. Generally homogeneous, a 15th mag field star was noted just off its northern edge. (New)
Picked up at 152x and also observed at 198x this small oval appeared slightly dim to the eye and oval in shape. It sported a stellar core at its center. (New)
This was discovered by William Herschel in 1784 and rediscovered by John Herschel in 1834 which was later listed as
Observed using 152x and 198x, it presented a small but somewhat bright round glow. Overall it was evenly illuminated across its disk. (New)
This lenticular appeared small and oval at both 152x and 198x. Dim to the eye it was generally homogeneous across its envelope. (New)
The result of a galactic collision, this polar ring galaxy is found in Dr. Halton Arp’s Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies as number 230. Through the scope at 152x and 198x it was slightly bright, small and evenly illuminated. As expected, none of its unique structure was visible. (New)
This little oval was somewhat bright at 152x and evenly illuminated. At 198x it was very obvious in the field and remained homogeneous. (New)
Picked up at 152x this thick oval was small and homogeneous to the eye. It was subtly bright and obvious within the field at 198x. (New)
This ghostly planetary, known colloquially as the “Skull Nebula” has been observed a few times previously. Since it was nearby I dropped in for a quick look-see. At 152x it was a large and eerie out of round apparition. Its brighter ring around the edge was easily apparent and stood out nicely with the darker and unevenly illuminated central region. Four stars were involved within the disk, including the bright 12th magnitude central star. A perfect treat for the upcoming Halloween season!
Swept up at 152x it presented a somewhat bright out of round glow. Overall just slightly large in extent, It remained homogeneous even at 198x. (New)
Despite its similar attributes as compared to the previous object, I found this object obviously dimmer to the eye. Small and out of round, it also remained homogeneous at 152x and 198x. (New)
This galaxy was a small and little dim oval at 152x. Viewed at 198x it presented a small concentrated brighter core. (New)
Forming a pair with
Fairly bright at 152x, it presented a small oval with a broadly brighter core. It stood out well in the field at 198x with its obvious brighter core are inside its diffuse halo. (New)
This galaxy lies just ESE of previously viewed
This somewhat bright oval was swept up at 152x and presented a slightly large homogeneous glow. Viewed with 198x I detected a very fleeting stellar core and its overall appearance was diffuse. (New)
At 152x this galaxy appeared as a ghostly finger of even light. Overall it was a little bright and small, and remained homogeneous at 198x. (New)
Pretty bright at 152x this small round glow was obvious in the field. At 198x a stellar core was detected at its center. (New)
Viewed at both 152x and 198x this dim and small oval remained diffuse and evenly illuminated. (New)
Seen with 152x and 198x this lenticular was oval in shape and pretty bright to the eye. Overall is presentation was of a even glow with no hint of internal brightness. (New)
Just slightly large in angular extent, this finger of light was bright and elongated. At 198x I detected a central lens of brightness along the major axis, with a stellar core pinned to its center. (New)
At both 152x and 198x this small round glow was a little dim and homogeneous in appearance. (New)
Picked up at 152x as a small and round dim glow, it displayed a stellar core at 198x. (New)
This dim spiral forms a close pair with
In the same
Forms a pair with
Also known as
My final object has a history that is at a minimum, confusing. Based on William Herschel’s very rough positional calculations and observations later by Heinrich d’Arrest, it was generally accepted that
Nonetheless, I observed it at 152x and 198x and found it to be a small and somewhat dim round glow. It also exhibited a stellar core pinned to its center. (New)
I wrapped up the session after 0100 hours as things were really getting soppy wet and chilly. It was an excellent follow-on outing to my debacle the week before when I was frustrated by clouds during a period when it was supposed to be clear. So in the long run I left the field happy and successful, albeit a bit exhausted. Thanks for tagging along.