To settle in I would visit a previously observed cluster that is featured in the current edition of the
(Equipment Used)
17.5 inch
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)
XW 5mm (397x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.1mm exit pupil)
Orion O-III filter
Aiming the scope at Epsilon Persei (mag 2.9) I star hopped eastward to pick up firs 52 Per (mag 4.7) then 58 Per (mag 4.2) and then nudged north to find the mag 6.1 double star 57 Per (companion HD 28693 is mag 6.8). Nearly a degree NNW of this pair I could see the brightest stars of the cluster in the 8x50
Abell 426 (Perseus, galaxy cluster, # of members=500+, size=190.4’):
After allowing my eyes to adjust to the night environment and warming up my observing eye by re-visiting
I observed this galaxy about five years ago from our then
Just 5’ WSW of
Forming a triangle with the two main galaxies, just to their north, was this dimmer lenticular. At 152x it presented a dim and fairly small homogeneous rounded glow. Viewed at 199x a stellar core was detected within the center of the diffuse glow, which was more than likely attributed to a 9.4 mag field star imposed on its disk. It remained dim, but not difficult at all. (New)
Only 2.5’ east of the previous object and in the same
MCG 7-7-61 (Perseus, elliptical galaxy, mag=14.2, size=0.9’x0.6’, SBr=13.6):
Mislabeled as
About 3.5’ NNE of
Immediately SSE of the previous object and nearly in contact with it, this slightly bright thick oval was easily seen at 152x. It was clearly the brightest of the pair. An intermittent stellar core was noted, which became a steady presence at 199x. (New)
Just a few minutes NNE of the previous duo, I picked up this little elongated piece of light immediate adjacent to a 9th mag field star. The star was problematic at times initially at 152x the galaxy was fairly dim to the eye. I was able with study to tease out an intermittent stellar core. Easier at 199x the adjacent field star still caused some problems. Taking a look at 283x the stellar core was very obvious. (New)
Then about 9’ southeast of the main pair, I found another pair of galaxies. Brighter than its field mate, this elliptical was still slightly dim. A small oval at 152x with a stellar core was seen. At 199x, it was more obvious to the eye. (New)
Just 2’ north of the previous object I easily picked up this fairly small rounded glow at 152x. Dimmer than its partner, it was nonetheless an easy homogenous dust bunny. Then at 199x I picked up a stellar core pinned to the center of its small diffuse disk. (New)
Nearly 15.5’ east of NGCs 1282/1283, I spotted another galaxy duo. The northern of the pair was this small faint glow. At 152x it appeared round and evenly illuminated. Though dim, it was easily seen. It remained homogenous at 199x while 283x elicited a stellar core from its depths. (New)
Only 2’ SSE of the previous object and in the same
Just WSW of
In the same field with and west of the previous galaxy I noticed a north-south pair. The northern of the two was this spiral. At 152x it was dim and small, oval in shape and evenly illuminated. Its envelope remained homogeneous at 199x, and while clearly dimmer than
Immediately south of the previous galaxy, and in the same field, I noticed this dim glow with an obvious stellar core that made the disk slightly difficult at 152x. The core overpowered the galaxy’s halo, making it challenging to see well even at 199x and 283x. (New)
I used a small triangle of three 11th mag field stars about 12.5’ west of the previous galaxy to locate my next target. Just 5’ northeast of the stars I picked up this small and dim oval glow at 152x. A little difficult initially, at 199x it continued to display a dim ghostly appearance. Though small and still visually weak at 283x it was not difficult. (New)
Moving southwest of the triangle of stars I spotted a pair of galaxies using 152x. First was this lenticular, which presented a small and slightly dim (though obvious) homogeneous oval. It remained a smooth and even disk at 199x and 283x. (New)
In the same
Nudging slightly more to the southwest I encountered this slightly bright rounded homogeneous glow at 152x. Viewing with 199x a stellar core was glimpsed intermittently in the center of the disk. (New)
MCG 7-7-44 (Perseus, spiral galaxy, mag=13.7, size=1.3’x0.2’, SBr=12.1):
Just over 3’ northwest of the triangle of 11th mag stars, adjacent to a 10th mag star, I located this spiral. At 152x the galaxy was difficult visually as a slender diffuse glow next to the star. At 199x and 283x it a little more obvious but remained a weak homogeneous finger of diffuse light bothered by the presence of the star. On the Uranometria chart I was using, A4 (Perseus Galaxy Cluster), this galaxy is misidentified as
Next up was this lenticular, located 16’ southwest of the previous object. Found using 152x it presented a small and subtly dim smooth oval disk. With 199x, a stellar core came into play. (New)
Moving to the western edge of the cluster field I easily swept up this small and subtly dim rounded glow at 152x. It remained a smoothly even disk at 199x, and was obvious within the field. (New)
About 14’ SSW of the last object I located this small and dim homogenous rounded glow with 152x. Viewed at 199x it remained dim and even, but was not difficult. (New)
Moving back to the dominant pair of galaxies at the center I the cluster, I shifted northeast about 38’ to pull down this curious little object. Actually this is two spirals (PGCs 12576 & 12578) in the process of merging. However, the individual components were not resolved, only the collective light of the pair engaged in their tug of war. At 152x I noted a dim and small oval glow that was smoothly illuminated. Even at 199x and 283x it remained similar in appearance though slightly more obvious to the eye. (New)
At this point the field for the Perseus Cluster was gaining a lot of altitude and making scope movement more challenging. Also, because I now had to use a step stool (something I don’t particularly enjoy), I decided to break it off to pursue a few other things before bringing my evening to a close.
Now with Taurus up a little more, I decided to stop by this object, also in this month’s
After taking a break from galaxy hunting to enjoy
Swept up at 152x, this little round dust bunny was subtly bright and easy to find. Its smoothly even disk was obvious in the star field. It remained homogeneous at 199x and very obvious within the view. (New)
UGC 3554 (Auriga, barred spiral galaxy, mag=13.8, size=1.1’x0.6’, SBr=13.2):
Locating the field for this barred spiral, I caught only a suspicion of its presence at 152x. I was certain I was picking up a very small and very dim oval puff of light, but had to go to 199x to confirm this. Even at 283x it remained a weak visual target, diffuse and ghostly in appearance. (New)
I happened to be just north of this object while observing the previous galaxy and noticed the cluster in the optical finder. Though I’d observed it previously I decided to stop by for a moment. At 152x I found it a pretty cluster to the eye. It presented as a large round coarse scatter of stars, the majority of which seemed to be of similar brightness. While very well detached from the general field, it was not compressed, and I didn’t notice any clumps or knots of stars within. Overall it presented various loops and strings of stars within its field.
UGC 3596 (Auriga, lenticular galaxy, mag=12.8, size=1.1’x1.0’, SBr=12.8):
Moving on now, I found this galaxy southeast of
I move back north now, to the northwest of Menkalinan for my final galaxy in Auriga for this outing. Easily located using 152x, I found it slightly bright, small and oval in shape. At 199x it remained homogeneous to the eye and obvious within the field. (New)
For some reason I turned to IDSA chart 36 looking to see if there were any brighter galaxies in southern Auriga. Instead I noticed this one just inside Gemini. So aiming the scope at Alpha Geminorum (Castor) I quickly moved to a checkmark pattern of 5th and 6th mag field stars to its northwest. From there it was only a quick nudge to the north and I located this small spiral. It was oval in shape and dim, though not difficult, presenting a smooth disk at 152x. Viewed at 199x it was obvious within the field, and now displayed a stellar core. (New)
It was now about 2300 hours and frankly I was tired after a long day, and starting to get chilled. The local temperature was about 39°, which for early December was not bad, but I don’t deal with the cold as well as I used to. So, it was time to pack it in, have a snack and get some rest. I plan to be out again tomorrow evening before heading home on Sunday. I hope to see you out there then!