17.5 inch
XW 10mm (198x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm
XW 7mm (282x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm
Another
Transparency = average to slightly above
Seeing = average
Turning to IDSA chart 66-left, I aimed the scope at northeastern Sagittarius and quickly located my first targets. This barred spiral was very small and dim. Presenting a thin sliver of homogeneous light at 110x, using 198x revealed an intermittent stellar core. (New)
About 7.5’ SSE of the first galaxy this rounded homogeneous glow lay within the same
Unseen at 110x, its presence within the
I used this previously observed globular as a stepping stone to my next galaxy target. Stopping momentarily to observe it at 110x only, it presented a small and round very bright orb. Being of class 1 in the Shapely-Harlow concentration scale, it revealed no distinct resolution, but it did have a granular appearance. Most striking was its extremely tight and bright central core area, surrounded by a weaker outer halo. Small but a beauty.
ESO 595-14 (Capricornus, barred spiral galaxy, mag=12.6, size=1.2’x1.0’, SBr=12.7):
Leaving M75 and slipping about 52.5’ to the NNE and crossing just into Capricornus I easily swept up this small and slightly dim homogeneous oval. At 198x its appearance was about the same, though its contrast within the
This barred lenticular has been previously observed, but since it lay close to some other targets I stopped by very briefly. I found it a small and slightly bright oval at 110x snugged up against an 11.5 mag field star.
At 110x suspected as a small homogeneous oval glow just southeast of a mag 8.4 field star. At both 198x and 283x it was easier but still weak for the most part. However, its center did reveal a very slight broader brightness. (New)
MCG -3-52-6 (Capricornus, spiral galaxy, mag=14.4, size=0.8’x0.6’, SBr=13.5):
Almost 3’ southwest of
I found this one a bit tough at 110x, as a very weak and small homogeneous oval glow. Even at 198x it seemed weak visually, and at 283x it remained diffuse, though much easier to discern within the field. (New)
MCG -3-52-1 (Capricornus, lenticular galaxy, mag=13.6, size=0.5’x0.5’, SBr=12.0):
Found with 110x, it presented a very dim and small round glow. The view at 198x was pretty much the same though easier to discern within the field. (New)
ESO 462-15 (Sagittarius,elliptical galaxy, mag=11.9, size=1.6’x1.2’, SBr=12.7):
Swept up at 110x, my eye found it small but somewhat bright. Oval in shape, it presented an intermittent stellar core. Viewed at 198x its core displayed a tiny compact broader brightness surrounding its stellar core. (New)
Small and a little bright, it presented a homogeneous oval glow. With 198x it was bright and a little more extended with a stellar core pinned to its center. I was suspecting an additional galaxy just to the northeast. (New)
MCG -5-48-18 (Microscopium, spiral galaxy, mag=13.8, size=1.2’x0.3’, SBr=12.6):
Studying the field more closely now, I caught a fleeting suspension of very dim glow less than 4’ northeast of
Just over 1° SSE of the previous pair I picked up this bright and slightly large elongated glow. At 198x it was a very nice flattened oval, strong in the field and displaying a broadly brighter central region. (New)
Swept up at 110x as a slightly dim and small diffuse oval. With 198x it was easier to discern within the field though it remained homogeneous.** (New)
About 10’ SSW of the previous galaxy was this spiral within the same
**
IC 5065 (Microscopium, spiral galaxy, mag=13.7, size=1.1’x0.9’, SBr=13.5):
Suspected at 110x as a very small rounded dust mote. Using 198x it was confirmed but remained a very weak homogeneous presence in the field. (New)
A pair of difficult galaxies about 5’ apart in the same
The three brightest galaxies within the galaxy cluster Abell 3744 that lay just south of 24 Cap. All were observed at 110x, but weakly. Easier at 198x and 283x, they nonetheless remained poor visually.
Found about 37’ north of Omega Cap, just west of a mag 9.9 field star. It was suspected as a small and dim oval at 110x. Confirmation was had at 198x though it was still quite weak overall and homogeneous in appearance.** (New)
**This one was shown in the IDSA (77-right) but not Uranometria. It is not listed in Sky Tools 3 under this number, but is as MCG -4-49-7, ESO 529 11 or PGC 65671. There is some uncertainty about the identification within the
With my next targets just north of this globular, I stopped by to take a gander at that previously observed object. It was spotted in the 8x50
These four were the brightest of the galaxy cluster Abell S-963.
MCG -4-50-7 (Capricornus, elliptical galaxy, mag=13.8, size=0.5’x0.4’, SBr=12.1):
MCG -4-50-6 (Capricornus, lenticular galaxy, mag=14.3, size=0.4’x0.4’, SBr=12.4):
MCG -4-50-8 (Capricornus, lenticular galaxy, mag=14.1, size=0.3’x0.2’, SBr=10.9):
MCG -4-50-4 (Capricornus, barred spiral galaxy, mag=15.1, size=0.5’x0.3’, SBr=12.9):
About 3’ SSE of a double star (8.2 and 8.3) which itself is found about 2° northeast of 24 Cap, I searched for this string of four galaxies. The first two formed a tight curve north to SSW with the fourth kicked out to the west a few minutes. I had to study the field intently at 283x to discern these very weak and tiny dust motes. Even so, they were not visible 100% of the time. The most difficult was MCG -4-50-4, which was extremely tough to pick up visually. At best all were tiny homogeneous rounded pips of light. Uranometria did not plot MCG -4-50-5, which is just north of MCG -4-50-4 and it was not noticed as I scrutinized the field. Had I known of its presence, its possible I might have been able to pull it down as well, but it is what it is. This was a very tough group to drag out of the sky. (New-4)
PGC 66257 (Capricornus, lenticular galaxy, mag=14.6, size=0.6’x0.4’, SBr=12.8):
About 12’ west of the previous clutch of dim chicks I located this dim dual system. Initially at 110x I only suspected a single entity as a dim homogenous oval with a dim field star butted up against it. Using 198x I confirmed its presence and appearance as a slightly elongated oval. With more scrutiny I got a sense that perhaps the “star” I noticed was actually a non-stellar knot of brightness at the eastern edge of the envelope of
It was now approaching 0200 and I decided this would be my last object for the evening. A little over 2.5° north of the last pair of galaxies, I swept up my last galaxy for the evening, bringing it to a close. Picked up at 110x it presented a small and dim oval that was homogeneous to the eye. Taking a look at 198x it remained small and dim, but revealed a stellar core buried in its center. (New)
And the show was over for this time around. Conditions were slightly weak, but not bad overall. I struggled with some galaxies that under better conditions would have been a little easier. But as they say, anything worth having is worth working for! :smile:
