This second evening I began as the moon was sinking toward the southwestern horizon and the sky was filling in nicely with myriad stars. I would spend the bulk of my time in four constellations – Pegasus, Andromeda, Pisces and Triangulum. While in Triangulum I took a much closer look at the large face-on spiral
17.5 inch
Ethos 13mm (152x, 0.7° TFOV, 2.9mm
XW 10mm (198x, 0.4° TFOV, 2.2mm
XW 7mm (283x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.6mm
XW 5mm (397x, 0.2° TFOV, 1.1mm
UGC 10599 (Hercules, elliptical galaxy, mag=13.3, size=1.1’x0.9’, SBr=13.3):
I quickly stopped by this object that was viewed the previous evening. It was pretty much as noted before, a small round dim glow with a prominent stellar core pinned to its center.
Having recently found out about a new supernova within the galaxy, I decided to make it my next stop. Heading to the winged horse I quickly found its host galaxy,
SN 2020ssf (Pegasus, supernova in galaxy
Further studying the disk of
Small and diffuse at 110x, it presented as a slightly bright oval. At 198x it was very obvious and displayed an intermittent stellar core. (New)
Slightly dim at 110x it presented a small evenly illuminated elongated oval. Viewed at 198x it revealed a non-stellar concentrated brightness at the core; a 12th mag field star lay just to its east. (New)
Picked up at 110x I found it a very dim homogeneous mote. Trying at 198x it was easier, but still a weak diffuse glow. (New)
MCG +3-60-11 (Pegasus, lenticular galaxy, mag=14.3, size=0.8’x0.6’, SBr=13.4):
Found with 110x as a very dim and small round glow just above threshold. While easier to discern at 198x it remained a challenging homogeneous puff. (New)
Seen with 110x as a small and just slightly bright rounded diffuse glow. It seemed brighter than expected, likely due to its surface brightness. Using 198x its appearance changed little. (New)
A small and little dim oval with a broadly brighter center at 110, it revealed an intermittent stellar core at 198x. (New)
Picked up at 110x as a singular small homogeneous round glow. At 198x a secondary lump was suspected at the northwestern edge, but could not be confirmed. Then at 283x the presence of the companion was confirmed, as per below.. (New)
More formally known as MCG +2-59-14, the companion to
About 6’ SSE of the previous pair and within the same
Swept up with 110x it presented a pretty bright but small round glow. It exhibited a broadly brighter core surrounded by a diffuse halo. At 198x it was obvious and pretty. Its diffuse outer halo contained the central brightness which was punctuated by a stellar core. Nearly 7’ south of the galaxy the evenly matched wide (26.7”) double star HJ 3176 pointed right at the galaxy. (New)
Very small and pretty dim at 110x, it presented a difficult homogeneous oval. Viewed with 198x it was easier but still pretty weak overall, though it did reveal a stellar core. (New)
At 110x it was a small round homogeneous glow that was a little dim to the eye. Using 198x it was easier but still not a strong object within the field. (New)
Nearly 9.5’ south of the previous object was this small elongated oval. At 110x it was a little dim, but brighter than its neighbor to the north. A broadly brighter core was noted, which was more apparent at 198x. (New)
A very small and very dim oval, it was picked up using 110x, but it remained weak and diffuse at 198x. (New)
About 2.5’ SSW of the previous object and within the same field of view, this object was also picked up at 110x, though with difficulty. It presented a small elongated ghostly finger. It remained quite weak at 198x as well, though clearly seen. (New)
Nearly 23’ southwest of the last object I pulled down this small and dim oval glow at 110x. Going to 198x didn’t yield much improvement as it too remained weak and homogeneous. (New)
This galaxy group is also known as Vorontsov-Velyaminov 166 (VV-166), and the main members also comprising Arp 113. I observed eight members of the group using magnifications ranging from 110x to 283x. Below is a locator chart with
A part of Arp 113 it lay immediately southwest of the main clump of galaxies. It appeared as a dim rounded and pretty small homogeneous mote. It is also known as VV-166g. I did not notice MCG 5-1-64 (
Part of Arp 113 this spiral formed a triangle with
Also part of Arp 113, this galaxy overlapped with the southern edge of
The namesake of the group and also part of Arp 113, formed a triangle with
Another piece of Arp 113 it lay just southeast of the main clump and appeared dim and diffuse. Rounded in shape it was also small in visual size. Also known as VV-166d. (New)
Just east of
The final member of the group observed, which is also part of Arp 113, this small and very dim rounded pip of light lay just south of the main clump. Homogeneous in appearance, it was not easily scooped up. Also known as VV-166e. (New)
This lenticular is only 6’ east of the main clump of three (
Almost 16.5’ southeast of
Moving away from the previous group, I scooped up this barred lenticular using 110x. It was a little bright to the eye, as well as small and round in appearance. A stellar core was revealed at 198x and it was very obvious within the field. (New)
About 12.5 minutes northwest of the previous object and seen within the same
Also carrying the designation
This lenticular is also listed as
I located this spiral 12’ northwest of the previous object using 110x. It appeared as a dim and small elongated sliver near a pair of very dim field stars. At 198x it was easier though still a little dim. I got a sense of increased thickness in its center as well as a fleeting stellar core. (New)
I now moved to Triangulum and the beautiful low surface brightness spiral,
I was able to identify some HII regions and star clouds within the galactic disk. They ranged from bright to very dim, and were identified utilizing an annotated image which I had printed. Here are the ones I was able to positively identify.
This previously observed galaxy was near to some others I wanted to pursue so I stopped in on the way through. Picked up at 110x it was small and slightly bright. Oval in shape it appeared homogeneous. Using 198x it was easier and obvious within the field as a small diffuse oval.
Crossing over into Pisces I swept up this small and slightly dim diffuse oval. Viewed at 198x it exhibited a stellar core. (New)
Within the same
Also within the same
Sharing the field of view with two other galaxies (N407 and N414), it stood out as easily the brightest of the group which formed a flattened triangle pattern oriented east-west. Viewed at 110x and 198x it presented a pretty bright and just slightly large elongated oval that was homogeneous to the eye. It was strongly obvious within the field. (New)
About 5’ WSE of the previous object I picked up this small and slightly dim elongated oval at 110x. Homogeneous to the eye, it was easier at 198x but still vastly overshadowed by
This lenticular is actually a merged pair, though the secondary was not resolved. Visually the galaxy was a weak homogeneous glow at 110x, and while easier at 198x it remained a dim and small oval glow. (New)
Barely seen at 110x as a very small diffuse dust mote. Looking at 198x it was confirmed as a small and dim difficult oval. (New)
Suspected at 110x, it was confirmed at 198x as a weak and small round mote. (New)
Just over 9’ west of the previous object and still utilizing 198x I picked up this very small and homogeneous weak oval. Easily see it was nonetheless quite dim. (New)
Moving back to the celestial triangle, I swept up this somewhat bright and somewhat large oval. It presented as evenly illuminated across its dimension. Viewed with 198x it was an obvious oval. I was getting a very fleeting suspicion that perhaps there was a diffuse enhancement near its southeastern side so I moved up to 283x. There was definitely something there next to an 11th mag field star just off the southeaster side of the primary galaxy. (New)
MCG +6-6-57 (Triangulum, spiral galaxy, mag=15.2, size=0.6’x0.3’, SBr=13.2):
The suspected object (at 198x) just southeast of
Swept up at 110x as a little bit bright oval that seemed slightly large to the eye. Obvious at 198x it seemed fairly bright and slightly large, remaining homogeneous in appearance. (New)
Slipping over the border into Perseus to pick up this spiral, it appeared small and slightly oval in shape. A little dim to the eye it was evenly illuminated. Using 198x it was more obvious within the starry field and displayed an intermittent stellar core. (New)
Back into the triangle to nail down this small and dim diffuse oval at 110x. Viewed with 198x, it remained slightly weak and generally homogeneous. (New)
Slightly bright at 110x, this small and vaguely oval shaped galaxy was homogeneous to the eye. With 198x it was obvious and revealed a brighter inner lens punctuated with an intermittent stellar core at its center. (New)
Picked up at 110x this lenticular was a slightly bright thick oval. Small and homogeneous, at 198x, its appearance remained pretty much the same. Trying with 283x I had a suspicion of a second component to this system involved along its southern side. Dropping in the XW 5mm (397x) I could at times pick up a small knot of additional brightness involved in the southern side of the envelope of
More formally properly known as MCG +5-7-17 This small lenticular is involved within the envelope of
Formed a triangle of three galaxies, with N970 and N969, this spiral was easily seen at 110x as a slightly bright and subtly large oval. It was quite obvious at 198x and homogeneous to the eye east of
Just WNW of
Just west of
Northeast of a 7th mag field star, this spiral appeared as slightly bright elongated sliver. It was subtly large (in major axis) and homogeneous. Viewed at 198x it was an obvious feature within a starry field. (New)
About 4.5’ south of the previous object I pulled down my final one for the evening. At 110x it was a small and dim round homogeneous glow. Easier at 198x it was however the weaker of the two last galaxies. (New)
It was now around 0100 hours and I was getting tired. This was a supremely successful galaxy hunt, and as such, exhausting. At this point I moved all the gear back into the garage and went inside to warm up a little, as the air had cooled noticeably and things were a bit dewy around and on me. The sky had been extremely cooperative this evening and was gloriously rich and robust. Thanks for following along and I plan to see you back out there the next evening as well for some more galaxy hunting under a dark rural sky.
Link to the first night: viewtopic.php?t=27087
Link to the third night: viewtopic.php?t=26952