Conditions indeed seemed to be coming along nicely as I set up around 1930 hours. After tweaking collimation of the 17.5 inch and setting up my table, gear and atlases, I was ready to go around 2015 hours. So off I traipsed into Pegasus for some galaxy pursuits. Later I hoped to swing down low to see if I could pick up a few in northern Grus to finish out the evening. So with transparency looking slightly above average and seeing looking pretty good, I turned to chart 64 in the Uranometria All-Sky Atlas and aimed the scope at mag 2.5 Scheat (Beta Pegasi). And thus I began my latest journey into the night sky.
(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)
This lenticular was easily found using 152x just 41’ east of Scheat. It presented a slightly dim small oval that contained an intermittent stellar core at its center. Viewing at both 199x and 283x it was quite easy and the visual impression remained an even oval disk with the in and out stellar core. (New)
Next up was this little oval just over 1° SSW of Scheat. At 152x I found it dimmer than the previous object of the same visual magnitude. Even at 199x it remained weak but easier to discern. Then at 283x it remained homogeneous to the eye, a little dim but not difficult in the least. This spiral also carries the duplicate identifier of
This elliptical was the brightest of a small grouping of four galaxies over a degree southwest of the previous object. Using 152x I found it a small round glow with a stellar core that was slightly bright to my eye. It was quite obvious at 199x and 283x. This galaxy is actually a double system, PGC 70124 and PGC 70123 though both components blended and were not resolved as separate objects. (New)
Immediately adjacent to the southwest of the previous object I picked up small and dim oval with a very intermittent stellar core using 152x. While easier at both 199x and 283x it remained a weak small oval with its infrequently seen stellar core. (New)
Just WNW of
About 3’ west of the previous object I struggled to pick up this little pip of light. Briefly glimpsed at 152x, I was able to confirm its presence in the field at 199x as a very small diffuse dust bunny. Even with 283x it was poor visually, though it was held steadily. (New)
Next up this little spiral, that was picked up using 152x just east of a dim 14th mag field star. Small and dim it presented an evenly illuminated oval glow. Viewed with both 199x and 283x it remained visually weak, but not difficult to see as a small homogeneous oval. (New)
Found with 152x, this spiral presented a small oval disk that was slightly dim and next to a 14th mag field star. An intermittent stellar core was also glimpsed within its disk. Using 199x and 283x it was not difficult at all to see and clearly displayed a stellar core at its center. (New)
MCG +4-54-27 (Pegasus, spiral galaxy, mag=14.8, size=0.8’x0.3’, SBr=13.1):
Though this spiral was picked up using 152x it was a very small and dim diffuse oval. Easier at 199x and 283x it still remained fairly dim, displaying an intermittent stellar core. It was seen between a 13th and 14th pair of field stars. (New)
Moving on I swept up this small and subtly bright rounded glow displaying an intermittent stellar core. Taking looks at both 199x and 283x it was very obvious within the field of view. (New)
Neptune (Aquarius, planet, mag=7.82, size=2.3”):
Triton (Aquarius, planetary moon, mag=13.45, size=0.1”):
I now took a little break from hunting dim galaxies and moved down into northern Aquarius to find Neptune since it had been a while since I last looked at it. Not being much of a planetary observer, I don’t spend much time in that aspect of the hobby. Anyway, having marked it position in the Interstellarum atlas I picked up my Pentax 10x50 binoculars and quickly star hopped to its field and could easily pick up its presence exactly where it was expected about 10’ southwest of the mag 6.3 star HD 221148. Moving to the scope I quickly star hopped and centering Neptune in the
I dipped down briefly to Pisces Austrinus to pick up a north-south line of three galaxies nearly 10.5° WSE of Fomalhaut. A lot of PsA was behind the big tree at the southern end of the property, so my forage there was brief. Locating my field rather quickly, I easily picked up this small oval glow at 152x. Slightly bright to the eye, its disk was evenly illuminated. Observed at 199x it remained an obvious small homogeneous oval glow. (New)
This barred lenticular was the brightest of the three and appeared as a small and slightly bright homogeneous oval. Quite obvious at 199x, it remained a smooth even disk framed by the other two. (New)
This spiral is actually a close pair of interacting galaxies comprised of MCG -5-52-28 and MCG -5-52-29. Picked using 152x it was a small and slightly dim oval sporting an intermittent stellar core. Obvious at 199x it remained the weakest of the line of three. (New)
Moving back up to Pegasus, I turned the Uranometria to chart 82 to continue on to this spiral. Located using 152x, it was the brighter of two within the same field of view. I found it small in extent, homogeneous in visual texture and subtly bright to the eye. Taking a look at it with both 199x and 283x it was very similar in appearance, but more obvious within the view. Though discovered by Édouard Stephan in 1873, the galaxy carries a second identifier of
Within the same
Next was another pair within the same
About 4.5’ northeast of the previous object I also noticed this dimmer, but still not overly difficult little round glow at 152x. Likewise smooth and even across its disk, it remained very similar in appearance when viewed at 199x and 283x. Again, while dim it was not particularly difficult. Like its neighbor this one also carries a second identification within the
About 19’ west of the previous pairing, I swept up this dim and small oval using 152x. Generally homogeneous in visual appearance, it remained visually weak and small at 199x and 283x. (New)
Easily picked up with 152x this little spiral presented an oval disk that seemed to have a very fleeting stellar core trying to poke through. When viewing with 199x and particularly with 283x I confirmed there was no stellar core involved within its envelope. A very dim 15th mag field star lay at its northeastern edge gave the initial illusion of the possible stellar core I noted at 152x. Having now separated this star from the galactic disk, it was a smooth homogeneous glow. (New)
This galaxy was picked up at 152x as a small and subtly bright smooth oval glow just northeast of a 13th mag field star. It was quite obvious at 199x and 283x and remained homogeneous in appearance. It also carries the identifier
I next located a trio of galaxies sharing a common
Only about 2’ west of
A little over 3’ south of
Using 152x I picked up this small and diffuse oval. Though fairly dim, it was not difficult to pick up. Observing with 199x and 283x it was obvious within the field but remained a small homogeneous oval glow. (New)
About 42’ WNW of the previous galaxy I picked up my next one. With 152x I easily picked up this small and dim oval glow that displayed a stellar core. It was obvious at 199x and 283x, though still a bit dim. The embedded stellar core was steadily apparent. (New)
Next up was this small and dim homogeneous rounded dust bunny. Not difficult at 152x it was obvious within the field at 199x and 283x as a smooth and even out of round disk. (New)
This little dust mote was a bit more challenging. Initially at 152x I was unable to discern it in the field northeast of the variable star V347 Peg. Moving to 199x and more so at 283x I could confirm its presence as a small rounded glow. After affixing its position using higher magnification I dropped back to 152x and could then just detect its presence in the view, but it was challenging to do so. Overall this elliptical was difficult visually, but was clearly seen after studying the field for a bit using higher magnification. (New)
Initially I did not detect this object using 152x, but was able to easily confirm it at 199x and 283x as a very dim and small homogeneous oval glow. I found it interesting that it proved as difficult initially as
About 3.5’ east of the previous object it also proved a little challenging initially. Not seen at 152x, I again was able to easily confirm it using 199x as a small round dust mote in the same
This barred spiral was a welcome reprieve to the previous three galaxies. Though listed at 13.9, it was much easier at 152x presenting a subtly brighter small oval envelope with a stellar core pinned to its center. Using 199x and 283x it was an easy object within the field, with a stellar core shining steadily within its disk. (New)
Like the previous object this lenticular was not difficult. It presented a small and subtly bright oval disk with an intermittent stellar core flickering in and out at 152x. Using 199x the core continued to pop in and out as a stellar point, while 283x it shown more steadily. (New)
This lenticular was scooped up using 152x as a very small and pretty dim rounded glow. It presented a smooth disk to the eye. Even at 199x and 283x it remained a weak homogeneous oval glow. (New)
Also picked up without difficulty using 152x, this small and slightly dim oval presented a smooth even envelope. More obvious at 199x and 283x, it still remained a small and diffuse oval glow without visible internal structure. (New)
The Pegasus I Galaxy Cluster is a nice grouping of galaxies that straddle the Pegasus-Pisces border. Sometimes identified as the
The first thing I noticed when I arrived at the field of this cluster was the two dominant members,
About 10’ to the southwest of
Using 152x I now shifted my attention north of the dominant pair (
MCG +1-59-58 (Pisces, barred spiral galaxy, mag=14.6, size=1.1’x0.5’, SBr=13.8):
Moving back to bright
Using
It was after midnight by this time and I could tell the northeastern sky was subtly brightening as the moon was approaching the horizon. It would rise around 0039 hours so I felt it was time to head south to see what I could ferret out in northern Grus and possible into Sculptor before I called it a night. Getting into Grus would mean putting the big
Nearly 24’ ESE of HD 216666 I found this somewhat bright and somewhat large elongated oval. At 152x it was very obvious in the view and presented a brighter central lens within its envelope that was punctuated by a stellar core in the center. In order to pick up the pace, I observed only with 152x at this point. (New)
About 6.5’ southwest of
Nearly 42’ SSE of HD 216666 I easily picked up this slightly large and bright ghostly glow using 152x. It presented a very diffuse thick oval that displayed a weak broad brightness within the center of its envelope. (New)
Nearly 19.5’ SSE of
Going just a little deeper into the abyss of the horizon air mass, about 37’ southeast of
The Grus Quartet is a very well-known and popular group of four interacting spiral galaxies in eastern Grus. While I had observed them previously during trips closer to the equator, I was always using smaller apertures and the sky was not as dark, thus my views were not as nice as I would have liked. So I decided to try and go after them, despite being less than 10° above the horizon and knowing full well they would be muted by the thicker air mass that far down. The members of this grouping were discovered by James Dunlop in July of 1826. Two of the galaxies in the quartet carry duplicate identifiers within the
The first three listed above also form a closer trio known as the Grus Triplet, with
To round out my evening, I slipped into Sculptor briefly as the moon was cracking the horizon. I had noted that for one reason or another, I had not logged this curious nearly edge-on Magellanic-type barred spiral just north of the Sculptor-Phoenix border. The field was easily located in the
My final target of the night was easily located just 40’ ESE of mag 4.8 Beta Sculptoris. Easily seen at 152x it presented a smooth even diffuse envelope that was subtly large in extent, elongated and somewhat bright to the eye. (New)
It was approaching 0045 hours and I had been at my galaxy hunting for over four hours, so fatigue was definitely setting in. Add to that the presence of the moon continually brightening the sky, I felt it was time move my stuff back into the garage and get some much wanted and needed rest. I hope to spend some more time in Sculptor and even Grus and Phoenix as the autumn progresses. Though particularly challenging to work closer to the horizon it can be very rewarding as it gives us a chance to experience objects that we might not otherwise think about trying to observe. Our sky stretches 180° in all directions, and if our horizons permit, we should use as much of that to the extent possible. Thanks for coming along with me again, and I hope to see you out there again soon. Keep looking up friends – that is where the good stuff is!
