13 April – blog 3 of 3
So much for the forecast. No observing in the nights of 10, 11 and 12 April. More alternate activities.
Tuesday the 11th I hiked the cliff to the west, where the vultures live. The weather was friendly and the trail allowed for an easy stroll. The views were more than pleasant. The vultures were on station and every 250 meters or so small groups of wildlife photographers with lenses that rival my SCT were positioned, all flat on their belly, for that one ultimate shot.
I followed the cliff to the north until I got a view of the gîte in the valley below.
I can see my house from here!#astrotrip pic.twitter.com/naOxI4ErKc— Clear Skies – visual astronomy 🔭 (@clearskies_eu) April 11, 2023
That night it remained cloudy, but Wednesday the 12th the forecast improved. The day was mostly overcast, but there was the promise of clear skies soon after midnight.
Taking advantage of the after dinner dip that comes with a decent BBQ dinner, I set my alarm for 23:30. If the forecasts proved to be true, I would be well rested to observe until Moonrise at a quarter to 4 in the morning of the 13th.
I did doze off and when my alarm sounded, I was pleased to see the clouds were indeed departing towards the east.
As the skies cleared, I prepped the scope for the session. 15 minutes past midnight the skies were completely clear and the first galaxy in Canes Venatici’s 12-14″ CSOG Gx-2 guide was centered in my eyepiece.
That first one, MCG+07-26-011 was extremely faint, but the second object of the night was a showpiece: Arp 269, consitsting of the galaxies NGC4485 & NGC4490. Lots of detail was visible in the larger southern galaxy, nicknamed “the Cocoon”.
Both galaxies are visible, bright and both a clearly irregular. Very nice.The southern galaxy NGC4490 – the “Cocoon Galaxy” is the larger galaxy, elongated WNW-ESE and gradually brighter in the middle with very distinct irregular structure that is clear even without AV. The most irregular part of the galaxy is elongated in the same direction and is slightly offset towards the ESE. With AV a small, almost round core is discernible centrally in the brighter part. Towards the WNW het brighter part of the galaxy end quite suddenly in a rounded aport with a fainter NNW-SSE elongated part WNW thereof that is clearly part of the galaxy but that is discernible as a part of it, which is notable. The galaxy is wider towards the ESE.The northern galaxy NGC4485 is north-south elongated, oval glow, gradually brighter in the middle and, like NGC4490, irregular even without AV. With AV the galaxy is much more irregular and the brighter central part is clearly very elongated in the same direction as the galaxy is as a whole.PGC2185640 to the NW of NGC4485 is not visible.
The two galaxies that followed Arp 269 are worth a mention, too. MCG+07-26-021 (PGC41576) was clearly irregular with an offset core that contains a faint nucleus.
An irregular, slightly north-south elongated glow, almost even in brightness without AV, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV the galaxy is clearly irregular and suddenly slightly brighter in a faint north-south elongated core that is south of the middle, which is notable. With AV the nucleus is faintly visible in the core. The dark part on the northern side of the galaxy is not visible.
NGC4617 lacked a visible nucleus but its elongated shape more than made up for that.
A clearly north-south elongated streak that is quite suddenly brighter in a very elongated core that is discernible even without AV. With AV the galaxy is larger as a whole, more elongated north to south and the core is clearer, which gradually brightens towards the middle. No nucleus visible. A nice galaxy.To the east is a mag. 13.5 star.
Another rewarding Arp this night in Canum, was NGC4618 (Arp 23). The southeastern part designated IC3666 revealed itself, too, as did the HII region IC3669 on the southern edge.
Quite a large and bright, irregular glow. Without AV the large, NE-SW elongated, suddenly brighter core is visible and that fainter southern part designated IC3669 is subtly discernible. No nucleus visible. With AV the core is clearly NNW of the middle of the galaxy, more of the fainter outer parts of the galaxy is visible and the fainter southern part to the south and SSE of the brightest part is visible as a faint glow. With AV the HII region IC3668 is visible on the southern edge of IC3669 as a small, slightly brighter part. A nice galaxy.To the NNE is the galaxy NGC4625.
Nearby NGC4625 was almost as nice and, as is the case for 3 of the 5 galaxies that went before it in this session, also sports an offset core. Contrary to the elongated core of its southern neighbor, this one is round.
Without AV a round glow that is quite suddenly brighter in the middle, without AV the nucleus is at the limit of visibility. With AV the galaxy is larger and irregular and it is clear that the brighter, round core is slightly NE of the middle. With AV the fainter SW part of the galaxy is clearly discernible (but not a darp part) and with AV the nucleus is clearly visible. The core being round is in stark contrast with the core of NGC4618 (Arp 23) to the SSW, that is elongated.
Among the galaxies in this guide was big and beautiful Messier 94 (NGC4736) – the “Croc’s Eye Galaxy”. It stared back at me with spiral structure.
A large and bright, round glow, suddenly brighter in a slightly NW-SE elongated core that gradually brightens towards the center and that is clearly irregular with AV, containing a large, bright nucleus. With AV a subtle hint of spiral structure is discernible. A beautiful galaxy.
Relatively large and bright, too, was NGC4800. It did not appear uniform in brightness, with a brighter core and fading more gradually towards the north-northeast.
A relatively large and bright, NNE-SSW elongated glow that is suddenly brighter in a core that is slightly elongated in the same direction with a bright nucleus that is visible without AV. With AV the core is more elongated and more of the outer regions of the galaxy is visible, it is clear that the outer regions of the galaxy are brighter towards the SSW than they are towards to NNE.Directly WNW is a mag. 13 star.
Small but revealing some detail was the pair of galaxies MCG+08-24-011 (PGC44188) & MCG+08-24-012 (PGC44198) that together go by NGC4837 and that are nr. 1579 on Boris Vorontsov-Vel’yaminov’s list. I was able to determine that this glow indeed consists of two galaxies, even when individual galaxies were not discernible.
Without AV a WSW-ENE elongated glow, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV clearly larger and more elongated. With AV it is subtly discernible that the glow bends towards the east on the ENE side and that the western part is more bulging than the easter part is that is tapering and in which an east-west elongated part is subtly discernible, making it clear these are two galaxies. With AV a nucleus is visible that is clearly SW of the middle. Not very bright but a remarkable object.The faint galaxy PGC2314573 to the ENE sometimes seemed to jump into view but not observed with certainty.
Although a small and faint galaxy that itself does not reveal too much, NGC5021 has something extra going for it. A stellar dot was visible on the southern edge. Although starlike, it is in fact another galaxy: SDSS J131205.86+461136.2. Such detail, apart from of course providing for a nice observation, is one of countless updates to CSOG. Below at left is the object as included in CSOG 2.4, at right is the updated guide that will be part of CSOG 3.0.
Without AV an irregular, slightly ENE-WSW elongated, oval glow, gradually brighter in the middle.With AV slightly more elongated, slightly more suddenly brighter in the middle in an oval core that is slightly elongated in the same direction. With AV the galaxy is clearly irregular and flattened on the NNW side on a line from ENE to WSW.On the southern edge of the galaxy is a stellar dot, SSW of the middle of the brighter core, resembles a mag. 14.5-15 star (= galaxy SDSS J131205.86+461136.2).To the NE is a mag. 12 star, three times that distance to the WSW is a mag. 12.5 star. 1/3 FoV to the NNW is the galaxy MCG+08-24-070.
Final observation in CVn that is worth mentioning is for NGC5023. Such elongation is a pleasure to observe.
A clearly NNE-SSW extremely elongated streak, with AV clearly brightest SSW of the middle (the part that is clearest without AV), with AV much more elongated and gradually brighter towards the NNE and more suddenly fainter towards the SSW. No core is discernible but the offset brighter part is notable. The knot on the the SSW edge of the galaxy is not discernible.
These observations in Canes Venatici took me almost an hour an a half. Conditions were truly good. Transparent, dark skies with an SQM that exceeded 21.6. This is why I travel.
Although this observing guide as part of CSOG 2.4 contains just 30 galaxies, the skies allowed me to observe 43. Bonus observations logged for 13 galaxies nearby others in the guide. For example, PGC2304007 north of NGC4741 and MCG+09-21-062 (PGC44032) west-southwest of NGC4834.
I added many of these to the guide for CSOG 3.0. So many in fact, that I actually added a complete new guide: 7 galaxy guides for CVn in CSOG 2.4’s 12-14″ edition, 8 in CSOG 3.0. That’s what happens pretty much every time I observe using a large galaxy guide for objects that are mostly first time observations. There’s just so very much to see and and most updates to CSOG objects and observing guides come from my actual observations. This night was no exception.
After a twenty minute break I returned to the eyepiece to target a group of objects I had been looking forward to for a very long time: HII regions with NGC designations in Messier 101 (NGC5457 – Arp 26), the “Pinwheel Galaxy”.
With the galaxy approaching its transit time, high in the north, I nested myself on the south side of the scope to find my way around its spiral arms using CSOG’s MV guide: images mirrored vertically to match the view in my eyepiece. The downside of observing objects so high in the north, is the position of the telescope’s tripod legs. I quite literally had to fold myself around the southwestern leg to be able to observe in relative comfort… as long as I didn’t move.
Overall, the galaxy was faint, but large and packed a lot of detail:
A large, irregular, round glow in which spiral structure is clearly visible without AV. With AV the eastern HII regions clearly jumps into view and on the WSW side and NNE of the middle several detached, patchy areas are visible, too. Especially the NNE part is notable, elongated SSE-NNW, a clearly detached part. The galaxy is quite suddenly brighter in a small, round core in which the nucleus is visible without AV. To the NNE of the nucleus is a mag. 12 star (4UCAC722-053099), more superimposed stars are visible with the star NNE of the nucleus is most prominent.
Starting on the eastern side of the galaxy, NGC5462 and NGC5461 were my first targets. Images below are POSS2 Blue images, 5 minutes of arc in dimension.
NGC5462 and NGC5461 are both clearly visible.
NGC5462
NGC5462 is a SSW-NNE elongated streak, brighter in the middle in a part that is very elongated in the same direction. NNO of the middle a notably bright, stellar knot is visible. To the SSW is NGC5461, to the ENE is NGC5471.
NGC5461
Small and fainter than NGC5462 to the NNE is, slightly elongated SSW to NNE with a superimposed star or a stellar knot on the NE edge, stellar without AV, just not stellar with AV.
NGC5471
The easternmost NGC object in M101, resembling an elliptical galaxy.
A round knot, resembles an elliptical galaxy with a stellar core. With AV slightly larger but round, just as it is without AV.To the WSW is a mag. 13.5 star, farther to the WSW is NGC5462.
Heading towards the west, back into the galaxy, NGC5458, 5453 and 5455 were next.
NGC5458
South of the central part of the galaxy NGC5458 is visible, fainter than NGC5461, NGC5462 and NGC5471 are that I observed earlier. A north-south elongated glow, even in brightness without AV, with AV subtly brighter in the middle. To the south and 1 1/3 times that distance towards the WSW is a mag. 13.5 star, these two stars aid in locating NGC5458. To the north (just a bit to the NNE) of the western mag. 13 star is NGC5453.The stars form a flattened triangle with NGC5455 in the tip pointing SSW.
NGC5453
Subtly fainter than NGC5458 that I observed before this one, is to the SW of nucleus of the galaxy, a north-south elongated glow, even in brightness, no difference with AV (contrary to the HII regions I observed earlier).
NGC5455
Without AV round with a notable stellar dot on the eastern edge (stellar with use of AV, too), with AV sligthtly elongated north to south, even in brightness.
NGC5447 & NGC5450
This pair of NGC’s on the southwestern edge of the galaxy is among the brighter regions of the galaxy.
17mm Nagler T4:NGC5447 and NGC5450 are both visible.NGC5450 is on the SE side and is slightly brighter, elongated SE to NW and gradually brighter in the middle, without AV subtly brighter in the middle, clearer with AV.On the NW side is NGC5447, a slightly fainter, east-west elongated glow, without AV even in brightness, with AV gradually brighter in the middle and with AV slightly elongated SW to NE.To the NNE of NGC5447 is a mag. 13.5 star, to the NW is a small, faint, round glow, only visible with AV, gradually brighter in the middle, resembles a faint elliptical galaxy (HII region Hodge-Kennicutt 465).To the north is NGC5449.12mm Nagler T4:Using this magnification NGC5447 is clearly fainter than NGC5450 is. NGC5450 is elongated SSE to NNE and NGC5447 is slightly elongated SW to NE without AV, but is clearly pretty elongated with AV. With AV a stellar dot is visible in NGC5447, SW of the middle, only visible with AV.
Last two NGC’s were NGC5449 and 5451. Although both are faint, some detail could be glimpsed.
NGC5449
A faint, round glow with a stellar dot on the western edge. With AV slightly elongated north to south.To the NNE is NGC5451.
NGC5451
Without AV a round glow, with AV slightly irregular, subtly elongated SW to NE and subtly brighter in the middle.To the ENE is a mag. 13.5 star, to the SSW is NGC5449.
As noted in the observation notes for NGC5447 & NGC5450, another faint glow to the northwest of NGC5447 caught my eye. I logged an observation for it, even when not (yet) knowing its designation. As it turned out, it’s HII region Hodge-Kennicutt 465.
Observed simultaneously with NGC5447 to the SE: To the NW of NGC5447 is a small, faint, round glow, only visible with AV, gradually brighter in the middle, resembles a faint elliptical galaxy.
Working out my observations and adding this bonus HII region to my log, I took another look at the many faint specs that litter the arms of Messier 101. Although averted vision was required to observe Hodge-Kennicutt 465, it was within reach and several more object of similar size and brightness are suspected to be, too. Below is the image of the (draft) CSOG 3.0 guide for HII Regions in M101, this one from the Arp edition. I can’t wait to delve back into M101 to find out what more can be targeted in my aperture.
The final object in the HII guide is an object near a different galaxy. PGC2448110 to the north-northwest of NGC5474 required averted vision to be observed and appeared stellar, but could be held.
NGC5474 is an irregular, round glow that is clearly brighter north of the middle where, without AV, a round part is visible. With AV the galaxy is larger and slightly flattened on the west side on a line from north to south. With AV it is clear that the brighter part is just a bit to the NNE. To the NE of the brighter part is a mag. 13 star. To the south of the brighter part the galaxy is clearly irregular and clearly fanning out towards the south.The HII region PGC2448110 to the north of the galaxy is at the limit of visibility with AV but can be held, stellar. NNW thereof is a mag. 15 star.
Satisfied with my observations in M101 but relieved to get out of my cramped position around the tripod leg, I relocated to the northern side of the scope for observations in Boötes. I logged 15 galaxies & galaxy groups and two double stars.
Galaxies NGC5697 and MCG+08-28-038 (PGC55381) were observed fifteen minutes apart (in time), but appeared comparable even when the MCG is considerably fainter than the NGC is.
NGC5697
Without AV a slightly NE-SW elongated glow, gradually brighter in the middle. With AV slightly more elongated and clearly brightest SW of the middle, a notable, offset part but a distinct core is not discernible. The galaxy is gradually fainter towards the NE and ends more suddenly on the SW side.1/5 FoV to the west is a small group of stars in the shape of the constellation of Mensa, a trapezium of mag. 10.5 and fainter stars with the narrow top on the SSW side.1/3 FoV to the NE is the galaxy NGC5696.
MCG+08-28-038
Without AV a faint, slightly NE-SW elongated glow, even in brightness. With AV slightly larger, slightly more elongated and subtly brighter SW of the middle. No nucleus visible. Somewhat resembles galaxy NGC5697 that I observed earlier, but is fainter.1/7 FoV to the WNW are two mag. 11 stars aligned WNW to ESE, ±105°/35″ (not a double star in WDS), this PA points just south of the galaxy.
One of the double stars observed was HJ2776 (WDS15194+4550), of which the galaxy NGC5918 is component C. How this fuzzy came to be a component of a double is anyone’s guess.
An east-west elongated glow, without AV gradually brighter in the middle. With AV slightly irregular and clearly brighter in the middle (elongated in the same direction) but no distinct core is discernible. The brighter part is clearly west of the middle.To the SSW are a mag. 11 (SE) and a mag. 13 (NW) star aligned SE to NE, these two stars are components A and B of the double star HJ2776, NGC5918 is component C.To the north of the mag. 11 star, ±002°/80″ is a faint star.
Final planned objects in the quarter hour that was left in the session before Moonrise were 6 galaxies and galaxy groups in Ursa Minor.
Although consisting of very faint smudges, the group Vorontsov-Vel’yaminov 1832 was a fun one to sort out, even when I could not observe all of its members.
PGC84830 & PGC84827 that form NGC6331 are visible without AV as one clearly ESE-WNW elongated glow, no individual galaxies are discernible.PGC59513 to the WNW of NGC6331 sometimes seems to jump into view with AV but can not be held.To the east of NGC6331 is a mag. 13 star, NE thereof, without AV, a small, faint, round glow is visible (MCG+13-12-017), even in brightness without AV, with AV slightly larger and gradually brighter in the middle.To the NE of MCG+13-12-017 is MCG+13-12-018, a faint, round glow, even in brightness without AV, with AV somewhat elongated east to west and gradually sublty brighter in the middle.To the WNW of MCG+13-12-018 is MCG+13-12-019, a very faint, small, round glow, only visible with AV but well held, even in brightness, no details visible.The eastern galaxy MCG+13-12-020 is not visible.
As the skies brightened, I packed away my eyepieces and as I reached to the scope to remove the dew shield, I noticed the constellation of Scorpius nicely visible in the south. At this latitude it does not reach a decent elevation, but I decided to end the session with observations for the two Messier globulars within its borders.
Messier 80Smaller than Messier 4 (NGC6121), the “Cat’s Eye” that I observed before this one, resembles Messier 92 (6341)… or NGC6229(?) in Hercules. Resolves quite well, clearly suddenly brighter in the middle. With AV more of the outer stars resolve and the cluster is clearly larger. As is the case with M4 there is a “bite” taken from the cluster on the NE side, that is clear with AV. With AV it is also clear that the brighter central part of the cluster is slightly east of the middle and more fainter stars are visible west of the middle. A nice cluster.Messier 4The cluster’s structure is noticeable straight away, on the NE side of the cluster a “bite” is taken from the xluster, a U-shape with the open side towards the NE. Centrally in the cluster is a crooked line of stars from NNE to SSW (almost due north-south) is visible, which is notable. To the south of the middle of that line the cluster is most concentrated on a line from ENE to WSW. The central part of the cluster is flattened on the NW side on a line from NE to SW. To the south of the U-shape the cluster is flattened on a line from east to west. Well resolved, many stars are visible despite the cluster being very low in the sky (18°). Surrounding by arc of stars with a notable arc on the WNW side with the bulging side towards the NW. SE thereof the cluster is slightly poorer.
Back in after a very pleasant observing run. Skies cleared around midnight, observed until Moonrise. Among my observations – finally – the NGC HII regions in galaxy Messier 101 in UMa.Image below is mirrored vertically, matching the view in my eyepiece tonight.#astrotrip pic.twitter.com/odMv5NU9qe— Clear Skies – visual astronomy 🔭 (@clearskies_eu) April 13, 2023
– Blog continues below the observations table –
Observations
2 double stars2 globular clusters12 HII regions66 galaxies & galaxy groupsTotal: 82 observationsFirst time observations: 63 objects
Details of the objects observed in this session are in the table below.
click here for my observing log
to top of table
Friday the 14th I headed out for supplies. You’d think that having been to France on 23 unique astrotrips I’d by now had remembered that most stores close during the afternoon… Well, let’s just say that for some reason I found myself with an hour and a half to kill, so I went on a little roadtrip. Driving towards the east, I remembered there is the Observatoire des Baronnies Provencales in this region. As it turned out, it was only a ten minute drive.
The observatory was closed, but I was greeted in the parking lot by a friendly French astronomer who was fluent in English and showed me around the premises. They have quite a nice collection of astro gear for public use and of course have the skies of this region that leave little to be desired.
Continuing my exploration of the region, I passed the Priory of St-Andre-de-Rosans (lots of old stones) and found the Col de Pommerol a.k.a. Col de la Fromagère to unfortunately not provide any overlook of the region.
The nights of both Thursday 13 and Friday 14 April were cloudy, ending this astrotrip with only three (partial) nights of observing. That’s below average when it comes to the number of objects observed, but this sojourn was by all means worth the travel.
Till next time.
Observations astrotrip Rémuzat, spring 2023
Object tally for three nights under the stars this astrotrip: 186 observations, 146 of them first time observations
33 double stars2 globular clusters12 HII regions139 galaxies and galaxy groups
