20 May ’20 Observing Report

Session Name: 200520
Observer: Sam
Site: 29 Quedo (Obs)
Started: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 at 9:30 PM
Finished: Thursday, May 21, 2020 at 1:35 AM
Seeing: 3. G – Brighter planets twinkling slightly
Transparency: 5 – Six of seven Little Dipper stars
Session Notes:
Late, rushed start due to SFS meeting.
Alignment difficulties: took several tries
Polaris/Regulus alignment w/12.5mm: error 0.597
Part of problem was choice of alignment stars: tried Spica but too near in altitude to Polaris. Also vertical reference needs work.

360 clear. low light dome N-NW, then also to SW, but not S or E. Scorpio rising.

Principal goal H400, one or two planetaries, finish Messier program (M85).

SQM-L @ 1:21 AM
Z – 21.35
E – 21.30
S – 21.33
W – 21.31
N – 21.23

MW is gorgeous running over N wall from E to N. Lots of structure. Have Sag teapot. Possibly some high cirrus clouds in neighborhood of Virgo/Coma. Cas rising to NE.

Overall felt that tonight’s sky wasn’t cooperating even though SQM was good.


ID: PNG221.5+46.3
Type: P Neb; RA Dec: 095300+1345; Constellation: Leo
Name: BN0950+13; Mag: 10.4
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:02:00 PM-05
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 8mm Ethos; Magnification: 265x
Observation Notes:
General remarks: spent 30 min working on this object, including finding nearby objects and setting sync points to insure that I had the correct fov. It was just too low in surface brightness to make out. With next outing start sketching field to begin documenting negative observation. Estimate of dimension suggests I’m not seeing the pn.

17mm(+OIII, NPB): possible nebulosity following arc of 3 stars (one a double); however, arc may just guiding my eye. Filters not helping.
13mm(+OIII, NPB): If am seeing then ~1/10 fov in diameter. Filters may be helping ever so slightly.
8mm(+OIII, NPB): arc of stars do seem to be involved with or adjacent to some kind of nebulosity. Arc of stars are inside arc of nebulosity.

ID: M85
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 122524+1811; Constellation: Com
Name: SAC2551; Mag: 9.1
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:36:00 PM-05
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Observation Notes:
Started to look for M85, but too high in the sky to be comfortable; will come back later.

ID: PK318+41.1
Type: P Neb; RA Dec: 134042-1953; Constellation: Vir
Name: A36; Mag: 11.57
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 10:53:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Filter: DGM NPB; Magnification: 82x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Filter: LP-3 Oxygen III; Magnification: 82x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Filter: LP-3 Oxygen III; Magnification: 163x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Filter: DGM NPB; Magnification: 163x
Observation Notes:
[Also Abell 36, “Bat Symbol”]
26mm: pn. Every so slightly non-stellar bluish tinge. No evidence of nebulosity.
26mm+OIII: stellar-like object doesn’t respond particularly well. Hint of round largish annulus nebulosity centered on star, principally round.
26mm+NPB: stellar-like object doesn’t respond particularly well. Hint of round annulus nebulosity centered on star.
17mm: Slightly bluish star, no brighter than other field stars. with sharp focus on field stars doesn’t appear well-focused. Some evidence nebulosity ~1/15 fov.
17mm+OIII: doesn’t respond well to filter, but does show planetary nature a bit more. Nebulosity stands out a bit more.
17mm+NPB: doesn’t respond well to filter, though better than OIII even though OIII shows planetary nature better. Sky not darkened as much but nebulosity does stand out better than no filter, but not as well as with OIII.
13mm: center* slightly non-stellar but still no disk. Nebulosity is round and roughly annular. While called “Bat Symbol” not seeing any evidence of shape beyond round.
13mm+OIII: not responding well: too dim. A bit more non-stellar. Sky too dark to get a good focus and lose nebulosity.
13mm+NPB: somewhat non-stellar but no disk.


ID: NGC3608
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111659+1808; Constellation: Leo
Name: II-51; Mag: 11
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:20:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3607, NGC3605
26mm: two gal, close together. Nearly same brightness. Somewhat elliptical. Halo & disk.
13mm: Halo/disk showing extension running ~EW. Brighter toward center. Nucleus extended with galaxy. Share fov with NGC3607, NGC3605, all three distinct. Orientation ~SW/NE.

ID: NGC3607
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111655+1803; Constellation: Leo
Name: II-50; Mag: 10
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:20:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3608, NGC3605
26mm: gal.
13mm: gal. not quite round. Brighter to center. Nucleus may be flattened so that longer EW than NS. Halo not showing same ellipticity. Larger but lower surface brightness than NGC3608. Orientation ~SW/NE.

ID: NGC3605
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111648+1801; Constellation: Leo
Name: SAC5504; Mag: 12.3
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:20:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3608, NGC3607
13mm: gal SW, much fainter than NGC3607. immediately adjacent to/overlapping with NGC3607. Elliptical. Gently brigher toward center. Much better AV2. Orientation ~SSW/NNE

ID: NGC3655
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112255+1635; Constellation: Leo
Name: I-5; Mag: 11.6
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:35:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
Sky just feels bright.
13mm: gal. Ell. suddenly brighter toward center. Too small to estimate size. Nothing else in fov.
17mm: small dim ell fuzzy. brighter toward center.


ID: NGC3626
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112004+1821; Constellation: Leo
Name: II-52; Mag: 10.9
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:37:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. ell. halo, nucleus. nucleus small: can’t tell if elongated w/halo. orientation NS. Nothing else apparent in fov.

ID: NGC3686
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112744+1713; Constellation: Leo
Name: III-28; Mag: 11.4
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:40:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. gauzy. w/averted vision some evidence brightening toward center; at av1 some evidence brightening toward center. Larger than most, but too small to estimate size.
13mm: sense of ellipticity oriented roughly NS. Nucleus appears off-center: peculiar gal? Some evidence of tear-drop shape with drop to N.

ID: NGC3610
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111825+5847; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-270; Mag: 10.8
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:48:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Observation Notes:
13mm: gal. sync point set
17mm: gal. small faint fuzzy. significantly brighter field stars present. ell with ell core. brighter to suddenly brighter toward center. Nucleus ~1/8 size gal.

ID: NGC3613
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111836+5800; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-271; Mag: 11.6
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:50:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. somewhat ell. midway between two rather bright field stars running ~NS and separated by ~1/4 fov. gal (NGC3619) ~1/3 fov to S along line of stars.

w/NGC3613
17mm: fainter than NGC3613. Ell. Nucleus, brighter toward center. ESE/WNW orientation.

ID: NGC3619
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 111922+5745; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-244; Mag: 12.6
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:50:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3613 17mm: fainter than NGC3613. not quite round to ell. Nucleus, brighter toward center. ESE/WNW orientation.

ID: NGC3690
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112830+5834; Constellation: UMa
Name: SAC9109; Mag: 11.5
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2020 11:57:00 PM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 8mm Ethos; Magnification: 265x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. Overlapping with star or another gal, or has two nuclei, or some kind of bright region. Nothing else in fov.
13mm: Either an involved star, or two nuclei, or two overlapping gal: something peculiar about it. Too small to estimate size.

From charts am seeing 3690A and 3690B aka Arp 299.

8mm: NGC3690A, B clearly resolved. Both elliptical. Dimmer shows evidence of being tidally distorted/irregular in shape and pointing toward brighter of pair.

ID: NGC3631
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112103+5310; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-226; Mag: 10.4
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:06:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. brighter toward center nucleus. Large round halo: ~1/25 fov. Nothing else in fov. Sky feels bright.

ID: NGC3665
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112444+3845; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-219; Mag: 11.6
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:10:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. ell/not quite round. gently brighter toward center nucleus. Nothing else apparent in fov. Relatively large halo but still too small to estimate size.

ID: NGC3675
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 112608+4335; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-194; Mag: 10.4
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:15:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. close to edge-on spiral. extended nucleus. brighter toward center. Orientation: ~NS
13mm: ~1/15 fov.

ID: NGC3945
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 115314+6040; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-251; Mag: 10.6
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:19:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
17mm: gal. small. not quite round. fuzzy. halo, nucleus. suddenly brighter toward center. Nothing else evident in fov.

ID: NGC3729
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 113350+5307; Constellation: UMa
Name: I-222; Mag: 11.4
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:21:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3718 (to W), HCG56 (to NW)

17mm: gal. gauzy: nebulosity w/no brightening toward center. Not round: gives appearance of being irregular. Another gal (NGC3718; significantly larger, lower surface brightness) ~1/4 fov ~W

ID: NGC3718
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 113236+5304; Constellation: UMa
Name: SAC9119; Mag: 10.8
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:23:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3729 (to E), HCG56 to S
17mm: gal. Not round: irregular. Might have two components: more than a single gal?

ID: HCG56
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 113232+5256; Constellation: UMa
Name: UGC6527; Mag: 12.2
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 12:24:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 17mm Ethos; Magnification: 125x
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 13mm Ethos; Magnification: 163x
Observation Notes:
w/NGC3718 (to N), NGC3729 (to NE)
aka Arp 322.
17mm: gal clus. v. dim
13mm: averted vision. Sense of several distinct objects, but can’t resolve well enough to count.

ID: M85
Type: Galaxy; RA Dec: 122524+1811; Constellation: Com
Name: SAC2551; Mag: 9.1
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 1:20:00 AM-05
Found: False; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Observation Notes:
Spent more time trying to starhop to M85 but not successful.

ID: M4
Type: Globular; RA Dec: 162336-2632; Constellation: Sco
Name: SAC7854; Mag: 5.4
Date: Thursday, May 21, 2020 1:20:00 AM-05
Found: True; Telescope: Dob; Eyepiece: 26mm Nagler Type 5; Magnification: 82x
Observation Notes:
26mm: glob. well resolved. Can see why called “Cat’s Eye”: has clear circle of resolved stars with a vertical line of resolved stars running through a diameter.

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