I’ve decided to observe for two nights this past weekend. I decided to
join Marsha up on Blue Canyon on Friday evening. Tony and three others
were there as well. It turns out that I was lucky that I did go up on
Friday night as Saturday wasn’t that great. Blue Canyon was better on
Friday than IHOP on Saturday, which tells a lot about the poor
conditions at IHOP.
On Saturday, I’ve arrived at IHOP at about 7:15PM. Everyone else was
already setup. Gregg with his 25” f/4.5, Shneor and his 22” 4.1, Dennis
with his 18” Obsession and Ray with his 13.1” travel scope. There was
one other, who I didn’t meet.
I’ve bagged 20 Abells and missed one on Friday and bagged two more on
Saturday and missed another one. I also looked at two other planetary
nebulae on Saturday, which I’ve never observed.
Anyways, for Friday night’s session, I’ve decided to continue with my
Abell Planetary survey and get whatever I can on Saturday.
Location: Blue Canyon
Date: 09-10-04 to 09-11-04
Observer: Alvin Huey
Telescope: 22” f/4.1 equipped with a Paracorr
Eyepieces: 35mm Panoptic, 17mm Type 6 Nagler, 13mm Type 1 Nagler, 9mm
Type 1 Nagler and 7mm Pentax XL.
Filters: Lumicon O-III and UHC filters.
Transparency started and ended as 6/10.
Seeing varied from 6/10 at the beginning to 5/10 as the night wore on
especially to the east.
Note: I usually remove the filter when I attempt to find the central
star.
I took off at 2:30am
Abell 39 RA:16h 27.6m Dec: +27º 55’ Size: 170 x 170” Mag: 12.9
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º W
22” f/4.1 (155 and 203x) – Nice round planetary nebula. Considerably
bright and large. Estimated size is about 180” across. Very smooth
surface brightness showing some annularity with averted vision. Two
stars are located on the west and east edge of this object. The central
star is seen, but only at 293x. Shows best at 155x with an O-III
filter.
Abell 47 RA:18h 35.4m Dec: -00º 14’ Size: 17 x 15” Mag: 19.5
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º W
22” f/4.1 (203, 293 and 377x) – This Abell is extremely faint and very
small. It appears round and even surface brightness. This nebula is
seen at 377x and O-III, but only 25% of the time. Very, very tough
object. I’ll re-observe this object with the 30” next time.
Abell 49 RA:18h 53.5m Dec: -06º 29’ Size: 35 x 33” Mag: 16.2
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º W
22” f/4.1 (203, 293 and 377x) – This Abell lies in a very rich star
field and appears as a faint 2:1 elongated patch with a position angle
of about 170 degrees. Its surface brightness is even throughout. This
is best seen at 203x with an O-III filter. A string of 9th to 11th
magnitude stars lie west.
Abell 54 RA:19h 08.7m Dec: +22º 59’ Size: 67 x 47” Mag: 16.8
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 55º SW
22” f/4.1 (155 and 203x) – This nebula is extremely faint and slightly
elongated at about 1.5:1. PA = 90º. It has an even surface brightness
across its 60 x 40” surface. There are three 13th and 14th magnitude
stars about 60” NW. It is seen only 25% of the time at 203x with an
O-III filter.
Abell 68 RA:20h 00.2m Dec: +21º 43’ Size: 40 x 37” Mag: 15.2
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º SW
22” f/4.1 (155, 203 and 293x) – This nebula shows as a faint slightly
elongated (1.3:1) patch. Even surface brightness across its 40 x 30”
oval smudge. PA = 120º. A 10.6 magnitude star lies 60” south and a
10.4 mag star lies 120”SE. No central star was seen, but it was listed
as a magnitude 13.2 star. This object shows best at 203x and O-III
filter.
Abell 74 RA:21h 16.9m Dec: +24º 09’ Size: 871 x 791” Mag: 12.2p
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º S
22” f/4.1 (75x) – This Abell planetary shows an irregular and low
surface brightness glow. Its 17.1 magnitude central star may be seen as
it lies near the center of this glow. There are five other stars
embedded in the surface with magnitudes of 13 to 16.
Abell 61 RA:19h 19.2m Dec: +46º 15’ Size: 201 x 201” Mag: 13.5
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º NW
22” f/4.1 (75 and 155x) – This Abell shows a faint round glow, even
surface brightness. It is bracketed by five stars. No annular shape
was detected and no central star was seen. Its estimated size is about
180” across.
Abell 71 RA:20h 32.4m Dec: +47º 21’ Size: 165 x 150” Mag: 14.0
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 80º W
22” f/4.1 (75 and 155x) – The planetary shows a faint circular glow and
somewhat an even surface brightness. There are three stars embedded in
the nebula. No central star was seen. This object is best seen at 155x
with an O-III filter.
Abell 72 RA:20h 50.0m Dec: +13º 33’ Size: 134 x 121” Mag: 13.8
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 75º SSW
22” f/4.1 (75 and 155x) – This planetary nebula is very large and faint.
The bright part appears mottled and lies on the east side of its very
slightly elongated patch at 75 and 155x. The bright part is estimated to
be about 60 x 10”. Estimated size of the entire nebula is about 120”
across and PA = 0º. An 8th magnitude star lies on the west edge with a
grouping of three 11 to 13th magnitude stars on the east side. I did
not look for MCG +2-53-5 which lies directly south of the nebula.
Abell 1 RA:00h 12.6m Dec: +69º 11’ Size: 46 x 42” Mag: 18.0
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º NE
22” f/4.1 (75, 155 and 203x) – Star field was located, but this Abell
eluded me.
Abell 73 RA:20h 56.4m Dec: +57º 26’ Size: 80 x 66” Mag: 16.5
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º NE
22” f/4.1 (75, 155 and 203x) – This nebula is a very faint round smudge.
Even surface brightness across its 70” disk. Best seen at 155x with an
O-III filter.
Abell 75 RA:21h 26.4m Dec: +62º 53’ Size: 67 x 47” Mag: 14.5
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203 and 293x) – This is a slightly elongated (1.5:1)
patch that has a brighter section that looks like a banana on the east
edge. This is a considerably bright planetary with an estimated size of
60 x 40”. This object shows best at 155 and 203x with an O-III filter.
Abell 77 RA:21h 32.2m Dec: +55º 53’ Size: 67 x 50” Mag: 15.0
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º NE
22” f/4.1 (155 and 203x) – This nebula is considerably faint and
roundish. It has a brighter section on the NE side that takes on a
crescent shape. Its size is estimated at about 60” across. This shows
best at 155 and 203x with an O-III filter.
Abell 81 RA:22h 42.6m Dec: +80º 27’ Size: 34 x 31” Mag: 14.4
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 50º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203 and 293x) – This Abell’s annular ring is obvious.
Bright, small and round. I could see this one without any filters at
293x, but annular appearance is much more difficult. Estimated size is
about 30” across. Best seen at 293x with an O-III filter.
Abell 86 RA:00h 01.6m Dec: +70º 43’ Size: 70 x 70” Mag: 16.7p
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203x) – This object is a very faint and round smudge.
Even surface brightness across its 60” disk. A pyramid group of four
stars between 10th and 12th magnitude lies due north. Best viewed at
155x and O-III filter.
Abell 2 RA:00h 45.6m Dec: +57º 57’ Size: 33 x 29” Mag: 14.1
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º N
22” f/4.1 (203 and 293x) – The planetary is considerably bright,
slightly elongated disk with an 1.3:1 aspect ratio. PA = 0º. At 293x,
some mottling could be seen with averted vision. A pair of stars (mag
8.4 and 10.2) lies 5” north. It lies in a fairly rich starfield. Shows
best at 293x with an O-III filter.
Abell 3 RA:02h 12.2m Dec: +64º 09’ Size: 60 x 60” Mag: 18.2p
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º NE
22” f/4.1 (155, 203x) – The Abell is an extremely faint round smudge.
Its 60” surface is of even surface brightness. There are two stars
embedded in the nebula, but neither is the central star as they are not
in the center. Shows best at 155x with an O-III filter.
Abell 6 RA:02h 58.9m Dec: +64º 30’ Size: 188 x 174” Mag: 14.3
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 45º NE
22” f/4.1 (75 and 155x) – The planetary nebula is an extremely faint
crescent shaped smudge. A 6.5 magnitude star lies 6’SW of the nebula,
making it more difficult. The crescent shape is about 120” long by 30”
wide and pointing roughly north.
Abell 82 RA:23h 45.8m Dec: +57º 04’ Size: 94 x 94” Mag: 12.7
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 60º NNE
22” f/4.1 (155, 203x) – This planetary shows a slightly mottled slightly
elongated disk. The NNW and SSE edges are brighter than the rest of the
nebula. There are two stars embedded in the nebula with one possibly
being the 14.9 magnitude central star. Best seen at 155x with an O-III
filter
Abell 83 RA:23h 46.8m Dec: +54º 45’ Size: 42 x 37” Mag: 17.6p
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º N
22” f/4.1 (75, 155 and 203x) – Star field easily located, but this Abell
eluded me.
Abell 84 RA:23h 47.7m Dec: +51º 24’ Size: 147 x 114” Mag: 13.0
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 75º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203x) – The Abell planetary shows an considerably bright
slightly elongated disk with a 10.7 magnitude star near its east edge.
The major axis points away from the star making this nebula appear like
a very wide faint comet with a stellar nucleus. The surface showed a
very smooth slightly brightening gradient towards the star. Estimated
size is about 140 x 110”. Best viewed at 155x with an O-III filter.
Location: IHOP
Date: 09-11-04
Observer: Alvin Huey
Telescope: 22” f/4.1 equipped with a Paracorr
Eyepieces: 35mm Panoptic, 17mm Type 6 Nagler, 13mm Type 1 Nagler, 9mm
Type 1 Nagler and 7mm Pentax XL.
Filters: Lumicon O-III and UHC filters.
Transparency started as 5/10 and ended as 4/10 as there were many high
clouds passing by.
Seeing varied from 7/10 at the beginning to 6/10 as the night wore on.
Note: I usually remove the filter when I attempt to find the central
star.
I bailed at 11:45pm
Abell 50 RA:18h 59.3m Dec: +48º 28” Size: 31 x 30” Mag: 13.4
Transparency: 5/10 Altitude: about 80º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203x) – This nebula is a bright, small round disk. Its
surface is slightly mottled at 203 and 293x. No central star can be
seen and its surface brightness is even throughout. An 8.7 magnitude
star lies 4 arc minutes from the nebula. This nebula is visible even
without filters at 293x. Best seen at 203 and 293 with an O-II filter.
Koh 3-46 RA:19h 50.0m Dec: +33º 46’ Size: 32 x 17” Mag: 16.4
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 85º N
22” f/4.1 (155, 203 and 293x) – This planetary is an extremely faint
smudge. I could not discern shape, but it appears somewhat elongated of
aspect ratio of 1.5:1 and PA = 80º. I could see this only 50% of the
time.
Minkowski 1-92 (Footprint Nebula) RA:19h 36.3m Dec: +29º 32’ Size: 8
x 5”” Mag: ?
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 70º S
22” f/4.1 (293 and 377x) – Very very small nebula. The two lobes were
seen. Originally I thought it was a star at 155x, till I looked at each
star carefully, until I thought one “star” was it. I kicked the
magnification up to 377x to confirm it. Very interesting object.
Filters didn’t help much for this one. Need high magnifications for
this one. I’ll try using over 500x next time.
Abell 85 RA:23h 58.9m Dec: +62º 30’ Size: 1800 x 1200” Mag: -
Transparency: 5/106/10 Altitude: about 75º N
22” f/4.1 (75x) – Star field easily found, but the transparency didn’t
allow me to see this very large nebula.
Abell 4 RA:02 45.4m Dec: +42º 33’ Size: 22 x 22” Mag: 14.4
Transparency: 6/10 Altitude: about 30º NE
22” f/4.1 (203 and 293x) – The planetary nebula is a considerably bright
round disk that is visible without any filter. Its 20” round surface is
even throughout. The nearby galaxy, CGCG 539-91 was not seen, but
another nearby galaxy, MAC 0245+4232 lying east is a faint round disk
with a slightly brighter center. It was slightly larger than Abell 4.
Best seen at 293x with an O-III filter.
Alvin Huey
--- 22" f/4.1 Pegasus Reflector and 30" f/4.3 Starmaster GOTO Reflector (shared with two others) Nikon D2H and D100 DSLRs www.faintfuzzies.com www.hueyphotography.com www.tac-sac.orgReceived on Mon Sep 13 22:14:19 2004