Driving over to Lake Sonoma up 101 past Santa Rosa, it was pretty
evident that conditions were not going to be excellent. The sky had a
pale blue color, fading to blue-white near the western horizon
indicating decreased contrast but hey, the sky was perfectly clear
and I was heading out to observe spring galaxies (second time in the
past week and a half), so I was perfectly content. When I arrived at
sunset a few folks were already set up including Matt Marcus, Michael
Porteusi and Jim Mace. David Staples and Renato Del Rosario joined us
later. I rushed to put my 18-inch Starmaster together, did a quick
collimation and then took a look at the thin 30-hr young moon, low in
the western sky.
As expected, conditions were not the greatest decreased transparency
due to the moisture in the air and somewhat soft seeing due to the jet
stream, though I had no problems using 225x on galaxies and ventured up
to 450x on the Ghost of Jupiter (N3242) which showed all kinds of
details at this power. After a last look at a couple of winter objects
in Orion and Gemini including one of my favorites the Medusa Nebula
(Abell 21), I settled in for a string of 13th and 14th magnitude
galaxies. Conditions were dry and calm for the first few hours, but a
mild breeze came up later and put a chill in the air.
A couple of objects in Mark Wagner's report from Henry Coe last night
caught my eye as I was typing in my observing notes this morning
> NGC 4035 is a possible elongated galaxy. Or perhaps its spiral arms
> give
> it an elongated appearance. I could only detect this detail at 280X.
> Getting there was a big problem... I was sure I was in the right field,
> all stars except the mag 9 one located dead on the galaxy were there...
> and I wasn't seeing the galaxy at low power. I finally realized The
> Sky
> had the star misplotted, badly, after looking at the thumbnail image.
> I
> went to the position, bumped up the power, and there was 4035.
I also took a look at NGC 4035 last night from Lake Sonoma. That mag 9
star on TheSky at the position of the galaxy IS the galaxy. The Guide
Star Catalogue (GSC) includes tens of thousands of galaxies -- mostly
given as "non-stellar" objects. The GSC positions are generally on the
nucleus of the galaxy. For some reason, the scanning software for the
GSC must have labeled this galaxy (or core) as stellar, so it appears
as a mag 9.3 "star". You'll probably run across this again, even if
you have the "non-stars" turned off in TheSky. I didn't have much to
say about the galaxy in my 18-inch at 225x
18" (4/9/05): very faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter, very low
surface brightness with little or no concentration. Located 5.8' SSW
of mag 9 HD 104306.
> My last object was NGC 4714 - nice, obvious. An easy, bright asterism
> makes the location simple. In the field also were NGCs 4722, 4723 and
> 4748.
I also looked at this one last night and it happened to be one of my
last 4 of the evening!
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, 0.5'x0.4'.
There appears to be a small, much fainter envelope so my description
probably applies to a sharply concentrated core with a very low surface
brightness halo.
Here's a rundown on some of the others. I spent some time on the Hydra
I galaxy cluster (Abell 1060), but only took notes on a few galaxies
which I looked at much higher in the sky from Costa Rica last year
(notes added for comparison).
NGC 3312 = ESO 501-043 = MCG -04-25-039 = LGG 210-002 = IC 629 = PGC
31513
10 37 02.5 -27 33 55
V = 11.9; Size 3.3x1.3; SB = 13.3; PA = 175d
18" (4/9/05): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1
NNW-SSE. Contains a fairly bright, roundish core ~20" diameter with
fainter extensions 1.2'x0.6'. The core steadily increases to a stellar
nucleus. A small isosceles triangle to stars is close SE.
13.1" (2/18/04) - Costa Rica: moderately bright, moderately large, very
elongated 3:1 N-W, 1.5'x0.5', weak concentration. Possible brighter
knot at the N end or a star may be near the edge of the halo. Three
stars are close SE including two mag 11/12 stars 2' SE and 3' ESE of
center. In the core of Abell 1060 with N3311/3309 5' NW.
************************************************************
ESO 501-049 = LGG 211-022 = PGC 31542
10 37 20.1 -27 33 36
Size 0.9x0.3
18" (4/9/05): this extremely faint member of Abell 1060 was just
glimpsed a few times and sketched while observing other brighter
members of the cluster. Checking the DSS, showed this galaxy exactly
where I had placed it with respect to a trio of stars to the SW.
Located 5.5' E of N3312 in the core of Abell 1060.
************************************************************
NGC 3316 = ESO 501-054 = MCG -04-25-046 = LGG 211-006 = PGC 31571
10 37 37.3 -27 35 39
V = 12.6; Size 1.3x1.1; SB = 12.8
18" (4/9/05): faint, small, round, 30" diameter, increases to a small,
brighter core. On a line with N3312 8' WNW and a mag 11 star 4.8' WNW.
13.1" (2/18/04 - Costa Rica): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 40"
diameter, weak even concentration, no well-defined core. A mag 11.5
star lies 3' SSE and two mag 13.5 stars are 1.2' S and 1.7' SE of
center. Situated in the core of Abell 1060 and forms the eastern
vertex of an equilateral triangle with much brighter N3314 7.5' SW and
N3312 8' WNW.
************************************************************
NGC 3390 = ESO 437-062 = MCG -05-26-007 = LGG 215-003 = PGC 32271
10 48 04.4 -31 32 00
V = 11.9; Size 3.5x0.6; SB = 12.5; PA = 177d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, moderately large, edge-on, at least 7:2
N-S, ~2'x0.5', broad weak concentration. A faint star is at the N tip
and a similar star is just beyond the southern extension. Located 9.4'
NNW of mag 5.9 SAO HD 93657. The DSS image is similar to NGC 891 with
a thin equatorial dust lane and bulging core.
************************************************************
NGC 3449 = ESO 376-025 = MCG -05-26-010 = LGG 222-003 = PGC 32666
10 52 53.7 -32 55 39
V = 12.2; Size 3.3x1.0; SB = 13.3; PA = 148d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 NW-SE,
0.7'x0.5'. Moderate, even concentration to a stellar nucleus with
direct vision. Located 6' NW of mag 8.5 HD 94389.
************************************************************
NGC 3701 = UGC 06493 = MCG +04-27-048 = CGCG 126-068 = PGC 35405
11 29 28.9 +24 05 36
V = 12.9; Size 1.9x0.9; SB = 13.4; PA = 145d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE,
1.0'x0.5', weak concentration with a central bulge. A mag 14 star lies
0.9' N of center.
************************************************************
NGC 3714 = UGC 06516 = MCG +05-27-085 = CGCG 156-095 = PGC 35556
11 31 53.6 +28 21 31
V = 14.1; Size 0.5x0.4; SB = 12.2; PA = 68d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, small, round, 25" diameter, fairly high
surface brightness (like the core of a larger galaxy), moderate
concentration though no nucleus.
18" (5/30/03): fairly faint, small, round, 0.4' diameter, weak
concentration. Appears similar to the core of a larger galaxy. N3713
lies 13' SSW.
17.5" (4/9/99): very faint, very compact galaxy ~20" in diameter,
brightens somewhat to center. Picked up at 100x along with brighter
N3713 located 13' SSW.
************************************************************
NGC 3907B = UGC 06793 = MCG +00-30-026 = CGCG 012-092 = Ho 295b =
PGC 36928
11 49 23.5 -01 05 02
V = 14.0; Size 1.1x0.3; SB = 12.7; PA = 76d
18" (4/9/05): western member of a close pair with N3907A just 1.7'
following. Appears as a faint edge-on, ~3:1 WSW-ENE, 0.9'x0.25', low
even surface brighness. This galaxy is larger, though has a lower
surface brightness than N3907A. Several people took a look in the
eyepiece to see which galaxy was more evident as only one NGC number is
assigned. The verdict? Pretty much a toss-up.
************************************************************
NGC 3907 = UGC 06796 = MCG +00-30-028 = CGCG 012-094 = Ho 295a = NPM1G
-00.0336 = PGC 36941
11 49 30.1 -01 05 12
V = 13.1; Size 1.2x0.7; SB = 12.8; PA = 40d
18" (4/9/05): This is a close pair of galaxies (N3907A/B) although John
Herschel only recorded a single object. The eastern component has a
fairly high surface brightness and appears fairly faint, very small,
slightly elongated SW-NE, 0.4'x0.3' (viewed core only and missed the
much fainter extensions). Forms a close 1.7' pair with N3907B just
west. Both galaxies were comparable in ease of viewing so it's
surprising that Herschel missed one of these!
************************************************************
IC 755 = U07001 = MCG +02-31-014 = CGCG 069-024 = FGC 1347 = PGC 37912
12 01 10.3 +14 06 16
V = 13.2; Size 2.4x0.3; SB = 12.8; PA = 145d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, edge-on NW-SE, 1.0'x0.2', low even surface
brightness. A mag 10 star is 5.5' SE and 2' following this star is
CGCG 069-029. The identification of this object is very uncertain as
it matches the description of the brighter star to the SE but is a poor
match in position.
This object may be John Herschel's NGC 4019 (observed once) with a poor
position. His description "eF; has a *9m 5' sf" fits. There is no
non-stellar object near his original postion. This galaxy was host to
supernova 1999an.
************************************************************
CGCG 069-029 = MCG +02-31-016 = Mrk 756 = PGC 37931
12 01 27.5 +14 02 04
V = 14.5; Size 0.5x0.4; SB = 12.1
18" (4/9/05): faint, very small, round, 0.3' diameter, moderate
concentration. Located 1.9' ENE of a mag 10 star which detracts from
viewing. Picked up while viewing larger and brighter IC 755 (possibly
= N4019) which is 6' NW.
************************************************************
NGC 4520 = IC 799 = NPM1G -07.0367 = PGC 41748
12 33 49.9 -07 22 32
V = 14.0; Size 1.1x0.5; SB = 13.2; PA = 104d
18" (4/9/05): faint, small, elongated 2:1 ~E-W. A very faint star is
at the western tip. The galaxy appears to have a very faint stellar
nucleus or a second star is involved. A mag 11.2 star is 3' NW. N4504
lies 20' SW.
************************************************************
NGC 4671 = MCG -01-33-004 = Mrk 1334 = PGC 43029
12 45 47.6 -07 04 11
V = 12.6; Size 1.5x1.3; SB = 12.7; PA = 141d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter.
Gradually increases to a very small brighter core, symmetrical
appearance.
************************************************************
NGC 4674 = MCG -01-33-005 = PGC 43050
12 46 03.5 -08 39 19
V = 13.1; Size 1.7x0.6; SB = 13.0; PA = 119d
18" (4/9/05): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.5'. At
first I only noticed the brighter 0.4' core, but with averted vision
the fainter extensions were visible. Located 9' ENE of mag 9 HD 110901
at the edge of the 225x field.
************************************************************
NGC 4703 = MCG -01-33-015 = FGC 1504 = PGC 43342
12 49 19.0 -09 06 31
V = 13.7; Size 3.0x0.6; SB = 14.1; PA = 156d
18" (4/9/05): very faint edge-on, 4:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.25', low even
surface brightness. Located 8' NE of mag 7.6 HD 111384. On the DSS
this galaxy looks like a miniature version of NGC 4565 with a bisecting
dust lane and bulging core.
************************************************************
NGC 4708 = MCG -02-33-016 = Ho 463a = PGC 43382
12 49 41.5 -11 05 35
V = 13.1; Size 1.1x0.8; SB = 13.0; PA = 55d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE,
~0.9'x0.7'. The surface brightness is irregular and the elongation
sometimes changes orientation using averted vision. N4700 lies 21'
SSW.
************************************************************
NGC 4716 = MCG -01-33-021 = LGG 312-004 = PGC 43464
12 50 33.1 -09 27 04
V = 12.9; Size 1.1x0.8; SB = 12.6; PA = 80d
18" (4/9/05): fairly faint, small, round, 0.4' diameter. Sharply
concentrated with a very small bright nucleus. Forms a double system
with NGC 4717 just 0.8' SSE.
************************************************************
NGC 4717 = MCG -01-33-023 = LGG 312-002 = Ho 466a = PGC 43467
12 50 34.4 -09 27 47
V = 13.2; Size 1.5x0.7; SB = 13.1; PA = 12d
18" (4/9/05): faint, fairly small, elongated N-S, 0.7'x0.3'. Forms an
0.8' double system with NGC 4716 off the north side. A low surface
brightness edge-on, MCG -01-33-022, lies 3.5' S (not noticed).
************************************************************
NGC 4724 = MCG -02-33-022 = Ho 470b = PGC 43494
12 50 53.8 -14 19 54
V = 13.9; Size 0.9x0.5; SB = 12.9; PA = 95d
18" (4/9/05): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. Contains a
faint, quasi-stellar nucleus. Located just off the west side of larger
and brighter NGC 4727!
************************************************************
NGC 4727 = N4740: = MCG -02-33-023 = Ho 470a = PGC 43499
12 50 57.2 -14 19 58
V = 13.0; Size 1.4x1.1; SB = 12.8; PA = 130d
18" (4/9/05): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated,
0.8'x0.6', broad concentration with a slightly irregular surface
brightness though no defined core or nucleus. Forms a close, striking
pair with NGC 4724 just 50" between centers. The V magnitude appears
brighter than listed (13.6).
************************************************************
Steve Gottlieb
Received on Sun Apr 10 15:12:20 2005