NGC 6962 group (was OR 9 July, Fremont Peak)

Here are my description of the 6 NGC galaxies along and one additional galaxy about 10' west. This is one of my favorite galaxy groups and I've taken notes on the members at least a half-dozen times!

--Steve

CGCG 374-011 = PGC 65356
20 46 38.0 +00 20 22
This galaxy is located just 10' preceding NGC 6962 in a group of six NGC galaxies with several identification errors. At 220x appeared extremely faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, very low even surface brightness. Requires averted and cannot hold continously.
 
NGC 6959
20 47 07.2 +00 25 49
V = 13.7; Size 0.7x0.3; Surf Br = 11.9; PA = 57d
Fairly faint, small, very elongated SW-NE, 0.6'x0.2', weak concentration to a slightly brighter core. Nestled within a semi-circular arc of stars including three collinear stars to the SW.
 
NGC 6961
20 47 10.4 +00 21 48
V = 13.7; Size 0.6x0.5; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 134d
Very faint, very small, round. Contains a faint stellar nucleus with direct vision surrounded by a very low surface brightness halo perhaps 15" diameter. A very faint star is off the north end. Located 3.3' NW of NGC 6962 and collinear with NGC 6964.
 
NGC 6962
20 47 19.0 +00 19 14
V = 12.1; Size 2.9x2.3; Surf Br = 14.1; PA = 75d
Moderately bright, fairly small, round, 0.7' diameter. Contains a bright core which increases to a quasi-stellar nucleus with direct vision. Brightest in the group and collinear with NGC 6964 less than 2' SE and NGC 6961 3' NW. A distinctive obtuse triangle of mag 11 and 12 stars is a few arcminutes to the SW.
 
NGC 6965
20 47 20.4 +00 29 00
V = 14.1; Size 0.6x0.4; Surf Br = 12.4
Faintest of six in the NGC 6962 group. Appeared very faint, very small, round, 15"-20" diameter. At first I thought it had a faint stellar nucleus with direct vision, but with careful viewing this was a mag 15-15.5 star at the south edge. Located 1.3' N of a mag 13 star and on a line with two mag 14 stars a similar distance to the east and west. This galaxy is misidentified as NGC 6963 in most modern catalogues.
 
NGC 6964
20 47 24.2 +00 18 03
V = 13.0; Size 1.7x1.3; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 171d
Fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S, 0.5'x0.4'. Moderate even concentration to a samll bright core and quasi-stellar nucleus. A mag 13.5 star is just of the SE end of the galaxy. Forms a close pair with NGC 6962 1.8' NW and this galaxy is just slightly smaller and fainter than its companion.
 
NGC 6967
20 47 34.0 +00 24 42
V = 13.1; Size 1.0x0.6; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 105d
Faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, 0.7'x0.3'. Contains a very small brighter nucleus. A mag 10 star is close following and the galaxy is elongated nearly in the direction of the star.

On Jul 18, 2010, at 7:55 PM, Dave Goggin wrote:

>
>
>> Mooching included the 6962 group in Aquarius, where I hadn't been before.
>> There are 6 galaxies in that tight group. Seeing was imperfect and there's
>> mottling in that area, so Adrian saw 8 galaxies, I could make out 7. It was
>> Dave had a correct count at 6.
>
> In fact I only spotted 5 of the NGC's -- one was near the top of the field of view and I didn't see it, but instead saw PGC 162626, which I initially thought (correctly) was a Gx but later conservatively changed my mind to think was just a star.
>
> Depending how you define the NGC 6962 group and if you also include PGC's -- not unreasonable when using a 30" scope -- there are conceivably 12 Gx's visible within that field of view or a bit beyond with some scope movement. (plus 3 more outliers if one moves the scope around somewhat more.)
>
> This brings up an important point that TAC people may consider when observing galaxy groups. How many one can see depends on many factors including eyepiece field of view, aperture, sky darkness, propensity to move the scope around to seek more group members, physiological eyesight, and observing experience.
>
> Especially when showing galaxy groups to the public, it is important in keeping everyone happy that we not appear to turn the observing into a contest of eyesight. (Having a severe visual impairment, which, happily does not interfere with my scotopic vision, I am especially sensitive about such things.) Instead we should produce a map of the galaxy group in question in advance, exhibit the map to our observing guests as they approach the eyepiece saying "you may be able to see at least some of these galaxies", and just let them see what they can see.
>
>> Also new to me were 5545 and 5544 in Canes Venatici, an interesting
>> closely interacting pair of galaxies.
>
> For those who observe such things, this is Arp 199.
>
> -DG
>
>
> --
> Subscribe: http://observers.org/mailman/listinfo/tac OI Calendar: http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
> Golden State Star Party, July 10-14 http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org
> TAC Imaging mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAC-Imaging/

-- 
Subscribe: http://observers.org/mailman/listinfo/tac OI Calendar: http://observers.org/OI-calendar/
Golden State Star Party, July 10-14 http://www.goldenstatestarparty.org
TAC Imaging mailing list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TAC-Imaging/