OR: Lake Sonoma 1/26/11

Despite a pretty dismal CSC for the early evening on Wednesday night (26 Jan) and a totally overcast sky in the east bay in the afternoon, Carter Scholz and I decided to take a chance on heading north to Lake Sonoma. When we left around 3:30 there was a band of clouds stretching across the south and north bay, but the infrared animated image showed that this band was heading south, so we were hoping it would clear out from the Lake Sonoma area in the early evening. Fortunately, things turned out much better than we had hoped for. As twilight darkened, the clouds had disappeared from the north and were now only drifting further south than our location. By the end of astronomical twilight (about 7:00), it was completely clear. Most encouraging to me was a very prominent zodiacal cone in the west extending up into Aries and nearly reaching into Taurus. As the evening progressed, the skies became progressively darker, probably due to local ground fog that was forming in the Santa Rosa valleys. Around midnight my SQM was reading fainter than 21.45, pretty close to the best readings I've seen at this site. I ending up logging about 40 objects and Carter, who hung around a little later than me, hit 60 new objects. Here are a few of the highlights. Unless mentioned otherwise, observations were made at 285x.

-- Steve

                                                                         NGC 978 field

UGC 2022
02 33 17.1 +32 44 48
Size 0.7'x0.7'
Faint, small, round, 22" diameter, slightly brighter core. Located 16' SW of N969 and 20' WSW of N978. A mag 10.5 star lies 5.7' NE.

2MASX J02332722+3306171
02 33 27.2 +33 06 17
Size 0.7'x0.5'; PA = 130d
Very faint, very small, round, 10" diameter. Located at the NW end of the N969/N978 group, 4.5' E of mag 9.8 SAO 55651 and 13' NW of N969.

CGCG 505-007
02 33 37.2 +32 32 14
Size 0.7'x0.3'; PA = 67d
Extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Picked up while observing the surrounding field of the N969/N978 group. Located 9' WNW of N973 and 8' NW of mag 7.5 HD 15896. A mag 10.5 star lies 2.6' NW. An extremely faint star (not in GSC) is close off the west side.

CGCG 505-008
02 33 39.0 +33 00 57
Size 0.6'x0.4'; PA = 75d
Faint, very small, irregularly round, 15"x12". Located 7' NW of N969 (trio with N970 and N974) and 4.7' E of mag 9.4 SAO 55654. A mag 11 star lies 1.8' ENE.

NGC 969
02 34 08.0 +32 56 50
V = 12.3; Size 1.7'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 5d
At 285x appeared moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 N-S, 1.0'x0.5', sharp concentration with a small, very bright core. In a tight trio with NGC 970 2' NNE and N974 3.8' E. Also nearby is CGCG 505-008 7.4' NE and N978 10' SE (a dozen total are within . A mag 14 star is just off the SE side of the halo, 0.9' from the center. Located 3.4' SSW of a mag 10 star.

NGC 970
02 34 11.8 +32 58 38
V = 14.7; Size 0.7'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 55d
Faintest in a trio with N969 2' SSW and N974 3.3' SE. At 285x appeared extremely faint, very small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 15"x10". Located 1.5' S of a mag 10 star. Two mag 14 stars lie 1.3' NW and 1.7' NE. N971 is a 15.5 magnitude star 0.9' E.

IC 1815
02 34 20.0 +32 25 46
V = 12.9; Size 1.7'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.8
Fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, round, 35" diameter, even moderate concentratin to a small bright core and stellar nucleus. Located 3.5' SE of mag 7.6 HD 15896 and 4.5' S of N973.

NGC 973
02 34 20.2 +32 30 19
V = 12.8; Size 3.7'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 48d
Fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 4:1 SW-NE, 1.0'x0.25', sharply concentrated with a bright elongated core and very faint thin extensions. A faint star is very close preceding the SW extension. Located 4.5' NE of mag 7.5 HD 15896. The major axis of the galaxy is collinear with this star. IC 1815 lies 4.5' S and 2MASX J02342777+3233439 lies 3.8' NNE. The latter galaxy appeared extremely faint, very small, elongated ~3:2 SW-NE, 20"x12".

NGC 974
02 34 25.8 +32 57 16
V = 12.7; Size 2.5'x1.9'; Surf Br = 14.2
Fairly faint, moderately large, slightly elongated SW-NE, 1.0'x0.8', broad concentration in the halo, then sharply concentrated with a small bright core. Bracketed by a mag 14 star 0.8' S, and a mag 14.5 star 0.9' N. Forms the eastern vertex of a small triangle with brighter N969 3.8' W and N970 3.3' NW. N978 lies 8' SE. Located 4' SE of a mag 10 star and 11' NW of mag 8.1 HD 16015.

2MASX J02342777+3233439
02 34 27.8 +32 33 44
Size 0.8'x0.3'; PA = 53d
Extremely faint, very small, elongated ~3:2 SW-NE, 20"x12". Located 3.7' NNE of N973 and 8' NE of mag 7.6 HD 15896.

NGC 978
02 34 47.0 +32 50 46
V = 12.4; Size 2.0'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 80d
At 285x appears moderately bright, fairly small, irregularly round, 40"x32". Sharply concentrated with a high surface brightness core and a thin faint halo. Forms a contact pair with N978B at the SE end. The companion appears as an elongated brightening, ~15"x10" N-S, within the SSE portion of the outer halo. Located 6' WSW of mag 8.1 HD 16015. A trio consisting of N969, N970 and N974 lies 10' NW.

                                                                         NGC 1058 FIELD

CGCG 523-088
02 41 23.7 +36 57 50
Size 0.8'x0.2'; PA = 18d
Faint, very small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 0.4'x0.2', very small brighter nucleus, faint extensions. Forms the eastern vertex of a small quadrilateral with three mag 12, mag 13 and mag 14 stars. Located 34' SW of N1058.

STF 294 (double star)
02 42 45.9 +37 08 50
V = 10.4/11.1; Size 7.5"
18" (1/26/11): easily split fairly well-matched pair of mag 10.5/11 stars at 7" separation. Picked up while observing galaxies near N1058. Located 15' SW of N1058.

NGC 1058
02 43 29.8 +37 20 27
V = 11.2; Size 3.0'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.4
Fairly bright, fairly large, irregularly round, 2' diameter, broad, weak concentration, very small brighter nucleus ~5" diameter, irregular surface brightness, asymmetric appearance. A star is superimposed on the NW side ~35" from the center. The halo is more extensive or brighter on the west side and ver weak on the east side, so the nucleus appears offset towards the northeast side. A mag 15 star is at the south end of the galaxy.

CGCG 524-006
02 44 25.0 +37 29 32
Size 0.8'x0.6'; PA = 31d
Faint, very small, slightly elongated, 20"x15". Located 3.6' ESE of mag 9.9 SAO 55821 and 14' NE of N1058.

                                                                         NGC 1057 field

NGC 1057
02 43 02.9 +32 29 28
V = 14.2; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 115d
Very faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 0.7'x0.45', low even surface brightness. Located 4.7' NW of N1060 in a group with N1061 3' SE. N1066 and N1067 lies 10' E.

MCG +05-07-034
02 43 10.6 +32 15 57
Size 0.7'x0.6'

Very faint, fairly small, very low even surface brightness. Two faint stars are 50" E and 1.7' SE (this is a close double on the DSS). Located 4.9' W of MCG +05-07-039 and 9.6' S of N1060.

NGC 1060
02 43 15.1 +32 25 30
V = 11.8; Size 2.3'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 75d
Bright, fairly large, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, large low surface brightness halo extends 2.0'x1.5'. Sharply concentrated with a large, very bright core that is well concentrated to the center. Brightest in a group of 5 NGC galaxies including N1061 2.5' N, N1057 4.8' NW, N1066 8' NE and N1067 9' NE. Located 10' WNW of mag 7.4 HD 16954.

NGC 1061
02 43 15.8 +32 28 00
V = 14.0; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 25d
Faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, 30"x20". Located in the center of the group, 2.5' N of N1060. N1057 lies 3' NW.

CGCG 505-042
02 43 33.0 +32 15 10
V = 14.3; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 77d
Fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 E-W, 30"x20", weak concentration, slightly brighter core. A mag 14 star lies 1.5' E. The galaxy is certainly brighter than the CGCG magnitude of 15.6. Located 5' W of mag 8.7 SAO 55819. Fainter MCG +05-07-034 lies 4.8' WNW.

NGC 1066
02 43 49.9 +32 28 30
V = 13.3; Size 1.7'x1.6'; Surf Br = 14.3
Moderately bright, fairly large, irregularly round, 1.5'x1.2', broad concentration in halo. Contains a small brighter core that increases to the center. Forms a pair with N1067 2.2' due N. Located 8' NE of N1060 and 7' NNW of mag 7.4 HD 16954.

NGC 1067
02 43 50.6 +32 30 42
V = 13.7; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.6
Very faint, fairly small, irregularly round, ~40"x35", very low surface brightness, very weak concentration. Located 2.2' N of N1066 in a group of 5 NGC galaxies.

                                                                         vdB 14 and vdB 15 field (both huge reflection nebulae)

STF 384
03 28 29.1 +59 54 24
V = 8.1/8.8; Size 1.9"
Tight but cleanly split 1.9" pair at 285x with an orange primary and a bluish (contrast affect?) secondary.

STF 385
03 29 04.1 +59 56 25
V = 4.3/8.2; Size 2.3"
Very challenging, large mag contrast pair (delta mag = 4) at a close 2.3". Just cleanly resolved in moments of better seeing with 6" mask at 285x.

vdB 15
03 29 55 +58 52.7
Size 35'x20'
Extremely large reflection nebula, appears as a very irregular glow surrounding mag 4.6 HD 21389 = CE Cam. The edge is better defined from the SE to the NE boundary. The brightest section is a roughly 7' circular region around the illuminating star. The outline is an irregular triangular shape, tapering on the NE end and wisdes on the SW side. On the NW edge is a string of three collinear stars SW-NE and the border on this side is oriented SW-NE. On the east side the border is oriented N-S. vdB 15 is part of a complex with vdB 14 situated ~1° NNE.

STF 389
03 30 10.9 +59 21 58
V = 6.4/7.9; Size 2.6"
Very nice, tight pair of mag 6.5/8 stars at 2.6". Cleanly resolved at 285x using a 6" mask.

vdB 14
03 30.9 +59 45
Size 20'x8'
This reflection nebula is part of a complex with vdB 15 situated ~1° SSW. At 105x (unfiltered) it appeared a fairly faint, very large glow, very elongated SW-NE, roughly 20'x5'. The SW and NE ends are irregular but roughly round. An elongated group of stars is just off the NW edge. The center is ~20' SE of mag 4.2 HD 21291 = ∑ 385 (4.3/8.2 at 2").

                                                                         Miscellaneous

NGC 1435 = Merope Nebula
03 46 10 +23 45.9
Size 30'x30'
At 73x (unfiltered), the Merope Nebula was immediately visible as a huge wedge-shape or comet-shaped glow with Merope near the focus on the NE end and the nebula spreading out generally to the south and west. The most striking feature of the nebula is the well-defined and approximately eastern edge oriented N-S that heads south from Merope, passing through a 1' pair of mag 10/11 stars as well as a 1' pair of mag 10/12.5 star. The nebulosity can be traced a bit over 20' along this side. On the west side of Merope the border is more ill-defined but roughly heads southwest for ~20'. The southern border is also ill-defined but is roughly oriented NW to SE and nearly extends nearly as far as mag 9 HD 23326.

Berkeley 13
04 55 46.2 +52 49 12
Size 8'
At 285x, roughly a dozen stars are resolved, centered ~5' SW of mag 5.7 HD 31134. Includes 5 brighter mag 13-14 stars, and the rest are mag 14.5-15.5. The mag 5.7 detracts from viewing, but the cluster does not appear rich as there is no background glow or hint of other stars.

Biurakan 10 = Berkeley 28
06 52 07 +02 55.0
V = 10.4; Size 4'
At 175x, nearly two dozen stars were resolved over haze within an equilateral triangle formed by stars at the NW, NE and S vertices. A brighter, dense string stars oriented NW-SE cuts through the center of the cluster and includes the brightest cluster member. Many of the fainter stars require averted vision to pop out clearly. Located 10' SE of mag 6.4 HD 50062. Planetary nebula M 1-8 lies 25' NE.

Sharpless 2-217
04 58 45 +47 59.6
Size 5'
This relatively bright Sharpless HII region shows up fairly well unfiltered at all powers (no significant response to UHC filter). At 175x, appears ~6' diameter, though with an irregular outline. Located in a rich star field and a number of stars are superimposed on the nebula including mag 9.4 SAO 39906 on the E end. Near the southern border is a very small knot, ~15", surrounding a faint star. This small "knot" is an infrared star cluster and HII knot at the SW edge of the ionization front of Sh 2-217.

UGC 3840
07 25 20.9 +19 10 39
Size 1.1'x1.1'
Fairly faint, fairly small, round, sharply concentrated with a small bright core, 0.6' diameter. A mag 12.7 star is off the NNE side, 0.9' from center. A very faint star is embedded in the halo on the WNW side of the core and a very faint star is just outside the halo on the NW side. Forms a pair with UGC 3842 5' SE. Located 10.6' NNE of mag 7.5 HD 58162.

This galaxy was discovered by Edouard Stephan on 6 Feb 1874 with the 31.5-inch silver-on-glass reflector of the Marseille Observatory but his discovery was not published for some reason so this galaxy should have received a NGC designation! As UGC 3842 is only slightly fainter, I'm surprised Stephan didn't pick up this galaxy at the same time as it was obvious in my 18-inch.

-- 
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