2 more Arps and M33

The transparency, like two nights ago, wasn't great, and this time the seeing wasn't either. But at least the blasted fog stayed at bay.

The session started off a little rough but improved from there.

Arp74 11/30/2008 20:20UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Not seen.

Arp145 11/30/2008 20:30UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Not seen.

Arp166 11/30/2008 20:40UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

A small bit of a bar with two bulges along it, each containing an averted-vision semi-stellar core. The N one is slightly larger.

Arp229 11/30/2008 21:30UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

A whole lot going on in this field. A pair of galaxies in the center (NGC507 & 508) first present themselves -- 507 is the larger and brighter of the two, while both show semi-stellar cores. To the NNW lies another large galaxy (NGC499), this one with a well condensed core elongated ENE-WSW. To the SW lies another large galaxy (IC1685), with extremely weak condensation.

Further careful study at 235x and 335x reveals a small nearly stellar galaxy to the S of NGC507, which flirted between direct and averted vision with the seeing. Always averted vision and holdable perhaps only 35% of the time was IC1687, a tiny little smudge near the trio of stars at the center of the field. Of similar brightness, but with a hint of condensation was MCG+05-04-048, to the NE of 507/508. Even the hint of a condensation was enough to hold this one closer to 75% of the time in averted.

I was pretty chuffed about pulling in a couple of ICs and my first MCG, but I also missed several NGCs in the field (501, 503 and 510 -- I did capture 495 to the E of 499, but I mis-identified it as a star).

That one wore me out a bit, so I thought I'd knock another Messier off the sketching list:

M33 11/30/2008 22:15UT; Pickering5, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.4

Central core semi-stellar, with a bright fan-shaped condensation extending S and E. NGC604 very prominent, with parts of two main arms direct vision. Somewhat mottled in averted. Only NGC592 is visible of the two dimmer, wider arms.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

That M33 is FANTASTIC!

As Micheal said,
That M33 is FANTASTIC.
PS Have you all these sketch in an particular location or do you have any inclination to publish them in any fashion?
Donal

Thanks, Michael and Donal!

You can find all my sketches at www.rokeby.ie/observatory

The presentation isn't terribly elaborate, but perhaps someday I'll put some better organization, thumbnails, etc.

Oh, and ignore the equipment section -- it hasn't been updated in years. The 16" SCT, for instance, can now be found in Michael's observatory, not mine.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

Jeff,
That AP telecompressor - does it simply screw into the eyepiece barrel or how does it connect up?
Michael

Michael --

Just screws into the eyepiece like a filter.



-- Jeff.