Iris, Fetus and Minkowski's Footprint

Well, at least the first clear night in recent memory happened to coincide with a new moon. (Although I'm still rather sore about having been clouded out for both double-shadow transits on Jupiter.)

I had some NGC PNs and Arp Peculiars on my list, and a few challenge objects (Minkowski's Footprint and a couple of Abell PNs), but in the end I spent so much time sketching the Fetus and hunting down Minkowski's that I never got to the Arps or Abells.

NGC7023 Iris Nebula 8/21/2009 22:11 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
16" Mak-Cass @ 235X

First impression at 150X is a bit of glare around a bright field star but further study reveals a much larger extent and a non-uniformity to the haze. 235X a bit better with more contrast and a more accentuated "bite" out of the nebulosity to the WSW. 335X washes out too much nebulosity. Further study reveals brighter crescent to N and brighter angular section fanning out to SSW.

UHC decreases extent and variances in brightness; OIII reduces extent even further (but seems to have less effect on variegation).

NGC7008 8/21/2009 22:41 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
16" Mak-Cass @ 235X, UHC

150X + OIII brings out clumping most; 335X unfiltered shows involved stars best; 235X + UHC most balanced. I didn't see the detached lump on the spine this time, but I got a few brief moments that showed the double arc to the head. Field littered with double stars.

NGC7048 8/21/2009 23:11 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
16" Mak-Cass @ 153X, OIII

Mottled gray ball at 335X. Two averted-vision stars involved, neither holdable but the brighter of the two (to NW of center) perhaps 30% at 450X and 40% at 600X. Dimmer one (near N edge) no better than fleeting at any magnification.

Possible minima to center at 75X with OIII; 150X and OIII reveals hints of same and some fringing to NE.

M1-92 Minkowski's Footprint 8/21/2009 23:30 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 6, SQM 20.6
16" Mak-Cass @ 597X

Wow, is this one tiny! Completely stellar in appearance up to 335X; hints of elongation at 450X; with bipolar nature only apparent at 600X. Looks like a fairly fuzzy notched double with the ESE component about 1/3 to 1/2 the size of the WNW component.

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

Nice Sketches.

I did wander across the fetus nebula last night and was wondering why it was called that.

Michael.

Michael --

I assume it's just the shape. I always thought it looked more like a seahorse, but the fetus (foetus for those native to this part of the world) name seems to have caught on.

-- Jeff.

The foetus looks quite interesting.
Must take a look at that.

Michael.