Observing reports, Feb 9/10 and Feb 11/12

I got a somewhat surprising break in the clouds a couple of nights ago. Even better, the transparency was above average for my site (NELM 6, SQM 20., so I queued up a Palomar globular.

Pal 2 2/10/2010 00:20 UT; Pickering 6, NELM 6, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 325X

Not visible without motion. Under motion, several areas show averted-vision smudges at 150X and 235X, but I can't hold any of them. Two of these areas resolve into 50% holdable (or better) averted-vision stars at 335X. The larger of the three does not, and is holdable as a vague brightening about 20% of the time. I had no charts at the eyepiece (I rely on GoTo to get me in the vicinity) so I did a field sketch. This would indeed appear to be Pal 2, but it remains a rather un-fulfilling "observation".

That hadn't worked out well enough to make me hungry for more, so I switched to an Arp Peculiar Galaxy on my list.

Arp80 NGC2633 2/10/2010 00:51 UT; Pickering 6, NELM 6, SQM 20.8
400mm Mak-Cass @ 450X

Stellar core up to 335X. Bar and disk both direct vision, but dim, up to 235X. Bar more pronounced than disk at 335X. Image brightness starting to suffer at 450X (and my s4000 8.8 UWA kept fogging), but this magnification does show fleeting hints of annularity in the disk, most notable as a dark crescent between the core/bar and arm to the E, and a similar but much more fleeting feature to the W. Absolutely stupendous!

Nearby elliptical (NGC2634) nearly as bright, but smaller and with less well-condensed core. [Edge-on galaxy immediately to S of 2634 not seen.]

Rather more chuffed with that one, I went on to the Integral Sign Galaxy (UCG3697). Clouds had intruded however, and were in short order covering my entire sky.

-- Jeff.

Last night the conditions were not nearly as good as two nights ago, but it was dark, more-or-less clear, and no moon. I even suited up in my electric pants and socks, expecting a long session.

NGC2261 Hubble's Variable Nebula 2/11/2010 20:41 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

Direct vision, moderately bright fan extending to N of star, the brightest section somewhat detached from the star and then fading more quickly in the center than at the edges. Negative response to UHC and limited reaction to more magnification or larger exit pupil. 150X/2.5mm was probably the sweet-spot, but there wasn't much in it.

Abell 20 PK 214+07.1 2/11/2010 21:00 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass

Not seen.

NGC2163 2/11/2010 21:15 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass @ 225X

Much dimmer than Hubble's Variable Nebula and bi-polar, but equally unresponsive to filtration. Fan to N of star slightly easier and perhaps more extended than fan to S. Total extension very hard to determine, but the N fan extends perhaps half way to the trio of stars it points towards (roughly 45").

While I was in the area I decided to sketch one of the Messiers I haven't put to paper yet.

M1 Crab Nebula 2/11/2010 21:46 UT; Pickering 7, NELM 5.5, SQM 20.5
400mm Mak-Cass @ 150X

I've had decent luck with a UHC before, and even found some use for an OIII, but on this night I preferred the view unfiltered, even at relatively low magnification. There is some detail available, it's just not the filamentary structure you're expecting. Most notable are the bite out of the E side (and the wisp that curls around below it) and a somewhat more vague darkening to the W. There's a brighter triangular section in the center with the tip pointing N, and another brighter extension off the upper half of of the triangle to the NW.

And then I made my big mistake for the night: I keyed in UCG3697, the Integral Sign Galaxy... and, once again, it clouded over. What's with this one?

-- Jeff

First class sketches as alway Jeff. I really like M1, you have managed to capture the shape that apears in photographs.

I am in awe :rock: :rock: :rock:

Paul

jeyjey wrote:

I even suited up in my electric pants and socks, expecting a long session.
-- Jeff

Too much information...

ARP 80 looks a fascinating shape. As ever though, I love your drawings (though I rarely comment). In a few years time it would be well worth thinking about getting them professionally bound for posterity.

Thanks again for sharing these wonderful drawings.

Dave

p.s. ref UCG3697 - I have the same deal - whenever I want to characterise my filters, I get half-way through and the clouds scupper me. Every time!

Thanks Paul and Dave!

Interestingly, Arp80 looks like a fairly normal tightly-wound two-armed barred spiral in the DSS images. But without being able to detect where the arms connect to the bar, it takes on more of a wrong-way-sign appearance (although I've probably got it a little rounder than it should be).

-- Jeff.