First time here since 2012. A few notable comments about the skies since I last came. The northern horizon is no longer completely dark due to the Permian basin, but it does not detract from observing at all. I also noticed that the skies aren’t as dark as they used to be. A few long-time TSPers commented to me that the skies grew progressively worse in the last ten years due to the factories just south of the border and general increased particulate matter. I should note that the humidity was a little higher than average, which contributed to loss of transparency.
The following notes are of select objects observed on two of the three nights I was there, specifically Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12th. Monday night, the skies averaged NELM 6.7-6.8, while Tuesday night was a little better at NELM 6.9.
Monday night NELM = 6.7-6.8
Observed 23 flat galaxies from my observing guide. This session completes all observations in the book.
UGC 4277
22” at 230 and 287x - thin even surface brightness glow with little central brightening and tapering tips. PA = 80 and 2.5’ long
NGC 4356
22” at 287x - considerably bright, thin, even surface brightness streak. No central brightening. PA = 150 and 3’ long. A mag 13.2 star lies just off the east of center.
IC 3311
22” at 287x - considerably faint, thick, flat galaxy. Even surface brightness. PA = 45 and 1.2’ long.
IC 3322A
22” at 287 and 383x - considerably bright thin glow. A very faint, very small knot was detected near the northwest tip. PA = 30 and 2.9’ long. Two nearby galaxies, MAC 1225+0710 and MAC 1225+0712, were picked up as very faint, very small round glows.
UGC 7522
22” at 287x - faint thin glow with a star near the NW tip. PA = 60 and 2.2’ long.
IC 3474
22” at 287 and 383x - considerably faint, even surface brightness, thick glow. No central brightening. A faint star seen to the NW. PA = 135 and 2’ long.
NGC 4517
22” at 287x - Bright, mottled, large thin glow. Dust lane is off-center to the north and not complete. More to the east, to about 2/3 of the way from E to W tips. A star just NW of the center. PA = 100 and 8’ long. Note: This is a quick observation as I have seen this several times in the past.
UGC 7802
22” at 383x - Considerably faint, thin glow. Even surface brightness throughout and no central brightening. PA = 120 and 1’ long. A 12.6 mag star lies 1’ NW from the center.
IC 3608
22” at 287 and 383x - A faint, small, thin glow with an obvious central region. Very faint thinning tips. PA = 90 and 1’ long. A faint 16th mag star lies just NE from the center.
NGC 4703
22” at 287 and 383x - Considerably bright thin glow with a brighter central region and a nearly stellar core. Faint dust lane across the entire length of the galaxy. PA = 30 and 3.2’ long. A faint 16th mag star lies 0.6’ due south from the center.
NGC 4700
22” at 287x - Bright thick 6:1 elongated glow with defined edges. Seems a little thick to be a flat galaxy. Higher than usual surface brightness. PA = 135 and 2.6’ long. A 15th mag star off the SW tip and a very faint star off the NE tip.
UGC 7991
22” at 383x - Considerably faint, flat, even surface brightness with somewhat diffuse edges. A mag 15.5 star was detected just east of the northern tip. PA = 0 and 1.7’ long.
MCG-3-33-28
22” at 287 and 383x - Considerably faint, thin glow with thinning tapering tips. Minor central bulge and brighter nearly stellar center. PA = 135 and 2.2’ long. An extremely faint galaxy was detected just north of the SW tip. A pair of 15th mag starts to the north of the center.
MCG-3-33-30 (UGCA 320)
22” at 287x - Considerably bright, thick, slightly mottled 5:1 glow.
This appears brighter than the nearby flat galaxy, MCG-3-33-28. PA = 60
and 6.1’ long. Two extremely faint round glows were detected to the
north. One at PA = 45 (
MCG-3-34-18
22” at 287 and 383x - Considerably faint thin glow with a significant central brightening. Diffuse edges. PA = 0 and 2.7’ long. A 15th mag star is SE from the center. An extremely faint round glow with a star on the edge was seen about 0.9’ SW from the center.
NGC 5073
22” at 287x - Bright, thick, flat galaxy with well-defined edges. A faint stellar core and tapered ends. PA = 30 and 2.9’ long
NGC 5022
22” at 287 and 383x - Considerably bright, even surface brightness glow
with a brighter center. Somewhat defined edges. PA = 170 and 2.0’ long.
Two very faint stars were detected on the west side of each end. A
couple 12th mag stars in the north and western part of the
field. Near
MCG-3-34-41
22” at 383x - Faint even surface brightness, thin glow with tapering
ends. PA = 0 and 2.0’ long. A faint, small, round glow,
NGC 5170
22” at 230 and 287x - Considerably bright, long, thin glow with a
brighter central region. The south edge of the middle part is a bit more
defined than the north side, which suggests a dust lane. PA = 45 and
7.5’ long. A very faint diffuse glow,
UGC 8543
22” at 287 and 383x - Faint, small, thin glow with no central brightening. Even surface brightness glow with somewhat defined edges. PA = 30 and 1.2’ long. A faint star, mag 15.6, lies 0.4’ west of the center.
NGC 5496
22” at 230 and 287x - Considerably bright, mottled thick glow with diffuse edges. PA = 0 and 3.8’ long. 4 stars on the disk. Two near the south end, one halfway from the center to the north tip, and the fourth on the north tip. An extremely faint knot was seen almost between the two stars on the south side.
MCG-3-30-3
22” at 287x - It was low above the horizon when I observed this object. Considerably faint, thin, even surface brightness glow. PA = 0 and 1.9’ long. An extremely faint, round glow seen 2.2’ WSW from the southern tip.
IC 3799
22” at 287 and 383x - Considerably bright, even surface brightness glow with well-defined edges. PA = 150 and 2.4’ long. A 15th mag star just off the edge towards the NE. A ‘bright’ mag 9.9 star lies 5.7’ WSW from the center.
Tuesday night (NELM 6.9)
I included 10 Small Galaxy Groups, 3 Shakhbazian Compact Galaxy Clusters and 5 galaxies with extragalactic features.
NGC 3090 group
RA: 10 00 30.2
Dec: -02 58 08
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
MKW 1 – a group of 5 NGC and 4 other galaxies in the field seen. I missed a few galaxies.
NGC 3090 fairly bright round glow with a brighter center. 0.9’ across. A mag 11.4 star lies about 0.6’ north.
CGCG 9-42 group
RA: 10 27 10.2
Dec: -03 19 06
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
MKW 2s – a group of 5 galaxies with several other galaxies.
CGCG 9-42 is a fairly faint, slightly elongated glow with diffuse
edges and a slightly brighter center. 0.5’ across. PA = 45. Two
extremely faint glows,
MAC 1026-3015 lies 2.0’ slightly west of due south of -40. Very faint 2:1 elongated glow. PA = 90 and 0.3’ long.
MCG+0-27-23 group
RA: 10 30 10.6
Dec: -03 09 50
22” at 383x
MKW 2 – group of 5 galaxies with 4 other galaxies picked up. A mag 9.9 star lies 5.1’ SSW of the MCG and best to keep off the field for observation. I used the 6mm ZAO-II for the observation after centering it with the 8mm Delos.
MCG+0-27-23 is a fairly bright, slightly elongated glow with a
brighter center. PA = 135 and 0.6’ long.
MAC 1030-3015 was very difficult as it was near the mag 9.9 star,
about 2’ SW. Picked up as an extremely faint very small round glow. I
did not see
UGC 4956 group
RA: 09 20 01.9
Dec: +01 02 20
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
MKW 1s - 4 galaxies seen
UGC 4956 is a bright, slightly elongated glow with a much brighter center. PA = 150 and 0.7’ long. A pair of nearly collinear 16th mag stars lie SSW and a ‘bright’ mag 10.6 star lies 2.1’ SW.
A triangle of galaxies surrounding a mag 13.6 star lies between 5 and 6’ south of the UGC.
Mkn 1232 (
MAC 0919+0057 was picked up as a very faint amorphous, slightly elongated glow. No central brightening. PA = 45 and 0.3’ long. A faint star lies just north.
IC 4064 group
RA: 13 01 06.7
Dec: +39 50 29
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
AWM 6 - 8 galaxies seen in the field. Most of the observations was with the 6mm ZAO-II
IC 4064 is a fairly bright, slightly elongated glow with a gradually brighter center. PA = 135. A mag 9.9 star lies 1.2’ east, and a mag 12.2 star lies 1.6’ south.
MAC 1300+3947 lies 2’ north of IC 4056. Picked up as a very faint, thin, short streak. PA = 135 and 0.3’ long.
MAC 1301+3956 lies 1.9’ NW of IC 4073 and 2.5’ north of IC 4067. Picked up as a faint, small, round glow. 0.1’ across.
NGC 5096 group
RA: 13 20 30.0
Dec: +33 05 17
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
17 galaxies seen in the field. Most of the observations was with the 6mm ZAO-II
NGC 5096 is a triple galaxy. Fairly bright round glow with two ‘companions’ at the 11 and 2 o’clock positions. Both companions are faint, very small, round glows.
MAC 1320+3305B lies just 0.4 NW of the PGC and is a very faint, slightly elongated, very small glow. PA = 45 and 0.2’ long.
MAC 1320+3310 is a faint 3:2 elongated glow with a slightly brighter
center. PA = 20 and 0.2’ long. It lies 2.3’ NE of
MAC 1320+3305C is a very faint, small, slightly elongated glow. PA = 30 and 0.2’ long.
MAC 1320+3302 is a very faint, small, 2:1 elongated glow. PA = 90 and 0.3’ long. A ‘bright’ mag 9.8 star star lies 2.5’ west and is best to keep off the field.
MAC 1320+3300A is a very faint, slightly small, elongated glow. PA = 150 and 0.2’ long
MAC 1320+3300 is an extremely faint, very small, round glow.
NGC 5280 group
RA: 13 42 55.6
Dec: +29 52 06
22” at 230, 287 and 383x
A field of 20 galaxies picked up with others I have not looked for nor seen.
NGC 5280 a considerably bright round glow with a much brighter center. 0.4’ across.
MAC 1342+2949B lies 1.6’ SSW of the MCG and is a very faint 2:1 elongated even surface brightness glow. PA = 150 and 0.2’ long.
Going 6.3’ NE,
MAC 1342+2956C lies 4.2’ due east of NGC 5277 and picked up as a faint slightly elongated even surface brightness glow. PA = 0 and 0.2’ long.
Going back to NGC 5280 and looking 4’ west,
MAC 1342+2952 lies 1.3’ NW of UGC 8662 and is an extremely faint round glow. A faint star is just off the west edge.
MAC 1342+2951A lies 0.7’ NW of NGC 5274 and picked up as a faint, small, slightly elongated glow with a slightly brighter center. PA = 150 and 0.2’ long
MAC 1342+2951B is a very faint 2:1 elongated even surface brightness glow. PA = 120 and 0.2’ long. It lies 0.9’ due north of NGC 5274.
MAC 1342+2947B is a very faint 2:1 elongated glow. PA = 90 and 0.2’ long. I didn’t see the tiny galaxy on the north edge. It lies 5.0’ SSW of NGC 5280 and 5.1’ ESE of NGC 5275.
MAC 1342+2945B is a faint 3:2 elongated even surface brightness glow with a slightly brighter compact center. PA = 45 and 0.3’ long. Lies 2.0’ SSE of +2947B.
MAC 1342+2947A picked up as an extremely faint very small round glow. Lies 1.3’ SW of +2947B. Continuing 1.7’ WSW from +2947A, another extremely faint very small round glow, MAC 1342+2946B, was picked up. Another extremely faint very small round glow, MAC 1352+2945A lies 1.4’ WSW of +2947B.
NGC 4104 group
RA: 1206 38.9
Dec: +28 10 27
22” at 230, 287 and 383x
MKW 4s – field of 7 galaxies with 3 extra galaxies.
NGC 4104 is a bright 5:2 elongated glow with a much brighter center. PA = 150 and 1.2’ long.
NGC 4213 group
RA: 12 15 37.6
Dec: +23 58 56
22” at 230, 287 and 383x
AWM 2 - 16 galaxies in the field seen.
NGC 4213 a bright round glow with a much brighter center. Two nearby
galaxies. Lying 1.8’ NE is
Three galaxies forming an almost perfect equilateral triangle lies about
3.5’ west of NGC 4213.
Continuing 10’ SE there is another triangle of three galaxies. PGC 1695893 - faint 3:1 elongated glow. PA = 60 and 0.3’ long. Continuing 2.1’ SW is a mag 14.2 star and going another 2’ SW,
Going back to NGC 4213 and looking to the NE quadrant.
Back to NGC 4213 and looking 10’ east, I see a ‘very bright’ mag 5.0 star. It is so bright that it must be completely off the field to see anything around that star.
MAC 1216+2350 - very faint 3:1 elongated even surface brightness glow. PA = 0 and 0.3’ long. Lies 6.5’ SSW of the star.
MCG+0-36-22 group
RA: 14 17 35.5
Dec: +02 03 11
22” at 287, 383, and 690x
This small galaxy group, MKW 6, is rather challenging compared to the other small galaxy groups. I picked up only 8 galaxies. This group should be reobserved when it is higher in the sky.
MAC 1417+0202 is a very faint, small, round glow lying 2.2’ west of the MCG.
MAC 1417+0201 is a fleeting thin glow 1.2 SE of +0202. PA = 0 and 0.3’ long.
Shakhbazian 358
RA: 14 23 46
Dec: +06 35 05
22” at 383x
Used
Components 1 and 2 were seen first as two faint round glows. 4 and 5 picked up as very faint glows. I didn’t see 3 and 6 at first. Keith R saw 1, 2, 4, and 5 only. Scott H saw all six; he saw 3 before 4 and 5. Then I went back and picked off component 3. Component 6 was the most difficult, but using the star (7) as a landmark made it easier to find 6.
Shakhbazian 15
RA: 14 20 56
Dec: +44 33 19
22” at 383x
Group of galaxies in a 2.3’ field. I was able to pick up only three of the five galaxies.
Components 1, 5, and 3 were picked up as extremely faint tiny glows. A mag 14.3 star lies 0.5’ south of component 1.
Shakhbazian 14
RA: 14 25 21
Dec: +47 14 45
22” at 383 and 690x
A tight group of six galaxies in a 1’ circle.
At 690x, I picked up three of the six galaxies. Components 1, 2, and 3 are extremely faint, very small, round glows arranged in a 45-degree right triangle. Component 4 was suspected at the location, but I didn’t see it three times, so I marked it as a negative observation.
NGC 4102
RA: 12 06 23.0
Dec: +52 42 40
Bright 2:1 elongated core with a fairly faint 2:1 elongated halo. The core is 0.6’ long and the extended halo is 2.2’ long. The PA for both is 135. A faint knot was detected 0.6’ NE from the center. A second knot is suspected 0.5’ due north from the center. A mag 12.2 star lies on the ESE edge of the halo.
NGC 5430
RA: 14 00 45.8
Dec: +59 19 43
22” at 287 and 383x
Pretty bright 5:2 elongated glow (PA = 30 and 2’ long) with a much fainter 2:1 elongated halo (PA = 150 and 2.5’ long) with a much brighter round center. This suggests a bar structure. A faint, very small round knot was detected near the south end of the bar, which is likely a super luminous star and not likely [BCS2012a] 17/19.
NGC 4258 (M106 )
RA: 12 18 58.1
Dec: +47 18 13
22” at 230, 287, and 383x
Very bright 3:2 elongated core with a much brighter center. One arm starts at the north end, arcing to the NNW, and a much shorter arm starts at the south, arcing to the SSE. The north arm contains a pretty faint brightening about 0.9’ long and located 2’ due north of the center. This brightening is the combined light of HII regions [CPH] 34C/36C/39C/44C/52C. On the southern arm, [CPH] 74C is a fairly faint clump about 2.7’ south of the center. Another clump was suspected 0.5’ further along the arm, which is [CPH] 82Ca.
NGC 4395
RA: 12 25 48.7
Dec: +33 33 01
22” at 287 and 383x
A fairly bright, low surface brightness galaxy with multiple knots all over the place.
NGC 4861
RA: 12 59 02.3
Dec: +34 51 34
22” at 383x
Pretty faint 3:1 elongated low-surface brightness glow with a star on the north tip and an obvious non-stellar clump, 1 Zw 49, at the south end. PA = 160 and 2.8’ long.