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Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.

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4 years 1 week ago #108432 by lunartic_old
Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies. was created by lunartic_old
Hi all.
As you may, or may not, be aware, I am working my way through the Herschel 400 list and I am currently wandering around Ursa Major, galaxy country, galaxies are my least favourite objects to observe.  There are a good number of galaxies in Ursa Major that are faint and would be impossible to view from my back garden, therefore, I ventured down to Wicklow, to Glendalough, to be precise.  In about four hours I bagged 11 galaxies.
NGC 2742 and NGC 2768 sit in the same field of view.  2742 is small and elliptical, difficult to observe.  2768 is an elliptical of similar size and showed a typical elliptical face.
NGC 2787.  Averted vision showed a faint halo surrounding a small core.
NGC 3198.  Large and elongated.  The faint nucleus spreads out gradually to the edge of space.
NGC 3184.  A circular galaxy that is very tricky to view.  The core appeared and disappeared with the seeing.  No details seen in the halo.
NGC 3675.  Very elongated galaxy with a bright nucleus.
NGC 3665.  Circular in shape, the outer arms spread out from the core.  No increase in magnification could show any features.
NGC 3619 and NGC 3613.  In the same field of view.  3619 is small and dim, looking like an out of focus star.  3613, slightly elongated and displaying a very faint core.
NGC 3610.  A circular galaxy that appear star like at lower magnifications.  Upping the power shows the nucleus and averted vision the halo.  No details in the halo seen.
NGC 3631.  Averted vision showed a star like nucleus surrounded by a large halo of material.  Higher magnifications showed a slightly darker halo surrounding the core.  Some mottling in the halo.
It was past three o'clock by this point and very cold, there was some frost on the scope.  Time to call it a night.
I am a cowardly creature by nature, but once I got over my initial trepidation of being out there alone, I soon forgot there was no one around.  There were the sounds of animals.  I have a tendency to talk to myself when observing, perhaps I scared them off.
There are so many faint objects on the list that they require a dark site to be seen.
I started the Herschel 400 last March, I have logged 194 objects, just 206 to go.  I still have to tap into Virgo, Coma Berenices and Canes Venatici, that means lots more galaxies, (GROAN).
Paul

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.

Rich Cook
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4 years 1 week ago #108433 by flt158
Replied by flt158 on topic Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.
I regularly talk to myself while observing, Paul.
The Bible encourages us to do so!
Check out the Psalms.

And even those guys did not have telescopes.

What a truly sensational night of observing you had in Glendalough!

I know completely none of these NGC galaxies.
Which one would you say is the most well known?

Clear skies are here again,

Aubrey.
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4 years 1 week ago #108436 by lunartic_old
Replied by lunartic_old on topic Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.
None of them are well known, Aubrey, they are all dim and obscure, if they were not on the Herschel list, I would not observe them.  NGC 3631 was the best of the bunch, a face on spiral.  As I said, I doubt if any of them are visible from an urban sight, unless observing with a large dob.
Paul

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better programs, and the universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning.

Rich Cook
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4 years 1 week ago - 4 years 1 week ago #108437 by flt158
Replied by flt158 on topic Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.
That's okay, Paul.
Isn't it just marvellous to see this website is buzzing once again with people observing throughout southern Ireland?
My special thanks to you all.

Aubrey.
Last edit: 4 years 1 week ago by flt158.
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4 years 1 week ago #108438 by Fermidox
Replied by Fermidox on topic Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.
Excellent report Paul. As a matter of interest, the faintest galaxy discovered by the Leviathan telescope at Birr is also in Ursa Major. That's NGC 2689. Various magnitudes are quoted but according to a recent Lord Rosse biography, it's mag 16.4 

Finbarr.
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4 years 1 week ago #108442 by Keith g
Replied by Keith g on topic Galaxies, galaxies, galaxies.
Well done Paul, I’ve been out there many times on my own also, it won’t be long until you get into Virgo, you’ll get much closer to 300 before you know it, it’s crowded with galaxies !

Keith..
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