October 13, 2012 at Shot Rock

NELM 7.0 – 7.1, then degraded to 6.8

Seeing: 3/5 improving to 4/5

Transparency: 4/5 to 3/5

Humidity started at 75%, then dropped to 50%.  Temps stabilized at 39-40F

Telescope: 22” f/4.0 reflector on an equatorial platform

Eyepieces:  24mm Panoptic (finder eyepiece), 10, 6 and 4mm ZAO-II’s, 10 and 6mm Delos, 9 and 7mm BGOs, and TMB 1.8x ED Barlow

There were five of us there with scopes ranging from 10” to a pair of 22”.

Quick note about the KTG Catalogue as a few of the trios observed were part of this list.  It is Part I of isolated triplets of galaxies researched by a group of Russian astronomers in a paper published in Astrofizicheskie Issledovaniia, vol. 11 in 1979. This list contains 84 isolated triples of northern-hemisphere galaxies with apparent magnitudes of the components m < 15.7 mag.  There is a similar list for the southern hemisphere, KTS

Abstract of the original paper

A list of 84 northern isolated galaxy triplets with component apparent magnitudes no fainter than 15.7 is compiled on the basis of a complete examination of Palomar Sky Survey prints. Equatorial coordinates, photographic apparent magnitudes, angular diameters, angular separations, morphological types, radial velocities, and other characteristics of the triplet members are provided, along with finding charts. Three main types of triplet configuration are distinguished: double, line, and triangle. It is shown that triple systems constitute 0.8% of northern galaxies brighter than 15.7 mag, that 64% of the triplets are 'completely isolated', and that 24% of the triplet members are elliptical and lenticular galaxies, while 76% are spirals and irregulars.

All object parameters are listed in RA, Dec, size and listed magnitude without commas.

Images are from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (color) or the Digital Sky Survey (black and white)

CGCG 407-53 trio in Pegasus

22”  (328, 383 and 575x) – Very compact trio of very faint galaxies arranged in a 45 degree right triangle occupying a space of less than 40”.  Think – Jupiter could cover this entire trio.  This trio is also part of Abell Galaxy Cluster 2657.  A mag 13.5 star is just NE from the middle long side of the triangle.

CGCG 407-53   (23 44 57.3   +09 11 36   0.7x0.7’   15.3) – Very faint small round glow.  Held with averted vision 100% of the time.  0.2’ across.

MAC 2345+0911   (23 44 59.7   +09 11 35   0.3x0.2’   15.5) – Extremely faint small round glow seen with averted vision only 50% of the time.   0.1’ across and 0.6’ east of CGCG 407-53

MAC 2344+0912B   (23 44 57.5   +09 12 12   0.5x0.5’   16.0) – Extremely faint very small round glow that pops in and out 25% of the time.   0.1’ across and 0.6’ due north of CGCG 407-53.

Nearby galaxy, MAC 2345+0910 (23 45 02.4  +09 10 25  0.4x0.3’  15.5), is a very faint small round glow.  0.1’ across and 1.7’ SE from CGCG 407-53

MAC 2311+2256 trio in Pegasus

22” (328, 383 and 690x) – Very compact linear trio of very faint galaxies.  Two are uncharted in MegaStar.  The listed magnitudes were pulled using the Sloan Navigation chart.  I’ve used the g magnitude as it is the one closest to the visual green magnitude.

MAC 2311+2256  (23 11 19.4  +22 56 49  0.7x0.3’  16.5, SDSS=16.18g) – Very faint round glow.  Seen 100% of the time with averted vision.  0.1’ across. 

Uncharted  A  (23 11 16.4  +22 56 46  0.2’  SDSS=16.84g) – not seen

Uncharted B  (23 11 12.5  +22 56 40  0.2’  SDSS=16.96g) – extremely faint small round glow.  0.1’ across and 1.5’ due west of the MAC.  A faint mag 16.7 star lies 0.7’ due south.

I didn’t see MAC 2311+2255.

MAC 2341+0904 trio in Pegasus

22” (328, 383 and 690x) – Very compact linear trio of galaxies arranged WNW to ESE and 1.3’ long.  Only one was seen.

MAC 2341+0904B  (23 41 30.9  +09 04 24   0.6x0.2’   16.0, SDSS=15.86g) – Extremely faint round glow seen only 25% of the time.

MAC 2341+0904A  (23 41 32.9  +09 04 32   0.4x0.4’   16.5, SDSS=16.14g) – not seen

MAC 2341+0904  (23 41 34.6   +09 04 56   0.7x0.5’   17.0, SDSS=17.25g) – not seen.

IC 1583 trio in Andromeda

22” (328 and 383x) – Crooked collinear trio of galaxies aligned about SW to NE and about 2.7’ long.

IC 1583  (00 47 10.3  +23 04 26  0.6x0.3’  15.2)  - Considerably faint round glow with a much brighter center and well defined edges.  0.2’ across.

IC 1585  (00 47 14.3  +23 03 12  0.8x0.5’  15.5) - Considerably faint round glow with a much brighter center and slightly diffuse edges.  0.2’ across.  Very similar in brightness to IC 1583, which is 1.6’ NW.

MCG+4-3-3  (00 47 19.4  +23 02 55  0.6x0.2’  16.9) – Extremely faint 2:1 elongated glow with diffuse edges.  Even surface brightness.  PA = 70 and 0.2’ long.  Lies 1.1 ESE from IC 1585.

NGC 317A/B trio in Andromeda  (KTG 02)

22” (328 and 383x) – Nice trio of a double galaxy with a single galaxy 5.4’ due south in a fairly star rich region.  Note:  There is a very faint plume spewing to the SE of NGC 317B which I didn’t see.

NGC 317A  (00 57 39.2  +43 48 03  1.3x1.2’  14.3) - Faint round glow with defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  0.4’ across.

NGC 317B  (00 57 41.0  +43 47 28  1.1x0.5’  13.9) – Faint diffuse round glow, but with averted vision, it grows to 5:2 elongated glow with a round brighter core.  Diffuse edges.  PA = 120 and 0.9x0.4’ across.  This is almost merged with NGC 317B, which is just north.  A pair of mag 11.4 and 13.7 stars lies just 0.7’ east.

MCG+7-3-11  (00 57 42.3  +43 42 10  0.8x0.5’  15.1b) - Very faint diffuse round glow with diffuse edges  0.5’ across.  5.4’ south of the NGC 317 pair.

MCG+7-3-29 trio in Andromeda

22” (328 and 383x) – Almost collinear string of three galaxies running from ENE to WSW and 4.7’ long.

MCG+7-3-29  (01 21 01.3  +40 26 48  0.7x0.2’  15.0) – This western most member is a faint 2:1 elongated even surface brightness glow with diffuse edges.  PA = 120 and 0.4’ long.  No central brightening.

MCG+7-3-31  (01 21 09.3  +40 28 13  0.9x0.4’  14.5) – The middle member is a faint slightly elongated even surface brightness glow with diffuse edges.  0.3x0.2’ and PA = 30 degrees.

NGC 477  (01 21 20.7  +40 29 17  2.1x1.1’  13.7p) – This eastern most member is a considerably bright 4:3 elongated glow with a slightly mottled appearance.  Slightly brighter stellar core.  0.9’ long and PA = 135 degrees.  A mag 13.5 star is just off the SE end.

CGCG 521-9 trio in Andromeda

22” (230 and 328x) – Widely spaced triangle of three small galaxies.

CGCG 521-9  (01 22 30.6  +39 11 57  0.4x0.3’  15.2) – Faint round even surface brightness glow with diffuse edges.  0.2’ across.

CGCG 521-12  (01 22 54.2  +39 15 25  0.7x0.6’  14.7) – Considerably bright 4:3 elongated glow with defined edges.  Slightly brighter center.  PA = 90 degrees and 0.3’ long.  5.8’ NE from CGCG 521-9.

CGCG 521-14  (01 23 10.7  +39 04 33  0.3x0.3’  15.3) – Very faint even surface brightness round glow with diffuse edges.  0.2’ across.  10.6’ SE from CGCG 521-9.

NGC 672 trio in Triangulum

22” (96, 230 and 383x) – Very wide group of galaxies with two large diffuse galaxies with three easily detectable nearby galaxies.

NGC 672  (01 47 54.3  +27 25 59  7.3x2.5’  11.5b) – Bright 5:2 elongated glow with a slightly mottled thing center along the axis.  Very diffuse edges.  PA = 75 degrees and 3.4’ long.

IC 1727  (01 47 31.3  +27 19 39  6.9x3.0’  12.1b) – Considerably faint 3:1 elongated glow with very diffuse edges.  Even surface brightness.  PA = 160 and 2.7’ long.  8.0 SW on NGC 672.

NGC 670  (01 47 25.0  +27 53 08  2.2x0.9’  13.6b) – Considerably bright 3:1 elongated glow with well-defined edges.  PA = 0 and 0.7’ long.

NGC 684  (01 50 14.1  +27 38 48  3.4x0.6’  13.3b) – Considerably bright thin glow with a brighter central bulge and a stellar core.  2.0’ long and PA = 90 degrees.

IC 1731  (01 50 12.4  +27 11 45  1.5x0.9’  14.0p) – Faint even surface brightness round glow with diffuse edges.  0.7’ across.  A mag 9.4 star lies 4.2’ slightly north of due west.

NGC 1060 trio in Triangulum

22” (230 and 383x) – This is the western trio in a rich field full of galaxies.  The other trio, NGC 1066 group, lies only 7’ east.

NGC 1060  (02 43 15.1  +32 25 29  2.3x1.7’  11.8v) – Very bright round glow with diffuse edges.   Gradually then suddenly brighter center.  1.3’ across.

NGC 1061  (02 43 15.8  +32 27 59  1.0x0.7’  15.0p) – Considerably faint 3:2 elongated even surface brightness glow with diffuse edges.  PA = 45 and 0.4’ long.  2.6’ due north of NGC 1060.

NGC 1057  (02 43 03.0  +32 29 28  1.7x0.8’  15.2p) – Faint round glow with diffuse edges.  Slightly brighter center.  PA = 120 degrees and 0.8’ long.

Nearby galaxies:

MAC 02433+3222  (02 43 20.5  +32 22 47  0.9x0.5’ 16.5) – Extremely faint small round glow.  See with averted vision about 50% of the time.  2.9’ SSW of NGC 1060.  0.2’ across.

MAC 0243+3220  (02 43 18.4  +32 20 40  0.4x0.2’  16.0) – Very faint small round glow.  Seen with averted vision 75% of the time.  0.1’ across and 2.1’ SSW of MAC 0243+3222.

NGC 1066 trio in Triangulum

22” (230 and 383x) – Compact trio of galaxies arranged in a 45 degree right triangle.   The long side is 2.5’ long and running N-S with the other galaxy to the west.

NGC 1066  (02 43 50.0  +32 28 30  1.8x1.5’  14.3p) – Bright round glow with a brighter center.  Diffuse edges.  1.0’ across.

NGC 1062  (02 43 44.3  +32 29 45  1.7x0.3’  15.4p) – Very faint 2:1 elongated even surface brightness glow with very diffuse edges.  PA = 100 and 0.6’ long.  1.9’ NW of NGC 1067  (02 43 50.5  +32 30 41  1.2x1.0’  14.6b) – Faint round glow with diffuse edges.  Even surface brightness with a very small slightly brighter core.   0.7’ across and 2.3’ north of NGC 1066.

NGC 996 trio in Perseus

22” (230 and 383x) – A group of three galaxies in a fairly star rich area.

NGC 996  (02 38 39.6  +41 38 52  1.2x1.2’  14.0p) – Considerably bright round glow with defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  0.6’ across.

NGC 999  (02 38 47.6  +41 40 14  1.2x0.8’  14.4p) – Considerably bright round glow with a very faint halo.  The core is 0.3’ across and halo is 0.5’ across.  A mag 13.9 star is just off the SW edge and a mag 11.4 star is just 0.9’ NE.  2.0’ NE from NGC 996.

NGC 1001  (02 39 12.4  +41 40 20  1.0x0.6’  14.9) – Considerably bright 3:1 elongated glow with defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  PA = 135 and 0.6’ long.  A faint knot (or star) is on the NW tip.  4.6’ due east of NGC 999.

IC 275 trio in Perseus

22” (230, 383, 591 and 690x) – This IC galaxy is actually a very compact triple galaxy system arranged in a 30-60-right triangle that occupies a very small space of 35” across. This trio is resolved at 591 and 690x.  Requires some patience sitting at the eyepiece to see all three members.

PGC 11389  (03 00 55.9  +44 21 00  0.4x0.4’  17.3) – Very faint very small galaxy located at the right angle of the triangle.  0.1’ across.

PGC 11388  (03 00 55.8  +44 20 47  0.2x0.2’  17.5) – Extremely faint very small round glow.  <0.1’ across.  Sitting at the 60 degree angle and just 15” due south of NGC 11389.

PGC 11390  (03 00 58.7  +44 20 59  0.2x0.2’  17.5) – Extremely faint very small round glow.  At the 30 degree angle and 35” due east of PGC 11389.

IC 1900 trio in Perseus

22”  (230, 328 and 383x) – Fairly loose trio of galaxies arranged in a 30-60-right triangle. 

IC 1900  (03 15 55.1  +37 09 17  0.7x0.4’  15.1) – Considerably faint 4:3 elongated even surface brightness glow with defined edges.  Stellar core.  0.5’ long and PA = 90 degrees.

IC 1901  (03 16 2.6  +37 06 45  0.8x0.3’  15.7) – Faint slightly elongated even surface brightness glow with defined edges.  Almost stellar core.  0.5’ long and PA = 165 degrees.  3.0’ SSE of IC 1900.

IC 1902  (03 16 12.4  +37 10 39  0.5x0.3’  15.7) – Very faint round even surface brightness glow with diffuse edges.  0.2’ across and 3.7’ slightly north of east from IC 1900.

PGC 8731 trio in Aries

22” (230 and 383x) – Nice string of very faint very small round glows arranged is a slightly crooked collinear row aligned ENE to SWS.  Two other similar sized galaxies are about 3.5’ east.

PGC 8731  (02 17 11.9  +27 44 00  0.3x0.3’  17.1b) – Extremely faint round glow visible with averted vision 50% of the time.  0.1’ across.

PGC 8734  (02 17 15.6  +27 44 53  0.5x0.4’  16.7b) – Very faint small round glow visible with averted vision 75% of the time.  0.1’ across and 1.2’ NE of PGC 8731.

NGC 8741  (02 17 20.5  +27 45 17  0.4x0.3’  17.1b) – Extremely faint small round glow visible only 33% of the time with averted vision.  0.1’ across and 1.1’ ENE of PGC 8734.

Nearby galaxies:

PGC 8745  (02 17 32.2  +27 42 12  0.4x0.3’  16.8b) – Very faint small round glow visible nearly 100% of the time with averted vision.  A mag 14.4 star lies between this and PGC 8753.

PGC 8753  (02 17 34.9  +27 43 47  0.3x0.2’  17.2b) – Extremely faint small round glow visible 25% of the time with averted vision.  1.7’ NNE of PGC 8745.  A mag 13.4 star lies just 20” east of it thus hindering the view a bit.

MCG-5-2-23 trio in Sculptor

22” (230 and 383x) – This trio along with the other two trio I’ve observed in Sculptur was in the “soup” just 25 degrees above the southern horizon.  The transparency overall has dropped a bit when I got to this object.

MCG-5-2-23  (00 36 27.4  -27 45 05  1.1x0.4’  14.6p) – Considerably faint slightly elongated glow with defined edges.  Slightly brighter center.  0.5’ long and PA = 100 degrees.

MCG-5-2-24  (00 36 37.5  -27 47 18  0.8x0.5’  15.1p) – Very faint small round glow with defined edges.  0.5’ across and 2.5’ east of MCG-5-2-23

MCG-5-2-26  (00 36 42.5  -27 49 06  1.2x0.1’  16.2) – Extremely faint small glow detected only 25% of the time with averted vision.  2.1’ SE from MCG-5-2-24.

MCG-5-4-12 trio in Sculptor

22” (230, 328 and 383x) – A compact equilateral triangle of very faint small round glows with each side about 1.6’ long.  A bright pair of galaxies, NGC 439 and 441, about 4’ east

MCG-5-4-12  (01 13 27-7  -31 49 02  0.5x0.3’  16.0b) – Southern end and 0.1’ across.

MCG-5-4-11  (01 13 27.4  +31 47 35  0.4x0.2’  16.3) – Northern end and 0.1’ across.

MCG-5-4-13  (01 13 32.4  -31 48 28  0.4x0.4’  15.9b) – eastern end and 0.1’ across.

IC 1657 trio in Sculptor

22” (230 and 383x) – A bright thin galaxy with a small companion on each side.

IC 1657  (01 14 07.1  -32 39 08  2.3x0.5’  13.1p) – Considerably bright 5:1 elongated glow with a slightly brighter thin center.  PA = 0 and 1.5’ long.

ESO 352-24B  (01 14 13.8  -32 37 45  0.7x0.2’  16.3) – Extremely faint small glow with diffuse edges.  2’ NE of IC 1657.  See about 25% of the time.

ESO 352-24A  01 13 58.7  -32 38 48  0.6x0.3’  15.3) – Very faint small round glow with diffuse edges.  1.7’ slightly north of west from IC 1657.

Cassiopeia A  (23 23 24.0 +58 48 54)

22” (96 and 230x) – While taking a break from the trios and waiting for the three trios in Sculptor to cumulate, I’ve decided to take a quick look at this supernova remnant for a couple minutes, so I didn’t look for any detail.

Easily seen without filters.  Used the Astronomic NPB, Lumicon O-III and Orion Ultrablock (the original one made in Japan in the 90’s) and best seen with the Lumicon O-III.