Date:  October 28, 2011
Location: Shot Rock at 7600 feet
NELM: 7.0
Transparency: 3/5 - A bit hurt by controlled burns and a bit hazy at sunset.
Seeing: 4/5

Telescope: 22” f/4.0 reflector on an equatorial platform
Eyepieces:  24mm Panoptic (finder eyepiece), 10 and 6mm ZAO-II’s, 9 and 7mm BGO’s, 6mm Delos

Observed mostly galaxy trios from my downloadable guide, which an update will be released soon…pending double checking review.

UGC 12543/46/45 trio    KTG 79

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Nice faint trio of highly elongated galaxies spread across a space of 3.2’. 

UGC 12543  (23 21 33.5  +27 07 08  0.8x0.2’  15.4p) - Very faint 3:1 elongated glow with diffuse edges.  Slightly brighter center.  PA = 80 and 0.8’ long.  Bracketed by a pair of 15^th mag stars on the north and south ends.

UGC 12546  (23 21 41.3  +27 05 13  1.2x0.3’  15.2p) – Faint 3:1 elongated glow with a slightly brighter center.  0.8’ long and PA = 30

MCG+3-59-48/49/50 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – This trio forms a 45 degree right triangle with another galaxy, CGCG 454-61,  in the field to the east.  A very bright mag 6.3 star lies 7.6’ west and best kept off the field.

MCG+3-59-48 (23 23 20.3  +20 35 23  1.0x0.9’  15.3) – Considerably bright round glow with an almost stellar core.  Well defined edges.  About 0.4’ across.

MCG+3-59-49  (23 23 21.5  +20 34 01  0.6x0.3’  15.4) – Considerably bright slightly elongated glow with an almost stellar core.  About the same surface brightness as -48.  About 0.4’ long and PA = 100

MCG+3-59-50  (23 23 25.5  +20 35 51  0.6x0.4’  15.4) – Very faint round diffuse glow.  Even surface brightness.  About 0.4’ across.

Nearby galaxy, CGCG 454-61 (23 23 37.3  +20 36 32  0.4x0.4’  15.7) - Considerably faint 3:2 elongated glow with a brighter center.  PA = 30 and about 0.3’ long. 

NGC 7449/46/45 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Trio of four NGC’s forming a 30-60-right triangle with a very nearby MAC galaxy lying just off to SW.  In a star rich field.

NGC 7449  (22 59 37.5  +39 08 47  1.0x0.7’  15.0p) – Faint, round small glow with a brighter center.  Somewhat diffuse edges.  0.4’ across. 

NGC 7446  (22 59 29.0  +39 04 59  0.8x0.8’  15.4) – Considerably bright round glow with a much brighter center. 

NGC 7445  (22 59 22.5  +39 06 28  0.8x0.2’  15.6) – Considerably bright 2:1 elongated glow with a much brighter center.  PA = 90 and 0.5’ long.

Nearby galaxy, MAC 2259+3905  (22 59 14.4  +39 05 26  0.6x0.2’  16.0) – Considerably faint, 2:1 elongated glow with diffuse edges.  Even surface brightness.  PA = 45 and 0.4’ long.

NGC 183/81/84 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Trio forms a rough 45 degree right triangle with several nearby faint galaxies.  A “bright mag 12.2 star lies between NGC 181 and 184.

NGC 183  (00 38 29.1  +29 30 42  2.1x1.6’  13.7b) – Bright round glow with a brighter round center.  Somewhat diffuse edges.  0.7’ across.

NGC 181  (00 38 23.2  +29 28 21  1.0x0.3’  15.5) – Considerably bright 2:1 elongated glow with a brighter center.  Defined edges.  PA = 150 and 0.6’ long.

NGC 184  (00 38 35.8  +29 26 51  0.8x0.3’  15.6p) – Considerably faint 2:1 elongated glow with a brighter center.  PA = 0 and 0.5’ long. 

Nearby galaxy, CGCG 500-61  (00 38 51.3  +29 30 47  0.4x0.4’  16.0) – Faint, round even surface brightness glow with defined edges.  A mag 14.5 star lies just south.

MAC 0038+2931B  (00 38 39.5  +29 32 00  0.4x0.2’  16.5) – Very faint glow just off the W of a 14.5 star. 

MAC 0038+2935C  (00 38 40.6  +29 35 12  1.3x0.2’  15.5) – Very faint, diffuse edges. 

NGC 252/58/60 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A chain of three galaxies spanning 8.6’ long with a bright elliptical anchoring the west end. 

NGC 252  (00 48 01.7  +27 37 24  1.5x1.0’  13.4p) – Bright round fairly large slightly elongated glow with diffuse edges.  Much brighter center.  PA = 90 and 0.8x1.0’ in size. 

NGC 258  (00 48 12.8  +27 39 24  0.5x0.4’  15.6) – Very faint small round glow with diffuse edges.  A 10.7 mag star lies just 0.7’ to the west.  0.2’ across.

NGC 260  (00 48 34.9  +27 41 29  0.9’  14.2p) – Faint round very diffuse glow.  Even surface brightness. 0.5’ across.

NGC 138/41/39 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Forms a wide 45-degree right triangle with the short edges about 5’ long with a couple fainter nearby galaxies.

NGC 138  (00 30 59.3 +05 09 35  1.3x0.5’  14.6p) – Brighter 2:1 elongated defined glow with a much brighter center.  PA = 0 and 0.6’ long.  A 12.2 mag star lies 1.3 north and a pair of 14 and 15^th mag stars lies south.  Nearby galaxy, MAC 0031+0509A (mag 16.0), lies 0.6’ SE is a very faint very small round diffuse glow.

NGC 139  (00 31 06.6  +05 04 44  0.8x0.4’  15.3p) – Considerably faint 2:1 elongated diffuse glow.  PA = 170 and 0.5’ long.  A 15.3 mag star lies 0.2’ NE from the center.

NGC 141  (00 31 17.5  +05 10 46  0.6x0.6’  15.3) – Very faint small round diffuse glow.    Nearby galaxy, MAC 0031+0509 (mag 16.5), lies 1.1’ WSW and is extremely faint very small round glow seen fleetingly with averted vision.

NGC 490/86/92 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A string of round three galaxies about 4’ long in a semi-rich star field.  A blazing bright galaxy NGC 488 lies 8’ SW of the trio.  I didn’t check, but I think MegaStar got NGC 490 and NGC 486 backwards.

NGC 490  (01 22 02.9  +05 22 02  0.7x0.5’  15.3p) – Faint small round glow with defined edges and a brighter center.  0.2’ across

NGC 492  (01 22 13.6  +05 25 01  0.6x0.5’  15.4) – Very faint small round glow with no central brightening.  0.3’ across.  Forms a double galaxy with NGC 486, which lies 0.7’ WSW.

NGC 486  (01 22 10.5  +05 24 42  0.4’  15.5) – Very faint small round diffuse glow with ill-defined edges.  0.2’ across.

IC 107/1698/1700 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A nice small 30-60-right triangle of galaxies of three different types; an elliptical, a nearly edge-on and a low surface brightness face on.  A “bright” mag 9.7 stars lies 3.5 WSW from the west most member, IC 107.

IC 107  (01 25 13.3  +14 52 21  1.0x0.8’  14.9p) – Faint 2:1 elongated very diffuse glow.  PA = 90 and 0.6’ long

IC 1698  (01 25 22.1  +14 50 17  1.7x0.6’  14.4p) – Bright 2:1 elongated glow with almost stellar core.  Well-defined edges.  PA = 120 and 0.6’ long. 

IC 1700  (01 25 24.6  +14 51 51  1.4’  13.8p) – Bright round glow with well-defined edges with nearly stellar core.  0.6’ across.  A 13.8 mag star lies just 0.6’ WSW from the center.

NGC 741/742, IC 1751 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – This is a nice view of a bright elliptical, NGC 741, with “four” companions and a “bright mag 10.1 star nearby

NGC 741  (01 56 21.0  +05 37 44  2.9x2.8’) – Very bright large round glow with diffuse edges.  Much brighter center.  NGC 742 is just off the east edge.  1.0’ across.

NGC 742  (01 56 24.1  +05 37 35  0.3’  15.3p) – Considerably faint small round glow with a brighter center.  0.2’ across

IC 1751  (01 56 19.0  +05 39 09  0.4x0.2’  15.3) – Considerably faint round glow with a brighter center.  0.3’ across and 1.6’ NW.

Nearby galaxy, CGCG 413-2 (04 56 16.2  +05 36 10  0.3x0.2’  15.4p), is extremely faint very small glow that pops in and out with averted vision.  1.9’ SW of NGC 741.  Another nearby galaxy, MCG+1-6-5  (01 56 12.0  +05 35 20  0.3x0.2’  16.9), lies 1.4’ SW from CGCG 413-2 is a considerably faint small round glow.  Same brightness and size as NGC 742 and IC 1751.  It appears to be much brighter than the listed magnitude of 16.9.

NGC 315/311/318 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Wide string of collinear line of three members with a bright elliptical in the middle.  Each member is about 6’ apart.

NGC 315  (00 57 49.1  +30 21 10  3.2x2.2’  12.2b) – Very bright large slightly elongated glow with a much brighter center.  Diffuse edges.  About 1.1x0.9’ in size and PA = 45.  An 8.5 mag star lies 3.6’ SE.

NGC 311  (00 57 32.8  +30 16 47  1.8x0.8’  14.0b) – Bright 2:1 elongated glow with nearly stellar core.  Sharply defined edges.  PA = 120 and 0.5’ long. 

NGC 318  (00 58 05.2  +30 25 32  0.6x0.4’  15.2) – Considerably faint small even surface brightness halo with a slightly brighter very small core.  A mag 13.5 star lies 0.9’ WNW.

NGC 392/94/97 trio   KTG03

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Tight 30-60-right triangle with a bright elliptical, NGC 392, at the right angle.   The hypotenuse is 1.1’ long.

NGC 392  (01 08 23.4  +33 07 59  1.2x1.0’  13.7b) – Bright slightly elongated glow with a much brighter center.  Well-defined edges.  0.8x0.6’ in size and PA = 60. 

NGC 394  (01 08 26.1  +33 08 53  1.1x0.5’  15.0) – Considerably bright 3:2 elongated glow with sharply defined edges.  Brighter slightly elongated center.  PA = 135 and 0.4’ long.

NGC 397  (01 08 31.1  +33 06 32  0.7x0.5’  15.5) – Considerably faint round diffuse glow with a stellar core.  About 0.2’ across.  A very faint star is just off the east edge.

NGC 451/447/479 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A thin triangle of galaxies with differing appearances.  A super blazing mag 6.0 star lies just 2.9’ ENE of NGC 449 and should be kept off the field.  Use an orthoscopic eyepiece to narrow the field without putting the trio at the edge of  ultra-wide field.

NGC 451  (01 16 12.5  +33 03 50  0.7x0.6’  14.9p) – Faint very diffuse round glow with no core.  0.4’ across.

NGC 449  (01 16 07.4  +33 05 19  0.8x0.5’  14.2v) – Considerably bright 5:2 elongated glow with sharply defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  PA = 80 and 0.2’ long.

NGC 447  (01 15 37.8  +33 03 59  2.8x2.1’  14.0v) – Considerably faint large 3:1 elongated glow with a nearly stellar core.  At first glance of this object, I noticed only the central small round glow, but with averted vision, the elongated halo came into view.  Very low surface brightness.  If the above mentioned mag 6 star is not off the field, the halo would not be visible.  The “bar” is 0.8’ long and PA = 20.

MCG-4-3-10/11/13 (12) trio  (Burbidge’s Chain)

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – This string of nearly equally spaced galaxies are lined up north-south.  Each galaxy is about 1.5’ apart.  The trio is actually the three brighter galaxies as the dimmest one, MCG-4-3-12, is very difficult.  This chain is  about 20’ NNE from a very low surface brightness galaxy, NGC 247. 

MCG-4-3-10  (00 47 35.1  -20 25 44  1.0x0.5’  14.4p) – Considerably bright 3:1 elongated glow with defined edges.  The core is also elongated and appeared a little mottled.  PA = 30 and 0.6’ long.  A mag 12.6 star lies 1.2’ NNE.  This is the most northern member of the “quartet”.

MCG-4-3-11  (00 47 37.1  -20 29 08  0.9x0.5’  15.7) – Very faint slightly elongated glow with diffuse edges.  Even surface brightness.  0.3x0.2’ in size and PA = 0

MCG-4-3-13  (00 47 37.7  -20 31 08  1.0x0.9’  14.6p) – Considerably faint round glow with a slightly brighter center.  Diffuse edges.  This is the most southerly of the “quartet”

MCG-4-3-12  (00 47 38.0  -20 27 09  0.6x0.2’  17.0) – Extremely faint small round glow that popped in and out twice. After another observer looked at it, I viewed it again and it popped in and out twice.  This member is only visible with the 6mm Zeiss ZAO-II eyepiece.

NGC 430/29/26 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Very nice 45-degree right triangle of three bright galaxies in a star poor region.  The brightest, NGC 430, an elliptical, is accompanied by another elliptical, NGC 426, anchoring the right angle with a “Seyfert-like” galaxy, NGC 429.  The short sides are about 3.6’ long.

NGC 430  (01 12 59.9  -00 15 07  1.3x1.0’  13.5b) – Bright round glow with a much brighter center.  Defined edges.  0.6’ across.

NGC 429  (01 12 57.3  -00 20 44  1.3x0.2’  14.4p) – Considerably bright 2:1 elongated glow with well-defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  PA = 30 and 0.4’ long.

NGC 426  (01 12 486  -00 17 24  1.3x0.9’  13.8b) – Considerably bright slightly elongated glow with sharply defined edges.  Nearly stellar core.  0.4’x0.3’ and PA = 150

NGC 554/55/56 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Trio of galaxies forming a squat isosceles triangle lying north-south.  A bright mag 7.0 star lies 15’ ESE.  A pair of 13^th mag stars lies roughly parallel 1.7’ to the east.

NGC 554 (01 27 09.7  -22 43 29  0.7x 0.4’  14.8) – Considerably bright 2:1 elongated glow with sharp edges.  Much brighter small center.  0.4’ across and PA = 0  (Note: Missed that this is a very close double galaxy)

NGC 555 (01 27 11.9  -22 45 42  0.7x0.6’  15.1p) – Considerably faint round glow with a slightly brighter center.  About 0.4’ across.

NGC 556  (01 27 12.5  -22 41 51  0.3’  15.4p) – Considerably bright small round glow with a much brighter center.  0.2’ across.

UGC 1116/20/23 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – Nice trio of edge on galaxies.

UGC 1116  (01 33 34.5  -01 05 25  0.8x0.1’  15.3p) – Considerably faint 3:1 elongated even surface brightness glow.  PA = 120 and 0.6’ long.

UGC 1120  (01 34 02.5  -01 04 33  1.8x0.4’  14.6p) – Considerably bright 4:1 thin glow with well-defined edges.  Much brighter very small round core.  PA = 135 and 1.1’ long.

UGC 1123  (01 34 07.9  -01 01 56  1.2x0.3’  14.4p) – Bright 3:1 elongated glow with a much brighter slightly elongated center.  Defined edges.  PA = 75 and 1.0’ long

NGC 1010/11/17 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A trio of faint round glows in a relatively star poor region.

NGC 1010  (02 37 34.8  -11 01 31  0.9x0.8’  15.2) – Faint round diffuse glow with no central brightening.  About 0.6’ across.

NGC 1011  (02 37 38.8  -11 00 18  0.6’  15.1) – Considerably faint round glow with a compact brighter center.  About 0.4’ across.

NGC 1017  (02 37 49.7  -11 00 36  0.7x0.6’  14.9) – Faint round diffuse glow with no central brightening.  About 0.5’ across.

NGC 923, MCG+7-6-21, Mkn 1176 trio

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – A linear trio of galaxies in a star rich region.  An 8.6 mag star lies just 0.8’ away from the dimmest member, Mkn 1176.

NGC 923  (02 27 34.6  +41 58 41  1.0x0.7’  14.5p) – Considerably bright round glow with diffuse edges.  Slightly brighter center.  0.6’ across.

MCG+7-6-21  (02 27 31.2  +41 55 53  1.0x0.5’  15.7) – Considerably bright 2:1 elongated glow with a nearly stellar core.  Diffuse edges.  PA = 45 and 0.5’ long.

Mkn – MCG+7-6-23  (02 27 36.7  +42 00 27  0.6x0.4’  15.2p) – Considerably faint small round glow with a very compact nearly stellar core.

NGC 1999 (reflection nebula)

22” f/4 (230, 255 and 383x) – This is a very strange nebula with a very dark spot that looks like a keyhole from an antique door that is just off to the east of the star in the center.  The Ultrablock actually diminishes this object while the CLS helps a little.