Mike JW

I agree with Bill; adds another layer of observational detail.

Well put Vlaiv. I would add it is a means of observing using electronic adds and in a relatively short time. Imaging tends to end up more about the means of generating the image, rather thn focusing on the object of interest.

Mike

Agree, it does seem worthwhile. What is the green in Abell 12 - reflection in the scope? For this PN it would seem best to use a scope without spiders to get a less obstructed view.

With NGC 2022 you have also picked up the bright zone on the outer ring (at the bottom).

Mike

I thought I could detect a bar in this galaxy but having checked it is classified as Sbc, so not bar. Your shot has picked up the 'gap'  out to the major spiral arm on the right (east?) and hints of the star forming regions.

Mike

I like the way this galaxy sits in a horseshoe of stars. I have not visited this galaxy using the camera - must do sometime. Mike

Hi @stash_old

Don't mind at all, it works well when folk add into a thread with their observations and other information. I think it also helps other people to see what can be achieved (or not) with different scopes/settings/cameras. I am not an expert on this lark but for myself I feel I get sharper stars with shorter subs and more in the stack. Certainly the noise level drops especially if I get to 20 plus in the stack.

Thanks for posting,

Mike

I have paid another visit to Triangulum.

RFGC 553, NGC 973 (mag 13 spiral, 200,000 lyrs across)                                     RFGC 514 UGC 1856, an edge on spiral, mag 14 and about 130,000 lyrs across.   

A definite favourite and the we get IC 1815 as a contrast                                    Just above the core, is a hint of an angled dust lane?                    

(the lenticular below it) and 3 others all accompanied by star (SAO 55664)

RFGC 528, UGC 1924 - tricky mag 15 edge on spiral plus 11 Tri thrown in.        RFGC 506, UGC 1820 , another mag 15 edge on spiral

Still quite a few more targets in Triangulum to visit - six WBL groups and 15 VV galaxies.

Mike

I was going to make a similar comment to Martin. I think I may have visited this cluster just once with my former large Dob so nice to be reminded of its existence. 

Mike

Thanks Bill, makes a good addition with your annotated image. Mike

Well done Bill, I tried a while back but failed to detect it due to poor visibility. Very helpful to have the reference image. Mike

I am enjoying your LMC posts. I wish I could make sharpcap work for me but it defeats me every time I try. Mike

Martin, I sometimes wonder about buying an 8" quattro to get these wider shots.

Re NGC 974 - indeed what a beauty. I did notice at the time I possible hint of a noise pattern that would correspond to the far flung arms. Below is the shot re-tweaked and yes there is the hint of those arms. Also just below 974 is a tiny galaxy as per the SDSS image.

11 hours ago, Martin Meredith said:

I'm assuming that its a star occluding the core of the larger galaxy and not the core itself? It looks very stellar.

Hi Martin - My first reaction it is the core but having called up Aladin it would appear to be a star -always something to learn (or observe in this case) . The core is slightly to the left of this star.

 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/UGC_5146#/media/Datei:Arp129_-_SDSS_DR14.jpg. This link also shows a detached blob of blue to the right (I got a hint of it).

Interesting to compare the resolution of the two scopes.

Mike

M33 in Triangulum is rightfully a favourite for observing so on this outing I made a point of avoiding it!

NGC 969 and NGC 978 are the Webb Society Galaxy of the Month, see https://www.webbdeepsky.com/galaxies/2020/galaxy/december  .

RFGC 355 is a nice edge on mag 15 galaxy                                                           RFGC 384 (UGC 1281) at mag 12 is always worth a visit with its two companions.

UGC 1975 - a  tiny spiral at mag 15.4 makes for a challenge.                                 UGC 2083 is a mag 15, 81,000lyrs across and has a bar.                                                   

Finally we have UGC 2023 which has a low surface brightness, is face on and irregular.

At last a break in the weather but at the very early hour of 4.30am this morning.

Arp 129 and Arp 63 are close to each other - "a two in one image" - found in Leo.

Arp 129 was classified as E and E like close to and perturbing spirals. In my shot it is the upper pairing and I was delighted to get hints of the spiral structure with star forming regions thrown in as well. The spiral has the feel of being a ring galaxy and is classified as such - SB(r)c pec. Its companion is classified as an intermediate spiral - SAB and feels as if it is behind. Indeed it is, about 10 million lyrs behind. So in all probability they are or did interreact resulting  in the messed up nearer of the two galaxies.  The pair are known as UGC 5146 and VV 83.

Arp 63 is the pairing at the bottom and known as NGC 2944 and are at a similar distance to Arp 129 - 320 million lyrs away.  The obvious and larger galaxy is SB pec and seems to have come worst in this interaction. Also known as VV 82. So what is happening with this pair. Well some folk actually suggest it is a triple, i.e NGC 2944 has two small bright companions, one at each end. 

Finally, you might be thinking why did Mike not make the two Arps central? - I just had to get the single galaxy (on the right near the edge) included - it lies a mere 1.11 billion lyrs away!!!

Mike

I enjoyed seeing this. I spotted the slow passage of a satellite as well. Mike

Last night I decided to visit the Hinds Variable Nebula in Taurus. (NGC 1555, HH 155 or Sh2-238) is about 400 lyrs away and about 4lyrs across. In my image I have only picked up the bright central part. It is reflecting the light from T Tauri ( a variable star - bright orange, ranging from mag 8.5 to 13.5 ish). Apparently it is quite a young star at around 1 million years old. The reason it has the HH designation (Herbig Haro object) is because  infrared observations indicate there could be a very young star lurking in there. Jets of gas and matter from this young star would be colliding with the surrounding gas and dust producing bright shock waves. 

With such high humidity, thin cloud and Christmas lights it was difficult to get a shot with low noise so I have posted two shots but at slightly different settings. The right hand shot gives possible hints of more extensive detail (could be noise) and also a darker region toward the bright star on the right (sort of coincides with decent images?)

Mike

Tony's recent post prompted me to have another look at the comet. I was surprised by how bright it is. It sat neatly in the middle of a circle of stars - a pleasing view.

Mike

As you say the moon was in Capricornus. I got it down to a choice of 3 likely stars but it is always surprising how fast the moon moves in relation to the star background.

Have fun,

Mike

The EQ platform looks very nice.  If the reducer does not work (spacing to the chip is important), operating at F5 should work (I use a C11 at f6.3) but as you realise the field of view will be very small.

Good luck,

Mike

Hi Steve, I would be pleased with the shots you took. What would be the advantage of the smaller pixel camera you mention getting.

Mike

I kept looking at the shot, thinking this looked familiar. Once I looked it up, it is of course Arp 315. I looked at this area back in April - see below. I have to make the background dark to lose the numerous dust bunnies. 

Mike

Well worth a visit. I shall look forward to pointing the camera/scope at this wonderful sight. Mike

Not a galaxy I have looked at. Supposedly it is a barred galaxy - cannot pick up the bar in high resolution images. You have picked up some of the detail - star forming regions. Apparently quite an active galaxy.

Mike

Hi David,

WOW. 

Yesterday I had just been reading a mates report on his visit to NZ and describing the LMC and many other southern delights and then along comes your report. The quality of your report is superb - informative, inspirational. Makes me want to rush out and buy some tickets to "down under". Later today as the promised rain sets in I shall enjoy drawling over the image and reading up the links.

Many thanks

Mike (from a very wet, cloudy, humid GB)