2nd May 2013 - Unlocking More Virgo And Coma Galaxies

[Double Kick Drum]

Whats going on?

Consecutive clear nights and perhaps another tonight.

I located my scope in another part of my garden to access some more Southerly objects in Hydra and Corvus. Sadly by the time it was fully dark these were obscured but I was able to view more of Virgo and so got to work just before half past ten.

The first target of the night was NGC 5746, to the East of the constellation. It was still quite low in the Southeastern sky and was just about possible to view. It is easy to find, being in close proximity to 109 Virginis.

Another tough galaxy was NGC 4772 to the Southwest of Delta Virginis. I then moved West Northwest and using some great pointer asterisms found NGC 4636 (which I thought was a new object until I reviewed my records more closely). This circular fuzz was much easier to see than the previous two.

Close by to the South was another galaxy NGC 4643, which was similar in appearance. Moving West from the previous galaxy find, I also stumbled across NGC 4536 and NGC 4527, just to the North. NGC 4536 made an equilateral triangle with the star HD 109521 and a neaby ninth magnitude double and was large and diffuse. NGC 4527 was smaller and more condensed.

I then changed focus and moved to the North of Coma Berenices. NGC 4725 (the One Armed Bandit) was large and diffuse but with a denser centre. NGC 4448 was an easy find close to Gamma Comae Berenices but was only possible to see with time. Further East was NGC 4559 (Caldwell 36), another dim haze with a foreground star just off centre.

Not a bad session for an hour and a half. Eight new finds, taking my galaxy count up to 163.

A quick stat attack regarding the number of observed objects by constellation shows Virgo is very close to becoming top of the pile:

Ursa Major - 34

Virgo - 33

Coma Berenices - 25

Leo - 22

Canes Venatici - 18

Casseopeia - 12

Cygnus - 9

Andromeda - 8

Auriga - 8

Perseus - 8

Taurus - 8

____________________________________________________________

Observing Session: Thursday 2nd May 2013, 22:25 hrs to 23:55 hrs BST

VLM at Zenith: 5.2 - 5.3

New - Revisited - Failed

[KevUU]

A decent night's work then

Yes, all those clear nights was a bit of a surprise, but came at a bad time for me so only one night out here Good to read everyone's reports and I'm making notes for when I get a look at Virgo

[cotterless45]

Bizzare to have so many clear nights together.

"A quick stat attack regarding the number of observed objects by constellation shows Virgo is very close to becoming top of the pile:"

Hope you're aware of the galaxies in Bootes

NGC5248,5557,5676,5669,5582,5614,5899,5533,5656,5687,5529,5660,5689,5523,5665,5490,5523,5600,5629,5673,5641,5653,5966,5546,5590,5735,

5520,5548,5820,5633 and 5689.

Well placed just now, not a lot is heard of Bootes,

Nick.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Nice haul there. I have not spotted NGC 4772 yet, must give it a go.