Galaxy fest in Autumn? - Yes!

[YKSE]

The Sun set 20:50 now, only half an hours drive to dark site meaning I had long that waiting time for some 15-30 minute's nap, then a good alignment.
Sky was at best mag 20.8, mostly clear and transparency above average.

Kicking off with IC 4593, a small(13") Planetary Nebula(PN) of mag 10.7 but good Surface Brightness(SB 7.1) in Hercules, UHC didn't help, but good SB meaning high magnification workable, in 170x to 200x, it was of more recognizable size in direction vision. Moving on to NGC 6533, a cluster of stars with nebulosity, easy seen without filter, UHC gave better enhancement of nebulosity, and OIII ever so slightly better contrast. NGC6537, another small PN(10") of mag 11.8, good SB (7.6) made it an easy target in about 200x.

Galaxy hunting started by a typo, NGC6339 was written in my list as a globula just above horizon, when the scope slewed back up to Hercules, what I could see in eyepiece in 68x were only stars and a faint patch with brighter core in Averted Vision(AV)  . Other Hercules galaxies were actually on my hunting list, all are about magnitude 11.3-13.0, with SB 12.5-13.4, roughly 1'-2' in size, my working assumption has been that I need to magnify them up to around 120'-180' to be visible to my eye:
 
NGC6372, 180x in AV; NGC 6389, 140x in AV; NGC 6408, 180x in AV, NGC 6447, 180x in AV; NGC 6484, 180x in AV; NGC 6482 180x in AV;  NGC 6487, 180x in AV. these 8 galaxies took more than one and half hour to get positive ID, even though no more than just faint patch in averted vision.

Moving to brighter DSO for a change   IC5076, a reflection nebula together with open cluster NGC 6991, a really nice and easy pleasing view, nebula could be seen without filter in 68x, OIII slight better, UHC even more. NGC7048, a small PN(1') with not very high SB(11.8), luckily it responsed well to both UHC and OIII, blinking with any of the filter worked well in about 140x.

Two more galaxies to finish Monday's activity, NGC 7448 in Pegasus, mag 11.4(SB12.4, size 2.6'x1.2') could be seen in 68x in Direct Vision(DV), felt like an easy one compare to the earlier Hercules galaxies; NGC 7479, or Caldwell 44, mag 10.8 (SB13.3, size 3.0'x3.1') also a DV galaxy in 68x, averted vision did gave better expansion of the size though.

Tonight's forecast looks promising too, can be another trip.  this autumn is surely starting GOOD!

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Great haul! I should give those a bash when the skies (finally!!) clear again

[cotterless45]

Superb ! Some remarkable sights around. Hercules just full,

Nick.

[dlockyer]

Wow what a great night you had! Thanks for sharing