Pegasus 1 Galaxy cluster

[Nyctimene]

Was out, once more unprepared, with the 13.1" Coulter Odyssey this night from 02.15 - 03.45 CEST. Average conditions with NELM 5.6 mag. After a warming up with the NAN (washed out without filter) and the globular M 2 (well resolved at 150x mag), I spotted in the PSA two adjacent galaxies near the S border of Pegasus, NGC 7619 and 7626. The SkySafari info showed them as the brightest members of the Pegasus 1 galaxy group, at a distance of 250 million light years. Starting from the Pisces "circlet", I found the region after 10 min of star hopping. Both galaxies were quite prominent (11.1mag), and at magnifications of 130x-180x (Seben Zoom) round, with a brighter core region. 7631(13.1mag), in contrast, was visible only indirectly as a E-W spindle 3:1. 7623 was similar. 7611, NW of a 7mag star, showed with direct vision as a NW-SE spindle. For some glimpses, I had the impression of the very faint, diffuse IC 5309 (13.5 mag). 7612 (12.7 mag)was directly visible, 2:1 elongated. Somewhat tired,I missed some other members of the group, as the IsDSA showed me later. I ended the session with a look at the glorious open cluster 7789 in Cassiopeia, "Caroline's Rose", my favourite open cluster, that showed circular "petals" and dark lanes quite spectacular. - One very bright (-4mag) Perseid. - The cluster seems to be rewarding; and I'll return to it, better prepared, with the 18" during the autumn months.

Attached a picture from the net (Jerry Lodriguss)

Thanks for reading

Stephan

[mdstuart]

Those two galaxies remind me of car headlights..

Mark

Edited August 9, 2019 by mdstuart
Update

[kirkster501]

Superb.  Love galaxy clusters, think of all the planets and civilisations you can see.  Makes us feel very small...

Edited August 9, 2019 by kirkster501

[jetstream]

Excellent report Stephan and really inspiring! Can't wait to get back observing.

[DeepSkyBagger]

I observed all those galaxies a couple of years ago. Pegasus is a real galaxy-rich area. My observations were made with a 12" Newtonian under pretty poor conditions (VZM 4.9).

NGC 7611 - Just a very dim, grey, oval patch. Slightly elongated and maybe very slightly brighter in the middle. Tiny, tiny twinkles very close to the galaxy as if there are very faint stars involved. (In fact there are - mag 14.5+).

NGC 7612 - Fairly difficult but quite certain, at least with averted vision. Round with a brighter middle.

NGC 7619 - Fairly faint but still visible to direct vision. Small, round and brighter in the middle. Very like its neighbour NGC 7626.

NGC 7623 - A tiny, dim little oval nebulous patch. Not easy to see but occasionally there for direct vision. Apparently of uniform brightness.

NGC 7626 - Not difficult but better with averted vision. Small and round with a clearly brighter middle.

NGC 7631 - This took a lot of staring at and around before I was sure. Very, very difficult. Just a very occasional glimpse of a tiny grey disc. No elongation seen, no central brightening seen.