What's the furthest galaxy you've seen with your own eyes?

[kev100]

Hi,

One for the visual only observers, I guess. I was out with my 10in dob on Friday, and spotted NGC 5985, a mag 11 galaxy in Draco. It's (according to SkySafari) 182mly away. I'd have to go through my notes to be sure, but I believe that this is the furthest galaxy I've seen with my own eyes. Those with larger scopes will have seen further, obviously, but I just wondered what's your most distant galaxy sighting. I'm limiting this to galaxies as I seem to remember reading that some of you have observed quasars that are almost impossibly remote ...

Kev

Edited May 3, 2022 by kev100

[Paz]

I am not sure of the furthest galaxy I've seen but I do remember thinking this very thought when I observed NGC2300, a galaxy about 100mly out, in Cepheus. It was definitely the most distant thing I had observed up to that point, and off the top of my head I don't think I have seen anything significantly further if at all further.

I'm aware of the quasars that are doable. One distant target on my to do list is BL Lac, a distant blazar but it's very faint, variable, and a tough star hop so I've yet to do it.

[Pixies]

NGC 4889 - Caldwell 35. An elliptical galaxy in the Coma cluster. 330 million light years away!

I observed that (and nearby NGC 4872 - 320 Mly) last year with an 8" dob at a dark site in the Scottish Borders.

 

A galaxy far, far away. Suitable for the 4th of May!

[kev100]

1 minute ago, Pixies said:

NGC 4889 - Caldwell 35. An elliptical galaxy in the Coma cluster. 330 million light years away!

I observed that (and nearby NGC 4872 - 320 Mly) last year with an 8" dob at a dark site in the Scottish Borders.

 

A galaxy far, far away. Suitable for the 4th of May!

Thanks for the tip. Might have a go at those next chance I get.

[Pixies]

A quick Google comes back with Quasar "3C 273". Stella-like and visible at magnitude 12.8, so a suitable 10" target.

2.6 BILLION light years!

[LukeSkywatcher]

Naked eye, it's Andromeda. 

[StevieDvd]

Everything I've seen has been with my own eyes!

[Astrobits]

Quasar CTA102 at 8 billion light years. 

Nigel

[Ags]

With or without a telescope? Without: M31. With: not sure, can't remember them all!

[kev100]

8 hours ago, Ags said:

With or without a telescope? Without: M31. With: not sure, can't remember them all!

I was thinking with... 🙂