Observing Log

5-15-99

I got to the Park early for a change, around noon, and enjoyed the company of those who were there for a two-night observing session. Mark Wagner and his daughter Mimi, Rashad, and Rich Neushaefer were already set-up in the Southwest lot. We ended up with 25 scopes or so by sunset. We looked for a green flash ay sunset, but no such luck. I also brought my 8 inch SCT to use with my Lumicon bino-viewer. Two eyes really are better than one!

I spent most of the evening working with Marsha on galaxies in Leo. We wanted to work on the Hershel 400 list and nab as many of Leo's galaxies as we could before Leo sank into the west. I kept getting sidetracked and found a few very dim galaxies. Using TheSky software on a laptop, I spent quite a bit of time star-hopping through the scope with a 12mm Nagler. I'd never done this before, but for this constellation it worked very well! I couldn't have done this though without matching star fields on the laptop. What a great tool.

Perhaps because I had gotten to the Peak so early, I was tired by 1:00 and decided to drive home for a good nights sleep in a cozy bed.

Here is my observing list, generated with The Sky's log function, and my own comments at the end of each listing.

Fremont Peak State Park, CA
12.5" Meade Dob
Mostly used a 22mm Panoptic
and a 12mm Nagler type II
Type ID Dreyer desc Mag Size PA Comments
Lenticular Galaxy NGC3412 Bright, small, little extended 135° +/-, abruptly much brighter middle nucleus. 11.4 3.6' x 2.0' Good size. Near two bright stars.
Elliptical Galaxy NGC3377 Very bright, considerably large, little extended, abruptly very much brighter middle bright nucleus. 10.8 5.3' x 3.0' Easy and bright. Good guide stars in field.
Spiral Galaxy NGC3367 Pretty bright, considerably large, irregularly round, very gradually little brighter middle, resolvable, but mottled, 1st of 3. 12.1 2.5' x 2.2' Round diffuse glow. Near 3377.
Spiral Galaxy NGC3391 Faint, small, round, between 2 stars, nearby. 13.9 1.0' x 0.7' 34.0 Small and faint. Follow chain of brighter stars. Easier to see with more power.
Lenticular Galaxy NGC3419 Faint, very small, round, almost stellar (pointlike), faint star very near. 13.5 1.2' x 1.1' Dim and small.
Galaxy NGC3338 Faint, considerably large, extended, very gradually brighter middle, 7th magnitude star westward 10". 11.4 5.9' x 3.6' Faint, large, bright star on one edge.
Spiral Galaxy UGC5832 13.7 1.1' x 1.0' Very small and dim. Within a box of brighter stars. Fun to identify using these guide stars.
Elliptical Galaxy M105; NGC3379 Very bright, considerably large, round, pretty abruptly brighter middle, resolvable, but mottled; = M105. 10.1 5.3' x 4.7' What can I say, it's a Messier object!
Lenticular Galaxy NGC3384 Very bright, large, round, westward abruptly much brighter middle, 2nd of 3. 10.7 5.5' x 2.5' Easier than 3389.
Spiral Galaxy NGC3389 Faint, large, extended east-west, very gradually little brighter middle, 3rd of 3. 12.4 2.7' x 1.3' Large and faint. In field with M105 and Ngc 3384.
Spiral Galaxy UGC5897 13.4 2.6' x 0.9' 74.0 Dim!! Couldn't hold it. Popped in at times.
Spiral Galaxy IC677 Faint, pretty large, gradually brighter middle. 13.8 1.5' x 0.6' Another dim one. Averted vision. Why bother?
Spiral Galaxy NGC3593 Bright, considerably large, extended 90° +/-, westward abruptly much brighter middle. 11.8 5.2' x 1.9' Bright, easy find.
Spiral Galaxy NGC5962 Pretty faint, pretty large, irregular little extended, gradually brighter middle. 12.2 2.9' x 2.0' 110.0 Stumbled across this one. Not too faint, pretty large.
Spiral Galaxy NGC5954 Pretty bright, considerably small, eastward of double nebula. 12.9 1.3' x 0.6' 4.0 Small. Part of pair with NGC 5953.
Spiral Galaxy NGC5953 Pretty bright, considerably small, westward of double nebula. 13.0 1.6' x 1.3' 168.0 Small, part of a neat pair.
Spiral Galaxy NGC5951 Faint, pretty small, extended 150° +/-. 13.4 3.4' x 0.8' Dim, pretty large. In the middle of an isocoles triangle of dim stars.

Type	ID	Dreyer desc	Mag	Size	PA	Comments
Lenticular Galaxy	NGC3412	Bright, small, little extended 135° +/-, abruptly much brighter middle nucleus.	11.4	3.6' x 2.0'		Good size. Near two bright stars.
Elliptical Galaxy	NGC3377	Very bright, considerably large, little extended, abruptly very much brighter middle bright nucleus.	10.8	5.3' x 3.0'		Easy and bright. Good guide stars in field.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC3367	Pretty bright, considerably large, irregularly round, very gradually little brighter middle, resolvable, but mottled, 1st of 3.	12.1	2.5' x 2.2'		Round diffuse glow. Near 3377.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC3391	Faint, small, round, between 2 stars, nearby.	13.9	1.0' x 0.7'	34.0	Small and faint. Follow chain of brighter stars. Easier to see with more power.
Lenticular Galaxy	NGC3419	Faint, very small, round, almost stellar (pointlike), faint star very near.	13.5	1.2' x 1.1'		Dim and small.
Galaxy	NGC3338	Faint, considerably large, extended, very gradually brighter middle, 7th magnitude star westward 10".	11.4	5.9' x 3.6'		Faint, large, bright star on one edge.
Spiral Galaxy	UGC5832		13.7	1.1' x 1.0'		Very small and dim. Within a box of brighter stars. Fun to identify using these guide stars.
Elliptical Galaxy	M105; NGC3379	Very bright, considerably large, round, pretty abruptly brighter middle, resolvable, but mottled; = M105.	10.1	5.3' x 4.7'		What can I say, it's a Messier object!
Lenticular Galaxy	NGC3384	Very bright, large, round, westward abruptly much brighter middle, 2nd of 3.	10.7	5.5' x 2.5'		Easier than 3389.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC3389	Faint, large, extended east-west, very gradually little brighter middle, 3rd of 3.	12.4	2.7' x 1.3'		Large and faint. In field with M105 and Ngc 3384.
Spiral Galaxy	UGC5897		13.4	2.6' x 0.9'	74.0	Dim!! Couldn't hold it. Popped in at times.
Spiral Galaxy	IC677	Faint, pretty large, gradually brighter middle.	13.8	1.5' x 0.6'		Another dim one. Averted vision. Why bother?
Spiral Galaxy	NGC3593	Bright, considerably large, extended 90° +/-, westward abruptly much brighter middle.	11.8	5.2' x 1.9'		Bright, easy find.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC5962	Pretty faint, pretty large, irregular little extended, gradually brighter middle.	12.2	2.9' x 2.0'	110.0	Stumbled across this one. Not too faint, pretty large.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC5954	Pretty bright, considerably small, eastward of double nebula.	12.9	1.3' x 0.6'	4.0	Small. Part of pair with NGC 5953.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC5953	Pretty bright, considerably small, westward of double nebula.	13.0	1.6' x 1.3'	168.0	Small, part of a neat pair.
Spiral Galaxy	NGC5951	Faint, pretty small, extended 150° +/-.	13.4	3.4' x 0.8'		Dim, pretty large. In the middle of an isocoles triangle of dim stars.