by Jon Ruyle
Last Saturday at around 11pm, I took my 4" refractor out to do some backyard observing.
I started with my favorite, NGC2903, first at 30x, then 67x. I keep coming back to this one with the 4", even though I can't see much of the detail visible in larger scopes. Still, at the higher power, some central brightening was evident and the galaxy seemed a bit extended.
Then to NGC3344. I believe I spotted it near a cute arrow asterism of mag 10 stars. It seemed to be a barely discernable glow with av at 30x, slightly easier at 45x and easier still at 67x. At 90x, I found the galaxy invisible but was able to spot a very dim star where I thought the galaxy was. Hmmm... had I imagined it all? I went back to the lower powers but could not pick it up again. It did seem that the transparency had gotten a bit worse. I decided I would have to try on another night for confirmation.
It was getting late. I went inside to check on my wife, but she was asleep already. He he he. Perfect. I made myself a cup of coffee, put on some more clothes, and went back outside.
NGC3810 was totally invisible to me below 90x, but at 90x I believe I was able to spot it about 10% of the time with averted vision. This is another one I would like to confirm on another night.
I then ruined my night vision on M65 and M66. They seemed bright at 30x, and elongation and orientation could be determined. There was no sign of NGC3628. At 67x, both galaxies showed central brightening, and I could see a diffuse central core in M66.
M95, M96, and M105 were all visible at 30x, but did not seem bright. I guess I really had ruined my night vision. At 67x, NCG3384 and M105 were just visible with direct vision. Both galaxies seemed to brighten somewhat to tight but diffuse cores.
By now, the Virgo cluster had passed culmination and was visible well past the roof of my condo. I started with M84 and M86, then on to M87 (stellar core on and off with averted vision at 67x). M99 was invisible (to me) at 30x, but dim and round and large at 67x. M100 was just visible about 1/3 of the time with averted vision at 67x. I finished up with M85, which was easy with averted vision at 30x.
It was past 2am. I was freezing. I decided to pack up and go to sleep. Though I hadn't been able to get to a dark site, I still had a fun night of observing.