by Richard Navarrete
This isn't going to be much of an observing report. I already wrote a few paragraphs yesterday about observing at Coe last Saturday, and Mark Wagner filled in the details of the night and the good group of people. I managed to finish the Herschel 400 objects in Coma, and nabbed a couple in Virgo. Total new objects for the night was 28. It took me more time to find objects this time as opposed to my last observing session when I was dropping on objects straight from the Telrad. Still lots of fun! Here are a few of my favorite objects from this last session. Observations were made with The Beast, a 16" Meade dob, 22 panoptic, 16.8 and 10.5 megavista eyepieces.
NGC 4314 - I'd love to hear from other folks who've observed this galaxy in Coma. It's has a weird shape, and looked funny in the eyepiece form the get-go. It's elongated, there's a star on one edge, and it's brighter towards the center.
NGC 4448 - In Coma. Bright, elongated and right next to Gamma Comae Berenices. What could be easier to find!
NGC 4414 - Coma. Extended, bright with a stellar core.
NGC 4754 and 4762 in Virgo. Both galaxies in the same eyepiece field. Both bright. 4754 was round with a stellar core. 4762 was very bright, elongated and gradually brighter towards the middle. These two were a chance find. I was looking for something else, and I went to consult the computer, and when I came back these two were in the eyepiece! Now that's what I call a fortuitous chance. I've never had that happen before. Anyone else?
NGC 4710 - Coma. At Mag 11.9 it's a nice bright edge-on.
That's it!