by Steve Gottlieb
When I mentioned to Albert Highe on Thursday that I wanted to reobserve Stephan's Quintet he reminded me about the equally impressive UGC 12127 compact group nearby. Since I had last gone through that group 16 years ago, it was time for a revisit. There are no less than 4 companions within 3' of UGC 12127 making this another quintet! Several other nearby galaxies up the total to 10 galaxies within a 25' circle including NGC 7342 and NGC 7345. Notes on this group are appended below.
Just after 4:00 there was a brilliant fireball in the north that was very low and moved slowly to the east while gradually sinking down to the horizon. When it started to brighten in the east I took a quick look at Neptune and easily spotted Triton about 15" southwest. It was an excellent evening; dark, warm, dry and relaxing with only the periodical howling of the neighbor's dogs piercing the serenity.
| NGC 7342 = UGC 12126 = MCG +06-49-054 = CGCG 514-076 | 22 38 13.1 +35 29 56 | V = 13.9; Size 1.3x1.3; SB = 14.3 |
|---|---|---|
| 18" (6/25/04): faint, fairly small, round, 40" diameter, weak concentration to a small slightly brighter core. Overall, the surface brightness is pretty low. A mag 14 star is attached at the W side. Located 10.7' NNW of UGC 12127 in a group of faint galaxies including N7345 7' ENE. | ||
| MCG +06-49-056 = CGCG 514-078 | 22 38 25.1 +35 21 57 | V = 15.1; Size 1.0x0.3; SB = 13.6; PA = 24d |
| 18" (6/25/04): very faint, small, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, 0.6'x0.2'. Forms an equilateral triangle with a mag 11.5 star 1' NE and a mag 13.5 star 1' NW. Located 2.4' NNW of U12127 in a tight group of 5 galaxies with MCG +06-49-061 1.3' NE. | ||
| UGC 12127 = MCG +06-49-058 = CGCG 514-080 | 22 38 29.5 +35 19 41 | V = 13.4; Size 1.5x1.5; SB = 14.3 |
| 18" (6/25/04): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 40" diameter, broad concentration to a very small slightly brighter core and occasional very faint stellar nucleus. A couple of mag 15.5 stars are a close S and a mag 14 lies 1' NW. Brightest in a group of 9 additional faint galaxies including 4 other galaxies within 3'; MCG +06-49-60 1.3' NE, MCG +06-49-62 1.7' E, MCG +06-49-056 2.4' NNW and MCG +06-41-61 3.0' N. | ||
| MCG +06-49-061 = CGCG 514-081 | 22 38 30.2 +35 22 41 | V = 14.9; Size 0.9x0.3; SB = 13.3; PA = 147d |
| 18" (6/25/04): extremely faint and small, slightly elongated ~15"x12". Just following a mag 11.5 star which detracts from viewing. A 9" pair of mag 14 star lies 1.2' NE and MCG +06-49-56 is 1.3' SW. | ||
| 2MASXi J2238340+352334 | 22 38 34.0 +35 23 34 | |
| 18" (6/25/04): marginal sighting. Situated close preceding a 9" pair of mag 14 stars. in the tight grouping around U12127. The double was cleanly resolved and an extremely faint, small glow was glimpsed a few times but not consistent enough for a postive sighting. The earlier observation may refer the western component of the double star. | ||
| MCG +06-49-060 | 22 38 34.8 +35 20 29 | V = 13.8; Size 0.4x0.4; SB = 11.7 |
| 18" (6/25/04): very faint, very small, round, 0.3' diameter. A mag 15 star is ver close north. Located 1.3' NE of U12127 in the core of the cluster. MCG +06-49-062 lies 1.1' SE. | ||
| MCG +06-49-066 = CGCG 514-087 = NPM1G +35.0471 | 22 38 58.7 +35 26 19 | V = 14.2; Size 0.5x0.4; SB = 12.4 |
| 18" (6/25/04): very faint, very small, round, 0.3' diameter. Contains a slightly brighter 5" core and faint stellar nucleus with direct vision at 300x. Located just south of a line connecting two mag 12.5/15 stars oriented E-W and 9' NE of U12127 in a group. | ||
| MCG +06-49-062 = NPM1G +35.0469 | 22 38 37.7 +35 19 32 | Size 0.3x0.3 |
| 18" (6/25/04): extremely faint and small, round, 10" diameter Faintest in the core of the U12127 group with MCG +06-49-060 1.1' NW and located just 1.3' E of U12127. Required averted to glimpse but observation repeatable. | ||
| NPM1G +35.0468 | 22 38 34.8 +35 25 39 | Size 0.6x0.3 |
| 18" (6/25/04): extremely faint, very small, round, 10" diameter (viewed core only of this elongated galaxy). Located 1' N of a large mag contrast pair of 12/14.5 stars. Located 6' N of U12127 in a group. | ||
| NGC 7345 = UGC 12130 = MCG +06-49-064 = CGCG 514-083 | 22 38 44.8 +35 32 26 | V = 14.3; Size 1.2x0.2; SB = 12.6; PA = 39d |
| 18" (6/25/04): faint, fairly small, thin edge-on 5:1 SW-NE, 0.8'x0.15', very small brighter core. Situated just N of a small group of stars highlighted by a mag 9.6 star 1.7' S. N7342 lies 7' WSW. | ||
Posted on sf-bay-tac Jun 26, 2004 17:20:37 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Jan 02, 2005 14:22:51 PT