Shingletown Challenge List

17.5" (7/17/01): extremely faint and thin edge-on oriented WSW-ENE situated just west of a mag 12.5 star. Requires averted but clearly seen as ghostly sliver ~3.0'x0.3' oriented SW-NE. The surface brightness is very low and nearly uniform, only dropping off gradually at the tips. Could nearly hold steadily at 220x with concentration.

17.5" (6/27/98): not seen initially at 220x. Switching to 280x (7mm Pentax) and using averted vision, a very thin ghostly streak became evident oriented WSW-ENE, perhaps 2.5'x0.3'. The geometric "center" of the galaxy appears to be 1' NW of a mag 12.5 star, although the streak did not brighten towards the center. With concentration the galaxy could almost be held steadily with averted vision.

17.5" (7/9/99): Initially picked up at 100x but best viewed at 220x. Palomar 5 appears as an extremely low surface brightness circular glow, roughly 3' in diameter but with no distinct edges or central brightening. Appears most obvious close SE of a mag 13.5 star. This star is nearly at the midpoint between mag 9 (SAO 120924) and a mag 10.5 star oriented SE-NW at 10' separation. I also noticed a very small knot 1' E of the mag 13.5 star - this could either be the core of the globular or more likely a couple of very close 15th magnitude member stars. Located 30' S of the mag 5.6 star 4 Serpentis.

17.5" (5/14/88): faint, small, elongated ~E-W.

17.5" (6/6/86): this is Seyfert's Sextet = HCG 79, an extremely compact group! On close inspection, the confused "clump" resolves into three components with the brightest component (HCG 79b) appearing fairly faint, small. Extremely close are HCG 79a = N6027A just 36" SSW and HCG 79c = N6027B 22" W of center. A mag 14.5 star is 1.1' ESE and other faint stars are near. These three galaxies are just resolved at 220x.

13" (6/18/85): slightly elongated E-W.

13" (5/26/84): faint, very small, irregularly round, weak concentration.

18" (6/20/04): swept up immediately at 115x using an OIII filter. Visible continuously as a crisp-edged disc, round, ~2.5' in diameter. Although there was no annularity there were subtle irregularities in the surface brightness. Barely visible unfiltered, though the glow seems to merge into the background sky without a distinct edge. Also, excellent view at 73x and OIII filter as the planetary was easily viewed continuously with direct vision.

17.5" (8/21/98): picked up at 100x with an OIII filter. Once identified, it was visible continuously with direct vision as a round, sharp-edged disc at least 2.5' in diameter. It appeared slightly brighter along the following edge. The planetary was even faintly visible unfiltered at 100x, though not as sharp-edged or well-defined and several faint stars were superimposed.

13" (6/18/85): faint, fairly large, round. This planetary can just be held steadily with averted vision using an OIII filter which provides a superior view to the Daystar 300.

17.5" (7/16/93): extremely faint, very small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, difficult and cannot hold continuously with averted vision. Located about 14' NNE of the core of M13 and 15' SW of N6207! A mag 14 star is close following 19" ESE of center and this star forms the SW vertex of a small parallelogram of mag 14 stars with sides approximately 1.5'x0.5'.

17.5" (7/9/99): picked up a low power but best viewed at 380x. The faint central star is cleanly resolved with two thin "jets" extending N-S, roughly 15" on either side of the star. The nebulosity dims slightly near the central star but is not detached. This unusual bi-polar object looks more similar to a fairly faint edge-on galaxy than a PN although the tips of the extensions do not noticeably taper. There was no noticeable response to either the OIII or UHC filters!

13" (4/10/86): at 166x appears as a moderately bright, very elongated planetary but does not respond positively to OIII or Daystar 300 filters! The central star is visible at 214x. A small group of stars including a mag 12 star lies 5' S. Classified as a bi-polar PN or possible proto-PN.

17.5" (6/30/00): at 280x this small low surface brightness globular appeared very faint, round, ~30" diameter but visible with direct vision. Appears to have an extremely faint knot at the south edge and a slight central brightening.

17.5" (7/27/95): very faint, round patch, ~1' diameter. Appears similar to a 15th magnitude galaxy with no hints of resolution or central concentration. Can hold steadily with averted vision. Located 5.8' W of a mag 11.5 star. Discovered to be a globular in 1996.

18" (6/20/04): easily picked up at 115x using an OIII filter as a moderately large disc ~ 1.2' in diameter. The planetary was visible continuously and displayed some irregularities in surface brightness. At 225x unfiltered, it was dimly visible though the disc faded into the background sky without a crisp boundary. Three stars were superimposed; at south edge, east edge and the mag 14.8 central star. The planetary is collinear with a mag 9 star 4' NW and two mag 10.5-11 stars 3' and 4' SE.

17.5" (8/2/97): nice view at 100x with OIII filter where it is easily visible continuously with direct vision. The disc is at least 1' in diameter, appears slightly elongated and has crisp edges. At 220x, it was faintly visible unfiltered and quite noticeable are two superimposed mag 13 stars, one star at the edge of the planetary and the second star at the exact center. A very faint star is also visible at the south edge. Estimate V = 14.5. Located 4' SE of a mag 9.5 star.

13" (3/17/86): at 79x and OIII filter; faint, moderately large, almost round, estimate V = 14.2. Can barely hold steadily with direct vision but easier with averted. Located 4' SE of a mag 9.5 star. Collinear with a wide pair of mag 11.5-12 stars about 3' SE.

17.5" (6/3/00): at 140x with a UHC filter, this ionized knot in the outer halo of the Cat's Eye was faint but clearly visible as a low surface brightness arc, located just south of the midpoint of the line connecting the geometric center of the PN with a mag 11 star 2.7' NW.

17.5" (11/1/97): this unusual object is a irregular knot in the outer halo of N6543 1.7' W of center and appearing visually completely detached from the bright planetary. Suspected at 220x without filtration close to a mag 15 star located 1' NW of the planetary. Using a UHC filter, IC 4677 is clearly visible with averted vision as a very faint elongated patch, ~25"x15" oriented SW-NE. Requires averted for a good view but can almost hold continuously. Also visible at 140x with OIII filter and 280x with the UHC, but 220x provided the best view.

17.5" (4/29/00): this recently discovered globular was easily picked up at 140x as a faint, oval glow ~1.5'x1.1' with no hint of resolution other than one or two faint stars glimpsed at the edges. Located 3.2' N of mag 9 SAO 186130 and 21' WNW of NGC 6520/B86! The rich milky way background is quite prominent in the field except in the vicinity of the globular which appears to be nestled in a darker "hole" defined by four brighter stars. At 220-280x, it appears oriented SW-NE and stands out well with averted vision with a fairly sharp outline but appears more like a faint patch of nebulosity than a globular. A few mag 15+ field stars are visible at the edges - the easiest at the SW end and a second star at the NE edge. One of two other threshold stars are superimposed. The globular is sandwiched between the mag 9 star to the south, a close double star 2.5' NNW and two mag 10 stars bracket the cluster on the west and east sides. These stars form a small trapezoid. Initially classified as an open cluster in the ESO.

17.5" (7/1/00): at 100x using an OIII filter, Sh 2-68 appears a very large, round, low surface brightness glow, perhaps 5'-6' in diameter. Requires averted vision but can be seen readily. The halo has a fairly crisp edge and surface brightness is uniform. Not seen unfiltered.

17.5" (8/1/86): at 83x and OIII filter appears as a very faint, very large, roundish glow, fairly sharp-edged. Can almost hold steadily with averted. Located 17' WNW of mag 6.9 SAO 123471. Recent 1983 discovery and possibly a HII region.

17.5" (8/26/00): at 100x and 140x using an OIII filter appears faint, moderately large, ~50" diameter, round. Can hold continuously with averted vision and visible with direct vision. Did not look unfiltered for the mag 15 central star.

13": at 79x with OIII filter appears extremely faint, moderately large, 1.0' diameter, almost round, can barely hold steadily. Just visible using a UHC although appears near the visual threshold.

17.5" (7/20/98): at 220x appears as a fairly faint, round 2' glow with an irregular surface brightness residing 2.6' WSW of a mag 11 star. A few faint stars are visible around the edges including a mag 14 star at the south edge [close double] and a close trio of stars off the E edge. Also, a very faint mag 15 star is at the west edge. The western side appears a bit clumpy and slightly brighter and a few threshold glimmers pop in and out of vision at 280x. With averted vision there is a hint of resolving a few mag 16+ stars along the west side.

13": fairly faint at 166x but easily visible with direct vision and surprisingly bright for a Palomar globular. Fairly small, slightly elongated N-S. A faint star is at the south end and a threshold star is at the west end.

17.5" (7/20/98): very unusual small, faint glow located 2' south of mag 5 Nu 2 Sagitarii! The very faint background glow is ~1' diameter but more notable are several superimposed stars. A close pair of mag 13.5 stars is at the NE edge 25" from center (this is IC 4802!) and a similar star is at the WNW edge 20" from center. There is a very small bright core which on closer inspection appears to be a close pair of mag 12.5 stars or possibly a bright stellar core and nearby star. Other than the central "knot", the unconcentrated 1' background patch has a low surface brightness and is much smaller than the listed diameter of 4'.

13": fairly faint, very small. This globular appears as a hazy patch easily visible just 1.8' S of Nu 2 = 35 Sagitarii (V = 5.0)! About half a dozen stars are either superimposed or resolved including two close pairs.

17.5" (8/17/01): interesting, large PN at 140x using an OIII filter. The outline is subtle but irregular. Initially it appeared roughly circular, but with concentration a faint extension which sometimes appeared detached is at the south side, giving a N-S elongation. The rim is brightest along the east side and curving around to the north giving a partial crescent impression.

17.5" (8/21/98): immediately picked up at 100x with an OIII filter. This object is an unusually prominent obscure planetary! The best view was at 140x using an OIII filter. Appears fairly large, elongated N-S and brightest along the east side. Seems mottled with a noticeably irregular surface brightness.

13" (7/20/85 and 8/11/85): at 79x with OIII filter; fairly faint, fairly large, oval N-S, can hold steadily with direct vision. Appears relatively bright for an obscure planetary. Located 6' E of a mag 10 star and several mag 11-12 stars are near.

18" (6/20/04): viewed at 73x (31 Nagler) and 113x (20 Nagler). At both powers this planetary was visible continuously with direct vision, elongated 4:3 WSW-ESE, ~40"x30".

17.5" (6/30/00): this is a fairly small Abell PN, ~40"x30", oriented SSW-NNE. At 100x using an OIII filter, the object is fairly faint with an irregular surface brightness but no annularity. Also barely visible unfiltered as an amorphous glow.

17.5" (5/10/86): fairly faint but visible with direct vision at 105x using an OIII filter as a fairly small, slightly elongated disc. Dimmer view with UHC at 220x. Located 24' east of mag 6.6 SAO 143070.

17.5" (8/21/98): visible at 100x as a diffuse, irregular glow 4' SSE of mag 9 SAO 143755 and nestled to the SW of a group of mag 12-14 stars. At 220x, the diameter is 3.5'-4' and the surface appears mottled. Several faint stars were resolved (or superimposed) with averted vision over a ragged glow.

17.5": faint but easily visible. Appears as a large hazy region best seen at 83x. Some faint stars are superimposed and a nice double star is just N.

17.5" (9/14/85): brightest in Stephan's quintet consisting of five galaxies within a 4' diameter circle. Moderately bright, moderately large, brighter core, elongated 5:2 NW-SE. A mag 14.5 star is at the SE side 15" from the center. N7317 lies 2.5' W, N7318 pair is 1.7' NW and N7319 1.7' N. Located 30' SSW of N7331.

13": faint, elongated NW-SE.

8": extremely faint, small.

6" (6/25/04): marginal but repeatably glimpsed with a 6" mask at 115x and 140x.