by Albert Highe
Alan Adler invited a few friends to observe with him at his place in Sea Ranch (north of the Bay Area approximately 50 miles west of Lake Sonoma). We left early Friday afternoon and arrived to a wonderful view overlooking the Pacific. The skies were a clear, deep blue and the fog could be seen far out to sea as a narrow band along the horizon. The high pressure area that produced the extended September heat wave was beginning to weaken. The temperature was a pleasant 85°F.
A few weeks ago I finished a new lightweight 12-1/2" f/5 telescope (and sold my 17.5" f/4.5). I'm still getting acquainted with the new scope. Although the new scope is smaller, I still expected to hunt down some challenging faint fuzzies in the exceptionally dark skies of northern California.
After sunset, the temperature dropped to the low 60's. Despite being near the ocean, relative humidity never got above 87%. Dew was not a problem. We had little to no wind. However, seeing was a bit soft, limiting magnification to about 175X.
We set up in Alan's driveway with an unobstructed view of the southern sky. After scanning the usual bright showpieces in Sagittarius, I hunted down one of the objects on Steve Gottlieb's SSP challenge list.
Abell 65 (mag 13.2, 136") This is a rather large elongated planetary nebula. With a 14mm Radian eyepiece (113X), I was unable to see it. However, using an OIII filter on the same eyepiece, it stood out rather well with averted vision. It appeared as an extended oval approximately 0.5' X 1.5' oriented NW-SE. Initially, its low brightness appeared uniform and I could hold the elongated shape with averted vision 50% of the time. However, after some study, I noticed I could hold the SE portion with averted vision 100% of the time.Stephan's Quintet I know this group of galaxies rather well and use it as a test of transparency. I had reacquainted myself with this group recently with the 17.5". With the 9mm Nagler T6 (176X), all five showed up rather well. At this magnification, the greatest challenge was splitting the close pair (NGC 7318 A and B). Unfortunately, seeing didn't permit using higher magnification. Transparency appeared to be excellent.
All remaining observations are with the same 9mm Nagler (176X).
The "Taffy Galaxies" UGC 12914 (12.4, 2.5'X1.2') and UGC 12915 (13.0, 1.4' X0.5') This pair of galaxies also appears on Steve's list. Both were easy to see with the 12-1/2", being much brighter than many NGC objects I've seen. I could hold each with averted vision 100% of the time. In addition, both revealed subtle detail. UGC 12914 was slightly brighter and larger and had a distinctly curved shape. The south end was broad and bright. The north end ended in a narrow faint tail that curved toward UGC 12915. UGC 12915 also appeared irregular, being brighter and wider towards the SE and fainter and narrower towards the NW.
NGC 3 and nearby galaxies were going to be the next targets from Steve's list, but I decided I should start with #1.
NGC 1 (12.9, 1.7'X1.1') I'm surprised I haven't observed this galaxy before. You would think the object at the top of the celebrated NGC list would get more attention. It is relatively easy to find, lying approximately 1.5° south of Alpheratz, the bright star at the NE corner of the Great Square in Pegasus. It was visible with direct vision as a small circular glow with a slighter brighter core.
NGC 2 (14.2, 1.1'X0.6') As long as I've observed the first object on the list, I might as well take the next step and observe #2. And it was a particularly small step. NGC 2 lies less than 2' south of NGC 1. However, it is considerably fainter. I held an elongated, nearly uniform patch 80% of the time with averted vision.
NGC 16 ("sweet 16") (12.0, 1.8'X1.0') This galaxy lies less than 0.5° east of NGC 1 and appeared to be a brighter version of it. Easy with direct vision.
NGC 22 (13.6, 1.3'X1.0') Visible in the same f.o.v. with above. Lies 11' ENE of NGC 16. Low surface b rightness oval visible 100% of the time with averted vision.
NGC 3 (13.3, 0.9'X0.6') Finally worked my way south to NGC 3. It is the brightest member within the group of galaxies listed below. It appeared as a bright little ball, visible with direct vision.
NGC 7838 (14.6, 0.7'X0.3') Approximately 7' WNW of NGC 3. Forms a close pair with NGC 7837. NGC 7838 is the brighter of the two. I could hold with averted vision 80% of the time.
NGC 7837 (15.6, 0.5'X0.3') Approximately 0.5' W of NGC 7838. Most of the time, NGC 7837 was indistinguishable from NGC 7838 - their combined light appeared as one object. However, with averted vision, I could hold a distinct split between the close pair of galaxies 30% of the time.
NGC 7834 (14.3, 1.1'X0.9') Located approximately 4' W of NGC 7838. Moderate size hazy glow visible with averted vision 95% of the time.
NGC 7835 (14.6, 0.5'X0.2') Approximately 5' N of NGC 7837. Visible with averted vision 90% of the time.
NGC 7840 Approximately 6' N of NGC 3. The last member of the NGC list. Challenging, low surface brightness galaxy. I was able to hold with averted vision 35% of the time. I would like to confirm with larger aperture.
NGC 4 (15.9, 0.4'X0.2') Approximately 5' NNE of NGC 3. Very challenging. Eventually I was able to hold this very small galaxy 35% of the time with averted vision. I would like to confirm with larger aperture.
Finished the night enjoying great views of bright favorites. Turned in around 1:30AM.
During the afternoon, a cold front moved in from the NW, accompanied by a stiff breeze that whipped up whitecaps on the water and pushed clouds quickly across the sky. Alan had arranged a public star party at a local winery. Conditions did not appear favorable. However, shortly after sunset, most of the clouds dissipated, revealing mostly clear skies. Alan had put out the word to nearby amateurs. We had seven telescopes available for viewing.
Our hosts provided a nice spread consisting of chocolates, crackers, and an assortment of fine cheese. A selection of fine wines was available for tasting.
The star party was nearly ideal. Someone was always at the eyepiece yet rarely were more than a couple of others waiting in line. Interest and appreciation were very high - most everyone spent long minutes on each object. With little competition for eyepiece time, I was able to instruct individuals how to move the scope to keep the object centered or how to find other objects on their own. Everyone was able to see a lot.
Targets during the night included double stars (Alcor and Mizar, Albireo, eta Cassiopeia, gamma Andromeda, the nose of Delphinus, epsilon Lyra; open clusters (the Double Cluster in Perseus, M11); globular clusters (M22 and M13); nebula (M8, M17, M27, M57); and galaxies (M31, M32, M110, NGC 7331, NGC 6946). M11 appeared to be the most popular.
As the star party wound down around 11:30PM, the skies grew a little hazy. The temperature still was a comfortable 70°F. We packed up and chatted with the owners while sipping wine, and finishing off some of the cheese and crackers. Coincidentally, the owners had just finished their grape harvest that day. The star party took on additional significance as a celebration of their success. Never having looked through a telescope before, the views were a revelation. They had no idea what jewels lay in the heavens above them. They were special gifts. They strongly urged us to return any time we wished.
Thanks Alan. The dark skies and public star party were a real treat.
Posted on sf-bay-tac Sep 13, 2004 15:14:28 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Feb 06, 2005 23:04:37 PT