by Ray Cash
I'm not quite finished with this list (have about a dozen more objects to type up and a few blanks to fill in), but I hope this helps:
Most observations made with 13" f/4.4 reflector using 8mm-24mm TeleVue Zoom, unless otherwise noted. Made from (approx.) -30 lattitude at four different locations in Chile--everyone of them darker than any location I've seen in the Northern Hemisphere. Seeing varied from ecxellent to very good.
| Sky Atlas 2000 | Older edition (prob. the same chart #'s as new edition?) |
|---|---|
| Uranometria Volume 2 | Newer, revised edition--definitely not the same page numbers as the old edition. |
| Vickers South | Old edition; I hear he has a new one out. |
| NGC 4945 | Cen. | 13 05.4, -49 28 | Gal SA: 21 UraSo: 184 VickersSo: 89 |
|---|---|---|---|
| A very nice large(ish) elongated galaxy NE/SW. Very even glow. Tom had this on his list because a supernova was recorded here just a couple of weeks ago! We tracked the SN down: quite easy in both his 10” and my 13”; stellar point, maybe 13mag. 24mm zoom provided best view. | |||
| NGC 2442 | Vol | 07 36.4, -69 32 | Gal SA: 24 UraSo: 211 VickersSo: 47 |
| One of many barred spirals the southern skies have to offer. Hard to see bars, or spirals, with this one: Bright oval at low power (24mm) NE/SW. Higher power (8mm) reveals some “off-axis irregularity’’—probably hints of the spiral arms. | |||
| NGC 5286 | Cen | 13 46.3, -51 22.4 | Glob SA:21 UraSo:183 VickersSo: No |
| Mag11.5. Small, but semi-resolved globular. Next to 6mag star. 8mm zoom. | |||
| NGC 5139 = “Omega Centauri” | Cen. | 13 26.8, -47 29 36.3 | Glob SA: UraSo: VickersSo: 92 Mag: 3.7 |
| At 3.7 mag, an easy naked eye object. Truly a glorious sight in a scope! Stars resolved to the center—an even, gradual concentration towards the center (unlike 47 Tucanae, see below). | |||
| NGC 104 = 47 Tucanae | Tuc. | 00 24.1, -72 05 30.9 | Glob SA: UraSo: VickersSo: 3 Mag: 4.0. |
| Another glorious, naked eye globular! Although about a quarter of the size of Omega Centauri (therefore comparable to M13), it is no less magnificent: The intense brightening of the central core adds to the dynamism and beauty of this glob. One tends to use higher power to resolve the center, which is easy—even at medium power. | |||
| NGC 4755 = “The Jewel Box” | Cru | 12 53.6, -60 20 10 | OC SA: UraSo: VickersSo: 87 Mag: 4.2 |
| The grand-daddy of all open clusters! There is seemingly a less distant, brighter star cluster super-imposed on this which makes a “V” pattern, but not so, according to Burnham—these are ‘just’ supergiants; part of the same cluster. Within this “V” there is also three multi-colored stars transverse to the main “V.” Truly beautiful! | |||
| NGC 3372 = “Eta Carina Nebula”; “Keyhole” | Car | 10 43.8, -59 52 | EM SA: UranSo: VickersSo: 72 |
| (Almost) everyones fave! A vast emission nebula, impossible to get into the entire FOV. Responds well to Ultrablock filter as well as high power. Billowing three-dimensional clouds viewed doing both of the latter. Various well defined dark lanes within this nebula make it extremely fascinating. With M42, high in the northern sky at the same time, it was natural to compare eyepiece views. M42’s clouds were smaller, tighter and brighter, and therefore showed color—wisps of dull red and pale green. No color seen in Eta Carina Nebula; they were much more dispersed, but the patterns were intricate and well-defined—just not as bright as M42. The Trapezium, with six stars easily visible, is also an area of interest and beauty in M42 that Eta lacks. | |||
| NGC 2070 = “The Tarantula Nebula”; “#30 Dorado” | Dor | 05 38.6, -69 05 | EM SA: 24 UranSo: 212, a24 VickersSo: 39 Mag: 8.2 Size: 40x25’ |
| A wonderful, enticing nebula! Like M42 or Eta Carina, one never tires of looking at this over and over again! Responds well to Ultrablock and OIII filters--the “body” especially becomes more interwoven and three dimensional. | |||
| NGC 1371 | For | 03 35.0 -24 56 | Gal SA: UranoSo: VickerSo: 25 Mag 11.5 |
| A rather bright, but non-descript oval galaxy. | |||
| NGC 1385 | For | 03 37.5, -24 30 | Gal SA: UranoSo: VickersSo: 25 Mag11.0 |
| Looks similar to the non-descript 1371, though I was hoping to see some irregularity like the Vickers image shows. | |||
| NGC 1360=PK 220-53.1 | For | 03 33.3, -25.51 | PN SA: UranoSo: VickersSo: 24 |
| Nice, large, oval (390”) planetary with 11.4 mag central star. “Thumb-print-like” appearance. Responds well to Ultrablock, but not necessary to find. | |||
| NGC 1365 | For | 03 33.6, -36 08 | SBb Gal SA: 18 UranoSo: 174 VickersSo: 24 |
| Excellent barred spiral gal! Vickers a must here—to get orientation correct and tease detail out of with higher power. Both arms seen, but one was brighter. An averted vision delight! | |||
| Fornax Galaxy Cluster | For | 03 38, -35 30 | Gal Clus SA: UranoSo:174 VickerSo: No |
| Sweep around 1365 and you’ll soon find clusters of much dimmer ellipticals in your view. Five was the most I counted in one three-quarter degree FOV. NGC 1399 was the brightest. | |||
| ESO 356-4 = Fornax Dwarf | For | 02 39.9, -34 32 | Gal SA: 18 UranoSo: 175 VickerSo: 16 |
| Had to use 32mm Plossl to sweep around here. Noticed a brightening as I swept by. Confirmed with other observers (Tom and David). Confirmed also with the observation of NGC 1049 (a glob) on the northern (ill-defined) edge. Fornax 5 (another glob) also confirmed, but could not see any other similarly dim, small globs within this gal. I would like to try this one again when better placed in the sky. | |||
| NGC 1531-2 | Eri | 04 12.1, -32 52 | Gal(s) SA:18 UranoSo: 174 VickerSo:30 |
| Nice, bright (11.1 mag) three-quarter edge-on Sb gal (1532) with the much smaller 1531 at a right angle to it. 1531 was dim, but there. | |||
| NGC 1672 | Dor | 04 45.7, -59 15 | SBb Gal SA: 24 UranoSo: 202 VickerSo: 34 |
| Nice gal with a sprinkling of stars in the same FOV. Curiously off-balance in regards to the central, bright core. Vickers shows one “hooked” arm seen from (approx.) face-on. | |||
| NGC 2207, IC 2163 | CMa | 06 16.4, -21 22 | Sc Gal SA:19 UranoSo:154 VickerSo: 42 |
| Excellent interacting pair of gals: At first, looks like one gal with dark sideways swath through it—actually the dark swath is the dimmer of the interacting pair (IC 2163). Also looked at: | |||
| NGC 2196 and NGC 2179 | CMa | 06 16.4, -21 22 | Gal |
| other gals in the hood (a FOV or two away): Pretty non-descript faint fuzzies. | |||
| Supernova 1987A | Dor | 05 35, -69 15 | SN SA: 24 UranoSo: A25, A24, 212 |
| On the outskirts of the Tarantula, and discovered by a tech on a smoke break at Campanias Observatory (which we didn’t visit, but saw from the ESO at La Silla), I was hoping this was still visible. Uranometria has a nice finder chart (p.A25). I made sense of the asterisms, but saw nothing in the finder or main scope at that location. Even “blinked” with an Utrablock to no avail. | |||
| NGC 2217 | CMa | 06 21.7, -27 14 | SBa Gal SA: 19 UranoSo: 154 VickersSo: 43 |
| Takes a nice pic—apparently a face-on with small arms and distinct halo. Saw (almost) none of that in my 13-incher. Bright core gradually fading to the two stars in Vickers’ pic.; the halo, I presume—more dramatic in pic. | |||
| NGC 1316-1317 = “Fornax A” | For | 03 22.7, -37 12 | S(B)Op, S(B)a Gals SA: 18 UranoSo: 174-5 VickersSo: 22 |
| Nice, bright ellipticals (mags 9.8 and 11.9). Featureless, of course. | |||
| NGC 1310 | For | 03 22.7, -37 12 | (Sb gal) |
| also in the same FOV, but needed (at first) averted vision to see. Nice overall view of three gals. | |||
| NGC 1300 | Eri | 03 19.7, -19 25 | SBb Gal SA: 11 UranoSo: 156-7 VickersSo: 22 |
| 11.1 mag barred spiral. Unfortunately, could not tease out any detail. My notes: bright, diffuse core seemingly a lil off-center. No bars or arms seen. | |||
| NGC 1297 | Eri | 03 19.7, -19 25 | Gal |
| in same field; non-descript oval gal. | |||
| NGC 1553, 1549 | Dor | 04 16.2, -55 47 | SO, EO Gals SA: UranoSo: VickersSo: 31 |
| A bright elliptical pair in the same FOV. Mags 10.5 and 10.9, respectfully. | |||
| NGC 1566 | Dor | 04 20, -54 56 | S(b)b+ Gal SA: 24 UranoSo: 202 VickersSo: 31 |
| Excellent face-on gal. Listed as barred spiral, but I don’t see evidence of this in the eyepiece or Vickers’ image. Two spiraling arms easily seen. In the same ‘hood as 1553 and 1549 above (NE one degree). | |||
| NGC 1536 | Ret | 04 11, -56 32 | Gal SA: 24 UranoSo:202 VickersSo: No |
| Fairly bright face-on. Some patchiness and irregularity seen in surface brightness, but no arms, per se. Near 1553, 1549 (SW one degree). | |||
| NGC 1596;1602 | Dor | 04 27.6, -55 02 | SA: 24 UranoSo: 202 VickerSo: 32 |
| Nice pair of gals: One elongated (SB?) mag 11.9, one much dimmer (13.3), smaller elliptical | |||
| NGC 2397 | Vol | 07 21.3, -69 00 | Gal SA: UranoSo: VickersSo: 46 |
| Vickers pic not too exciting, but this is a fairly bright (mag 12) SB gal. | |||
| NGC 2442 | Vol | 07 36.4, -69 32 | SBb Gal SA: 24 UranoSo: 214 VickersSo: 47 |
| Excellent barred spiral! Large “S” shape clearly seen with direct vision! 11.2 mag. | |||
| NGC 2434 | Vol | 07 34.9, -69 17 | EO Gal SA: 24 UranoSo: 214 VickersSo: 47 |
| Same FOV as 2442; at one mag dimmer (12.3), still direct vision. Smaller, no detail (EO gal). | |||
| NGC 2467 | Pup | 07 52.6, -26 23 | Em SA: 19 UranoSo: 153 VickersSo: 49 |
| Excellent emission nebula in Puppis! Quite bright (7.1), big (8x7’), and detailed. Beautiful star cluster, too! (Somewhat detached) nebula trailing to the east. | |||
| NGC 2997 | Ant | 09 45.6, -31 11 | Sc Gal SA: 20 UranoSo: 170 VickersSo: 62 |
| Excellent face-on! Took a long time to star-hop to in the unfamiliar, star-poor region of Antlia, but well worth it! Showpiece multi-armed face-on, similar to M51 or M74 in the north. Zoomed in (24 to 8mm) and arms became much more apparent. Not exactly symmetrical, one arm a lil flattened. | |||
| NGC 3109 | Hya | 10 03.1, -26 09 | Ir Gal SA: 20 UranoSo: 151, 152 VickerSo: 66 |
| Excellent, large irregular gal! Low surface brightness, but listed at 10.4! Star superimposed (?) on center, otherwise no central brightening. Similar, though smaller, to NGC 253. | |||
| NGC 3100; NGC 3095 | Ant | 10 00.1, -31 33 | Gals SA: 20 UranoSo: 169, 170 VickersSo: 66 |
| Nice pair of gals separated by about four of their widths. Look irregular—almost like emission nebula—but are classed S(B). Set in beautiful star field. | |||
| NGC 3115 | Sex | 10 05.2, -07 43 | E6 Gal SA: 13 UranoSo: 133 VickersSo: 67 |
| Very bright (10.1) lenticular gal! Not too often an elliptical will turn me on, but this one’s a gem! | |||
| NGC 3166, 3169, 3165 | Sex | 10 14.2, +3 28 | SA: 13 UranoSo: 112, 113 VickersSo: 68 |
| A trio of gals: One bright pair, separated by only a couple of their widths, and a faint, small one (3165) on the verge of my averted vision. | |||
| NGC 3269 Group (also: 3271, 3267, 3268) | Ant | 10 30, -35 13 | Gals SA: 20 UranoSo: 169 VickersSo: 70 |
| Excellent galaxy group! The four brightest range from mag 12.6 to 12.9 and are all in the same medium (24mm) field, PLUS at least four other much dimmer, smaller gals are in this field, too! Sweep around, and more gals (mostly dim ones) are easily picked up. Fun cluster! | |||
| NGC 3347, 3358, 3354 | Ant | 10 42.8, -36 22 | SA: 20 UranoSo: 169 VickersSo: 72 |
| Excellent trio of gals! Bright (12.5 and 12.8 for 3347, 3358) Middle fainter one (3354—mag 13.8) is much more dispersed—larger—than Vickers pic would suggest. No detail seen, except the usual elongations and ovals... Pic shows 3347 as gorgeous but small, barred spiral. | |||
| NGC 5189 | Mus | 13 33.5, -65 58 | PN SA: UranoSo: 208 VickerSo: No |
| Very nice circular planetary. Mag 9.5, 2.3’ in size. Used 9 Nagler with OIII, really no improvement over zoom at 8mm and “blinking” w/filter. | |||
| NGC 2867 | Car | 9 21.5, -58 18.7 | PN SA: UranSo: 199 VickersSo: No |
| Smallish planetary (24”)—really looks “planetary-like”; nice bluish color, too. Mag. 9.7 | |||
| NGC 2899 | Vel | 9 27, -56 06.3 | PN SA: UranoSo: 199 VickerSo: No |
| Nice lil puff of a planetary. Ultrablock brings out some annularity. 117”x75”. Mag. 12.2 | |||
| NGC 3195 | Cha | 10 09.3, -80 51.5 | PN SA: UranoSo: 218 VickersSo: No |
| Smaller than 2899 (42”), and dimmer—though at (p) magnitudes, 2899 is listed as dimmer: 12.2 v.11.5. | |||
| NGC 3211 | Car | 10 17.8, -62 40.3 | PN SA: UranoSo:210 VickersSo: No |
| Small (16”) bright (10.7) planetary. Good with or without filter (Ultrablock). | |||
| Shapley 1 | Nor | 15 51.7, -51 31.3 | PN SA: UranoSo: 182 VickersSo: 102 |
| This one skunked me in Hawaii a few years back, and I had trouble finding it in Chile, too—but finally did! Could not make sense of the star fields, but did pick it up sweeping the field. Tough object (mag 13.6), barely seen at moderate power w/out Ultrablock. With filter and higher mag, becomes a circular, faint glow. Averted vision brings out annularity as well as central star, and—surprisingly—a couple of other stars (intermittently) within the ring! Very satisfying object. | |||
| NGC 3132 = “Eightburst Nebula”; “Southern Ring” | Vel | 10 07, -40 26.1 | PN SA: UranoSo:169 VickersSo: No |
| Nice, annular planetary, with central star (mag 10) easily seen. The planetary itself is not near as bright as the northern “ring,” or as beautiful, IMO; but I can see the resemblance. | |||
| NGC 4945 | Cen | 13 05.4, -49 28 | Gal SA: 21 UranoSo: 184 VickersSo: 89 |
| Excellent, showpiece galaxy! Long, thick, fairly even illumination—some mottling, to keep your eye interested. Similar to 253 and NGC 3109 (see above for notes on latter). Mag 9.5. Size: 4.4x20’ | |||
| NGC 2736 | Vel | 09 00.4, -45 54 | SNR SA: 20 UranoSo: 186 VickersSo: 55 |
| A supernova remnant. With OIII, just a wisp filling the eyepiece view (24mm zoom), but nothing more, really—no filamentary structure. | |||
| NGC 2613 | Pyx | 08 33.4, -22 58 | Gal SA: 20 UranoSo: 153 VickersSo: 52 |
| Nice, bright, three-quarter tilted gal, but badly positioned (low) in sky. | |||
| M83 | Hya | 13 37, -29 52 | Gal SA: 21 UranoSo:167 VickersSo: 93 |
| Hands down the best galaxy—and a barred spiral to boot—the southern skies have to offer. At zenith (3:30am local) one night, Mark and I feasted on this for quite a while… Truly photographic-looking! Bar and spirals clearly seen. And BRIGHT! Mag 7.6 Bright, smallish central core. Lots of dark space between arms—two most outward arms drift—and fade—off beautifully! | |||
| Gum 12, Supernova Remnant | Vela | 08 31, -44 00 | SA: 20 UranoSo: 187 VickersSo: No |
| How this did not make any of my lists, I don’t know! “Found” it by seeing its unbelievable plot on Uranometria—it covers about 3x4 degrees! An easy star hop to several of its fields, Mark and I were on it in a flash. Responds well to OIII and the widest field eyepiece you have. Not nearly as bright or “filament-like” as The Veil, but just HUGE. One can easily follow threads for many minutes and still not wind up where you started! At one time I had two threads going across the whole FOV. This was the last telescopic object we looked at—a nice surprise to end with! | |||
Posted on sf-bay-tac Apr 03, 2005 15:05:50 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.4 Mar 22, 2006 17:53:11 PT
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