Lake Sonoma Sunday night (5/29/05)

by Steve Gottlieb


Sunday night at Lake Sonoma turned out to be a very nice night, despite a few lingering bands of low clouds that hung around after sunset. By 9:15 the clouds had either dissipated or passed over and our small gang of 6 or 7 hopefuls including Bob Douglas and Robert English were rewarded for our optimism with pretty sweet conditions for the next few hours. After 12:30, a little breeze kicked in and the seeing became softer but it stayed clear, dry and transparent — good conditions for faint galaxy hunting.

The first object I took a look at was Comet 9P/Tempel — soon to be rudely punctured by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft (evening of July 3rd). I was very surprised to find two objects with similar magnitudes in the same medium-power field! Of course, one was the comet and the imposter was NGC 4808 (V = 11.7) after a quick peak at the Uranometria. After realizing the comet is currently traversing Virgo, a rendezvous with a galaxy was not unexpected.

After entering the following observations in my database, I was surprised to find I'm down to a remaining total of 173 unobserved NGC galaxies visible from northern California. The hunt continues from Australia next new moon.

NGC 4808 = UGC 08054 = MCG +01-33-028 = CGCG 043-071 = LGG 315-012 = PGC 44086 12 55 49.0 +04 18 15 V = 11.7; Size 2.8x1.1; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 127d
18" (5/29/05): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 2.0'x0.8'. Broadly concentrated with a mottled nuclear region but no well-defined core or nucleus. A mag 14 star is off the NW side, 1.9' from center. Located 54' N of mag 3.4 Delta Virginis. Picked up while viewing Comet Tempel (9P) 30' S. The Comet will be impacted by a spacecraft in just over one month! (July 4).

17.5" (4/4/92): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 2.5'x1.2', broadly concentrated with no nucleus, tapered ends. A mag 14 star lies 1.9' WNW of center.

NGC 5104 = UGC 08391 = MCG +00-34-031 = CGCG 016-057 = PGC 46633 13 21 23.1 +00 20 32 V = 13.7; Size 1.2x0.4; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 170d
18" (5/29/05): faint, small, elongated 2:1 ~N-S, 0.7'x0.3'. Contains a very small, brighter core. This is a an edge-on starburst galaxy.
NGC 5118 = UGC 08413 = MCG +01-34-019 = CGCG 044-078 = IC 4236 = PGC 46782 13 23 27.5 +06 23 33 V = 13.7; Size 0.8x0.7; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 100d
18" (5/29/05): faint, small, round, 0.6' diamter, wealkly concentrated with an irregular surface brightness. UGC 8427 lies 18' NE.
NGC 5119 = MCG -02-34-042 = PGC 46826 13 24 00.3 -12 16 35 V = 13.0; Size 1.3x0.4; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 19d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, small, elongated at least 2:1 SSW-NNE, 0.5'x0.2', fairly high surface brightness (possibly viewed core only). Increases to a sharp stellar nucleus. Located 70' SSW of Spica.
NGC 5122 = MCG -02-34-043 = PGC 46848 13 24 14.9 -10 39 15 V = 13.4; Size 0.9x0.3; Surf Br = 12.0; PA = 115d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, very small, elongated 2:1 WNW-ESE, 0.4'x0.2'. Contains a sharp, stellar nucleus or a faint star is superimposed. Confusing the situation is a similar mag 14 star that is just off the WNW extension and in line with the major axis of the galaxy. Located 35' NNW of Spica. N5130 lies 27' N.

This is an edge-on polar-ring galaxy with extremely faint extensions perpendicular (SW-NE) to the major axis of the main body.

NGC 5130 = MCG -02-34-044 = PGC 46866 13 24 27.3 -10 12 36 V = 13.4; Size 0.9x0.5; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 40d
18" (5/29/05): faint, small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 0.5'x0.3'. Sharply concentrated with a small, bright core and a very low surface brightness halo. A wide 44" pair of mag 13/14 stars lie 2' SSW. Located 1 degree NNW of Spica and 27' N of N5122.
UGC 08427 = MCG +01-34-020 = CGCG 44-083 = PGC 46884 13 24 35.1 +06 31 45 V = 13.8; Size 1.4x0.7; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 15d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 1.0'x0.45', slightly brighter core. A mag 12 star lies 1' E. Located 18' NE of N5518. Surprisingly, this galaxy was very comparable in brightness and larger than the NGC galaxy.
MCG -02-34-04 = NPM1G -12.0453 = PGC 47021 13 26 16.2 -12 36 59 V = 14.3; Size 1.6x1.6; Surf Br = 15.2
18" (5/29/05): very faint, moderately large, increases to a small, brighter knot or core with a very low surface brightness halo. Located 8.6' NW of mag 5.4 68 Virginis which must be kept out of the field or this galaxy will be nearly lost in the glare. Two unequal 30" pairs of mag 11.5/13.5 stars lie 2' E and 3' NE. Picked up while observing N5146 located 18' NNE.
NGC 5146 = MCG -02-34-049 = NPM1G -12.0454 = PGC 47055 13 26 37.4 -12 19 26 V = 12.6; Size 1.8x1.2; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 35d
18" (5/29/05): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 SW-NE. Sharply concentrated with a bright, 25" core and much fainter extensions. Bracketed by two mag 14.5/15 stars to the N and S. There is a faint galaxy as well as a faint star close N of the galaxy, but I assume I picked up the star.
NGC 5148 = MCG +01-34-021 = CGCG 044-086 = PGC 47060 13 26 38.7 +02 18 50 V = 14.2; Size 0.7x0.8; Surf Br = 13.7
18" (5/29/05): extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Located 30" SW of a mag 14.5 star.
NGC 5159 = UGC 08460 = MCG +01-34-022 = CGCG 044-088 = PGC 47235 13 28 16.1 +02 58 58 V = 14.2; Size 1.3x0.4; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 162d
18" (5/29/05): extremely faint, fairly small, elongated ~2:1 NNW-SSE. Not noticed initially but then caught the slightly brighter core. When drifting across the field very faint, low surface brightness extensions could be glimpsed increasing the size to nearly 1.0'x0.4'. Located 47' NE of N5148, another dim galaxy.
NGC 5167 = MCG +02-34-017 = CGCG 072-080 = PGC 47277 13 28 40.2 +12 41 41 V = 13.8; Size 0.9x0.9; Surf Br = 13.4
18" (5/29/05): faint, small, round, 0.5' diameter, weak concentration. Forms the northern vertex of an equilateral triangle with two mag 13/14 stars 2' SSW and 2' SE. Located 13' E of a mag 8.2 star.
NGC 5161 = ESO 383-004 = MCG -05-32-031 = UGCA 359 = PGC 47321 13 29 13.9 -33 10 26 V = 11.2; Size 5.6x2.2; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 80d
18" (5/29/05): large, oval WSW-ENE, ~4'x2'. Broad concentration with a large, ill-defined core which seems offset to the east side (or the outer halo is irregular lit). A mag 10.3 star lies 3.9' W of center and a mag 11.5 star is off the NE flank. This photogenic spiral (thin arms with knots and HII regins) was host to a pair of recent supernova — 1998E and 1974B.
NGC 5420 = MCG -02-36-006 = PGC 50121 14 03 59.9 -14 37 01 V = 13.1; Size 1.5x0.6; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 138d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.4', weak concentration. A mag 13.5 star lies 1' S of the center.

18" (6/18/04): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.5', slightly brighter core. Bracketed by two mag 14 stars 1.1' S and 1.8' NE of center. Located 22' NNW mag 6.4 SAO 158325.

NGC 5442 = MCG -01-36-006 = VV 691 = PGC 50189 14 04 43.0 -09 42 43 V = 13.2; Size 1.2x0.5; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 149d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.5'. Contains a brighter core with very faint extensions. It appeared the PA of the extensions shifted slightly with averted vision. Host to supernova 2001U.

18" (6/18/04): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 0.9'x0.4', appears brighter along its major axis. Situated in the middle of a isosceles triangle of mag 9.5 stars with mag 9.6 SAO 139717 7' N, mag 9.9 SAO 139714 6' SW and mag 9.6 SAO 139732 7' SE.

NGC 5476 = MCG -01-36-009 = PGC 50429 14 08 08.5 -06 05 31 V = 12.8; Size 1.7x1.1; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 135d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, moderately large oval 4:3 NW-SE, 1.3'x1.0', broadly concentrated with no core. A mag 11.5 star is off the west side, 1.9' from center.

18" (6/18/04): fairly faint, slightly elongated NW-SE, 1.0'x0.8'. The surface brightness appears slightly irregular with possibly a brighter spot or knot offset to the west side (it didn't appear to be the core). A mag 12.5 star lies 1.9' W of center.

NGC 5478 = UGC 09034 = MCG +00-36-019 = CGCG 018-055 = PGC 50430 14 08 08.5 -01 42 08 V = 13.6; Size 1.1x0.8; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 37d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, small, round, 0.7' diameter. Wea, even concentration to the center but there was no well-defined core. A mag 11 star lies 2' WSW.

18" (6/18/04): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter. Weak, even concentration to a small, brighter core giving a symmetrical appearance. A mag 11 star lies 2.4' WSW.

NGC 5495 = ESO 511-010 = MCG -04-34-001 = PGC 50729 14 12 23.3 -27 06 30 V = 12.6; Size 1.6x1.4; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 38d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated ~2:1 ~N-S, 0.8'x0.4'. Contains a very small, bright core with faint extensions. A mag 11 is just off the NE end and interferes with viewing. Located 11' NW of mag 5.1 50 Hydrae.

18" (6/18/04): faint, small, slightly elongated 4:3 ~N-S. The view is severely hampered by a mag 10.5 star which is very close to the NE edge of the galaxy (42" from center)! Overall the galaxy has a fairly even surface brightness except for a very faint, nearly stellar nucleus with direct vision. Located 10.5' NW of mag 5.1 50 Hydrae which is just outside the 19' field of the 10mm Pentax XW.

NGC 5555 = ESO 579-015 = MCG -03-36-011 = PGC 51124 14 18 48.1 -19 08 20 V = 14.5; Size 0.9x0.4; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 115d
18" (5/29/05): very faint, small, elongated 4:3 WNW-ESE, 0.4'x0.3', low surface brightness. A mag 14 star lies 2' NE. It took some effort to identify this galaxy in the field, even with a star chart. Located 7' SE of a mag 9 HD 125216. A mag 10 star is a similar distance SW.
NGC 5618 = UGC 09250 = MCG +00-37-005 = CGCG 019-026 = PGC 51603 14 27 11.8 -02 15 46 V = 13.4; Size 1.6x1.2; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 10d
18" (5/29/05): faint, moderately large, diffuse glow, 1.0' diameter, weakly concentrated. A mag 12 star lies 2' W. Located 15' W of mag 5.0 Phi Virginis.

18" (6/18/04): faint, fairly small, round, 0.8'x0.7', fairly low surface brightness with very weak concentration. A mag 12 star lies 2' W. Just outside the field lies Phi Virginis (very unequal magnitude double 5.0/9.5 at 5").

NGC 5726 = ESO 580-012 = MCG -03-37-006 = PGC 52563 14 42 56.0 -18 26 42 V = 12.8; Size 1.3x1.0; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 140d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, small, contains a fairly high surface brightness 25" core with a fainter halo. Located 7' SE of mag 9.2 HD 129378 in a fairly rich star field. ESO 580-014 lies 14' E. Incorrectly listed as nonexistent in the RNGC.

Incorrectly listed as nonexistent in the RNGC. Ormond Stone's position was 2.1 minutes W and 7' N of ESO 580-012 = MCG -03-37-006 but matches perfectly with his corrected position in the IC 1 notes. The correct identification is given in ESO-LV and RC3. Not identified as N5726 in the MCG.

ESO 580-014 = MCG -03-38-001 = PGC 52612 14 43 55.9 -18 29 02 V = 13.9; Size 1.0x0.9; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 122d
18" (5/29/05): very low surface brightness, moderately large. Appears as a 1' very hazy glow with no core. Picked up while viewing N5726 14' WNW.
NGC 5734 = ESO 580-016 = MCG -03-38-003 = PGC 52678 14 45 09.1 -20 52 14 V = 12.7; Size 1.5x1.0; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 38d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 0.7'x0.4'. A mag 13 is just off the NE tip, 30" from center, and detracts from viewing. Forms a close pair with N5743 2.6' S.
NGC 5743 = ESO 580-017 = MCG -03-38-004 = PGC 52680 14 45 10.9 -20 54 48 V = 13.0; Size 1.3x0.5; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 95d
18" (5/29/05): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated nearly 3:1 E-W, 1.2'x0.4', broad concentration. Larger and brighter of a close pair with N5743 2.6' N.
NGC 5744 = ESO 580-023 = MCG -03-38-007 = PGC 52761 14 46 38.6 -18 30 48 V = 13.5; Size 1.0x0.7; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 108d
18" (5/29/05): faint, very small, round, 0.4' diameter. No details were visible in this small galaxy. A striking 1.3' string of 3 stars lies 10' E with mag 9.3 HD 130194 at the N end. N5744 is listed as nonexistent in the RNGC. The NGC identification is uncertain and may apply to this galaxy or E580-014 = M-03-38-001.

Stone's position is 14 45.2 -18 29 (2000) or 1.3 tmin E of E580-G14. N5744 is identified as E580-014 in the RC3, ESO (uncertain) and SGC but not MCG. ESGC identifies N5744 as E580-023 = M-03-38-007 at 14 46 38 -18 30 48 (2000) in which case Stone's position is 1.4 tmin W!

ESO 580-030 = MCG -03-38-013 = PGC 52827 14 47 35.4 -18 04 14 V = 13.3; Size 1.7x1.3; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 2d
18" (5/29/05): fairly large, low surface brightness glow with just a weak concentration, ~1.5' diameter, slightly elongated, ~1.5'x1.2' but difficult to determine an orientation. Located 30' NE of N5744.
NGC 5766 = ESO 580-050 = MCG -03-38-024 = PGC 53186 14 53 09.5 -21 23 38 V = 13.4; Size 1.0x0.7; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 149d
18" (5/29/05): fairly faint, small, round, 40" diameter, moderate surface brightness. Forms the southern vertex of an isosceles triangle (sides 2', 2' and 1') with two similar mag 12 stars to the N and NE.

17.5" (6/20/01): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, 1.0'x0.8'. Very weak even concentration (not noticeable initially) but no core or nucleus. Forms the southern vertex of a thin isosceles triangle with two mag 12-13 stars 2.3' N and a similar distance NE.


Posted on tac-sac May 31, 2005 20:04:56 PT
Converted by report.pm 1.2 Sep 20, 2005 14:17:54 PT