Dinosaur Point March 5, 2008

Albert Highe

The CSC and satellite images predicted good conditions for Wednesday night and unfavorable later in the week. So, I took advantage of the weather and, for the second time this week, drove to Dino with my 13" f/4.5 grab-and-go scope.

Skies were clear and deep blue - not a trace of clouds. The temperature at Dino was a pleasant 64º when I arrived. The wind on the lake was about 10mph, but felt like less in the lot next to the hill.

After sunset, the slight wind died and temperatures dropped quickly, settling into the mid to low 40's. The relative humidity never got above 71%. Seeing was typical of Dino, a little soft. But it was adequate for observing with the 7mm Nagler T6 (212X, 1.5mm exit pupil). Saturn was a little mushy. There was no hint of dew.

I figured the dry, clear conditions would provide transparent skies with excellent contrast. I was right. Early on I took a look at the Horsehead Nebula with a 24mm Panoptic (62X, 1.1º f.o.v.) equipped with an H-beta filter. The dark notch stood out against the background nebulosity of IC 434 better than I ever remember seeing it.

I made approximately 50 observations, but only 34 were new. I drew diagrams containing many of the fainter galaxies in order to later compare to DSS images.

Selected observations (using 7mm Nagler T6 unless otherwise noted).

Reading Steve Gottlieb's OR for the previous night, I see that we observed in similar areas and some of the same objects. In particular, we both observed the close group of five galaxies in Gemini.

The first four of the following galaxies lie along an arc, almost making a half circle. The diameter of the circle is about 6' and the four galaxies are spaced almost equally 2.5' apart.

NGC 2290 (mag 13.2, 1.3' x 0.7') Appeared to be the second brightest and largest in the group. Brighter small core in moderate size oval halo. Visible with direct vision.

NGC 2289 (13.2, 1.1' x 0.7') Appeared to be the brightest in the group. Appeared to have a faint stellar nucleus with a small brighter core. Overall circular? Core visible with direct vision.

NGC 2291 (13.2, 1.0' x 0.8') Somewhat smaller than above. Has slightly brighter core. Visible steadily with averted vision. Together with the above two galaxies, the three make a shallow arc running N-S.

NGC 2294 (13.8, 0.9' x .03') Very small oval with somewhat brighter core. Visible steadily with averted vision.

NGC 2288 (14.4, 0.4' x 0.2') Very, very small. Easy to overlook initially among field stars and above brighter galaxies. Eventually was able to hold a fuzzy "star" 90% of the time with averted vision. Lies about 1' SSW of N2289.

Near the Cancer/Leo border

Cancer

NGC 2794 (13.2, 1.2' x 1.2') Second brightest of the group. Moderate size slightly oval galaxy visible steadily with averted vision. Brighter core just visible with direct vision.

NGC 2795 (12.8, 1.4' x 1.0') Brightest of the group. Moderate size oval halo visible steadily with averted vision. Brighter core visible with direct vision. Forms close pair with N2794, 2.5' SSW.

NGC 2797 (14.0, 0.7' x 0.6') Smaller oval with nearly uniform brightness, located 7' NE of N2795. Visible steadily with averted vision.

NGC 2791 (14.6, 0.8' x 0.3') Elusive, very, very small galaxy. 14' W of N2794. Eventually can hold 50% of the time with averted vision. Forms close double (20" separation) with faint star, oriented E-W.

A tongue of hazy cirrus leapt above the horizon to the NW at 8:30PM, but it disappeared by 9:30PM. Later, about 11PM, cirrus reappeared and quickly spread along the horizon from NW to S. I was working up high, so it didn't interfere with observing. By 11:30PM it started climbing higher into the sky. I finished up the galaxy group I was working on and packed up just before Midnight. Conditions were fine for observing bright favorites, but I didn't have the fire I had on Sunday and thought it would be a good idea to get to bed "early". I packed up by Midnight.

I was fortunate to observe four nights during the past week, almost compensating for the uncooperative weather earlier this year. Wednesday night my tally of objects surpassed 7000. After I reach the goal of 10,000, I'll be able to quit observing and avoid traveling to dark, remote sites. I can sell all my big glass, buy a small refractor, and observe the Moon from the convenience of home. No longer will I miss social events with family and friends during New Moon. There's additional pressure to reach 10,000 as soon as I can. In a few years gas will be $5 a gallon. ; )

Albert

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