05-03-08 Blue Canyon Part 2 of 3

Alvin Huey

Well, here is part 2 of 3. I'll write more when I get to it.

NGC 5648 group This group contains two bright NGC's and one extremely faint MAC galaxy. NGC 5648 appeared bright and slightly elongated. Its surface is slightly mottled. PA = 0 and 40x30". NGC 5655 is bright and round with a slightly off-centered core towards the SE. About 40" across. A pair of 13.5 magnitude stars lies on each side of it (NW and SE). It lies 5.6' SE from NGC 5648. MAC 1431+1400 is an extremely faint, very small round patch, less than 10" across. It sits about 3' NE of NGC 5655.

NGC 5888 group Trio of three NGC's; two bright and one very faint with a "bright" 9th magnitude star in the field. NGC 5888 appears elongated with irregular edges. Slightly mottled and slightly brighter center. PA = 150 and 45x30". A very faint star is on the SE edge. NGC 5886 has high surface brightness and is 2:1 elongated and small. PA = 90 and 30x15". A 15 magnitude star lies less than 10" N. NGC 5886 lies 4.5'WSW of NGC 5888. NGC 5889 is very faint and 2:1 elongated. PA = 45 and 20x10"

NGC 4278 group A very bright sting of galaxies with increasing brightness from the NE to SW. NGC 4278 is by far the brightest galaxy that is round and a much brighter center. About 1.5' across. About 3.3' NE lies NGC 4283. It is much smaller, but bright and round with a brighter center. About 45" across. The faintest of the trio, NGC 4286, lies 5.2' NE of NGC 4283. It appears slightly elongated with low surface brightness throughout. PA = 150 and 40x30" across.

NGC 4615 group This relatively compact trio consists of an interesting asymmetrical spiral accompanied by two smaller galaxies. NGC 4615 appears as a spiral galaxy with one obvious arm and a much fainter opposite arm. The brighter arm curves counter-clockwise to the SE and is visible with direct vision. It extends for about 40". At high power, 458x, a very faint knot is detected at the tip of this arm. The opposite arm is detected only with averted vision and extends for about 20". NGC 4614 lies 2.3 SW of NGC 4615. It appears elongated and bright with a brighter center. At high powers, a very faint halo extending up to 40x20" is detected with averted vision. PA = 135 and the bright part is 30x15". NGC 4613 lies 2.2 ENE of NGC 4615. It appears faint, round with even surface brightness throughout. About 15" across.

NGC 4168 group This trio of 3 NGC of widely differing brightness. A MAC galaxy is in the mix. A 10th magnitude star is in the field. NGC 4168 appears very bright, featureless and round with a much brighter center. 1.3' across. NGC 4164 lies 3' W appears small, round with a brighter center. About 10" across. A 15.2 magnitude star lies about 30" SE. NGC 4165 lies 3' NW of NGC 4168. It is a faint, 2:1 elongated even surface brightness patch. At high power, 458x, MAC 1212+1316, appears as an extremely faint round patch sitting less than 10" north off the north edge of NGC 4165. A knot off the east edge is also detected with averted vision.

MCG+2-31-60 group This string of galaxies actually consists of four galaxies equidistant from each other. They are about 1' apart and form a N-S line. Three MCG's and one MAC galaxy. MCG+2-31-60 is the most obvious of the three MCG's and lies at the southern end. It appears very faint, very small and round. MCG+2-31-59 and MCG+2-31-58 are a little fainter than -60 and round. All are less than 10" across. While examining this chain at high powers, 458 and 575x, I noticed something fuzzy 1' north of MCG+2-31-58 popping in and out. Consulting MegasStar it turns out to be MAC 1214+1300.

NGC 4339 group This is a relatively easy trio forming a squashed isosceles triangle. NGC 4339 appears very bright and round. Much brighter towards the middle and edges are pretty diffuse. 1.3' across. NGC 4333 lies 4.2' SW and is a bright, 2:1 elongated patch with a slightly brighter round center. PA = 90 and 30x15" across. NGC 4326 lies 3.2' NW of NGC 4333 and 6' W of NGC 4339. It is a bright round patch with a brighter core. Very diffuse edges. Total size is 45" across and the core is 10" across.

IC 3481 group This trio forms a string strattling NW to SE. IC 3481 appears bright and round. 20" across. Next one down, IC 3481A, lies 1.6' SE of IC 3481, appears very faint and round. Even surface brightness. Less than 10". IC 3483 lies 4.3' SE of IC 3481A and is a faint round patch. It is almost lost in the glare of the 9.9 magnitude star, which sits about 1' NE.

NGC 4716 group

And I'll write up these I observed during the third quarter moon weekend (Friday, not Saturday)

NGC 2684 group

NGC 2820 group

NGC 2857 group

NGC 3010 group

NGC 3202 group

NGC 3545 group

MCG+9-19-25 group

NGC 3786 group

NGC 3921 group

NGC 3995 group

NGC 5485 group