Cronan Ranch 01-14-09

Alvin Huey

Marsha, Phil (and Joan) and I setup in the Cronan Ranch parking lot. This is generally a quick winter site with so and so skies compared to our usual sites.

Transparency was average for this site. NELM = 5.7-5.9. Temperatures hovered between 33 and 39. Humidity ranged from 55 to 80%. I left a little after 9PM as I work the following morning.

Since I decided to use Wagner’s list so I used my Urano 2000.0 on the field for the first time in many years.

Anyhow here is my list of pretty raw observations, straight out of my logbook.

The stats below are in this format (RA, Dec, magnitude, magnitude of the central star, size and constellation)

Palomar 1
22” (287 and 460x) – The field was located quickly. Picked up as a very faint, round glow at 460x. A pair of 13.5 magnitude stars to lies 1.3’ NNE and 1.4’ NE. An 11.3 magnitude star lies 1.9’ SE. About 30” across.

NGC 1184
22” (287 and 306x) – Considerably bright thick-thin spindle. Stellar core that seems a little off centered a little to the west. 2.3’ long by 0.5’ thick. PA = 160. The west edge is better defined than the east edge, suggesting a dust lane.

Horsehead
14.5” (122 and 198x) – With H-beta filter, 122x gave the best view. The horse’s head shape was discernable, but not easy.

22” (115 and 177x) Better view at 177x. It was barely detectable without any filters. The H-beta made it really stand out. The horse head was easily seen.

NGC 1491
22” (115 and177x) – Picked up only the brightest part with the UHC filter. About 3.5’ long and 2’ wide. Triangular in shape with the long side running NE to SW and nebulosity to the west. A 10.9 magnitude star lies just east of the long side.

Palomar 2
22” (177 and 287x) – Appeared faint, round with no central brightening. Pretty diffuse edges. About 1’ across.

NGC 1931
22” (177 and 287x) – Picked up as a very bright, irregular round glow. About 8’ across. Two close stars in the middle.

B34
22” (66 and 177x) – Void of stars, irregular in shape. But easily seen.

Sharpless 2-241
22” (115 and 177x) – Only suspected. Reviewed DSS image and based on what I drew. I believe I did not see it.