The Challenge is Made!
What Goes Around, Comes Around...
theAstronomer Raises the Ante
Through Perfect...
And Not So Perfect, Skies
Backyard Boulder Creek Finally Comes Through
Big 'Uns and Little 'Uns
Ms Vicki Gets Into the Act
Argo Drops Bye Again

The Challenge is Made!

The Great Andromeda Galaxy, like our own Milky Way, is at center of a small group of dwarf and elliptical galaxies. Four such attendents are susceptible to a six inch scope on a good night of observation.

Sketch at left done at 48x through the 57mm aperture-stopped ST80 achromat ("the Pup"). 50mm's of aperture is enough to see the Great Andromeda Galaxy as well as any other galaxy visible from the northern hemisphere through even the largest of amateur scopes...

Note: Sketches of all five members of the Andromeda Galaxy Family may be seen at the end of this article.

Two of the four (M31 & M110) are easy finds and can even be squeezed into a one plus degree field of view - along with their main galaxy (M31). Just about any kind of optics will turn these up on even a "poor" night of seeing.

The other two (NGC185 and 147) are found well away from the Andromeda Galaxy in outlying parts of Cassiopeia. Of these two, NGC147 can be particularly difficult.

Your basic mission, should you decide to accept, is to locate and briefly describe each of these four satellite galaxies. (If possible see if you can do it in a single night so you get a better sense of comparison.)

And oh yes, while viewing M31, see if you can see both dark lanes visible as you move perpendicularly away from the elongated core. And then try and track down the incredible "Great Star Cloud of M31" - NGC206.

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What Goes Around, Comes Around...

Hi All,

Had some nice skies and got a chance to view all five members of this group at last Saturday's SCAC Star Party.

Through Argo took in the immediate M31 region. At 50X, viewed M31, 32 and 110. Within M31, had no trouble finding the "bright knot" corresponding to NGC206 - Andromeda Galaxy's answer to the Great Nebula of Orion. This blows me away because how long and hard I worked to find it last time round when it was part of my yearlong obs plan.

Also, got an excellent sense of just how far M31 extends - along both the major and minor axis. In particular, was interested in the flank towards M110 where you see the dark lanes - and there were two of em.

M110 gave the finest view yet. Large and clearly elliptical with central condensation - though lacking a starry point.

Caught the two outliers (147 and 185) through Jack's 10 inch Dob. 147 could be held direct in the 10 inch. So far though I've only seen it as a dim patch of luminosity in Argo.

Didn't try tracking the pair down through Argo however. I was in "stargazer mode" and didn't want to make reference to charts at the time.

- jeff

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theAstronomer Raises the Ante

Greetings, All!

OK, so who here CAN'T find the M31? Huh? It's incredible, impenetrable nucleas simply screams out that it can be resolved. (and i can't wait to point the observatory scope at it!! Even with my least amount of magnification, I cannot fit it into the entire field of view in the 12.5. So, when I can keep from drooling, I study it one section at a time. One of the most remarkable discoveries I ran across was in the southern tip. d**n impressive, the star cloud NGC206 actually bears its' own designation! Wonderful study area...

We already know of the companion galaxies, the M32 and the M110 (NGC205), these ellipticals that pale in the face of the mighty M31. But there ARE two more... (way to go, Jeff!) Because as I edge the scope toward Cassiopeia, the NGC185 and NGC147 turn up as a same field pair of faint ellipticals! And what a team they all make...

Think that's enough? (Nah... I'm not letting YOU off that easy! Now, find Omicron and Lambda and form a right angle to the east.... at the corner of this "L" is the NGC7640. A nice "scratch" of light that says, Take me edge-on!" So, let's hop again... this time toward Lambda... Because here you will find the easy NGC7662. This blue/green planetary has so far only shown me a smokey looking center, and an occasional detection of a central star that is more of a tease than a reality! (hey.. i wanna' be able to hold it direct/averted... not bopping around!)

Andromeda.... 'nuff said.

~the astronomer

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Under Perfect...

Hi All,

While vacationing at Crater Lake, had one whole evening off by myself observing the night sky some 7960 feet above sea level. The observing venue was the highest accessible point above the beautiful sapphire blue waters of Crater Lake. The sweep of the sky was transcendent. Even as Sagittarius tipped its spout to the southwest, the spread of Perseus "bowl-like arms" could be seen northeast. Three whole seasons of observing lay above me. Summer's set, Winter's rise, and Autumn overhead.

But all was not idyllic. Howling winds blew from the west across the gaping mouth of the caldera's rim. Though the air was quite dry, it was also chilly. Strangely, the sky at 8000 feet was not as transparent as hoped. Under such conditions, I would expect to hold stars direct to magnitude 6.5 or so. In actuality, 6.0 stars were barely holdable. Effective transparency was no better overhead than at the Bonny Dune observing site or at China Ridge. But, the skyline was much better. Only the faintest of light domes could be seen to the south (Klamath Falls) and west (Medford).

And the Pup was not healthy. Star images looked more like those seen in big dobs - astigmatic and ugly - than those expected from a small refractor.

Despite the Pup's poor health, began southwest and revisited old friends of the deepsky. Began with Open Cluster M7 in Scorpius then followed the Great Highway of Lights - the Milky Way to Cygnus overhead. All at a 16x! Image scale for everything was very small. The vast Lagoon complex took up less than a third of the Pup's 3 degree field. (Included in another report: Above the Sapphire Blue Waters.)

Having explored the last Milky Way study (NGC7000 - the North American Nebula) left that Great Highway of Lights and headed towards a very visible smudge of light in Andromeda - M31.

At 16x, the entire galaxy fit in the 3 degree field. At this magnification, its central core was intense and star-like. Extending outward in elongated fashion was a huge core region covering almost a quarter of the field of view. Further out, spiral arms unfolded. Their sweep blended outward to the very limits of the field. As such, I was seeing a miniature of our own galaxy. That starlike central core being the "Hidden Mystery" in the midst of the Milky Way - with that great central condensation of luminosity driven by the "Heart of Darkness" in its midst.

Of course, the great star clouds, and nebulae both dark and light block us from seeing our own galaxies central fire - but there it was blazing in our twin galaxy some 2.8 million lightyears away in time and space.

As we all know, M31 is accompanied by two main satellite galaxies. At 16x, the view of M110 was extraordinary. The vaguish ellipse seen in 150mm Argo at 50x, gave way to some evidence of a central star-like core and brightish core region. This blending into a well defined ellipticity. Undoubtedly, the best view had of M110 since viewing it through that 14.5 inch dob at a recent star party. Also noticed how "square" M110's location is to the main galaxies core - almost a perfect right angle (though M110 itself angles off some 45 degrees in orientation from that line).

But something was missing. M32! Took a lot of searching and knowledge of this definitely globular-cluster like satellite galaxy to turn it up at such a low magnification. But knowledge of its general position in relation to M32 core and M110 soon unmasked the "fuzzy star" for the galaxy it was...

Between M31 and M110 one normally expects to see one or more "dark lanes". The lanes are usually seen as "subtle voids" where the galaxy's light is in abeyance. Surprisingly, neither of the lanes were in evidence.

Since the Pup's equatorial mount was properly oriented to Polaris, had no trouble turning up the fainter, more distant NGC185. Simply slewed due north while keeping an eye on the field of view through the main tube. And there it was, much dimmer than M110, but definitely present.

If there was no question about the presence of NGC185, there was hope of seeing the lower surface brightness NGC147. In shifting my eye west caught a faint shimmering of luminosity. Couldn't be held direct - but there it was. Just the other side of the edge.

Earlier that evening I had taken a look at Barnard's Galaxy in north-eastern Sagittarius (also at 16x). Due to light pollution, viewing Barnard's Galaxy at such a low magnification was impossible from Backyard, Boulder Creek. But there it was - certainly as susceptible as NGC185 - and perhaps even a tad brighter.

So, in a single evening I had the pleasure of seeing our own galaxy and one of its satellites, plus our twin galaxy and four of its companions. Our destiny as a galaxy is tied to that of M31. I can think of no better a pairing...

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And Not So Perfect Conditions

Hello, All...

From a report dated 23 Oct 2001:

Next on my list was the two satellite galaxies to M31. I found M31 straight away and it was showing up well with quite a large area of the spiral showing. I moved north and found M32 (mag8.1), it looked like a small nebulous star. Averted vision made this stand out more and I was convinced it wasn't a star but indeed the galaxy. Moving south down past M31 I found M110 (mag 8.1). This galaxy was much larger and had a brighter central core than M32, the galaxy was elongated in shape with its axis pointing towards M31. Again this galaxy was seen much better with averted vision. I was happy to have finally found this trio.

-Alistair

Editor's Note: Alistair observes through a 150mm Orion Europa from a suburban locale in England. The full report is posted on Alistair's Observing with a 150mm Reflector website.

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Backyard Boulder Creek Finally Comes Through

Hi All,

Despite temperatures in the low forties - and a body averse to same, spent a considerable amount of time dutifully tracking down the five main menbers of the M31 clan. Sky transparency was better than usual. Certainly 5.0 ZULM. Stability, "underwhelming" - could barely bring stars to focus as points at 120x, so maybe 6/10.

This last really isn't much an issue for galaxy quests. Except that aesthetics are undermined a bit. And given the fact that extended nights "out and about" have been few and far between as of late - no complaints, just facts.

Earlier this evening had the Pup mounted on the SkyView Deluxe. Made a quick startest - shored up the collimation, confirmed that widening doublet spacing had no real effect on the zonal issue identified by Cor. About the time startest finished, clouds rolled in and I was about to call it quits - thankful just to have the opportunity to check the Pup's optics. The sky 'round here can do a bit of a "Jeckyl and Hyde" drama, so left the Pup setup to give the weather a chance to change its ways. Forty-five minutes later, skydark had settled, clouds parted and I could hold stars down to magnitude 5.0 in Cassiopeia.

So revisited all the Cassiopaen open clusters. It wasn't until I left the constellation completely that I got a view through the Pup suitable to the aperture. The constellation? Perseus. The Cluster? Why the Double Cluster, of course. (Hear that Cor, they have double clusters to go along with the double planetary in Perseus!).

Speaking of M76 (the Double Planetary), was doing my best to turn this faint fuzzy up in the Pup - but it wasn't having any. Knowing I'd found it a few nights back (under poorer conditions) decided it was time to check the objective - and sure enough, as suspected, it had dewed up.

So segue to Argo. Pup removed from mount and Argo added. Swung the 150mm around on M76. No problemo - but not your best of views. Poor definition and lack of real presence. This particular 11.5 magnitude planetary does not appear to be a much of a six inch study - at least under tonights conditions...

By this time, it was cold. Sky stability was marginal. Wind picked up now and again. Back ached from "the bends". Gave some thought to knocking off. Then remembered I'd yet to turn up all the members of the Andromeda Galaxy Clan from backyard Boulder Creek. Could this be the night?

Started with a quick sweep of the three main members. M31 easily seen unaided as a faint patch. Why, the look in the 7X35mm finderscope was better than just about every other galaxy ever seen through the main tube! At 70x, could see the dark lane that defines the galaxies "northern" frontier (in the direction of M110). M110 showed nice condensation toward the center - but no starry core. M32 southwest of M31 core was it's usual "globular-esque" self - all blue and highly concentrated. Made a quick sweep of the southwestern arm for NGC206. This baby is nowhere near as obvious as the Triangulum Galaxy's corresponding knot NGC604. Didn't turn it up at this point. Centered on M110, then slewed due north to pick out NGC185. Located Omicron Cassiopeia. Shifted due west a degree and halleluia, the large, faint, low surface brightness dwarf elliptical stood right up and said "presently accounted for, sir!"

Never have seen this particular galaxy so obvious - certainly not from Backyard Boulder Creek. Wee bit further north and another degree west, and there was the last member of the family - all coy and secluded. Faint, but definite shimmer. Sense of central brightening on aversion. Possible elongation, west-southwest to east-northeast. None of these details possible without my trusty "cap and gown" - beret and blue towel to block copious stray light from neighboring properties. Dropped in the 52x eyepiece. No real improvement in presentation - background sky just brighter. Ran up the magnification to 120x. Able to make out about 2 arcmins of the core region on eye movement.

For the record, NGC147 lies about 10 arcmins southwest of a large "rhombus" of 9th magnitude stars. Very useful to know when attempting to track it down under poorer conditions - or with the 80mm Pup at lower magnifications (36x or so).

Returned to NGC185. Both 185 and 147 have very low average surface brightnesses (13.9) but NGC185 is MUCH easier to turn up than 147. In fact, 185 almost gives a sense of structure! Maybe 6 by 4 arcmins in extension forming a flat triangle between two wide-spaced 8th magnitude stars. Gradual (though faint) brightening (or condensation) to center. (No real "core region" however.) Detectable elongation (south-southwest to north-northeast). Sense of a core center on eye movement. In fact, NGC185 even took some magnification - 120x diluted the view so much that only what is the galaxy's "core region" remained. And that region appeared to shift 90 degrees to align along a northwest to southeast axis. At 180x, some small remaining condensation also possible - on eye movement.

Certainly the finest views of the two outlying members seen to date - despite having tracked the pair down on slightly better conditions through Argo at China Ridge, and the Pup at Crater Lake.

Simply had to return to M31 and see if NGC206 in the southwest spiral arm was also possible. To do so knew I'd have to bump up the magnification a bit to dilute the luminosity of the arm itself. Also knew I'd have to locate the "carpet sweeper" asterism that marks the distant clusters location.

In the past I would fashion an imaginary triangle out of M31 core and M32. Then sweep the corresponding region in the spiral arm for the asterism at high power. On this occasion found an even easier approach. With the equatorial properly polar-aligned all that was needed was to center on M32 core (in the 120x field) and shift one field width due north. This allowed me to easily identify the triangle of stars that comprise the "sweeper" portion of the asterism. From there another half field exposed the entire asterism. Between the two stars that make up the handle of the carpet sweeper and sweeper itself, made out a faint 12 plus magnitude "fuzzy star". And it is that small "star" that is my personal candidate for NGC206.

Now note I said "candidate" - this thing has been elusive enough in the past that I am no longer prescisely sure where it is located - but at least now I have a repeatable method for tracking it down in the future.

NOTE: As it turns out this particular NGC206 IS actually a small group faint stars. To  easily  find the true 206, Argo needs darker skies (~5.5) and a look that "triangulates" further southeast from the "Carpet Sweeper's" handle...

It would appear that NGC206 is actually more difficult to turn up as the pair of dwarf ellipticals...

Before "locating" 206, I'd given the three main Messier members of the First Galactic Family a bit of attention as well.

As bright as M32's starpoint is, I've found that it is no brighter than the core region of the main galaxy. Along with the main galaxy it shares a very characteristic "globular-cluster blue" hue. And is, of course, totally unresolvable. In fact less than half its 8 arcmin apparent size is visible through Argo direct. It is only through fully averted vision that it's true size is appreciated - and then only vaguely. At higher magnifications, M32 loses its "globularity" and extends more obliquely toward M31 core. The northern extension is longer and brighter (toward the main galaxy) than that to the south. Certainly the main galaxy's gravitational influence is at work here...

Using the 52x eyepiece, found the main galaxy's spiral arms to not be symetrical. Northeastern arm appears less well-developed than its opposite. It is neither as bright nor as clearly delineated. The "southern" frontier of the main galaxy is far less well-defined than the "northern". There is a very obvious dark bar curtailing the northern face. This is confirmed when later on, about half-way out to M110, a bit of "gauzy luminosity" breaks though the lane's northern frontier.

Both of the main galaxy's spiral arms can be traced at least a full degree away from the core. Certainly Andromeda Galaxy Prime extends well past 2 degrees of space - and probably twice that (or more) in photographs.

M110, in many ways, is more interesting than its brighter confrere - M32. Its markedly elliptical shape is quite apparent and easily seen to orient along a north-south axis. A star-like point is hinted at on eye movement but no distinct "core region" is seen. Unlike M32, luminosity blends continuously outward into the darkness of space. Except the western frontier where there is a sense of "edge" - though nothing like that seen where the dark lane breaks the main galaxy's northern face. There is also a hint of M110's northern extension being longer and narrower than the southern. This opposes M32's configuration which (at higher magnifications) extends toward M31 rather than away from it. Finally, noticed a tendency for M110 to flare northwest on eye movement.

Although I've visited with all members of this group previously, they are by no means becoming "old hat". The eye seems to develop greater acuity as it becomes ever surer of itself (through repeated experience). Perception is a very timid thing and needs constant encouragement to assert with confidence and surity what it senses. As we know from individual observing, it's easy to "imagine" seeing things where none is present. And because of this, good observers tend to "shy away" from making speculative claims until a certain weight of confidence is gained.

Carpe Noctem,

jeff

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Big 'Uns and Little 'Uns

Hello, Everyone!

In keeping with the Andromeda Family challenge, I decided to point both the 4.5 and the 12.5 in the same direction last night. And it was no problem to find, because the M31 itself was a beautiful, naked-eye silver sheen!

Through the 4.5, the M31 is spectacular. A massive galaxy that fills a 26mm eyepiece. The core area defies any type of resolution... and it gradually fades its' way out to the edges. The tiny M32 is quite visible at one edge... appearing much like a globular cluster. Pushing the view away to one side a bit, allows the M110 to also come into play.. whose bright nucleas and "stretched" form is easily distinguished.

Hopping away to pick up the companion galaxies in the 4.5 is next to an impossiblity. This is reaching toward the limitations of a small scope! (You have asked me many times to try being aperature "limited"... and tonight I comply.) I can find the field stars, amigo... But, only through years of practice, and using my hood to block out any stray light, can I even make out a contrast change! With averted vision, only the slightest hint of the galactic pair, NGC185 and NGC147, is even possible. If I did not know the field stars, I would not have called the shot with the small scope!

Ready for the dob? Then let's take the exact same eyepiece... and watch what happens. WOW! Now "Andromeda" is walking and talking! At 26mm the M31's frontier extends way beyond the field of view. The nucleas smacks with a platinum/gold light, and the signature dark dust lanes become prominent. Moving the view toward the northern end, one very nice "loop" of galactic "stuff" shows very well. And pushing south, shows a more "raggedy" appearing edge with one nice "knot" embedded in it.... the NGC206! (But let's continue on with the 26mm and come back to study it later...)

By pushing the majority of the M31 to one side of the field, the M32 comes into play. Now you can see that we are talking galaxy here... and not globular cluster. What makes me say that? Although the edges of the M32 has the grainy appearance of beginning of resolution, the body of the galaxy itself is entirely diffuse. The classic signature of an elliptical galaxy. Now, push the dob the other way, and let's get the M110. This one is far more structured. Also known as the NGC 205, this galaxy does display a brightened core area that stretches out along it's frontiers. Tiny field stars give the illusion that resolution is possible!

Now, let's hop back off for the other pair. Sweet... no problem catching the NGC185 and NGC147 now! Of course, they do not display tremendous amounts of detail... but now you CAN see, with direct vision, this tiny elliptical pair! Let's power up now... The NGC147 is completely even... but the NGC185 seems as if the "nucleas" is slightly off-center... and perhaps it fades a bit more toward the three stars at the edge. Ready to rock back to the M31? You're on!

We've come for ya', NGC206.... No resolution, clear through... Sorry! What you can see is a "lump" of stellar stuff... (and you would not believe how much it reminds me of a tiny "Mr. Wizard's Galaxy"!) My best guess is that it is a nebulous patch... and one VERY pregnant with stars! Want to shoot the core while we're powered up? You got it... Absolutely impenetrable. The only thing that magnification does for it is make the dark dust lanes just slightly more prominent. But that's OK by me... I like mysteries!

Scooby Dooby Doo!!!

~theAstronomer

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Ms Vicki Gets Into the Act

Hi All,

An unplanned early morning rise gave me a chance to visit all five members of the Andromeda Galaxy through 102mm Vicki. Dropping the loaner 40x 24.5mm Meade SWF into the diagonal, it didn't take long to turn up M31.

And turning it up was a large part of the pleasure. Folks that 8x50mm orion finderscope we have mounted on Ms Vicki is just the ticket for showing the 3 plus degree expanse of The Great Galaxy as though you are looking at more distant messier island universes. Near edge, prominent core, extended spiral arms. Very precise frontiers. Wow!

In the main tube, the 5.5 plus sky conditions in the region gave Ms Vicki a chance to "go deep". Although I can't make claims to the second dark lane, the first was very definite and precise. Meanwhile the spiral arms spilled well outside the degree and a half field of view of the SWF to either side of the core. Another joy was catching the NGC206 star cloud as a large diffuse slightly condensed region without ambiguity. (Sure slight aversion was needful, but there it was.)

At 40x, M32 was definite, but highly condensed. M110 however was far more expansive with that clear sense of progressive brightening toward a non-nucleated core.

Then it was north to Cassiopaeia. Locate Omicron. Sweep west. First NGC185 then 147. The former was easily held direct and the later just barely.

All this goes to prove that deepsky really can happen at 4 inches unobstructed.

The sky giveth and the sky...

jeff

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Argo Drops Bye Again

Hi All,

With the Moon out of the looming, and after an early evening sketch of Mars, setup Argo in the backyard near the study and made a tour of dark-sky favorites.

Sky stability was a bit on the poorish side - say 6/10 overhead. And it was for this reason that Argo had trouble holding the 12.8 magnitude marker star near the ring at 120x. But the sky was about 5.5 ZULM deep and this played out well when it came to revealing the main components of the Cygnus Loop (Eastern and Western Veil plus Pickering's Wedge) at 52x plus Ultrablock filter. I also was able to make out the football-like extensions to the Dumbbell Planetary and happily some of the extended nebulosity associated with the Crescent Nebula along Cygnus spine.

But the real test of a dark sky from Backyard Boulder Creek is whether or not I can view all five members of the Andromeda Galaxy Family.

Sure enough, using the 52x 35mm Ultracsopic I was able to locate and hold both NGC185 and 147. In fact quite a bit of condensation was possible with NGC185 - giving it an appearence much like that of M110 than I expected.

A good night to be out and about relaxing under the canopy of the night sky visiting with old favorites who probably remain blissfully unaware that they are being watched from an obscure blue planet som 2.5 million light years away.

Cheers,

jeff

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