Return to the Cloudy Nights Telescope Reviews home page

Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums

Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User

Observing >> Deep Sky Observing

Pages: 1
lymorkiew45
sage


Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 288
Loc: Anaheim
Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night!
      #2550898 - 07/30/08 05:23 PM

Hello, on a very clear night, really late last night, I turned my 12" to the Deerlick group NGC 7331, and I managed to see all the 4 companions of the beautiful edge on NGC 7331 which was a very bright lustrous oval elongated 8' X 2' NNW SSE, with a bright core, and a stellar nucleus, and faint plumes, extending from the major axes and showed lots of mottling, and a dustlane visible with high power.

The other four galaxies run from 14th magnitude, and downwards, and are very small, but were quite easy in my large dobsonian, on a dark night, First off was NGC 7335 which was the easiest, with direct vision, it had a faint stellar nucleus surrounded by a faint tiny oval 30" halo elongated NE SW, and then on to NGC 7336, which appeared as a very faint stellar object.

Now onto NGC 7340, which was the second easiest, and it appeared as a very faint, and small even round halo, with a slightly brighter center, with direct vision and then the toughest NGC 7337, which was extremley faint, and was visible about 50% of the time with averted vision, this one was an extremley small almost stellar object, but much tougher at magintude 14.7.

These galaxies are just to the East of the great spiral, and they present a great challenge to medium, and large amateur telescopes, if it was darker, I'm sure I would be able to glimpse some of the much fainter MCG, and anonymous galaxies in the area as well, tonight I'm trying for Stephan's Quintet...clear skies...

--------------------
To fail is to succeed, to not fail is to show that you cannot proceed, therefore life is just a learn, and not learn illusion.

20 year martial artist and amateur astronomer, I love it...Jorgen

Starfinder 16 EQ, and dob
DS-10
Orion XT 12i
Z12
All the Lanthanum superwides!
Orion ultrablock filter
9mm Nagler type 6
15mm, 25mm, 35mm Ultrascopics
Orion Shorty Plus barlow
Orion Lazer Colimator
30" dob planned out in far future!


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Sardinia
member


Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 45
Loc: Elkins, New Hampshire
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: lymorkiew45]
      #2551452 - 07/30/08 09:59 PM

Congrats with envy. I have put much time, averted vision & probably averted imagination into those Deer Lick companions with my Orion 10 inch.
Often the very limited averted vision opportunities has led to doubt and thoughts of self delusion. I am 'fairly' sure only about NGC 7335. It is a great priviledge to see something akin to our own galaxy at a likely range of abut 330 million ly.
So as Pegasus rises steadly higher I will return to my 7331 companions quest, Again congrats.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Starman1
Postmaster
*****

Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10840
Loc: Los Angeles
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: lymorkiew45]
      #2551663 - 07/31/08 12:33 AM

In dark skies, these are easily visible with an 8" scope. In fact, with 16", you should be able to see all 9 of the "companions".
Here's a chart:
http://www.ngcic.org/dss/dss_ngc.asp
and pick 7300-7399, then choose 7331 Data
I've seen all of them in my 12.5"
Some are very small--essentially stellar, but bright enough to be seen.
While in the area, Stephan's Quintet is only 30' away. Don't forget to look.

--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
AlanK
super member


Reged: 01/26/07
Posts: 123
Loc: Auckland, New Zealand
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: Sardinia]
      #2551688 - 07/31/08 12:53 AM

Having seen four of 7331's companions, Stephan's Quintet shouldn't be a problem. At least a moderate power will be required to split 7318A & B though. Good luck.

--------------------
12.5 inch f5.4 reflector
18 inch f4.5 Obsession #1637
Auckland NZ
5,905 deep sky objects incl 4,221 ngcs.


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
DeepSpaceTour
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2942
Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: Starman1]
      #2551770 - 07/31/08 02:32 AM

Great link Don, Thanks.

Clear skies.

--------------------
-------------------------
Bill
-17.5"F/5 Discovery"Truss" Dob/Dob driver/ArgoNavis
Kendrick dew control/Obsession Alt bearings
-Orion 4.5" StarBlast "SOLD" waiting for the 6"
-Antares 152-F/6.5 refractor on HEQ-5 Pro
-15x70 Binocs
-Collimating tools "LOTS"
- TV ep's *8-Ethos*13-Ethos*26T-5*31T-5*
- 2" Barlows
- Pelican1600


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Sardinia
member


Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 45
Loc: Elkins, New Hampshire
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: Starman1]
      #2552063 - 07/31/08 09:10 AM

Thanks for the supportive guidance guys. 66 year old eyes don't help but I will endeavor to endeavor

Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
MessierScott
super member


Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 180
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: Starman1]
      #2552092 - 07/31/08 09:34 AM

Quote:

In dark skies, these are easily visible with an 8" scope. In fact, with 16", you should be able to see all 9 of the "companions".
Here's a chart:
http://www.ngcic.org/dss/dss_ngc.asp
and pick 7300-7399, then choose 7331 Data
I've seen all of them in my 12.5"
Some are very small--essentially stellar, but bright enough to be seen.
While in the area, Stephan's Quintet is only 30' away. Don't forget to look.




Unfortunately 5 of those 9 are just stars mistaken for NGC objects.

--------------------
Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror, Feathertouch focuser, GO TO & tracking
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator

ASKC Dark Sky Site


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Starman1
Postmaster
*****

Reged: 06/24/03
Posts: 10840
Loc: Los Angeles
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: MessierScott]
      #2552210 - 07/31/08 10:30 AM

Which explains why I noted that they were "stellar" in my notes. I've been attempting to see the entire NGC visible from my latitude, and all I had was a chart showing positions. Figures.
I did misidentify 7327, which is a star, with the nearby galaxy PGC69291 (MCG +6-49-44). My notes said it was slightly lens-shaped, which a star would not be.
There's also another nearby galaxy close enough to be seen as a "companion" and that's PGC69281 (CGCG514-66), about the same distance from NGC7331 as 7340. I noted that it is exceedingly faint.

--------------------
Don Pensack
12.5" Truss Dob, 5" Maksutov
Sustaining Lifetime IDA member, TeleVue junkie


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
sgottlieb
sage


Reged: 07/22/07
Posts: 232
Loc: SF Bay area
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: Starman1]
      #2556789 - 08/02/08 09:30 PM

Quote:

I did misidentify 7327, which is a star, with the nearby galaxy PGC69291 (MCG +6-49-44). My notes said it was slightly lens-shaped, which a star would not be.
There's also another nearby galaxy close enough to be seen as a "companion" and that's PGC69281 (CGCG514-66), about the same distance from NGC7331 as 7340. I noted that it is exceedingly faint.




The misidentification of PGC 69291 with NGC 7327 was first made by Sulentic and Tifft in the RNGC and then copied into some popular amateur sky plotting software. Don, I'm guessing that's what may have thrown you off. PGC 69291 is a strange one -- with a relatively bright star superimposed on the galaxy. In my 18" only a little bit of "fuzz" is visible surrounding the star.

The RNGC also messed up NGC 7326, misidentifying it with the nearby CGCG 514-66 which you also mentioned. This galaxy is definitely easier than PGC 69291.

Coincidentally, I happened to be looking at the NGC 7331 group last night (Friday) from Lassen National Park (8150 ft elevation) and picked up a few more galaxies a bit further east than the main 4 companions --- CGCG 514-79, CGCG 514-89 and UGC 12132. Great region for faint galaxies!

--------------------
Steve Gottlieb
18" f/4.3 Starmaster
Adventures In Deep Space - New article on MASH planetaries
7500+ NGC/IC Visual Descriptions
NGC/IC Project


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
DeepSpaceTour
Carpal Tunnel
*****

Reged: 10/25/05
Posts: 2942
Loc: In the dark and"WAY"out there!
Re: Saw all 4 companions of NGC 7331 last night! new [Re: lymorkiew45]
      #2558059 - 08/03/08 06:10 PM

Yup I re visited 7331 last night and Stephens as well,plus some of the other galaxy clusters in this region,as well,there are some small groups and single galaxy's that permeate this area of the sky,very nice views indeed.

Clear skies.

--------------------
-------------------------
Bill
-17.5"F/5 Discovery"Truss" Dob/Dob driver/ArgoNavis
Kendrick dew control/Obsession Alt bearings
-Orion 4.5" StarBlast "SOLD" waiting for the 6"
-Antares 152-F/6.5 refractor on HEQ-5 Pro
-15x70 Binocs
-Collimating tools "LOTS"
- TV ep's *8-Ethos*13-Ethos*26T-5*31T-5*
- 2" Barlows
- Pelican1600


Post Extras: Print Post   Remind Me!   Notify Moderator  
Pages: 1


Extra information
2 registered and 1 anonymous users are browsing this forum.

Moderator:  matt, Olivier Biot 

Print Thread

Forum Permissions
      You cannot start new topics
      You cannot reply to topics
      HTML is disabled
      UBBCode is enabled


Thread views: 318

Jump to

Home



Cloudy Nights Sponsor: Astronomics