Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Hi,
I apologize for my ignorance; I have only been visiting this site for about 8 months. I have a particular interest in the Markharian's Chain, part of the Virgo Cluster. The Virgo Cluster is going to be one of my areas of viewing during the late winter and early spring. I am curious about the galaxies that make up the Markharian's Chain especially their size and magnitude. I am planning on heading to darker skies than I have here is the Phillie area which should help me, however I have only an 8" Dob. Will I see any galaxies in the chain? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Cheers and clear skies,
Bob from Phillie
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8280
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
Hi,
I apologize for my ignorance; I have only been visiting this site for about 8 months. I have a particular interest in the Markharian's Chain, part of the Virgo Cluster. The Virgo Cluster is going to be one of my areas of viewing during the late winter and early spring. I am curious about the galaxies that make up the Markharian's Chain especially their size and magnitude. I am planning on heading to darker skies than I have here is the Phillie area which should help me, however I have only an 8" Dob. Will I see any galaxies in the chain? Any guidance is greatly appreciated.
Cheers and clear skies,
Bob from Phillie
The Markarian chain is a pretty easy target. I can see a few of them in a pair of 10x60 binoculars, and in my 100mm f/6 refractor, probably at least six galaxies in the chain can be seen at low power. In my 10 inch at 47x, I can get a spot centered on M86 which has ten galaxies in a one degree field of view, and I can trace the chain all the way to its end and beyond all the way to NGC 4459. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
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Hrundi
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/06/08
Posts: 1238
Loc: Estonia
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The markarian chain is what you starhop to, in order to find the rest of the virgo cluster, so it's pretty damn bright.
The two messiers plus the eyes make for a memorable field.
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rocco13
Got Milk?
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 2654
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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Here's a guide to the labels, but the magnitudes you'll have to look up...
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Rocco
Zhumell Z12
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Rocco,
Thanks for the picture and guide. I will look up the magnitudes etc. I am encouraged and I am looking forward to my late winter viewing.
Cheers and Clear Skies
Bob In Phillie
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rocco13
Got Milk?
Reged: 07/29/06
Posts: 2654
Loc: Phoenix, Arizona
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For me, this area of the sky somewhat intimidates me. I mean I have to psych myself up to tackle this cluster. From a dark sky site, there are more galaxies visible through the eyepiece than what's denoted in my Pocket Sky atlas, and I have to carefully check surrounding star patterns to verify which one I'm seeing. Too much like work than a relaxing hobby!
Even from at home in the suburbs, I can make out all of the M's along with about a dozen NGCs...still takes an effort to verify some of them. Good luck with your endeavor!
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Rocco
Zhumell Z12
Super C8 (1984 vintage)
Celestron 102 f/5
and a cheap pair of binoculars
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 613
Loc: Northern Arizona
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Yeah , heck , why bother with verification ? Just enjoy the view ! ...Hey look at all the galaxies ! 
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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Hi, Bob!
Markharian's Chain is very easy in the 8-inch dob, even from semi-light polluted skies. It may take a litte patience at first to get all the detail, but once studied a bit, you'll always know what to expect. I use an 8-inch dob as my main work horse and the Virgo galaxy cluster looks fantastic when scanning the field with a low power wide angle eyepiece. It's best to wait until the Virgo constellation is flying high over head where the darkest section of the sky is for best contrast on this cluster. I hope this helps...and let us know when the time comes how you make out. Good luck my friend.
Clear Skies to All!
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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Sardinia
member
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 52
Loc: Elkins, New Hampshire
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The Virgo Supercluster is an easy go with an 8 inch Dob given fairly dark skies. Remember of course with a DOB things won't look like the non-Dob photos of the Chain.
The Virgo Supercluster will teach you much about star hopping and situational orientation.
Don't be intimadated by all the GX targets. Find M-86 & 84 and work out from there. The Virgo SC is a learning journey of many small steps and many rewards.
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BillFerris
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/17/04
Posts: 2910
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Markarian's Chain is a wonderful subject for moderate aperture. It consists of eight galaxies, including NGC 4374 (M84), NGC 4406 (M86), NGC 4435, NGC 4438, NGC 4458, NGC 4461, NGC 4473 and NGC 4477. Another six galaxies, at least, can be seen in moderate aperture under dark skies. This meandering chain of stellar gothams extends about 1.5 degrees from M84, in Virgo, to NGC 4477, in Coma Berenices.
Bill in Flag
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Grand Canyon Adventure
Lowering the Threshold
18" Obsession
4.5" Meade 4500
10x50 Swift Audubon
Cosmic Voyage
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Achernar
Postmaster
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 5025
Loc: Mobile, Alabama, USA
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This is a drawing of M-84 and M-86, along with a couple of other members of Markarian's Chain, which stretches two degrees into Coma Berenices. You will see every one of the bright members with ease through an 8-inch from a good site when the moon is not flooding the sky with light. Most them in fact were seen through my 10-inch from my front yard, which is badly light polluted.
Taras
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15-inch F/4.5 Dob under construction
10-inch F/4.5 Discovery Dob
6-inch F/8 Homebuilt Dob
4 1/4-inch F/4 Homebuilt reflector
A whole bunch of eyepieces, filters and other accessories....
Two curious cats
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 8280
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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I generally just put my Telrad on a spot halfway between Denebola (Beta Leonis) and Vindemiatrix (Epsilon Virginis). That usually puts me smack-dab on top of M84, and I can work outwards from there. Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
Prairie Astronomy Club
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Good Afternoon,
I took Rocco's advice and looked up all of the galaxies in the chain and I have attached the file to this message. They are all within the range of my telescope and I am looking forward to visiting this area of the sky.
Cheers,
Bob from Phillie
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blb
sage
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 215
Loc: Piedmont NC
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Hey, I may be wrong but I think NGC4456 should be NGC4458 insted. But then my info may be wrong so you might wont to check it out to be sure. Any way it's a nice list and there is lots more to see in the area.
Clear skies, Buddy
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C-11, C-6, XT10i Dob, ETX125PE, TV102, & AT66
Edited by blb (11/07/09 02:18 PM)
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Ooops 
At the best of times I am not the greatest typist. Thanks for the correction. I will post a corrected list tomorrow. I am also working on a list of galaxies with magnitude greater than 14. Loading up the scope and heading out to a dark site in a few minutes.
Cheers,
Bob From Phillie
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Carol L
Reged: 07/05/04
Posts: 6034
Loc: Tomahawk, WI 45N//89W
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Hi Bob, the chain looks like the Hawiian Islands in my 8" SCT. 
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Authoring the monthly AstroSketch page in "Sky at Night" magazine
Lunar Sketch Tutorial
CN Gallery
Photo Gallery
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