Quote:

---

The NGC database lists 7320 as the brightest of the Quintet, however, it is listed as Sb=13.5. Size is 2.2'x1.1' or only 2.4 sq arcmin. The observing notes that accompany the NGC state it does have a brighter core, but go on to say in 8" extremely faint, small; in 6" marginal but at moments glimpsed at 115x.

---

Ed,

I looked at this website; I believe Steve Gottleib was providing the description and that he was in Arizona. I'm not sure about his location and sky-darkness, but I think it's safe to say my more darker, more remote observing sites (Cherry Springs; Calhoun County, WV; Spruce Knob, WV) are MAYBE as dark as the typical Arizona "local" dark-sky spot. Sounds like an impossible task for any of Stephen's Quintet's members with 100mm binoculars

Oh, well. Keep up the good work. Again, I regret not joining Cloudy Nights even a few days earlier than I did; reading your article on giant bino mounts would have yielded a little less in the way of vibrations on my end.

Clear Skies,
Phil

--------------------
"Why suffer from insanity when you can revel in it?"

Wilderness Center Astronomy Club member since 1995
ICQ Comet Observer Code: CRE01
*****
16" f/4.5 Truss Dobsonian (FOR SALE!!)
Orion 120mm ST Refractor
23mm Axiom LX
13mm Nagler Type 6
9mm Nagler Type 6
1.75X Siebert Barlow
*****

Post Extras