
Binocular Universe: Into the Realm
Discuss this article in our forums
|
Binocular
Universe:
|
Bridging
the constellations Coma Berenices and Virgo stands the Wild West for binocular
astronomers, where only the brave trod. You may know it as the Coma-Virgo Realm of Galaxies.
The Coma-Virgo galaxy cluster is the core of the Coma-Virgo supercluster, which
embraces members far and wide. All of the galaxies within autumn’s
Sculptor galaxy cluster, as well as our Milky Way as well as the rest of the
Local Group of galaxies, are counted among the multitude.
Nowhere
else in the sky are galaxies so tightly packed together over such an expansive
stretch of sky as the Realm of Galaxies. There are 16 Messier
objects within the Realm, as well as scores of other galaxies that are listed
in the New General Catalog (NGC). All told, an estimated upwards of 2,000
separate galactic systems call this home.
Above: Spring star map from Star
Watch by Phil Harrington. |
Above: Finder chart for this month's Binocular Universe. Chart adapted from from Star
Watch by Phil Harrington. |
Most amateurs consider this to be telescope territory. But we
know better! It is indeed possible to see all of the Messier galaxies in the
Realm through 50-mm binoculars.
But to be successful, your binoculars should really be mounted
on some sort of tripod or other support. This advice includes
image-stabilized binoculars. True, their technology will help calm
jitters, but it is much easier to be able to go back and forth between mounted
binoculars and the chart here chart without having to re-aim every time.
Another key to making your way through is a slow, measured
approach. Take your time going from one object to the next. I have
always found it easier to attack them en masse, staging my assault in two
waves: one entering the Realm from the west, the other from the east.
Okay, let’s drive in. For the western attack, begin at the star
Denebola (Beta Leonis) in the hind triangle of Leo the Lion. From there,
move one field (about 7 degrees) due east to a kite-shaped asterism of faint
stars. We can use the kite to find our first four Messier galaxies.
Hopefully.
Stop #1 is at M98, just west of the kite. Giant
binoculars running at 15x and more may reveal its cigar-shaped profile
surrounding circular core.
Next, try for M99, just south of the kite's tail.
It’s not significantly easier to see, glowing dimly at 10th magnitude. Can you
spot it, as well?
If you can, then try your luck with an even more challenging
target. M100 is rated a half magnitude brighter than M99, but that is
misleading. Due to M100’s larger apparent diameter, its surface brightness is
quite low. Both targets may require 70-mm or larger binoculars to confirm.
If those proved too tough, take heart. The fourth galaxy here, M85,
should prove a little less demanding. Though only faintly visible through my
10x50 glasses on dark nights, it's relatively easy to catch in my 16x70
binoculars even from light-polluted suburban skies. Look for a brighter stellar
nucleus surrounded by a fainter halo.
The eastern campaign begins from the star Vindemiatrix (Epsilon
Virginis), and is a bit more involved with several twists and turns. From
Vindemiatrix, follow a path about one binocular field due west, where you will
be greeted by a pair of suns, including 5th-magnitude Rho Virginis and a
fainter 7th- magnitude star.
From
Next, looking through your
binoculars, draw an imaginary line southwestward from
Go back to
Next, M58 takes a good
eye and lots of patience. Look for its soft glow west of M59 and M60. But don’t
confuse it with M89 to its northwest. Both are faint, but should be
individually discernible with patience. M89 looks almost perfectly
circular, but at only 10th magnitude, it’s a challenge through 50-mm binoculars.
M89 lies next to M90.
In photographs, M90 reminds me of a miniaturized Andromeda Galaxy. Its
spiral-arm halo is tilted almost due north-south, poised nearly edge-on to our
line of sight.
Continue to arc toward the
north-northeast to arrive at M91,
a barred spiral. Careful examination with giant binoculars may show that the
central core is actually oval, tilted northeast-southwest, lining up in the
same the direction as the galaxy's bar.
Hop a little less than a degree
to the east-southeast from M91 to arrive at M88. M88, set just
southeast of a 9th-magnitude field star, displays a bright nucleus that appears
offset within its spiral-arm halo. M88 is an Sbc spiral galaxy
characterized by fairly loose arms. Binoculars reveal a moderately bright
core engulfed by the spiral arms' faint, oval glow.
Now, retrace your steps along
the arc back to M89, then continue toward the west to M87. Keep an
eye out for M87's central core, which will look like a faint fuzzy
"star" surrounded by a circular mist. In reality, this is a monstrous
elliptical system perhaps 10 times more massive than our Milky Way. A luminous
jet of material seen bursting from its core in photographs is powered by a
supermassive black hole buried deep within. Both M49 and M87 are considered
"super galaxies," two of the largest galaxies ever found.
We wrap up the Realm by heading east-northeast just a bit to M84
and M86, which lie right at the heart of the Realm. Only a third
of a degree separates them in our sky. Each of these elliptical galaxies
shows a round or slightly oval disk in binoculars. Tiny stellar cores are also
detectable with 12x or more. At a casual glance, both of these 9th-magnitude
galaxies look identical. But a closer look shows M84 to be a little smaller and
a little brighter than its neighbor.
So, how many of these galaxies -- and more -- can you find through your binoculars? Be sure to post your results in this article's discussion forum.
And if you have suggestions for future targets, by all means post them there, as well. Till next month, remember that two eyes are better than one!
|
About the Author: Phil Harrington is a contributing editor to Astronomy magazine and author of 9 books on astronomy, including Touring the Universe Through Binoculars. Visit his web site at www.philharrington.net to learn more. |
Phil Harrington's Binocular Universe is copyright 2016 by Philip S. Harrington. All rights reserved. No reproduction, in whole or in part, beyond single copies for use by an individual, is permitted without written permission of the copyright holder. |
5 Comments
Thanks Phil. Touring this set of galaxies has long been on my list and I think your outline should work well for modest telescopes as well as with binoculars.
I did conquer the 17 Virgo cluster some weeks ago with a 15x70 binos on a Bortle 5 sky. Pretty fun!
Thank you Phil, I'm so happy I came across this series of articles. I've had my binoculars for a few months, and have found some things on my own, but I was a little discouraged with not knowing what targets would be appropriate. Now my only source of discouragement will be my Bortle 7 skies.
Thanks, Joe. I'm stuck under similar LP conditions, so you have my sympathy and empathy!
I am also thinking to buy a new one. Our galaxy is very captivating
Everytime that i explore ang look on how God made the university, it gives me the feeling of how bless i am.
Good vibes here
God bless!