DEEP SKY OBSERVING
February 2009
by Mark Wagner

Targets are rated 1 to 4 for challenge, with 1 very easy, 4 most difficult. Targets are in a one hour window of R.A., and arranged north to south, for easy star hopping. Available as a Megastar .obs file or Excel spreadsheet.
Rating
  Object
 Const.
 Type
Size 
Mag 
R.A.
Dec
  
2
 Arp 225 Cam GX
4.9'x4.1'
11.0B
08 55 38
78 13 28
  NGC 2655 17.5" (2/1/92): very bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 E-W, 3'x2', even concentration to an unusually bright core and almost stellar nucleus. There appears to be a sharper light cut-off along the N side. Forms an equilateral triangle with mag 9.2 SAO 6687 10' NE and mag 7.4 SAO 6692 11' SE.
3
 Arp 80 Cam GX
2.5'x1.6'
12.9B
08 48 06
74 06 01
  NGC 2633 13.1" (1/11/86): fairly faint, small bright core with faint extensions slightly elongated N-S. Forms a pair with N2634 8.2' S.
3
 Arp 9 Cam GX
3.0'x1.8'
12.6B
08 14 59
73 34 44
  NGC 2523 17.5" (2/8/91): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, fairly small. A center contains a bright central bar with a small bright core. A mag 11.5 is off the SW edge 1.5' from the center. Forms a pair with N2523B = UGC 4271 9' W and N2523C = UGC 4290 lies 20' SE.
3
 Arp 268 Uma GX
8.0'x6.3'
11.1B
08 19 06
70 43 15
  Holmberg II 17.5" (2/8/91): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, fairly small. A center contains a bright central bar with a small bright core. A mag 11.5 is off the SW edge 1.5' from the center. Forms a pair with N2523B = UGC 4271 9' W and N2523C = UGC 4290 lies 20' SE. (Greg Crinklaw)
3
 Arp 336 Uma GX
4.5'x2.4'
11.2V
08 55 35
58 44 02
  NGC 2685 13.1" (1/18/85): moderately bright, fairly small edge-on 4:1 SW-NE. Contains an elongated bright core. A mag 11 star is 2.4' N of center.
4
 Abell 28 UMa PN
268"
13.5
08 41 35
58 13 48
  PK 158+37.1 = PN G158.8+37.1 22" f/4.1 (155 and 203x) - This planetary is very faint and large. It appears just a brightening of the background sky with a generally round shape. No other features were seen and tough. (Alvin Huey)
4
 AGC 0634 Lyn GXCL
28.0'
14.9
08 14 36
58 02 00
 
No notes.
2
 NGC 2681 UMa GX
2.8'x2.5'
11.1B
08 53 32
51 18 52
  17.5" (4/6/91): bright, fairly small, slightly elongated E-W, about 2' diameter. Contains a small unusually bright core and stellar nucleus. A pair of mag 12 stars are 2.1' W with separation 30" oriented NW-SE. N2693 lies 32' E.
3
 N 2500 Lyn GX
2.9'x2.6'
12.2B
08 01 53
50 44 15
  13.1" (2/23/85): moderately bright, fairly large, almost round, mottled, weak concentration. Situated midway between a mag 12 star 1.9' NE and a mag 10.5 star 1.7' SW of center.
3
 N 2639 UMa GX
1.8'x1.1'
12.6B
08 43 38
50 12 20
  17.5" (3/28/92): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.6'x0.9', halo gradually increases to a small brighter core. A mag 13 star is 2.5' SE. There are several fairly bright stars in the field including two mag 10.5 stars 4.6' E and 5.2' NE.
3
 N 2541 Lyn GX
6.3'x3.2'
12.3B
08 14 40
49 03 43
  13.1" (2/23/85): faint, fairly large, very diffuse halo, elongated NNW-SSE, weak concentration to an elongated core. A mag 10 star lies 4.5' NNE. In a group with N2500 and N2522.
3
 Arp 6 Lyn GX
1.7'x1.5'
11.7V
08 13 14
45 59 31
  NGC 2537 17.5" (3/23/85): moderately bright, fairly small, round. The "Bear-paw" galaxy has an unusual appearance with a dark lane or vacuity in the center. A small slightly brighter knot is visible along the NW edge. A mag 11 star is 2' SE. Located 6.5' E of mag 8.4 SAO 42225. A faint edge-on IC 2233 lies 18' SE. Forms a pair with N2537A = MCG +08-15-051 4.5' E (not seen).
4
 HGC 035C Lyn GXCL
0.3'x0.3'
16.0B
08 45 18
44 31 40
HGC 035A    
0.3'x0.1'
16.1B
08 45 21
44 31 14
HGC 035B    
0.5'x0.5'
15.5B
08 45 20
44 30 32
  MCG +08-16-028 18" - Two and possibly three, brightest one has another ENE and another a bit further NNE. At best, indistinct smudges with averted only, 293x. (Mark Wagner)
3
 N 2493 Lyn GX
1.9'x1.9'
13.0B
08 00 23
39 49 49
  17.5" (2/24/90): moderately bright, fairly small, round, halo gradually increases to a small bright core. Located 9' SW of mag 7.6 SAO 42123. Forms a close pair with a dim galaxy N2495 1.8' ENE. This galaxy forms the southern vertex of an isosceles triangle with a mag 9.5 star 5' WNW and a mag 10 star 4.5' NNW.
4
 Arp 195 Lyn GX
1.9'x1.1'
14.5P
08 53 50
35 08 44
  UGC 04653 22" f/4.1 reflector @ 305, 327, 458, 575, 639 and 821x. A double galaxy is immediately seen. The southern component, UGC 4653 about twice as bright as the northern neighbor, MAC 0853+3509B. Both are touching. UGC 4653 - 3:2 elongated patch with a brighter elongated nucleus. PA = 45º and 30” long. MAC 0853+3509B - 2:1 elongated patch with a slightly brighter elongated nucleus. PA = 0º and 30” long. The ejected material, MAC 0853+3509A was not seen in any magnification,
even up to 821x. (Alvin Huey)
1
 NGC 2683 Lyx GX
8.0'x13.0'
10.6B
08 52 41
33 25 03
  13.1" (1/18/85): very bright, very large, nearly edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, 8.0'x2.0', halo is broadly concentrated. Mottled or dusty near the core but no distinct nucleus.
3
 Arp 12 Cnc GX
2.3'x1.4'
13.0B
08 35 17
28 28 26
  NGC 2608 17.5" (5/19/01): Supernova 2001 bg (discovered on May 8, 2001) visible as a mag 14 star at the SE edge of the galaxy [22" E and 19" S of center]. (Gottlieb) The bar is detectable in Arp12 with 16" under NELM 5 skies. (Jeff Young)
4
 AGC 0610 Gem GXCL
12.3'
16.4
07 59 18
27 06 00
 
No notes.
4
 Arp 243 Cnc GX
2.4'x0.7'
14.0B
08 38 24
25 45 15
  NGC 2623 13.1" (1/11/86): faint, small, slightly elongated, weak concentration. This galaxy is part of a triple system.
3
 Arp 82 Cnc GX
2.5'x1.2'
13.3B
08 11 13
25 12 22
NGC 2535 17.5" (2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE, weak concentration. Forms a close pair with N2536 1.8' SSE (Arp 82). Located just following a line of three mag 12 stars 1.6' WSW, 1.2' W and 0.9' NW of center.
Cnc GX
0.9'x0.6'
14.7B
08 11 16
25 10 46
NGC 2536 17.5" (2/20/88): faint, very small, oval ~SW-NE, small bright core. Forms a close pair with brighter N2535 1.8' NW.
4
 Arp 247 Cnc GX
0.7'x0.5'
15.0B
08 23 34
21 20 52
IC 2339 22" f/4.1 ( 203 and 293x) - IC 2338 is a 3:1 elongated even surface brightness and considerably bright patch. It is about 30x10" across with a PA of 45. IC 2339 is a small round considerably bright disk lying about 90" SW of IC 2338 with a 15th magnitude star between it. IC 2341 lies about 8' almost due north of the pair. This is a very bright elongated (2:1) elliptical galaxy with a significantly brighter round nucleus. Estimated size is about 75 x 40". PA = 0 degrees. (Alvin Huey)
Cnc GX
0.6'x0.5'
14.7
08 23 32
21 20 14
IC 2338 22" f/4.1 ( 203 and 293x) - IC 2338 is a 3:1 elongated even surface brightness and considerably bright patch. It is about 30x10" across with a PA of 45. IC 2339 is a small round considerably bright disk lying about 90" SW of IC 2338 with a 15th magnitude star between it. IC 2341 lies about 8' almost due north of the pair. This is a very bright elongated (2:1) elliptical galaxy with a significantly brighter round nucleus. Estimated size is about 75 x 40". PA = 0 degrees. (Alvin Huey)
4
 Arp 58 Cnc GX
1.8'x1.0'
14.2B
08 31 58
19 12 41
  UGC 04457 22" - A 58 or UGC 4457 was perhaps the most difficult of the objects observer, at M 14.2 looking like an indistinct change in sky brightness. (Mike Shade)
3
 Arp 167 Cnc GX
3.0'x2.8'
12.7B
08 49 22
19 04 29
NGC 2672 17.5" (1/28/89): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, sharp concentration. Forms a contact pair with N2673 at the E edge 40" separation between centers. A mag 13.5 star is 1.5' NNE and a fainter mag 14 star is 1.1' SE.
Cnc GX
1.2'
14.1
08 49 24
19 04 26
NGC 2673 17.5" (1/28/89): very faint, extremely small, round. Appears as a small "knot" attached at the E end of N2672 40" between centers. A mag 14 star is 1.0' SE and a mag 13.5 star lies 1.0' NNE.
4
 Abell 30 Cnc PN
127"
13.0
08 46 54
17 52 33
  PK 208+33.1 = PN G208.5+33.2 17.5": After pinpointing the exact location, an extremely faint glow was barely visible using an OIII filter at 100x surrounding a mag 14 star (quite dim with the filter). Appeared round and perhaps 30" diameter. Seemed a bit easier to view in Jim Shield's scope at 140x using the OIII filter. A couple of additional mag 14 stars are just N and SW of the planetary. The central star is collinear with two mag 11.5 stars located 6' and 10' W. This is a highly-evolved, hydrogen-poor planetary.
3
 Arp 89 Cnc GX
3.3'x1.1'
12.7P
08 42 40
14 17 08
  NGC 2648 17.5" (2/1/92): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, small very bright core. Located 1.9' W of a mag 10.5 star. Forms an interacting pair (Arp 89) with edge-on MCG +02-22-006 2.5' SE (not seen).
1
 M67 Cnc OC
29.0'
6.7
08 36 28
12 36 38
  17.5": at 140x about 200 stars mag 10-14 in a 15' diameter. Includes several rich subgroups including one on the S edge near three brighter mag 10 stars. The brightest star mag 7.8 SAO 98178 is just off the NE edge. M67 is a well-known old open cluster.
3
 Abell 31 Cnc PN
970"x930"
12.0
08 54 13
08 53 59
  PK 219+31.1 = Sh 2-290 = PN G219.1+31.2 17.5" - At 100x + OIII filter, a faint, huge, roundish glow encompassing a mag 10 star which is SE of center. With averted vision appears ~8' in diameter, although the edge of the halo is not crisply defined. Not visible without filtration. The bright star is part of a distinctive parallelogram with sides roughly 9'. The PN does not reach the mag 10 star 8' W although on photographs it extends this far. Three very faint galaxies (IC 523, MCG +02-23-8, CGCG 61-20) were also viewed within 30' at 280x.
1
 M48 Hyd OC
54.0'
5.4
08 02 24
01 16 42
  13.1" (2/16/85): about 125 stars in a large 40' field with no distinct borders. A rich chain of stars oriented SSW-NNE passes through the center. Includes a number of brighter mag 10 stars and many double stars. Partially resolved in 16x80 finder.
4
 Arp 257 Hyd GX
1.5'x0.8'
14.0
08 51 37
-02 22 02
  22" f/4.1 reflector @ 305, 377, 458 and 575x. UGC 4638 is a 3:1 elongated patch with a much brighter center. PA = 135º
and 45” long. MCG+0-23-6 is a very faint round even surface brightness patch. It sits
45” north of UGC 4638. (Alvin Huey)
4
 Abell 25 Mon PN
150"x145"
15.4P
08 06 46
-02 52 35
  PK 224+15.1 = K 1-13 = PN G224.3+15.3 22” f/4.1 (155, 203 and 293x) - This Abell shows two different sized complimentary crescent shapes. The southern piece is about twice as large as the northern piece. The southern piece is of even surface brightness with somewhat well defined edges and is about 1.5’ long and 0.5’ thick. The northern piece is even surface brightness with defined
edges and is a little brighter than the other piece. It is about 1’ long and 0.3’ thick. There is a 16th magnitude star embedded about a third of the way from the east edge. (Alvin Huey)
1
 NGC 2548 Hyd OC
54.0'
5.3
08 13 44
-05 45 00
  13.1" (2/16/85): about 125 stars in a large 40' field with no distinct borders. A rich chain of stars oriented SSW-NNE passes through the center. Includes a number of brighter mag 10 stars and many double stars. Partially resolved in 16x80 finder.
1
 NGC 2506 Mon OC
6.0'
7.6
08 00 02
-10 46 12
  17.5" (3/12/94): 75 stars in 10' diameter at 220x. The brightest members are a wide pair of mag 11/12 stars at the west end with a separation of 27" oriented SW-NE and a mag 11.5 star at the east end. Rich in mag 13-14 stars with a roughly circular outline except for a "bite" on the south side. The richest subgroup is following the two brighter stars at the west end and is 3' diameter forming a "C" shaped asterism opening to the south over haze and is quite striking.
3
 N 2525 Pup GX
2.9'x1.9'
12.3B
08 05 38
-11 25 41
  13.1" (1/11/86): fairly faint, large, slightly elongated E-W, diffuse, weak concentration. Located 3.8' NNE of mag 8.9 SAO 153813 and 6.2' S of mag 8.7 SAO 153816 on the Monoceros border.
1
 NGC 2539 Pup OC
21.0'
6.5
08 10 38
-12 49 12
  18" (3/2/08): this cluster is situated 10' NW of 4.7-magnitude 19 Pup. Roughly 125 stars are spread out over a 20' region. At the NW end is a roughly equal mag pair, an 11" pair is on the E side and a brighter mag 10/11 pair at 20" is on the NE side.
3
 N 2610 Hya PN
50.0"x47.0"
13.6P
08 33 23
-16 08 57
  MCG-03-23-009 Mislplotted in Megastar 17.5" (3/25/00): at 280x using a UHC filter appears moderately bright, ~50"x40", elongated SSW-NNE. A mag 12 star is embedded on the NE edge of the rim. The PN appears to taper near the star although this may be a contrast affect. The rim is sharp-edged and the surface brightness pretty smooth. Located 3.5' SW of a mag 6.5 star.
4
 Arp 7 Cnc GX
1.3'x1.0'
14.5
08 50 17
-16 34 46
  22" f/4.1 reflector @ 305, 377, 458, 575 and 639x. MCG-3-23-9 lies in a very star rich field as a 2:1 elongated patch with a
barred nucleus. At high powers, the arms pop in and out as counterclockwise rotation from each end of the bar. The northwestern arm is a little brighter than the other arm. PA = 135º and 1’ long. The nucleus is 2:1 elongated also, and PA =90º. The split arm, the NW arm, was not detected. 2MAXJ08502218-1636020 is extremely faint, small round patch. No central brightening. Less than 10” across. 2MASXJ08500148-1632260 is a considerably bright round patch with a brighter center. About 20” across. Note: This galaxy is off the field to the west. (Alvin Huey)
2
 NGC 2509 Pup OC
8.0'
9.3
08 00 48
-19 03 00
  18" (3/2/08): beautiful cluster of 80-100 stars at 175x, highlighted by a dense 2-2.5' clump of fainter stars resolved over some remaining haze. Double or multiple stars are at the NE and NW corners of this central knot. At 220x the SE corner of the clump is very rich in faint stars with averted! The brightest star is at the SW side with a string of mag 10-11 stars extending outside of the cluster to the SE from of this star. The cluster is situated ~6' NW of mag 8.8 HD 66034.
4
 Abell 29 Pyx PN
482"x335"
14.3P
08 40 18
-20 54 36
  PK 244+12.1 = E563-PN009 = PN G244.5+12.5 22” f/4.1 (75, 155 and 203x) - This Abell shows rather faint unique double complimentary crescent shaped pieces in a very star rich field. The northeastern piece is about twice as large as the southwestern piece. Both are of even surface brightness. The NE piece is about 8’ long and about 2’ thick. The SW piece is about 5’ long and 1.5’ thick. An 8.3 magnitude star lying to the SE makes this nebular more difficult, especially the SW piece. Very rich star field. (Alvin Huey)
2
 NGC 2613 Pyx GX
6.6'x1.3'
11.2B
08 33 22
-22 58 24
  13.1" (3/24/84): fairly bright, fairly large, very pretty edge-on 4:1 WNW-ESE, 4.0'x1.0', broadly concentrated. Several stars are nearby as the galaxy is located in a rich star field including a mag 12 star 1.5' N, a mag 13 star 2.0' S of center and another mag 12 star at the W edge of the halo. This is the brightest galaxy in Pyxis.
1
 NGC 2527 Pup OC
15.0'
6.5
08 04 55
-28 07 59
  17.5" (3/7/92): 75-100 stars mag 10-14 in very large 30' loose group. This cluster is fairly bright with two fairly rich subgroups. The central 10' core includes about two dozen stars with a mag 10 star at the NW corner which has three fainter companions within 35". A rich string of faint stars oriented SSW-NNE of length 4' has two mag 10-11 stars at the endpoints. Outliers extend E and W and include a rich elongated group at the NE edge of the cluster.
1
 NGC 2571 Pup OC
13.0'
7.0
08 18 57
-29 45 00
  13.1" (3/24/84): 18 stars mag 8.8-12 in 10' diameter. Includes a wide bright pair (mag 8.8 SAO 175580 and 8.9 SAO 175577) at 1' separation oriented NW-SE near the center. Larger and contains brighter stars than N2587 one degree ENE. Also N2580 lies 47' SE and N2567 54' S.
1
 NGC 2627 Pyx OC
11.0'
8.4
08 37 15
-29 57 00
  13.1" (1/18/85): about 45 stars mag 11-14 in a 10' region elongated E-W. This is a rich and pretty cluster set over an unresolved background haze. Located 40' SW of a mag 5 star. Visible in a 16x80 finder.
4
 AGC 0671 Cnc GXCL
21.3'
14.9
08 28 30
30 25 00
  17.5" IC 2374: marginal object, nearly on a line with brighter IC 2380 and IC 2378, just 2.2' WNW of IC 2378. Glimpsed a few times at 220x, but needing a better night for a decent view.
17.5" IC 2376: extremely faint and small, round, 10" diameter. Appears as a very small knot 24" NW of a mag 13.7 star. Located in the core of AGC 671, 1.9' SW of brightest member IC 2378.
17.5" IC 2378: very faint, small, round, 25" diameter, low even surface brightness. Brightest in AGC 671 with IC 2380 3.1' SE, IC 2376 1.9' SW and IC 2374 2.2' WNW.
17.5" IC 2380: very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. Just slightly fainter than IC 2378 3.1' NW, though similar in size. A mag 12.5 star is 1' SW. IC 2376 lies 3.8' due W.
1
 NGC 2567 Pup OC
10.0'
7.4
08 18 30
-30 38 42
  13.1" (3/24/84): about two dozen stars mostly mag 11-13 in 10' diameter elongated N-S. Includes a long string oriented N-S on the E side. On the SW wide is a "U" shaped group of brighter stars open to the N. Mag 9.0 SAO 199057 lies 6' SW. First in a group of four open clusters with N2571 54' N, N2580 44' NE and N2587 93' NE.
4
 Abell 27 Pyx PN
47"x40"
15.6
08 31 52
-32 06 09
  PK 252+4.1 = K 1-1 = PN G252.6+04.4 22" f/4.1 (155 and 203x) - This Abell planetary is very faint, small and slightly elongated. Its surface brightness is even throughout. Only seen with averted vision. I could not locate a central star in the center, but its published central star is seen at the NNW end of the fuzzy spot. (Alvin Huey)
4
 Abell 26 Pup PN
40"
18.1P
08 09 01
-32 40 22
  PK 250+0.1 = PN G250.3+00.1. 22” f/4.1 (155x, 203x and 294x) - This planetary nebula is an extremely faint, small round smudge. This is a 50% averted vision object. No central star. Estimated size is about 40” across. A group of three 8th and 9th magnitude stars, to the west, makes this object more difficult, so I moved two of them off the field. A 10.6 magnitude star lies 2.2’ ENE from the object. Note: This object was fairly low above the southern horizon when viewed at about 20º. (Alvin Huey)
 
Source catalogs

Herschel 400 are identified as NGCXXXX, Herschel 400-II are indentified as NXXXX.

All descriptions are from Steve Gottlieb's NGC Notes or Adventures In Deep Space unless otherwise attributed.

visitors since August 31, 2007