Visual Deep Sky Observing

About Deep Sky

To stand beneath a dark, moonless sky is an awesome experience. Thousands of stars can make us feel small indeed. It seems possible to see to infinity, although we cannot reach beyond arm’s length. The beauty of the universe defies description.

Turn a telescope on a seemingly empty part of sky and swarms of new stars come into view - and possibly a faint glow of nebulosity. Imagine that the fuzzy patch at the threshold of visibility is really a trillion suns - a galaxy larger than our own, in which our Sun is but a tiny speck. Incomprehensible; yet somehow we try. Seeing that galaxy first-hand, even through a small telescope, is much more inspiring than each photograph in the astronomy books back indoors. Nothing can compare to viewing the universe directly.

Before the late nineteenth century all astronomy - amateur and professional - was visual. Everything depended on skilled use of the eye. Today, however, the professional astronomer rarely looks through the large telescopes at his or her disposal. As photographic film became more sensitive, both professionals and amateurs devoted more time to photography. In the last few decades, the advent of sensitive electronic light detectors (CCD’s) diverted professional and even some amateur work further from visual astronomy. Direct viewing - at least of deep-sky objects is now mainly for those interested just in beauty and inspiration.

There are literally thousands of interesting objects, primarily galaxies but also star clusters and nebulae, within reach of amateur telescopes. Most are very faint, hundreds of times fainter than can be seen with the naked eye. However, a telescope with only 6 inches of aperture gathers about 400 times the light of the unaided eye, so these beautiful but dim objects can be brought into view.

The first-time user of a telescope is often disappointed that galaxies and nebulae do not look like the photographs in astronomy books. In some respects, the eye is no match for the camera. The beautiful photos are the result of very long exposures on sensitive film that builds up an image out of light too faint for the eye to see at all. Nevertheless, the human eye is a very sophisticated light detector in its own way, and if used correctly and in combination with a large telescope, such as my own 18 inch Dobsonian, it can reveal a tremendous amount of detail in galaxies, nebulae and clusters.

Personally, I am amateur astronomer with 22 years of observing experience, although I started with visual deep sky in 1992. In the following years I scanned thousands of objects with my 18 inch Dobsonian telescope - sketching a few hundreds of them. So I made pencil sketches from more than 150 galaxies - and I also brought to paper many planetary and galactic nebulae.

Andreas Domenico (November, 2007)

Author

Andreas Domenico, born in 1970 in Pescara (Italy), living in Griesheim (Germany), is an amateur astronomer since 1982 and a visual deep sky observer since 1992. From 1994 to 2000 he was a member of the german Fachgruppe Deep Sky. This period also was his most active time in deep sky observing. Most of his observations and drawings were made using 8, 12 and 18 inch Newtonian telescopes. Observing sites were dark places near Breitenbuch, Unterfranken (Germany), and in the austrian alps.

Now Andreas Domenico is president of the Volkssternwarte Darmstadt, the public astronomical society of Darmstadt (www.vsda.de), for this and other reasons he quit his main activity as deep sky observer in the early 2000’s.

For any questions, you can still contact him via e-mail: vsda@gasbag.de

Deep Sky Links…

The Messier Catalog - http://www.seds.org/messier/
Images and information for all Messier objects from Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS).

NGC/IC Project - http://www.ngcic.org/
Objective is to correctly identify all of the original NGC and IC objects. Starts with the original discoverer’s notes and moves forward to encompass the work of contemporary astronomers, both professional and amateur.

Planetary Nebulae Observer’s Web Site - http://blackskies.com/
Planetary nebula data, images and information on over 1000 planetaries.

Challenging Observing Projects for Amateur Astronomers - http://www.angelfire.com/id/jsredshift/
Deep-sky site challenges amateur astronomical observers.

Ray Cash’s Deep-Sky Page - http://members.aol.com/anonglxy/deepsky.htm
Photos and information about deep-sky observing.

Calendar of the Full Moons and New Moons in France and Europe
All the dates and times : https://www.pleine-lune.org

List of Common Deep-Sky Catalogs - http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/supp/cats.html
Listing of various common catalogs of deep-sky objects, along with abbrevations and short descriptions.

Messier45.com - http://Messier45.com/
Online tools for deep-sky observers, including maps and lists of objects with pictures and data.

The National Deep-Sky Observers Society (NDSOS) - http://www.cismall.com/deepsky/
Dedicated to serving amateur deep-sky observers. Located in Louisville, Kentucky.

NetAstroCatalog - Internet Amateur Astronomers Catalog - IAAC - http://www.tiac.net/users/lewkaren/netastrocatalog/
A forum for amateur astronomers at all levels to share their observations of deep-sky objects.

Impressions of the Deep Sky - http://www.skyrover.net/ds/ (dead link)
Links to deep sky sites, sketches and photographs. Unfortunately the website is down atm.

Observing Supernovae - http://www.chapman.edu/oca/benet/observe.htm
Site has an in-depth FAQ on how to observe faint supernovae, and what you need to do so. Site also links to references for confirming your observations.

Deep-Sky.Org - http://www.deep-sky.org
Features a reference of Messier objects, telescope information, and deep-sky links.

Radek’s Observing Target List (ROTL) - http://littlenet.com/astro/index.html
Project to develop comprehensive set of finder charts for deep-sky objects. Includes basic data for and charts to locate objects with your telescope.

Sketching the Deep Sky - http://home.hetnet.nl/~sterrenkunde/index.htm
Site devoted to sketching deep-sky objects.

Drawings of Deep-Sky Objects with large scopes - http://members.fortunecity.com/faintfuzzy/
Site also has a link to discussions on visual observing.

Iiro’s DeepSky Pages - http://deepsky.iwarp.com
Video clips, pictures, sketches, and reports.

Ian’s Astro Page - http://www.nabu.net/astro
Sketches of deep-sky objects from a light-polluted site using 5" and 8" STCs.

Arp’s Catalog Of Peculiar Galaxies - http://users.aol.com/arpgalaxy/index.html
Summarizes catalog of 338 peculiar galaxy views gathered by Dr. Halton C. Arp in his Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies.

Deep-Sky Collections and Catalogs - http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/xtra/similar/catalogs.html
Links to deep-sky catalogs and observing lists.

Die grossen Planetarischen Nebel - http://home.teleos-web.de/jbohle/
Observations of large planetary nebulae with 20" telescopes (german).

Blick ins Universum - http://www.blickinsuniversum.de
Deep sky observations and sketches from germany (german).

Phil Harrington’s Star Ware - http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pharrington/
Web site developed as an extension of the books and articles authored by Phil Harrington.

The Belmont Society - http://www.belmontnc.org
Dedicated to beginning astronomers - and presenting fabulous deep sky drawings.

Bert’s Visual Deepsky Astronomy Pages - http://www.cobweb.nl/bertyvon/
Beautiful deep sky drawings from a dutch observer using a 6" Newtonian.

Deep Sky ONLINE - http://www.fachgruppe-deepsky.de
Web site of the german VdS Fachgruppe Deep-Sky organisation.

Homepage of Wolfgang Steinicke - http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/index_e.htm
Deep sky related homepage of a skilled NGC/IC project observer.

San Jose Astronomical Association - http://www.sjaa.net
Web site with many deep sky related articles - and often featuring some of my own sketches. ;-)

www.serifone.de - http://www.serifone.de
Beautiful deep sky web site by Matthias Juchert, Germany.

More Links:

Volkssternwarte Darmstadt e. V. - http://www.vsda.de
Public Observatory of Darmstadt (Germany).

3rd Planet - http://www.3rdplanet.de/
Astronomy resources, instruments and news (german).

Mailinglists:

AmAstro - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amastro/
A retromoderated mailing list dedicated to the discussion of amateur astronomy, with an emphasis on observing.

sci.astro.amateur - http://groups.google.de/groups?group=sci.astro.amateur
Amateur astronomy and observing mailing list.

Disclaimer:
I explicitly disclaim any responsibility for the accuracy, content, or availability of information found on the external pages listed on this Web Resources page. Therefore I hereby explicitly dissociate from the content of the external pages or linked pages.

Das Landgericht Hamburg hat am 12. Mai 1998 im Urteil 312 O 85/98 “Haftung für Links” entschieden, dass durch die Veröffentlichung eines Links auf einer Homepage die Inhalte der gelinkten Seiten mit zu verantworten sind. Das lässt sich nur verhindern, wenn man sich ausdrücklich von den Inhalten der gelinkten Seiten distanziert. Ich distanziere mich daher von allen Inhalten, die sich hinter den hier angegebenen Links, den dahinter stehenden Servern, weiterführenden Links, Gästebüchern und sämtlichen anderen sichtbaren und nicht sichtbaren Inhalten verbergen. Sollte eine der Seiten auf den entsprechenden Servern gegen geltendes Recht verstossen, so ist mir dieses nicht bekannt. Auf entsprechende Benachrichtigung hin werde ich selbstverständlich den Link zu dem entsprechenden Server entfernen.

Publications

This archive contains several DSO and sketching related articles and reviews published by the author since 1995 in quarterly interstellarum and monthly Sterne und Weltraum, two major german astronomy magazines.

Some more articles, published in Mitteilungen VSD (bimonthly publication of VSD), will be added soon.

Please note that all articles are available in german language only.

Coming soon:

Observing the Shakhbazian Compact Groups of Galaxies

As their name suggests, compact groups are small systems of several galaxies in a compact configuration on the sky. The first example was found over one hundred years ago by Stephan (1877) who observed it visually using the 80-cm Foucault telescope of the Observatoire de Marseille. Stephan’s Quintet is a small group of five galaxies, three of which show strong tidal distortions due to gravitational interaction. A second example was found 71 years later by Seyfert (1948) from a study of Harvard Schmidt plates. Seyfert’s Sextet is one of the densest groups known, having a median projected galaxy separation of only 6.8h-1 kpc (the Hubble Constant H0 = 100h km s-1 Mpc-1).

The Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS) provided a new and extensive resource for the systematic investigation of small groups of galaxies. Two catalogs, the Atlas of Interacting Galaxies (Vorontsov-Velyaminov 1959, 1975) and the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies (Arp 1966), contain galaxies or galaxy groups selected on the basis of visible signs of interaction or peculiar appearance. In addition to Stefan’s Quintet and Seyfert’s Sextet, these include many new compact groups, including a striking chain of five galaxies, VV 172.

Prior to these, Shakhbazian (1957) had discovered a small dense cluster of 12 faint red galaxies that appeared so compact that they were initially mistaken for stars. Over the next two decades, Shakhbazian and collaborators examined over 200 POSS prints covering 18% of the sky and cataloged 376 additional “compact groups of compact galaxies” (Shakhbazian 1973, Shakhbazian & Petrosian 1974, Baier et al. 1974, Petrosian 1974, 1978, Baier & Tiersch 1975, 1976, 1978, 79). Apart from occasional photographic or spectroscopic observations (eg. Mirzoian et al. 1975, Tiersch 1976, Massey 1977, Shakhbazian & Amirkhanian 1979, Vorontsov-Velyaminov et al. 1980, Vorontsov-Velyaminov & Metlov 1980) these systems initially received little attention. However, interest in them is growing. Although the majority seem to be small clusters, they share some of the properties, and pose some of the same questions, as do compact groups.

Since 1997 I observed with my 18-inch Dobsonian telescope the following Shakhbazian compact groups:
1, 3, 5, 14, 16, 19, 21, 26, 30, 38, 40, 44, 49, 60, 63, 90, 98, 154, 166, 202, 317 and 322

Observing the Shakhbazian Compact Groups of Galaxies

Shkh 1 - Shkh 26

Shakhbazian 1 (Shkh 1, SHK 1)

10h 52m 15s; +40° 43’ 31" - mag 17

DSS 10’ × 10’
The leader of the Shakhbazian catalogue is by no means a leading object for visual observing. Alike numerous other SCGG this faint cluster - which consists of about 20 completely stellar galaxies - is situated in Ursa Maior. Many extragalactic objects can be found in this area - including a good number of Shakhbazian groups. With an apparent diameter of ca. 1 arcminute and a visual magnitude of the brightest member of > 17 mag this object should be pretty hard to resolve even in large telescopes. On the DSS image Shkh 1 appears as a Y-shaped “star” cluster. Actually the well-known deep sky observer Tom Clark spotted Shkh 1 with a 36-inch Dobsonian. He described the visual impression of Shkh 1 as an “ill-defined glow”.

Personally I was unable to detect Shkh1 in the 18-inch neither under good sky conditions (fst mag 6.5) nor under excellent alpine skies (fst mag 7.0).

Shakhbazian 3 (Shkh 3, SHK 3, MCG+9-19-19A, VV 153)

11h 15m 52s; +53° 45’ 14" - mag 15.5 - 16

DSS 5’ × 5’
Looking at the DSS image, Shakhbazian 3 in Ursa Maior appears more inconspicuous than its predecessor. Nevertheless this group should have a slightly higher surface brightness due to a minor angular diameter (ca. 0.5 arcminutes). The additional designation VV 153 indicates that Shkh 3 was recognized as a peculiar system of galaxies and recorded in the Atlas and Catalogue of Interacting Galaxies by Vorontsov-Velyaminov (1959). Although clearly resolvable on the POSS/DSS, Shkh 3 is again indicated by the same author as a single object (MCG+9-19-19A) in the Morphological Catalogue of Galaxies (1962).

Shkh 3 is composed of 6 stellar galaxies. Unfortunately no magnitude information about individual members could be found. The total visual magnitude of the unresolved group should be about 16. Shkh 3 was a surprise to me - particularly after having experienced Shakhbazian 1 as impossible to see in the 18-inch telescope. Under excellent sky conditions (fst mag 7.2) high magnification (> 300 ×) seemed to reveal Shkh 3 as an exceedingly dim spot of light at the absolute limit of detection. It appeared to melt into a faint star halo close at north and it was visible with averted vision and only about 25 percent of the time. Well, it is questionable if other observers would call that a proof observation…

Shakhbazian 5 (Shkh 5, SHK 5, HCG 50)

  1. PGC 34447 - 11h 17m 06s; +54° 55’ 01" - mag 18.4 (b)
  2. PGC 34444 - 11h 17m 04s; +54° 55’ 15" - mag 19.3 (b)
  3. PGC 34448 - 11h 17m 06s; +54° 55’ 25" - mag 19.2 (b)
  4. PGC 34453 - 11h 17m 09s; +54° 55’ 14" - ?
  5. PGC 34452 - 11h 17m 08s; +54° 55’ 03" - mag 18.5 (b)

    DSS 5’ ×x 5’
    Shkh 5 is also recorded as Hickson 50 and obviously the most unusual and challenging member of the 100 galaxy groups for both visual and CCD observers. With less than 1 arcminute of diameter it is the most inconspicuous Hickson group as well. Usually the total magnitudes of individual Hickson member galaxies range between 14 and 16. The weak magnitudes listed above - adopted from the original Hickson catalogue - are blue (b) magnitudes. The visual appearance is nearly two magnitudes brighter. In the present case the brightest of five almost stellar galaxies PGC 34447 (HCG 50A) is about 16 mag visually. It became evident in the 18-inch at high power under exceptionally dark alpine sky (fst mag 7.2)! Howewer, visibility of other companion galaxies dropped off rapidly to zero.

Nevertheless this exceptional group of galaxies is still interesting because of its vicinity to the planetary nebula Messier 97 (Owl Nebula), a famous deep sky showpiece in the “big dipper” area. The angular separation between Shkh 5 and M 97 is about 20 arcminutes. Another interesting galaxy (PGC 34279; mag 16) is situated close to the southeast of the planetary nebula, but not member of Shkh5/HCG 50.

Shakhbazian 14 (Shkh 14, SHK 14)

14h 25m 21s; +47° 14’ 45" - mag > 16

DSS 5’ × 5’
This galaxy group in Boötes is very similar to Shkh 5, showing half a dozen of faint stellar galaxies in a mere 1 arcminute diameter on the POSS print. Visually it is an irregular and diffuse patch with no sign of individual galaxies. The cluster is also at the very limit of visibility in the 18-inch.

Shakhbazian 16 (Shkh 16, SHK 16, 1Zw 167, Arp 330)

  1. MCG+9-27-94 - 16h 49m 11s; +53° 25’ 12" - mag 15.3
  2. MCG+9-27-91 - 16h 49m 08s; +53° 23’ 34" - mag 16.0
  3. MCG+9-27-92 - 16h 49m 12s; +53° 24’ 18" - mag 16.6
  4. MCG+9-27-95 - 16h 49m 15s; +53° 26’ 54" - mag 16.2
  5. MCG+9-27-96 - 16h 49m 11s; +53° 25’ 58" - mag 16.3
  6. anonymous 16h 49m 04s; +53° 23’ 27" - mag 16.8
  7. anonymous 16h 49m 17s; +53° 27’ 15" - mag 17.0

    DSS 10’ × 5’

    N457/1850; 222 ×, fst 6.7
    One of the most spectacular galaxy groups is Shkh 16, located in Draco. As can be seen on the above DSS image it is a literally breathtaking chain of seven compact galaxies, almost 5 arcminutes in length. It seems oddly enough that this amazing arrangement of tidally disturbed galaxies - also recorded as Arp 330 in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies - has been ignored by Paul Hickson during his search for compact groups on the POSS.

The most conspicuous member MCG+9-27-94 is fairly bright, small and irregularly round in the 18-inch. The other galaxies are quite fainter, but actually all five MCG galaxies in Shkh 16 are reported to be visible in a 14 inch telescope by Ronald C. Stoyan. An anonymous galaxy (6) required larger aperture, turning out to be a considerably faint “star” with no trace of hazy surroundings. Another stellar 17th magnitude galaxy (7) was invisible in the 18-inch because of its vicinity to a 9th magnitude star close northeast of the chain, which light could not be kept out of field at any magnification. In my view Shkh16/Arp 330 is the most beautiful Shakhbazian group by far.

Shakhbazian 19 (Shkh 19, SHK 19, MCG+3-34-39, VV 678)

13h 28m 20s; +15° 50’ 20" - mag > 15.5

DSS 3’ × 3’
Also recorded as MCG and VV object, horseshoe shaped galaxy group Shkh 19 is very similar to Shkh 3. Honestly, this object should be defined as a “hardcore” deep sky treat. Shkh 19 is one of the most challenging targets in the Shakhbazian list. Being less then 0.5 arcminutes in diameter, it required dark and highly transparent sky (fst mag 7.2), furthermore high power (> 300 ×) and hence very good seeing conditions to be observed in the 18 inch reflector. The group became evident with averted vision as an extremely faint and stellar haze at the limit of visual detection, however, alike Shkh 3 it could not be seen constantly.

Shakhbazian 21 (Shkh 21, SHK 21)

  1. anonymous 23h 46m 48s; -01° 44’ 16" - mag ~14
  2. anonymous 23h 50m 48s; -01° 43’ 33" - mag ~15

    DSS 5’ × 5’
    Examining the DSS image it is hard to believe that Shkh 21 consists of more than 120 galaxies. Actually most of these galaxies are as faint as the POSS limiting magnitude, thus being barely visible or completely unconspicuous even on the sky survey print. For visual observation Shkh 21 is everything else than spectacular. Only two galaxies are bright enough to be spotted in larger amateur telescopes. The first one appears clearly visible, almost round and somewhat diffuse. A further non-stellar galaxy lies close to northeast and is slightly fainter. Other galaxies should be invisible in the 18 inch Newtonian unless used under exceptionally dark and transparent skies.

Shakhbazian 26 (Shkh 26, SHK 26, Abell 1143)

  1. MCG+8-20-69A 11h 02m 12s; +50° 20’ 58" - mag 13.4
  2. MCG+8-20-67A 11h 01m 49s; +50° 23’ 50" - mag 16.0

    DSS 8’ × 10’

    N457/1850; 205 ×, fst 6.7
    Actually various Shakhbazian groups are closely related to rich galaxy clusters, representing their highly dynamical central regions. Examples for this distinctive subclass of SCGG are Shkh 40 (A 193), Shkh 65 (A 1284), Shkh 166 (A 2247) and Shkh 26 in Ursa Maior, which is identical with Abell 1143 (distance class 5; magnitude of tenth-brightest galaxy: 17.2). Moreover, the galaxy group within the rich cluster is a particular object. It consists of 27 extremely small galaxies in a mere 5 × 5 arcminutes field. However only two galaxies were visible in the 18-inch. Circles mark the locations of both galaxies on the DSS image.

A special feature of Shkh 26 is its first galaxy MCG+8-20-69A (mag 13.4; at left), which is one of the brightest individual galaxies of all Shakhbazian galaxy groups. Examining the DSS image MCG+8-20-69A turns out not to be a single galaxy, but an exceedingly compact chain of 5 - 7 stellar objects in the most varied size and brightness. Visually, this “galaxy” appears in the 18-inch (276 ×) as an irregularly elongated nebula and slightly textured. The second galaxy visible in Shkh 26/A 1143 (MCG+8-27-67A) appears as a double system on the POSS. Through the eyepiece it became evident as a very faint and oval patch.

Shkh 30 - Shkh 90

Shakhbazian 30 (Shkh 30, SHK 30, HCG 97, IC 5357-Group)

  1. IC 5357 - 23h 47m 23s; -02° 18’ 02" - mag 13.9
  2. IC 5351 - 23h 47m 19s; -02° 18’ 50" - mag 14.8
  3. IC 5356 - 23h 47m 24s; -02° 21’ 54" - mag 13.4
  4. PGC 72405 - 23h 47m 20s; -02° 16’ 51" - mag 16.0
  5. IC 5359 - 23h 47m 38s; -02° 19’ 00" - mag 15.8


DSS 10’ × 10’

N457/1850; 205 ×, fst 6.7
The fabulous Shkh 30 (Psc) is the second Shakhbazian group also reported as Hickson group (HCG 97). IC 5357 (HCG 97A; mag 13.9), first of five visually identified galaxies, is the largest in the field and should be visible in a 8 inch telescope. The 18-inch revealed a quite bright and oval nebula, slightly brighter to the middle. Second brightest IC 5356 is similar, but much smaller and slightly fainter. IC 5351 is small and round. This galaxy “sticks” together with a star close at south, visually both objects appear as one. IC 5359 is a pretty edge-on spiral, however its visual observation is less spectacular than its needle-shaped appearance on the POSS. Last but not least PGC 72405 is a more challenging target to track down, situated closely NW of IC 5357 and appearing as a faint, almost stellar haze, only visible with averted vision.

Shakhbazian 38 (Shkh 38, SHK 38, PGC 4212, 3Zw 22)

01h 10m 52s; +08° 19’ 21" - mag ca. 17

DSS 5’ × 5’

Alike Shkh 19 this challenging object in constellation Pisces is part of my personal top ten list of the “hardest” deep sky objects ever observed. Shkh 38 is another small galaxy chain (< 1’) assuming an extremely dark sky with fairly good conditions indeed, a large telescope and, of course, that certain amount of audacity generally needed in visual deep sky observation. Actually, its visual detection required a crystal clear alpine sky (fst mag 7.2). The appearance was very similar to Shkh 19, i. e. an extremely faint, small nebulous something at the limit of vision. However hard I tried, I could not estimate one of the individual objects.

Shakhbazian 40 (Shkh 40, SHK 40, Abell 193)

  1. IC 1695 - 01h 25m 07s; +08° 41’ 59" - mag 15.0
  2. anonymous - 01h 24m 41s; +08° 36’ 33" - mag 16
  3. UGC 967 - 01h 24m 13s; +08° 46’ 35" - mag 15.5

    DSS 15’ × 15’

In addition to its classification as Shakhbazian galaxy group, Shkh 40 (Psc) is identical with the central region of rich galaxy cluster Abell 193 (distance class 4; magnitude of tenth-brightest galaxy: 16). Sixty faint galaxies are concentrated in a 15 × 15 arcminutes field. The brightest galaxy in the middle, elliptical IC 1695 (diameter 1’.6), should be visible in a 8 or 10 inch telescope. Despite the richness of the cluster’s core, tracking down other galaxies in Shkh 40/A 193 turned out to be a more disappointing venture. Only two were visible under reasonable good conditions (fst mag 6.4): UGC 967 (below right) became evident as a pretty faint and stellar object, situated closely south of a comparably faint star; furthermore I could glimpse an anonymous galaxy, which appeared as very faint nebula, perhaps slightly elongated E-W.

Shakhbazian 44 (Shkh 44, SHK 44)

  1. anonymous - 01h 40m 54s; +02° 52’ 06" - mag > 16.5
  2. anonymous - 01h 40m 52s; +02° 50’ 05" - mag > 16.0
  3. anonymous - 01h 40m 54s; +02° 52’ 49" - probably a star
  4. anonymous - 01h 40m 52s; +02° 51’ 01" - probably a star
  5. anonymous - 01h 40m 53s; +02° 51’ 01" - probably a star
  6. anonymous - 01h 40m 52s; +02° 50’ 44" - mag > 16.5


DSS 5’ × 5’

Shkh 44 (Psc) is extremely difficult to observe, though it is a visually resolvable galaxy group. At least the brightest galaxy was visible in the 18-inch, demanding most of my observational skills. A further galaxy was suspected at higher magnification (> 300 ×). Other objects lie definetly below detection threshold. Moreover, three of eleven members reported in Shkh 44 probably are stars. Their false identification as galaxies stems from an error in the original Shakhbazian catalogue.

Shakhbazian 49 (Shkh 49, SHK 49)

10h 15m 15s; +38° 55’ 12" - mag > 16

DSS 5’ × 5’

N457/1850; 276 ×, fst 6.7
Shkh 49 (LMi) is a hardly resolvable group of 7 - 8 stellar galaxies, merely 1.5 arcminutes of length, close to the northeast of a 12th magnitude star. However, under exceptionally dark skies three individual members were discernable as faint star-like specks in the 18-inch (276 ×). Other galaxies should be extremely hard to pin down. Despite being little spectacular, Shkh 49 was the second entry (after Shkh 166) from the Shakhbazian lists which I have observed visually.

Shakhbazian 60 (Shkh 60, SHK 60)

  1. anonymous - 11h 24m 31s; +40° 26’ 07" - mag > 15
  2. anonymous - 11h 24m 31s; +40° 26’ 07" - mag > 15
  3. anonymous - 11h 24m 42s; +40° 25’ 59" - mag > 16

    DSS 5’ × 5’

Alike many other groups Shkh 60 in Ursa Maior was rather more difficult than expected. However a few objects could be identified visually. The circle marks the two brightest galaxies on the DSS image, actually a double system with an angular separation less than 1 arcsecond (!) and therefore - of course - absolutely not resolvable. In fact, they both appear as a single faint “knot” without any structural detail.

Shakhbazian 63 (Shkh 63, SHK 63)

  1. CG 1430 - 11h 29m 36s; +42° 26’ 25" - mag 16.0
  2. anonymous - 11h 29m 34s; +42° 26’ 07" - mag > 16.5
  3. anonymous - 11h 29m 34s; +42° 26’ 00" - mag > 16.5

    DSS 5’ x 5’

    N457/1850; 222 x, fst 7.0
    Shkh 63 again in Ursa Maior consists of six galaxies, however only a single one is conspicuous enough to visual observers. This galaxy is also reported in the Case low dispersion northern sky survey XV (Pesch & Step, 1995), where it is listed as CG 1430. Two further galaxies close SW of CG 1430 were just suspected as a diffuse haze at the absolute limit of detection.

Shakhbazian 90 (Shkh 90, SHK 90)

10h 15m 15s; +38° 55’ 12" - mag > 16

DSS 5’ × 5’

N457/1850; 222 ×, fst 7.0
Approximately 2 arcminutes in diameter, the poor galaxy group Shkh 90 (Lyn) is located close to UGC 4214 (mag 15.3), a nice edge-on galaxy not physically associated to the galaxy group. This foreground galaxy is clearly visible in the 18-inch as faint SE-NW elongated nebula. A circle marks the only visually discernable member of Shkh 90 on the DSS image. Its appearance is almost stellar and pretty faint.

Shkh 98 - Shkh 322

Shakhbazian 98 (Shkh 98, SHK 98)

  1. anonymous - 08h 52m 08s; +53° 36’ 49" - mag > 16
  2. anonymous - 08h 52m 13s; +53° 36’ 20" - mag > 16
  3. anonymous - 08h 52m 11s; +53° 36’ 05" - mag > 16
  4. anonymous - 08h 52m 09s; +53° 36’ 09" - mag > 16.5

    DSS 8’

Shkh 98, once again in Ursa Maior, is somehow more spectacular on the POSS prints. The image field is dominated by a bright foreground galaxy, NGC 2675 (mag 13.3). This conspicuous oval shaped object marks the NW edge of a gently curved chain of eight star-like galaxies, almost 4 arcminutes long. However, at least the four brightest members of Shkh 98 close to the east of NGC 2675 could be glimpsed visually in the 18-inch, all appearing as 16th magnitude “stars”. Unfortunately the southernmost end of this incomparably extragalactic chain consists of galaxies below detection threshold (mag > 17).

Shakhbazian 154 (Shkh 154, SHK 154)

  1. anonymous - 11h 22m 54s; +01° 06’ 52" - mag < 16
  2. anonymous - 11h 22m 51s; +01° 06’ 48" - mag < 16
    

    DSS 5’

At first glance, Shkh 154 in Leo resembles a poor open star cluster, however most member galaxies are extremely faint. Observation with the 18-inch was made under fairly good sky (fst mag 6.2), perhaps better conditions could lead to more details. Only two galaxies were seen, both as faint stars, still discernable at moderate magnifications.

Shakhbazian 166 (Shkh 166, SHK 166, UGC 10638, Abell 2247)

  1. MCG+14-8-17 - 16h 52m 48s; +81° 37’ 54" - mag 14.9
  2. MCG+14-8-15 - 	16h 50m 58s;	+81° 34' 25" -	mag 15.3
    
  3. MCG+14-8-16 - 	16h 51m 46s;	+81° 35' 26" -	mag 15.3
    
  4. anonymous    - 	16h 52m 13s;	+81° 37' 09" -	mag 15.4
    
  5. PGC 59120     - 	16h 51m 07s;	+81° 34' 54" -	mag 15.9
    
  6. PGC 59122     - 	16h 50m 55s;	+81° 33' 57" -	mag 16.5
    
  7. MCG+14-8-18 - 	16h 53m 17s;	+81° 38' 48" -	mag 15.4
    
  8. PGC 59227     - 	16h 53m 51s;	+81° 38' 21" -	mag 16.6
    
  9. PGC 59226     - 	16h 53m 42s;	+81° 38' 06" -	mag > 16
  10. anonymous - 16h 51m 54s; +81° 35’ 23" - mag 17.0

    DSS 10’

    N457/1850; 205

This SCGG is a almost linear chain consisting of 11 compact galaxies scattered on a 15 × 15 arcminutes field. Additional designation of Shkh 166 is UGC 10638 (GSC; RC3), but actually Shkh 166 is identical with the central core of galaxy cluster Abell 2247 (distance class 3; magnitude of tenth-brightest galaxy: 15.3).

Viewed with the 18 inch telescope, ten of eleven galaxies turned out visible. The brightest and apparently largest member MCG+14-8-17 is evident even in a 14 inch scope under good sky conditions. It appears as a round nebula, slowly brighter to the middle. The second brightest MCG+14-8-16 is somewhat smaller, however it could be glimpsed easily because of its higher surface brightness. A faint companion (10) close to the east was also visible in the 18-inch, although it should be the most challenging member of Shkh 166. However this 17th magnitude object was not that difficult due to its stellar shape. MCG+14-8-15 is very similar to MCG+14-8-16, but less conspicuous.

Further galaxies observed with the 18-inch: PGC 59120 and PGC 59226, both faint and nearly stellar in shape. Unlike this another couple of PGC galaxies was merely discernably at the limits of atmospheric and instrumental resolution. A second anonymous galaxy appearing as a very compact and faint speck is located close to a 13th magnitude star.

Shakhbazian 202 (Shkh 202, SHK 202)

  1. CGCG 158-74 - 12h 19m 54s; +28° 23’ 09" - mag 14.8
  2. CGCG 158-78 - 12h 20m 10s; +28° 23’ 20" - mag 15.4
  3. CGCG 158-75 - 12h 19m 51s; +28° 25’ 21" - mag 15.0
  4. CGCG 158-65 - 12h 15m 38s; +28° 29’ 43" - mag 15.7
  5. anonymous - 12h 20m 02s; +28° 31’ 30" - mag 15.3
  6. anonymous - 12h 19m 48s; +28° 24’ 20" - mag 15.6

    DSS 8’

The loose group Shkh 202 in Coma Berenices also contains some of the brightest individual galaxies in the Shakhbazian lists, located in a bridge-like distribution of galaxies which combines the rich galaxy clusters Abell 1656 (Com) and Abell 1367 (Leo). The galaxies in this region form an enormous supercluster. Shkh 202 has been subject to detailed study.

The brightest galaxy CGCG 158-75 (circle) was seen at once in the 18-inch, however its observation is hampered by the presence of the 6.7th magnitude star SAO 82246. Despite being out of the DSS image field, its bright glare is still visible at the top. Luckily all five group galaxies are of very high surface brightness, thus they should be evident on condition that SAO 82246 is kept out of the eyepiece field.

Shakhbazian 317 (Shkh 317, SHK 317)

  1. MCG-1-6-64 - 02h 10m 53s; -06° 33’ 33" - mag 15.2
  2. MCG-1-6-62 - 02h 10m 41s; -06° 34’ 47" - mag 15.7
  3. MCG-1-6-61 - 02h 10m 53s; -06° 35’ 05" - mag 16
  4. MCG-1-6-60 - 02h 10m 36s; -06° 36’ 01" - mag 17
  5. MCG-1-6-59 - 02h 10m 35s; -06° 36’ 23" - mag 17
  6. MCG-1-6-58 - 02h 10m 33s; -06° 36’ 59" - mag 15.3

    DSS 8’

With a declination of -6° 35’ the galaxy chain Shkh 317 in Cetus is the southernmost of the Shakhbazian groups yet observed. Therefore tracking down was not quite easy, although the member galaxies mostly appear pretty bright on the DSS image. The most conspicuous galaxy MCG-1-6-64 is definetly non-stellar with somewhat diffuse surroundings. Viewed with the 18-inch three members were visible.

Shakhbazian 322 (Shkh 322, SHK 322)

11h 23m 41s; -04° 13’ 03" - mag > 16

DSS 8’ × 8’

Shkh 322 in Leo is associated with the faint galaxy cluster Abell 1248. The brightest member galaxy (circle) is also the only object visible. Its appearance in the 18-inch is compact, however not stellar. Averted vision was needed. A faint anonymous galaxy (spiral arms are evident on the DSS image!) is situated in the same field, although not associated with the compact galaxy group. NED reports a magnitude of 15.8 for this object. Visually it turned out very similar to the spotted Shkh 322 galaxy.

Digitized Sky Survey
The Digitized Sky Surveys were produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute under U.S Government grant NAG W-2166. The images of these surveys are based on photographic data obtained using the Oschin Schmidt Telescope on Palomar Mountain and the UK Schmidt Telescope. The plates were processed into the present com pressed digital form with the permission of these institutions The National Geographic Society - Palomar Observatory Sky Atlas (POSS-I) was made by the California Institute of Technology with grants from the National Geographic Society The Second Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS-II) was made by the California Institute of Tech nology with funds from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society, the Sloan Foundation, the Samuel Oschin Foundation, and the Eastman Kodak Corporation The Oschin Schmidt Telescope is operated by the California Institute of Technology and Palomar Observatory The UK Schmidt Telescope was operated by the Royal Observatory Edinburgh, with funding from the UK Science and Engineering Research Council (later the UK Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council), until 1988 June, and thereafter by the Anglo-Australian Observatory The blue plates of the southern Sky Atlas and its Equatorial Extension (together known as the SERC-J), as weil as the Equatorial Red (ER), and the Second Epoch [red] Survey (SES) were all taken with the UK Schmidt.

Abell Galaxy Clusters

Galaxy clusters, held together by the force of gravity, are among the largest cosmic structures known. Exerting a mutual pull, the far-flung galaxies in a cluster can extend many millions of light-years across space.

Between 1996 and 1998 I observed 28 galaxy clusters from the Abell catalog. The observing program will be resumed now for the clusters not yet observed (see the “To Do Cluster List” below).

Observations:

distance class 1

distance class 3

distance class 4

distance class 5

To Do Cluster List (coming soon…)

Explanation:

Distance class: Cluster distances, needed to determine counting radii, were estimated solely from the magnitude of the 10th brightest galaxy. This procedure was adopted to provide consistency with Abell’s northern survey, and also as a matter of expediency.

Distance class 1 = magnitude of tenth brightest galaxy: < 14.0 mag
Distance class 2 = magnitude of tenth brightest galaxy: < 14.8 mag
Distance class 3 = magnitude of tenth brightest galaxy: < 15.6 mag
Distance class 4 = magnitude of tenth brightest galaxy: < 16.0 mag
Distance class 5 = magnitude of tenth brightest galaxy: < 17.2 mag

Legend…

NGC 6781 (Aql) = Name or Catalog Designation of the object (Constellation).
N 457/1850 mm = Telescope data (N = Newton, R = Refractor; Aperture/Focal length in mm).
205 × / [OIII] = Magnification (×) or Exit Pupil diameter (EP) in mm / Filters if used (UHC, [OIII], Hb).
fst* 6.6 (B) = Naked eye limiting magnitude (fst* = faintest star); Observing site code (see below).

(D) = Darmstadt, West Germany, 240 m over sea level (poor sky conditions, fst* < 6)
(N) = Neutscher Höhe, West Germany, 440 m over sea level (dark sky, fst* 6 to 6.5)
(B) = Breitenbuch, West Germany, 600 m over sea level (very dark sky, fst* 6.5 to 6.8)
(S) = Sölden, Tirol / Austria, 2800 m over sea level (excellent sky conditions, fst* > 7)
(G) = Gran Sasso, Italy, 2200 m over sea level (excellent sky conditions, fst* > 7)

Messier Galaxies…



Messier 31 (And)
N 457/1850 mm
154 × - 276 ×
fst* 6.8 (B)



Messier 31 (And)
N 200/1000 mm
28 × - 75 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



Messier 33 (Tri)
N 457/1850 mm
132 × - 205 ×
fst* 6.8 (B)



Messier 49 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



Messier 51 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.0 (G)



Messier 51 (CVn)
N 200/1000 mm
123 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



Messier 58 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Messier 59 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



M60, N4647 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



Messier 61 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (N)



Messier 63 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (N)



Messier 64 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Messier 65 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



Messier 66 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



Messier 74 (Psc)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.2 (G)



Messier 77 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



Messier 81 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Messier 82 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



Messier 83 (Hya)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)


Messier 84 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)


Messier 85 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



Messier 86 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



Messier 87 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)

NGC/IC Galaxies…


NGC 1023 (Per)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 1052 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1055 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1084 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1087 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 1097 (For)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 7.1 (G)



NGC 1309 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1332 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 147 (And)
N 457/1850 mm
92.5 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1569 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (B)



NGC 1637 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 1784 (Lep)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 185 (Cas)
N 457/1850 mm
75 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 2146 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 2276 (Cep)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 2403 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 253 (Scl)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.0 (G)



NGC 2655 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 2681 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 2683 (Lyn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 2685 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 2787 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 2841 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 2903 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 2976 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.2 (N)



NGC 3003 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3077 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.3 (B)



NGC 3079 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 3166 (Sex)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3169 (Sex)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3184 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 3185 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 3190 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 3344 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3377 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 3384 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 3395/96 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3412 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 3432 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3486 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3504 (LMi)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 3521 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 3628 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 3631 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (B)



NGC 3646 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 3665 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 3675 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 3726 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 3810 (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 3877 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 3893/96 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 3898 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 3949 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 3953 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4013 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4026 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4027/A (Crv)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4038/39 (Crv)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4041 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4051 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4088 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4144 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4151 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4179 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 4203 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 4214/28 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4216 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4244 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4251 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 4278 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 4314 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 4346 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4395 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4402 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4414 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 4419 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 4449 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4450 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 4485/90 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.0 (G)



NGC 4527 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4559 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 4565 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 4605 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 4631/27 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4651 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 4656 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 4725 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 4762 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4775 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4793 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 488 (Psc)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 5005 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 5033 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 520 (Psc)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 5248 (Boo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 5371 (CVn)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 5474 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 5678 (Dra)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 5746 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 584 (Psc)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 5846 (Vir)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 5907 (Dra)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 6181 (Her)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 6207 (Her)
N 457/1850 mm
308 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 6384 (Oph)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 6503 (Dra)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 6643 (Dra)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.5 (N)



NGC 6822 (Sgr)
N 457/1850 mm
75 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 7217 (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 7331 (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 7448 (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 7479 (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 7640 (And)
N 635/3175 mm
473 ×
fst* 6.5 (K)



NGC 772 (Ari)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 779 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 7814 (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 891 (And)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 925 (Tri)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.8 (B)



NGC 936 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



IC 10 (Cas)
N 457/1850 mm
92.5 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)



IC 342 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
92.5 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



IC 356 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



Leo I (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
58 ×
fst* 7.0 (S)

Groups of Galaxies…


“The Box” (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.2 (N)



Copeland’s Septet (Leo)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



Stephan’s Quintet (Peg)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 6928 Group (Del)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.2 (N)



Shakhbazian 16 (Dra)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Shakhbazian 26 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Shkh 30 / HCG 97 (Psc)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



Shakhbazian 63 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
275 ×
fst* 7.0 (G)



Shakhbazian 90 (Lyn)
N 457/1850 mm
275 ×
fst* 7.0 (G)



Shakhbazian 166 (UMi)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)

Clusters of Galaxies…


Abell 262 (And)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



Abell 426 (Per)
N 457/1850 mm
222 ×
fst* 6.6 (B)



Abell 1656 (Com)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × - 222 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)

Planetary Nebulae…

Messier 76 (Per)
N 457/1850 mm
154 × / UHC
fst* 6.3 (N)



Messier 97 (UMa)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 1360 (For)
N 457/1850 mm
58 × / [OIII]
fst* 7.0 (G)



NGC 1501 (Cam)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 1514 (Tau)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 1535 (Eri)
N 457/1850 mm
308 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 2022 (Ori)
N 457/1850 mm
276 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 2346 (Mon)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 2371/72 (Gem)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / UHC
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 2392 (Gem)
N 457/1850 mm
325 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 2438 (Pup)
N 457/1850 mm
276 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.6 (B)



NGC 2440 (Pup)
N 457/1850 mm
308 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 2452 (Pup)
N 457/1850 mm
276 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.8 (S)



NGC 246 (Cet)
N 457/1850 mm
154 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 3242 (Hya)
N 457/1850 mm
205 ×
fst* 6.4 (N)



NGC 40 (Cep)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 4361 (Crv)
N 457/1850 mm
276 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 6058 (Her)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / UHC
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 6210 (Her)
N 457/1850 mm
276 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (B)



NGC 6309 (Oph)
N 457/1850 mm
308 ×
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 6369 (Oph)
N 457/1850 mm
205 × / [OIII]
fst* 6.2 (N)



NGC 6445 (Sgr)
N 457/1850 mm
154 ×
fst* 6.5 (B)

Galactic Nebulae…

*Gaseous (“Bright”) Nebulae, Dark Nebulae, Reflection Nebulae, Wolf-Rayet Nebulae, Supernova Remnants


Messier 17 (Sgr)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5-8 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.7 (B)



M42 Regio (Ori)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5, 6, 8 mm
fst* 6.5 (B)



M42 Prob. Maior
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5, 6, 8 mm
fst* 6.5 (B)



M42 Prob. Minor
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5, 6, 8 mm / Hb
fst* 6.5 (B)



M42 W-Region
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5, 6, 8 mm / Hb
fst* 6.6 (B)



M42 S-Region
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5, 6, 8 mm / UHC
fst* 6.6 (B)



Messier 43 (Ori)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 6 mm
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 2237/39 (Mon)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 6-8 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 2467 (Pup)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 4.5 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.7 (B)



NGC 281 (Cas)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 6 mm / UHC
fst* 6.5 (B)



NGC 6960 (Cyg)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 3-5 mm / [OIII]
fst* 7.0 (S)



NGC 7000 (Cyg)
N 200/1000 mm
EP 7 mm / UHC
fst* 6.3 (N)



NGC 7023 (Cep)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 2 mm
fst* 6.5 (B)



IC 434 / B 33 (Ori)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 8 mm / Hb
fst* 6.5 (B)



Sharpless 82 (Sge)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 6 mm / UHC
fst* 6.7 (B)



Sharpless 91 (Cyg)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (B)



Sharpless 94 (Cyg)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (B)



Sharpless 112 (Cyg)
N 305/2100 mm
EP 2 mm / UHC
fst* 6.3 (N)



Sharpless 119 (Cyg)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 8 mm / Hb
fst* 6.4 (B)



Sharpless 129 (Cep)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 8 mm / UHC
fst* 6.4 (B)



Sharpless 155 (Cep)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 8 mm / [OIII]
fst* 6.4 (B)



Sharpless 280 (Mon)
N 457/1850 mm
EP 5 mm / UHC
fst* 6.4 (B)

Comets…

Hale-Bopp


16.02.1997
04:15 - 04:22 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



02.03.1997
04:20 - 04:45 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



04.03.1997
04:00 - 04:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



08.03.1997
18:20 - 18:50 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



09.03.1997
18:20 - 18:40 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



27.03.1997
19:30 - 19:55 UT
N 305/2100; 125 ×



30.03.1997
19:15 - 19:35 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



31.03.1997
19:15 - 19:30 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



01.04.1997
19:10 - 19:25 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



01.04.1997
20:15 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



01.04.1997
21:40 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



04.04.1997
19:30 - 20:00 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



06.04.1997
19:00
N 305/2100; 105 ×



06.04.1997
19:40 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



06.04.1997
20:00 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



07.04.1997
19:15 - 19:35 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



07.04.1997
20:45 UT
N 457/1850; 58 ×



08.04.1997
19:35 - 20:05 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



09.04.1997
19:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



09.04.1997
20:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



10.04.1997
19:25 - 20:09 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



10.04.1997
20:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



10.04.1997
20:45 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



11.04.1997
19:30 - 19:55 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



11.04.1997
21:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



11.04.1997
22:40 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



12.04.1997
21:20 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



12.04.1997
22:00 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



13.04.1997
19:35 - 20:15 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



14.04.1997
19:20 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



14.04.1997
20:10 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



15.04.1997
19:20 - 19:50 UT
N 305/2100; 105 ×



15.04.1997
21:34 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



15.04.1997
21:55 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



16.04.1997
21:20 - 22:00 UT
N 305/2100; 125 ×



17.04.1997
20:45 - 21:10 UT
N 305/2100; 175 ×



18.04.1997
20:20 - 20:44 UT
N 305/2100; 125 ×

Planets…

Jupiter



23.08.1997 - 20:30 UT
N 457/1850 mm; 385 ×; #80A
ZM I = 347,8°
ZM II = 51,1°



25.03.1995 - 05:10 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 300 ×; #80A
ZM I = 29,9°
ZM II = 342,4°



02.05.1995 - 00:30 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 300 ×; #80A
ZM I = 273,9°
ZM II = 297,3°



19.05.1995 - 05:25 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 300 ×; #80A
ZM I = 81,1°
ZM II = 334,9°



18.06.1995 - 00:32 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 300 ×; #80A
ZM I = 142,1°
ZM II = 166,9°



02.05.1995 - 03.05.1995
01:30 - 05:00 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 300 ×; #80A

Saturn



28.09.1997 - 00:00 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 507 ×
ZM I = 108°



28.09.1997 - 01:00 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 507 ×
ZM I = 143°



28.08.1992 - 23:00 UT
R 200/4000 mm; 400 ×
ZM I = 84°