Category: cluster

Hickson 68

Sketch and Details by Bill Ferris

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Hickson 68: Galaxy Cluster (Canes Venatici)

RA: 13h 53.5m / DEC: +40º 17′.0

Instrument: 18-inch Obsession

Here’s a fine galaxy cluster that adorns the spring sky. Hickson 68 resides in eastern Canes Venatici and is closer to the bright stars of Boötes than to Cor Caroli. My sketch presents a 199X view in the big Obsession and is dominated by NGC 5350. This 11.3 magnitude barred spiral is northernmost in the group and has the designation, Hickson 68C. Its stellar core is embedded within a 3′.3 by 2′.4 oval nebulosity that becomes gradually brighter toward the middle. The bright stellar pair immediately west of NGC 5350 are 6.5 magnitude HD 121197 and 10.5 magnitude PPM 53793. A skosh more than 4′ south of Hickson 68C, resides a pair of galaxies sharing the same patch of sky. NGC 5353 is Hickson 68A. It is the larger and, at 10.9 magnitude, brighter of the pair. Its 2′.7 by 1′.5 oval form is aligned northwest to southeast and features a stellar core. Hickson 68B (NGC 5354) lies an arcminute to the north. Just the bright inner core of this 11.3 magnitude gotham is seen. The 1′ circular patch of haze is anchored to the sky by a faintly stellar core. Two galaxies are stationed to the east of center in my drawing. NGC 5355 (Hickson 68D) stands about 5′ west of NGC 5350. This 1′.2 by 0′.7 galaxy shines at 13.1 magnitude and is aligned north-northeast to south-southwest. NGC 5358 is the most challenging member of Hickson 68. Hickson 68E is a 14.6 (B) magnitude galaxy. It appears 1′.5 by 0.5 in size and is arranged northwest to southeast. A close pair of 13th magnitude GSC stars simmer an arcminute to the southwest.

Hickson 80
Sketch and Details by Bill Ferris

Hickson 80: Galaxy Cluster (Draco) RA: 15h 59.3m / DEC: +65º 14′.0
Instrument: 18-inch Obsession

The four-pack of faint galaxies in my sketch comprise the compact galaxy cluster, Hickson 80. A pair of 14th magnitude stars stand separated by just 30″ near the center of the field. Hickson 80A and 80B, paired to the north, appear to mirror that stellar duo. Hickson 80A is the 15.7(B) magnitude sliver covering a 0′.8 by 0′.2 area and aligned roughly north-south. It is cataloged as 2MASX J15591912+6513579, according to the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED). Hickson 80B (=PGC 56590) is the tiny, 16.4(B) magnitude smudge just 30″ to the south. Hickson 80C lies an arcminute due west of 80A. It is a 16.1(B) magnitude galaxy cataloged as PGC 56572. The most challenging member of the quartet is 16.8(B) magnitude Hickson 80D. This faint little stinker resides 50″ southeast of Hickson 80C and is only visible with averted vision. You’ll find this collection banished to the far northern reaches of the heavens, in Draco.

Markarian’s Chain
Sketch and Details by Ernest Shekolyan

Hi!

Let me contribute to ASOD one of my pictures

That is Markarian`s chain as it was seen 9/10 apr. 2007 in eyepiece of my scope at village Shumba, 50 km from St.Petersburg, Russia. That was visual limit 6.2m.

10″ Starfinder, 24 mm UWA, 46x, FOV: 105 ang. minutes, graphite pencil, white paper, then photocopy + level correction, crop and inverting in ACDSee

Sincerely yours, Ernest Shekolyan

Hickson 70
Sketch and Commentary by Bill Ferris
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Hickson 70: Galaxy Cluster (Canes Venatici)
RA: 14h 04.2m / DEC: +33º 20′.3
Instrument: 18-inch Obsession

Hickson 70 resides in far eastern Canes Venatici. The magnificent M3 can be found just 7 degrees to the southwest. But this cluster presents more challenging fare. My sketch combines 199X and 272X views in the 18-inch Obsession. Seven member galaxies in this tightly-packed cluster are visible. Hickson 70A is cataloged as UGC 8990 (=MCG +06-31-59, PGC 50139) and is often misidentified as IC 4371. The 16.1(B) magnitude galaxy resides at 14 hrs., 04 min., 10 sec,; +33 deg., 20.3 minutes and is nearly centered in my sketch. It features a stellar core and covers a 0′.7 by 0′.3 area. Hickson 70D (=IC 4370, MCG +06-31-60) appears as a tiny, 16th magnitude smudge along the northern edge of Hickson 70A. About 2′ to the south, Hickson 70B (=IC 4371, MCG +06-31-61, PGC 50140) displays a stellar core embedded within a 0′.5 by 0′.3 oval glow. 11.0 magnitude SAO 63918 simmers another 2′.3 to the south. The thin sliver of light 2′ to the east of Hickson 70B is MCG +06-31-064. This 16.2(B) magnitude galaxy covers a 0′.5 by 0′.2 area and is aligned northeast to southwest. Three galaxies are grouped to the southwest of Hickson 70A. These include 16.2(B) magnitude Hickson 70E (=IC 4369, MCG +06-31-58, PGC 50134), 17.3(B) magnitude Hickson 70F (=MCG +06-31-57, PGC 50133), and 17.4 magnitude 2MASX J14040011+3319540. Hicksons 70E and 70F are very close to each other and just 1′.3 southwest of Hickson 70A. High magnification was needed to consistently separate the two.