{"id":2147,"date":"2015-02-02T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-02-02T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:8888\/wordpress\/?p=2147"},"modified":"2018-01-08T16:58:53","modified_gmt":"2018-01-08T16:58:53","slug":"january-2015","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.popastro.com\/deepsky\/january-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"January 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

During the month, four section members submitted their observations;\u00a0 a total of 16 images and13 drawings.<\/p>\n

Mark Beveridge<\/strong> of Aberdeen sent in all 16 of the images.<\/p>\n

The first six were taken using a 140mm f14.3 OMC Maksutov telescope on an HEQ5 mount, and a SXR-H814 camera plus RGB filters.<\/p>\n

Here is M82, an edge – on galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major.\u00a0 It is also known as the “cigar” galaxy, and is a starburst galaxy;\u00a0 activity thought to be caused by interaction with its neighbour M81.\u00a0 At about 12 million light years from the Earth it is the closest starburst galaxy to us.\u00a0 A year ago a type 1a supernova was discovered in M82 during an observing session at the University of London Observatory.<\/p>\n

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M82<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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M97<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Next is M97, a planetary nebula also in the constellation of Ursa Major.\u00a0 This object lies about 2000 light years from the Earth, and is known as the “owl” nebula.\u00a0 It is just under 3.5 arc minutes in diameter, and has an apparent magnitude of 9.9.\u00a0 M97 is reckoned to be about 8,000 years old, with a magnitude 14 white dwarf stellar remnant at its centre.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2403<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NGC 2403 can be found at magnitude 8.9 in the constellation of Camelopardalis.\u00a0 It is a member of the M81 group of galaxies, and is about 8 million light years from the Earth.<\/p>\n

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NGC 205<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

M110, also known as NGC 205, is a magnitude 8.9 dwarf elliptical galaxy and satellite of M31, the Andromeda galaxy.\u00a0 M110 has been shown to contain some dust and signs of recent, in astronomical terms, star formation which is unusual for this type of galaxy.\u00a0 It was assigned a Messier number as recently as the 1960’s.<\/p>\n

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NGC 604<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Emission nebula, NGC 604, which is in the Triangulum galaxy M33,\u00a0 appears small because it is about 2.7 million light years from us, but in fact it is one of the biggest HII regions in the local group of galaxies which includes our own Milky Way.\u00a0 It is believed to be over 40 times the size of the visible part of the Orion nebula and over 6,000 times more luminous – if it were as close as M42 it would appear brighter than Venus.<\/p>\n

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NGC 7662<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This planetary nebula is NGC 7662, the “blue snowball”, which is in the constellation of Andromeda.\u00a0 It is magnitude 8.3, and about 37 arcseconds in diameter.\u00a0 In small telescopes only the brighter, central, 12 arcsecond diameter part may be seen.\u00a0 The central dwarf star varies in magnitude between 12 and 16.<\/p>\n

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The next seven of Mark’s images were taken with the same camera and filter arrangement, but with a 100mm F9 Orion Skywatcher refractor. \u00a0\u00a0M101 is the “pinwheel” galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major.\u00a0 It is face – on to us, and is about 27 million lght years from the Earth.\u00a0 It is much bigger than our Milky Way Galaxy at about 170, 000 light years in diameter, 28 x 26 arc seconds in angular size, and apparent magnitude 7.9.\u00a0 Its low surface brightness however means that in the eyepiece of all but the biggest amateur telescopes only the brighter central parts may be seen.<\/p>\n

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M101<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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NGC 1491<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NGC 1491 is an emission nebula in the constellation of Perseus.\u00a0 The central star is producing strong ultra violet radiation which is ionising the hydrogen gas in the nebula and creating a void in the nebula around itself.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2633<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This image shows NGC 2633 and together with NGC 2634 and NGC 2634A, galaxies in the constellation of Camelopardalis. (also in a second image further down the page)\u00a0 The first two are of magnitude 12 and 11.8, and are only 2 minutes of arc in angular diameter.\u00a0 All three are of the order of 100 million light years from the Earth, but they are not thought to be interacting with each other.<\/p>\n

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NGC 4236<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NGC 4236\u00a0 is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Draco.\u00a0 A part of the M81 group of galaxies,\u00a0 this edge – on spiral is about 11.7 light years from Earth and is magnitude 10.5.\u00a0 Its angular dimensions are 22 x 7 arcminutes.<\/p>\n

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B 12, B13<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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This is an image of\u00a0 dark nebulae B12 and B13;\u00a0 clouds of cold dust and molecular gas that block out the visible light of more distant stars.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2633<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a cluster of galaxies in the constellation of Camelopardalis, the most prominent being NGC 2633 and NGC 2634 (see the other image, the third above)<\/p>\n

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NGC 7822<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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NGC 7822\u00a0 is an emission nebula in the constellation of Cepheus.\u00a0 At the core of this star forming region is a young cluster of stars known as Berkeley 59.\u00a0 Within the cluster is a very hot young star, part of an eclipsing binary system, which is about 100,000 times as luminous as the sun.\u00a0 This star is one of the sources of powerful ultra violet radiation that sculpt and illuminate the nebula.<\/p>\n

The last three images that Mark sent in this month were taken using the 140mm OMC Maksutov telescope.<\/p>\n

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NGC 40<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is NGC40, a planetary nebula in the constellation of Cepheus.\u00a0 Also known as the “bow tie” nebula, it is about a light year across, and the central white dwarf star has a surface temperature of about 50.000 degrees K.\u00a0 It appears small in the telescope at 38 x 35 arcseconds, and has an apparent magnitude of 11.3.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2985<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NGC 2985 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major.\u00a0 It is magnitude 10.4, and 4.6 x 3.4 arcminutes in angular size.<\/p>\n

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M51<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Mark’s sixteenth and final image this month is of M51, the “whirlpool” galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici.\u00a0 The first spiral galaxy to be classified as such, its smaller companion is NGC 5195.\u00a0 M51 is one of the best known sights in the night sky.<\/p>\n

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Michael Kinns<\/strong>, observing from Eastry, sent in two drawings: these are of adjacent open clusters, in the constellation of Taurus near the border with Orion:\u00a0 NGC 1807 and NGC 1817.\u00a0 Michael used a 200mm f6 Newtonian telescope, working at a magnification of 200x for each sketch.<\/p>\n

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NGC 1807<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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NGC 1817<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Mike Wood<\/strong> sent in three sketches, using his 180mm Takahashi Mewlon Dall Kirkham reflector from Debenham.<\/p>\n

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Rigel<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is Rigel, Beta Orionis, actually the brightest star in the constellation of Orion at apparent magnitude 0.13.\u00a0 Rigel has an absolute magnitude of -7.84, and is about 120,000 times more luminous than our sun. Rigel has a companion, Rigel B, seen in this sketch in the 7 o’clock position.\u00a0 It is a spectroscopic binary comprising two type B stars, making Rigel a triple star system.<\/p>\n

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NGC 1980<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mike’s sketch of NGC 1980 shows in three pairs of double stars within it.\u00a0 This open cluster is interesting because it was once thought to be part of the Orion nebula.\u00a0 It has recently been shown to be between the Earth and M42.\u00a0 Research suggests the massive stars in this cluster around iota Orionis are slightly older than the Trapezium stars.<\/p>\n

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M42<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Here is M42, the Orion nebula;\u00a0 a massive star forming region visible to the naked eye below Orion’s belt.<\/p>\n

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Dale Holt <\/strong>observing from Chippingdale, sent in eight drawings.\u00a0 For the first\u00a0 three observations Dale used a 153mm f9 refractor, coupled to an uncooled Watec 120N video camera, sketching what could be seen on the monitor screen.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2024<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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GC\u00a0 2024 is the “Flame” nebula in the constellation of Orion:\u00a0 the bright star depicted at the bottom right is Alnitak, Zeta Orionis.\u00a0 This emision nebula, created by fierce ultra violet radiation from Alnitak ionising the surrounding hydrogen gas, is part of the Orion Molecular cloud complex.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2374<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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NGC 2374 is an open cluster to be found in the constellation of Canis Major<\/p>\n

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NGC 2903<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

NGC 2903 is a magnitude 9.7 barred spiral galaxy about 30 million light years from the Earth in the constellation of Leo.<\/p>\n

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NGC 1055<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The next four observations were made using a 505mm f3.7 Newtonian reflector, plus video camera as before. Dale’s drawing of NGC 1055 shows an edge on galaxy in the constellation of Cetus.\u00a0 It is part of a group of galaxies that includes M77.\u00a0 This galaxy has a prominent central bulge, and a wide band of dust and gas.<\/p>\n

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NGC 1682<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Here is a drawing of two galaxies in the constellation of Orion.\u00a0 NGC 1604 is a magnitude 13 eliptical, NGC 1602 to its right is also an eliptical and a magnitude fainter.<\/p>\n

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NGC 1924<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This sketch is of NGC 1924, a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Orion.\u00a0 It is estimated to be about 133 million light years from the Earth, is magnitude 13.3, and has an angular size of 1.6 x 1.2 arcminutes.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2749, NGC 2752<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Here is a drawing of two galaxies, NGC 2749 and NGC 2752 which are in the constellation of Cancer.\u00a0 NGC 2752 is magnitude 13.7 barred spiral and is 1.8 x 0.4 arcminutes in angular size.\u00a0 NGC 2749 is a magnitude 11.8 elliptical galaxy and 1.8 x 1.7 arcminutes in size.<\/p>\n

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NGC 2749 galaxy group<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dale’s final sketch this month was made using the 153mm refractor, and shows the NGC 2749 group of galaxies, a wide view including those in the above sketch and many more.<\/p>\n

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Dave Finnigan<\/em><\/p>\n

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During the month, four section members submitted their observations;\u00a0 a total of 16 images and13 drawings. Mark Beveridge of Aberdeen sent in all 16 of the images. The first six were taken using a 140mm f14.3 OMC Maksutov telescope onRead more<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2147","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","category-reports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t