(SNES) Th Realm of the Galaxies

[Albireo54@aol.com]

Hi Everyone, 

One of the challenges of galaxy observing is that most are quite faint, and 
even with a GOTO scope they can be very difficult to locate. Aperture helps, 
of course, and we've plenty of that with the 16" LX200 at FDO. One of the 
joys of observing with such a scope is that virtually every galaxy listed in 
programs like SkyMap or Sky Chart (over 6,000 of them from our latitude) can 
be seen on a dark night - if only dimly. Some, like M104 or M51 are 
absolutely breathtaking!

As spring approaches galaxy hunters start getting very excited, for at no 
other time of the year can so many galaxies be viewed in one evening. To 
illustrate their concentration in western Virgo, I've attached a map showing 
the area just southeast of Beta Leonis (Denebola). Within the 20 degree 
circle lie 353 galaxies, including 16 Messiers! Of these, there are 309 
brighter than mag. 14, 226 brighter than mag. 13, 121 brighter than mag. 12, 
50 brighter than mag. 11, 17 brighter than mag. 10, and 4 brighter than mag. 
9. So even in modest scopes, many dozens can be seen in one small area.

Some remarkable groupings exist within the circle. Looking around to find the 
highest number visible in one eyepiece view with the 16", I came up with the 
area centered on the star HD 107258 - just below the circle's center. Using 
the focal reducer on the telescope, and the 40 mm Konig eyepiece, we should 
be able to see 17 galaxies in one field of view!  They range in brightness 
from 10.4 to 15.2 - all within reach on a nice dark night. I doubt that as 
many can be seen at once in any other part of the sky - although it will be 
fun finding out!

I'm looking forward to viewing in this area, in addition to those pointed out 
by Les and Ernie in Leo and Lynx!

:o)
Doug 

[demime 0.98e removed an attachment of type image/jpeg which had a name of Galaxy Realm.jpg]
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