Arps in Cet-Psc

2019-12-22. Cherry Springs (elevation 700 m), clear, snow on the ground. Telescope D = 508 mm, F/4 (Sky-Watcher Newtonian). Arp peculiar galaxies. SQM 21.4, 21.6 later, seeing average to poor, ending as 2-4 arcsec.

Arp 19, DSS

Arp 19, NGC 145, Cet. Category: three-armed spiral. 5.5 mm: Bar-like core NS, more diffuse to the W and with an elongated brightening in the middle. Short arm from the middle on the E side, points N, extends less than the bar. Longer arm from S end of the bar, CW, end points NE. Longest arm from N end of the bar, runs W then curves to point SE. Faint star NW, two brighter stars farther to the E and SE. Sketch

Arp 35, SDSS

Arp 35, UGC 212 (PGC 1431 and 1434). Psc. Category: integral sign spiral. 5.5 mm: Overall extended NS, bar NE-SW, short arm from NE end of bar to N, longer, slightly curving arm from opposite end to S, pointing SE. Companion at a distance to the S, small, elongated NE-SW. Faint star W, brighter star farther to the E. Sketch

Arp 59, SDSS

Arp 59 (NGC 341 and MCG-2-3-64), Cet. 5.5 mm: Overall elongated NS, an S-shaped spiral (CCW) with some widening of the "S" around the nonstellar nucleus, N arm shorter and points at a separated, close companion. Companion small and round, the size of the main galaxy's nucleus. Star farther W, another the same distance to the N. Sketch

Arps in Tau-Cet

2019-12-21, Cherry Springs (elevation 700 m), clear, snow on the ground. Telescope D = 508 mm, F/4 (Sky-Watcher Newtonian). Arp peculiar galaxies. Sky 21.4 mag/arcsec2, seeing 1-2 arcsec.

Arp 20, DSS

Arp 20 (UGC 3014, Tau). Category: 3-armed spiral. 5.5 mm. NS bar with a brighter, nonstellar nucleus. Main oval NE-SW. Long arm from N end of bar to the W side, pointing SW. Star immediately NE, much brighter star over 1 galaxy size to the W. Sketch

Arp 54, SDSS

Arp 54 (MCG-1-7-7 and PGC 9107, Cet). Category: spiral, high SB companion on arms. 5.5 mm. Main component a two-arm spiral with the arms emanating CW from the NNE and SSW ends of a central oval. Little concentration in the oval. W arm longer, curved, reaches W end of the galaxy and points SW. Opposite arm short and stubby, points ENE. Companion smaller than the central oval of the main galaxy and extended in PA 10 deg with little concentration. Star farther SW on the line formed by the galaxies. Sketch

Arp 118, SDSS

Arp 118, Cet. 3.5 mm. Overall extended WNW-ESE with no concentration to the middle. Bright, round condensation forms the W end. The E end is formed by a large, somewhat fainter condensation which connects to the enhanced E half of the N edge and a brighter, shorter enhancement along the E part of the S edge. The latter enhancement has a well-defined W end, possibly a knot. Faint star close to the E, brighter star farther (1 galaxy size) to the WNW. Sketch

VV 731

2019-10-23, Cherry Springs, sky 21.1 mag/arcsec2 (strong diffuse aurora, Kp=7), seeing 2-4 arcsec. D=508 mm, F=2000 mm, oculars 13, 8, 5.5, 3.5 mm. VV 731 = NGC 7592, Aqr. Reobservation, previously seen as part of the Herschel 2500 survey.

NGC 7592, SDSS

Visible in 28 mm. Observed at 150-570x. Bright star NE, triangle of faint stars SW. Long tail to the S visible in 13 and 8 mm and consists of two segments. Very long, detached. Star embedded in its distal segment. Curves outward CCW. Stubby tail opposite (running S [should be N] from W side of the double core).

In 8 mm, the cores are arranged like a comma with the inner tail pointing NE running from the W core, and the E core appears elongated EW. The E core is broad and enhanced along the NE edge. This is seen better in 5.5 and 3.5 mm.

In 3.5 mm, a starlike (but always diffuse in the poor seeing) knot is resolved S of the midpoint between the cores. Sketch

Abell 84

2019-09-03, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft a.s.l. Clear, relatively dry and calm. Transparency above average, seeing 3-4 arcsec. SQM 21.7. 20" F/4.

Abell 84, DSS

Abell 84 (PN, Cas). Appears similar in 13 and 5.5 mm with OIII. Two star pairs to the W and NW. Star embedded on the E edge. That edge appears enhanced as a thin arc passing through the star. Opposite edge enhanced too but connected with the center, appearing as a very thick annular segment. Sketch

Abell 83

2019-09-03, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft a.s.l. Clear, relatively dry and calm. Transparency above average, seeing 3-4 arcsec. SQM 21.7. 20" F/4.

Abell 83, DSS

Abell 83 (PN, Cas). Fairly obvious, round in 13 mm with OIII (Orion US). As wide as the S side of the rhombus of faint stars to the N. In 5.5 mm with OIII, a broken annulus with ESE and WNW segments. Threshold star less than the diameter to the NW. Sketch

Abell 8

2019-09-03, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft a.s.l. Clear, relatively dry and calm. Transparency above average, seeing 3-4 arcsec. SQM 21.7. 20" F/4. Abell 8 (PN, Aur). Invisible in 13 mm without filter. With OIII, appears round and smaller than on DSS NW of an unequal star pair (detached from it). Alternately, a larger annulus is suspected. 5.5 mm, OIII: hints of partial annulus - an arc just N of the fainter star. 8 mm, OIII: more definite arc NW of the star pair, convex to the N. Two similar close unequal double stars farther NW. Sketch

Abell 82

2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4. Abell 82, Cas. 13 mm + OIII. Bright. Faint stars involved. Bilobed. SE of a brighter star. NW segment longer and has an enhanced N tip. SE segment visible primarily S of the star on the SE edge. Sketch

Abell 3

This red nebula is barely above background in PANSTARRS g. The extended triangle E of the nebula is formed by mag. 12-15 stars. This is an object for extremely large telescopes. Beware of false positives. Observing under excellent conditions (4,800 ft a.s.l., SQM 21.6, aperture 20"), I noticed and sketched two arcs, the W one brighter, which resembled the nebula. Moreover, the arcs were only visible with an OIII filter. However, the arcs were slightly larger than the nebula and offset somewhat to the W, which showed them to be unresolved light from the group of Vm 17-18 stars (the E "arc") and Vm 16 stars (the W "arc"). The phenomenon of enhancement of unresolved starlight by an narrowband filter in a star-rich field is due to a better contrast perception of background variations when the visible point sources are suppressed.

Abell 2

Abell 2, DSS

2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4. Abell 2, Cas. Immediately visible, bright. 8 mm with OIII. Slightly elongated NS, vaguely annular with a broader N side and weaker S side. Sketch

Abell 52

Abell 52, DSS

2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4. Abell 52, Aql. Visible in 8 mm, elongated EW 1:2. Visible also with OIII, same appearance, slightly kidney-shaped, convex to N, and E end brighter and thicker. Sketch

Abell 48

Abell 48, DSS

2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4. Abell 48. Aql. Round, faint, ~30 arcsec. Doubtful with 8 mm, many faint stars. Not seen with OIII. With 5.5 mm, visible and responds to OIII. Hints of very slight NNE-SSW extension and annularity. Sketch

Hickson 2

Hickson 2, SDSS

Hickson 2 (Psc). 2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4. A, B, C and elongation in A and C visible already with 13 mm. A and B bright and well-defined, C has no concentration. 5.5 mm brings out D. D very slightly extended NE-SW. C has a core on E side and a halo extended to the W with a well-defined, possibly enhanced, edge. Overall elongated NS. A elongated NS rather strongly, has a thin NS core, ENE enhanced edge of halo leading to a more defined compact enhancement on N end of galaxy, and an enhanced edge from SW around S end. B very slightly extended parallel to A. Sketch

Hicksons in And-Psc-Cet

2019-08-29, Spruce Knob, 4800 ft. Clear, relatively calm, humidity moderate. Transparency 10/10 to 6/10. SQM 21.6-21.7. 20" F/4.

Hickson 5, SDSS

Hickson 5. Psc. Group obvious with 13 mm, NGC 190 (i.e. A) dominates and has a halo in addition to a core sized similarly to B and C. The halo is enhanced on W and E edges. D glimpsed but not definite. 5.5 mm: Relatively compact enhancement on WNW edge of the halo in A, two such enhancements in contact form the E and SE edge. B on S edge. D definite and elongated NE-SW without concentration. Appears larger than on [the] DSS [print]. Sketch

Hickson 3, SDSS

Hickson 3 (Cet). A strongly elongated NW-SE, appears larger than on DSS print. B slightly elongated ENE-WSW. C fainter, elongated like A. D brighter, compact, very slightly elongated NS. Sketch

Hickson 1, SDSS

Hickson 1 (And). AB visible as one extended object in 13 mm. In 5.5 mm, A and B are two almost touching objects (i.e. only the core of A is seen). C is just SW of the line between 2 stars W of AB. D is actually easier to see, as it is farther separated from the stars, to the W on the A-C line. [Not sketched]

Arp 324 and 328, Abell 70

June 30, 2019. Cherry Springs. Clear, transparency average, seeing average, SQM 21.5. 20" F/4. 2 remaining Arps in Ser area [and Abell 70].

Arp 324, SDSS

Arp 324, UGC 10143 chain, VV 159. In Abell 2147. Her. Galaxy chain. Stretches across the 100 deg. field in 5.5 mm. W of a bright star. S-most member, nearest to the star (VV 159f) strongly elongated E-W, well defined. Next one to the N, VV 159c (MCG+3-4-51) is one of the two most prominent ones. It is round, with diffuse edges, and concentrated to the center. Component "d" is a small glow just E of a faint star. It is distinctly nonstellar and extended roughly NS (photographically, it is two starlike objects nearly in contact - III Zw 75). Component "b" to the N in the chain is a weaker version of "c". Star to the W has a threshold companion to its NE, which appears large and diffuse. VV 159e is difficult but can be glimpsed SSE of a star in the chain, S of "a" (UGC 10143). The latter, alongside "c", is one of the two most prominent galaxies in the chain. It is slightly elongated NS, and has diffuse edges and bright center. Sketch

Arp 328, SDSS

Arp 328, Hickson 72, VV 165, galaxy chain. Boo. 5.5 mm. Immediately noticeable as a group elongated NS to the W of a star; very bright star on edge of field. Hickson's "A" is a solitary companion N of the compact chain and S of a star. It is slightly elongated NW-SE. Component "B" on the N end of the compact chain is slightly elongated NS. It is almost touching "D" to the SE, which is extended NNW-SSE. Component "C" to the S is slightly extended NW-SE and is larger that either of the last two. Star to its SE is difficult and VV 165g between them is invisible. Then, after a while, in better clarity, the star, the small and faint "g", the star [actually, PGC 52847] NW of "C", and the similarly small and faint "E" to its NE are all seen quite well. Sketch

Abell 70, DSS

Abell 70, PN in Aql. 5.5 mm. Without filter, the elongated galaxy on N edge dominates. There is only a suggestion of a nebulous arc completing the circle with the galaxy. Bright star E, double star N. With OIII filter, the planetary is a more definite annulus, and the galaxy is hardly noticeable (perhaps just the compact core or a knot in W end). Sketch

Arp 328

Elevation 800 m, telescope D = 508 mm, F = 2000 mm. Sky 21.5 mag/sq arcsec, seeing 1-2 arcsec. Arp 328, Hickson 72, VV 165, galaxy chain. Boo. Ocular 5.5 mm. Immediately noticeable as a group elongated NS to the W of a star; very bright star on edge of field. Hickson's "A" is a solitary companion N of the compact chain and S of a star. It is slightly elongated NW-SE. Component "B" on the N end of the compact chain is slightly elongated NS. It is almost touching "D" to the SE, which is extended NNW-SSE. Component "C" to the S is slightly extended NW-SE and is larger that either of the last two. Star to its SE is difficult and VV 165g between them is invisible. Then, after a while, in better clarity, the star, the small and faint "G", the star [actually, PGC 52847] NW of "C", and the similarly small and faint "E" to its NE are all seen quite well.

Arp 199

2019-04-28. Cherry Springs, SQM 21.77. 20" F/4.

Arp 199, SDSS

Arp 199, NGC 5544 and 5545. Boo. Inside a fan-shaped asterism with 3 stars on S and E side and one on NW side. Threshold star forms a right triangle [equilateral] with the cores of -44 and -45 close to the NW. NGC -44 small, round, has a bright center. -45 extends to the ENE and connects to the SE side of -44. It has a core elongated along the major axis and an arm that extends from the SE side of the core to the ENE end of the galaxy, then turns diffusely and broadly to the NW. Peripheral structure in -44 is not seen. In the Herschel catalog. [Seen previously with a 12" SCT as a double, connected object with one elongated component.]

Arps in E Cam area

March 8, 2019. BMO 20" (F/5). SQM 21.0, good seeing. Arps in E Cam area.

Arp 9, DSS

Arp 9, NGC 2523, Cam. NE of a star. 13 mm: Bar WNW-ESE, small bright core in the middle. Short arm from E end of the bar, weakly CCW to half the distance from the bar end to the star. Stronger arm opposite, slightly longer. 8 mm: Enhanced edge of the halo curving from near the end of the SE arm to W end of the bar. Detached small enhancement beyond the end of the N arm, at almost twice the distance from the bar end.

Arp 17, DSS

Arp 17, UGC 3972, Cam. 8 mm: Diffuse object between m11 and m14 stars (on a line SW-NE). 5.5 mm: Within the halo, main component (PGC 21693) comma-shaped, comprising the small core and the enhanced SW edge like a short arm from W side of the core. Secondary component (PGC 21685) glimpsed intermittently as an enhancement on the N edge of the halo.

Arp 80, DSS

Arp 80, NGC 2633, Cam. 5.5 mm. N of the line between 2 m10 stars (SW-NE). [Sub-] threshold star E. Bright NS core or bar with a starlike center. CW arm from S end of bar, runs parallel to the core on E side, widely separated. Opposite arm is just a short enhanced segment on NW edge of the halo. The long arm points in the general direction of, but does not connect to an enhancement N of the bar, which is widely separated and forms a right triangle with the nucleus and the subthreshold (visible as a diffuse spot) star to the E.

Arp 141, DSS

Arp 141, UGC 3730, Cam. 5.5 mm. Star SW, fainter star NW. Core on N end. S of it is an enhancement vaguely continued S from its W edge, to about half the distance to the star. Small enhancement SE of the first, another one ENE of the star.

Arp 156, SDSS

Arp 156, UGC 5814, Dra. 5.5 mm. E of the faintest (m12) star in a group of 4. Overall, elongated NW-SE. Core on NW end, NE edge flattened and sharp. An almost detached small star cloud SE of the core.

Arp 181, SDSS

Arp 181, NGC 3212 and 3215. Dra. H [III.980 and 981], reobservation. 5.5 mm. Pair stretching ESE of an unequal pair of stars. -12 elongated EW immediately S of a faint star. -15 has a faint star on E edge. It is mainly comma-shaped with the "tail" pointing N from the SW edge of the core. The core is also vaguely extended toward the star from its N edge.

Arps in W Hya area

February 9, 2019. Cherry Springs, 20" F/4, SQM from 21.50 with thin crescent on horizon to 21.90 stable after midnight. Arps in W Hya area.

Arp 7, DSS

Arp 7, MCG-3-23-9. Hya. Visible in finder eyepiece (28 mm). In 8 mm, bright starlike core. Arm from W side CCW NW and N. Opposite arm is a straight segment pointing SE from E side of the core. NPM1G-160258 galaxy [PGC 8960068]: small, lies SSE. 5.5 mm: Three faint stars stretch in a line from N to E of core of MCG, middle one faintest. VV 28b is glimpsed as an incompletely resolved WNW, nebulous component of a pair with threshold star SE of the MCG core. Unequal double star SE of NPM1G is resolved, threshold component S.

Arp 257, SDSS

Arp 257, UGC 4638. Hya. 8 mm. Main component (MCG+0-23-5) elongated ESE-WNW. Faint star NNE. Companion or detached "clump" (MCG -6) is N of -5, half the distance to the star. Small, diffuse. In 5.5 mm, main component has a sharp, enhanced SE corner, but no additional details are seen.

Arp 275, DSS

Arp 275, NGC 2881. Hya. 5.5 mm. Overall elongated NW-SE, 2 stars E. Fainter star on S edge, intermittent star on SW edge. Dark lane bisects the galaxy, running NE from the last star. SE part (VV 293a) larger and somewhat brighter.

Arp 5, SDSS

Sextans area. Arp 5, NGC 3664, Leo. 5.5 mm. 3 stars of increasing brightness on a line SE. Main part of the galaxy greatly extended NE-SW and divided into the SW, long sub-part and NE, short sub-part. Faint stars close NE and SW. Extension from SW end of the main part to SE, ending in an intermittent knot.

Arp 44, SDSS

Arp 44, IC 609, Sex. [5.5 mm.] Main component slightly extended NE-SW and seems to have a core on the E side. Faint star S. Small secondary component N of it.

Arp 53 field, DSS

Arp 53, NGC 3290, Hya. 5.5 mm. Bright star N, on edge of field. Faint star NW, threshold stars closer NNW and NE. Main component extended slightly EW. Small companion NW, about 1/3 of the distance to the star.

January new moon Arp session

January 4, 2019. Beaver Meadow, 20" F/5. SQM 21.2, good seeing.

Arp 210, DSS

Arp 210, NGC 1569, Cam. HII.768, reobservation. 13 mm. Greatly extended WNW-ESE, with an elongated core greatly offset to the WNW end. 3 sharp knots along the major axis in the core. Galaxy extends faintly almost to the star ESE. Bright star with a fainter companion N of core.

Arp 52, SDSS

Arp 52, CGCG 421-27, Ori. 8 mm. Faint, small, extended NS with core offset to S [this matches the original blue plate] and NE edge enhanced. Core intermittent and occasionally resolved from a starlike knot (companion) within the halo to NNW. Double star 2.5' NW is partially resolved into a NS pair.

Arp 61, DSS

Arp 61, MCG+0-12-55, Eri. 8 mm. UGC 3105 ~6' E and MGC -53 >1' SW visible, respectively large and elongated and small and round. In -55, core immediately SE of faint star, elongated NW-SE and has an extension to NE of the star, which is offset NE from the major axis. Star of equal magnitude NW of the line between cores of -53 and -55. Star on the line intermittent. Starlike companion off the NW end of -55 similarly intermittent. Star inwards from it is invisible.

Arp 143, SDSS

Arp 143, NGC 2444-2445, Lyn. 8 mm. 2444 more prominent, compact ESE of star. Fainter and smaller compact core to SSE and seems to be involved in the same irregular halo. Faint star is embedded on the S edge of it. Two faint stars farther S. NS double enhancement E to ENE of core of -45. It is separated from core by a dark area. W side of the galaxy is brighter. Second double enhancement is W and NNW of core. S edge immediately W of the faint star is enhanced, ending in a faint compact knot on W side.

Arp 250, SDSS

Arp 250, 2 2MASX galaxies in Lynx. [Actually, PGC 21362 and 2063674.] Main component small, faint, elongated NE-SW, elongated core and faint intermittent extension SW. Threshold star WNW. Equidistant opposite is faint, compact companion, intermittent.

Arp 83, SDSS

Arp 83, NGC 3799-3800. Herschel object reobservation. Leo. 8 mm. 3800 strongly extended NE-SW. Semi-detached star cloud on NE end. NW edge is brighter along the extended core and continues slightly past it to the SW. NGC 3799 immediately farther SW. Compact, comma-shaped with the short tail curving SE and E.