AAQ Visual Observing Section

Selected Deep Sky Objects In Leo

For this month we are turning our sights north to check out this prominent zodiacal constellation rising in the north east.Thanks to Tim Napier-Munn for his assistance with the double star observations that are highlighted with this different text. The comments below are based on observations made with a 150mm f8 refractor and f10 SCT.

88 / Struve 1547 (RA.11h 32m 01s Dec.14° 19
) mag.6.3 & 8.8, pa. 234, sep. 3.1”.
Easily separated with 120x., which shows a significant magnitude difference.

Gamma / Algieba (RA. 10h 20m 24s Dec.19° 48
) mag. 2.0 & 3.6, pa.124, sep. 4.6”(2003)
Both components show a strong yellow colour and can be clearly resolved with 120x. Agreed. Easier at larger magnifications.

Struve 1431 (RA. 10h 25m 59s Dec. 8° 44
) mag. 7.8 & 9.1, pa. 73, sep. 3.5” (2003)
Next to 44 Leonis in the same FOV. There is clear separation but 120x is required to see the secondary. Clear at 137x.

83 / Struve 1540 (RA. 11h 27m 09s Dec.2° 58
) mag.6.5 & 9.9, pa. 187, sep. 90” (1937)
Easily split with 40x.

65 / BU 599 (RA. 11h 07m 18s Dec. 01° 54
) mag. 5.7, pa. 104, sep. 2.7”.
Unable to split. Split at 287x, but easier at 556x.

90 / Struve 1552 (RA. 11h 35m 06s Dec.16° 45
) mag. 6.3 & 7.3, pa. 208, sep. 3.4” (2003)
A close pair but just visible with 80x, and clear separation with 120x. There is a third star in the same field; the records are confusing but probably mag. 9.8, pa. 239 and sep. 67”. Close double is clear and pretty at 287x, and splittable at 137x; third star looks blue.

54 / Struve 1487 (RA.10h 56m 02s Dec. 24° 42
) mag 4.5 & 6.3, pa. 112, sep. 6.6” (2003)
40x showed a hint of resolution, with clear and easy separation @ 120x. Easy at 137x. White primary and ashy secondary (though full moon and some trees may have interfered!).

HJ 503 (RA. 11h 36m 42s Dec.27° 44
20
) mag. 5.8 & 11.2, pa..155, sep. 22.4 (2000)
Clear and wide with 120x, but the companion is very faint.

NGC 3226 & 3227 (RA. 10h 23m 30s Dec. 19° 54
) Close to Gamma Leonis I could just make out these two faint galaxies with 80x. The brighter central areas were just visible.

NGC 3193, 3185 & 3177 (RA. 10h 18m 24s Dec. 21° 54
) Using 80x I found these three galaxies were relatively easy to find, with the brighter central bar of 3185 clearly visible.

NGC 2903 (RA. 09h 32m 12s Dec. 21° 30
) This is a quite prominent and easy to find galaxy. Clearly visible was a long elongated shape with a bright central region. I was unable to see the nearby NGC 2916.

NGC 3607 & 3608 (RA. 11h 16m 54s Dec. 18° 03
) Look for two faint circular knots of light close
together in the same field of view with 80x.

NGC 3684, 3681 & 3686 (RA. 11h 27m 12s Dec. 17° 02
) Barely visible with 80x.

M65 & M66 (RA. 11h 18m 54s Dec. 13° 05
) These are both very bright and easy to locate. Even with just 80x their edgewise alignment is quite apparent, with both displaying bright central regions. Using a wide field eyepiece the fainter NGC 3628 can be seen.

M95 & M96 (RA. 10h 44m 0s Dec.11° 42
) Two relatively small luminescent patches that just fitted in the same field of view with 80x.

NGC 3384, 3389 & M105 (RA. 10h 48m 18s Dec. 12° 38
) M105 and one of the other galaxies are
quite bright with 40x, with the third galaxy just barely visible. You should see all three in the same field of view.

NGC 3521 (RA. 11h 05m 8s Dec. -00° 02
) I found this galaxy a little hard to locate, with no bright
stars close by to guide me. It is worth the effort though, as it is set in an attractive star field, showing a very pretty glowing halo surrounding a tight bright core.

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