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NGC 3184 + NGC 3179 (Galaxy)
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Right ascension: 10h 18m
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Declination: 41° 25'
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Constellation: Ursa Major
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Date/time: 2013.03.07 22:40 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 40'
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Magnification and filter(s): 71x
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Seeing: 4/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.28 m/as2
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Temperature: 6°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: breeze
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
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Position: 1 - very easy, many bright stars nearby
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
NGC 3184 is much brighter, a perfectly round, face-on galaxy, while its companion is a much fainter nearly edge-on galaxy dancing on the border of direct visibility. The 3184 has a brighter core that isn't round but rather amorphous, and features a brighter arc on the SW side of the galaxy. Later by checking photos I've found that these are all spiral features, it's a really exciting object. NGC 3179 has an almost star-like core, with a real star nearby.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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R Leonis (TVICS)
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Also known as: R LEO
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Right ascension: 9h 48m
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Declination: 11° 22'
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Constellation: Leo
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Date/time: 2013.03.07 21:45 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 16'
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Magnification and filter(s): 250x
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Seeing: 4/10
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Transparency: 3/5
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SQM: 21.27 m/as2
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Temperature: 6°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: breeze
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
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Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
A very nice, bright orange variable, that is very easy to find and bright enough to be observed with small telescopes.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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Frosty Leo (Planetary nebula)
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Also known as: IRAS 09371+1212
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Right ascension: 9h 41m
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Declination: 11° 55'
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Constellation: Leo
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Date/time: 2013.03.07 21:15 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 7'
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Magnification and filter(s): 469x
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Seeing: 5/10
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Transparency: 3/5
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SQM: 21.16 m/as2
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Temperature: 7°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: breeze
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
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Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
A rarely observed protoplanetary nebula I've first read about in Cloudy Night's Sketching forum. It's as small as expected, but much fainter. Elongated to the N-S, with a clearly visible dark band divinding the nebula to to halves, when the seeing gets better for a few moments. Reminds me of a faint little nearly edge-on galaxy. I haven't checked photos of this object before my observation, so I'm quite surprised now that I've seen the dark band, because even on a sketch made with 600mm scope it does not show up. But I know that my eye did not lie. A highly recommended gem.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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M47 (Open cluster)
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Right ascension: 7h 37m
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Declination: -1° 31'
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Constellation: Puppis
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Date/time: 2013.03.02 20:30 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 57'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.36 m/as2
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Temperature: -9°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Large, loose open cluster with many faint members, near the much fainter M46 open cluster. This object has fewer stars, yet it still looks a lot brighter. I'm getting frozen now.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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M46 (Open cluster)
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Right ascension: 7h 42m
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Declination: -1° 51'
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Constellation: Puppis
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Date/time: 2013.03.02 20:00 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 1° 2'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.36 m/as2
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Temperature: -8°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
This open cluster is made of plenty of faint stars. Many visible with direct vision, but the majority of even fainter stars are visible only with averted vision. It separates well from its background, but it's definitely not an easy object just next to the much brighter M47.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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M93 (Open cluster)
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Right ascension: 7h 45m
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Declination: -2° 53'
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Constellation: Puppis
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Date/time: 2013.03.02 19:15 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f=8 Newtonian
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FoV: 37'
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Magnification and filter(s): 100x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.32 m/as2
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Temperature: -4°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Small, compact open cluster, mostly made of faint stars. If I turn off my observers torch, the FoV is full of fainter stars - not a surprise as the Milky Way creates the background for this object.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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M41 (Open cluster)
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Right ascension: 6h 47m
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Declination: -2° 47'
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Constellation: Canis Major
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Date/time: 2013.03.02 18:30 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 52'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 8/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.32 m/as2
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Temperature: 4°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: none
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
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Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Sparsely populated, large open cluster just under the bright star Sirius. It can be detected with the unaided eye as a faint little spot. It contains about a dozen bright stars and about two dozens of fainter companions.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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UU Aurigae (TVICS)
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Also known as: UU AUR
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Right ascension: 6h 37m
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Declination: 38° 26'
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Constellation: Auriga
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Date/time: 2013.02.28 18:20 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 16'
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Magnification and filter(s): 250x
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Seeing: 7/10
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Transparency: 3/5
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SQM: 21.03 m/as2
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Temperature: 5°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Nice bright variable carbon star. I can see its orange/red colour instantly, its tone reminds me of the colour of yolk. A nice one.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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NGC 3198 (Galaxy)
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Right ascension: 10h 21m
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Declination: 45° 29'
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Constellation: Ursa Major
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Date/time: 2013.02.08 21:30 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 45'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.36 m/as2
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Temperature: -7°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 1 - nothing spectacular
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Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Extremely faint - at least to my little Newtonian. Elongated by 1:4 in the E-W directions. It has a somewhat heavy position, and to tell the truth, I've found the galaxy after a longer search. I can detect the GX only with averted vision most of the time. Its core is only a little bit brighter than its surface, and has a shape of an almond. Sometimes its Southern half appears brighter than the Northern.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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NGC 2903 (Galaxy)
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Right ascension: 9h 33m
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Declination: 21° 26'
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Constellation: Leo
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Date/time: 2013.02.08 20:40 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 55'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.4 m/as2
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Temperature: -3°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: none
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
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Position: 1 - very easy, many bright stars nearby
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Slightly fainter galaxy with an elongation of 1:4 in the SSE-NNW direction. Its core is like a faint, out of focus star. Surprisingly easy to see this galaxy with my little 114/900 Newtonian, with direct vision, although I believe a strong reason behind this is my superb sky in the Zselic Starry-Sky Park.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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NGC 2419 (Globular cluster)
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Also known as: Intergalactic Tramp, Intergalactic Wanderer
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Right ascension: 7h 39m
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Declination: 38° 51'
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Constellation: Lynx
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Date/time: 2013.02.07 19:15 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 25'
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Magnification and filter(s): 167x
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Seeing: 5/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 20.88 m/as2
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Temperature: -3°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: gusts
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 3 - moderately visible, dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
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Position: 4 - hard, complex starhopping needed
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Perfectly circular shaped globular cluster with gradually brighter core. Can't resolve to separate stars, although there are many faint stars just around it - one of them on the East is actually located on the surface of the GC. I'm not sure whether these faint stars are actual members of the cluster, or simply foreground stars. The Intergalactic Tramp (or more recently called Wanderer, because the word Tramp was a bit politically incorrect) is one of the farthest globular clusters, once believed to be in the intergalactic space, but recent studies prove that it's actually physically linked to the Milky Way.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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Nova Cephei 2013 (Variable star)
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Right ascension: 23h 9m
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Declination: 60° 52'
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Constellation: Cepheus
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Date/time: 2013.02.07 18:30 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 22'
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Magnification and filter(s): 167x
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Seeing: 5/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 20.8 m/as2
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Temperature: 1°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: gusts
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 2 - easily visible, some dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
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Position: 3 - moderate, some starhopping needed
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
The new star was discovered by the Japanese amateur astronomers Koichi Nishiyama and Fujio Kabashima on 02/02/2013. I've measured its brightness at 12.7m. Can be found just to the west from the nice open cluster NGC 7510. Exact coordinates are: RA=23h 8m 36s, Dec=60° 51' 48".
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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M35 (Open cluster)
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Also known as: NGC 2168
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Right ascension: 6h 10m
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Declination: 24° 21'
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Constellation: Gemini
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Date/time: 2012.12.30 18:00 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 47'
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Magnification and filter(s): 60x
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Seeing: 6/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 19.67 m/as2
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Temperature: -5°C
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Humidity: dry
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Wind: none
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Sight: 4 - lots of details, very interesting, unique look
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Difficulty: 1 - instantly visible, no dark adaptation or averted vision needed
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Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
A very nice, large open cluster, covers half the FoV, nicely separates from its stellar neighborhood. I count 8 brighter and dozens of fainter stars in the cluster. There are two especially nice features: one of them is the stellar arc between two brighter stars in the middle of the sketch, and the other one is the nice trapezoid of stars right above this arc. Full moon is getting closer and closer to the cloud-covered horizon preventing me from further observation.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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NGC 637 (Open cluster)
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Right ascension: 1h 44m
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Declination: 64° 6'
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Constellation: Cassiopeia
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Date/time: 2012.11.03 19:45 UT
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Equipment: 4.5" f/8 Newtonian
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FoV: 21'
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Magnification and filter(s): 180x
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Seeing: 8/10
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Transparency: 2/5
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SQM: 20.06 m/as2
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Temperature: 13°C
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Humidity: low
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Wind: none
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Sight: 2 - minor details, somewhat interesting
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Difficulty: 2 - easily visible, some dark adaptation needed, averted vision might add to details
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Position: 2 - easy, bright star nearby
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Location: Lipótfa, Zselic, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Tiny little open cluster, compact but sparsely populated. I assume that only 8 of the stars in the FoV are the members of this OC. The full moonjust below my horizon is quickly ruining the sky background, worth taking a look under more favorable conditions, because I suspect that what I see is only a minor part of what I could really observe with this scope.
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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NGC 40 (Planetary nebula)
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Also known as: Bow Tie Nebula
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Right ascension: 0h 14m
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Declination: 72° 36'
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Constellation: Cepheus
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Date/time: 2012.10.20 21:30 UT
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Equipment: 12" f/5 Newtonian
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FoV: 7'
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Magnification and filter(s): 469x
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Seeing: 7/10
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Transparency: 4/5
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SQM: 21.14 m/as2
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Temperature: 10°C
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Humidity: high
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Wind: none
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Sight: 3 - definite details, interesting look
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Difficulty: 4 - hardly visible, dark adaptation and very dark skies needed, averted vision is required to see details
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Position: 4 - hard, complex starhopping needed
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Location: Nádasdladány, Hungary
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Observer: Ferenc Lovró
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Description:
Tiny planetary, at 71x it looks like a star with a small halo. Especially with averted vision you can see its round shape. At high magnification I discover lots of details, for example a thin, brighter arc on its Northern border, and a brighter blob next to the central star to the South, and a darker patch to the Southwest. With averted vision, the round shape transforms to a little bit of oval, elongated in the East to West direction.
What makes this observation special is that it is actually an error, because I've already observed this object about a month ago, but again, I failed to mark this object in my list of observed objects: click here for that observation. So I've sketched it again, and what's more interesting is that I have used the same magnification! Although the subjective classification is a bit different, but alltogether the two observations are quite the same.
Lessons learned: a.) the faint details I've sketched last time were also there this night, so I have a strong proof now that I can trust my senses, even if the details are extremely faint or low-contrast. b.) I'm getting older, shouldn't trust my memory anymore. :)
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Hi-resolution image: [ reversed sketch | original sketch ]
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