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Re: (IAAC) Arp List in 8" Scope
Eric Greene wrote:
> As many of you may be aware, the Astronomical League has started an Arp
> Galaxy observing certificate. Like the Messier, Herschel I and II and
> others, the AL encourages setting and meeting observing goals. The Arp list
> originally started as an imaging certificate where it is necessary to image
> (CCD or film) 100 of the 338 objects on Arp's Catalog of Peculiar Galaxies.
> It was later decided to allow visual observers to work towards the
> certificate as well.
>
> This past weekend I managed (just!) to observe my 100th Arp galaxy using a
> Celestron 8" SCT. Many of these objects are much fainter than the working
> limit of my old C-8, but there are (according to the AL observing club
> webpage (http://www.mcs.net/~bstevens/al/obsclub) at least 100 galaxies of
> mag 13.5 or brighter. 195 Arp galaxies have NGC numbers and it was these
> that I pursued.
>
> This is not nearly as easy an observing goal as the Herschel 400 list! I
> spent 5 hours one night before positively identifying a single Arp galaxy,
> after having tried for at least half a dozen. While a few of the Arps are
> very bright (M82, M51, M101, M87... etc), many require the darkest skies you
> can find and a lot of patience and persistence. However, it is rewarding to
> know that the certificate can be completed with an 8" scope even though a
> 12.5 incher is recommended on the Arp page.
>
> If you have finished the Herschel 400 and are looking for another observing
> challenge, give the Arp list a try. Next on my observing schedule - the
> Herschel 2. I now have 103 of those and counting!
>
> Eric Greene
> erg@america.net
> The Unofficial Celestron Homepage
> www.america.net/~erg
Eric,
So the Herschel 400 I is easy? You could have fooled me? :-)
Dave Mitsky
ASH, DVAA
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