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(IAAC) Obj: M31, M32, M110, ngc206 - Inst: 5" f/5 refractor




Observer: Lew Gramer
Your skills: Intermediate
Date and UT of Observation: 1997-07-4/5, 04:55 UT
Location: Savoy, MA, USA (42N, elev 700m)
Site classification: rural
Limiting magnitude: 7.2 (zenith)
Seeing: 5 of 10 - mediocre, intermittent cumulus
Moon up: no
Instrument: 5" f/5 Jaegers refractor on altaz mount
Magnification: 25x
Filters used: None
Object: M 31, M 32, M 110, ngc 206 (Great Andromeda Galaxy + hangers-on)
Category: Spiral, Elliptical, Lenticular galaxies, and Star Cloud
Constellation: And
Data: mags 3.4,8.1,8.1,vFT  sizes 190'x60',9'x6',22'x11',4'x2'
RA/DE: 00h41m  +40o44m
Description:
Even though not all of M31's spindly length fits in a single 25x
2o field of view, its bright inner core, brightest little star
cloud, and the two nearest companions (M32 and M110, the famous
ones) all fit together very nicely! In these conditions, M110 is
actually much the more prominent of the two companions, as it is
long and bright and spindly itself, and grows slightly brighter
toward its central "core". M32 on the other hand, appears at this
power as a tiny, bright, concentrated haze, much more like a small
globular cluster than a galaxy! It does however serve as a bright
jewel set amid the fainter halo of the mother system. Star-cloud
n206 stands out well in its spot SW of the mottled core of giant
M31, appearing as a strong brightening amid the roiling clouds of
pearly light. Mama galaxy M31 was actually somewhat disappointing
in this view, maybe due to its altitude and thin clouds. Both the
inner and outer main dust lanes were visible NW of the brightest
area of the core, as well as some non-descript mottling NE. WOW!