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(IAAC) Obj: M59 - Inst: 20" f/5 Dobsonian
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Observer: Lew Gramer
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 1998-01-01/02 10:50 UT
Location of site: Deerfield Township, OH, USA (Lat 41oN, Elev 100m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 6.8 (cirrus) <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 7 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 20" f/5 Dobsonian
Magnification: 70x, 210x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): M59
Category: External galaxy
Class: E3
Constellation: Vir
Data: mag 9.8 size 5.1'x3.4'
Position: RA 12:42 DEC +11:39
Description:
While the "middle child" of a pretty, wide-field trio of galaxies with M60 and
n4647 (see previous logs this night), M59 is much the least interesting of the
group. Tonight, its diffuse halo appeared slightly elongated N-S about 4' long,
with a still barely elongated inner halo about 2.5'x2', bearing a symmetrically
centered brighter core perhaps 1' around inside, and no hint of a nucleus. Its
interest is very much enhanced in a low-power field by the pretty right triangle
it makes with its neighbor galaxies. (See following log for NGC 4638.)
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** This observing log automatically submitted via the Web from:
http://www.visualdeepsky.org/enter-log.html