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(IAAC) Obj: NGC 4660, IC 3694 (NOT SEEN: IC 3672, IC 3665, IC 3653, IC3652) - 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 11:30 UT
Location of site: Deerfield Township, OH, USA (Lat 41oN, Elev 100m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 6.8 <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): NGC 4660, IC 3694 (NOT SEEN: IC 3672, IC 3665, IC 3653, IC3652)
Category: External galaxy
Class: E5, Sb?
Constellation: Vir
Data: mag 11.0, 14?  size 2.8'x1.9', 1'x0.5'?
Position: RA 12:44  DEC +11:11
Description:
The approach of astronomical twilight threatened to end tonight's Barnstorm Tour
of the M60 "group" (see previous logs for M60, M59, n4647, n4638, n4637, n4606,
n4607). Seeking out the last few outliers, I found NGC 4660 just at the edge of
a high-power field SE of M60. It appeared simply as a slightly elongated "star",
showing only a hint of a halo with averted vision at 210x. Searching further W,
faint IC 3694 was at best merely suspected, and then only with "concentrated"
averted vision (holding the eye steady with the object in the AV field for many
seconds). Nonetheless, WHEN visible it left an impression of E-W elongation. NOT
SEEN during tonight's Tour at any power, with averted vision, concentration, OR
field motion, were the other, very-faintest members of the motley M60 group: in
particular, I sought and failed to find IC 3672, IC 3665, IC 3653, and IC3652.
On a clearer night, and certainly under dark skies like these, I WILL at least
expect to detect these! Perhaps with more time before dawn, later this year...
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