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(IAAC) Obj: NGC 2903 - Inst: TV-102 (102mm f/8.6 APO refractor)
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Observation Poster: Ron B[ee] <ronby@cox.net>
Observer: Ron B[ee]
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 02/02/02 9:30pm - 10:45pm
Location of site: 117h 9m W (Lat 32h 43m N, Elev 2000 ft)
Site classification: Exurban
Sky darkness: 5.3 - 5.7 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 6, but very transparent <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: TV-102 (102mm f/8.6 APO refractor)
Magnification: 22x, 30x, 73x, 110x, 146x, 220x
Filter(s): none
Object(s): NGC 2903
Category: External galaxy.
Class:
Constellation: Leo
Data: mag 8.9 size 13' x 5'
Position: RA : DEC :
Description:
Easily caught by the TV-102 Light Cup at 22x, a hazy elongated gray patch. A
brighter center is noted at 30x against a gray background sky (from light
pollution). My new Galaxy Grabber (12mm TV Radian) at 73x revealed graininess
in the gray patch around a bright center core. At this point, I noticed four
stars forming the shape of a cup: SAO 80864, SAO 80892, SAO 80863 and GSC
1409:779. Here it looked the TV-102 Light **Cup** ;-) was getting ready to
fish the galaxy out of the deep space. A brighter stellar core is now seen at
110x. Two dim stars of equal 11.4 magnitude, GSC 1409:1049 and GSC 1409:1102
are now seen near the one side of the galaxy edge. Graininess was lost at this
magnification but the galaxy is quite large, filling up 25% of the FOV. Still
a bright core at 146x with a “rough look” in the hazy part surrounding the core
with averted vision. Upping the ante to 220x, the galaxy can still be seen and
now fill 75% of the FOV of the 4mm Radian. Core lost its stellar look and now
seems to take on a diffused look. Comparing with this sketch through a 10-in
Newt I found on the web, NGC 2903 looked ˝ as bright at 110x. No filter was
used.
http://www.jwebdale.btinternet.co.uk/ngc2903.htm.
So the Light Cup imbibed its first Leo/Coma/Virgo galaxy tonight.
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