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(IAAC) Obj: NGC 3681, NGC 3684, NGC 3686 - 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: 02/15/02
Location of site: 117h 9m W (Lat 32h 43m N, Elev 2000 ft.)
Site classification: Exurban
Sky darkness: 5.7 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 8, Light pollution obliterated <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: TV-102 (102mm f/8.6 APO refractor)
Magnification: 22x, 44x, 73x, 110x, 146x
Filter(s):
Object(s): NGC 3681, NGC 3684, NGC 3686
Category: External galaxy.
Class:
Constellation: Leo
Data: mag 12.4, 12.1, 11.8 size 2.5' x 2.0'/3.0' x 2.1'/3.2' x 2.5'
Position: RA : DEC :
Description:
Title: TV-102 Hematologist examined Lion's stool
When I was preparing to observe the galaxies in Leo a month ago, I saw these 3
galaxies that are next to each other: NGC 3681 (mag 12.4), NGC 3684 (mag 12.1)
and NGC 3686 (mag 11.8). From its position near Leo's hind legs, it looked to
me like the Lion was excreting galaxies ;-) from its a_ _ the star Delta
Leonis. (You may see this better if you have a charting software and set the
magnitude of the stars down to 6 and galaxies down to 12.6.) So tonight the
TV-102 Hematologist took me out to find out. They couldn't be seen at 22x. NGC
3686 was hinted in my new 20mm TV Plossl (44x). All 3 could be seen with
averted vision at 73x (12mm Radian). NGC 3681 was next to star GSC 1437:2510,
NGC 3684 was next to star GSC 1437:2384 and NGC 3686 was next to star GSC
1437:1796. A core was hinted in NGC 3681, no core seen in NGC 3864 or 3686. At
110x (8mm Radian), NGC 3686 (the brightest) was much easier to see with direct
vision and looked like adim oval gray puff. NGC 3684 (dimmest) was also easier
to seewith direct vision with core. NGC 3861 (dimmer than 3686) was also easier
to see with core dimmer than NGC 3686 but brighterthan NGC 3681. Dim gray puff
in all cases. All 3 can still be seen 146x but much dimmer. So Leo's dung does
not look brown nor black, but gray ;-). Umm, but what is this horrible smell?
Oh, the skunk was coming too close for a look through the TV-102 :-(.
I often wonder where galaxies came from and never really believe too much in
the big bang. Well, the TV-102 Hematologist showed me where these galaxies
**really** came from tonight ;-).
By the way, I have been trying to catch these droppings for the past couple of
weeks without any success due to light pollution until tonight ;-).
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