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(IAAC) Obj: GC1 (Mayall II in M31) - Inst: 8" Homemade Dobson reflector, f/6


[Editor's note: Natko originally posted this to our "chat" address,
 'netastrocatalog-announce'. I'm reposting it instead to our "logs"
 address 'netastrocatalog', so that it becomes part of our archive
 of individual observing logs.  -Lew]


Observation Poster: Natko Bajic <natkobajic@yahoo.com>

Observer: Natko Bajic
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: July, 17th/18th, 2004.
Location of site: Konjevrate, near Sibenik, Croatia (Lat 44, Elev 225m)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 6.6 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 9.5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 8" Homemade Dobson reflector, f/6
Magnification: 240x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): GC 1 (Mayall II)
Category: Extragalactic glob.
Class: ?
Constellation: And
Data: mag 13.8  size 10"
Position: RA 00h 33m  DEC +39o 35'
Description:
Globular cluster in Andromeda galaxy, M 31, the largest in a whole
group of galaxies. I have found its field of view at 33x, then
switched to 120x for the optimal view. This object is situated in
approximately 2' large triangle of 12th magnitude stars, northern
being a double star separated by less than 20". Southern star is
actually a close "triple" in which GC1 is situated. At this power I
have noticed this is definitely not a stellar object, which was
confirmed when I switched to 240x. But still "star" was not clearly
resolved, although night was perfect, with great seeing. Looking at it
carefully quite soon gave results, occasionally two outer stars were
appearing as faint dots, definitely stellar. Central object, GC1 was
not stellar at any time, faint and fuzzy, especially when using
averted vision. I estimated diameter as at most 5 arcseconds, much
smaller than listed. Magnificent object.
--
Optional related URLs: http://natkobajic.netfirms.com