May 2011

Contents

  1. 1 M86, M84 and some other Galaxies - Markarian's Chain
  2. 2 M13 - Globular Cluster in Hercules

M86, M84 and some other Galaxies - Markarian's Chain

M86 and M84 are lenticular galaxies in the constellation Virgo and part of Markarian's Chain, a chain of galaxies stretching alon 1,5 degrees along the border between Virgo and Coma Berenices. Itis part of the so called Virgo Cluster, a cluster of galaxies forms the heart of the local supercluster [1]. M86 was discovered by Charles Messier in 1781 as was M84, which is a lenticular galaxy as well.
The other galaxies on the image below are [2] (from right to left, which is moving to the NE in principle):
NGC 4388, an edge on Sb type galaxy
NGC 4387, an elliptical galaxy
NGC 4407, an SBab type
NGC 4425, an SB0 spiral
NGC 4402, an edge on SB galaxy with a (an this image faintly visible) dust lane
NGC 4438, an SA type galaxy
NGC 4435, an SB0 type galaxy
NGC 4461, an SB0 type
NGC 4458, an elliptical galaxy

For this image I will not gove the coordinates for every object in there. The center of the full frame (about 30 arc seconds east of M86) lies at RA 12:26:41, Dec +12:55:56. The first image shown depicts more or less raw data (besides some sharpening). The second image is a Theli reduced and enhanced image, which is also correctly oriented (explaining the black corners).



 Object Name:
 M86
 Object Type:
  Lenticular galaxy
 Object Position:
 RA 12h 26m 12s DE +12° 56' 46''
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 6.5.2010, 22:30 MESZ (6.5.2010 20:30 UTC)
 Parameters:
 L: 15 x 300s, RGB: 4 x 300s (2x2)


References:

[1] en.wikipedia.org
[2] Cartes du Ciel, v3.0

M13 - Globular Cluster in Hercules

The picture below was taken as a snapshot before ending the observation night. That's why the number of of L and RGB frames was rather low. But for the brightest globular cluster of the norther hemisphere you don't need too much of integration time to get a nice picture. And yes, this is the fourth image of M13 I did, but the first one with my CCD camera. The Cluster was discovered in 1713[1] (or 1714[2]) by Sir Edmond Halley. I tend to believe 1714, as Burnhams Celestial Handbook[3] says "it was first mentioned by Halley in 1715, having been discovered in the previous year.". The different sources at least agree on the year of cataloging by Charles Messier being 1764
 




 Object Name:
 M13 - Hercules Cluster
 Object Type:
 Globular cluster
 Object Position:
 RA 16h41m42s DE+36°28'00"
 Location/Date/Time:
 St. Pölten, 7.5.2011, 01:15 MESZ (6.5.2009 23:15 UTC)
 Parameters:
  L: 3x300s RGB: 2x180 s (2x2)

References:

[1] de.wikipedia.org
[2] en.wikipedia.org
[3] Burnhams Celestial Handbook, vol2, p. 978


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