[LVAS] Galaxy IC 10 Update

[Fred Rayworth]

All,

 

As Roger suggests, why bother with such an obscure object? Because of the challenge, of course.

 

I looked for this thing in vain many times, but in November, it finally clicked while I was out at Redstone. I knew I was in the right area, but was looking for a faint fuzzy. Instead, it turns out this thing looks like a distant open cluster that is just a slight thickening in the background stars. Quite unimpressive. However, it was also a challenge met. I can now X it off on my list of goals.

 

If you are expecting a "tourist" object like one of the Messiers, look elsewhere. However, if you really want to challenge your observing skills, give this one a try. It has reportedly been seen in a 4" refractor, but as much trouble as I had seeing it... I just don't know. By the way, that same night I saw the Horsehead without straining my eyes. Now that's another story!

 

Fred


 


From: drivester at hotmail.com
To: lvas at lvlug.org
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 01:49:54 +0000
Subject: [LVAS] Galaxy IC 10 Update



All,
 
A few weeks ago there was a pretty good discussion regarding IC 10, a very faint and obscure galaxy, 1.4° east of Beta Cassiopeia. It was featured in the November S&T "Deep-Sky Wonders" by Sue French. In an e-mail she told me that she had observed it with her 10-inch reflector at 118x, not the 188x that was reported in the article and also at low power in a 4.1-inch refractor. Pretty impressive. 
 
Last month under fair conditions I could not see this galaxy using my 10-inch reflector. We have had some excellent observing weather for the past four or five days. It has been very cold, but the transparency and seeing have been superb. Last night with a temperature of 20° I spent over two hours looking for IC 10, again from my backyard, which I class as moderately light polluted. I could not say for sure that I saw the galaxy but did notice a very slight glow encapsulating what appeared as two very faint stars. My notes said "could not see IC 10...will try again on Friday night".  
 
A few minutes ago I was looking at Galaxies And The Universe by David Eicher. This is a book that I had mentioned earlier that is available from Astronomics...for something like $5.95. I think they bought all of the last remaining few hundred copies. There are articles by Brian Skiff, Tom Polakis, Alan Goldstein, Steve Gottlieb, and many other excellent contemporary observers. I have used my copy so much for the past 18 years that many of the pages are falling out. In this book I saw a sketch by Tom Polakis. 
 
After looking at star patterns from my past two times that I have attempted to see this galaxy I had easily memorized most of the very faint stars in the general area. In this  sketch by Tom Polakis, I now realize that I did indeed see this galaxy. It is a very difficult galaxy, and hopefully now I can go back this week and confirm my sighting.  
 
Thought that this might be of interest to anyone that might try to locate and observe this galaxy. It is a tough object...
 
With so many bright and beautiful objects to observe, why would anyone want to spent so much time and effort on a galaxy that is so faint and difficult?
 
Roger Ivester 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
    The moon and stars to govern the night.....   Psalm 136:9






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