33 Double Galaxies: M84 / M86 / NGC 4402 / NGC 4387 / NGC 4388 / NGC 4413 / NGC 4425

M84 / M86 / NGC 4402 / NGC 4387 / NGC 4388 / NGC 4413 / NGC 4425

Michael Sutherland				jsuth@cdsnet.net
Galaxies: M84 / M86 / NGC 4402 / NGC 4387 NGC 4388 / NGC 4413 / NGC 4425 Date & Time: 1-2 March 2003 8 pm to 1 am local Location of site: Wasco, OR, USA 45d 36'N, 120d 42' W Seeing: 8 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)> Sky darkness: 6 <Limiting magnitude> Transparency: very good Site classification: Rural Conditions: temp 28F, slight dew Telescope: Takahashi 102mm, Perspicillum Eyepieces: 18mm Celestron Ultima Magnification: 46x				At 46x, both galaxies are in the same FOV. When I star-hopped to this pair I also caught NGC4435 & NGC4438 as I swept the region to center in on M84 and M86. Unfortunately, I didn't think to go back to N4435 & N4438 for more detail after I finished observing M84 & M86. In my small scope both galaxies are similar looking with M84 slightly brighter. Both have bright cores that fade quickly as you move out from the center and were slightly oval. M86 seemed slightly larger. No structure beyond the bright core and halo were detected.

Steve Bodin

sdbodin@hotmail.com

Galaxies: M84 / M86 / NGC 4402 / NGC 4387
Date & Time: 25 May 2003 11 pm to 1 am
Seeing: 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>.
Transparency: fair degrading to poor
Location of site: Silverdale WA, USA
47N 123W
Site classification: suburb-rural
Conditions: temp 45 F, damp
Sky darkness: 5.6 <Limiting magnitude>
Telescope: Celestron C8
Eyepieces: not used
Additional: DX-8263SL video camera at f2.3
Magnification: app. 80x integrated 2 sec exposures

Galaxies: M84 / M86 / NGC 4402 / NGC 4387
Date & Time: 27 May 2003 11 pm to 1 am
Seeing: 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>.
Transparency: fair degrading to poor
Location of site: Silverdale WA, USA
47N 123W
Site classification: suburb-rural
Conditions: temp 50 F, damp
Sky darkness: 5.6 <Limiting magnitude>
Telescope: Celestron C8
Eyepieces: not used
Additional: DX-8263SL video camera at f2.3
Magnification: app. 80x integrated 2 sec exposures

The western end of the Markarian's Chain marking the center of the Virgo cluster. I planned to take 7 images to cover all the chain and get the four groups of project galaxies, but plans went out the window when the clouds kept passing and covering the views. Went for the point and shoot method; look when it is clear. Desperate action, but caused by the poor spring and lack of scope time. Anyway, M84 and M86 are prototypical of the Virgo cluster in general; roundish, uninteresting elliptical fuzzies. Looked quite yellow on the tv monitor. But these are among the brightest. NGC4402 is a real challange; a highly-inclined rare spiral type, very low surface brightness. NGC 4387 is another very small roundish fuzzy that can be mistaken for a star. The group to the south of M86 was not imaged due to the afore mentioned plan.

Supplement:

This is the group south of M86 at the start of Markarian's chain missed on the 25th of May. M86 and Ngc4387 were discussed in the last post, no change. The trio of faint fuzzies are all spiral types as witnessed by the brighter nuclear region and very faint outer parts. Unable to determine the exact spiral class from these images as these galaxies are quite faint. But the different aspect inclinations can be seen.