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Observing notes, 2006–2007
By Carol Botha. Published 2009 June 10.
Objects noted
NGC 1976, NGC 2070, NGC 2287, NGC 2362, NGC 2516, NGC 2808, NGC 3114, NGC 3372, NGC 3532, NGC 3766, NGC 4755, NGC 4833, NGC 5128, NGC 5139, NGC 3293?
Observations were made from Betty's Bay and Bellville, and span a period from 2006 November 10 to 2007 March 19 (time in SAST).
An 8-inch f/5 Dobsonian (with 17mm & 25mm eyepieces) was used.
NGC 1976
Date: 2007 March 16, 21:00
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear, light pollution
Notes: Bright glowing nebula. Dark lane pointing towards four bright stars in the middle. The four stars form a trapezoid, with one star very bright, two dimmer and one faint. Three bright stars in a straight line along an elongation of the nebula.
NGC 2070
Date: 2007 March 17, 22:50
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear – heavy cloud bank far south.
Quality:Good
Notes: Bright nebula – central region forming a half circle surrounding a bright star with lies in a dark region. Radiating from the centre the nebula forms loops with dark patches.
NGC 2287
Date: 2006 December 22, 21:30
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky:Clear, light pollution
Notes: Open cluster. Large, almost filling the eyepiece. Many stars similar in brightness. There is a bright orange star near the centre.
NGC 2362
Date: 2006 December 23, 21:00
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution
Notes: Small open cluster. Could only count about 12 stars. Very bright star in the middle surrounded by semi-circle of faint stars.
NGC 2516
Date: 2006 November 10
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece
Sky: scattered clouds; average
Notes: Open cluster. Different coloured stars. Orange star in the middle. Stars are grouped into two triangles – which fit into a large triangle. Looks almost like a Xmas tree with lights on the tips of the branches.
NGC 2808
Date: 2007 March 10, 21:40
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; bad light pollution
Notes: Globular cluster in Carina. Bright nucleus surrounded by fuzzy haze. Just as I was about to give up on finding this object in a bad light polluted sky – there it was – no mistaking this mini 47 Tuc.
NGC 3114
Date: 2007 March 19, 20:30
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: clear; light pollution and a inconsiderate neighbour!
Notes: Open cluster. Large. Looks like a flying bug. Stars wide spread. I see the curved line of stars on either side as its wings. Two bright yellow stars, a few scattered orange stars.
NGC 3293?
Date: 2007 March 09, 21:15
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution
Notes: Open cluster. Elongated north-south. Looks almost like a hubbly-bubbly pipe! One bright white star near the centre.
NGC 3372
Date: 2007 March 10. 20:15
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution
Notes: Bright nebulae with dark lanes inbetween. Bright orange star – one of a triangle form. I noticed that groups of stars formed curved lines.
NGC 3532
Date: 2007 March 10, 20:30
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution
Notes: Open cluster. Large, elongated. Two stellar lanes with a dark lane down the middle which is devoid of stars. (the sketch does not depict a dark nebula – just to show the area without stars.) There is a bright orange star on the edge of the cluster.
NGC 3766
Date: 2007 February 16, 21:00
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution
Notes: Open cluster. Almost shape of an eye - central grouping [figure] could be seen as pupil. Two bright orange stars in the group. Further research: my 'pupil' is commonly seen as a pearl, hence the name Pearl Cluster. In light polluted skies, jewels are more difficult to see.
NGC 4755
Date: 2007 February 13, 21:30
Location: Bellville
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: Clear; light pollution.
Notes: Open cluster in Crux. Small group of different coloured stars, looks just like its name – a jewel box. Three bright stars form a triangle. Halving the triangle are four stars – one bright orange, two almost greenish in colour. Surrounded by fainter stars.
NGC 4833
Date: 2007 March 17, 20:10
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 25mm eyepiece
Sky: clear – bank of cloud to far south.
Notes: Globular cluster. Small fuzzy ball, slightly denser nucleus. Bright star to the east. With higher magnification I could see some graininess but could not resolve any stars in the core.
NGC 5128
Date: 2007 March 17, 21:10
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece
Sky: clear, heavy cloudbank far south.
Notes: Galaxy. At first I thought it was a globular cluster but then I noticed a dark lane through the middle. I had to double check a reference to determine whether I had indeed found the galaxy. Definitely the thrill of this evening's observing.
NGC 5139
Date: 2007 February 17, 23:55
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece
Sky: Misty patches, good skies in open patches
Notes: Large bright globular cluster. Fuzzy ball – denser in the middle. Fuzzy filaments radiating from the nucleus – almost looks like candyfloss. Four bright stars form diamond shape around the cluster. 17mm eyepiece does resolve a few stars.
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