2022-05-31

• Condition: G5
• Location: Cabin: 44.31, -103.88

9:55PM

• Target: M 104, Sombrero Galaxy[1]
• Const: Virgo
• RaDec: 12h41m -11°44
• Type: Spiral Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-5-31_M104.jpg[2]

Hit M104 between two trees, so only had a limited window to view. Found by centering on Spica, then decreasing RA until I hit the expected star pattern. Verified by ensuring that χ Virginis was about 5° above. Hit this target pretty early into the night before the sky was dark enough, so the observation wasn't the greatest. Was able to make out a semi-elongated shape using AV.

[1] M 104, Sombrero Galaxy (ID)

[2] ../images/2022-5-31_M104.jpg

10:14PM

• Target: M 49[1]
• Const: Virgo
• RaDec: 12h30m +7°52
• Type: Elliptical Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x
• Image: ../images/2022-5-31_M49.jpg[2]

Fairly evident. The center appears more noticeably brighter than the edges. AV helps with getting a hint of the 'rounder' shape.

[1] M 49 (ID)

[2] ../images/2022-5-31_M49.jpg

10:31PM

• Target: M 61[1]
• Const: Virgo
• RaDec: 12h23m +4°21
• Type: Spiral Galaxy
• Scope: ST80
• Setting: 40x, AV
• Image: ../images/2022-5-31_M61.jpg[2]

AV is required. Appears small and almost perfectly spherical. The center is less bright than many others.

[1] M 61 (ID)

[2] ../images/2022-5-31_M61.jpg