Observation by Nick Hewitt: Markarian 421 - the "easiest" ...

Uploaded by

Nick Hewitt

Observer

Nick Hewitt

Observed

2018 Mar 07 - 23:00

Uploaded

2018 Mar 09 - 19:54

Objects

UGC 6132

Planetarium overlay









Constellation

Ursa Major

Field centre

RA: 11h05m
Dec: +38°20'
Position angle: -176°48'

Field size

0°53' × 0°42'

Equipment
  • TMB 115mm APO refractor at f7
  • Starlight Xpress trius 814
  • EQ8
  • Autoguided with Lodestar2
Exposure

2 x 300sec Bin 2x2

Location

Blilling, Northampton

Target name

Markarian 421 in Ursa Major

Title

Markarian 421 - the "easiest" AGN

About this image

Perhaps the easiest Active Galactic nucleus (AGN) for smaller telescopes is this Blazar in Ursa Major's hind leg. Near a very accessible kite-shape or diamond asterism, easy enough in a finder telescope, is Markarian 421. It is some 400 million light-years distant and as detectable visually to the owner of smaller telescopes at magnitude ~ 12.8, so it can impress at star parties. How often are you asked "How far can you see with your telescope?". 400 million light-years should do the trick!

Files associated with this observation
Like this image
Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.