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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!

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