Observation by David Davies: Messiers 59 & 60

Uploaded by

David Davies

Observer

David Davies

Observed

2020 Apr 09 - 23:10

Uploaded

2020 Apr 22 - 11:27

Objects

M59
M60

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Constellation

Virgo

Field centre

RA: 12^h42^m
Dec: +11°36'
Position angle: +0°12'

Field size

0°36' × 0°27'

Equipment

8-inch Ritchey-Chretien
QSI 683
Skywatcher EQ8

Exposure

20 x 5-min lum, 10 x 5-min RGB binned 2 x 2

Location

Cambridge, UK

Target name

Messiers 59 & 60

Title

Messiers 59 & 60

About this image

The galaxies of the Virgo cluster in Messier's catalogue are among the outstanding Messier objects on my Messier imaging marathon. I have found these galaxies to be challenging objects to observe. The spring weather is usually contrary and the rapidly brightening evening skies give little time for imaging. I was very pleased, therefore, to image both M59 and M60 in the field of view of my 8-inch RC. I have found this image to be fascinating to examine as it contains many faint galaxies including the compact dwarf galaxies associated with M59 and M60.

Capturing the image data proved to be quite challenging as there are few bright stars in this part of the sky and my off-axis guide camera had to use a mag 12 - 13 star as a guide star, needing constant monitoring of the image capture process.

Files associated with this observation

M59 & M60_Arp 116.jpg (1.2 MB)

Like this image

Jeremy Shears, Callum Potter, Ray Emery, Mike Foylan, Clive Nanson, Martin Crow, Andrew Dumbleton, Peter Carson

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