Grand Est, spring 2025

Boureuilles, 28 April - blog 3 of 4

Monday morning. Moving day.

When I woke up around nine, the house was already alive with astronomers packing. Some had departed a few hours earlier, after barely any sleep. Myself, I was feeling quite knackered after a great observing run. But with a long day ahead of me and only a short drive to the town of Boureuilles, I was confident to get at least of few hours of pre-stargazing nap time later in the day.

After coffee and a croissant, I lifted my scope from its pedestal, collapsed the tripod and packed the car. Being in no hurry whatsoever, all that remained to be done for the stargazers that had yet to leave the premises, was to enjoy a good chat under the morning sun.

Around noon I hit the road, stopping for supplies in the town of Varennes-en-Argonne before making my way to my home for the next three days & nights.

This was my fourth visit to Boureuilles, but the first time visiting this house. A new location always comes with unknowns and this was no exception.

The house was nice, neat and comfortable. Around the corner, to the north, there's a large (I mean large) concrete pad, providing for plenty of space to set up my gear. On the pad, there were all kind of ornaments that made me wonder what this setting is normally used for.

Truly one of the weirdest places I have ever set up a telescope. But a comfortable one, with a hedge shielding most of the light from any traffic on the road to the west.

BUT... a lamp post. A lamp post directly east.

Now, in all small towns in this region, the lights go out between 10:30 and 11 at night. That's a given. But what if this one would not..? There was only one way to find out. But with my scope set and my observing plan ready to go, I was well aware that if that lamp directly next to the observing site, shining its light straight onto me and my optics, would not switch off... Well, then I'd be f....d.

As astronomical twilight progressed and I was ready to kick off the session with a few more doubles in Ursa Major, the lamp was still on. Anxiously I sat there, twiddling my thumbs. On my observing plan for the night, I had the time of 22:35 filled in as the time the sun would be at an elevation of -15°. As you have read in my previous blogs, that's when I deem the skies to be dark enough to start observing doubles, before switching to the deep sky when astronomical twilight has ended.

Then, at the exact moment my phone sounded the alarm I had set to indicate the start of the session... it was dark.

I glanced at my watch and read 22:35. Right on cue.

16mm. Nagler in place and 9, 5 & 3.5mm at arm's length for extra magnification when I would need it, I slewed my scope near vertical for the first objects of the night. 10 Doubles in the Great Bear were split. The second one, Argelander 101 (WDS11512+3322), although wide, was by far the best. The secondary's distinctly blue color was clearly contrasting the bright white of the primary.

Other recommendations are Hussey 731 (WDS11520+4805) and Espin 2639 (WDS11596+4636).

Argelander 101
AB split, wide but a nice double.
A is bright white, B is blue, quite a deep, distinct color of B and very clearly contrasting.
1/4 FoV to the SW is an elongated triangle of mag. 11 and fainter stars pointing SW.

Hussey 731
16mm Nagler T5: AB not split but both stars are clearly visible.
A is yellow, quite a deep color, quite clearly contrasting.

9mm Nagler T6: Using this magnification AB is split. Colors as with 16mm. Quite a nice double.
The stars are of approximately equal brightness at the star of HJ842 are that I observed before this one, but with the colors mirrored.

Espin 2639
AB split. Quite a nice double.
A is white-yellow, quite a distinct yellowish hue, B is a colorless pinprick NE of A.

Double star observations in Ursa Major

At eleven o' clock, I placed the eyepieces used for observing doubles back in the pelicase and replaced them with 17 & 12mm. My preferred glass for faint fuzzies. Soon after, the first galaxies in the large 12-14" Gx-2 guide for Coma Berenices were logged. This night was sure to become another observing bonanza, as my target list was plenty large and the skies were as dark and clear as they had been in the night of 25-26 April.

Observed once before, 3 years ago from this same town but at the other location, but definitely worth another mention, is the needle of a galaxy that is MCG+04-29-060 (PGC39432). For good reasons, it made it into the Advanced Observing Program for this year's Texas Star Party, too.

Quite a large, very faint but ENE-WSW extremely elongated needle, very nice and a remarkable observation. Without AV only the brighter central part is visible that is quite large. With AV the galaxy is clearly larger, more of the faint outer parts is visible and it is clear that the brightest part is just a bit WSW of the middle.

Nearby NGC4245 is another one worth noting, as its bright core and nucleus are unmistakable. The images below are from CSOG's Herschel edition, the 'by object' guide.

Quite a bright, oval, NW-SE elongated glow, quite suddenly brighter in a small, notable core that is elongated in the same direction with a bright nucleus that is clearly visible without AV. No arms are discernible but it is clear that the outer halo of the galaxy towards the NE and SW is fainter than it is towards the NW and SE.
Just over 1/2 FoV to the NE is NGC4253.

Only half a degree to the east of NGC4245 is NGC4274, the galaxy that provided for one of the best observations in this session. To my surprise, it revealed a small, dark band directly north of the core. I dubbed it a mini-M64, even when it's quite a large galaxy.

Quite a large and pretty bright, WNW-ESE elongated glow that is irregular without AV. Quite suddenly brighter in a small, round core with a bright nucleus that is clearly visible without AV. With AV the core of the galaxy is larger and more of the outer regions of the galaxy are visible which make the galaxy more elongated. With AV the galaxy is clearly irregular and north of the brighter core a small, dark interruption is visible, a small, dark little band that reminds of Messier 64. A remarkable observation due to this, too.
With AV a mag. 15 star (4UCAC59-049478) is visible on the WSW edge, just detached from the glow of the galaxy. On the eastern edge, just detached from the galaxy is a mag. 14.5 star (4UCAC599-049486) that is at the limit of visibility without AV.

I only recently learned that NGC4278, the 'A' galaxy of the pair that goes by Holmberg 369, is nicknamed "Feeding the Monster". Visually, I cloud not pick up any monstrosity, but its bright core and nucleus did make for a pleasant view. Averted vision revealed a bit of elongation. NGC4283 that is Holmberg 369B, to the northeast, is similar in appearance, only smaller and fainter. I did notice a slightly offset nucleus.

Both galaxies are visible.
The WSW galaxy A - NGC4278 clearly is much brighter than the ENE galaxy B - NGC4283 is, quite a bright round glow, gradually brighter in the middle and suddenly brighter in a small, round core with a very bright nucleus that is clearly visible without AV. With AV the outer halo of the galaxy is slightly elongated north to south.
The ENE galaxy B - NGC4283 is smaller and fainter than the WSW galaxy A - NGC4278 is, a round glow, quite suddenly brighter in a small, round core with quite a bright nucleus that is visible without AV, that is much fainter than the nucleus of A - NGC4278 is and that appears to be just a bit south of the middle of the galaxy.
To the ENE is the galaxy NGC4286.

Another bright one is NGC4251. It, too, showed a slightly offset nucleus.

Quite a bright, WNW-ESE (almost east-west) elongated streak that is quite suddenly brighter in a core that is slightly elongated in the same direction with a very bright nucleus that is easily observed without AV and that is just a bit WSW of the middle of the bright core, which is notable. With AV the brighter core is slightly larger and slightly more elongated and more of the faint outer regions of the galaxy is visible.

About as bright but larger and revealing even more detail, is well-known NGC4314 - "Benedict's Galaxy". Due to its extremely faint arms, the overall shape of this galaxy is almost round, which is probably why catalogs do not list a position angle for it. The brighter core + extensions, however, is clearly orientated northwest to southeast.

Quite a large, pretty bright, irregular glow that is suddenly brighter in a round core that is clearly SE of the middle of the galaxy in which the nucleus is visible without AV. SE of the brighter core, on the eastern edge of the glow of the galaxy, a mag. 13.5 superimposed star is visible without AV (4UCAC600-050472).
With AV more of the outer parts of the galaxy is visible and the core is subtly irregular. The glow of the outer part of the galaxy stretches out more towards the NW, in that direction the gradually becomes fainter. The galaxy is more suddenly fainter towards the SE where the part that protrudes from the brighter core is slightly shorter than it is on the NW side. A nice galaxy with a notable shape.
To the NW, just detached from the glow of the galaxy, is a mag. 12.5 star, to the NE is a mag. 14 star. 1/2 FoV to the NW is the smaller and fainter galaxy NGC4308.

Again bright, and revealing its irregular nature, was NGC4414. A mag. 14 star close to the galaxy's bright nucleus mimics a double star and made it all the more interesting. Nearby, I was able to glimpse two very small and faint PGC galaxies, too.

NGC4414
Quite a large, pretty bright NNE-SSE elongated glow, with AV oval-shape and gradually brighter in the middle with a bright nucleus that is clearly visible. With AV the outer parts of the galaxy clearly brighten and the galaxy is subtly irregular. On the NE side the galaxy is flattened on a line from NW to SE, the nucleus is just west of the middle of the galaxy. To the SSW of the nucleus is a mag. 14 star (4UCAC607-047402), that star and the nucleus appear as if forming a double star. The halo of the galaxy slightly stretches out more towards the NNW that it does towards the SSE and tapers slightly towards the NNW, is slightly more suddenly fainter towards the SSE. A nice galaxy.
1/2 FoV to the SSE are the small and faint galaxies PGC3088986 and PGC1927443.

PGC3088986
A small, faint, round glow, without AV at the limit of visibility. With AV slightly larger, even in brightness, no detail visible.
To the SW is a mag. 15 star, just a bit farther to the SE is a mag. 13 star with the galaxy PGC1927443 ENE thereof. 1/2 FoV to the NNE is the galaxy NGC4414.

PGC1927443
A small, faint, round glow, smaller but slightly brighter than PGC3088986 to the WNW is and easier to observe without AV, even in brightness. With AV slightly larger and subtly brighter in the middle, no nucleus visible. 1/2 FoV to the NNE is the galaxy NGC4414.

NGC4448 revealed its spindle-shape and bright core. I liked it.

Quite a large, pretty bright, east-west elongated glow, truly a "spindle-shape", suddenly brighter in a round core that can be discerned even without AV, with a bright nucleus that is visible without AV. With AV the galaxy is larger, the brighter core is slightly elongated east to west and the galaxy is slightly longer and tapering towards the west, subtly more bulging on the east side and slightly more suddenly fainter on that side. The outer parts of the galaxy are clearly brightest on the west side. A nice galaxy.

I liked NGC4494 equally best, which is quite remarkable as it's an elliptical galaxy.

Quite a large, pretty bright, east-west elongated glow, truly a "spindle-shape", suddenly brighter in a round core that can be discerned even without AV, with a bright nucleus that is visible without AV. With AV the galaxy is larger, the brighter core is slightly elongated east to west and the galaxy is slightly longer and tapering towards the west, subtly more bulging on the east side and slightly more suddenly fainter on that side. The outer parts of the galaxy are clearly brightest on the west side. A nice galaxy.

Second to last galaxy observed in Coma was NGC4525. Although significantly fainter than the galaxies described above, it revealed a nice bar, canted to the orientation of the galaxy as a whole.

Quite a faint, NE-SW elongated glow that is subtly irregular without AV and that is brightest SW of the middle. With AV the central bar of the galaxy is discernible, a brighter part that is elongated east to west and that is slightly SW of the middle, which is notable and special to observe. To the SW of the bar the galaxy is clearly brighter than it is to the NE. On the NE side the galaxy is quite suddenly fainter, the galaxy tapers slightly towards the SW.

Galaxy observations in Coma Berenices

All galaxies in the Coma Berenices guide observed, I took a half hour break. The constellation of Boötes was my next playground. After an energy drink and a chocolate bar, I was back at my Nagler.

The galaxies in my plan for this part of the sky were 'leftovers'; objects in various observing guides that I previously skipped, missed or that were added to guides sometime later. Tonight was the night to clean up the ones in the southern regions of the constellation.

NGC5669 was only the second galaxy observed in the Herdsman and although it's not overly bright, it gave away quite a bit of detail. Averted vision revealed the (start of) two arms, with the southern one being the more prominent one.

An irregular, NE-SW elongated glow, without AV brighter SW of the middle. With AV the outer parts of the galaxy clearly light up and the galaxy is wider NW to SE than it is without AV. Subtly irregular and clearly brightest SW of the middle. With AV it is clear that the western part of the brighter part is the brightest part of the galaxy. West of the brighter part the galaxy is flattened on a line from north to south, south thereof (SSE of the brightest part of the galaxy) an extension is visible ENE to WZW, that is the start of the southern arm of the galaxy. With AV a part is visible to the north of the brighter part that extends towards the NE, very subtle. A nice galaxy.
1/4 FoV to the WNW is the galaxy PGC51945.

NGC5827, although not too large, is not too faint either and while tiny PGC5077032 on its west-northwestern edge remained out of sight, it did appear subtly irregular, with an offset nucleus.

17mm Nagler T4: A slightly NW-SE elongated, oval glow, brighter in a round central part but no distinct core. With AV the galaxy is subtly irregular, the brighter central part is slightly larger NE to SW and the nucleus is visible that is just a bit to the SW of the middle. With AV the galax gradually fainter towards the NW and slightly more suddenly faint towards the SE.
The galaxy PGC5077032 on the WNW edge is not visible.

12mm Nagler T4: As with 17mm., PGC5077032 on the WNW edge is not visible. However, with use of this magnification it is clear that the nucleus is offset.

The only Hickson group observed this session was nr. 73, a.k.a. "the Spider". In my aperture, only two of the galaxies were bright enough to reach my retina. Members C, D & E remained out of sight, as did the two HII regions that go by Vorontsov-Vel'yaminov 7C & 7D.

Only galaxies A - NGC5829 and B - IC4526 are visible, C - PGC53720, D - PGC53703 and E - PGC53702 are not visible.
A - NGC5829 is the large galaxy, an irregular glow, gradually subtly brighter in the middle. Flattened on the NW side on a line from NW to SE. To the west, detached from the galaxy, is a mag. 13 star, to the ESE is a mag. 15 star.
With AV B - IC4526 is visible, a faint glow, even in brightness and no detail visible, only visible with AV and at the limit of visibility.

The triple that is Holmberg 697, formed by NGC5851, NGC5852 & MCG+02-38-043 (PGC53961) was much nicer to me, with all three in the bag. Member 'C' of this group did require averted vision, though.

A - NGC5851 is a clearly NW-SE elongated glow, with AV slightly larger and gradually brighter in the middle and brightest SW of the middle, no nucleus visible.
The ESE galaxy B - NGC5852 is the brightest galaxy, an oval, slightly NW-SE elongated glow, gradually brighter in the middle, without AV the nucleus is faintly visible. With AV slightly more suddenly brighter in the middle but no core is discernible.
The western galaxy C - MCG+02-38-043 (PGC53961) is only visible with AV, a small, very faint, slightly NW-SE elongated streak, even in brightness and at the limit of visibility with AV, can only be held after a little while.

Boötes saved the best for last, as the final galaxy observation in the constellation was for the nice pair NGC5857 & NGC58589 that also goes by Vorontsov-Vel'yaminov 1742 (included in CSOG's KPG edition as nr. 455). Both revealed distinct cores, with the one in NGC5857 slightly canted with respect to the orientation of the galaxy. Also, there is a small but notable difference between the position angle of the two elongated galaxies, further enhancing the view.

Both galaxies are clearly visible, not very bright but a nice pair.
The NW galaxy NGC5857 (KPG 455A) is elongated NW-SE (just a bit NNW-SSE), quite suddenly brighter in a core that is slightly elongated in the same direction. With AV the galaxy is slightly more bulging and the brighter core is more bulging, is just a bit WSW of the middle of the galaxy and is slightly canted with regards to the line of the galaxy, which is notable. No nucleus visible.
The SE galaxy NGC5859 (KPG455B) is slightly fainter than the NW galaxy NGC5857 is, a clearly NW-SE elongated streak that is gradually brighter in a very elongated core. With AV much more suddenly brighter in the core and both the core and the galaxy overall are much more elongated.
The PA of the NW galaxy NGC5857 is just a bit smaller than the PA of the SE galaxy NGC5859 is.

Galaxy observations in Boötes

The last observation in Boötes was for the faint quasar B1422+2309. A bit of magnification along with averted vision was required to make it visible, mimicking a mag. 15.5 star, but its position was an easy fix thanks to a nearby trapezium of faint stars.

17mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification the quasar is not visible.

12mm Nagler T4: Using this magnification the quasar is visible, but only with AV, resembles a mag. 15.5 star. Is to the SSE of the SE-most star in trapezium formed by 4 stars. This observation is not for the star to the south of the trapezium, as that is also visible with AV; the quasar is just a bit brighter than that star is.

The lack of sleep in the nights preceding was getting to me, but I was not going to give up this night without a fight. More galaxies, in Hercules, were waiting. After another break, I set out to capture a few.

Most galaxies observed in Hercules were small and faint. So was PGC59408, but that's definitely one to recommend: it truly appears as a line, just not as large as MCG+04-29-060 (PGC39432) observed earlier this night, in Coma Berenices.

A very faint, clearly NE-SW very elongated streak, truly a line, even in brightness, no detail visible and at the limit of visibility without AV, but a very notable shape.
To the south are two mag. 13.5 stars aligned NW to SE, SW thereof are two mag. 12.5 stars aligned NE to SW: neither are double stars in WDS.

Galaxy observations in Hercules

A quarter past three, I called it. Another very satisfying observing run, again under very good skies. First session in 3 years in which I was able to log observations for over 100 objects. I was definitely getting back in shape. Astronomy wise 😉

Two more nights to go.

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Observations

87 galaxies & galaxy groups
1 quasar
15 double stars
Total: 103 observations
First time observations: 63 objects

Details of the objects observed in this session are in the table below.

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