Embedded Files
Observing Challenge
Your challenge is to observe at least 12 of the galaxies on the object list.
The list of Observing Challenge galaxies is located here.
I used the telescopes of Slooh to complete the challenge.
See the Slooh Scope tab above or scroll to the bottom of this page for information on Slooh scopes, cameras, and presets.
All galaxies in the challenge were imaged.
Observing Requirements
All observations must be made no earlier than March 1, 2022.
All observations must be done before the end of June 30, 2022.
All observations must be submitted before the end of July 31, 2022.
Observations done before this challenge may NOT be included. However, these observations may be used as part of other observing program requirements as long as all required details are included.
Observations may be done Visually or with Imaging.
Observations may be Manually or with Go-To Telescopes.
Remote Telescopes are allowed.
This information must be included with each observation:
Index Number and name of the object. The observations should be submitted in order of the Index Number.
Date and Time (either Universal Time or Local Time).
Seeing and Transparency (for more information, check out the definitions located here).
Latitude and Longitude (fractional degrees or degrees, minutes, and seconds).
Instrument used, eyepiece, and magnification. Camera used (if one is used).
Brief description. This is a description of what you saw, it is NOT what we include as comments on the object list.
A sketch (if done visually) or an image (if done through imaging) of the object.
The telescopes used are in these two locations:
Slooh Canary Islands Observatory
Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC)
Izana, Tenerife
28.29970 N 16.50826 W 7783 feet
Slooh Chile Observatory
Located at the La Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile (PUC)
Santa Martina Observatory,
La Dehesa, Santiago, Chile
33.269 S 70.534 W 4756 feet
Slooh does not report the Seeing and Transparency. They do report a Sky Rating between 1(bad) to 5(great) based on conditions. The actual description of the five categories can be found at the bottom of this page.
All of the targets were imaged at a rating of 4/5 or "Noise gradient, blurriness or image attenuation expected for ~10% of missions due to cloud, seeing, moonlight, or dust/haze."
Outreach Activities Related to the Challenge
1. Posted notification of the program to StLAstronomy@groups.io with 216 members about the challenge (I'm one of the group's administrators). See here for the post and following thread.
2. Made a presentation to the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri's March General Meeting (3/11/2022) about the challenge and proposed a club effort at Brommelsiek Park for the membership and general public using the club's C14 and 32" dob. Twenty-five members viewed the presentation either live at the meeting or online. Note: I am not an ASEM member.
3. Did an online presentation at the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri's March DigitalSIG Meeting (3/15/2022) about doing the challenge via imaging. Fifteen people viewed the presentation.
4. Lead the ASEM Beginning Stargazing Group get-together at Brommelsiek Park on 3/19 from 7 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The focus for the night was the Challenge: observing and sketching M81 and M82 galaxies. We gave M108 a shot but sky conditions prevented viewing. Ten people view through my 12" dob.
I will also attend Friday Night Open Houses and other viewing sessions at Brommelsiek Park where I plan to capture and show EAA images of the challenge galaxies to the visitors. I'm hoping to work out a way to have the visitors do the actual captures and then send themselves the image(s) they took via email.
In all images below North is Up and East is to the Left.
All images are in monochrome and stretched a bit with Photoshop.
AL #: 1
Name: Cigar Galaxy (8.4)
Other: M82
NGC: 3034
Constellation: Uma
Coordinates: 09h 55m 52s +69 40′ 47″
Magnitude: 8.4
AL Comments:
The closest starburst galaxy, 12 million lightyears away. Home of the brightest pulsar known.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 01:07 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 2
Name: Bode's Galaxy (6.9)
Other: M81
NGC: 3031
Constellation: Uma
Coordinates: 09h 55m 33s +69 03′ 55″
Magnitude: 6.9
AL Comments:
A large spiral galaxy with two well developed arms, located 12 million lightyears away. Contains a 70 million solar mass black hole.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 01:00 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 3
Name: Surfboard Galaxy (10.7)
Other: M108
NGC: 3556
Constellation: Uma
Coordinates: 11h 11m 31s +55 40' 27”
Magnitude: 10.7
AL Comments:
A large barred-spiral galaxy seen almost edge-on, located 46 million lightyears away. It has about 290 globular clusters.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 01:47 UTC
Scope: Canary One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 37x37 arcminutes
AL #: 4
Name: Pinwheel Galaxy (7.9)
Other: M101
NGC: 5457
Constellation: Uma
Coordinates: 14h 03m 13s +54 20′ 57″
Magnitude: 7.9
AL Comments:
A beautiful face-on spiral galaxy 21 million lightyears away. It is the the most detailed galaxy image from the Hubble Telescope.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 00:56 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 5
Name: Whirlpool Galaxy (8.4)
Other: M51
NGC: 5194
Constellation: CVn
Coordinates: 13h 29m 53s +47 11′ 43″
Magnitude: 8.4
AL Comments:
A beautiful face-on spiral galaxy interacting with a bright second bright galaxy (NGC 5195), located 31 million lightyears away.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 00:49 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 6
Name: Sunflower Galaxy (9.3)
Other: M63
NGC: 5055
Constellation: CVn
Coordinates: 13h 15m 49s +42 01′ 46″
Magnitude: 9.3
AL Comments:
A large spiral galaxy, located at 29 million lightyears away. This is one of the first spiral galaxies identified as spirals.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 02:35 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 7
Name: Cat's Eye Galaxy (9)
Other: M94
NGC: 4736
Constellation: CVn
Coordinates: 12h 50m 53s +41 07′ 14″
Magnitude: 9.0
AL Comments:
A barred-spiral galaxy, located 16 million lightyears away. It has two faint ring structures.
Date Imaged: Mar. 11, 2022
Time: 7:00 UTC
Scope: Chile One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 31x21 arcminutes
AL #: 8
Name: Whale galaxy (9.3)
Other: C32
NGC: 4631
Constellation: CVn
Coordinates: 12h 42m 08s +32 32′ 29″
Magnitude: 9.3
AL Comments:
A barred-spiral galaxy, 30 million lightyears away, seen edge-on. Its odd shape looks like a whale.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 04:34 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 9
Name: Hockey Stick Galaxy (10.)
Other:
NGC: 4656
Constellation: CVn
Coordinates: 12h 43m 58s +32 10′ 05″
Magnitude: 10.0
AL Comments: A highly distorted barred-spiral galaxy, 30 million lightyears away. Looks like a hockey stick.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 05:23 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 10
Name: Needle Galaxy (9.6)
Other: C38
NGC: 4565
Constellation: COM
Coordinates: 12h 36m 21s +25 59′ 16″
Magnitude: 9.6
AL Comments:
An edge-on spiral galaxy, 40 million lightyears away. Its profile looks like a needle.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 06:06 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 11
Name: Blackeye Galaxy (8.5)
Other: M64
NGC: 4826
Constellation: COM
Coordinates: 12h 56m 44s +21 40′ 58″
Magnitude: 8.5
AL Comments:
A barred-spiral galaxy, inclined 60 degrees, 17 million ightyears away. Its dark dust lane is quite obvious and is the source of its name.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 06:03 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 12
Name: Leo Triplet (10.3)
Other: M65
NGC: 3623
Constellation: LEO
Coordinates: 11h 18m 56s +13 05' 32”
Magnitude: 10.3
AL Comments:
A medium-sized spiral galaxy, 35 million lightyears away. With M66 and NGC 3628 it is part of the Trio in Leo.
M65 is on the right, M66 on the left and NGC 3628 at the top left.
M65 is on the right, M66 on the left and NGC 3628 at the top left.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 04:32 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 13
Name: The Eyes (10.)
Other:
NGC: 4438
Constellation: VIR
Coordinates: 12h 27m 46s +13 00' 31”
Magnitude: 10.0
AL Comments:
A very distorted spiral galaxy, 52 million lightyears away. It is currently interacting with NGC 4435.
NGC 4438 is the lower left of the pair. NGC 4435 is above it and to the right. M86 is the large galaxy in the lower right corner.
NGC 4438 is the lower left of the pair. NGC 4435 is above it and to the right. M86 is the large galaxy in the lower right corner.
Date Imaged: Mar. 12, 2022
Time: 03:00 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 14
Name: Leo Triplet (8.9)
Other: M66
NGC: 3627
Constellation: LEO
Coordinates: 11h 20m 15s +12 59′ 30″
Magnitude: 8.9
AL Comments: A medium-sized spiral galaxy, 31 million lightyears away. With M65 and NGC 3628 it is part of the Trio in Leo.
M65 is on the right, M66 on the left and NGC 3628 on the top edge.
M65 is on the right, M66 on the left and NGC 3628 on the top edge.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 02:41 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 15
Name: Virgo A (8.8)
Other: M87
NGC: 4486
Constellation: VIR
Coordinates: 12h 30m 49s +12 23′ 28″
Magnitude: 8.8
AL Comments:
A supergiant elyptical galaxy, with several trillion stars, located 53 million lightyears away. It has 15,000 globular clusters and a plasma jet.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 04:25 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 16
Name: Spindle galaxy (9.1)
Other: C53
NGC: 3115
Constellation: SEX
Coordinates: 10h 05m 14s -07 43′ 07″
Magnitude: 9.1
AL Comments:
A lenticular galaxy, 32 million lightyears away. Its central black hole is 1 billion solar masses.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 03:37 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 17
Name: Sombrero Galaxy (8.9)
Other: M104
NGC: 4594
Constellation: VIR
Coordinates: 12h 39m 59s -11 37′ 23″
Magnitude: 8.9
AL Comments:
A spiral galaxy, viewed almost edge-on, 31 million lightyears away. Very prominent dust lane and huge central bulge.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 03:46 UTC
Scope: Canary Two
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 43x43 arcminutes
AL #: 18
Name: Barnard's galaxy (8.8)
Other: C57
NGC: 6822
Constellation: SGR
Coordinates: 19h 44m 57s -14 47′ 21″
Magnitude: 8.8
AL Comments:
A very close barred-irregular galaxy, 1.63 million lightyears away. It closely resembles the Magellenic Clouds.
Date Imaged: Mar. 10, 2022
Time: 06:20 UTC
Scope: Canary Three
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: OSC 2x90 second
FOV: 108x72 arcminutes
AL #: 19
Name: Antenna Galaxies (10)
Other: C60
NGC: 4038
Constellation: CRV
Coordinates: 12h 01m 53s -18 52' 52"
Magnitude: 10.0
AL Comments:
Combined with NGC 4039, they are a pair of interacting very active galaxies, 1.6 million lightyears away.
NGC 4038 is the brighter lobe on top and NGC 4039 is on the bottom.
NGC 4038 is the brighter lobe on top and NGC 4039 is on the bottom.
Date Imaged: Mar. 11, 2022
Time: 01:15 UTC
Scope: Chile One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 31x21 arcminutes
AL #: 20
Name: Antenna Galaxies (13)
Other: C61
NGC: 4039
Constellation: CRV
Coordinates: 12h 01m 53s -18 52' 52”
Magnitude: 13.0
AL Comments:
Combined with NGC 4038, they are a pair of interacting very active galaxies, 1.6 million lightyears away.
NGC 4038 is the brighter lobe on top and NGC 4039 is on the bottom.
NGC 4038 is the brighter lobe on top and NGC 4039 is on the bottom.
Date Imaged: Mar. 11, 2022
Time: 06:45 UTC
Scope: Chile One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 31x21 arcminutes
AL #: 21
Name: Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (7.5)
Other: M83
NGC: 5236
Constellation: HYA
Coordinates: 13h 37m 01s -29 51′ 57″
Magnitude: 7.5
AL Comments:
A massive barred-spiral galaxy, 15 million lightyears away. Its core is a double mass. May not be a double black hole, but a lopsided central stars orbiting the black hole.
Date Imaged: Mar. 11, 2022
Time: 02:25 UTC
Scope: Chile One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 31x21 arcminutes
AL #: 22
Name: Centaurus A (7)
Other: C77
NGC: 5128
Constellation: CEN
Coordinates: 13h 25m 28s -43 01′ 09″
Magnitude: 7.0
AL Comments:
A galaxy of unconfirmed class, 13 million lightyears away, with a 55 million solar mass black hole.
Date Imaged: Mar. 11, 2022
Time: 02:05 UTC
Scope: Chile One
Preset: generic
Sky conditions: 4/5
Exposure: L 1x50 second
RGB 1x20 second
FOV: 31x21 arcminutes
The following is a folder view of the images of the Challenge's galaxies.
Slooh telescope, camera, and preset information:
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