The Blackeye Galaxy

5/11/09
9:00-10:30pm CST
Clear Skies
Calm Wind
53 degrees
10" Dob
10mm eyepiece

My first observation tonight was M5, a globular cluster in Serpens Capot. I used 5 Serpentis as a reference star. This was a giant dusty sphere easily seen in the night sky (magnitude 7.0). Visited M60, an elliptical galaxy at 11.5 magnitude and its barely visible companion galaxy NGC 4647. M49 was another elliptical galaxy in Virgo – just outside of the Virgo cluster of deep space objects. At magnitude 10, this was a large dusty sphere. Also viewed M85, a round Lenticular Galaxy (a cross between a spiral and elliptical galaxy)10.50 magnitude in Coma Berenices. Finally, viewed M64, the Blackeye Galaxy, which was a nice finish for the evening. M64 was a bright Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices. I look forward to seeing this galaxy again in darker nights as there is a dark lane visible near its center – yet not visible tonight in the suburbs.

Note: so far all astronomical notes and observations have been taken from Port Barrington, IL. In two weeks, I will be making the trip to the Indiana countryside where darkness is ample. It is there I will dive into the deep space grouping of Messier objects between Virgo and Coma Berenices – over 13 Messier objects alone within this small region!