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(IAAC) Obj: NGC 3631 - Inst: 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain equatorial mount
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Observer: Dave Mitsky
Your skills: Advanced (many years)
Date/time of observation: 2001/4/19 03:01 UT
Location of site: ASH Naylor Observatory, Lewisberry, PA, USA (Lat 40.15 d N, 76.9 d W, Elev 190 meters)
Site classification: Exurban
Sky darkness: ~5.0 <Limiting magnitude>
Seeing: 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 17" f/15 classical Cassegrain equatorial mount
Magnification: 118, 144, 202, 259x
Filter(s): None
Object(s): NGC 3631
Category: External galaxy.
Class: SA(s)c I-II spiral galaxy
Constellation: Ursa Major
Data: mag 10.4 size 5.5'x4.6'
Position: RA 11h:21m DEC 53d:10'
Description:
After observing Comet C/2001 A2 (LINEAR) and other celestial objects I set the
shutter of the French Dome for an overhead view. M97 (118x) was quite faint in
the less than transparent sky. I had to play hide and seek with clouds for a
bit but eventually I tracked down another new Herschel 400 galaxy, one that is
located about 2 degrees southeast of M97. NGC 3631 is a moderately large star
city of the SA(s)c I-II variety. According to the NSOG this face-on 10.4
magnitude spiral galaxy is 5.5'x4.6' in size and has a surface brightness of
13.8 magnitude. It was dimmer than it should have been due to the poor
transparency and local light pollution but I could see a circular glow with a
slightly brighter core. As with the comet the 32mm U.O. Koenig-II (202x)
provided the best view.
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