Galaxy Group and Unique Planetary

I set up the scope at Earth N Sky farm on November 30, 2007. The sky was quite nice. The transparency was very good and the seeing was average. Several objects were viewed but the two most notable were NGC 246, & NGC 7331.

NGC 7331 anchors an entire galaxy group. In the .65° field of view was 7331 as well as Stephan's Quintet, and 3 more galaxies to the other side of 7331. 7331 is bright and well defined. The other galaxies are faint and fuzzy - but that's what we go out for isn't it!


If you like planetaries, NGC 246 is most unique. Very large, I estimate its diameter to be 10-15 minutes. Several stars within the planetary serve to define it. I had to study it for quite a while before I could make out the details. Use of a b/w sketch helped too. Photographs from NOAO.edu.

Clear Skies!
Eric Smith