Deep Sky Observations with eVscope May/June 2021

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

Since the end of January 2020, I own an Unistellar eVscope telescope for observing and taking photos of deep sky objects. On this page, I collect information about observations from May to June 2021, which might be of interest to other beginners. In this phase, I used version 1.3. of the Unistellar app. The photos that were taken during this phase are presented elsewhere.

Notes:

See page Overview of the eVscope Pages for just that!
I present the first five observation sessions, including photos, on page Unistellar eVscope - Observations.

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

In May/June 2021, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations in this phase started at the end of May 2021. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful star alignment. At the end of May, this was already after 10:30 p.m.!

Observation Location

All observations took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49,25° N, 8,72° E

Equipment Used

When observing with the eVscope, I only needed the eVscope and my iPhone.

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. This is certainly one of the reasons why I found some of the deep sky objects that I wanted to observe only sometimes or not at all. For astro photography, however, light pollution is not as disturbing as for visual observations.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2021	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
May 30 MH	G: M 51, M 65, M 66, M 84, M 86, M 87, M 88, M 89, M 90, M 91, NGC 4435/38, NGC 4461	Order: M 65, M 66, M 84/86 (nearly the "great galactic face"), M 51, NGC 4461 (part of Markarian's chain), NGC 4435/38 (further part of the chain), M 51, M 101, M 87, M 88, M 89, M 90, M 91	Focus set with the Bahtinov mask. Creating a dark frame failed several times, therefore initially many hotpixels; later, most of the hotpixels were gone, although the dark frame creation noted an error... As far as I remember, no crashes and WiFi aborts (I was on our terrace, as was the eVscope); but nevertheless some restarts were needed...	First test with the new app version 1.3 that offers the new large image format
May 31 MH	G: M 58, M 59, M 60, M 65, M 66, M 85, M 104, NGC 3607/08, NGC 3628, NGC 3842, NGC 4216, NGC 4298/4302, NGC 4567/68, NGC 4647, NGC 5426 /27, NGC 5981	Order: NGC 3842 (Abell 1367), dark frame, NGC 3842, NGC3607/08, NGC5981/82/85 (Draco Triplet), NGC 4216, NGC 4298/4302, NGC 5426/27, NGC 3842, M 65/66 (together), NGC 3628, M 104, M 85, M 60/59 (together), M 58, NGC 4567/68 (Siamese Twins)	Focus set with the Bahtinov mask. Creating a dark frame worked (after the first observation). As far as I remember, no crashes and WiFi aborts (I was on our terrace, as was the eVscope); but nevertheless some restarts were needed...	Second test with the new app version 1.3 that offers the new large image format; the first observations according to a list by Mr. Deeg; from M 65/66 on following my own plans...
Jun 1 MH	G: M 98, M 99, M 100, M 102, M 105, M 106, M 108, M 109, NGC 4085/88	Order: M 109, M 108, M 106, M 105, M 102, M 100, M 99, M 98, NGC 4085/88	Focus set with the Bahtinov mask, collimation checked (not quite OK).	Third test with the new app version 1.3 that offers the new large image format; this time, I wanted to fill the gaps for Messier galaxies with high M numbers...
Jun 10 MH	GC: M 3, M 5, M 53 G: M 51, M 63, M 64, NGC 4085/88	Order: M 3, M 5, M 53 (three attempts), M 64 (Black Eye Galaxy), NGC 4085/88, M 51, M 63 (Sunflower Galaxy)	Focus set with the Bahtinov mask, collimation checked (not quite OK) and changed (with little success...). Fewer problems, but the well known again...	Third test with the new app version 1.3 that offers the new large image format; this time, I wanted to check the performace regarding globular clusters. Enhanced Vision had issues with M 53; I needed three attempts to get it going...

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, P = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, SN = supernova

Remarks on Galaxies

Abell 1367 (Leo Galaxy Cluster) contains a.o. the following galaxies: NGC 3840, 3844, 3845, 3851, 3841, 3842, 3837 (Deeg). The larger members are NGC 3842, NGC 3883, NGC 3884, NGC 3861A and B, NGC 3837, UGC 6697, NGC 3862, NGC 3864. All in all, the Leo Galaxy Cluster contains more than 500 galaxies (from Wikipedia)
Leo Triplet: M 65, M 66, NGC 3628; only M 65 and M 66 can be observed together with the eVscope.
Markarian's chain contains the following galaxies: M 84 (NGC 4374), M 86 (NGC 4406), NGC 4435, NGC 4438, NGC 4461, NGC 4473 und NGC 4477. Some authors add further galaxies to the chain, such as NGC 4458.
Galaxy Trio Holm 240 (Leo): NGC 3605, 3608, 3608
Draco Triplet: NGC 5981, 5982, 5985
NGC 4216, NGC 4206 und NGC 4222 (Virgo) are members of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster and can be observed together with the eVscope.
You can furthermore observe together in the eVscope:
- NGC 5426 and NGC 5427 (Virgo)
- NGC 4298 and NGC 4302 (Coma Berenices)
- NGC 4567 and NGC 4568 (Virgo; Siamese Twins)
- M 59, M 60, and NGC 4647 (Virgo)
- NGC 4085 and NGC 4088 (Ursa Major)

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Remarks
M 3		Canes Venatici	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones
M 5		Serpens Cauda	GC	Nice globular cluster, one of the larger ones, larger than M 3
M 51	with NGC 5195	Canes Venatici	G	Nice spiral galaxy with connected satellite galaxy NGC 5195
M 53		Coma Berenices	GC	One of the smaller globular star clusters
M 58		Virgo	G	Barred spiral galaxy, but hard to see in the eVscope
M 59	with M 60 if at the edge	Virgo	G	Elliptical galaxy, smaller than M 58; at a distance of 0.4° from M 60; with M 60 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope
M 60	with NGC 4647, NGC 4638/37; with M 59 if at the edge	Virgo	G	Elliptical galaxy with satellite NGC 4647 (spiral galaxy); galaxies NGC 4638/37 also on some of the photos (NGC 4637 only if the image is made brighter); with M 59 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope
M 63	Sunflower Galaxy	Canes Venatici	G	Nice, elongated spiral galaxy, somewhat larger
M 64	Black Eye Galaxy	Coma Berenices	G	Impressive spiral galaxy with unique look, somewhat larger
M 65		Leo	G	Thin, elongated spiral galaxy, spiral hard to see; part of the Leo triplet (with M 66 and NGC 3623); with M 66 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope (not this time)
M 66		Leo	G	Elongated spiral galaxy, spiral visible; part of the Leo triplet (with M 65 and NGC 3628); with M 65 in the rectangular field of view of the eVscope (nor this time)
M 84	with M 86, NGC 4402, NGC 4387	Virgo	G	Elliptical galaxy that can be seen together with M 86 in the eVscope's field of view (+ NGC 4387 and a bit of NGC 4402); forms together with M 84 and NGC 4387 the "Great Galactic Face."
M 85	with NGC 4394 and supernova 2020nlb	Coma Berenices	G	Elliptical galaxy that can be seen together with the galaxy NGC 4394 (barred spiral) in the same field of view of the eVscope; the new supernova 2020nlb (discovered on June 25, 2020) can be seen well.
M 86	with M 84, NGC 4402, NGC 4387	Virgo	G	Observed together with M 84 in the field of view (+ NGC 4387 and a bit of NGC 4402); forms together with M 84 and NGC 4387 the "Great Galactic Face."
M 87	with NGC 4478 and sometimes NGC 4476; with jet stream	Virgo	G	Elliptical galaxy, seen together with NGC 4478 in the eVscope's field of view - and in the rectangular format also NGC 4476; has a jet stream
M 88		Coma Berenices	G	Spiral galaxy, spiral can be recognized
M 89		Virgo	G	Elliptical galaxy, a small bright and fuzzy dot...
M 90		Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, spiral can be recognized
M 91		Coma Berenices	G	Barred spiral galaxy, bar can be recognized, spiral not so much...
M 98		Coma Berenices	G	Spiral galaxy seen edge-on, small bright core
M 99		Coma Berenices	G	Spiral galaxy, almost seen face-on, similar to M 100 and M 101, but much smaller than M 101
M 100		Coma Berenices	G	Spiral galaxy, almost seen face-on, similar to M 99 and M 101, but much smaller than M 101; discovered 4-5 more galaxies on a photo!
M 101	Pinwheel Galaxy	Ursa Major	G	Spiral galaxy, seen face-on, similar to M 99 and M 100, but much larger than both; quite impressive in the eVscope
M 102	Spindle Galaxy	Draco	G	Seen edge-on; shares the name "Spindle Galaxy" with two other galaxies
M 104	Sombrero Galaxy	Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, seen nearly edge-on; the dust ring and the bright nucleus led to the name; very impressive in the eVscope.
M 105		Leo	G	Bright elliptical galaxy; can be seen together with the galaxies NGC 3384 (elliptical) and the smaller NGC 3389 (spiral) in the same field of view in the eVscope.
M 106		Canes Venatici	G	Larger and bright spiral galaxy with bright core; close to it there is the small spiral galaxy NGC 4248.
M 108		Ursa Major	G	Barred spiral galaxy, nearly seen edge-on
M 109		Ursa Major	G	Barred spiral galaxy, the bar is easily recognized in the eVscope
NGC 3607/08/05	Galaxy triple Holm 240	Leo	G	Three elliptical galaxies (Holm 240), which can all be seen in the eVscope in the same field of view (size: 3607 > 3608 > 3605)
NGC 3628		Leo	G	Spiral galaxy seen edge-on; it forms a conspicuous group with M 65 and M 66, the Leo Triplet.
NGC 3842	Abell 1637, Leo Cluster	Leo	G	Part of and target for Abell 1637 (Leo Cluster), a large galaxy cluster
NGC 4085/88		Ursa Major	G	The elliptical galaxy NGC 4085 and the spiral galaxy NGC 4088 in the constellation Ursa Major seem to interact with one another. At least, the deformations of galaxy NGC 4088 seem to indicate this. Both galaxies can be easily observed in the same field of view with the eVscope.
NGC 4216/06/22		Virgo	G	NGC 4216 is the largest of three galaxies (NGC 4216, NGC 4206, and NGC 4222), which can be observed together in the eVscope.
NGC 4298/4302	Holm 377 or KPG 332	Coma Berenices	G	The spiral galaxies NGC 4298 and NGC 4302 in the constellation Coma Berenices form an interacting pair (Holm 377 or KPG 332).
NGC 4435/38	The Eyes; with NGC 4458 and NGC 4461	Virgo	G	NGC 4435 is a lenticular galaxy and interacts with the lenticular galaxy NGC 4438, that is about 100,000 light years more distant.
NGC 4461	with 4458 (Markarian's Chain)	Virgo	G	The galaxies NGC 4461 (lenticular) und NGC 4458 (elliptical) in constellation Virgo are members of Markarian's chain and interact with one another. If the galaxies are moved towards the top left of the field of view, you can also see the lenticular galaxies NGC 4438 and NGC 4435 (The Eyes) in the same field of view with the eVscope.
NGC 4567/68	Siamese Twins, Butterfly Galaxies	Virgo	G	NGC 4567/8 are two spiral galaxies in the Virgo cluster; they are also called "The Siamese Twins" or "The Butterfly Galaxies".
NGC 4647	with M 60 and potentially M 59	Virgo	G	Spiral galaxy, that interacts with M 60; can be viewed together with M 59 and M 60
NGC 5426/27		Virgo	G	The spiral galaxies NGC 5426 and NGC 5427 in the constellation Virgo are interacting with one another and form a pair that is called Arp 271.
NGC 5981/82/85	Draco Triplet	Draco	G	The galaxies NGC 5981 (spiral), NGC 5982 (elliptical), and NGC 5985 (spiral) in the constellation Draco form the Draco triplet.

G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, HII = HII region (emission nebula in other galaxies)

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2023). Deep Sky Reiseatlas (5. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-949370-04-5)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=608
Ronald Stoyan (2021). Deep Sky Reiseführer (6. Auflage), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-938469-72-9)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=603
Erich Karkoschka (2022). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag (EAN: 9783440173602)
www.kosmos.de/de/atlas-fur-himmelsbeobachter_1074889_9783440173602