2012 10 19 – NGC 6689 (aka NGC 6690) / UGC 11300
2012 10 19, 0400 UT NGC 6689 (aka NGC 6690) / UGC 11300
16” Zhumell reflector f/4.5, Hyperion Zoom at 12mm, 150x
54F, 54% H, S: P5, T: 2/5, Alt 34deg 30´, Az 337deg 20´
Edge-on barred spiral galaxy in Draco, 18h 34m 49.9s, +70º 31′ 27″, Type SBcd, 4.2´ x 1.5´, m12.3, SB 13.9
Discovered by Heinrich Louis d’Arrest in 1863 using an 11” refractor and also Lewis Swift in 1884 using a 16” refractor. Per Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.(ref NGC/IC Project http://www.ngcicproject.org/ngcicdb.asp), both men observed this object twice but it was only d’Arrest that noticed both of his observations were of the same object. Swift’s positioning of the object from both his observations were off far enough that he didn’t recognize it as being one and the same. Dreyer caught Swift’s mistake but evidently didn’t spot d’Arrest’s entry as the same object, thus having two NGC numbers for the same galaxy.
Seeing was average, transparency was below average. This galaxy was dim using a 16” reflector at 150x. It is elongated NNW to SSE with a 14th magnitude star ~ 0.6´ to the west of its center. It rests between an 11th magnitude star NE and a 12th magnitude star SW, both to 1.75´ distance from its center.
Eyepiece sketch on white photocopy paper with black super-fine felt tipped pen for and #2 pencil, blending stump for the nebulosity. Template is from the Astronomical League.
Univerted Sketch
PCW Memorial Observatory - Erika Rix 