Observer: Mark Birkmann
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 2-7-00, 10:05 UT, 3:25 am CST
Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat +38, Elev ~700 feet)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>
Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 40" f/5 dob
Magnification: 144x, 288x
Category: External galaxy.
Class: both are Sc
Constellation: Coma Berenices
Data: mag 11.3, 11.6 size 3 x 1.8, 5.8 x 0.8
Position: RA 12h:21m 33s DEC +14:36' 11"
Description:
These two galaxies form a close pair separated by less
than 2.5 minutes. No
detail was seen in ngc 4298 although a mottled appearance
was suspected at 288x.
Two stars were seen superimposed on this galaxy northeast
of the core. The star
closest to the core was faint and seen only in moments
of better seeing. At
low power ngc 4302 was a nondescript edge on galaxy with
a slightly brighter
elongated core. At 288x a dust lane was seen to
run the length of the core.
This dust lane was not visible with direct vision but
was held fairly steadily
with averted vision.