NGC 7727: Spiral Galaxy (Aquarius) RA: 23h 39.9m / DEC: -12° 17'.5 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
NGC 7727 calls the remote reaches of Aquarius, home. The sketch at left captures this galaxy and NGC 7724 at 129X in my 10-inch Meade Newtonian. They are stationed near the border with Cetus, 2 degrees due north of 5.0 magnitude Omega1 (102) Aquarii. NGC 7727, the brighter of the pair, is postioned east of center. The 10.6 magnitude SAB-type galaxy features a stellar core region, which is embedded within a 4'x3' diffuse glow. This galactic disk gradually fades into the background sky. NGC 7727 is aligned roughly northeast to southwest and is surrounded by a handfull of 12th and 13th magnitude stars. NGC 7724 is visible 12' to the east-northeast. This is a faint wisp of thing, mid-13th magnitude and something like 60"x45" in size. It's difficult to make size esitmates on objects like this, visible only with averted vision and already almost lost against the background sky. 10.1 magnitude SAO 165813, the brightest star in the field, shines 5'.5 south-southeast of NGC 7724. While you're in the area, don't forget to check out NGC 7723 just 43' to the south-southwest. |
Home | About Cosmic Voyage | Getting Started | Deep-sky Observing | Planetary Observing | Astrophotography | Sketching | Glossary | Web Links
URL: http://www.cosmicvoyage.net
Layout, design & revisions © W. D. Ferris
Comments and Suggestions: wdferris1@gmail.com
Revised: January 26, 2003 [WDF]