| IC 421 (Galaxy in Orion) | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
|
How many galaxies have you
observed within the bounds of Orion? IC 421 lies a mere 2.5o south of the famous M42 nebula and can be found less than a degree to the south of the star Thabit (Upsilon Ori), a 4.6 magnitude star that lies to the southwest of M42. A face-on barred spiral, this galaxy appears as a small round smudge of low surface brightness. To see IC 421 you will need at least a 12-inch telescope and excellent seeing and transparency. Use at least 130x, and look for a nearly stellar core surrounded by a faint round haze. I successfully observed this galaxy in January 2000 with my 18-inch under average conditions. I was thrown off at first by the bright star just to the west of the galaxy (see the chart below). This 10th magnitude GSC star does not exist. In fact, it appears to have been a measure of the center of the galaxy itself. Once found, the galaxy appeared as an oval, hazy spot of sky surrounding a bright, nearly stellar core.
|
||
|
