THE TEXAS PARTY 2014 TELESCOPE OBSERVING CLUB

BY JOHN WAGONER TEXAS ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF DALLAS

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Welcome to the Texas Star Party's Telescope Observing Club. The purpose of this club is not to test your observing skills by throwing the toughest objects at you that are hard to see under any conditions, but to give you an opportunity to observe 25 showcase objects under the ideal conditions of these pristine West Texas skies, thus displaying them to their best advantage. The regular observing program is “Zombies”. These are peculiar (read Arp) objects or dead objects like remnants (yep, those pesky planetaries are back). You need to observe 25 objects of the 31 available to get your pin, but if you are using a smaller scope and have a little trouble with some of the objects, just mark it as “tried” and move on, and you will get credit for the object. We are also bringing back “I Have No Idea Where I Am” from last year. This is a list of 29 objects. Only 25 objects need be observed.

That's it. Any size telescope can be used. All observations must be made at the Texas Star Party to qualify. All objects are within range of small (6”) to medium sized (10”) telescopes, and are available for observation between 9:00PM and 3:00AM any time during the TSP. Each person completing this list will receive an official Texas Star Party Telescope Observing Club lapel pin. These pins are not sold at the TSP and can only be acquired by completing the program, so wear them proudly.

To receive your pin, turn in your observations to John Wagoner - TSP Observing Chairman any time during the Texas Star Party. I will be at the outside door leading into the TSP Meeting Hall each day between 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM. except Saturday (10:00-11:30 AM). If you finish the list the last night of TSP, or I am not available to give you your pin, just mail your observations to me at 1409 Sequoia Dr., Plano, Tx. 75023, and I will see that you get a pin.

Good luck and good observing. Now, let's get out there and observe!!!

P.S. If you would like to see some of your favorite objects on a future TSP program, or have any ideas for a new program, let me know during TSP or email me at [email protected]

For those of you who missed previous TSP’s, pins for the following programs are still available: 2012 – 2012 - 2011 – Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My! - 2010 – About Face. --- 2009 – Texas Star Party 5X5 --- 2007 - Be A Sap (Shapley-Ames Person) 2006 – Eye in the Sky --- 2004 – Starlight, Starbright 2003 - The Great Celestial A.R.C.” (Asterisms, Radio sources, & Clusters)

You can download these observing programs from the TSP website: www.texasstarparty.org.

ZOMBIES

Object Type R.A. Dec Con Size Mag Date Time

NGC 3031 Glxy 09 56 +69 04 UMa 24.0 6.9 M81

NGC 3034 Glxy 09 56 +69 41 UMa 12.0 8.4 M82

NGC 3242 PlNeb 10 25 -18 38 Hya 16 sec 7.8

NGC 3587 PlNeb 11 15 +55 01 UMa 194 sec 9.9 M97

NGC 3623 Glxy 11 19 +13 05 Leo 8.7 9.3 M65

NGC 3627 Glxy 11 20 +12 59 Leo 8.2 8.9 M66

NGC 3628 Glxy 11 20 +13 36 Leo 14.0 9.5

NGC 4038 Glxy 12 02 -18 52 Crv 5.4 10.5

NGC 4039 Glxy 12 02 -18 53 Crv 5.4 10.3

NGC 4361 PlNeb 12 25 -18 48 Crv 45 sec 10.9

NGC 4438 Glxy 12 28 +13 01 Vir 8.9 10.2

NGC 4490 Glxy 12 31 +41 38 CVn 6.4 9.8

NGC 4569 Glxy 12 37 +13 10 Vir 10.5 9.5 M90

NGC 4631 Glxy 12 42 +32 32 CVn 15.5 9.2

NGC 4649 Glxy 12 44 +11 33 Vir 7.1 8.8 M60

NGC 5128 Glxy 13 26 -43 01 Cen 31.0 6.7

NGC 5194 Glxy 13 30 +47 12 CVn 8.2 8.4 M51

NGC 5195 Glxy 13 30 +47 16 CVn 6.4 9.6

NGC 5457 Glxy 14 03 +54 21 UMa 26.0 7.9 M101

NGC 5566 Glxy 14 20 +03 56 Vir 5.7 10.6

NGC 6543 PlNeb 17 59 +66 38 Dra 350 sec 8.1

NGC 6572 PlNeb 18 12 +06 51 Oph 8 sec 8.1

NGC 6720 PlNeb 18 54 +33 02 Lyr 71 sec 8.8 M57

NGC 6818 PlNeb 19 44 -14 09 Sgr 17 sec 9.3

NGC 6826 PlNeb 19 45 +50 31 Cyg 25 sec 8.8

NGC 6853 PlNeb 19 59 +22 43 Vul 348 sec 7.3 M27

NGC 6891 PlNeb 20 15 +12 42 Del 14 sec 10.5

NGC 7009 PlNeb 21 04 -11 22 Aqr 25 sec 8.3

NGC 7026 PlNeb 21 06 +47 51 Cyg 21 sec 10.9

NGC 7027 PlNeb 21 07 +42 14 Cyg 15 sec 8.4

NGC 7293 PlNeb 22 30 -20 48 Aqr 769 sec 7.3

“I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE I AM”

Object Type R.A. Dec Con Size Mag Date Time

NGC 2129 OpCl 06 02 +24 05 Gem 6.0 6.7

NGC 2681 Glxy 08 54 +51 19 Uma 4.0 10.3

NGC 2682 OpCl 08 52 +11 46 Cnc 25.0 6.6 M67

NGC 2683 Glxy 08 53 +33 25 Lyn 9x3 9.8

NGC 2903 Glxy 09 33 +21 27 Leo 12x6 8.9

NGC 3115 Glxy 10 06 -07 46 Sex 8x3 9.0

NGC 3344 Glxy 10 44 +24 55 Lmi 7.0 9.9

NGC 3923 Glxy 11 51 -28 48 Hya 7x5 9.6

NGC 3962 Glxy 11 55 -13 58 Crt 3.0 10.7

NGC 4526 Glxy 12 34 +07 42 Vir 7x3 9.7

Stargate Ast 12 36 -12 05 Crv 15.0 7.5

NGC 5024 GbCl 13 13 +18 10 Com 13.0 7.5 M53

NGC 5033 Glxy 13 14 +36 32 Cvn 10x4 10.0

NGC 5248 Glxy 13 38 +08 53 Boo 6.0 10.3

NGC 5897 GbCl 15 18 -21 01 Lib 13.0 8.6 Tough

NGC 5904 GbCl 15 19 +02 03 Ser 28.0 5.8 M5

NGC 6144 GbCl 16 27 -26 01 Sco 7.0 9.0 NGC 6210 PlNeb 16 45 +23 49 Her 14sec 8.8

NGC 6572 PlNeb 18 12 +06 51 Oph 8sec 8.1

NGC 6626 GbCl 18 25 -24 52 Sgr 15.0 6.8 M28

Kimble 2 Ast 18 35 +72 23 Dra 20.0 5.6

NGC 6694 OpCl 18 46 -09 22 Sct 7.0 8.2 M26

NGC 6709 OpCl 18 52 +10 20 Aql 13.0 6.7

NGC 6779 GbCl 19 17 +30 11 Lyr 7.0 8.3 M56

NGC 6838 GbCl 19 54 +18 47 Sge 7.2 8.0 M71

NGC 6891 PlNeb 20 16 +12 44 Del 15sec 10.0

NGC 6910 OpCl 20 24 +40 48 Cyg 10.0 7.0

NGC 6940 OpCl 20 35 +28 19 Vul 15.0 6.3

NGC 7510 OpCl 23 12 +60 34 Cep 5.0 7.9