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Home , Sombrero Galaxy

Published by the Astronomical League Vol. 71, No. 2 March 2019

REMEMBERING BILL BOGARDUS PHOTOGRAPHING THE MOON 7.20.69 5 YEARS TREASURES OF THE LINDA HALL LIBRARY APOLLO 11 THE COSMIC WEB required. Fifth, the color quality of the lighting lation does not just contain scores of ; it than the other Messier objects surrounding it on has to be considered, with lower correlated color contains hundreds of galaxies. Almost every one the celestial sphere. Were it located at the same temperature (less than 2400 K) preferred in most of the 677 NGC objects in is a . distance, it would rival those galaxies in apparent cases. Virgo is known for some pretty impressive brightness. All in all, this Science article summarizes the galaxies. It contains great elliptical galaxies like My image of M58 was taken with a 10-inch known and potential environmental harm from M84, M86, and M87. It also holds impressive f/6.9 Newtonian using an SBIG ST-2000XCM CCD artificial light at night. It states the case and spiral galaxies like the Sombrero Galaxy (M104). camera. The exposure was 180 minutes. North is recommends societal changes that have long been Overall there are 11 Messier galaxies in this up and east is to the left. To the right of the galaxy advocated by those dedicated to fighting light bountiful . lies the brightest star in the image, eighth-mag- pollution. It is gratifying to see such work prom- Two less-mentioned Messier galaxies in Virgo nitude SAO 100179. The faintest stars in the image inently displayed in one of the world’s foremost are M58 and M90. These galaxies are the only are dimmer than magnitude 18. The fuzzy “star” scientific publications. Messier objects in Virgo classified as barred spiral located near the lower left corner is —Tim Hunter galaxies. I find M58 to be the more interesting of IC 3604, magnitude 15.3. Co-founder, IDA the two since it appears face-on. This orientation Note how tightly wound M58’s spiral arms allows for better views of the central bar and are. The spiral arms are not uniform in brightness, spiral arms. resulting in bright arcs rather than complete spiral Deep-Sky Objects arms visible to the eye in larger amateur tele- ost spiral galaxies contain a dense core of scopes. The bar appears to have a central bulge, ̨stars surrounded by spiral arms. Barred perhaps indicating the galaxy is in transition to or VIRGO’S BEST BARRED SPIRAL GALAXY M spiral galaxies contain a bar of stars with the from an ordinary spiral galaxy. irgo is the second largest constellation by spiral arms originating from the ends of the bar. The constellation Virgo offers a smorgas- ̨size. It follows Hydra and is slightly larger Spiral arms typically contain gas and dust as V bord of galaxies to view each spring. No menu is than third-place Ursa Major. The constellation well as numerous nebulae and star clusters. Bars complete without spying the constellation’s best contains three percent of the celestial sphere. contain just stars and appear to lack gas and dust. barred spiral galaxy, M58. One might think such a large constellation Few spiral galaxies more than seven billion years —Dr. James R. Dire would contain myriad galactic star clusters, old contain bars, and some astronomers think Kauai Educational Association for wondrous nebulae, a plethora of globular star bars may be a transient, recurring phase in spiral Science and Astronomy clusters, and scores of galaxies. But alas, galaxy evolution. Up to two-thirds of modern none of the above is true! galaxies may contain bars. Even our home galaxy, the , is a barred spiral galaxy. Night Sky Network discovered M58 in ASTRONOMY TOOLKITS 1779. It was one of FOR OUTREACH EVENTS 14 spiral “nebulae” idewalk astronomy is one of many types known to exist S̨of outreach that clubs perform. Astronomy before 1850. The clubs receive invitations year-round to visit galaxy is located schools, libraries, scout camps, and take part in near the northern various community events. Telescopes are usually edge of Virgo. It lies requested, but often volunteers are also asked about one-third of to give a talk, share a science demonstration, or the way along a line otherwise engage with kids in hands-on activi- from the star Vin- ties. Events may be scheduled for the middle of demiatrix (Epsilon the day, inside, or both. Some events, like school Virginis) to the star STEM fairs, happen rain or shine. The resources When we look at the constellation Virgo, Denebola (Beta Leonis). The galaxy lies near and provided by the Night Sky Network’s outreach we are looking towards high northerly galactic in between several other brighter galaxies: M60, toolkits are perfect fits for outreach situations declinations, almost as far away from the plane of M87, M89, and M90. such as these where telescopes might not work the Milky Way as possible. So there are virtually Brightness estimates for M58 average around out so well, and can even help enrich regular club no galactic star clusters. Of the 677 NGC objects 9.7. The galaxy is 5.5 by 4.5 arcminutes in size. In meetings and stargazing activities right alongside cataloged in Virgo, not one is an . small telescopes, the galaxy may look similar to volunteers with telescopes. Virgo has no NGC nebulae and only one globular its elliptical companions. Eight-inch telescopes Outreach kits are one of the cornerstones of star cluster (NGC 5634). will begin to reveal its central bar as well as the NSN program. These collections of hands-on Even my above statement of Virgo possibly brighter areas of its spiral arms. The galaxy lies 75 activities, handouts, ready-to-use presentations, containing scores of galaxies is off: the constel- million light-years away, about 50 percent farther models, posters, and other demonstrations focus

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