Centaurus

The Centaur

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Deep Sky Objects

Name/DesignationRight AscensionDeclinationTypeMagnitudeSizeDistanceDate LocationInstrumentEyepieceFilterNotes
Heinze 2-111; PK 315-0.1Planetary NebulaApril 14 2007Belanglo 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian6mmSWAUHCAmprphous knot. Hard to see without UHC. Faint.
IC287211:29.0-62 57Emission Nebula12'x4.0'January 18 2007Lostock 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian13.8mmSWAUHCLots of faint nebulosity in the area, the largest being IC2944 (Running Chicken Nebula). What I perceived to be IC2872 contains a right-angled shaped triangle of stars.
IC2944; Centaurus Cluster and Running Chicken Nebula11:36.6-63 02Open Cluster and Nebula4.515'/75'x50'6.9KLY February 21 1998Mt Keira250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslUHCA loose cluster of a few bright stars. The filter brings out the nebulosity of the region, including that of IC2948
IC294811:38.8-63 32Emission Nebula75'x50'January 7 2000Wiruna 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslUHCNext to bright star lamda-Centauri. Very large area of nebulosity, beyond the field of view of the eyepiece , but obvious with the UHC.
IC389612:56.6-50 09Galaxy12.32.2'x2.0'88MLYJuly 18 2009Culburra 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian9mmNaglerVery bright. Nearby is a snmaller galaxy, preseumably IC3896b.
NGC355711:10.0-37 32Galaxy10.44.0' x 2.7'123MLYMarch 4 2006Belanglo 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian6.3mmSWAStands out well at high power, at the base of a slighly squashed equilateral triangle of 3 star of similar brightness. At lower powers was still visible.
NGC3699; PK292+01.111:28.0-59 57Planetary Nebula11.367"July 22 2000Cataract 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian6.3mmPlosslUHCEasy to see even at low power. In a line with two field stars. Used a range of eyepiece combibations. Even a 9.7mm with a 2x Balow (288x) showed it well. Large, nebulous, slightly curved mass. Using averted vision, it is possible to detect a rift in the mass of nebulosity.
NGC3699; PK292+01.111:28.0-59 57Planetary Nebula11.367"March 15 2002Kangaloon 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian9.7mmSPUHCLarge and prominent, with two 'pointers' SW. Not round - misshapen or elongated.
NGC3699; PK292+01.111:28.0-59 57Planetary Nebula11.367"March 7 2003Jerrara Dam 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian13.8mmSWA + 2X BarlowUHCElongated, posibly even heart-shaped. Bright and easy to pick in a very starry field.
NGC376611:36.1-61 37Open Cluster5.312'5.5KLYMarch 15 2002Kangaloon 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mm PlosslLarge, quite rich and very bright cluster. Visible in 7x50 binoculars.
NGC376611:36.1-61 37Open Cluster5.312'5.5KLYJune 27 1998Mt Keira 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mm PlosslRich and bright. Orange star just off the cluster. Can be seen naked-eye.
NGC3918 Blue Planetary11:50.3-57 11Planetary Nebula8.112"2.6KLYMarch 7 2003Jerrara Dam 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian13.8mmSWA + 2X BarlowUHCLarge, bright, solid and spherical.
NGC3918 Blue Planetary11:50.3-57 11Planetary Nebula8.112"2.6KLYMay 7 2019Culburra 400mm f4.5 Dobsonian9mmNaglerUHCWith the larger aperture, compared with the March 2003 obsevation above, there is a faint halo visible around the round solid structure.
NGC421912:16.4-43 20Galaxy11.94.5.0'x1.7'76MLYMay 19 2007Belanglo 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian13.8mm SWALarge and prominent. Bright, large nucleus. Oriented roughly N-S.
NGC494513:05.4-49 28Galaxy8.820.0'x4.4'16MLYJan 15 1999Wiruna 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslVery large, bright, and long and snake-like.
NGC494513:05.4-49 28Galaxy8.820.0'x4.4'16MLYJune 14 2018Culburra 400mm f4.5 Dobsonian26mmDXLong, thin and faint.
NGC497613:08.6-49 30Galaxy10.24.3'x2.6'49MLYJan 15 1999Wiruna 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslBright, but much smaller and in same field as NGC4945 - could not see NGC4945A.
NGC506413:19.0-47 55Galaxy12.02.8'x1.2'120MLYApril 8 2000South Marulan 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian9.7mmSPSmall, pretty obvious. Bright centre and wispy surrounds.
NGC510213:22.0-36 38Galaxy9.79.3'x3.5'11MLYApril 17 1999Cataract 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian12.5mmOrVery bright nucleus. Oriented E-W. Nucleus small in relation to whole galaxy.
NGC5128; Centaurus A13:25.5-43 01Galaxy7.018.2'x14.5'14MLYJan 15 1999Wiruna 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian6.3mmPlosslLooks like a hamburger.
NGC5128; Centaurus A13:25.5-43 01Galaxy7.018.2'x14.5'14MLYJune 14 2018Culburra 400mm f4.5 Dobsonian26mmDX; 9mmNaglerLike a hamburger. Dark central lane running through the 'bun'. Higher magnification doessn't show any extra detail.
NGC5139; Omega Centauri13:26.8-47 29Globular Cluster3.736.3'16.5KLYApril 5 1997Mt Keira 250mm f5.6dobsonian26mmPlosslMagnificent at all magnifications.
NGC515613:28.7-48 55Galaxy11.72.1'x2.0'118MLYApril 8 2000South Marulan 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian9.7mmSPEasy to pick. No bright central region. Just an overall fuzzy patch.
NGC528113:46.6-62 54Open Cluster5.95.0'4.2KLYJuly 22 2000Cataract 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlossl+2XBarlowTwo crossing curved lines of stars. Apart from this feature, doesn't stand out as a distinct cluster.
NGC528613:46.4-51 22Globular Cluster7.69.1'29KLYApril 10 1999Tullimbah 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlossl/12.5mmOrEasy to find adjacent to a naked eye reddish/orange coloured star. Resolves well except for very large and bright centre.
NGC530713:51.1-51 12Planetary Nebula11.213"April 10 1999Tullimbah 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlossl/12.5mmOrOIIIQuite distinct, especcially with filter, although featureless at low magnitude.
NGC539814:01.4-33 04Galaxy12.42.9' x 1.4'46MLYMay 27 2000Jamberoo Lookout 250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslThe Dreyer description of "Faint, small qnd among stars' fitted my observation of a possible 'wisp' near a couple of stars.
NGC546014:07.6-48 19Open cluster5.625.0'1.6KLY19 May 2001 Kangaloon250mm f5.6dobsonian32mmSWA'Curved' cluster.
NGC548314:10.4-43 19Galaxy11.23.1x2.8'71MLYJuly 10 1999 Cataract250mm f5.6 Dobsonian9.7mmSPLarge smudge.
NGC561714:29.8-60 43Open Cluster6.310'3.9KLYJune 7 1997 Mt Keira250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslLarge and relatively rich cluster.
Trumpler 2214:31.0-61 10Open ClusterJune 7 1997 Mt Keira250mm f5.6 Dobsonian26mmPlosslSmall cluster accompanying NGC5617.