Arp 222

ARP 222 2019 Dec 2

Object:   Arp 222 (NGC 7727) Date:               2019 December 2
Peculiarity:  Amorphous spiral arms.
Constellation:           Aquarius Time & altitude:        20.20 UT     23º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               3/5
            R.A:                23h 40m Transparency (5 high):                   2/5
            Dec:                -12º 18 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude     11.5 Eyepiece       17mm Ethos              x120
            Galaxy size (mins)   5 x 3 Filters:            None

Notes:

Frosty and misty. Visual limit is good in the zenith, about 5.5m using stars of UMi but sky is milky lower down. In these conditions this circular galaxy is far less obvious than the catalogue magnitude suggests. Observed diameter is only 2 arcmins. Faintest star plotted in the drawing is only about 14.0m. The halo brightens in the centre to a nonstellar core. No structure visible. Also saw NGC 7723 (11.9m) ¾° to the S. Failed to notice nearby NGC 7724 (14.3m), a measure of the poor conditions.