Arp 30

ARP 30 2017 Aug 18

Object:      Arp 30 (NGC 6365) Date:               2017 Aug 18
Peculiarity:   Spiral with one heavy arm.
Constellation:           Draco Time & altitude:        23.00 UT      60º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               3/5
            R.A:                17h 23m Transparency (5 high):                4/5
            Dec:                +62º 10 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude:   14.7

Eyepiece:      8mm Ethos                x260

5mm Vixen LV          x410

            Galaxy size (mins): 1.2 x 0.8 Filters:            None

Notes:

Spent a long time studying this field. A pair of 10th magnitude stars point to the galaxy’s location. Unable to see Arp 30 with DV, and AV only revealed an indistinct, roughly oval patch. I could not make a positive identification of the A & B components. There was no trace of the “one heavy arm” (which modern imaging has revealed to be a separate, edge-on galaxy).  Looking at images, I am surprised the edge-on galaxy was not in range.

Exceptionally I tried higher magnification with the 5mm Vixen LV Plössl. This eyepiece design is not suited to a fast f4.1 primary and I do not feel I gained anything.