Messier 99

99 final

Object:   M99  (NGC 4254) Date:               2018 May 15
Type:  Spiral galaxy
Constellation:           Coma Berenices Time & altitude:         22.40 UT      46º
Catalogue data: Seeing (5 high):                               3/5
            R.A:                12h 19m Transparency (5 high):           2 to 3/5
            Dec:                14º 25 Telescope:     0.5m f4.1  Dob.
            Magnitude     9.8 Eyepiece       8mm Ethos                x260
            Size (mins)    5 Filters:            None

Notes:

The Pinwheel Galaxy. Not well seen in mediocre and variable conditions, possibly due to aircraft vapour trails. It is quite a small target. There is an oval halo which does not quite extend out to a star near its SE edge. A bright round core is offset in the halo towards the W end. Only one spiral arm could be identified, and this with difficulty. It leaves the core on the E side then curves through a half-turn anti-clockwise midway between the core and this same star.