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. |