Skies ended clearing up at Fiddletown by the end of astronomical twilight. Transparency was down slightly (probably due to water vapor) and seeing a bit soft at times, but I had no problems reaching 15.5-16th mag galaxies. A couple of TAC-SAC members showed up (Alvin Huey working on galaxies in Ursa Minor and Shneor Sherman) with 16" and 18" scopes as well as Fiddletown regulars Rashad doing a two-nighter and Charlie Stifflemire and Jim Webster with 20" dobs.
I was working mostly on faint galaxies and groups in Bootes with my 17.5" f/4.4 (even as it slid down the western sky at 3:00 am). One interesting group (NGC 5490) I found was located just two degree SW of Arcturus! Two of these galaxies are shown on U2000 although Version 2 will plot a half dozen.
NGC 5490 = UGC 9058 = MCG +03-36-065 = CGCG 103-095 = Ho 595a = 4C+17.57 = LGG 376-001
17.5: moderately bright, moderately large, slightly elongated N-S, bright core, stellar nucleus. Brightest in a group with M+03-36-064 2.9' NNW and N5490C = Arp 79 located 4.7' NE . A close companion, M+03-36-067, off the east side not seen. The group is located two degree SW of Arcturus! MCG -03-36-064 = CGCG 103-093 = NPM1G +17.0478
17.5": extremely faint, very small, round, 10"-15" diameter. Appears as a low surface brightness knot requiring averted vision. Located 2.9' NNW of N5490 in a group. IC 983 = UGC 9061 = MCG +03-36-068 = CGCG 103-098 = Arp 117
17.5": not seen initially as I was looking for a large object, but at 280x I picked up a small 20" glow just 1.5' NW of mag 8.6 SAO 100889. This was the small core and the large, low surface brightness halo was overpowered by the nearby bright star. NGC 5490C = MCG +03-36-069 = CGCG 103-100 = Arp 79
17.5": extremely faint, xmall, round, 20" diameter, low surface brightness. Located 4.7' NE of N5490 in a group and 7' south of IC 983 in the N5490 group (LGG 376). UGC 9078 = MCG +03-36-077 = CGCG 103-111 = NPM1G +17.0483 = LGG 376-003
17.5": very faint, small, slightly elongated 25"x20", very weak even concentration. A mag 12.7 star lies 3' SE. Member of the N5490 group and located 19' nearly due E. Further north in Bootes, I was hoping to snag a compact trio of three edge-on UGC galaxies to the east of NGC 5589/5590. I was only able to see the brighter two UGCs but I was pleased to find two additional galaxies (MCG +06-32-024 and -025 in the same high power field.
MCG +06-32-024
17.5": very faint, small, elongated 4:3, 0.4'x0.3'. A close trio of UGC galaxies (UGC 9233/35/38 lies 8' NE and MCG +06-32-025 is 6' N. Located 30' following N5590. MCG +06-32-025 = NPM1G +35.0311
17.5": very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. A mag 14 star lies 2.1' S. A close trio of UGC galaxies (two seen) is just 4' NE and M+06-32-024 is 6' S. Located 33' E of N5590. UGC 9233 = MCG +06-32-028 = CGCG 192-016
17.5": very faint, small, very elongated 4:1 NW-SE, 0.6'x0.15', low surface brightness. Forms a close pair with nearby edge-on U09235 1.7' ESE and MCG +06-32-025 is 4' SW. UGC 9235 = MCG +06-32-029 = CGCG 192-017
17.5": very faint, very small, very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE, 0.4'x0.15'. Forms a very close pair with U09233 1.7' NW. A mag 14.5 star lies 26" NW of center. The third faint edge-on, U09238 3.1' ENE was not seen. Also in the field to the SW are MCG +06-32-024 and MCG +06-32-025. Steve Gottlieb
14 09 57.3 +17 32 44
V = 12.1; Size 2.4x2.0; SB = 13.8; PA = 5d
14 09 51.3 +17 35 14
Size 0.25x0.20
14 10 04.4 +17 44 02
V = 11.7; Size 5.4x4.7; SB = 15.1; PA = 120d
14 10 07.0 +17 36 57
V = 13.9; Size 1.1x0.8; SB = 13.6
14 11 17.9 +17 30 23
V = 13.2; Size 1.5x1.1; SB = 13.6; PA = 20d
14 24 12.1 +35 08 46
Size 0.6x0.4
14 24 18.4 +35 14 34
Size 0.4x0.3
14 24 34.9 +35 16 48
Size 1.3x0.5; PA = 132d
14 24 42.0 +35 16 01
V = 14.4; Size 1.0x0.4; SB = 13.2; PA = 75d