Roger Ivester: Christian; Amateur Astronomer; Cyclist; Freelance Writer And Blogger

Posted December 15, 2015 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

The late Al Nagler (founder and owner of Televue Optics) and myself at the 2017 Southern Star Astronomy Convention in Little Switzerland, North Carolina.

My 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Model DS-10A (pictured below, and sold in February 2026) as it had become just too large and heavy for me to use on a regular basis. However, the 10-inch served me well for 34 years and ~2,000 hours under a night sky. I also sold my 102 mm Vixen refractor this year (2026) also in the photo below. I still have four telescopes, which should be enough. 🙂

The 6-inch f/6 Newtonian is (pictured below) “now”my largest telescope” since February 2026.

I can use the 6-inch on either of two mounts: A Vixen GP equatorial, which allows me to set up in my backyard, or even take to a dark site. My Celestron CGE-Pro GoTo mount must be used from my back deck only, due to the size and weight. I keep the Celestron mount in a deck-shed on my back deck, which is secure and very weather proof.

The following 80mm f/5 refractor was a birthday gift to me from my son, Brad…so this is a special telescope.

If I observe from my deck, using the Celestron CGE-Pro mount, I can only see objects no further south than +05Âş N latitude, due to my house obstructing the view. So, I use the above pictured mount (Vixen GP) for portability as I’m able to carry out into my backyard with ease. I need to do this to see southern hemisphere deep-sky objects.

I plan to spend more time viewing large swatches of the southern sky nebulae, using the 80 mm refractor. And, I like the thought of observing with small economical telescopes.

4.5-inch f/8 Newtonian as following:

This telescope was given to me by a friend who just wanted to get it out of her house. Libby wanted to know if I could find a new and worthy owner. However, after evaluating, collimating and making other adjustments…I decided this telescope was for me! It’s really an excellent little telescope and deserves to be used.

Some of my fondest memories were made almost 40 years ago (1977) using my first telescope, which was an Edmund 4.25-inch f/10 EQ reflector which was very similar to the 4.5-inch f/8. And with both having spherical mirrors and longer focal lengths, by todays standards.

I’ll never forget how excited I was when seeing galaxies M81 and 82 for the first time with that 4.25-inch Edmund reflector. In my mind on that night…I became a real amateur astronomer. A moment in time I’ll never forget!

When I’m out under a night sky with this 4.5-inch f/8 reflector, it takes me back to my younger days with the Edmund scope…which is great feeling for sure!

For over 15 years and 185 consecutive months (ending June 2024) myself, beginning with Fred Rayworth and the later years with Sue French compiled and issued the Observer’s Challenge report.

Due mostly (in-part) to Sue’s notoriety, writing “Deep-Sky Wonder’s” S&T magazine for 20 years: The Observer’s Challenge report has received well over 100,000 world-wide downloads (to-date). The following link is still available for all to use as a reference for about 250 deep-sky objects, and all of the 185 monthly reports are included.

https://rogerivester.com/category/observers-challenge-reports-complete/

My other interest is a cycling, with about 135,000 miles to-date. I began riding in June 1979, but never thought that one day I’d be able to log 100,000 miles. However, it would take me 29 years to achieve this feat, which occurred in October 2009.

A few examples of my pencil sketches as following which were made at the telescope eyepiece without any embellishments or computer enhancements.

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The Most Difficult Objects Of The Herschel-400 List

Posted March 13, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles, Virgo Diamond: Faint Five Star Asterism

Galaxy NGC 6118 (Serpens) and open cluster NGC 6540 (Sagittarius).  

If you are considering taking on the Herschel-400 list:  If can see these two objects, it’s very likely you will be able to see all of the other 398 objects. This is contingent on having an unobstructed sky, and with a minimum of light pollution 

During the winter of 1994, I began my effort to see as many of the H-400 objects as possible from my suburban backyard.  Due to light pollution, trees and obstructions, I knew it would be impossible for me to see the entire list.  I started in earnest and dedicated “the majority of my observing time” for about two years to the list. Many of the small open clusters gave me a problem and were difficult to identify.  I called many of these clusters “non-existent” in my notes.    

I made notes of all the ~250 objects, and sometimes with a pencil sketch of those worthy of a sketch. However, due to trees, houses and light pollution over two year period, I called it quits.  

My story of seeing NGC 6118, which was very difficult from my suburban backyard using a 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian. I never attempted open cluster NGC 6540, due to its more southerly sky position with severe light pollution.

…I attempted two very early morning observing sessions in March and April of 2024 from my suburban backyard, but again without success. A dark site is really needed to observe any low-surface-brightness galaxy, especially one as dim and faint as NGC 6118.

However, traveling to a dark-site has been over for me now for many years. The disassembly of a heavy equatorial mount and handling a large solid-tube Newtonian, loading, driving, unloading, reassembly, and then having to do it all again, became just too much. I will continue to do my best from the backyard.

Many years ago, I assembled light-block system, made of heavy-duty automotive-marine fabric. This simple, but effective structure has helped me on many occasions over the years to see difficult and faint deep-sky objects. The light-block system is especially helpful in some areas of the southern sky, where light pollution is significant. It’s easy to set up and take down. When the fabric is removed and folded for storage, the steel post and plastic-coated wires remain and are hardly noticeable.

I attribute my ability to finally see NGC 6118 was due to blocking a very bright LED carport light less than 1/8 mile away. This light was shining directly toward my backyard, and brightening up the area of my telescope and observing location significantly. Due to the light pollution in my southern sky…I never even considered open cluster NGC 6540.

Saturday morning; May 11th 2024 @ 1:00 AM, with a 5.0 NELM overhead, but far less in the sky near NGC 6118, due to overlooking the town of Boiling Springs.

With a bit of difficulty and after almost an hour of careful observing, I was finally able to see the galaxy. My portable “make-shift” observatory was the answer to finally seeing this faint and difficult object from my suburban backyard.

I really don’t think this galaxy would be that difficult from a dark-site, and with my 10-inch Newtonian. However, as I’ve mentioned previously, my days of traveling with a telescope have been over for a few years now. I just love the convenience of my backyard and seeing a galaxy this faint, proves that a suburban backyard can still allow effective deep-sky observing.

Description: A tiny and subtle brighter middle, which resembles that of a planetary nebula. And like so many planetary nebulae, when using direct vision, vanishes or winks out. I now know why NGC 6118 is known as “The Blinking Galaxy.” The galaxy has a very faint and diffuse halo with mottling, which is oriented NE-SW.

Roger Ivester

The following are some excerpts from an article by Jay Reynolds Freeman concerning his success in seeing all of the H-400 objects using a Vixen 55 mm f/8 fluorite refractor. Yes…a 55mm refractor!

     “Seduced by exquisite optics and compact size, I bought a used Vixen 55 mm f/8 refractor, whose objective used the optical material fluorite, in April, 1998. To replace by attitude what it lacked in size, I repainted the tube, and named the telescope Refractor Red, for its new, fluorescent color. I mounted it on an altazimuth mounting from an 80 mm refractor, then set out in pursuit of all the Messier objects. I anticipated the search would not be difficult, for three of my previous Messier surveys had been with less aperture. So I decided to try something harder, too — the Astronomical League’s “Herschel 400″ list. That modern selection from the brighter objects discovered by Sir William Herschel, would be challenging.” 

“…As word of my project got around, curious fellow observers asked whether I had tried their favorite difficult Herschel-400 targets. I kept hearing about NGC 6118 and NGC 6540. The former is an obliquely viewed low surface brightness spiral galaxy in eastern Serpens Caput,the latter a little cluster in Sagittarius. One June night, I looked for both from Fremont Peak State Park, a popular observing site near San Juan Bautista, California.” 

“Uncommonly good transparency and an incomplete fog layer on the coastal plain below made the high sky quite dark. The North American Nebula was easy with the naked eye: I could detect the “Gulf of Mexico”within it. I looked for NGC 6118 with two eyepieces, alternating between my 12 mm Brandon and a 20 mm Meade Research Grade Erfle, which gave 22x and a 2.5 mm exit pupil.” 

“With each eyepiece, I saw a faint, diffuse, and not very centrally concentrated glow, popping in and out at the limit of averted vision, at the charted position. Jiggling the telescope, or moving it slightly with the slow motions, helped a bit. The glow was detectable only ten or twenty percent of the time, but it kept reappearing at the same place. Since I did not see similar fluctuations of intensity at random places in the field, I logged it. That was the toughest object in my Herschel-400 survey with Refractor Red.”

“Its difficulty might stem from not having nearly as large or bright a center as most other galaxies. A bright core seems to draw the eye, and to give the brain a reference point for locating the fainter, outer periphery of the object. Since I had an equally good view at 22x and 37x, I suspect that a magnification between those values might have best suited NGC 6118 that night.” 

“Unfortunately, I had not brought a suitable eyepiece. Herschel described NGC 6540 as a faint, sparse, relatively small open cluster, yet what _Millennium_Star_Atlas_ plots is a ten arc-minute globular. Using the 12 mm Brandon, I saw a six or seven arc-minute unresolved circular glow, just barely brighter than the background of the Sagittarius Milky Way, with a smaller, brighter core superimposed.” 

…NGC 6540, was easier than NGC 6118. 

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Orion Model CT-80 f/5 Achromatic Refractor: A Small Telescope Capable Of Showing Hundreds Of Deep-Sky Objects Even The Entire Messier Catalog From A Dark Site

Posted March 10, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Orion 80mm CT-80 Refractor

The 80 mm f/5 refractor has a fully coated objective lens with one baffle to reduce reflections. A small telescope that has really surprised me with its excellent performance when observing galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and even double stars.

The telescope reviewed and discussed here is an Orion 80 mm achromatic refractor telescope, model CT-80. However, this telescope is no longer available since the closure of Orion Telescope and Binoculars in June 2024. There are many 80 mm refractors available, including apochromatic or ED which are designed primarily for astrophotography.

This 80 mm refractor telescope was a surprise birthday gift from my son, Brad.  So, this is a special telescope to me, and I have no desire to have a premium doublet or triplet.

This telescope was sold as an optical tube assembly only, without any accessories. I have always used an amici diagonal for use with refractors primarily for sketching deep-sky objects, scientifically correct.

Note: I did a review of this “very diagonal” for Orion, which was posted on their site until their closure.

I’ve read quite a few negative articles concerning issues with an amici prism diagonal. However, when comparing many different objects over several nights comparing this diagonal to a “premium enhanced mirror diagonal” costing more than three times the amount….

Conclusion: I could not see or determine any difference when comparing resolution of double stars, contrast in faint nebulae, star magnitudes or viewing of other deep-sky objects.

A refractor with the employ of a standard diagonal, and also Schmidt-Cassegrain or Maksutov’s present a mirror image reversed views.

An example of a correct oriented pencil sketch, indicating the cardinal points.

The Orion CT-80 has a beautiful pearl-white clear coated paint job and was ready to use out of the box. The scope works extremely well with a Vixen GP equatorial mount. The telescope and mount, including a three-pound counterweight can all be carried outside in one trip. 

A good quality equatorial mount is just as important as the telescope.

From the “Observing Handbook and Catalog of Deep-Sky Objects” by Luginbuhl and Skiff regarding using a couple of 60mm refractors in the survey for the handbook…

“Despite its comparatively small size, this sort of instrument is quite useful for deep-sky observing. From a dark site all of the objects in Messier’s list are visible, and some of the best views of galactic nebulae are obtained with these telescopes at very low power.” Luginbuhl and Skiff

When focusing the telescope on planetary features or double stars, they would “snap into focus” which is an indicator of good optics.

My first target was the beautiful double star, Castor in Gemini.  I started with 33x, but this was not enough magnification, but with the employ of a 2.8x Barlow, increasing the magnification to 93x the double was cleanly separated.

The next object was the trapezium in Orion. The four primary components were crisp and clean even at 33x. When increasing the magnification to 93x, the four primary stars were a beautiful sight indeed. The Orion Nebula appeared very bright with excellent contrast.

Galaxies M81 and M82, located in Ursa Major, have always been two of my favorite galaxies. Both galaxies fit nicely within a large 1.8º field of view at a 33x magnification. A beautiful sight!  This took me back more than forty years (1977) when I first observed this galaxy pair with a 4.25-inch f/10 EQ Edmund Newtonian. The portability of this telescope and mount will likely improve my number of deep-sky observations.

After 34 years (and more than 2,000 hours under a night sky) I sold my 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian (February 2026) which had just become too heavy and difficult to set up and take down on a regular basis. This was actually a hard decision to make, but now I realize it was a good decision. I also sold my 102mm Vixen refractor (January 2026) after almost 30 years. My largest telescope now is a 6-inch f/6 EQ Newtonian, which offers excellent aperture with good portability.

And if needed, I can take the 6-inch to a dark site using the same Vixen GP mount that is also used with the 80 mm refractor. It’s also great to be able to “minimize”on the number of equatorial mounts needed. This is maximum utilization of storage space and maximum utilization of equatorial mounts or astronomy equipment.

So, now my primary telescopes are now a 6-inch f/6 Newtonian and the 80 mm f/5 refractor. The sale of the 10-inch and 102mm telescopes has opened up so much space in two closets. The 10-inch was a really heavy and large telescope as can be seen in the following photo.

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My First Photo Of The Moon Using An Orion 80mm Refractor Telescope And A Nikon D3300 DSLR Camera: By Debbie Ivester

Posted March 9, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

 

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I used an Orion 80mm f/5 refractor telescope and a Nikon D3300 camera for my very first photo of the moon:

Other attempts of the moon:

Easy enough to attach the camera to the telescope:

I changed the “single-screw” attachment ring on the back of the telescope, to a more secure “carbon-fiber” ring with two-screws to more securely hold the camera: Debbie

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The 29-Inch f/4.5 Don Brooks Telescope Which Is One Of The Largest Privately Owned Telescopes In The Region

Posted February 20, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

An observing event was held last night (February 19th 2026) on the campus of Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, featuring a custom made 29-inch telescope by Don Brooks. Don has been active in amateur astronomy for many years, and is currently the President of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society.

It should also be noted: Longtime CCAS member, Steve Davis also attended the event last night. Steve works at the “Bare Dark Sky Observatory at Mayland Earth to Sky Park” and is an operator of the 34-inch telescope. The facility is located in Burnsville, NC and the 34-inch telescope is one of the largest public telescopes in the southeastern US.

I’ve been friends with both Don and Steve for more than 30 years.

The telescope:

It has a 29-inch mirror which was produced by Coulter Optics in California during the 80’s. No one seems to know “definitively” how many 29-inch mirrors were produced. Don is aware of “possibly” eight to ten. However, I communicated with an amateur on (February 20th 2026) living in Minnesota who has one in storage, which would add to the count.

Don built everything (other than the mirror and the focuser) which was an extraordinary task. A mirror this size has incredible weight and the mirror cell must be built strong enough to properly hold and secure without causing stress to the mirror. Building only the mirror cell is an engineering feat in itself.

I can’t properly convey just how difficult building a telescope this size would be, and the mechanical skills required.

Below: Don gets the telescope ready for the evening.

The mirror cell designed and build by Don, is both beautiful and strong with 27-points of support.

Photo of the moon through the telescope using a cellphone:

Screenshot

Custom Focuser:

Rocker Box:

The following photos are from Monday, February 23rd 2026. The temperature was below freezing….not too bad, but with a @ 15-20 mph NW wind!

Don Brooks and Billy Fisher setting up the telescope. It became too cold for me, and had to leave shortly after sunset.

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After 34 Years: Time For Another Amateur To Own This Large Newtonian

Posted February 14, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

In about 1991, I began looking for something larger than my 4.5-inch reflector which I was using at that time. The Meade Deep-Space series Newtonian’s consisted of two telescopes: A 10-inch and 16-inch f/4.5 with equatorial mounts.

This was at a time when Meade was building their serious Newtonian’s in their Costa Mesa, facility, which included grinding and polishing mirrors.  All of the hardware, bolts and Allen heads on these telescopes and mounts are SAE, not metric, which goes back to days past.

Astronomy Magazine tested a 10-inch DS-10A (The 10A was an updated version with a 2-inch focuser, setting circles, and RA drive) with the magazine giving the test mirror a rating of a B+.  

So, in February 1992, I purchased the 10-inch from Pauli’s Wholesale Optics, in Danbury Connecticut. It was Fred (the owner of Pauli’s) that recommended this telescope. It was a good decision as I have been successful in making more than 1,500 deep-sky pencil sketches and thousands of observing notes.

The low pedestal mount is ideal for use with an astro-chair, when making observing notes and pencil sketches at the eyepiece. As for me, it’s impossible to observe and sketch while standing.

The new owner of this fabulous telescope which served me well for 34 years. I spent over 2,000 hours under a night sky and thousands of pencil sketches of deep-sky objects, and the scope is still in pristine condition. The telescope was always stored inside and in a padded zip-up bag.

It was a sad day, but a happy day as the “perfect amateur” came to take this scope. I’m sure it will allow him at least 34 years of deep-sky observing also.

The first night out (Friday February 13th 2026) the new owner has already imaged the Orion Nebula, Jupiter and other deep-sky objects. This is actually an imaging telescope, with the mirror moved up for full illumination, and with an RA drive, which I never used. An extender tube is required for visual observing.

The new owner is a professional high-speed video camera expert for industrial applications and also an experienced amateur astronomer.

Yes….the very first images and on the very first night out! I’d say pretty impressive!

Orion Nebula:

Jupiter

M42 (with night vision) I’d like to encourage more people to get into Night Vision Astro.

Galaxy M82

Double Cluster

M1 the Crab Nebula

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T Corona Borealis: February 2026 Still Waiting And Watching

Posted February 7, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: T Corona Borealis

The last outburst of T occurred February 9th 1946…80 years ago.  Renowned variable star observer, Leslie Peltier missed the event due to an illness and went back to bed, and seemingly never forgave himself.  He had planned his observation for 2:30 AM.

Coordinates: RA: 15h 59m Dec. +25Âş 55m

The first observed outburst of T Corona Borealis occurred on the night of May 12th 1866, and the star when noticed was about the brightness as Alpha Coronae, magnitude 2.2. (Source: Burnham’s Celestial Handbook; Volume Two; Page 708)

My latest cell photos as following: I hope to keep this effort up, but at the moment…only if I wake up in the early AM. It will be quite a while before Corona Borealis becomes an evening constellation. For those with an interest in keeping up with T, it is in excellent sky position at about 3:00 AM and later as of (February through May and beyond) 2026.)

Following photos: I’ll post the most current or recent first, and drop off the last, and maintaining about ten photos or nights for review.

Where is T located in the constellation? The following photo is from wikisky.org and has T marked with an X and inside the box.

March 17th 2026 @ 4:34 AM

March 15th 2026 @ 3:32 AM

March 13th 2026 @ 2:46 AM

Monday February 16th 2026 @ 2:31AM

Monday: February 16th @ 2:32 AM

February 13th 2026 @ 4:48AM EST: Corona Borealis is really high in the sky at this time, but in excellent position.

Thursday, February 12th @ 3:15 AM (The handle of Ursa Major in the upper left and Arcturus to the right)

I removed or deleted many cellphone photos, but have included my first photo from April 26th 2025:

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Open Cluster IC 4665 In Ophiuchus: Deep-Sky Wonders

Posted February 5, 2026 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

From “Deep-Sky Wonders” Walter Scott Houston: selections and commentary by Stephen James O’Meara:   

“Many years ago Glen Chaple, Jr., of Townsend, Massachusetts, “discovered” a deep-sky object in Ophiuchus; he found about two dozen stars forming a group which could be glimpsed with the naked eye.  He likened the cluster to the Praesepe in Cancer, but was not plotted on his copy of “Norton’s Star Atlas.” The object does, however, have a name.  It is IC 4665 and is listed in the “Index Catalogue” to the NGC. In those days of stargazing, serious deep-sky observers soon learned that no single atlas can suit all their needs. Today, of course, IC 4665 is plotted on most modern star charts.” WSH

Now from Sue French “Deep-Sky Wonders” A Tour of the Universe With Sky & Telescope’s Sue French as following:

“The splashy open cluster IC 4665 is barely within the boundary of the Milky Way on the atlas. It’s easy to spot 1.3Âş north-northest of Beta Ophiuchi, which shares the field of view through binoculars or a finderscope. In my 15×45 image-stabilized binoculars, the cluster’s prominent core spans more sky than the full Moon, and loosely scattered outliers to 70′. Half its 40 stars outline a rough circlet with one star at its center and a stem that leads westward to a slightly wavy line tipped north-northwest. To me, it looks like a simplistic drawing of a flower springing up from a gently undulating patch of the ground. Finish amateur Jaakko Saloranta comes away with a different impression. Through his 80mm refractor, he sees the group as the Fish Spear of Poseidon. ” Sue French

Magnitude: 4.2 Size: 70′

Coordinates: RA 17h 46′ Dec. +05Âş 43′

The following image from wikisky.org

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Nine-Galaxies Visible In Virgo Within A 1Âş FoV When Centered On M86: March 16th 1999

Posted December 31, 2025 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

I first found out about the Virgo cluster (nine-galaxies all in a 1Âş FoV) from Tom Lorenzin, author of “1000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing” on the evening of the Vernal Equinox 1994. 

Tom asked me if I’d ever viewed all nine galaxies within a 1° field of view, when centered on M86. I had not, but was most anxious to give it a try. However, It would be years later, on the night of March 16th 1999, before I was able to observe the galaxy group.

With my 10-inch f/4.5 reflector using a 20mm UO Erfle eyepiece for a magnification of 57x and a 1.1Âş true field. However, I could not see three of the fainter galaxies at this magnification.

So, I was able to sketch six of the galaxies, then increased to 160x using the 20mm EP and a 2.8x Barlow and spotted the fainter ones. I then sketched the three faint galaxies in their appropriate positions and tried my best to draw them to scale.  Very faint galaxies “most often” require greater magnification, especially if they have a brighter surface brightness and well concentrated.  

My notes are as follows from March 16th 1999

M84: Bright, with a brighter more concentrated middle, and a mostly round shape.

M86: Bright, brighter middle, round, very similar to M84 but not as well concentrated.

NGC 4387: A very faint mostly round blur. Difficult at best requiring averted vision.

NGC 4388: Low surface brightness, elongated slash with an E-W orientation.

NGC 4402: Very faint slash, low surface brightness.

NGC 4413: Very faint and dim, small, very diffuse with little concentration, mostly round.

NGC 4425: Very faint, elongated, axis NS, small and dim.

NGC 4435: Fairly bright, mostly round, stellar nucleus, smaller than NGC 4438.

NGC 4438: Bright, elongated, with a brighter middle.

The following image from wikisky.org 

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Replacing A 15 Year Old Celestron CGE-Pro NexStar Hand Controller With A NEW NexStar +

Posted December 28, 2025 by rogerivester
Categories: Roger's Articles

For the past year or more, my Celestron CGE-Pro mount was seemingly having a difficult time centering selected deep-sky objects. The motors also did not sound good at times when moving to the selected objects. I also had to perform a factory reset on the settings every few months.

Rather than updating the firm ware for a 15 year “maybe older” hand controller, my son Brad, surprised me with a new Celestron NexStar+. However, I was concerned if it would be compatible with the older mount, but I’m happy to say…it worked perfectly!

I first updated all my site settings using the new hand controller, which is an easy task using my iPhone compass feature for the time, latitude, and longitude. There are other settings such as DST or Standard, and a few others.

Last night, and with a bright moon, I wanted to verify the mount and hand controller in all functions. I began the sequence of the mount start-up. Then the three-star alignment, which after the first star, were all centered in the telescope field-of-view.

The first thing I noticed was the two motors sounded much smoother. I was actually getting concerned the motors might be having problems. I’d read in an article a jerky motion or sound of the motors was a sign that a motor might be going bad. So, I was now feeling really good, but how would the GoTo function perform when locating deep-sky objects?

My first object was the Andromeda galaxy, and with the sound of both motors, and going in different directions, I anxiously waited for it to stop. I then looked into the eyepiece and the galaxy was perfectly centered! The next object would be planetary nebula M57, far to the west from Andromeda, which would make for a great test. The planetary…like Andromeda was “perfectly centered” in the eyepiece. I then selected about 15 other deep-sky objects, including a few double stars. Everything worked perfectly. I was excited to say the least!

I’m so appreciative to Brad for my new hand controller. Despite not ever using the mount, he always seemed to know much more than me, and all the way from the west coast. 🙂 Electronics and electrical stuff are his thing and occupation...not mine for sure.

The CGE-Pro mount has bronze gears and was the most heavy-duty mount ever sold by Celestron, with a 90 pound payload.

The mount works well with a 6-inch Newtonian also as following:

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Galaxy NGC 470 And 474 With Missing Matter

Posted December 25, 2025 by rogerivester
Categories: Galaxies NGC 470 and 474 Missing Matter

Is it possible for the very faint halo (as seen in images) of galaxy NGC 474 to be seen visually with a large telescope. I would classify a large telescope as having an aperture of 25-inches or greater? There have been reports in the past, using telescopes in the 18-20 inch range, but I can’t confirm this. I wanted an actual definitive observation of the halo and with documentation to report.

So, this was the question I posed to large telescope owner and observer, Steve Gottlieb via Cloudy Nights.

The outer halo of NGC 474 was examined closely at 375x for evidence of the outer, concentric shells and circular streams that are visible on deep images.  Immediately there was a strong sense of arcs from two or more different shells. The easiest arc to confirm was the outermost on the eastern side, which curves south from a mag 13.3 star situated 3.3′ NE of center.  The arc passes through a mag 16.3 star and extends 30°-40°.  A second outer arc on the northeast side is half the distance (~1.6′) to the center.  This arc has a stronger curvature and measures roughly 60°.  Only a single outer arc (slightly more difficult to confirm) was noted on the southwest side, 2′-2.5′ from center.  My rough sketch shows it also curving ~60°.  Additional inner arcs or ripples were strongly sensed in the main halo of the galaxy, but were too subtle and fleeting to pinpoint locations.  The center was sharply concentrated with a very prominent 1′ core.  The core itself was sharply concentrated to a small, blazing nucleus. Steve Gottlieb

NGC 474 Galaxy Cluster galaxy cluster (or group) consists of three relatively bright galaxies. They are: NGC 467 (mag. 12.9), NGC 470 (mag. 12.5), and NGC 474 (mag. 12.4). This is a fascinating little trio of galaxies, especially because the catalogued largest one, NGC 474, does not visually appear as large as nearby NGC 470. The reason is that NGC 474 has an outer halo that is extremely faint. It has been seen in 18-inch instruments and larger as just a faint brightening of the black background.

My observations on Thursday, December 1, 1994, included three spiral galaxies in Pisces, NGC 467, NGC 470, and NGC 474, each separated by only a few minutes of arc. It became apparent immediately that NGC 470 was the largest and most easily seen of the group, but when I referred to the NGC 2000.0 Catalogue, it listed NGC 474 as being over twice as large as either NGC 470 or NGC 467. 

At this point, I concluded that NGC 474 must have a halo that could not be seen visually, or at least not from my back yard. The next day I located a photo of this group, but it did not show a faint outer arm, nor was any halo apparent. The view appeared very similar to what I had seen through my telescope. 

I decided that another observation was needed, and made a note in my log to “view at next session.” On Monday, December 16, I went to a dark site in the South Mountains about 30 minutes north of Boiling Springs, North Carolina. This would prove to be the perfect site for another observation, notes and a sketch of these three galaxies. I saw NGC 474 as round, diffuse and with a brighter nucleus. NGC 470, appeared elongated, diffuse, and twice as large as NGC 474. 

Next, NGC 467 appeared round, faint halo, with a brighter nucleus, and situated a few minutes N of an 8th magnitude star. It was almost the same apparent size as NGC 474. All three galaxies were very easy to locate, relatively bright, and showed excellent contrast.  Again I was bothered concerning the size listing of NGC 474.  My sources indicated that it was the largest of these galaxies, but NGC 470 was clearly the largest in my telescope and in a photo that I had looked at earlier.  Could there be an error in the 7.9” size I read from the NGC 2000 Catalogue, an error which was perpetuated by the other sources? A table of diameters (in arc minutes) from different sources is listed below: 

Source: 

NGC 2000.0:   NGC 470: 3.0  NGC 474: 7.9 

Burnham’s Celestial Handbook:   NGC 470:  1.7 x 1.1   NGC 474:  0.4 x 0.4 

Tom Lorenzin’s 1000+:  NGC 470:  3.2   NGC 474:  8.0 

The Observer’s Guide, Nov/Dec 1991:  NGC 470:  3.0 x 2.0   NGC 474:  7.9 x 7.2 

Deep Sky Field Guide to Uranometria 2000.0:  NGC 470: 3.0 x 1.8   NGC 474: 10.0 x 9.2 

Astronomy Magazine, January 1993:   NGC 470: 3.0 x 2.0   NGC 474:  7.9 x 7.2 

Luginbuhl & Skiff, Observing Handbook & Catalog:  NGC 470:  3.0 x 2.0   NGC 474:  7.9 x 7.2 

I expressed my concern to Tom English, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at GardnerWebb University, who promptly gathered all available reference material on NGC 474 from his extensive astronomy library at the University. Tom called me on Saturday afternoon, January 7, and invited me to research the data. While I was busy checking each source, Tom was checking the Sky & Telescope Cumulative Index to locate past issues with information on NGC 474. Tom left the lab and returned with a March 1988 issue of Sky & Telescope with a research note on the galaxy and an accompanying photo. 

My quest was about to end: 

On page 244, there was the photo that would resolve the problem. It showed both NGC 470 and NGC 474 overexposed, with a very faint halo surrounding the latter. A quick measurement of each galaxy in the photo showed that, with the halo considered, NGC 474 is indeed about 2 ½ times the size of NGC 470, consistent with the NGC 2000 listings. A closer look at the list of sources gives an indication that this pair has been a source of confusion to many observers. 

It also reveals that cataloged information tends to propagate from one publication to the next. We all use various catalogs for background information (such as size and magnitude) as we set our observing agendas, and too often we do not follow up on this information by making actual measurements ourselves. 

In the Nov/Dec issue of The Observer’s Guide, I saw my frustration mirrored in the statement that NGC 474 “is much smaller than its catalog size. Apparently, its outer halo is so faint that it is not visible.” 

Image from: wikisky.org (Note the expanded very faint halo of NGC 474, which cannot be seen visually)

The following image with identifications by James Dire, from Earl, North Carolina, using an Orion 150mm Maksutov-Newtonian f/5.3 and a Parallax mount. December 2009

My pencil sketch as following using a 10-inch f/4.5 EQ Newtonian with charcoal on black card stock at the telescope eyepiece.

Roger Ivester 1994

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