Nine-Galaxies Visible In Virgo Within A 1º FoV When Centered On M86: March 16th 1999
I first found out about the Virgo cluster (nine-galaxies all in a 1º 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 1.1º 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
rogerivester.com 