Observation Log - April 1, 2000 - Tinton Falls, NJ

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NGC4438/4435, two galaxies in Virgo. NGC 4438 is on the left, magnitude 10.1, length 9'.1. NGC 4435 is on the right, magnitude 10.9, length 3'.0. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4. This is a composite of 21 images with a total integration time of 48 minutes.Images were processed with dark frame removal, flat frame, then compositing, MaxIm Digital Development (FFT low-pass, mild hardness), and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 8:42 p.m. and 10:37 p.m. the evening of the 31st. This image has a fairly high contrast stretch, and would be considerably improved with the addition of another 20 or 30 minutes of integration time.

M87/NGC4478, two elliptical galaxies in Virgo. M87 is on the left, magnitude 8.6, dimensions 8'.3 x 6'.6, distance 55 million light years. NGC 4478 is on the right, magnitude 11.2, length 2'.0. Images were taken using the f/6.3 focal reducer, for an effective f/ratio of f/4. This is a composite of 12 images with a total integration time of 24 minutes.Images were processed with dark frame removal, flat frame, then compositing, and finally a contrast stretch. Images were taken between 11:27 p.m. and 11:58 p.m. the evening of the 31st. I am suspicious that the two small objects at about the 4:30 position relative to M87 might be two tiny galaxies. I also performed a special processing on this image using MaxIm Digital Development (FFT low-pass, mild hardness). This process brings out the peculiar jet of material that emminates from the core of M87 (pointing toward the 2 o'clock position. It is believed that this jet is ionized gas (plasma) being ejected from a black hole at the core of M87. Also notice the star next to the core of NGC 4478. This object is overwhelmed by the glow of the galaxy in a normal-contrast image.

NGC4476/4478, two elliptical galaxies in Virgo, along with M87. After taking the images of M87 above, I moved the field over a bit and imaged NGC 4476 and NGC 4478. After processing, I realized that my two fields actually overlapped enough for me to make this composite image showing all three galaxies. M87 is on the left, NGC 4478 in the center, and NGC 4476 on the right. NGC 4476 is a magnitude 12.3 galaxy, 1'.9 in diameter. This composite was made from 24 images totally 27 minutes.