Sketch of Messier 49 (NGC 4472)
Click image to view larger version.
Observation Notes:
M49 was elongated at a PA of about 170 degrees and steadily condensed toward the center. The core appeared stellar and made a notable pair with a star 1 arc minute to the east. The galaxy appeared to be about 2 x 3 arc minutes in size, which compares to a photographic extent of 7.5 x 9 arc minutes.
Sketch/DSS Photo Comparison of Messier 49 (NGC 4472)
Object Information:
M49 is a member of the Virgo Cluster about 60 million light years away. It is 160,000 light years in diameter along its longest axis. It was the first Virgo Cluster galaxy to be discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. It is also cataloged as NGC 4472, Arp 134, CGCG 042-134, MCG+01-32-083, PGC 041220, UGC 7629, VCC 1226.
| Subject | M49 (NGC 4472) |
| Classification | Elliptical (Type E4) |
| Position* | Virgo [RA: 12:29:46.7 / Dec: +08:00:02] |
| Size* | 9′ x 7.5′ |
| Brightness* | 8.4 vMag |
| Date/Time | APR 21, 2009 – 11:30 PM (APR 22, 2009 – 06:30 UT) |
| Observing Loc. | Flagstaff, Arizona – Home |
| Instrument | Orion SkyQuest XT8 Dobsonian (203 mm dia./1200 mm F/L) |
| Eyepieces/Mag. | Pentax XW10 + 2X Barlow (240X) |
| Conditions | Clear, calm |
| Seeing | 5/10 |
| Transparency | Mag 5.8 NELM |
| *Sources | SEDS; NED; DSS; Starry Night Pro Plus 5 |