Observations of NGC4725

These are the observations available for NGC4725. If you have any of your own that you'd like to submit we'd love to put them on the website.

• Observation Report: NGC 4725 in Coma Berenices

  The second object in my new series – I hope – of observation reports was sparked by our June Picture of the Month: NGC 4725.

  David Davies' astrophotographic search for the outer halo of this galaxy was considered on the forum to be one of the ways that astrophotography can work well with visual observation. So several members have submitted their observations to accompany David's image.

  The forum discussion was varied, and I hope the gentlemen below won't mind me paraphrasing them a little to focus on the observations. It's an interesting thread. I'd encourage members to join the Yahoo Forum (mailing list) and take a look. Perhaps air your own views too.

  It'd be good to spark off joint imaging and visual projects with our monthly features. All contributions are welcome.

  Observation by Andrew Robertson

  

  I thought it timely to post a sketch I made of NGC 4725 from home in South Norfolk using my 600mm Dobsonian. The skies were damp, claggy and failing with a NELM of 5.0 when I made the sketch.

  I observed the object for several minutes trying various powers. At this point I’m just enjoying the view. NB, I call it ‘the Tie Fighter’ as the arcs at either end are very prominent along with the central bar and core. At moments of better transparency the ring all the way around comes into view, I then think it looks like a ‘Theta’ symbol.

  I’m not an artist, I just make a quick crude sketch to assist my record of the observation but as you can see from the attached sketch I enjoyed observing and sketching 3 objects in the space of half an hour.

  Observation by Patrick Maloney

  

  I hold my observing sheet on a clip-board as I look through the eyepiece. In this way, every time a detail comes into view, I can make a note of it straight away. Like you, Andrew, I often spend time just looking at and enjoying the object.

  As to NGC 4725, I observed this object most recently in April last year. My sky conditions were good (for here) giving me a NELM of around 4.5. I noted the following about the galaxy: Bright, pretty large and elongated. There is a brighter central area that is also elongated. Dark lanes were suspected on either side of the nucleus, that to the south east being the clearer. Visible at x83.

  I didn't see the 'Tie-Fighter' effect. I suspect lack of inches and poorer skies hindered me there, though experience tells me that I actually have enough inches, but need a better sky. When I write of suspicions of dark lanes, this is usually prompted by a sharp cutoff of the light in a galaxy, or of a rapid dimming. Having now compared my observation with photographs, I am satisfied that this is the case.

  Observation by Dale Holt

  

  Hi All here is my NGC 4725 sketch.

  Face on mag 9.4 spiral in Coma Berenicies paired with smaller NGC4712 shown in the sketch. Sketch made using 505mm Newt & Watec 120N+ video camera on April-21-2010 noted as very hazy brightest star visible mag 2.5, need to revisit under better conditions, I still haven't!