NGC 5128, Centaurus A

Primary identifier: NGC 5128
Other identifiers: Centaurus A, ESO 270-9, LEDA 46957, SGC 132233-4245.4, ASSA 055, Ben 60
Type: Galaxy
Magnitude: 7
Diameter: 18' x 14'

RA: 13h 25m 28s
Dec: –43° 01' 09''
Constellation: Cen
Charts: U2000 403, MSA 2:933, SA 21, Discover 02
Visibility: Feb-Sep

Observer: Richard Ford

Date: 2007 April 14/15 (Sat/Sun)
Location: Cape Town (Fairview Dairy Farm, Conterman's Kloof)
Instrument: 8-inch f/7 (Dobsonian)

Sky conditions: The sky overhead is still dark but with a brightened horizon. Atmosphere is stable and temporary turbulence might be observed. Naked-eye limiting magnitude = 4.5

Description: A strange peculiar elliptical galaxy with a dark dust lane bisecting in the middle. It has a moderately small diameter, but suffers from a low surface brightness. It is a particularly difficult object to observe in a small telescope in light polluted skies. It is best seen in a dark country sky using a larger aperture. There are a few individual stars seen near the galaxy. In an 8 inch Newtonian (at 56x) it appears as a faint smudge of light where both sides are evenly bright. The only darker areas of dust that is noticeable is bisecting in the middle of the galaxy.

Other notes by Richard Ford: An unusual galaxy, classified as a S0, but a merger occurred between an elliptical and spiral galaxy. Better known as the Powerful Radio Resource Galaxy.

Observer: Carol Botha

Date: 2007 March 17, 21:10
Location: Betty's Bay
Instrument: 8-inch Dobsonian, 17mm eyepiece

Sky conditions: clear, heavy cloudbank far south

Description: Galaxy. At first I thought it was a globular cluster but then I noticed a dark lane through the middle. I had to double check a reference to determine whether I had indeed found the galaxy. Definitely the thrill of this evening's observing.