Object of the Week Dec 24,2023-UGC 8091 a Holiday Globe of Stars

[Jimi Lowrey]

UGC 8091
Virgo
RA 12 58 39
Dec +14 13 09
Mag V 14.3
Type Dwarf Irregular

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I am traveling for the Holidays so forgive my brief post.

I ran across this galaxy image the other day from the Hubble Space Telescope Team which is for the holidays and since I am posting this on Christmas Eve I thought it would be appropriate. I do not normally post an object that I have not observed but here it is. It looks like a most interesting galaxy and I now have it on my list.
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I want to wish you and your family good health and prosperity in 2024 and hope you have many fantastic nights observing in the new year.

Next time out why not give the star globe galaxy a go.

Good Luck and Great Viewing.

[Steve Gottlieb]

Jimi, you're record of posting only objects you've observed is still intact -- we took a look at it in your scope back on April 2, 2011! This one is quite easy to find -- just 12' WNW of the bright edge-on NGC 4866.

I'm sure it was on my observing list because GR 8 (another name for UGC 8091) is at the edge - or just beyond - the gravitationally bound Local Group. The name GR 8 comes from the Gibson Reeves, who discovered a number of candidate Virgo dwarfs for his PhD thesis in the mid-1950s (published paper here (https://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-journal_query?volume=61&plate_select=NO&page=69&plate=&cover=&journal=AJ...)). It's also known as the "Footprint Galaxy" (not to be confused with Minkowski's Footprint). I believe the nickname may be from Vorontsov-Velyaminov who described the galaxy as the "Imprint of a foot" in the VV Atlas of Interacting Galaxies, Part II (VV 558). It's also included in Zwicky's 8th list (VIII Zw 222) and described as "Post-eruptive, very irregular galaxy with many blue knots and streamers."

[Jimi Lowrey]

I recognize the 8 ZW 222 number now that you mentioned it Thanks Steve.

[Uwe Glahn]

Nice object Jumi,

I found three entries for GR 8, starting from 16-inch.

16", 145x, NELM 6m5+
steadily visible with averted vision; round, diffuse glow with 1' diameter; exact form not detectable, interesting object

27", 419x, NELM 6m0+, Seeing IV
direct vision object; slightly elongated with a central peak; very low in the sky

27", 293x-419x, NELM 6m5+, Seeing III
faint but direct vision object; no clear structure but heavily mottled

[Robin]

Yesterday in the early morning I observed this galaxy with my 20" Dobsonian at 256x magnification. It was a tough object. With averted vision I intermittently saw a faint and diffuse patch at the right position. The fascinating aspect is that it is located just beyond the local group rather than next to NGC 4866.
Please find attached my sketch.

Clear skies

Robin

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