Ngc 2366

[Preston Pendergraft]

I wrote in the so long to 2013 thread that I had finished the Carbon Star Observing program and pin, so I have been looking for another program to begin. One of the programs that caught my eye on the AL website was the Local Group Galactic Neighborhood pin. I have the book on order from the AL, but it didn't arrive today and I am planning on heading out observing Sunday, racing the Moon and taking advantage of the clear skies. I plan on using Sue's wonderful article from the Dec 2013 S&T to look for those galaxies that are in our neighborhood and her article on the ones in Andromeda will be great.

I have been researching nearby galaxies while I wait on this book, and found NGC 2366 listed in a Deep Sky Magazine PDF. I did some google searching and can't find anyone observing this galaxy... so I am turning to the awesome folks at Deep Sky Forum. Just because some thing isn't on google doesn't mean it is an impossible object to observe!

Anyone observe this galaxy? Think it is doable with a 10in SCT? The article in Deep Sky Magazine was written by Tom Polakis and he was using a 13.1in dob (probably an old Coulter).

[Steve Gottlieb]

Hi Preston, I wrote about NGC 2366 and its unusually bright HII region several years ago on Adventures in Deep Space -- http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/april.htm

More recently I included it in the March 2013 "Going Deep" column in Sky & Tel.

[Marko]

If you are going to look for this one a bonus and easy to miss without a chart partner is Ngc2363 although it may be only optically appearing as next to ngc 2366. I observed 2366 in 2009 and I must admit it was a fairly minimal observation from my 18" but here goes:

NGC 2366 Type: Glxy Position: 07 28 53.1 +69 12 44 Con: Cam
Date: 04/18/09 Time: 23:48 Site: WSprDSR
Scope: 18SmF3.7 Eyepiece: 7mmNag Power: 241
NELM: - SQM: 21.70 Seeing: 5 Transparency: 4
Description: ' 6' len 3EL 20dPA SCore Averted required'

Note that I said SQM was 21.7 YIKES that is one of the best nights I have had at the south of bay area Deep Sky Ranch.
I am sure I could have detected a lot more but at that time I was generally in 'marathon mode' and did not stop much to 'smell the galaxies'. Also around that time I think I had discovered my SQM meter was reading too high and bought another so maybe the 21.7 was not the real case.

It is also interesting I said SCore (stellar core) as the only thing on DSS that would seem stellar is far to the south but still within the glow. I wish I had also mentioned if that stellar core was offset from center but again, fairly minimal observations at that point in my experiences.

Certainly worth a re-visit as I also did not note Ngc2363 or the dual bright area in it's south.

[Steve Gottlieb]

Marko, I'm pretty sure the "stellar core" you noted really refers to the giant HII region on the south end of NGC 2366. It's generally identified as NGC 2363, but historically that's incorrect.

[Ivan Maly]

Observing a year ago with my 16" from Cherry Springs I made the following sketch:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KxBbnBasKNk/UUjM3IDKFgI/AAAAAAAAAbk/wR-OsoJIrcA/s1600/2013-02-06+NGC+2366.jpg

The notes to the sketch were added at home:

The sketch of NGC 2366 made at 225x records the very unequal double HII region on the SW end, the core, and what seems to be a distinct star cloud on the NE end. To the W of the SW end of the main galaxy is the companion NGC 2363. I had Steve Gottlieb’s S&T article with me and used the photographs. Herschel described his III.748 as compact with a faint “branch” to the NE, clearly referring to the bright HII region and the main body of the galaxy.

[Uwe Glahn]

Preston,

I also tried NGC 2366 years ago with my 16". A fantastic galaxy with a dominating HII region just as NGC 4861 (http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/NGC4861.htm).

16", 180x, NELM 6m0+, Seeing V
http://www.deepsky-visuell.de/Zeichnungen/NGC2366.jpg

[Marko]

Yes I agree Steve. The only thing that I would have felt was stellar would have been that southern bright area. It is a poor observation and I need to revisit that object. The bright area is far off of center for one thing. MegaStar identifies 2363 as the separate bright area 1.3' to the west of the bright Ha region. Ivan has shown it in his drawing but had not identified it as 2363.

Ngc/Ic project has quite a detailed history of this set of objects and identifies 2363 as to the west of the bright nebulous regions. Have you heard of that site Steve? ;-) Just a joke, Steve's notes make up a major part of Ngc/Ic project notes for those who are not yet aware of that great site which found at http://www.ngcicproject.org/

[Don Pensack]

See also:
http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/ngcic/obs_e.htm
http://www.cseligman.com/text/atlas/ngc00.htm
http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/steve.ngc.htm
http://www.ngcicproject.org/malcolm/default.htm
N2366 and the small cloud N2363 (either a colliding galaxy or a huge star cloud in 2366) are both visible in a 12.5".
From my notes:
2363 may be v.sml brite oval in outskirts of lrg vv.faint 2366: colliding galaxies, or tidal disruption!