Stephen James O'Meara’s Secret Sky: The thinnest galaxies

April 2011: How many of these slender beauties can you spot?

Contributed by Stephen James O'Meara

Published: February 21, 2011

Larry Mitchell of Houston, Texas, inspired this month’s column. At the May 2010 Texas Star Party, Mitchell handed out a list of 50 edge-on galaxies. He challenged attendees to observe any 20 during the weeklong event. Though I did not attend that star party, Mitchell did send me the list and asked me to try to find some of the brighter ones.

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ALVIN HUEY from CALIFORNIA said:

Those who are interested in finding the super-thins. I've developed an easy to use observer's guide to Larry's 50 plus many more galaxies that is available on my website. Free download. Click on Downloadable Observing Guides link on the left.

www.faintfuzzies.com

Clear skies,
Alvin

BRUCE ERKKILA from NEW MEXICO said:

Thanks for the story on the thin galaxies. I attended TSP last May and I was able to find a few of these galaxies through my 8 inch SC scope. Larry told us Saturday night at the end of the star party that there was one observer with an 8 inch scope that observed all of them on his list. That was awesome. Bruce

RICHARD CORDERO from UTAH said:

I like your photos, hope that I can find them in my 13 inch . I 'm kind of new at finding sky objects in the sky,even though i have a sky scout. Thank you for printing secret sky in the mag.

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