Lepus is a tricky constellation for me. For one thing, it's best in very late autumn or mid-winter. If the cold doesn't get you then the cloudy nights do. Lepus is also very low in the south, often near or at my usable horizon limit for faint galaxies. Thus it has taken me many years to complete this constellation. One of the main highlights is not an NGC object, but the famous variable star R. I observe this wonderful object with every opportunity I get! Orion must be very high in the sky before one should attempt objects in Lepus, especially living north of 40 degrees Latitude.
eg 1710: 1.'5 x 1'.2: Vis. 12.7; SB 13.2: A surprisingly difficult object, finally glimpsed at 150x and 183x. It was not small; it was round and very faint. It makes a "L" with two faint stars, south.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1710.jpg
eg 1716: 1'.4 x 0'.8: Vis. 13.1; SB 13.4: Viewed at 136x and 187x, it was faint but distinct. The center was somewhat brighter. It was small and oval, so I was likely only seeing the central area.
eg 1730: 2'.3 x 1': Vis. 12.3; SB 13.1: Seen from my light-polluted back deck, but not officially reported. Later at my dark sky site it was spotted at 100x. It was oval at 150x, lying between two faint stars. Though good at 187x, it was fading at 200x. Hind's Crimson Star (R) is 1 degree north preceding.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1730.jpg
eg 1738: 1'.3 x 0'.7: Vis. 12.9; SB 12.6: 38 is a large oval, and quite faint. It was viewed at 100x
eg 1739: 1'.4 x 0'.7: Vis. 13.5; SB 13.3:] and up to 200x. 39 was just separated from it, and appeared smaller. It was also oval. They were an eyepiece pair even at high power, though not easy to see at the same time.
http://dso-browser.com
eg 1744: 7'4 x 3'.5: Vis. 11.1; SB 14.5: Spotted at 60x, and also viewed at 100x and 125x. It was very faint, large, and hazy. It had a stellar center or a small star deep in there. I had bigger hopes for this object. I observed on a less than perfect night.
http://dso-browser.com
eg 1780: 0'.9 x 0'.5: Vis. 13.7; SB 12.7: Ghostly and exceedingly faint, it was not always on view, and sometimes looked like a fuzzy star. Vaguely oval, but mostly just vague.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1780.jpg
eg 1784: 4'.1 x 2'.6: Vis. 11.7; SB 14.1: Spotted at 100x and 120x, it was large, elongated, and dim. It was fading at 150x. However, an enormous oval shape was noted at 187x and 200x. I had tried many times from my back deck. This needs a dark sky.
http://dso-browser.com
eg 1821: 1'.2 x 0'.8: Vis. 13.3; SB 13.1: Spotted at 125x. It was oval, faint, but not nearly as tricky to find as 1710. Also observed at 150x and 183x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1821.jpg
eg 1832: 2'.6 x 1'.7: Vis. 11.3; SB 12.8: I only have notes for this one from March 2000 with my Edmund 8". I need to update this with a new 12" observation asap. Not located at first, but at 72x it was clearly seen. Slightly elongated at 112x. Very challenging object.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1832.jpg
eg 1888: 3' x 0'.8: Vis. 12.1 x 12.9: Located at 100x, 88 has a bright core despite being very faint
eg 1889: 0'.6 x 0'.4: Vis. 13.1; SB 11.6:] overall. 89 is attached, giving 88 a slightly larger appearance, with an indistinct "L" shape at 200x. Neither galaxy is very bright.
gc 1904, Messier 79: 7'.5; Mag. 8.4: At -24 degrees M79 is not the lowest Messier object. However, it is pretty low for a globular. I observed it from my back deck, not the best location. It was very bright at 60x, but there was no resolution. Views improved from 100x-200x, when more and more stars resolved, especially in the north preceding section. The core was showing detail at 200x.
eg 1906: 0'.9 x 0'.6: Vis. 13.6; SB 12.7: Spotted at 100x, it appeared as an oval haze north preceding a faint star. It was a threshold object with my inferior right eye, but an easy sighting with my near-perfect left eye.
eg 1954: 4'.2 x 2': Vis. 11.8; SB 14: 54 was seen on multiple nights, appearing as a faint haze
eg 1957: 1'.1 x 0'.8: Vis. 13.8; SB 13.9:] south following two dim, close stars. 57 was seen at 150x and 200x, but it was a threshold object.
eg 1964: 5'.6 x 1'.8: Vis. 10.8; SB 13.2: At 100x the small, bright center was spotted. Even 150s only showed the core area. However, 187x and 200x (using averted vision) shows the full length. It appeared in glimpses only, never steadily. This is a good object, and would be even better from a more southerly location.
eg 1979: 1'8 x 1'8: Vis. 11.8; SB 13.1: Noted at 150x, it was very small but bright. It preceded a faint star. Seen at 187x and 200x with averted vision it was round, bright and still quite small (.7 x .7?).
eg 1993: 1'.5 x 1'.4: Vis. 12.4 x SB 13.3: Located at 125x, and also viewed at 183x. Not difficult, despite its proximity to Alpha. It was round, and had a bright middle section.
oc 2017 (h3780): This "cluster" is actually a multiple star. Here are the details. Located not far
6.8-8/76" from Alpha, this interesting group includes at least one orange star. All the listed stars
-9/89" were seen at 60x, though 120x gave a much nicer view.
-10/60"
8.5/129"
eg 2073: 1'.5 x 1'.4: Vis. 12.4; SB 13.3: Spotted at 100x, where it was very faint and round. It was considerably easier to see and better at 125x and 150x. Up to 200x showed the galaxy decently.
eg 2089: 1'.9 x 1'.2: Vis 11.9; SB 12.9: Located at 100x, at the north end of a small star pattern. An easy object to spot, it was oval and had a bright middle. Up to 200x was applied with success.
eg 2106: 2'.7 x 1'.4: Vis. 12.1; SB 13.4: Located at 100x. It was faint but medium-large, very elongated, and had a bright middle. It was also viewed at 125x and 150x.
eg 2124: 2'.7 x 0'.9: Vis. 12.6; SB 13.4: Located at 100x, it was large, oval, and faint overall. It did have a bright center. The 'slash' was seen well at 125x and 150x, though extensions were much fainter than the center. It was fading at 183x.
eg 2131: 1'.1 x 0'.4: Vis. 14; SB 12.9: This was very small and difficult, but viewed at 150x. Seen on a near-perfect March evening.
eg 2139: 2'.4 x 1'.9: Vis. 11.6; SB 13.1" Located at 60x, very close to my self-imposed minus 25 declination for galaxy hunting. Viewed successfully up to 183x, it was large and oval, placed between two stars, and all running north-south.
eg 2179: 1'.1 x 0'.9: Vis. 12.3; SB 12.1: Located at 100x, it was round, preceding a very faint star. Best viewed at 125x and 150x, it was a pretty easy object down near -22 degrees declination.
eg 2196: 2'.8 x 2'.2: Vis. 10.9; SB 12.7: Located at 60x, it has a faint star south and another north following. It is already large and oval. Best views were at 125x and 150x, where its bright middle and full size was evident. Quite a good object! On the border with Canis Major.
I observed some, but not all, of the IC objects in Lepus.
pn I. 418: 14" x 11"; Cent. * mag. 11: This bright object was seen at 60x, where it appeared suspicious. At 120x it was confirmed as the tiny but striking planetary nebula, coloured grayish-blue. Though it was best viewed at 150x tonight, it was still really bright at 300x. It appeared to be round, surrounding the easily-viewed central star. This object is nicknamed the "Spirograph Nebula."
eg I .438: 2'.8 x 2'.2: Vis. 12; SB 13.8: This galaxy was amazingly huge, and spotted easily at 100x. Up to 183x showed an oval object, a little brighter in the center. A faint star is north.
eg I. 2132: 1'.5 x 0'.7: Vis. 13.3; SB 13.2: It appeared as a threshold oval object north preceding eg 1954 and 1957.
eg I. 2152: 1'.7 x 1'.2: Vis. 12.5; SB 13.1: Preceding two close 9.5 mag. stars, it was not difficult to locate. 125x and 150x was used. Oval.
There you have it. Lepus would be a lot more fun and less challenging from a more southerly location (and a warmer one!). My latest winter project has been observing the NGC objects in Taurus, which will take at least one more year to complete, likely two.
Clear skies!
Mapman Mike
http://dso-browser.com
gc 1904, Messier 79: 7'.5; Mag. 8.4: At -24 degrees M79 is not the lowest Messier object. However, it is pretty low for a globular. I observed it from my back deck, not the best location. It was very bright at 60x, but there was no resolution. Views improved from 100x-200x, when more and more stars resolved, especially in the north preceding section. The core was showing detail at 200x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1904.jpg
eg 1906: 0'.9 x 0'.6: Vis. 13.6; SB 12.7: Spotted at 100x, it appeared as an oval haze north preceding a faint star. It was a threshold object with my inferior right eye, but an easy sighting with my near-perfect left eye.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1906.jpg
eg 1954: 4'.2 x 2': Vis. 11.8; SB 14: 54 was seen on multiple nights, appearing as a faint haze
eg 1957: 1'.1 x 0'.8: Vis. 13.8; SB 13.9:] south following two dim, close stars. 57 was seen at 150x and 200x, but it was a threshold object.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1954.jpg
eg 1964: 5'.6 x 1'.8: Vis. 10.8; SB 13.2: At 100x the small, bright center was spotted. Even 150s only showed the core area. However, 187x and 200x (using averted vision) shows the full length. It appeared in glimpses only, never steadily. This is a good object, and would be even better from a more southerly location.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1964.jpg
eg 1979: 1'8 x 1'8: Vis. 11.8; SB 13.1: Noted at 150x, it was very small but bright. It preceded a faint star. Seen at 187x and 200x with averted vision it was round, bright and still quite small (.7 x .7?).
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1979.jpg
eg 1993: 1'.5 x 1'.4: Vis. 12.4 x SB 13.3: Located at 125x, and also viewed at 183x. Not difficult, despite its proximity to Alpha. It was round, and had a bright middle section.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/1/n1993.jpg
oc 2017 (h3780): This "cluster" is actually a multiple star. Here are the details. Located not far
6.8-8/76" from Alpha, this interesting group includes at least one orange star. All the listed stars
-9/89" were seen at 60x, though 120x gave a much nicer view.
-10/60"
8.5/129"
http://www.baskies.com.ar/small/NGC%202017%20LRGB%20N_small.jpg
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2073.jpg
eg 2089: 1'.9 x 1'.2: Vis 11.9; SB 12.9: Located at 100x, at the north end of a small star pattern. An easy object to spot, it was oval and had a bright middle. Up to 200x was applied with success.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2089.jpg
eg 2106: 2'.7 x 1'.4: Vis. 12.1; SB 13.4: Located at 100x. It was faint but medium-large, very elongated, and had a bright middle. It was also viewed at 125x and 150x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2106.jpg
eg 2124: 2'.7 x 0'.9: Vis. 12.6; SB 13.4: Located at 100x, it was large, oval, and faint overall. It did have a bright center. The 'slash' was seen well at 125x and 150x, though extensions were much fainter than the center. It was fading at 183x.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2124.jpg
eg 2131: 1'.1 x 0'.4: Vis. 14; SB 12.9: This was very small and difficult, but viewed at 150x. Seen on a near-perfect March evening.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2131.jpg
eg 2139: 2'.4 x 1'.9: Vis. 11.6; SB 13.1" Located at 60x, very close to my self-imposed minus 25 declination for galaxy hunting. Viewed successfully up to 183x, it was large and oval, placed between two stars, and all running north-south.
https://in-the-sky.org/image.php?style=medium&userimg=dss_NGC2139.png
eg 2179: 1'.1 x 0'.9: Vis. 12.3; SB 12.1: Located at 100x, it was round, preceding a very faint star. Best viewed at 125x and 150x, it was a pretty easy object down near -22 degrees declination.
http://www.ngcicproject.org/dss/n/2/n2179.jpg
eg 2196: 2'.8 x 2'.2: Vis. 10.9; SB 12.7: Located at 60x, it has a faint star south and another north following. It is already large and oval. Best views were at 125x and 150x, where its bright middle and full size was evident. Quite a good object! On the border with Canis Major.
http://dso-browser.com
I observed some, but not all, of the IC objects in Lepus.
pn I. 418: 14" x 11"; Cent. * mag. 11: This bright object was seen at 60x, where it appeared suspicious. At 120x it was confirmed as the tiny but striking planetary nebula, coloured grayish-blue. Though it was best viewed at 150x tonight, it was still really bright at 300x. It appeared to be round, surrounding the easily-viewed central star. This object is nicknamed the "Spirograph Nebula."
http://www.richweb.f9.co.uk/astro/images/IC_418.20071218.im243230-32.av3x30s.C.50pc.an.jpg
eg I .438: 2'.8 x 2'.2: Vis. 12; SB 13.8: This galaxy was amazingly huge, and spotted easily at 100x. Up to 183x showed an oval object, a little brighter in the center. A faint star is north.
http://cseligman.com/text/atlas/ic4.htm#ic438
eg I. 2132: 1'.5 x 0'.7: Vis. 13.3; SB 13.2: It appeared as a threshold oval object north preceding eg 1954 and 1957.
eg I. 2152: 1'.7 x 1'.2: Vis. 12.5; SB 13.1: Preceding two close 9.5 mag. stars, it was not difficult to locate. 125x and 150x was used. Oval.
There you have it. Lepus would be a lot more fun and less challenging from a more southerly location (and a warmer one!). My latest winter project has been observing the NGC objects in Taurus, which will take at least one more year to complete, likely two.
Clear skies!
Mapman Mike
