These are our observations in Camelopardalis

• The Integral Sign Galaxy (UGC 3697) in Camelopardalis

  This is a magnitude 13.68 galaxy in Camelopardalis. UGC 3697 is an edge-on spiral 'super-thin' galaxy with warped arms located approximately 151 million light-years away.

  Scientists believe the warping is the result of interaction with the dwarf galaxy UGC 3714, the (magnitude 12.6) round spiral galaxy below and to the left (east) of UGC 3697.

  There are many other faint galaxies in this image, including PGC213372, the magnitude 17.7, face-on galaxy to the right and just below UGC3714.

  

  One of the challenges in capturing and processing this image is the presence of the two, bright orange stars. HD54070, to the left, is an orange star (B-V 1.1) of magnitude 6.3, and HD52762 is a magnitude 7 star of a slightly deeper orange hue (B-V 1.3). By comparison, the three blue-white stars to the left of UGC 3697 are magnitude 10 to 11.

  Image Details

  • Telescope: 8" Ritchey-Chretien at 1660mm focal length.
  • Camera: QSI 683 with Astrodon filters.
  • Mount: Skywatcher EQ8.

  Image data were captured on the evenings of 17th to 27th February 2020. The data comprise 24 x 5-minutes luminance and 6 x 10-minutes each of RGB.

  David Davies - (2 March 2020).

• STF 485 and NGC1502 in Camelopardalis

  

  Observed from Rome with a 102mm refractor at 77x magnification by Roberto Chiericoni - (27 September 2013).

• NGC 1501 in Camelopardalis

  I was out last Tuesday for a few hours and for once the clouds had the decency to delay their appearance until the moon was up at around 23:00 UT. I was using my 600mm f4.5 dob and the thin high cloud meant that it was not a night for the faint stuff. My Sky Quality Meter L read about 20.80 and the air temperature at minus two, and I judged the seeing to be 'average'. One of the objects I observed was a very nice planetary nebula NGC 1501 in Camelopardalis, which shows some nice detail to medium sized telescopes and above.

  

  With an 8mm Ethos eyepiece and O3 filter I recorded the following in my notes:- Circular, large, central hole slightly oval in the NE-SW direction, brighter arc on the E edge of the PN extending about one-sixth of the circumference. which appeared to 'shimmer' or glitter! The best view was with AV1 (averted vision level 1). No sign of central star, no colour noted.

  

  Using the same eyepiece but without the O3 filter, the PN was more easily seen. The central star was bright and obvious, mottling within the nebulosity with brighter patches to the N and W of the CS. No colour seen. The PN is flanked by three field stars spread symmetrically around the planetary.

  David Reynolds (10 March 2015).