Hickson 1 in Cepheus

00 26 07.1 +25 43 30

Difficult group

a + b appear as a very weak elongated glow with indirect vision, sometimes seen as separated objects, c is smaller and easier, d not seen (7mm)

Hickson 2  in Pisces

00 31 23.9 +08 28 01

d was not seen, should be tried under better conditions

Hickson 3 in Cetus

00 34 13.2 -07 33 54

7mm, loose group

a and b can be easily held directly

d is more difficult and c is the most difficult member, can be seen intermittently with averted vision

Hickson 4 in Cetus

00 34 13.7 -21 26 20

With 7mm, a and b are can be held steadily, c only intermittently visible, splitting b and d is difficult, from time to time, two members were suspected, but not with certainty

Hickson 5 in Pisces

00 38 54.7 +07 03 46

Very difficult group

group was spotted and at some times separate components were resolved, probably a and b

Hickson 6 in Cetus

00 39 13.8 -08 23 39

With 5mm

a is easy, can be held permanently

b and c can be split steadily with averted vision

d was not seen (2 mag weaker)

Hickson 7 in Cetus

00 39 13.4 +00 51 49

All four galaxies were observed

c appears large and diffuse, d is the weakest.

Hickson 8 in Andromeda

 00 49 34.1 +23 34 42

Difficult group, several galaxies visible with averted vision, but very difficult to hold steadily, requires more time to pin down the individual members (7mm)

Hickson 9 in Cetus

00 54 20.5 -23 33 09

5mm

suboptimal conditions as group is already low in the haze, therefore difficult observation

a can be seen with difficulty

Hickson 10 in Andromeda

01 26 21.6 +34 42 14

Easy group of four galaxies that can already be identified with lower power, d elongated (13 mm)

Hickson 11 in Cetus

 01 26 33.3 -23 13 33

HCG #	mag_b	mag_r	v_r
11a	13.65	12.37	5504
11b	15.93	14.75	13295
11c	17.26	15.99	12904
11d	16.86	15.37	9686

5mm

Hickson 12 in Cetus

01 27 33.4 -04 40 58

With 7mm, a is quite easy

Hickson 13 in Cetus

01 32 20.5 -07 51 34

With 5mm, a and b can be held steadily with indirect vision,

c is difficult, can be seen only intermittently

Hickson 14 in Cetus

01 59 49.9 -07 03 34

Hickson 15 in Cetus

02 07 53.1 +02 10 03

Hickson 16 in Cetus

02 09 24.9 -10 08 09

 Very nice group of four bright galaxies. Easy already in smaller telescopes.

Hickson 17 in Aries

02 14 05.0 +13 04 41

Hickson 18 in Aries

02 39 09.4 +18 22 03

Hickson 19 in Cetus

02 42 38.3 -12 25 19

Hickson 20 in Aries

02 44 12.0 +26 05 57

Hickson 21 in Eridanus

02 45 17.7 -17 42 30

Hickson 22 in Eridanus

03 03 38.5 -15 36 50

Hickson 23 in Eridanus

03 06 56.0 -09 32 37

Hickson 24 in Eridanus

03 20 15.4 -10 51 48

Hickson 25 in Cetus

03 20 42.9 -01 06 29

Hickson 26 in Eridanus

03 21 55.4 -13 39 03

Hickson 27 in Eridanus

04 19 26.9 -11 44 01

Hickson 28 in Eridanus

04 27 18.6 -10 18 22

Hickson 29 in Eridanus

04 34 43.3 -30 32 39

Hickson 30 in Cepheus

04 36 18.6 -02 49 53

to the south of the group is a group of 3 edge on galaxies (even better than HCG30 ☺)

Hickson 31 in Eridanus

05 01 38.4 -04 15 25

Hickson 32 in Lepus

05 01 45.2 -15 26 56

Hickson 33 in Taurus

05 10 47.7 +18 01 11

Hickson 34 in Orion

05 21 46.0 +06 41 20

Hickson 35 in Lynx

08 45 21.3 +44 31 14

Hickson 36 in Cancer

09 09 22.6 +15 47 46

Hickson 37 in Cancer

09 13 39.5 +29 59 34

Hickson 38 in Leo

09 27 34.7 +12 16 10

Hickson 39 in Hydra

Hickson 40 in Hydra

09 38 53.4 -04 50 56

Hickson 41 in Ursa Major

09 57 35.6 +45 13 48

d: sometimes suspected, not definitely seen, two neighboring stars could be seen steadily

Hickson 42 in Hydra

10 00 13.9 -19 38 14

Hickson 43 in Sextans

10 11 19.9 -00 01 23

Very difficult group, at first sight no definitive galaxy, only after extended observation, four of the six galaxies could be definitely discerned,

a and b: elongated,

e: sometimes suspected, could not be held

Hickson 44 in Leo

10 18 05.7 +21 49 57

d: by far the weakest, very elongated

Hickson 45 in Ursa Major

10 19 13.8 +59 07 51

According to the catalog, a should be quite bright, yet spread over an extended area. Even with indirect vision, it is a threshold object during this night. B could not be seen, the star next to it was already at the limit.

Hickson 46 in Leo

10 22 07.3 +17 50 17

Four galaxies grouped between two stars, all of them appear distinct with averted vision, b and c form close pair that could be separated with 6 mm (360x)

Hickson 47 in Leo

10 25 46.3 +13 43 00

c/d: seen with difficulty indirectly, not separated

Hickson 48 in Hydra

10 37 47.7 -27 04 55

Interesting field of galaxies also beyond this group (Hydra I cluster)

Hickson 49 in Ursa Major

10 56 41.6 +67 11 07

With 5mm, the entire group is not that difficult and appears as an unresolved clump of galaxies that can be seen steadily with averted vision. Resolution into single galaxies, however, is very difficult. The star to the south west is fairly bright, the star directly south of the group can be seen most of the time.

Hickson 50 in Ursa Major

11 17 06.4 +54 55 00

(04/2015) re-observed again at 500x with good (but not excellent) seeing and transparency. Again, the star could be held about 50% of the time with AV, which is not sufficient for a clean observation of the group.

Hickson 51 in Leo

11 22 26.5 +24 17 56

Easier than I had it in mind from earlier observations with my 14".

Hickson 52 in Leo

11 26 19.1 +21 05 46

a and c are relatively easy and can be seen steadily with indirect vision. b was only suspected.

Hickson 53 in Leo

11 28 50.4 +20 47 43

HCG 54 is nearby

Hickson 54 in Leo

11 29 15.3 +20 35 00

Very compact and fascinating group near HCG 53, forms a small arc that is obvious with indirect vision already with 24 mm. With 7 mm, small knots are seen intermittently that could not be held steadily. These knots are probably the single galaxies a and b, more difficult than HCG 55

Hickson 55 in Draco

11 32 07.0 +70 48 56

One of the highlights of the Hickson catalog, though not easy. Starting from NGC 3735, the chain is quite obvious with indirect vision, though difficult to split into single galaxies. After extended observation three, sometimes four knots could be separated with averted vision, but could not be held steadily. Very difficult group that is nevertheless worth the effort of trying to get to your limits

Hickson 56 in Ursa Major

11 32 46.7 +52 56 27

Earlier observations with my 14" revealed no complete resolution of the chain, though knots were sometimes visible. a was not seen with 14".

Hickson 57 in Leo

11 37 53.8 +21 58 53

Copeland's septett is one of the showpieces of the Hickson catalog, less difficult than Seyfert's sextett. All eight galaxies were observed, as well as a 9th galaxy N of the group. The galaxies form two distinct groups with f standing apart. The individual galaxies could be easily split with 6 mm and could be held steadily with indirect vision. This is certainly one of the most fascinating Hickson groups.

Hickson 58 in Leo

11 42 11.3 +10 16 40

All five galaxies could be observed.

Hickson 59 in Leo

11 48 27.5 +12 43 39

With 7mm, a and b are relatively easy and can be held steadily. c is more difficult and can be held about 50% of the time after having some time spent with it. d is very difficult, sometimes small condensations were suspected at the correct location, uncertain.

Hickson 60 in Ursa Major

12 03 07.3 +51 40 31

With 7mm, difficult group , a/c/d as unresolved cluster that can be held quite steadily with averted vision, b is somewhat more difficult

Hickson 61 in Coma Berenices

12 12 19.0 +29 10 49

The Box, one of the few named Hickson groups. Not as bright as one would expect from the POSS plates, but still a showpiece. Easily seen also with my 14". b, a nearer discordant member, is the faintest of the four and extends well beyond the rectangle.

Hickson 62 in Virgo

12 53 05.8 -09 12 15

a and b form a bright couple that is easy to split with 9 mm. c is separate from this couple, elongated, d: the weakest member of the group, though not particularly difficult

Hickson 63 in Centaurus

13 02 17.0 -32 45 37

Transparency is really poor close to the horizon. In a first attempt the field stars could be made out, but not the galaxies. At a later time with somewhat better conditions, a and c could be seen after some effort as separate objects, with a being elongated. At a 10° higher elevation, this would probably be a fairly easy group.

Hickson 64 in Virgo

13 25 45.3 -03 51 50

Loose group with c and b as most distinct members, a is very weak, d was not seen

Hickson 65 in Hydra

13 29 51.0 -29 30 53

7mm. This is actually a really "fat" group, which becomes, however, very, very difficult due to its low elevation. At -30°dec, this is only about 10° above the horizon and the transparency gets really poor down there. Only the two major condensations could be made out (a/d and b/c/e) and could be split from each other without any further separation.

Hickson 66 in Ursa Major

13 38 38.9 +57 18 44

c/d appear as a fainter extension that cannot be split into single components

Hickson 67 in Virgo

13 49 11.3 -07 13 28

a is easily seen with direct vision, b is more difficult, elongated, d and c are very difficult (the thin crescent of the 3 days old moon might be disturbing), d could be seen intermittently, c was only suspected a few times, c appears to be more difficult than d

Hickson 68 in Canes Venatici

13 53 26.7 +40 16 59

Together with HCG 44 the brightest Hickson group. Beautiful group of 5 galaxies that are all prominent with e being the weakest. c has a wide halo that appears sometimes mottled. Don't miss NGC 5371, a nice spiral 30' ENE.

Hickson 69 in Bootes

13 55 29.9 +25 04 26

nearby IC galaxies are a nice, brighter pair

click for larger image

Hickson 70 in Canes Venatici

14 04 10.4 +33 20 14

a and b appear as the most prominent members. d could be separated from a with averted vision. c and g seen intermittently with averted vision and 6 mm. e only suspected, f not seen.

Hickson 71 in Bootes

14 10 57.1 +25 29 48

c is seen intermittently with averted vision, d is even more difficult, but could be discerned at a few moments

Hickson 72 in Bootes

14 47 53.6 +19 04 36

Very compact group. a, b, c, and d could be split, b and d being the closest. e and f were not seen (mag 17+ objects).

Hickson 73 in Bootes

15 02 42.3 +23 19 56

c is more difficult, but could be seen with certainty, while d and e were not seen

Hickson 74 in Serpens

15 19 24.8 +20 53 47

d could be seen intermittently, but could not be held steadily

Hickson 75 in Serpens

15 21 30.4 +21 11 27

a/b/f complex appears to consist of two condensations, c/d could be seen intermittently, but could not be split, e was seen as well only intermittently

Hickson 76 in Serpens

15 31 47.7 +07 18 27

All four form a rectangle and could be held steadily. e, f, and g were not seen/split. Don't miss the small spiral at the upper right corner

Hickson 77 in Serpens

15 49 16.9 +21 49 10

using averted vision, often two and sometimes three condensations glimpsed with 7 mm

Hickson 78 in Draco

15 48 17.3 +68 13 14

a and b are relatively easy targets and appear as extended glows, c and d were not seen

Hickson 79 in Serpens

15 59 11.5 +20 45 15

HCG 79 appears as a horseshoe-shaped glow of about 2' diameter. The group can be separated intermittently into three individual knots (a, c, and b) using 360x, still it is difficult to pin down their precise location permanently.

Hickson 80 in Draco

15 59 19.1 +65 13 58

a appears very elongated with averted vision, b and c can be seen, but very weak, d was not seen

Hickson 81 in Hercules

16 18 14.3 +12 47 43

This is a very difficult group, sometimes detected with averted vision as a non-uniform, structured condensation

Hickson 82 in Hercules

16 28 22.6 +32 50 57

All four members were observed. a, b, and c have about same brightness. d is weaker, almost stellar, only with averted vision.

Hickson 83 in Hercules

16 35 36.4 +06 15 55

Other members could not be observed

Hickson 84 in Ursa Minor

16 44 23.0 +77 50 19

With 5 mm, c is observed next to a star, a and b are difficult, but could be seen with certainty

Hickson 85 in Draco

18 50 18.5 +73 21 05

a and b can be held steadily with averted vision, c and d were not observed

Hickson 86 in Sagittarius

19 52 08.7 -30 49 30

a and b are easy, c is very distinct as well, d is dimmer

Hickson 87 in Capricornus

20 48 14.9 -19 50 53

Very small and difficult group, with 5 mm; a is the brightest, a and b can be well seen as indivual condensations, c not definitely seen

Hickson 88 in Aquarius

20 52 35.4 -05 42 39

This is the first Hickson group observed with my 22" Dobson during First Light night (the very first object with the coated mirror was M16).

Hickson 89 in Aquarius

21 20 01.0 -03 55 20

Difficult group; with 7 mm, a and b very diffuse, seen only with indirect vision with effort, c/d sometimes suspected, not separated

Hickson 90 in Pisces Austrinus

22 02 01.9 -31 52 11

08.09.2008: all four members could be observed, a has comparatively low surface brightness, b and c are more distinct, d and b could be split

Hickson 91 in Pisces Austrinus

22 09 07.6 -27 48 36

All four members were observed, a and d are easy to split, b appears as an elongated streak, c is the most difficult

Hickson 92 in Pegasus

22 36 04.2 +33 56 52

All five members were also identified with my 14". With 8" the group was detected as a fleeting glow only.

Hickson 93 in Pegasus

23 15 16.0 +18 57 41

Very nice group, all five galaxies observed; a, b, and c with direct vision, d and e with averted vision, with e being the weakest.

Hickson 94 in Pegasus

23 17 13.6 +18 42 29

Hickson 95 in Pegasus

23 19 30.0 +09 30 31

a/d as single knot, easy; b difficult, but definitely observed with indirect vision; c suspected, not definitely seen.

Hickson 96 in Pegasus

23 27 56.7 +08 46 43 

HCG #	mag_b	mag_r	v_r
96a	14.01	12.64	8698
96b	15.04	13.20	8616
96c	16.10	14.38	8753
96d	17.13	16.10	8975

With 7 mm, a and b easy, c well separated from a, d very difficult, but definitely observed, as well as another small galaxy east of the group

Hickson 97 in Pisces

23 47 22.9 -02 18 03

a, c, and d are prominent and can be seen with direct vision, d next to a star. b is much more difficult and can only be glimpsed with indirect vision.

Hickson 98 in Pisces

23 54 10.2 +00 22 57

 Very nice group! a and b bright, symmetrically arranged around star, c relatively easy with indirect vision, d not seen

Hickson 99 in Pegasus

00 00 37.9 +28 23 04

Hickson 100 in Pegasus

00 01 20.0 +13 06 41