05 27 29 -71 52
48
V = 12.1; Size 1.5'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): fairly bright, moderately large LMC cluster, slightly
elongated, 50" diameter, very mottled, contains a brighter and denser
core. The halo is resolved into
many mag 14.5-16 stars, particularly on the south and west side. Located on the south end of the LMC,
25' SW of
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2000 = h2889 on 8 Feb 1836 and described as "F; R; vlbM;
60"." His position
(single sweep) is accurate.
******************************
05 29 02 -68 46
12
V = 9.5; Size 7.3'x3.6'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): a gorgeous, elongated star cloud/association (LH 64),
extending 7'x2.5' NNE-SSW. Roughly
65 stars, including a number of mag 12-13 stars are resolved in this region
over a glowing background. A mag
10.7 star is at the southwest end and a non-stellar mag 12 knot (KMHK 955) is
north of center. A curving chain
of a dozen stars pokes out of the west side and heads south towards S-L 495
(3.4' W of the mag 10.7 star). S-L
495 is a very bright, very small knot, 20" diameter. It was difficult to resolve this clump,
but a few stars popped. A mag 12.5
star is just off the west edge. LH
58, a stunning large star cloud and HII complex including NGCs 1962, 1965, 1966
and 1970, lies roughly 13' WSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2001 = h2888 on 30 Dec 1836 and recorded "the middle of the
most condensed part of a cluster of stars 13th mag which runs off to the
south-preceding and joins No. 39 of this sweep." In a separate entry on the same sweep he also mentioned
"Here commences a very starry or resolved region of the greater
Nubecula."
James Dunlop
possibly discovered this association earlier on 25 Sep 1826, recording D 178 as
"a small faint nebula with a ray proceeding from it, about 6' or 7' long;
a small star is involved in the preceding extremity of the ray." Dunlop's position is 11' ENE of the
cluster and Herschel noted the possible equivalence of D 178. Glen Cozens equates NGC 2001 = D 136,
which was recorded as "a faint confused pretty large nebula. There are a multitude of small nebulae
in this place." The position
is D 136 is ~12' SSW of the association and actually falls much closer to NGC
1983. So, I don't see how a
specific assignment can be made without additional information, such as similar
offsets on the same night.
******************************
05 30 21.0 -66
53 02
V = 10.1; Size 1.9'x1.7'
24" (4/7/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x this cluster is extremely bright
but small. It is sharply
concentrated with a small, brilliant core surrounded by a much fainter 30"
halo. At 346x, the core diameter
is ~15" diameter and three interior stars are resolved, the brightest on
the southeast side. Sharing the
same field 8' SE is the double cluster
NGC 2002 is at
the west end of a huge, arcing string of associations (bowed to the south)
referred to as LH 77 or the "Quadrant", which extends nearly 40' to
the east beyond
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2002 = D 214 on 24 Sep 1826 and recorded a "a round small
nebula, 12" or 15" diameter." He made two observations and his position is 4.7' SW of the
cluster. JH credited Dunlop with
the discovery.
JH made two
observations for h2890. On 20 Dec
1835 he logged "place of a double star, the chief of a great cluster of
small stars loose and filling the field. It is the forerunner of the great
cluster-region [OB association LH 77] of the nubecula." On a second sweep
he called it "vB, S, R. Here comes on the richest and brightest part of
the starry and clustering portion of the nubecula. (Note - From this object
being described at one time as a double star, and at another as a nebula, it is
probable that it is one of those singular close-knotted groups which especially
characterize the nubeculae)."
So, it appears he is describing two objects -- one the cluster
(containing the double star) and second, the association that contains the
cluster.
******************************
05 30 54.3 -66
27 59
V = 11.3; Size 2.1'
30"
(10/12/15 - OzSky): at 303x; extremely bright, extremely high surface
brightness core, fairly small, 30" diameter. Surrounded by a thin fainter halo. A mag 13-13.5 star or
quasi-stellar knot [BSDL 2043] is at the west end and a couple of mag 15 stars
are off the east side. Two mag 9
and 10 stars lie 4.7' SSW and 7' SSW and mag 8.0
S-L 553 and the
remarkable Eighth-Note Nebula (LHa 120-N55) lies ~8' E. Even without a filter the Eighth Note
Nebula is a gorgeous object, with ~75 stars (S-L 553) in a 7'x3' region
elongated NW-SE. A very large,
detailed nebula encompasses these stars.
There are four main sections with the largest and brightest on the
southeast end (N55A) extending ~2.5' diameter in an uneven, knotty circular
glow. A couple of dozen stars are
involved with N55A including a mag 13 star on the northeast end and a mag 12
star on its northeast side. A
second small, detached 35" glow lies ~2' NW. Unfiltered, 4 or 5 mag 15-15.5 stars are involved. A larger roundish glow, extending 1',
is 2' further NNW. A few mag 15
stars are involved and mag 11.5-12
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): this compact cluster in the LMC appeared fairly faint,
very small, round, 20" diameter.
Appears to have a star involved or increases to a sharp stellar
nucleus. S-L 553, a 3' star cloud
(association LH 72) lies 9' E. S-L
553 appeared as a 3' elongated glow, consisting of a half-dozen resolved stars
over an unresolved background glow of stars and nebulosity. The outline is irregular but elongated
N-S. S-L 553 cluster is embedded
within the HII complex LMC-N55 ("Eighth-Note Nebula"), though I
didn't use a UHC filter to examine its extent.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2003 = h2891 on 23 Nov 1834 and described "a B S stellar
neb, or very close cluster 15"." His position is accurate. GC and NGC misidentify (typo) this cluster with h2981,
instead of h2891.
******************************
05 30 40 -67 17
12
V = 9.6; Size 2.7'
30"
(11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): bright, superb cluster, ~3' diameter. Contains a small, brilliant core and a
highly resolved halo that is packed with 50 stars. The surrounding field is quite rich in both faint and
brighter mag 11-12 stars. The NGC
1955/1968/1974 complex lies ~20' SW and the
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2004 = D 215 on 24 Sep 1826 and described "a round
well-defined nebula, about 20" diameter, bright at the centre." Dunlop reported 3 observations and his
position is 5.5' WSW of center (relatively accurate for him).
JH observed this
bright cluster (h2893) on 6 sweeps: on 2 Nov 1834 he recorded "B; pretty
rich; compressed cluster of stars 12m." Next he recorded "globular, B; irreg; R; 2'. The stars are easily
distinguishable." On a third
sweep he wrote "globular, B; S; R; comp M to a blaze of stars. Many stragglers." His position is accurate.
******************************
05 30 11 -69 45 12
V = 11.6; Size 1.8'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): extremely bright, fairly large, round, 45" diameter,
very bright core, mottled halo, high surface brightness. No resolution except for a couple of
extremely faint star around the periphery. Located 2' NE of mag 9.1
I noticed two
nearby faint clusters. H-S 332,
just 2.3' S and 50" SE of the mag 9 star, is a faint 20" glow with no
resolution. S-L 514 was also
picked 3.3' SW. It appeared fairly faint, elongated WSW-ENE,
40"x25", grainy but no resolution. A mag 13 star is off the southwest edge.
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2005 = D 138? on 24 Sep 1826 and described a
"small round faint nebula."
His position is 12.7' ESE of the cluster. JH independently discovered the cluster with a 5-inch
refractor between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 and listed it as #509 in his
preliminary catalogue of "Stars, Nebulae and Clusters in the Nubecula Major."
******************************
NGC 2006 = ESO
086-SC008 = S-L 537
05 31 20.0 -66
58 23
V = 10.9; Size 1.6'x1.4'
24" (4/7/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): forms the southern member of a close pair
of small clusters (a double cluster!) with SL-538 less than 1' N. At 346x it appeared fairly bright,
fairly small, ~30" diameter, brighter core, with no evident
resolution. Forms a small triangle
with two stars on the east side.
Located 8' SE of NGC 2002.
Just 0.9' N is
S-L 538, a small, moderately bright glow that is sandwiched between a brighter
star at the east edge and a fainter star off the west side. At 346x the shape appeared irregular
and ~25" diameter.
Interestingly, John Herschel's two positions for NGC 2006 on different
sweeps correspond closely with each cluster, so he apparently viewed both
(quite similar in the eyepiece) and NGC 2006 should apply to the pair. Herschel didn't note this object as double,
though he commented this object was the central part of the "extremely
rich assemblage of stars and clustering groups which fill the field." NGC 2006 is on the western side of the
huge OB association LH 77, an arcing group of clusters and stars stretching 40'
E-W and including NGC 2002, 2027 and 2041 and collectively dubbed the
"Quadrant Arc".
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2006 = h2895 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "a very small
nucleus knot in an extremely rich assemblage of stars and clustering groups
which fill the field." On his
second sweep JH recorded "a small highly condensed knot in an immensely
large and very rich cluster, which fills much more than the field, and is like
the Milky Way." His positions
differ by ~2' in declination and apply to two different close clusters! NGC 2006 is generally assigned to the
southern object, with the northern cluster is S-L 538. The "immensely large and very rich
cluster, which fills much more than the field, and is like the Milky Way"
is known as the "Quadrant Arc".
******************************
05 34 59.3 -50
55 18
V = 13.9; Size 1.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 83d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): very faint, moderately large, very elongated 3:1
WSW-ENE, 45"x15", low even surface brightness. A mag 11.6 star is 4' ENE. Forms a close pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2007 = h2892 (along with NGC 2008 = h2894) on 27 Dec 1834 and
logged "eeF; pL; R; 40"."
His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2008 = ESO
204-020 = PGC 17480
05 35 03.7 -50
58 00
V = 13.8; Size 1.5'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 93d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): faint, moderately large, elongated 5:2 ~E-W,
~40"x16", weak concentration, low surface brightness. A mag 11.2 star is 3' E. Forms a close pair with NGC 2007 2.7'
N. Coincidentally, both galaxies
have mag 11-11.5 stars 3' to 4' following. Observation in poor transparency.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2008 = h289 (along with NGC 2007 = h2892) on 27 Dec 1834 and
logged "eF; pL; R; vlbM; 30"." His position is fairly accurate.
******************************
05 30 59 -69 10
54
V = 11.0; Size 0.9'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): at 318x; very bright knot, moderately large, round,
45" diameter, mottled. A
dozen mag 13.5-15.5 stars are resolved.
Sits in a beautifully rich star field (association) with numerous mag 12
and fainter stars including an arc of 4 mag 12-13 stars off the southwest side.
The
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2009 = h2897 on 3 Nov 1834 and recorded "pB, R, bM,
40"; in a field rich with clustering stars." On a second sweep of four he logged
"pB, R, glbM, 80", in the N.p. part of a cluster." His mean position is accurate.
******************************
05 30 34.6 -70
49 10
V = 11.7; Size 1.9'x1.7'
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster is located just 1.5' NE of
9th magnitude
S-L 539,
situated, 7.7' NNE, appeared as a small, elongated glow, 20"x10",
with a mag 12.5 star involved on the east end and three additional very faint
stars resolved.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2010 = h2898 on 12 Nov 1836 and logged "F; R; vglbM; 3'." His position is 1' south of center of
this cluster.
******************************
05 32 19.8 -67
31 17
V = 10.6; Size 1.0'
30"
(11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): very bright, tight intense knot of four stars (a
couple are quite bright) enveloped in a 1.5' triangular glow with a few
additional stars resolved within the boundaries of the emission nebula. A 3' line of brighter stars (part of
the stellar association LH 75) oriented E-W passes through the south end of the
glow. The surrounding fields
include a number of fascinating objects with a cluster and star cloud ~6' E
(S-L 567), a bright, compact cluster/nebula 8' NE (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2011 = h2899 on 31 Jan 1835 and logged "vB; S; R; psmbM;
25"." His single
position is accurate.
******************************
05 22 35.4 -79
51 07
V = 12.9; Size 1.1'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 117d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly faint, elongated 2:1 WNW-ESE,
contains a very small brighter core.
A very faint star lies close following and a close double star lies 4'
E. An unequal brighter pair lies
5' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2012 = h2907 on 22 Jan 1836 and reported "vF; S; lE; bM; 2
st 9 mag follow toward the north."
His position is accurate.
******************************
05 44 14 +55 46
30
Size 4'
18"
(11/6/04): This unimpressive asterism consists of two small groups of stars to
the NW of mag 8.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2013 = h364 on 10 Feb 1831 and described as "a poor cl of 8
or 10 stars 11 mag."
The NGC RA is 30 tsec larger than JH's discovery position and
corresponds better with the center of this group of stars. Karl Reinmuth, in his 1926 survey based
on Heidelberg plates, adds "10-12 st 11...14; BD+21d907 f 0.6'." RNGC gives the description "No
cluster."
******************************
NGC 2014 =
LMC-N57A = ESO 056-SC146 = S-L 560 = LH 76
05 32 20 -67 41
24
V = 9.0; Size 5'x3.5'
30"
(11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): very bright, large cluster or star cloud
(stellar association LH 76) with nebulosity, ~50 stars resolved in a 5' region
(no distinct boundary on the north side), including many in a 2' string,
elongated N-S. A mag 10 star
(brightest in the cluster) is at the south end of this string. A portion of the cluster is immersed in
nebulosity (Henize N57A), most prominently on the southeast side of the
cluster. Irregular haze (roughly
elongated SW-NE) extends out of the cluster for a couple of arc minutes on the
east side, spreading south and north.
Forms an interesting contrast with emission nebula NGC 2020 5' ESE. The remarkable Seagull Nebula (NGC
2030, 2032, 2035) lies ~20' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2014 = h2900 on 23 Dec 1834 and described the "chief *9 of
a very irreg cluster, 4' long, 3' broad." On a second sweep he logged "a pretty L irreg cluster
7th class; chief *9m taken (at leaving the field); the rest are
10...15m." His position is
accurate.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered this cluster (D 217?) earlier on 3 Aug 1826 with his
9" reflector from Parramatta, NSW, and recorded "a rather
well-defined nebula, 40" or 50" diameter. Dunlop observed this object 3 times and his position is 5'
SSW of the cluster. Despite
Dunlop's relatively good position, JH did not credit Dunlop with the discovery
and Dunlop's description for D 217 implies a much smaller object, so I'm also
hesitant about this identification.
******************************
NGC 2015 = ESO
056-SC147 = S-L 557 = LH 74
05 31 47 -69 14
54
V = 10.4; Size 5.6'
30"
(10/12/15 - OzSky): this bright star cloud extends up to 8' diameter, spreading
out on the west side and reaching NGC 2009 in the northwest corner. Near the east end is open cluster S-L
557, which is often taken for NGC 2015.
It appeared fairly bright, fairly small, very irregular outline,
35" diameter. It contains a
brighter mag 13.5 star and at least a half-dozen mag 14.5-16 stars over
haze. Mag 9.7
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): at 318x; large star cloud with a few dozen mag 11-15
stars. Not well detached in this
rich region of the LMC as the clouds extends to the west and north. On the east end is S-L 557, which
includes a single brighter mag 13.5 star and ~6 total, over unresolved glow.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2015 = h2901 on 24 Nov 1834 and reported "the general
middle of a cluster of loose stars 11...16m. It is rich and fills the whole field." The "whole field" contains
the smaller cluster S-L 557 on its east side, which Shapley-Lindsay and the
Hodge-Wright Atlas took as NGC 2015.
But based on Herschel's description Brent Archinal says "This is
not NGC 2015" in "Star Clusters". Instead he identifies NGC 2015 as the entire association LH
74 at 05 31 48, -69 14.9 with a size of 5.6'.
******************************
05 31 39 -69 56
48
Size 1.8'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): fairly bright LMC cluster, large mottled glow, elongated
E-W, ~1.5'x0.8'. Two or three mag
14.5-15 stars are resolved on the west end and perhaps a half-dozen additional
mag 15.5-16 stars are resolved at 394x.
NGC 2016 is situated in a gloriously rich region of the LMC with
numerous clusters nearby including
S-L 535: fairly
bright, fairly small, roundish haze, 30" diameter, mottled. Two faint stars were resolved on the
west side. Located 1.5' NNE of mag
10.2
S-L 519: fairly
bright, fairly small, elongated E-W, 30"x20", a single star was
resolved. Picked up less than 2' N
of mag 8.2
H-S 327: this is
a very close pair of LMC clusters. At 394x the brighter western cluster (H-S
327W) appeared as a fairly faint, hazy 20" knot. H-S 327E = OGLE-CL LMC 520 is a fainter 20" knot just
40" SE. A couple of mag
15-15.5 stars near these two clumps may be members.
BSDL 2212:
moderately bright, small, round, hazy glow, ~20" diameter, just preceding
a mag 13 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2016 = h2902 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "F; vL; and
diffused; irreg R; gbM." His
position is ~40" too far south.
******************************
05 39 16 -17 51
00
V =
6.4/7.9/8.5/9.2/8.4/8.1
18"
(3/13/04): multiple group of six stars mag 7-10 within 3.5'. The stars are generally separated by at
least 1' with the widest separation at 2'. The brightest star is mag 6.4
8": this is
the multiple star h3780. Six stars
are visible including mag 7, 8, 8.5, 9 and 10 stars. This group does not appear to be a true cluster.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2017 = h2896 on 11 Dec 1835 and recorded a "fine clustering
group of large stars." His
position matches the multiple star h3780.
Bica et al, in 2001A&A...366..827B, call this object a
"possible Open Cluster remnant".
******************************
NGC 2018 =
LMC-N206A = ESO 056-SC141 = S-L 533 = LH 69
05 31 23 -71 04
12
V = 10.2; Size 25'x18'
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is a fascinating, showpiece HII
complex with a cluster (S-L 533) and a large, detailed nebula (N206) appearing
like a fainter version of
The brightest
region of nebulosity (NGC 2018 = LMC-N206A) is a very prominent 1' circular
patch on the east end of the cluster.
Fainter wings extend north and south, increasing the size to 3'x1'. A wide pair of stars including mag 11.5
HDE 269676 [a massive, compact cluster containing several O-type stars] is at the west edge of this patch. Three additional elongated patches
(each 1' to 1.5' in diameter) along the SW side of the complex are strung out
in a 6' line oriented NW to SE line
(BSDL 2005, BSDL 2048 and LMC-N206B = BSDL 2120). Another glowing patch of nebulosity,
~45" diameter, is to the west of of the brightest region and surrounds a
couple of brighter stars. Finally
there is an isolated, elongated patch on the northwest end of the complex (BSDL
1985) that seems detached. Weaker
sections of the nebulosity give the impression of dark lanes. Surprisingly, Herschel's description
applies only to the brightest region at the east end of this entire complex.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2018 = h2904 on 3 Nov 1834 and recorded "pB; R; pglbM; 2';
a star 10m involved, preceding."
His position (single sweep) is on the southeast side of the brightest
portion of the nebula. The ESO
position is centered on the entire complex described in my notes and not the
bright piece described by Herschel.
******************************
05 31 57 -70 09
36
V = 10.9; Size 1.5'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): at 394x; extremely bright, large, 50" diameter,
sharply concentrated with a large intense core and smooth halo, no
resolution. NGC 2019 is one of 15
bona-fide ancient GC's in the LMC.
S-L 542
(brightest of 3 nearby clusters) is 4.6' SW, BSDL 2196 is 2.7' SW and S-L 544
is 5' NNW. S-L 542 is fairly
bright, moderately large, round, 40" diameter, mottled but with no
definite resolution. A mag 12.8
star is 0.9' NW. BSDL 2196
(noticed between NGC 2019 and S-L 542) is a very faint, small, round, low
surface brightness patch, 20" diameter, no resolution.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2019 = h2905 on 11 Nov 1836 and recorded the cluster as "B;
R; gbM; 60". He observed it
on two sweeps and his position is just off the east side. On the first observation, though, his
polar distance was 1° further north, but he rejected that (correctly) in favor
of the polar distance in the second sweep.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered NGC 2019 = D 96, D 98, D 99 and/or D 94 (one or more of
these may apply!) on 24 Sep 1826 with his 9" reflector from
Parramatta. He described D 96 as
"a faint round nebula, about 1 1/4' diameter, slightly bright to the
centre." Dunlop made two
observations of D 96 and his position is 12' NW of this cluster. But his position is also 12.6' SE of
******************************
NGC 2020 =
LMC-N57C = ESO 056-?148
05 33 10 -67 42
54
Size 2.5'
30"
(11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): fairly bright, roundish annular emission
nebula, slightly elongated SW-NE, 3'x2.5'. The inner edge of the annulus is slightly brighter and
sharply defined with a relatively large dark center, ~45" x30". North of center in the ring is a 13th
magnitude star, which appears roughly centered in the emission nebula. A 12th magnitude star lies 1.3' S of
the central star, at the southern edge of the nebula. Two fainter stars are just north and south of the mag 12
star and the trio is collinear with the central star. Forms a striking due with NGC 2014 (cluster and emission
nebula) 5' WNW. The remarkable
Seagull Nebula (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 15' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2020 = h2903 on 30 Dec 1836 and recorded "pB; vL; vglbM;
lE; 4'. A fine cluster precedes
it." On the very next sweep
he wrote "vF; vL; R; vglbM; 4' diameter." His position is accurate.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered NGC 2020 = D 218? earlier in 1826 and described "a
pretty bright round nebula, 30" diameter, with a minute star slightly
involved in the margin."
Dunlop claims two observations and his position is 5' too far NE, well
within his usual errors, though Steinicke attributes Herschel with the
discovery. This nebula is probably
too faint to have been picked up by Dunlop with his 9" reflector and it
could describe NGC 2014 instead, which is 9' west of his position.
******************************
NGC 2021 = ESO
056-SC150 = S-L 570
05 33 30.3 -67
27 11
V = 12.1; Size 0.9'
30"
(11/5/10 - Coonabarabran, 264x): bright, compact knot surrounding two resolved
stars, slightly elongated, ~20"x15". This knot is in the northern end of a very large, elongated
cluster or star cloud. Extending
mostly south of NGC 2021 is a very elongated stream of stars, 5'x1', including
a mix of brighter and fainter stars (stellar association LH 78). The densest concentration is a 2' group
(S-L 567) on the south end with a number of mag 12-14 stars. Roughly a total of 50-60 stars were
resolved. The Seagull Nebula
complex (NGC 2030, 2032, 2035) lies 12' SE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2021 = h2906 on 31 Jan 1835 and logged "vS; F; R;
12". In the northern part of
a cluster of stars 14m, 8' long, 3' br." His position points to the small clluster S-L 567 within the
stellar association LH 79.
******************************
05 42 06.2 +09
05 10
V = 11.7; Size 29"x28"
48"
(2/21/12): at 488x, this bright, double-shell planetary contains a bright oval
ring oriented SSW-NNE, ~23"x18". The annulus is fairly thin with a relatively large, darker
central hole, though the contrast is fairly low. At the exact center is a faint central star (close to 16th
mag?). The ring has an irregular
surface brightness; slightly brighter at the ends of the major axis,
particularly the SW end (knot or thicker?), and slightly fainter along the
minor axis. Surrounding the ring
is a fainter and rounder outer shell, ~30" diameter. The outer shell was surprisingly
prominent and exhibited a pinkish hue.
24"
(1/25/14): at 500x appeared as a fairly bright knotty annulus, slightly
elongated SW-NE with fascinating structure. The rim was clearly brighter along an ~200° arc running from
the southwest counterclockwise to the northeast. Very small brighter knots were definite at the SW and NE
ends and perhaps a slight brightening at the NW edge. In general, though, the rim appeared mottled and sparkling
though clearly dimmer along the southeast side, giving a "C"
appearance. At 750x, the darker
center was also irregular in surface brightness and occasionally, an extremely
faint central star sparkled.
18"
(2/24/06): at 220x appeared moderately bright, fairly small, round, ~25"
diameter, very slightly elongated, irregularly lit and brighter along the
western half of the rim giving a "C" appearance. A faint sparkle is occasionally visible
on the WSW edge of the rim and images show this may be a faint superimposed
star or knot in the planetary.
320x provides an excellent view with the planetary weakly annular and
the rim a bit dimmer on the SE side.
At 435x, the shape is slightly elongated SW to NE, ~27"x22"
with a mottled interior and a brighter rim, particularly along the western
half. The appearance is quite
patchy at 565x and the sparkle on the SW end is still evident. The central star was not seen at any
power.
17.5"
(2/2/02): immediately picked up at 100x as a very small, bluish-gray
"egg" of fairly high surface brightness. Good contrast gain with OIII filter. At 380x (unfiltered), it appeared as
fairly bright, clearly elongated SSW-NNE, ~27"x20". The surface brightness was irregular or
mottled with a slightly brighter rim and darker center giving a weakly annular
appearance. The rim seems to have
a couple of slightly brighter spots and the ends of the minor axis are slightly
dimmer. No sign of a central star.
17.5"
(12/8/90): fairly bright, slightly elongated 4:3 ~SSW-NNE, about 30"
diameter. Appears slightly annular
at 412x with a brighter rim. No
central star seen at this power.
13":
moderately bright, high surface brightness. No internal structure was visible.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2022 = H IV-34 = h365 on 28 Dec 1785 (sweep 496) and described
it as "cB, vS, like a star with a large diameter. With 240 it appeared almost like a
planetary nebula, but very ill defined, and little elongated. Nearly of equal brightness throughout,
except at the edges." JH
called it "Planetary neb, a little indistinct at the edges; rather oval
and perhaps of a mottled light."
NGC 2022 was
observed 5 times with Lord Rosse's 72", often in an attempt to resolve it,
and the following notes were recorded:
11 Dec 1850:
"It is I am nearly sure resolvable, probably it is a glob Cl. At times I fancied the centre a little
darker and a star in the p part."
23 Oct 1851:
"I strongly suspect annular, r[esolvable], one star especially seen in the
p part.
28 Dec
1853: "...a B patch or a
star?, it is near the edge of the neb.
Some dark spot or spots certainly seen and at times I had the suspicion
of a concentric ring or rings."
5 Jan 1877:
"Seems a glob Cl, stars seen sparkling in it, oval sp nf. Edges v diffuse, especially sf, np edge
more sharp. Proportion of
diameters about 7:10."
William Lassell
observed NGC 2022 in Jan. 1853 from Malta with his 24-inch equatorial reflector
and commented, "a singular curdled-looking object, slightly and
irregularly elliptical, with a sort of cordon [outer shell] running round
parallel, but a little outside of its margin." A sketch was included in his 1854 MRAS paper (figure 2). Father Secchi sketched a slightly
darker center in his 1856 "Osservazioni di Nebulose".
Based on a
Crossley photograph, Curtis (1918) reported, "Sharp stellar nucleus about
mag 13, surrounded by an elliptical ring 22"x17" in outside
dimensions in pa 29°. Outside this
is an oval disk of fainter matter 28"x27". The brightest parts are the two masses at the ends of the
major axis of the inner ring."
******************************
05 41 38.3 -02
15 33
Size 10'x10'
13.1":
fairly prominent nebulosity surrounds mag 7.8
8":
moderately bright, surrounds a mag 8 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2023 = H IV-24 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 352) and described in his
1791 paper "On Nebulous Stars" as "A bright star with a very
considerably milky chevelure; a little extended, 4 or 5' in length, and near 4'
broad; it loses itself insensibly. I suspected some extensive milky windings in
the neighborhood but could not verify them; other stars of equal magnitude are
perfectly free from this chevelure."
He later noted "The connection between the star and the chevelure
cannot be doubted, from the insensible gradation of its luminous appearance,
decreasing as it receded from the centre."
******************************
05 41 43 -01 51
30
Size 30'x30'
17.5"
(2/8/86): bright, very large.
Consists of two main parallel sections elongated SSW-NNE separated by
prominent detailed dark lanes.
Excellent structure with ragged edges, gaps, streaks, rifts and various
brightness levels. The eastern
strip has one or two indentations or a scalloped inner edge. The inner edge of the connecting strip has
a sharply defined edge and the gap at the base connecting the brighter western
section is obvious. Zeta Orionis
lies 15' NE detracts and the best view is unfiltered.
8": fairly
easy in very dark skies, the strip along the east side is longer with a
possible gap at the base of "U" in the southwest corner. The center is definitely darker than
the background sky.
8"
(10/4/80): fairly bright, large.
Consists of two parallel strips separated by a dark lane. Appears
possibly broken (gap) at the base of "U". Best view with a UHC filter.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2024 = H V-28 on 1 Jan 1786 (sweep 506) and recorded "a
wonderful milky nebulosity, divided into 3 or 4 large patches including a dark
space, the whole cannot take up less than half a degree; but I suppose it to be
much more extensive." A month
later (sweep 518) he noted "Wonderful black space inlcuded in
nebulosities."
The following
information is from Wolfgang Steinicke's book "Observing Cataloguing
Nebulae and Star Clusters. NGC
2024 was independently found by Brorsen in 1850 with a small refractor at
Senftenberg Observatory and announced in AN that "I have found a very
faint, very extended, pretty irregular nebula, located about 15 minutes east of
Zeta Orionis, which is listed neither in the catalogue of the younger Herschel
nor in Messier's." Marth
noted in 1856 that Brorsen's object is William Herschel's V-28. This was another case where the
observer only checked the Slough catalogue and didn't refer to WH's catalogues,
which only had relative offsets and not absolute positions.
d'Arrest
sketched the nebulosity in 4 sections. The brightest section (labeled A) is
just west of the main dust lane.
This object was observed 13 times at Birr Castle from 1873-1878 by
Lawrence Parsons (with the 36-inch), Ralph Copeland and Dreyer, and stars
"in an about the neb" were sketched and accurately measured.
Garrett Serviss
(Pleasures of the Telescope, 1901) wrote "Just to the left of Zeta, and in
the same field of view with a very low power, is a remarkable nebula bearing
the catalogue number GC 1227. We must use our five-inch on this with a low
power, but with Zeta out of the field in order to avoid its glare. The nebula
is exceedingly faint, and we can be satisfied if we see it simply as a hazy
spot, although with much larger telescopes it has appeared at least half a
degree broad. Tempel saw several centers of condensation in it, and traced
three or four broad nebulous streams, one of which decidedly suggested spiral
motion."
******************************
NGC 2025 = ESO
056-SC149 = S-L 571
05 32 33.1 -71
43 00
V = 10.9; Size 1.9'
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x this LMC cluster appeared bright,
slightly elongated, moderately large, ~45"x40", weakly concentrated
with a slightly brighter core. Three faint stars are resolved around the edges. Two 8th magnitude stars lie 11' ESE and
13' ENE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2025 = h2909 on 8 Feb 1836 and recorded "vB; S; lE; gmbM;
resolvable. Almost a
globular." His position is
less than 1' too far north.
******************************
05 43 06 +20 08
17.5"
(2/14/99): At 220x, ~30 stars in a 6' region including three mag 9-9.5 stars
(mag 8.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2026 = H VIII-28 on 5 Dec 1784 (sweep 329) and reported "a
cluster of pretty large scattered stars. Not rich." No observations were made by JH or at
Birr Castle. Karl Reinmuth, in his
1926 survey based on Heidelberg plates, found "no distinct Cl" and
RNGC classifies it as nonexistent (Type 7" with the comment "No
cluster".
******************************
05 35 00 -66 54
55
V = 11.0; Size 1.0'
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): NGC 2027 is at the west end of an interesting,
elongated cluster or association (LH 84) extending ~4'x2' E-W in a crescent
shape with
NGC 2027 is
situated ~10' NW of the compact cluster NGC 2041 and near the east end of a
huge, elongated star cloud known as the "Quadrant" (consisting of OB
associations LH 65, LH 77 and LH 84) looping SW and the bending NW, extending
35' to NGC 2006 and 2002.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2027 = D 241 = h2908 on 6 Nov 1826 and described "a large
cluster of small stars of mixt magnitudes in strong nebula; irregular extended
figure." His position falls
at the east end of association LH 77 or the west end of LH 84, known as the LMC
"Quadrant" (of a circle).
JH made three
observations of the field. On the
first sweep (2 Nov 1832) he described "a very large, very rich cluster of
separate stars 9..11th mag, which fills the whole field." On a second
sweep he called it "cluster 7th class. The second of two stars 9th mag,
which may be considered the leading stars of the very large and fine cluster of
the Nubecula Major, which fills many fields, is of all degrees of condensation,
and much broken up into groups and patches." His third observation was
recorded as "an ill-defined nebuloid group of stars 15th mag (N.B. Clouds
very troublesome.) The field full of grouping stars."
Herschel is
clearly describing the large OB association LH 77, which stretches west to NGC
2002. His position from the second
sweep ("second of two stars 9th magnitude") and third sweeps is close
to S-L 592, and the position given here.
This cluster is also at the west end of a looping association of stars
(probably NGC 2027) on the east end of LH 77.
******************************
NGC 2028 = ESO
056-SC152 = S-L 575 = LH 80
05 33 49 -69 57
06
V = 12.9; Size 1.1'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): fairly bright, moderately large, roundish, high surface
brightness, mottled, a couple of stars resolved at the edges. A small partially resolved clump is
just off the northeast side. In a
small trio with similar S-L 574 2.4' W and fainter H-S 353 2.2' NNW. NGC 2028 is within association LH 80, a
stunningly rich region of the LMC with NGC 2016 11' W, S-L 591 6' NE, H-S 362
is 8' NE,
S-L 574 appeared
bright, moderately large, slightly elongated E-W, 30" diameter, brighter
along the major axis, clumpy. A
mag 14 star is at the west tip and a mag 11.9 star is 0.9' SSW. H-S 353 is a fairly faint, soft round
glow, 30" diameter. S-L 591 appeared
fairly bright, fairly small, roundish, 35", mottled. Only a couple of mag 16 stars resolved
around the edges. A mag 11.8 star
is 1.7' NE. H-S 362, just 2' ENE
of S-L 591 is fairly faint, elongated NW-SE, 25" diameter. It forms the eastern vertex of a
equilateral triangle with S-L 591 and the mag 11.8 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2028 = h2912 on 12 Nov 1836 and simply noted as
"vF". His position is an
excellent match (he corrected his RA by 10 sec) with cluster S-L 575, so the
identification is certain although I'm surprised he apparently missed nearby
S-L 574, which is equally as prominent.
JH questioned if his object might be D 100. Dunlop's description reads "a small round nebula, about
2' north of a small star."
His position is just 2' NW of S-L 575 and 3.4' NE of a mag 11 star (his
small star?). But D 100 is also
10' ENE of NGC 2016, so it could be also be D 100 given his range of positional
errors. Neither Steinicke nor Glen
Cozens equates D 100 with NGC 2028.
******************************
05 35 40.8 -66
02 06
V = 12.3; Size 4'
30"
(10/18/17 - OzSky): at 202x, 264x and 429x; large, fairly bright cluster (S-L
595) with ~30 stars resolved in a 3.5' region and includes at least 4 brighter
stars from mag 12.3-13.5 and another mag 12.7 star is at the SW edge. Moderately faint nebulous haze
(LMC-N63) encompasses the cluster.
Adding a NPB filter at 264x increases the contrast with the large
nebulous glow, which extended 2.5-3' diameter. Note: this object is identified as NGC 2030 in most sources!
N63A, embedded
slightly east of center of N63, is a well-known bright, compact supernova
remnant and one of the first 3 extragalactic SNRs to be discovered (1966). The SNR appeared as a small round knot,
only ~12"-15" in diameter, and was faintly visible even at 202x. It was easy to distinguish at 264x and
stood out fairly prominently at 429x.
Surprisingly, I didn't notice any contrast gain adding a NPB filter
(similar visibility).
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x): fairly bright, large, over a dozen mag 13 and fainter
stars are resolved in a 3.5' region.
A fairly faint, oval emission glow (LMC-N63) is involved with the
cluster (S-L 595). Adding an NPB
filter, the nebulosity is bright, large, irregular (roughly round), ~2.5'
diameter, with several of the brighter stars still visible.
Emission nebula
LHa 120-N 62A is 14' SSW. Using an
NPB filter, it appeared very bright, very elongated ~E-W, relatively large,
~1.5'x0.4'. The shape is a bit
irregular, but it has a sharply defined northern edge, with the southern edge
weaker and more ill-defined.
Visible unfiltered but excellent response to the NPB. A couple of very faint stars are
visible with averted. BSDL 2348,
an LMC cluster perhaps associated with the nebula, is ~2' W and contains a half-dozen mag 14-15 stars in a 1.5'
knot, along with a mag 12.5 star on the west end. Emission nebula LHa 120-N 64 is 16' further
southeast.
Emission nebula
LHa 120-N 64 is 20' SSE. Using an
NPB filter, it is a bright, large, irregular nebulous patch, about 3'x2'
E-W. The brightest portion (N64A)
is on the west side. A mag 11 star
is ~2' N of the east end. Another
2' NNW of this star is a detached 40" piece (N64C) that was fairly easy
with the filter. Unfiltered three
mag 13 line in a 1.8' string are involved in the central portion, along with a
couple of mag 14-15 stars. Mag 8.8
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): fairly bright, fairly large, 3'x1.5', elongated N-S. This LMC object appears to be a large
cluster with nebulosity (stellar association LH 83). A half-dozen mag 12-13 stars are resolved over an irregular
background haze (unresolved stars?).
Located 32' N of mag 6.2
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2029 = D 240 = h2911 on 27 Sep 1826 and noted a "faint
round nebula, 25" or 30" diameter." His position is just 4' SW of center of the nebula. JH called this object "a rich, R,
pL cluster of stars 12m; little comp; 5' l; one * 11m." On a second sweep he wrote "pB; R;
gbM; 60"; resolved into stars 13...15m."
Jenni Kay notes
that GC and NGC positions for NGC 2029 and NGC 2030 are reversed from JH's
original CGH positions of h2911 and h2910, respectively. The error must have occurred when JH
transfered his positions into the GC.
So, NGC 2030 = h2030 is part of the Seagull Nebula and NGC 2029 = h2911
is an isolated nebula. All modern sources such as SIMBAD, ESO and the KMHK
catalogue reverse the original identifications and call NGC 2029 part of the
Seagull Nebula. See WSQJ #108,
4/97. The identifications given
here are based on the CGH positions/identifications.
******************************
NGC 2030 =
Seagull Nebula = Dragon's Head Nebula = LMC-N59A = LH 82
05 35 00.5 -67
33 18
Size 1.6'x0.9'
30"
(10/18/17 - OzSky): at 202x and 264x + NPB filter; this is the first section in
the remarkable Seagull or "Dragon's Head" Nebula, though the faintest
of three connected patches extending 5.5' from NW to SE with
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the NW component of the
Seagull Nebula; a bright, highly structured 7'x5' emission nebula. The brightest portion of NGC 2030 is a
bright streak elongated E-W that extends west from mag 12.3 HD 269810. A large mass of nebulosity spreads to
the north from this streak in a more circular 2' patch. This object is incorrectly identified
as NGC 2029 in modern catalogues and atlases.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2030 = h2910 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "B; L; gbM. The first of 3 neb, which run
together." On a second sweep,
he logged "vF; pL; irreg R.
The first of 3, which run together. See Plate III. fig 5." The modern identities for NGC 2029 and 2030 are
reversal. See historical notes for
NGC 2029.
******************************
NGC 2031 = ESO
056-SC153 = S-L 577
05 33 41.9 -70
59 16
V = 10.8; Size 3.4'
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x this LMC cluster was very bright,
fairly large, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, well concentrated with a 1' core and
2' much fainter halo. The cluster
had a mottled texture and was quite lively around the edges, but was not
clearly resolved. Located 12' NW
of mag 7.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2031 = h2915 on 3 Nov 1834 and noted "F (?); R; gbM; 3'
(Hazy Sky)". On a later sweep
he had a better view and logged "globular, B; R; gbM; 2'. Resolved into stars." His position is just off the south side
of this large cluster.
******************************
NGC 2032 =
Seagull Nebula = Dragon's Head Nebula = LMC-N59A = LH 82
05 35 20.6 -67
34 06
Size 2'x1'
30"
(10/18/17 - OzSky): at 202x and 264x + NPB filter; NGC 2032 and 2035, separated
by a dark lane, form a stunning pair of adjacent emission nebulae of comparable
surface brightness, though NGC 2032 is larger. Using a narrow-band filter, NGC 2032 was extremely bright,
elongated SW-NE, ~2'x1', with a scalloped but sharply defined border at the
brighter edge along the dust lane. A fairly prominent thin filament extends NE
for ~1.5', curling a bit towards the tip.
A thin strip on the SE end (just beyond the lane) connects to NGC
2035. The ionizing star was
visible unfiltered at the eastern border, in an indentation, though it appeared
fainter than the listed mag of 13.5.
A second mag 14 star was also involved at 25" to its east. A mag 11.4 star is off the SW side and
a mag 12.2 star (O3-type HD 269810) is at the NE edge. The latter star (also known as RMC 122)
may be the ionizing source for the surrounding nebulosity.
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is possibly the brightest
section of the "Seagull Nebula" or "Dragon's Head Nebula"
in the LMC (similar to
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2032 = D 219 on 27 Sep 1826 and described a "pretty bright
round nebula, about 1 1/4' diameter, bright towards the centre." He states 2 observations were made and
his published position is within the Seagull Nebula complex. As NGC 2032 is probably the brightest
section along with NGC 2035, this identification seems reasonable. Herschel gave an uncertain equivalence
with D 219 in his CGH catalogue.
He first observed the nebula (h2913) on 2 Nov 1834 and recorded
"vB; vL. A singular figure
like 3 nebulae lumped together."
On a second sweep he recorded "pB; irreg fig; glbM." On his next observation he logged
"B; L; gbM. The second of 3
which run together." A
detailed sketch of the complex was published in plate III, figure 5 in the CGH
observations.
The Seagull
Nebula contains four separate NGC designations: NGC 2030 (misidentified as NGC
2029 in GC and NGC), NGC 2032, NGC 2035 and
******************************
05 34 30 -69 46
48
Size 10'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 230x): large bright star cloud (stellar association
LH 81), ~10' diameter with ~50 stars (depending on size taken) mag 11-14. Adding an NPB filter brings out the
associated nebulosity (LHA 120-N54), which is fairly bright and very
large. A curving swath of
nebulosity, elongated E-W for ~8' on the southwest side of the
association. The cluster itself is
also encased in diffuse nebulosity with the filter.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2033 between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch refractor and
recorded it as #579 in his preliminary catalogue of "Stars, Nebulae and
Clusters in the Nubecula Major."
Herschel's position falls in the large stellar association LH 81. But as there is no listing or
description in the CGH catalogue, it's possible Herschel was recording a small
knot or a very large field of stars + nebulosity. So, the size and center is unknown. See NGC 2037 for more. The large nebulosity on the south side
of the association might be
James Dunlop
possibly discovered NGC 2033 = D 141? earlier on 24 Sep 1826, recording "a
faint extended nebula, about 4' long, very faint towards the extremities,
brightest and broadest in the middle.
This is in the south following side of a faint cluster of very minute
stars." Dunlop's position
(single observation) is 11' SE of this nebulous cluster.
******************************
NGC 2034 = ESO
086-SC14 = S-L 592 = LH 84
05 35 38 -66 54
06
V = 9.3; Size 8'x4'
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 105x this is an interesting, elongated curving
cluster or association (LH 84), situated northwest of the compact cluster NGC
2041. This condensed portion of LH
84 contains a couple of dozen mag 12-13 stars and a wide pair of mag 10 stars
(including
John Herschel discovered
NGC 2034 = h2914 on 3 Jan 1837 and described "a more condensed part of the
great cluster (sweep 761, 39), of a crescent-like form, occupying one field.
Rich and fine." His position
corresponds with association LH 84 at the northeast end of the "Quadrant"
feature of the LMC. NGC 2034 =
h2914 and NGC 2027 = h2908 both described the same field, though NGC 2027 is on
the west end of the association.
Harold Corwin considers NGC 2027 to refer to the entire region.
James Dunlop
discovered the association on 6 Nov 1826 and described D 241 as "a large
cluster of small stars of mixt magnitudes in strong nebula; irregular extended
figure." His position falls
at the east end association LH 77 or the west end of LH 84, known as the LMC
"Quadrant" (of a circle).
******************************
NGC 2035 =
Seagull Nebula = Dragon's Head Nebula = LMC-N59A = LH 82
05 35 33 -67 35
06
Size 1.6'x1.0'
30"
(10/18/17 - OzSky): at 202x and 264x + NPB filter; NGC 2032 and 2035, separated
by a dark lane, form a stunning pair of adjacent emission nebulae of comparable
surface brightness, though NGC 2032 is larger. The two impressive regions are attached or merge at the
south end by a thin strip of nebulosity.
NGC 2035 was extremely bright, roughly rectangular but irregular with
slightly concave eastern side and lots of complex, internal structure with
brighter and darker areas. A fairly thin streamer is attached on the northeast
end and extends 2' NNE, similar (though slightly fainter) to a filament
attached to NGC 2032! LMC-N59C is
a detached patch ~2' SE. It
appeared moderately large, roundish, at least 1' diameter. A mag 10.4 star is 2' ESE.
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the southeast section of
the bright Seagull Nebula in the LMC.
At 200x using a UHC filter it appeared very bright, moderately large,
with a very irregular shape similar to an anvil. The very knotty, complex structure was elongated N-S,
1.6'x1.0', with the widest part of the anvil on the south end. NGC 2032, another very bright section,
is very close preceding (roughly 1.6' between centers) and the two sections are
separated by a dark lane oriented SSW-NNE. A very faint streamer attached on the NE side flows to the
north (NGC 2032 has a similar but brighter streamer). A fairly small detached patch, ~1.2' in diameter, is close
SE (identified as LHA 120-N 59C in SIMBAD).
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2035 = D 219 on 27 Sep 1826 and described a
"pretty bright round nebula, about 1 1/4' diameter, bright towards the
centre". He states 2
observations were made and his published position is within the Seagull Nebula
complex. As NGC 2032/2035 are the
brightest sections, this identification seems reasonable.
JH first
observed this bright nebula on 23 Dec 1834 and called NGC 2035 = h2916,
"B, L, bM. The 3rd of three which run together. (Plate III, fig 5)". On his next observation he recorded "pB, L, R. The
third of 3 which run together." Herschel gave an uncertain equivalence
with D 220 in the CGH.
******************************
NGC 2036 = NGC
2043? = ESO 056-SC155 = S-L 587
05 34 32 -70 03
54
V = 12.8; Size 1.5'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): very bright, fairly large, irregular, mottled, brighter
core, 50" diameter. A bright,
tiny knot of mag 15.5 stars is at the southeast end. A couple of additional mag 16 stars are resolved near the
edges. A mag 10.7 star lies 4'
NNE. NGC 2028 lies 8' NW.
BSDL 2464 =
OGLE-CL LMC 611 was noticed 2.6' NE as a very faint, small glow, 20"
diameter. A couple of very faint
stars were resolved at the east end.
The mag 10.7 star noted above lies 2.7' NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2036 = h2917 on 11 Nov 1836 and recorded "vF; R; gbM;
90"." There is nothing
at his position, but one degree south is the cluster S-L 587. Herschel's added a note to his
description that there was likely an error of 1° in the polar distance and
clearly this was the case. Eric
Lindsay, in the 1964 paper "Some NGC objects in the Large Magellanic
Cloud" (IAJ, 6, 286-289) comments "The Decl. seems to be in error.
The object is probably the small cluster S/L 587 at 1° south. Herschel found
strong ground to suspect an error of a degree in P.D. which should most likely
be 160° and not 159°." As
this cluster is exactly 1° S of h's position, the identification is virtually
certain.
Also, see
historical notes for
******************************
NGC 2037 =
OGLE-CL LMC 605 = BCDSP 8
05 34 40.4 -69
44 50
V = 11.6; Size 0.4'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 230x): very small high surface brightness glow,
~12" diameter. Situated with
the large stellar association LH 81 and at the north end of a 2' string to the
south-southwest with three mag 12, 11 and 13 stars. This standard identification is unlikely and both NGC 2033
and 2037 probably refer to sections of the general star cloud.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2037 between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch refractor and
listed it as #593 in his preliminary catalogue of"Stars, Nebulae and
Clusters in the Nubecula Major."
The only information he gives (besides a position) is type
"Cl" and Mag 8. There is
no listing or description in the main CGH catalogue, so along with nearby NGC
2033, it is unknown if Herschel was describing a small knot or a very large
field of stars + nebulosity in association LH 81, though the magnitude implies
a bright object. NGC 2037 is taken
as the small cluster OGLE-CL LMC 605 at 05 34 40 -69 44.8 (2000) by Archinal
and Hynes, Mati Morel and Jenni Kay.
Harold Corwin remarks this cluster is too faint to have been picked up
by Herschel with his 5-inch refractor and certainly wouldn't be described as
8th magnitude. So, the standard
identification (given here) is almost certainly wrong.
******************************
05 34 42 -70 33
42
V = 11.9; Size 1.6'
24"
(11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): very bright, fairly small,
slightly elongated, 40" diameter, clumpy but no individual stars
resolved. First of three nearly on
a line with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2038 = h2920 on 24 Nov 1834 and logged "B, R, glbM,
25", has a *9 mag 5' north-preceding." His position is accurate.
******************************
05 44 33 +08 39
42
Size 30'
18"
(1/26/09): large, scattered field with a number of mag 8 to 10 stars, though
too dispersed to resemble a cluster.
the most distinctive part is a nice 8' string of 6 collinear stars
oriented E-W with mag 8
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2039 = h366 on 19 Jan 1828 and described as "A large tract
of stars filling many fields. It
extends much further in RA."
He equated this observation with H VIII-2 = NGC 2063, so he may have
confused these two fields at the time.
His father's object is either nonexistent or just an asterism ~40' to
the east. On a second sweep, JH
logged "A large ill-defined tract of loose stars, neither rich nor
condensed"). JH used two
numbers in the GC for h366 and H VIII-2, so both objects received their own NGC
designation. Karl Reinmuth, in his
1926 survey based on Heidelberg plates, states "many st, Cl not well
defined." See Corwin's notes
for further discussion.
******************************
NGC 2040 = ESO
56-EN164 = LMC-N59B = LH 88
05 36 05 -67 34
01
V = 11.5; Size 2'
30"
(10/18/17 - OzSky): at 202x and 264x + NPB filter; bright, very large,
irregular nebula just east of NGC 2030/2032/2035 (Dragon's Head or Seagull
Nebula). The main portion is
roughly triangular with one "vertex" on the south side and another on
the northeast end. It has a sharp,
contrasty edge on the east side to the south tip and some internal, irregular
brightness in the interior.
Unfiltered a dozen stars mag 14-15 are involved (association LH 88),
with several more spreading to the south.
NGC 2040 is
merged with a supernova remnant shell (SNR
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is a bright, irregularly
round glow, ~2' diameter, located ~4' ENE of the Seagull or Dragon's Head
Nebula and part of the same emission complex. The nebulosity surrounds a cluster of roughly 15 stars (LH
88). A UHC filter provided an
excellent contrast gain at 200x and revealed a very irregular outline. The POSS image shows delicate filaments
to the south forming a large loop (SNR shell SNR 0536-67.6) although I don't
believe this extension was recorded.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2040 = h2918 on 2 Nov 1834 and recorded "F; irreg R; glbM;
r; 2'. (Pl III, fig 5)." On a
later sweep he reported "vF; R; follows 3 vB L nebulae [NGC 2030, NGC 2032
and NGC 2035] which run together."
His position (from 5 sweeps) is accurate and an excellent sketch of the
complex is on plate III, figure 3.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered this nebula (D 220) earlier on 27 Sep 1826 and logged
"a round faint nebula, about 40" diameter." His position is just 4' NNW of the
center of LMC N59B = NGC 2040, but given the range of his positional errors,
it's possible this observation either refers to nearby NGC 2032 or 2035 (part
of the same complex).
******************************
NGC 2041 = ESO
086-SC16 = S-L 605
05 36 28.0 -66
59 29
V = 10.4; Size 0.7'
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 105x, this LMC cluster appears bright, fairly small,
round, 1' diameter, high surface brightness. Symmetrical appearance and increases to a very small bright
core and a stellar nucleus. This
young, massive cluster is located ~7' SE of the elongated cluster NGC 2034 at
the east end of the very large, extended collection of associations (the
"Quadrant") that includes NGC 2026 and 2002 on the western side.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2041 = h2919 on 2 Nov 1834 and described as "B, S, vgbM,
20"." On a second sweep
he noted "a rich clustering
part precedes." His position
(measured on 4 sweeps) is accurate.
Wolfgang Steinicke and Glen Cozens both credit James Dunlop with the
discovery on 6 Nov 1826. His entry
for D 241 describes "a large cluster of small stars of mixt magnitudes in
strong nebula; irregular extended figure." His position is 6.6' NW of the cluster, but his description
implies a much larger object - like NGC 2027/2034 and the position is a closer
match.
******************************
05 36 09.6 -68
55 24
V = 9.6; Size 6'x3'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly large patch of stars and haze
(association LH 89), ~5' in size.
At least two dozen stars are resolved in an elongated group oriented
SW-NE, including a few mag 10 stars over unresolved stars or outer nebulous
haze from the Tarantula complex.
Two additional knots are to the northwest and form an obtuse isosceles
triangle with NGC 2042. The first
knot is KMHK 1122 situated 5' NW and S-L 585 is 10' NW. NGC 2042 is located just 17' NW of the
center of the Tarantula Nebula.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2042 = h2922 on 30 Dec 1836 and recorded "the chief star
(9th mag) of a large, irregular figured, looped or hooked cluster of stars
12..15th mag, rich and various, and filling the field." His description and position applies to
the assocation LH 89.
This object may
have been discovered earlier by James Dunlop. His D181, described as a "small faint nebula, 10"
or 12" diameter" is 5.5' NW of center of the association. But the description doesn't match an
object of this size. His D 140,
described as "a small faint round nebula" is a similar distance SW of
center, but again the description is a very poor match. Finally D 183, described as "a
faint ill-defined nebula, 20" diameter", is ~8' NE but another poor
match in description. So, I'm not
confident any of these observations referring to NGC 2042.
******************************
NGC 2043 = NGC
2036? = ESO 056-SC155
05 34 32 -70 03
54
=NGC 2036?, Jenni
Kay. =NF, Lindsay. =ESO 56-SC168,
ESO and Corwin.
Pietro Baracchi
discovered NGC 2043 on 18 Dec 1884 with the 48-inch f/41 Great Melbourne
Telescope and it was included in R. L. Ellery's "Observations of Southern
Nebulae made with the Great Melbourne Telescope 1869 - 1885". He wrote "preceding H. 1259 [NGC
2058] by 79.5 sec and 4' 30" north is a small elongated group of minute
stars in very thin nebula..".
There is nothing at his offset from
Harold Corwin
suggests NGC 2043 is a N-S string of stars (about 1.7' length) situated 2.5' S
of Baracchi's position, which is a good match with his description.
Jenni Kay
suggests NGC 2043 was a duplicate observation of NGC 2036, discovered earlier
by John Herschel but with a published error in declination of 1 degree (he
actually noted that this was a strong possibility). Furthermore, the GC (and later the NGC) carry forward this declination
error without any reference to the discrepancy. So, Baracchi would have thought this cluster was a new
discovery. This requires he made a
1 min error in RA (NGC 2036 precedes NGC 2058 by 2 min 23 sec of RA, instead of
1 min 20 sec of RA), though the dec would be fairly close.
******************************
05 36 06.2 -69
11 55
V = 10.6; Size 4.5'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): group of about a dozen stars in a 3'
diameter at 171x dominated by three brighter stars in a E-W string. Two of the "stars" in this
line are actually compact clusters (BRHT 17a and 17b) with multiple components
on a HST image. Also a mag 11.5 "star" on the north side is a compact
cluster (KMK 87). NGC 2044 is situated in the outer portion of the 30 Doradus
complex 16' SW from the central core.
Like
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2044 between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch refractor and
listed as #608 in his preliminary catalogue of "Stars, Nebulae and
Clusters in the Nubecula Major."
His position is ~1' south of the center of this cluster/association (LH
90).
******************************
05 45 01.3 +12
53 18
V = 6.6
=*6.6 = SAO
94827, Gottlieb. =no nebulosity,
Carlson.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2045 = h367 on 23 Jan 1832 and recorded "a star 8-9 mag
with faint nebulosity." His
position coincides precisely with mag 6.6
******************************
05 35 37.6 -70
14 27
V = 12.6; Size 1.3'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the first in a rich field of 8 NGC
clusters (with the brightest NGC 2058).
At 200x, it appeared bright, fairly small, slightly elongated WSW-ENE in
the direction of a mag 13 star just 0.8' SW. The core seems offset from the center to the NE end or a
compact knot of stars is attached at the following end.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2046 = h2923 on 11 Nov 1836 and descrbed as "vF; R; gbM; the
first of a group of six nebulae.
See Pl IV, fig 9. His
position and sketch is accurate.
Joseph Turner also sketched the entire group of clusters (NGC 2046,
2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) on 26 Apr 1876 using the 48" Great
Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
NGC 2047 = ESO
056-SC167 = S-L 600
05 35 54.4 -70
11 29
V = 13.2; Size 0.9'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster is located on the west
side of a rich field of 8 NGC clusters in the 13mm Ethos (200x). It appeared moderately bright, fairly
small, round, 45" diameter. A
faint star is at the south edge.
Forms a pair with slightly brighter NGC 2046 3.2' SSW. Located 5.8' ESE
of mag 8.2 HD 37762 and 5.4' WSW of NGC 2058.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2047 = h2925 on 11 Nov 1836 and described as "the second of
a group. Pl IV, fig 9." His position and sketch is accurate. The entire group of clusters (NGC 2046,
2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) was also sketched by Joseph Turner on 26
Apr 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
NGC 2048 = ESO
056-*N166 = LMC-N154A = LH 87
05 35 56 -69 38
54
V = 12.2; Size 2'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x + NPB filter): NGC 2048 is a bright elongated glow,
~1'x0.7' E-W, surrounded by fainter nebulous haze extending 3'-4' in
diameter. The emission component
(LHA 120-N 154A) is cradled around the south and east side by a large,
semicircular chain with mostly mag 12 stars and a total length of ~15'
(association LH 87). NGC 2048 is
situated in a glorious region of the LMC; extending to the southwest is NGC
2033 = LH 81, a large stellar association (the stars on the south side of the
semicircular chain are likely members) and further north is
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2048 = h2926 in 1834-1835 (exact sweep or date unknown as based
on a sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (
******************************
05 43 15.2 -30
04 42
V = 12.8; Size 2.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 168d
18"
(12/22/11): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 ~N-S, 0.6'x0.3', low surface
brightness, very weak concentration (possibly viewed through thin clouds).
17.5"
(12/8/90): fairly faint, small, oval 3:2 NNW-SSE, bright core.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2049 = h2921 on 28 Jan 1835 and recorded "vF; S; R; pslbM;
25." His position (measured
on two sweeps) matches
******************************
05 36 41.8 -69 22
49
V = 9.3; Size 3.0'x2.4'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x): NGC 2050 was taken as a 2'-3' patch of stars on the
north side of the large stellar association LH 96, a 15'x10' cloud of roughly
120 stars. At 142x, ~20 stars were
resolved including a mag 10.6 star at the west edge and a mag 10.7 star
(11" double) at the southwest edge.
The central part contains several mag 12 stars. A long stream of mag 10-12 stars begins
about 12' SW of the cluster and extends east-northeast for over 20', passing
just south of the Tarantula Nebula, and heads towards
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 171x, appears as just a locally brighter
spot containing perhaps a dozen stars over a hazy background glow (stellar
association LH 93), ~2' in diameter.
Embedded in the edge of an amazing 15'-20' linear stream of stars
(association LH 93/94) which runs through the field from east-northeast to
west-southwest. This long chain
passes just off the south side of the tendrils of the Tarantula Nebula and
heads towards NGC 2050! NGC
2050 is situated 30' SW of the center of the Tarantula.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2050 = h2928 in 1834-1835 (exact date unknown as based on a sketch
of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) made over several nights in Nov 1834 and Dec
1835). He described this object
"Cl VI; vF st and nebulosity of irregular branching figure, or rather 3
clusters connected. See Notes on
Catalogue of Nubecula Major."
His position falls in the north-central portion of NGC 2055, a very
large association and probably included part of the stream of stars mentioned
in my description.. See Harold
Corwin's notes for more on this object.
******************************
NGC 2051 = ESO
056-SC169 = S-L 608
05 36 07.5 -71
00 43
V = 11.7; Size 1.7'
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x this LMC cluster appeared bright,
fairly small, round, 35" diameter.
Located 12' ESE of brighter NGC 2031. Two additional S-L clusters (617 and 624) share the field
8.5' SSE. The cluster is also
equidistant from a mag 9 star 8' NW and mag 7.6 HD 37899 a similar distance SW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2051 = h2930 on 23 Dec 1834 and reported "pB; S; R; gbM;
30"; insulated." His
position from a single sweep is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2052 = ESO
056-EN176 = LMC-N155
05 37 11 -69 46
30
Size 1.2'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x): without a filter this emission nebula (N155) is a very
faint, small patch perhaps 35" diameter, only a couple of faint stars are
involved. Situated midway between a
mag 12 star 2' W and a mag 12.5 star 2' ENE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2052 = h2929 in 1834-1835 (sweep number and date unknown as
based on a sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) region made over several
nights in Nov 1834 and Dec 1835) and described as "vvF, vvL, vglbM." Herschel changed the description in the
GC to read "eF, vvS, vglbM" (probably an error) and this was copied
by Dreyer into the NGC. His
position is 2.5' SW of the faint HII region Henize N155, which the Hodge-Wright
Atlas and the ESO identify as NGC 2052. There are no other nearby candidates. Harold Corwin suggests "NGC 2052
may be the large diffuse nebula 2 minutes of time preceding JH's position. But it may not be."
Eric Lindsay, in
the 1964 paper "Some NGC objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ,
6, 286-289), notes "Should be 2.3m E of NGC 2033. It may be a small group
slightly NE in which is Henize N155.
Dreyer and Herschel differ as to size [actually Herschel changed the
size]. Position measured by Herschel from a drawing and not during a
sweep."
******************************
05 37 40 -67 24
48
V = 12.2; Size 1.2'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): fairly bright, relatively large, slightly
elongated N-S, 1.0' diameter, smooth glow at 142x, slightly mottled at
184x. A mag 12 star is 1.2'
W. Located 23' W of mag 7.0 HD
38616 and ~15' NE of the showpiece Seagull Nebula complex (NGC 2030, 2032,
2035, 2040).
S-L 628 lies 7'
NE. It was immediately seen as an
moderately bright, fairly small glow, round, 25" diameter, fairly high
surface brightness, no resolution.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2053 = h2927 on 2 Jan 1837 and noted "F; lE; gbM;
2'." His position from a
single sweep is 1' SSE of this cluster.
******************************
05 45 15.4 -10
04 59
=4*, HC and
Dreyer.
George Bond
discovered NGC 2054 = HN 3 on 6 Oct 1850 with a 4-inch comet-seeker at the
Harvard College Observatory. He
mentioned that it required confirmation and JH didn't include this object in
the GC. Dreyer observed the
cluster using the 72" at Birr Castle on 13 Jan 1877 and reported "vF,
pS, iR, at times I thought it was a very small cluster, but it is
doubtful".
Nevertheless, he included it in the GC Supplement (GC 5354). Herbert Howe observed it around 1899
using a 20" refractor and noted "it appears to be simply a small
triangle composed of 2 stars of mag 12, and one of mag 13." Bigourdan's position from 26 Dec 1891
(repeated in the
******************************
NGC 2055 = ESO
056-SC171 = LH 96
05 36 45 -69 29
54
V = 8.4; Size 15'x10'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x): roughly 120 stars are resolved in a gorgeous 15'x10'
SW-NE star cloud (association LH 96) situated to the south of the Tarantula
Nebula. The cloud is rich in faint
stars but also includes a mag 9.6 star (
Within this
cloud is S-L 610 (often misidentified as NGC 2055), a small knot of four stars
in a 1' region. It includes two
bright "stars" (R127, V ≈
10.5 and R128, V ≈ 10.7 ) at 20" separation, along with two 12th
mag stars to the northwest. Both
R127 and R128 are very compact clusters with R127 containing the brightest
Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) in the LMC!
NGC 2050 is probably a group of stars on the north side of the
cloud. Roughly ~20 stars were
resolved including a mag 10.6 star at the west edge and a mag 10.7 star
(11" double) at the southwest edge.
The central part contains several mag 12 stars. A long stream of mag 10-12 stars begins
about 12' SW of the cluster and extends east-northeast for over 20', passing
just south of the Tarantula Nebula.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2055 = h2931 on 24 Nov 1834 and noted "a vL v rich cluster
of sc st 10...15 which more than fills the field." His position is near the center of this
large association or star cloud (LH 96), which includes NGC 2050 and S-L 610.
******************************
NGC 2056 = ESO
056-SC172 = S-L 611
05 36 34 -70 40
17
V = 11.8; Size 1.5'
24"
(11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): very bright, fairly large, 1.2'
diameter, very high surface brightness core, mottled and clumpy halo with a
couple of mag 15.5-16 stars resolved around the edges. Second of three with NGC 2038 11' NW
and NGC 2075 9' ESE. Mag 9.3 HD
38174 is near the midpoint of NGC 2056 and 2075. Mag 10.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2056 = h2932 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "pB, R, bM, the
preceding of 2 [with NGC 2075] on the same parallel; a star 9 mag
between." His position is
~30" SE of center of this cluster.
******************************
05 36 56.2 -70
16 10
V = 12.2; Size 1.8'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster is on the south side of a
field filled with 8 NGC clusters.
At 260x it appeared bright, fairly small, round, ~30" diameter,
fairly well concentrated with a small bright core. Situated on a line between
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2057 = D 104? on 24 Sep 1826 and described "a very
small faint nebula, 8" or 10" diameter." He made a single
observation and his position is 11' SE of this cluster. Assuming Dunlop also picked up NGC 2057
= D 104 and NGC 2065 = D 105, this identification is reasonable. JH independently discovered NGC 2057 =
h2935 on 11 Nov 1836 and recorded "pF; S; R; gbM; the 5th (4th properly)
of a group of 6, RA only estimated from a rough diagram incorrect (as it would
seem) in the order of the objects."
The entire group
of clusters (NGC 2046, 2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) was sketched by
Joseph Turner on 26 Apr 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
NGC 2058 = ESO
056-SC173 = S-L 614
05 36 54.5 -70
09 44
V = 11.9; Size 2.1'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the brightest cluster in a 15'
field of 8 NGC clusters including NGC 2046, 47, 57, 59, 65, 66 and 72. All 8 clusters easily fit in the field
of 13mm Ethos at 200x within a 20' circle. Using 260x, NGC 2058 appeared very bright, large, well
concentrated. The outer halo
extends up to 2' diameter using averted vision. At 350x, a few very faint stars are resolved in the halo and
around the edges of the core. Two
mag 12.5-13 stars lie 1' WSW and 1.5' WNW. Other nearby clusters include
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2058 = D 103 on 24 Sep 1826 and described "a A
round well-defined nebula, 30" diameter, bright at the centre. The preceding of three nebulae forming
a triangle" He made a single
observation and his position is just 3.7' NW of the cluster. On 11 Nov 1836, JH
called this cluster (h2933), "B; R; gbM; 90"; the 3rd of a group of
6." Three sweeps later he
observed the cluster again as "vB; R; the 3rd of a group of 7. Pl IV, fig 9." His position and sketch is
accurate. JH equated Dunlop 102
with h2933, which Dunlop described as "a faint ill-defined nebula, perhaps
3' diameter". The large size,
though, makes this identification unlikely.
The entire group
of clusters (NGC 2046, 2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) was also sketched by
Joseph Turner on 26 Apr 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
NGC 2059 = ESO
056-SC175 = S-L 613
05 37 01.5 -70
07 37
V = 12.9; Size 1.1'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster is on the north side of a
field of 8 NGC clusters. At 200x
it appeared moderately bright, fairly small, round, 35" diameter. At 350x it appeared grainy but was
still unresolved except for a faint star at the north edge. Located 2.1' NNE of NGC 2058 and just
40" following a mag 12 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2059 = h2936 on 11 Nov 1836 and reported "vF; the 5th (4th
in MS) of a group of 6. Pl IV, fig
9." His position and sketch
is accurate. This cluster was also
sketched using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_32.php). The cluster was shown as elongated N-S.
The Hodge-Wright Atlas misidentifies OGLE-CL LMC 632 (too far north) as NGC
2059.
******************************
NGC 2060 = 30
Dor B = LMC-N157B = ESO 057-EN1 = LH 99 = SNR 0538-69.1
05 37 46.9 -69
10 18
V = 9.6; Size 2'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this fairly small knot of nebulosity is
situated just southwest of the main mass of the Tarantula nebula approximately
7' from the center. About a
half-dozen mag 12-14 stars are involved (association LH 99) in the glow with a
total diameter of 2'. A mag 12
"star" on the north edge (Brey 73 = TLD1) was resolved by the HST
into a very compact cluster with 11 components, including a Wolf-Rayet star.
Studies have
shown NGC 2060 harbors a compact x-ray source and a rapidly rotating pulsar,
indicating an obscured Crab-like supernova remnant (1998 IAU Circ., 6810,
2). The cluster also contains VFTS
102, the most rapidly rotating massive O-type star known, which is possibly
related to the pulsar.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2060 between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch refractor and
listed it as #642 in his preliminary catalogue of "Stars, Nebulae and
Clusters in the Nubecula Major." (not included in his main CGH catalogue). His position corresponds with this SNR
on the southwest side of the Tarantula nebula.
******************************
05 42 53.2 -33
57 29
Size 16'
18"
(1/15/07): at 115x I was initially attacted by a large, bright trapezoid-shaped
asterism of 5 stars with a pair of 9.5-magnitude stars at 35" separation
at the NW vertex. The brightest
star in the asterism is a mag 7.2 orange star at the NE vertex with an 11th
magnitude companion (h3794). But
John Herschel was likely referring to an 8' scattering of a couple of dozen mag
13 and fainter stars that lie to the north of the bright star. This group appears to be a random
collection at the eyepiece.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2061 = h2924 on 9 Jan 1836 and logged "Cluster, 8th class,
course, loose and filling the field; stars 10...13m. Place that of a double star in a vacant part." There is no double star at Herschel's
position but exactly 1.0 tmin west is h3794 = 7.7/11.6 at 20" separation
with a mean position of 05 42 53.2 -33 57 29 (J2000). There is a scattering of stars extending 8' north and five
brighter stars to the south. The
ESO position is 05 42 42 -34 00.6 (2000), and it is classified as a group of
stars instead of a cluster.
Dorothy Carlson also classifies this group as "no cl" (from
Helwan Observatory) and this is repeated in the RNGC.
******************************
05 40 03.8 -66
52 36
V = 12.7; Size 0.9'
18" (4/6/16
- Coonabarabran, 236x): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated
N-S, 30" diameter, mottled. Some extremely faint stars are on the verge of
resolution including one at the north or northeast edge. Two mag 9.8 stars lie 1.6' S and 2.9'
SSW. A small, low surface patch,
~20"x15" NW-SE, was noticed 4.7' W. On the DSS, it appears to be a possible uncatalogued LMC
cluster. S-L 643 lies 10'
SSE. It appeared fairly faint,
fairly small, round, smooth surface brightness. Located 4.7' E of mag 8.4
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2062 = h2937 on 3 Jan 1837 and recorded "vF; E; glbM;
40"; north of 2 stars 10m."
His position is 1 tmin too far west, but his declination matches this
cluster and two bright stars lie to the south, so the identification is
certain. Eric Lindsay first noted
this error in "Some NGC objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ,
6, 286-289), "Position should probably be 1.3m E corresponding to S/L
640."
******************************
05 46 48 +08 39
12
18"
(1/26/09): although nothing stands out in the field, near William Herschel's
position is a group of 30 stars elongated N-S in a string. Includes mag 10.1
Other observers
have picked brighter groupings in the area as NGC 2063 and WH's description of
"a small cluster of very small scattered stars" is not very
helpful. RNGC classifies the
number as nonexistent and in any case this number likely applies to an asterism
and not a true cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2063 = H VIII-2 on 26 Dec 1783 (very early sweep 67) and logged
"A small Cl of scattered stars." In a second sweep (28 Dec 1785) he reported "A few
pretty closely scattered very small stars." JH equated his h366 = NGC 2039
with his father's H VIII-2, but these are two diferent star fields. Harold Corwin notes there is only a
small grouping of faint stars near WH's position although a larger and brighter
patch of stars is ~8' south-southeast.
In any case, this is likely just a random group of stars. The position given in Archinal and
Hynes (Star Clusters) to the west of NGC 2039 is incorrect. See Corwin's notes.
******************************
05 46 18.4 +00
00 21
Size 12'x2'
17.5"
(12/20/95): very faint reflection nebula in the
13"
(2/25/84): very faint reflection nebula, small. Located 7' WSW of M78 and 4' SE of a mag 10.5 star. This difficult object is near the
visual threshold.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2064 near M78 on 11 Jan 1864. He noted a mag 9-10 star was 4' north-preceding and measured
an accurate position (2 nights).
The visual extent is much smaller than the catalogued dimensions.
******************************
NGC 2065 = ESO
057-SC002 = S-L 626
05 37 35.9 -70
14 07
V = 11.2; Size 2.6'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x, this LMC cluster appeared very
bright, fairly large, round, 1.2' diameter, weak concentration. With averted vision, the surface is
mottled and the outer halo increases to at least 1.5'. The cluster appeared very lively at
350x with a few stars just on the verge of resolution. At this power the halo appeared up to
1.8' in diameter. A mag 12 star is
at the NE edge and two mag 13/13.5 stars lie ~1.5' WNW. Eight NGC clusters reside in this one
field with four other clusters within 6': NGC 2057 4' SW, NGC 2066 4.2' N, NGC
2072 4' E and NGC 2058 5.8' NW!
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2065 = D 105 on 24 Sep 1826 and described "a round
well-defined nebula, 25" diameter." He made two observations and his position is 9' SE of this
cluster. On 11 Oct 1836, JH found
the cluster and reported h2938 as "pB; R; last of group of 6. Pl IV, fig 9." Three sweeps later he noted "B;
the 6th of a group of 7." His
position and sketch is accurate.
He questioned if this object was D 103, though D105 seems a better
match. The entire group of
clusters (NGC 2046, 2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) was also sketched by
Joseph Turner on 26 Apr 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
NGC 2066 = ESO
057-SC003 = S-L 627
05 37 41.2 -70
09 58
V = 13.1; Size 1.0'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appeared moderately bright and
large, round, 45" diameter, very weakly concentrated. Located on the eastern end of a rich
field of 9 NGC clusters and forms the vertex of an isosceles right triangle
with NGC 2065 4.2' due south and NGC 2058 4.1' due west.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2066 = h2939 on 12 Nov 1836 and noted "vF and S; the last
of a group of 7; this nebula escaped notice sweep 748. Plate IV, fig 9." The sketch on Plate IV accurately
places the 7 clusters (flipped right-left and upside down). The entire group of clusters (NGC 2046,
2047, 2057, 2058, 2059, 2065, 2066) was also sketched by Joseph Turner on 26
Apr 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope. See
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_33.php
******************************
05 46 29 +00 06
24
Size 8'x3'
13.1"
(2/25/84): extremely faint, suspected reflection nebula 5' WNW of M78. Sighting uncertain as only visible
fleetingly. [It's not clear from
my description whether I observed the very low surface brightness circular
patch NW of M78 or the brightest portion of the streamer pointing towards NGC
2064].
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2067 = T I-17 in 1876 with the 11" refractor at the Arcetri
Observatory. His position and
rough tranlation of his description (in German) points to the very faint
nebulosity to the northwest of M78.
Harold Corwin lists two possible regions as the intended object -
"a large patch of pretty low surface brightness nebulosity about 5 arcmin
northwest of M78" and "a knot about 3 arcmin southwest, the brightest
part of a long faint streamer pointed toward NGC 2064". It's possible that Tempel's nebula
applies to both sections.
******************************
05 46 45 +00 04
42
V = 8.0; Size 8'x6'
17.5"
(12/20/95): very bright reflection nebula surrounding two mag 10.5 stars with a
mag 13 star involved at the south end.
Large, irregular shape, 6'x4'.
Brightest along the north side which has a sharply defined slightly
bowed-out edge with one of the mag 10.5 stars near the midpoint. A brighter knot is just following this
star. The nebula irregularly fans
out towards the south and fades with no distinct borders but tapers somewhat at
the south edge.
17.5"
(2/1/92):very bright, surprisingly large, 6'x4'. Surrounds two mag 10 stars although the nebulosity extends
further to east of these stars.
Also a mag 13 star is embedded in the SE end. Brighter and sharper edge gently curves from west to north
side. Appears to fan out to the SE
where the nebula gradually fades into background. Brightest in a group of reflection nebulae including NGC
2064 7' SW and NGC 2067 6' WNW.
8"
(12/6/80): bright reflection nebula, large, NW edge brighter and sharper,
elongated, roughly rectangular, wide pair of mag 10 stars involved,
striking. Brightest in a group of reflection
nebulae.
Pierre Méchain
discovered M78 = NGC 2068 = h368 in March 1780. WH described M78 on 19 Dec 1783 as "Two large [bright]
stars, well defined, within a nebulous glare of light resembling that in
Orion's sword. There are also three very small [faint] stars just visible in
the nebulous part which seem to be component particles thereof. I think there
is a faint ray near 1/2 deg long towards the east and another towards the south
east less extended, but I am not quite so well assured of the reality of these
latter phenomena as I could wish, and would rather ascribe them to some
deception. At least I shall suspend my judgement till I have seen it again in
very fine weather, tho' the night is far from bad." M78 was the first reflection nebula that
was discovered.
R.J. Mitchell,
using LdR's 72" on 9 Jan 1856, described "in finder eyepiece a B oval
neb with n and nf edges brightest and best defined, and sp edge fading away
gradually; with higher power there is seen a decided darkness at and between
the stars. I can confirm previous
observation as to the curve formed by the brightest part of the neb."
Joseph Turner
made a sketch in Dec 1876 using the 48" Great Melbourne Telescope - see
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_3_31.php
******************************
05 38 37.7 -69
00 49
V = 10.1
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the northern outer loop of the
Tarantula Nebula which Dunlop and Herschel catalogued separately. Several mag 12-13 stars are involved.
See observing notes for NGC 2070.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2069 = D 143 on 3 Aug 1826 with his 9 reflector and noted a
"A pretty large, faint, ill-defined nebula, elongated in the direction of
the meridian." His position
is 2'-3' too far north (unusually accurate for him). JH recorded h2940 on 24 Nov 1834 as "the middle of a
large extended faint nebulous mass which forms the northern branch of the great
looped nebula, and is almost, or entirely, detached from it. See the next
object [Tarantula Nebula]."
******************************
NGC 2070 =
Tarantula Nebula = 30 Doradus = LMC-N157A = ESO 057-EN6 = S-L 633 = LH 100
05 38 42 -69 06
03
V = 8.3; Size 40'
24"
(11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x unfiltered, I examined
the 30 Doradus cluster = R136 cluster at the heart of the Tarantula
Nebula. The cluster is dominated
by R136a, a 10th magnitude bloated "star" at the center that would
not focus sharply. Surrounding
this star was a compact but very rich carpet of dozens of mag 14-15.5 stars packed
into a 1' region that were much too numerous to count.
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia):
The Tarantula nebula was simply unreal at 200x in the 13mm Ethos with a
UHC filter -- better than any photo I've seen and convincingly 3-dimensional,
even though I viewed it late so the elevation was only 20°. Although this magnification brought out
an unbelievable amount of detail in the loops and ribbons, the main complex fit
snugly in the eyepiece field (30').
20" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): the Tarantula is the largest known emission
region (800-1000 light years) and is easily visible to the naked-eye from
Australia. The view of the
Tarantula early in the morning through a 20" f/5 at 127x (20 Nagler) and
OIII filter was jaw-dropping! Near
the center are several bright loops and arcs. Extending out are a number of convoluted loops including one
heart-shaped arch which is quite large.
Running out from the central region of the nebula are streaming lanes of
nebulosity. One in particular
extends quite a long distance and the outer loops and streamers seem to merge
into some of the nearby HII regions forming a mind-boggling complex. There are perhaps 10 different loops
and ribbons in the main body giving a 3-dimensional effect. Near the center lies an extremely
compact cluster of superluminous stars (R136) but only a few were visible
including what appears to be a single bright star. Also a number of additional stars are scattered about the
main body.
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): NGC 2060 lies 6.5' SW of the central
cluster (R136) of the Tarantula.
It appeared as a fairly small knot of nebulosity, ~2' diameter, with
about a half-dozen mag 12-14 stars involved (association LH 99) in the glow. A mag 12 "star" on the north
edge has been resolved into a very compact cluster by the HST. Studies have
shown this nebula contains a compact x-ray source and a rapidly rotating
pulsar, indicating NGC 2060 is a Crab-like supernova remnant in the LMC (1998
IAU Circ., 6810, 2).
Hodge 301 is the
oldest cluster in the Tarantula (age 25-30 million years) and is situated just
3' NW of the central cluster (R136). It appeared as a coompact 30" knot with a
half-dozen mag 13-14 stars resolved over haze.
12"
(6/29/02 - Bargo, Australia): first view of the Tarantula in Les Dalrymple's 12"
was early in the evening, very low in the southern sky (20° elevation) and
without a filter. Even under these
conditions it was a fascinating sight – fairly bright, detailed, 15'
convoluted, mottled nebulosity with several striking loops or ribbons which
radiate out from the central region.
Sweeping in the nearby fields I ran across numerous small knots of
nebulosity and small clusters.
10x30 IS
binoculars (1/21/12): viewed the Tarantula Nebula in a 19" dobsonian
(pointed horizontally) and in my binoculars. At a declination of -69.1°, the
Tarantula just skimmed the horizon from the 9300' Mauna Kea Visitor Center,
culminating 1.1° above the horizon! Still with atmospheric refraction, it
was obvious in the binoculars. There was too much extinction and seeing effects
for much structure in the 19".
Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille discovered NGC 2070 = Lac I-2 = D 142 = h2941 in 1751-1752 using a
half-inch refractor at 8x during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He included it in his 1755 catalogue as
Class I No. 2 and remarked "like the former [
On his first
observation from the Cape of Good Hope, JH noted "the great nebula; an
assemblage of loops." He later discussed in detail, "This is one of
the most singular and extraordinary objects which the heavens present, and
derives no small addition to its intrinsic interest from its situation, which
is among the thickest of the nebulae and clustering groups of the greater
Nubecula, of whose total area it occupies one-five hundredth part. For these
reasons, as well as because its real nature has been completely misunderstood,
and its magnified appearance so strangely misrepresented in the only figure
which I am aware to have been made of it as to convey an entirely erroneous
impression both of its form and structure; I have taken great pains to give as
nearly as possible a perfect representation of it as it appeared in the
twenty-feet reflector on a great many occasions, but more especially on the
29th November, 1834, when a 'very careful drawing' was made of it by the eye
alone, unaided by any micrometrical measures; and on the 21st and 22nd
December, 1835, when the nebula was worked in from the telescope on a
'skeleton' previously prepared by an approximate reduction of the micrometrical
measures of its principle stars, forming a chart, with a system of triangles,
for its reception and for that of minute stars not susceptible of micrometric
measurement, or not considered as of sufficient importance to be so measured.
This is the only mode in which correct monographs can be executed of nebulae of
this kind which consist of complicated windings and ill-defined members
obliterated by the smallest illumination of the field of view; and in which the
small stars, when very numerous, can be mapped down with tolerable precision.
The following catalogue contains all the stars which I have been able
distinctly to perceive within the area occupied by the nebula and nearly
adjacent to it... [The catalogue contains 105 stars.] The stars thus scattered
over the area occupied by this nebula may or may not be systematically
connected with it, either as an individual object, or as part of the vast and
complex system which constitutes the Nubecula. In respect of their arrangement
there is nothing to distinguish them from those which occupy the rest of the
area covered by the Nubecula, in which every variety of condensation and mode
of distribution is to be met with. The nebula itself (as seen in the 20-feet reflector) is of the milky or
irresolvable kind - quite as free from any mottling or incipient stellar
appearance as any other nebula which I can remember to have examined with that
instrument. Its situation in the Nubecula is immediately adjacent to two large
and rich clusters [NGC 2042 and NGC 2055]. Mr Dunlop remarks that 'The 30
Doradus is surrounded by a number of nebulae of considerable magnitudes, nine
or ten in number, with the 30 Doradus in the centre.', of which nebulae he
gives a figured representation. For what objects these can be intended I am
quite at a loss to conjecture, unless they be the brighter portions of the
nebulous convolutions seen without their connecting enbranchments. But with
this supposition their relative situations, intensities, and magnitudes in the
figure alluded to, so far as I am able to judge, appear irreconcilable."
******************************
05 47 07.2 +00
17 39
Size 4'x3'
17.5"
(12/20/95): fairly bright reflection nebula surounding a mag 9.5 star, 3.5'
diameter. Shape appears irregular
(although no distinct borders) but extends more to the south side of the star,
which has a faint companion close south.
A second mag 9.5 star (not involved) lies 3.5' NW. The field is strangely lacking in stars
due to obscuration.
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly bright reflection nebula surrounds a mag 10 star although
extends farther south. A second
mag 13 star is embedded just south of the bright star. The round outline gradually fades into
the background. A mag 10 star is
3.5' NW but the field is strangely devoid of stars due to obscuring dust. Located 15' NNE of M78.
8": faint
reflection nebula. Located 15' NNE
of M78. Surround the SE member of
a mag 10 double star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2071 = H IV-36 on 1 Jan 1786 (sweep 506) and recorded "a
star affected with vF extensive milky chevelure. The star not quite
central." On a second observation on 22 Feb 1786 (sweep 526) he noted
again "a star with a milky chevelure. vF and extensive." In his PT paper of 1791 he mentions
"As by the word chevelure I always denoted something relating to a center,
the connection cannot be doubted."
His position is fairly accurate.
******************************
NGC 2072 = ESO
057-SC004 = S-L 630
05 38 23.8 -70
14 01
V = 13.2; Size 1.0'
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x this LMC cluster appeared
moderately bright, fairly small, round, 35"-40" diameter, weak
concentration. Located 4' E of NGC
2065 at the east end of a group of 8 NGC clusters (and a couple of fainter
ones)
Pietro Baracchi
discovered NGC 2072 on 20 Dec 1884 with the 48-inch Great Melbourne Telescope
while observing near NGC 2065 in the LMC . He described "following H.1265 [NGC 2065] by 47s and
north 40" is a very faint, small, indistinct patch." Barrachi also found NGC 2043 in the
area, though the identification for that number is not clear. Dreyer credits "Melbourne
Obs" in the NGC (R. L. Ellery's "Observations of Southern Nebulae
made with the [48"] Great Melbourne Telescope 1869 - 1885"). His position is just 0.6' NE of center
of this small cluster.
******************************
05 45 53.9 -21
59 58
V = 12.4; Size 1.5'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(12/3/88): fairly faint, very small, round, bright core, stellar nucleus. Located 35' NE of the wide bright
double star Alpha Leporis 3.6/6.3 at 90".
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2073 = H III-241 = h2934 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 325) and recorded
"eF, vS, lE nearly in the parallel."
******************************
05 39 03 -69 29
54
V = 9.3; Size 3.5'x2.0'
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this prominent HII region
(LMC-N158C) and cluster (OB-association LH 101) appeared as a very bright, very
large "C" shaped nebula surrounding a semi-circular chain or crown of
stars open to the SW. Two bright
mag 10.4 and 11 stars oriented SW-NE (50" separation) lie on the northwest
end of this crown. The northeastern luminary consists of a 1.8" pair of
OB-stars (TDS 3273 = 11.4/11.8) and a mag 12.5 Wolf-Rayet star just 3" W.
The mag 11 star to its southwest (
NGC 2074 is part
of a huge complex (LMC-N158) stretching 11' SW-NE with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2074 = h2942 in 1834-1835 (exact sweep or date unknown as based
on a detailed sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) region made over
several nights in Nov 1834 and Dec 1835) and recorded as "pL, pB, mE, of
irreg rounded and somewhat serpentine figure, much brighter in its foll part;
elongated generally in parallel. Involves 5 stars, 2 of which are 10th
mag. See Notes in 'First
Approximation Towards a Catalogue of Objects in the Magellanic
Clouds...'." His position is
~1' W of center.
******************************
NGC 2075 =
LMC-N213 = ESO 057-EN5 = S-L 631
05 38 21 -70 41
04
V = 11.5; Size 2.2'
24"
(11/18/12 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): very bright, irregular,
triangular-shaped, ~50" diameter.
Near the center is a very bright knot consisting of a few extremely
close stars. A couple of
additional stars are resolved within the glow and a number of stars are near
the edges. The cluster is
surrounded by faint nebulosity (LMC-N213) which doubles the size of the
object. Forms the vertex of an
isosceles right triangle with mag 9.4
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2075 = h2943 on 23 Dec 1834 and logged "B, R, bM, resolved;
the following of two on the same parallel [with NGC 2056], a star 9 mag
intervening." His position is
at the east edge of this nebulous cluster.
******************************
05 46 47.1 -16
46 54
V = 13.0; Size 2.2'x1.3'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 45d
17.5"
(12/3/88): moderately bright, fairly large, oval SW-NE, fairly high surface
brightness but no distinctive core.
Several bright stars are nearby including mag 7.8
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2076 = H III-267 on 4 Feb 1785 (sweep 365) and recorded
"vF, pS, irr E, bM, requires attention to be seen."
******************************
05 39 35.3 -69
39 21
V = 11.7; Size 1.0'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the southwest component of a very
bright, impressive 2' emission patch with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2077 = h2947 in Dec 1834 (exact sweep date unknown) and
described as "The preceding two forming a double nebula. The place deduced from that of the
following and brighter [NGC 2080 = h2950], by Delta RA = 7.1sec, Delta NPD =
20", as they result from the drawing of Dec 4, 1837. Pl III, figure 4."
James Dunlop
discovered the entire complex (D 145) on 24 Sep 1826 and recorded "This is
the centre of a large cluster of extremely minute stars, with many very small
nebulae in it." His position
is just 4' SE of NGC 2080. As NGC
2077 has a high surface brightness, it was likely picked up as one of the
"very small nebulae in it."
******************************
NGC 2078 =
LMC-N159F = ESO 057-EN10
05 39 39.7 -69
44 37
V = 10.9; Size 0.8'
25"
(10/21/17 - OzSky): NGC 2078 is the northwest portion of the multi-sectioned
NGC 2078-79-83-84 complex (LMC-N159).
At 244x + NPB filter, it appeared as a bright, elongated N-S patch,
~1.3' in length, with a prominent mag 12.1 star (blue supergiant R128) involved
on the south side and two mag 14/14.5 stars on the north end. It appears brightest on the southern
end and dims on the northern end.
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the northwest component of an impressive
4' emission nebula filled with bright knots (LMC-N159), several of which form a
curving "S" shape. At
200x and UHC filter it appeared as a fairly bright, moderately large glow
surrounding a mag 12 star (
R148 forms a
6" pair - not logged in either of the two observations above - with the
optical counterpart (V ≈ 14.8) of LMC X-1, a 10 solar-mass black hole and
variable X-ray source. Nearby is
the impressive LMC-N160 complex with NGC's 2077 and 2080, another very bright
patch of nebulosity 6' N, and NGC's 2085 and 2086, a smaller bright pair, a
similar distance to the NE. This
complex, along with LMC-N159, is within the O-association LH 105.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2078 = h2948 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "the north
preceding of the four principal nuclei of the nebula of Plate III, figure
4." Herschel's sketch shows a
complex object with 7 condensations or nuclei, involved in nebulosity. The four
NGC objects in this grouping are NGC 2078, 2079, 2083 and NGC 2084. Glen Cozens and Wolfgang Steinicke
assign Dunlop's #149 (discovered in 1826) to NGC 2078. Dunlop recorded "a faint round
nebula, about 1' diameter" and his position is 6' due east of this
emission nebula. But unless there
is additional information available, I don't see how a specific object in this
complex can be assigned to D 149.
******************************
NGC 2079 =
LMC-N159A = ESO 057-EN11
05 39 40 -69 46
20
V = 11.8; Size 1.0'
25"
(10/21/17 - OzSky): NGC 2079 = Henize N159A is at the southwest end of the
impressive NGC 2078-79-83-84 complex (N159) and has the highest surface
brightness. At 244x + NPB filter
it appeared extremely bright, moderately large, with an unusual triangular
outline, ~1' diameter, extremely high surface brightness. A thin fainter strip is on the south
end, otherwise, the outline is very sharply defined. Contains a slightly darker interior region or perhaps a weak
dust lane. Unfiltered a faint star
or two is at the center, including the O5-type ionizing source DD 13. NGC 2079 is just detached from NGC 2084
to the northeast.
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the brightest section of an
impressive 4' collection of perhaps 8 different emission knots (collectively
LMC-N159) that are encased in a diffuse glow and carry four separate NGC
designations. NGC 2079 (LMC-N159A) is situated on the southwest end of the
complex and appeared extremely bright, ~1' diameter,with a uniform very high surface
brightness. The outline has an
unusual triangular shape (one vertex at the north end) with a well-defined
border and appears detached from the main section. Without a filter, a faint star and ionizing source (DD 13,
an unresolved pair of O-stars) is located at the center of the glow.
NGC 2079 is
collinear with two mag 12 stars 1.7' N (at the center of 2078) and another mag
12 star 3.5' N. The main section of the complex to the northeast forms a large
"S" shaped group of multiple knots with NGC 2078 1.7' N, 2084 to the
east and 2083 to the NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2079 = h2949 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "The most southern
of a group of 4 or 5 nebulae, 5' diameter, mixed with stars. This is the south preceding of the four
chief nuclei [NGC 2078, 2079, 2083 and 2084] of the complex group of Plate III,
figure 4". Herschel's sketch shows a complex object with 7 condensations
or nuclei involved in nebulosity with the NGC 2079 at the upper right corner in
the detailed sketch.
James Dunlop
discovered the entire complex earlier in 1826 and described D 152 as "a
cluster of six or seven small nebulae, forming a square figure 5' or 6'
diameter, with several minute stars mixt. This is a very pretty group of
nebulae - see Figure 5."
Dunlop's sketch appears to show this complex though his position is 15'
SE. Since NGC 2079 is one of the
brightest sections, Dunlop should probably be credited with the discovery.
******************************
NGC 2080 = Ghost
Head Nebula = LMC-N160A = ESO 057-EN12 = S-L 641
05 39 44.6 -69
38 45
V = 10.4; Size 1.5'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x and UHC filter, this emission
nebula is very impressive, appearing as an extremely bright nebulous glow with
an irregular shape, ~1.5' diameter, slightly elongated. The brightest section is encased in a
larger, fainter nebulous glow that extends mostly to the south. NGC 2077, a bright HII glow, is
attached on the SW side with their centers just 1' apart. Located just 30' SSE of the center of
the Tarantula Nebula!
Along with NGC
2085 and 2086, another pair of knots ~3' SE, the complex forms LMC-N160. Roughly 6' S is LMC-N159, another
stunning group of nebulous glows consisting of NGC 2078, 2079, 2083 and 2084. NGC 2080 is the brightest region in the
LMC-N159/160 complex and is nicknamed the "Ghost-Head Nebula" from a
2000 HST image.
At 350x the view
was fascinating with 3 or 4 "stars" embedded (the brightest one or
two appeared to be quasi-stellar knots) and NGC 2080 had a curdled
texture. A couple of brighter mag
13/14 stars are off the NW side and a number of stars trail off to the east and
NE (part of the O-association LH 103).
The two
"eyes" of the Ghost Head (noted as quasi-stellar above) are rare,
compact "high excitation blobs" (HEBs) of diameter ~3". They were discovered in 1986 and
identified as A1 and A2, separated by ~20".
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2080 = D 145 or D 150 in 1826 and described D 145 as
"the centre of a large cluster of extremely minute stars, with many very
small nebulae in it."
Dunlop's position falls just southwest of the NGC 2077/2080/2085/2086
association and just northwest of the NGC 2078/2079/2083 association, so he
certainly observed several of these objects and NGC 2080 is perhaps the
brightest individual section. D
150 was recorded as "A well-defined round nebula, small. This precedes a group of
nebulae." There is nothing at
his position but NGC 2080 is 14' NW and it is on the west side of the complex,
so fits the description.
JH observed NGC
2080 = h2947 in Dec 1834 and logged "B; R; double; the other sp [NGC 2077]
is F; R; followed by clustering stars." An excellent sketch of the entire complex is on plate
III, figure 4.
******************************
NGC 2081 =
LMC-N158A = ESO 057-SC13 = LH 104
05 40 00 -69 24
24
V = 9.9; Size 6'x3.5'
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): At 214x, this is a gorgeous star
cloud consisting of two dozen stars in a 5' region (stellar association LH 104,
which is dominated by B-class supergiants), including many mag 13-14 stars as
well as mag 12.2 star
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2081 = h2951 in 1834-1835 (exact sweep or date unknown as based
on a detailed sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) region made over
several nights in Nov 1834 and Dec 1835) and simply noted in the CGH catalogue
as a "Cluster VI of vF stars and nebula. See Catalogue of Nubecula Major." His coordinates and placement on his
chart of the LMC matches this association.
******************************
05 41 51.0 -64
18 04
V = 12.1; Size 1.8'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.1
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly bright, moderately large, round, 1.3' diameter,
irregular surface brightness, slightly mottled like a face on spiral. A mag 12 star is 2.5' ESE and two mag
11.5 stars are 8' WNW. Shines
through the north edge of the LMC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2082 = h2945 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded "pF, L, R, vlbM,
2'." On a later sweep he added
"B, L, R, glbM, 90", has a *10m 2' dist 25°
south-following." His
position and decsription matches
******************************
NGC 2083 =
LMC-N159D = ESO 057-EN14
05 39 58.8 -69
44 10
V = 10.8; Size 1.5'
25"
(10/21/17 - OzSky): NGC 2083 is the main northern section and the largest piece
of the NGC 2078/79/83/84 complex (LMC-N159 and OB-association LH 105). At 244x and NPB filter it appeared
bright, large, nearly 2' in diameter, roughly circular. The surface brightness appeared fairly
uniform, though lower at the northeast periphery where is merges with NGC
2078. Unfiltered, a half-dozen
dozen stars mag 13.5 and fainter are involved in the nebula, along with mag
12.5 RMC 149, an O8.5-type supergiant near the center. At 397x (unfiltered), a mag 14.5
companion is 7" N of RMC 149 and the star seemed slightly
"soft".
On the southeast
side of NGC 2083 [44" SE of the mag 12.5 star] is the 15th magnitude
"star" N159-5, known as the LMC "Papillon Nebula". This very compact object is classified
as a Young Stellar Object (YSO) and High Excitation Blob (HEB), a rare class of
ionized nebulae associated with massive star formation. At 397x it appeared faint (15th mag)
and quasi-stellar (though difficult to confirm).
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 214x and UHC filter, NGC 2083
appeared as a bright, large, slightly elongated glow ~1.8' diameter,
surrounding a mag 12.5 star (O-class supergiant). A brighter knot is embedded within the glow on the west side
(LMC-N159I) on a line with NGC 2078.
Removing the filter, the bright central star has a companion at ~7"
and several other mag 14 stars are embedded in the periphery of the glow.
NGC 2083 is
situated in the northeast section of the curving "S" shaped NGC
2078/79/83/84 complex (LMC-N159 and OB-association LH 105). This complex shares the same field with
two additional bright emission regions - NGC 2085/86 4' N and NGC 2077/80 ~5.5'
NNW (LMC-N160), and the combined complex forms a superb field of bright HII
regions ~35' SSE of the center of the Tarantula Nebula. Although Herschel assigned 4 NGC
numbers within LMC-N159, I logged at least 7 different brighter knots (see NGC
2084 for more).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2083 = h2952 (along with numerous other objects in this HII
complex) on 23 Dec 1834 and
recorded "the north following nucleus of the complex group of Plate III,
figure 4, from drawing."
Herschel's excellent sketch shows a complex object with 7 condensations
or nuclei, involved in nebulosity. The four NGC objects in this grouping are
NGC 2078, 2079, 2083 and NGC 2084.
******************************
NGC 2084 =
LMC-N159C = ESO 057-EN15
05 40 06.9 -69
45 34
V = 11.3; Size 1.2'
25"
(10/21/17 - OzSky): NGC 2084 is the second brightest section of the striking
Henize N159 complex (NGC 2078/70/83/84) on its SE side and the brightest part
of N159C. At 255x + NPB filter, it
appeared very bright, fairly large, irregular shape, over 1' diameter
(elongated N-S). Unfiltered two stars are involved included a mag 14.0 (O-7
type). Fainter nebulosity extends
west for 1' (also part of N159C) with a mag 14.0 O7-type and 14.5 O8-type stars
involved unfiltered. The nebulosity curls north on its west side and brightens
in a 40" circular patch (N159C-west) that includes two 15th mag stars
(unfiltered), one a young stellar object (YSO). Overall, N159C displays a highly irregular curving shape
with a patchy surface brightness and includes a half-dozen stars.
N159E, a
detached piece ~1.5' S, is a fairly faint to moderately bright patch,
irregularly round, 35" diameter, even surface brightness. Unfiltered, a star was seen involved
with the nebulosity (ionizing source?). N159G, a slightly brighter detached piece 1.1' ENE of
NGC 2084, appeared moderately bright and large, roughly oval, ~45"
diameter. Unfiltered, a faint star
is centered in N159G.
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): This emission knot was noted while
making a careful observation of NGC 2084, which is located within the southeast
region of a very bright nebular complex NGC 2078-79-83-8 (LMC-N159), located
~40' SSE of the Tarantula Nebula.
At the northeast end of the NGC 2084 region I noted a moderately bright,
round knot, ~45" diameter.
Without a filter a star is involved with this glow. Although John Herschel didn't
catalogued this knot, it's shown on his sketch (Plate III, figure 4). NGC 2084, a brighter knot, is close WSW
on a direct line with NGC 2079.
NGC 2084 appeared very bright, fairly large, elongated, ~1.2'x1.0'. Removing the filter a couple of stars
are involved (with one brighter star).
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): I returned to this detailed nebula
the following night to make a complete observation at 200x using a UHC
filter. NGC 2084 forms the SE
region of the complex and it's composed of several nearby components. At the NE end of this extended region
is a moderately bright, round knot, ~45" diameter (N159G). Without a filter a star is involved
with N159G (sketched by John Herschel but not catalogued). A second, brighter embedded
"glow" is close WSW on a direct line with NGC 2079. This knot corresponds with John
Herschel's position for NGC 2084 and is catalogued as N159C-east. It appeared very bright, fairly large,
elongated, ~1.2'x1.0'. Removing
the filter a couple of stars are involved (with one brighter star). Finally, N159C-west (also sketched by
Herschel but not cataloged) lies 1.5' W of N159C-east in the center of the
entire complex and is connected to N159C-west by a faint bridge of
nebulosity. N159C-west appeared
fairly bright, moderately large, round, 45" diameter.
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the SE component of a fascinating
4' HII complex filled with up to 8 distinguishable knots (4 have NGC numbers)
with several of the brighter knots forming an "S" shape (this knot is
at SE end of the "S").
At 200x and UHC filter it appeared very bright, round, fairly large
glow, 1' diameter and encased within fainter nebulous haze that extends to the
west. NGC 2083 lies 1.5' NNW
within the background glow that envelopes the entire complex.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2084 = h2953 in Dec 1834 and described as "The south
following nucleus of the complex group of Plate III fig 4, from
drawing." Herschel's sketch
shows 7 condensations or nuclei, involved in nebulosity. The four NGC objects
in this grouping are NGC 2078, 2079, 2083 and NGC 2084. The complex was
discovered earlier by James Dunlop on 24 Sep 1826 and D 149 was recorded as
"a faint round nebula, about 1' diameter". His description could apply to NGC 2084 or one of the
others in the nebulous group. His
position is ~5' too far east.
******************************
NGC 2085 =
LMC-N160B = ESO 057-EN16
05 40 09.3 -69
40 23
V = 12.1; Size 0.7'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this HII knot is part of an amazing field
of nebulous glows located ~35' SSE of the Tarantula Nebula. At 200x using a UHC filter, NGC 2085
appears bright, fairly small, ~25" diameter. A mag 10.0 star (supergiant
HDE 269953) is just off the NE end (23" from the center). NGC 2085 forms a close pair with NGC
2086 = IC 2145, a similar knot just 1.2' E. Both of these knots are immersed in small, much fainter
nebulous halos but the bright star itself does not appear to be involved. Viewing with the filter, the field is
divided up into three main groups with NGC 2085 and 2086 forming a close E-W
pair separated by a mag 10 star.
NGC 2080 (brightest section in the LMC-N159/160 complex) and NGC 2077
lies ~2.5' NW and an impressive cluster of nebulous knots (NGC 2078, 2079, 2083
and 84) is roughly 6' SSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2085 = h2954 on 23 Dec 1834 and reported "a very faint,
nearly round nebula close to a star 10th mag, not observed in sweeping, but
laid down Dec 4, 1873 in the drawing fig 4, Plate III whence its place is
derived." The identification
is certain based on his sketch.
******************************
05 40 24 -69 40
14
V = 12.0; Size 0.7'
24" (4/9/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the eastern component of a close
pair of nebulous glows with NGC 2085 just 1.2' W. This pair is part of a fascinating group of numerous
emission nebulae (LMC-N160 and LMC-N159) just 35' S of the Tarantula nebula. At 200x with a UHC filter, this knot
appears very bright (slightly brighter than NGC 2085), fairly small, round,
~30" diameter. Without a
filter, a faint star is near the center.
Mag 10 supergiant
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2086 = h2956 in Dec 1834 and recorded "B, pS, R, lbM,
follows a star 10m with other S stars about it. Not observed in sweeping, but laid down in the drawing of
Dec 4, 1837, whence its place is derived from the drawing fig 4, Pl III . JH's position and sketch clearly shows
that NGC 2086 follows the mag 10 star and corresponds with a nebulous patch 12
seconds of RA following the bright star.
Williamina
Fleming independently found this nebula again on an objective prism plate taken
in 1901 at Arequipa. Dreyer recatalogued Fleming 92 as
******************************
05 44 16.2 -55
31 57
V = 13.8; Size 0.8'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 136d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, slightly elongated, 30"x25",
weak concentration. Mag 7.5 HD
38873 is 11' ESE, mag 7.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2087 = h2946 on 6 Dec 1834 and noted "eF, R, vlbM,
40"." His position is
accurate.
******************************
05 41 00 -68 27
55
V = 12.5; Size 1.7'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): at 394x; bright, fairly small, irregular, ~35"
diameter. Includes a bright
quasi-stellar knot of stars near the center along with an individual star close
east and a couple of mag 15-16 stars around the edges. A neat 6' curving stream of stars
begins at a mag 11 star 4.5' north and arcs southeast. NGC 2088 is the first in a group of
cluster with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2088 = h2955 on 9 Feb 1836 and recorded "eF; S; R;
insulated." His mean position
(2 sweeps) of 05 40 56.4 -68 27 54 (2000) was used by Dreyer in the NGC. The declination given in RNGC, NGC 2000
and
******************************
05 47 51.4 -17
36 08
V = 11.9; Size 1.9'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 39d
17.5"
(12/3/88): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, bright core,
stellar nucleus. Collinear with a
mag 11 star 1.6' SSE and a mag 12 star 2.8' SSE of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2089 = H III-270 on 6 Feb 1785 (sweep 367) and recorded "a
very faint extremely small stellar nebula; 240 verified it with difficulty, and
considerable attention, the night being uncommonly clear." JH did not make an observation but the
NGC position matches
******************************
05 47 01.8 -34
15 02
V = 11.2; Size 4.9'x2.4'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 13d
13.1"
(2/25/84): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 ~N-S, 2.5'x0.8'. A mag 13.5 star is at the north tip 1.5'
from center, a mag 14 star is at the west edge, 40" from center and
another 14th mag star is 1.2' SE.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2090 = D 594 = h2944 on 29 Oct 1826 and described "a small
faint nebula, with a ray shooting out on the north side." Dunlop observed this galaxy once and
his position is 3' too far SSW.
The "ray" he mentions probably consists of 3 mag 13-14
stars. JH recorded the galaxy
twice, on 8 Jan 1836 recording a "globular cluster, B; R; with an
appendage to northward; 2.5' diameter." The following night he described
it as "B, irreg R, gbM; 3' long; 2' broad with stars appended. This RA to
be preferred". Herschel
called this galaxy a globular in the GC and Dreyer copied that classification
in the NGC description.
******************************
NGC 2091 = ESO
057-SC021 = S-L 653
05 40 57.7 -69
26 11
V = 12.0; Size 1.0'
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): I accidentally picked up this
cluster while examining the beautiful star cloud/nebula NGC 2081 to the
NW. A bright E-W ribbon is on the
south side of NGC 2081 with its vertex (brighter and larger end of the
streamer) closest to NGC 2074 (to the SW) and extending towards the east. Just beyond the east end of this ribbon
I picked up this elongated glow that appeared collinear with the streamer. At 214x without a filter, the
35"x25" knot partially resolved into a number of fainter stars.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2091 = h2957 in 1834-1835 (exact sweep or date unknown as based
on a detailed sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) region made over
several nights in Nov 1834 and Dec 1835) and recorded as "vF; S; mE; glbM;
1' l; perhaps a vF double neb. See
Catalogue of the Nubecula Major."
Since no sweep is given in his LMC catalogue, the discovery date is
unknown. His position is ~1' SSW
of this cluster.
******************************
05 41 22.0 -69
13 27
V = 12.2; Size 1.2'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): very faint round knot, ~40" diameter
with a brighter core. Located 4' W
of NGC 2100 and 17' SE of the center of the Tarantula.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2092 = h2962 in 1834-1835 (exact sweep or date unknown as based
on a detailed sketch of the Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) region made over
several nights in Nov 1834 and Dec 1835) and recorded a "cluster class 6.
vF, R, 60", partially resolved. See Catalogue of the Nubecula Major". The CGH position (based on the sketch)
is 1.3' east of this cluster (and just west of NGC 2100).
Eric Lindsay, in
the 1964 paper "Some NGC objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ,
6, 286-289), notes "This may be the star-rich region just W of NGC 2100.
Position deduced by Herschel from a drawing and not made in a sweep. Listed as
N[ebula] in Nubec. Cat and Cl in general Cat. Description does not agree with anything here."
******************************
05 41 50 -68 55
18
V = 11.6; Size 1.5'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): this
stellar association (LH 109) is located just 20' NE of the center of the
Tarantula Nebula and less than 1' SSE of a mag 7.2 star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2093 = h2963 on on 30 Dec 1836 and recorded "vF, S, R. This
nebula forms an appendage to the skirts of the great looped nebula 30 Doradus,
which hang down in visible fringes from the upper (southern) part of the
field." His position is
accurate. Herschel gave a possible
equivalence with D 184, which James Dunlop discovered in 1826 and described as
"a very small round nebula, about 8" diameter." Dunlop's position is 9' due west of the
cluster.
******************************
NGC 2094 = KMHK
1251
05 42 07.4 -68
21 47
V = 12.8; Size 0.4'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): at 394x; bright, small, high surface brightness, 20"
diameter. Two close stars are
resolved at the north edge. Mag
9.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2094 = h2959 on 31 Jan 1835 and noted "vF; S; R;
12"." Herschel made a
single observation and his position is an excellent match with KMHK 1251. The Hodge-Wright LMC Atlas
misidentifies
******************************
05 42 51 -67 19
18
V = 13.1; Size 3.0'x1.5'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): Although Herschel described a large "oblong
cluster", the brightest subgroup is at the east end (S-L 669). It appeared as a bright, moderately
large patch, irregular, 1' diameter, with several mag 13.5-14 stars resolved
around the edges. A separate patch
lies 1.3' W with a mag 11 star 2.2' W.
A group of stars (KMHK 1253) is 1' NW of the brighter star. The entire collection forms the stellar
association LH 112, a 3'x1.5' group of resolved stars highlighted by S-L
669. Located 8' NE of mag 7.0 HD
38616.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2095 = h2961 on 20 Dec 1835 and described "a star 9m, chief
of a F irreg oblong cluster 3' in extent." His position, measured on 3 sweeps, is fairly accurate.
******************************
NGC 2096 = ESO
057-SC027 = S-L 664
05 42 18 -68 27
30
V = 11.4; Size 1.2'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): bright, compact LMC cluster, ~25". A close double star is resolved at the
center, along with two other bright mag 13 stars and a couple of additional mag
15+ stars. A mag 11.8 star is off
the west side [40" from center].
Mag 9.6 HD 270036 lies 3.5' NE.
Nearby is NGC 2088 7' W, NGC 2094 6' N and NGC 2098 11' NNE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2096 = h(725) between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch
refractor and listed it as#725 in his preliminary catalogue of "Stars,
Nebulae and Clusters in the Nubecula Major." His position is 1.7' too far south.
******************************
05 44 16 -62 47
06
V = 13.7; Size 1.8'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x and 394x; fairly faint , moderately large, 45"
glow with a mag 14 star involved on the south side. The slightly brighter core of the cluster is very close
northeast of the star, but the cluster was unresolved. The field includes a mag 13 star 2'
SSE, two mag 11/12.5 stars 3.5' ENE and a group of mag 13-15 stars ~3' NW. Located 17.5' NE of mag 6.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2097 = h2960 on 26 Dec 1834 and described as "F,
irregularly round, psbM, sf a small group." On a second sweep he called it
"eF, S, R; has a star 16th mag in centre." His last observation was
recorded as "pF, R, pslbM, 50"." His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2098 = ESO
057-SC028 = S-L 667
05 42 30 -68 16
30
V = 10.7; Size 1.6'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): extremely
bright LMC cluster, ~1' diameter.
Contains a very bright, nebulous core. The halo is largely resolved and includes two or three
bright stars; a mag 13 star is at the east edge, a mag 13-13.5 star is at the
north edge and a mag 13.5 star is at the south edge. In addition another 10 stars are resolved in the
cluster. Several clusters are to
the south: NGC 2094 5.8' SSW, NGC 2096 11' S, NGC 2088 14' SW as well as S-L
666 6' NNW. The S-L cluster
surrounds a mag 13 star and a half-dozen mag 15/16 stars are resolved in a
40" halo.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2098 = h2965 on 31 Jan 1835 and recorded "B; S clustering
group or globular cluster; 30", stars visible." On a second sweep he logged it as
"a small close knot or cluster, 40"." JH gave a very uncertain (??) equivalence with D 185. Dunlop's description reads "a
small faint round nebula, preceding a minute double star of the 12th
magnitude. Another similar nebula
follows, about 20" in RA, and 2' south in a line with the double
star." His position is nearly
13' due E of this cluster, though there is no "similar nebula" that
follows, so this identification is very suspect.
******************************
05 52 19 +32 33
12
V = 5.6; Size 24'
8": very
large, very rich cluster, over 150 stars, rich in mag 10-13 stars. A reddish star,
Giovanni
Hodierna discovered
******************************
NGC 2100 = ESO
057-SC025 = S-L 662 = LH 111
05 42 08.0 -69
12 44
V = 9.6; Size 2'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster appears as a small, bright
(V = 9.6) clump of stars and unresolved haze with a diameter of ~2'. Fairly compact and isolated with at
least 10 mag 12 and fainter stars resolved. Located 20' ESE of the core of the Tarantula nebula within
the LMC OB-association LH 111. On
the DSS, this appears to be a very rich open cluster or globular within a
larger association. NGC 2092 ies
4' WSW and
James Dunlop
probably discovered NGC 2100 = D 154? on 25 Sep 1826 and reported "a
pretty bright round or rather elliptical nebula, 25" diameter." His position is 5.6' ESE of the
cluster, well within his typical errors.
Glen Cozens assigns D 151 to NGC 2100. Dunlop described this entry as "a faint ill-defined
small nebula" and the position is just 2.5' NW of the cluster. Finally, JH also suggest that D 147
might be an equivalence. This
entry is 8.4' WSW of the cluster and the description reads "a pretty
bright round or rather oval nebula, 30" diameter." This description is very similar to the
one for D 154.
On his first
sweep of 3 Nov 1834, JH described NGC 2100 = h2966 as "a bright S cluster
of distinct stars (thick haze)."
On a second sweep he wrote "the cluster sf the great looped
nebula." On a third occasion he called it "globular cluster, irr R,
psmbM, 2'." His 4th sweep
reads "globular, B, R, 3', all resolved into stars 13..16th
mag." His final record states
"B, S, m compressed, not mbM; irregular oval, 3', stars distinct 13th
mag." He noted it might be equivalent to Dunlop 154, 151? or 154??
******************************
05 46 22.6 -52
05 24
V = 13.7; Size 1.9'x1.3'; Surf Br = 14.5; PA = 85d
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x, this disturbed, chaotic galaxy appeared
extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. The galaxy is collinear
with a string of three mag 10-11 stars to the SW (closest star is 3.6' SW) and
mag 14 stars are close south and ESE.
Located 22' SSW of
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2101 = h2958 on 9 Jan 1837 and recorded "eF, R, 40", a
line of three stars, 10th mag to south, points nearly to it." His position and description is
accurate.
******************************
05 42 21 -69 29
12
V = 11.4; Size 1.0'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; bright, small, mottled glow, 24" diameter. A
half-dozen tightly packed stars are resolved including an easy mag 12.9 star at
the south edge. Located 17' E of
the excellent NGC 2074 nebulous cluster and 15' SE of showpiece NGC 2081, both
of which lie ~20' SSE of the Tarantula Nebula!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2102 between Nov 1836 and Mar 1837 with a 5-inch refractor and
recorded it as#730 in his preliminary catalogue of "Stars, Nebulae and
Clusters in the Nubecula Major."
His position is 0.9' SSW of this cluster.
******************************
05 41 40 -71 19
56
V = 10.8; Size 3'x2'
25"
(10/17/17 - OzSky): at 244x unfiltered; fairly bright, very large, roundish
glow surrounding a central star (12.7-magnitude O2-type Sk -71°51) with a
bright quasi-stellar knot at the north edge (0.9' N of the central star). Increasing the magnification to 397x,
~8 total stars are involved with the nebula, which was clearly elongated
NNW-SSE (tapering on the SSE end) and brighter along a central spine. The addition of a NPB filter at 244x
produced an excellent contrast gain and the nebula appeared very bright with an
irregular surface brightness. The
small knot at the north edge (a high excitation HII blob or HEB) was
prominently visible.
Note: The
central "star" was resolved by the HST into a compact cluster of at
least 6 components in a 4" region!
HEBs are small dense regions, usually "only" 4 to 9
light-years wide, that sometimes form adjacent to or inside giant H II regions
and according to Iranian astronomer Heydari-Malayeri, represent "early
stages of massive stars (O-type) emerging from their embryonic molecular
clouds."
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this LMC cluster and emission nebula
appeared as a bright, very large oval glow, ~3'x2'. Excellent response to a UHC filter at 200x and with this
combination the nebulosity has a very high surface brightness. Five stars down to 15th magnitude are
involved unfiltered with mag 12.7-magnitude Sk -71°51, an unusually hot and
intrinsically bright star (O2-class), at the center. The cluster is the O-association LH 110.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2103 = h2968 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "pB; L; pmE; glbM;
has a *13m in the middle."
His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2104 = ESO
205-002 = PGC 17822
05 47 04.7 -51
33 11
V = 12.7; Size 2.0'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 160d
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x appears very faint, moderately large, elongated
3:2 NNW-SSE, low even surface brightness, 1.3'x0.8'. A mag 12 star lies 5' SW. Easy to locate 29' S of mag 3.9 Beta Pictoris. NGC 2101 lies 22' SSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2104 = h2964 on 27 Dec 1834 and recorded "pB, R, vlbM,
30"." His position
matches
******************************
05 44 19.8 -66
55 02
V = 12.2; Size 1.7'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; very bright, large, irregular, mottled, partially
resolved, 50"x30" E-W.
Slightly brighter stars are at the east and west end, and several
additional mag 16 stars are resolved.
A mag 11.5 star is 2' SE and cluster H-S 408 was picked up 5.5' SE. It appeared as a moderately to fairly
bright glow, elongated NW-SE, 0.6'x0.2', mottled but unresolved. The mag 11.5 star is roughly midway
between H-S 408 and NGC 2105. The
HII complex LHa 120-N74 lies 15' SSE (western part) and 20' SE (eastern part).
LHa 120-N74
(west): at 152x + NPB filter; excellent HII region! Bright, very large, elongated E-W, very irregular shape,
~7'x4', the main section tapers on the eastern end and spreads out on the
western end. Numerous mag 14 stars
are involved as well as mag 10.2
LHa 120-N74
(east): at 152x + NPB filter; bright, very large nebulous region. The main piece is oval 3:2 E-W,
~2'x1.4' and brighter along the rim.
A filament is attached on the south side extending to the
southeast! Unfiltered a number of
stars are involved with the nebulosity.
A mag 11.2 star is roughly 3' S.
LHa 120-N74 W is ~9' W.
Although this is very likely part of the same complex, the two sections
did not appear connected.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2105 = h2969 on 2 Jan 1837 and logged "vF; R;
30". The obs in RA is marked
as uncertain." On the very
next night he observed the cluster again and reported "F; R; gbM;
80". His (mean) position
matches
******************************
05 50 46.6 -21
34 01
V = 12.1; Size 2.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 100d
17.5"
(12/3/88): fairly faint, small, oval, bright core. A mag 13 star is 1.6' N and a mag 13.5 star lies 2.5' ESE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2106 = h2967 on 21 Nov 1835 and recorded "vF; S; R or lE;
gbM; 15"." His position
matches
******************************
NGC 2107 = ESO
057-SC32 = S-L 679
05 43 12.5 -70
38 28
V = 11.5; Size 2.1'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; very bright, large, round, 1' diameter. Contains a very large bright core with
only a thin fainter halo, slightly mottled appearance but no clear resolution. Two mag 12 and 13 stars are 3' and 4'
WSW and two mag 12.5 and 13 star lie 3.5' and 4' WNW.
NGC 2107 is
surrounded by several small clusters (these were all picked up just examining
the field): S-L 691 and S-L 692, a close pair of open clusters, is 5' ESE, S-L
676 is 4' N, S-L 684 is 5' NNE and H-S 398 is 9' NNW.
S-L 676:
moderately bright and large, round, 35" diameter, smooth glow with no
resolution. S-L 684 is 2.4' ENE.
S-L 684: fairly
faint to moderately bright, smooth glow, 25" diameter, roundish, no
resolution.
S-L 691: faint
or fairly faint, small, round, glow, 25" diameter. S-L 691 is the northern of close pair
of LMC clusters with S-L 692 just 48" S.
S-L 692: fairly
faint, fairly small, slightly elongated glow, 35" diameter, no resolution.
H-S 398:
moderately bright, fairly small, round, soft glow, no resolution.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2107 = h2971 on 9 Feb 1836 and described as "F; R; gvlbM;
60"." On a second sweep
he recorded "B; R; gmbM; 40"." His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2108 = ESO
057-SC033 = S-L 686
05 43 56.8 -69
10 50
V = 12.3; Size 1.8'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): picked up while viewing NGC 2100 located
10' WSW. At 171x it appeared as a
fairly faint knot, ~1 diameter with no resolution. Located 5' NE of a mag 10 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2108 = h2970 on 16 Dec 1835 and described as "eF; pL;
1E." His position is
accurate. Herschel gave an
uncertain (??) equivalence with D 153, which James Dunlop described as "a
faint small round nebula, 15" diameter." His position is 7.4' NW of the cluster, so this
identification is within his typical errors, though the Glen Cozens doesn't
make this equivalence.
******************************
NGC 2109 = ESO
057-SC034 = S-L 688
05 44 23 -68 32
54
V = 12.2; Size 1.6'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): at 394x; very bright, large, high surface brightness glow
with a thin halo, mottled but too dense to resolve the main 40" glow. A couple of mag 16 stars are visible
around the edges of the 1' halo. A
mag 9 star is 7' SW. NGC 2096 lies
13' WNW and
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2109 = h2972 on 23 Nov 1834 and recorded "pF; pL; R; vglbM;
80"." On a second sweep
he recorded "F; S; R; gbM; 20"." Finally, on his last observation he noted "pF; pL; R;
vgvlbM; 35"." His
position is accurate.
******************************
05 52 11.4 -07
27 21
V = 12.4; Size 1.7'x1.3'; PA = 160d
17.5"
(1/23/93): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 N-S, evenly
increases to bright middle and small bright core with a stellar nucleus. Located in a rich star field 6' SSW of
mag 8.9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2110 = H III-448 = H III-450 = h370 (equivalence noted by Albert
Marth in AN 995) on 5 Oct 1785 (sweep 458) and recorded III-450 as "eF,
vS, 240 confirmed it." His
summary description from three observations reads "vF, S, R, resolvable,
lbM." He also found it on 24
Feb 1786 (sweep 529) and logged "eF, E, er. Is probably a patch." Because of the differing descriptions, WH assumed it was
new, and catalogued it again as III-510.
JH called this galaxy "vF; R; psbM." and combined the two
H-designations in the GC. The
declination given in the RNGC is 10' too far north.
******************************
05 44 33 -70 59
36
V = 12.4; Size 1.5'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): moderately bright, fairly large cluster, irregular outline,
45" diameter. The brighter
core is elongated E-W and mottled with a couple of stars occasionally
resolved. A few mag 15+ stars are
also visible around the edges. Mag
9.2
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2111 = h2973 on 9 Feb 1836 and described as "vF; S; R;
gbM". On a second sweep he
estimated the size as 40".
His position is accurate.
******************************
05 53 46 +00 24
36
V = 8.4; Size 11'
17.5"
(2/8/91): three dozen stars over unresolved haze, roughly 10' diameter. The brightest star (mag 10) is at NW
edge. Includes a string of five
mag 12-13 stars on the north side but most stars are very faint. This cluster is fairly rich but not
dense. Barnard's Loop passes just
west of the cluster heading south and NE where it is brightest!
8"
(1/1/84): 12 faint stars mag 12/13 in cluster. Also includes one bright mag 10 star at NW edge.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2112 = H VII-24 = h371 on 1 Jan 1786 (sweep 506) and recorded
"a cluster of pretty compressed pS scattered stars." The summary description (including a
2nd observation) in his PT catalogue and "with many eS suspected between
them. 7' or 8' diameter." JH
recorded "the 2nd and brightest star of a poor straggling cl 10 or 12'
long."
******************************
05 45 25 -69 46
30
V = 12.3; Size 2.0'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): bright, fairly large elongated glow, knotty, 1'
diameter. This nebulous cluster
has an unusual structure; a small bright elongated knot is on the east end
(N168A) and a second small, fairly bright, elongated knot is adjacent on the
west side (N168B). Strong response
to an NPB filter and a much larger nebulous hazy glow extends to the west,
increasing the size to 1.5'. The
high surface brightness elongated pieces lie on the east end. Located 30' E of the NGC 2078/79/83/84
complex.
Emission nebula
LHa 120-N163 lies 12' W and appeared as a bright, large, irregular glow, ~3'
diameter. Several stars are
involved with the nebulosity, including a mag 13 star on the north side and a
couple of additional mag 13.5 stars (H-S 400). Excellent response to the NPB filter at 152x and 303x. The glow is clearly brighter in an arc
(opening towards the northwest) on the southeast end.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2113 = h2975 on 3 Nov 1834 and recorded (first of 5
observations) "F (?) L, R; thick haze." The next observation was
recorded as "a pB cluster nebula 90"." On a third occasion he noted
"F cluster, irreg fig; gbM; 2'; resolved." The fourth observation was
recorded as "F, irreg fig; resolvable; one star seen; 90"." The
final observation was recorded as "irregular oval cluster; vF; 2'
diameter; vl compressed to the middle; almost nebulous. Stars = 16th
mag." JH noted the
equivalence with Dunlop 155, although it is not given by Steinicke.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered NGC 2113 = D 155? in 1826 and described "a very faint
elliptical nebula, about 50" diameter, slightly bright to the center." His position is 6' SW of this cluster
and the description is a reasonable match. But Wolfgang Steinicke and Glen Cozens equate D 156 with NGC
2113. The position for D 156 is
11' SE of this nebulous cluster.
******************************
05 46 12 -68 02
54
V = 12.5; Size 1.0'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x and 394x; this fairly faint to moderately bright
LMC cluster is elongated SW to NE, ~1' diameter. A mag 14 star is at the southwest edge and another is near
the north edge, 30" from center.
In addition, a couple of individual stars are within the main body of
the cluster. A mag 11.3 is 1.4'
ESE of the cluster, mag 10
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2114 = h2974 on 30 Jan 1835 and described as "eF; pL; irreg
R." His position (single
sweep) is accurate.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered NGC 2114 = D 186? on 27 Sep 1826 and recorded "a very
small faint nebula". His
position is 14' SE of the cluster.
Wolfgang Steinicke equates D 187 with NGC 2114. His position for this
entry is 19' SE of the cluster.
******************************
05 51 19.8 -50
34 58
V = 13.1; Size 0.8'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 50d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, small, round, 20" diameter,
occasional faint stellar nucleus.
Located just north of a bright asterism of a half-dozen stars; mag 9.0
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2115 = h2976 on 4 Jan 1837. His position and description
("eeF; vS; nf a triangle of stars 10m which form part of a bright
group") matches
******************************
NGC 2116 = ESO
057-SC038 = S-L 715
05 47 15 -68 30
30
V = 12.9; Size 1.0'
30"
(10/14/15 - OzSky): at 394x; bright, fairly small, roundish glow, 0.6'
diameter, very mottled and lively with a number of extremely faint mag 16+
stars popping in and out of view.
Located 2.2' ESE of a mag 11 star.
NGC 2109 lies 16' WSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2116 = h2977 on 30 Dec 1836 and reported "F; S; R. A star 11m precedes." His position from this single sweep is
accurate.
******************************
05 47 46 -67 27
00
V = 11.6; Size 1.3'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): bright, moderately large, irregular shape, 1'
diameter. A mag 13.3 star is at
the west edge, a mag 14 star is on the northeast side and a mag 14.8 star is at
the southeast end. The central
region is very mottled and lively with 8 additional mag 15+ stars
resolving. Mag 9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2117 = h2978 on 23 Nov 1834 and recorded (first of 5 sweeps)
"pB, S, resolved." On a
second sweep he recorded "pB, E; resolved. I see the stars in it; 2'
long." On his third sweep he
logged "pF, irregularly round, 40 or 50", vlbM."
******************************
05 47 40 -69 07
54
V = 12.0; Size 1.3'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): at 318x; very bright, moderately large, round, 40"
diameter, sharply concentrated with a very bright core, unresolved.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2118 = h2979 on 16 Dec 1835 and described a "globular;
vsmbM; 15"." On a second
sweep he recorded "a vS, B knot, probably 6 or 8 vS stars wedged into a
close group." His position
matches this cluster.
James Dunlop
perhaps discovered NGC 2118 = D 157? earlier on 25 Sep 1826 and recorded
"a small round nebula, 8" or 10" diameter. This is the preceding of three nebulae
forming a triangle." His
position from a single observation is 8' NE, well within his typical errors,
though there is no sign of his other two nebulae anywhere nearby.
******************************
05 57 26.9 +11
56 56
V = 13.6; Size 1.2'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 145d
17.5"
(12/19/87): faint, very small, bright core, elongated 3:2 NW-SE in a rich star
field. A mag 11 star is 2'
NE. Located just 6 degrees from
the galactic equator.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2119 = St X-19 on 9 Jan 1880. His position matches
******************************
05 50 35 -63 40
30
V = 12.7; Size 2.0'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x and 394x; moderately bright and large, round,
contains a large slightly brighter core, fairly smooth, ~50" diameter. A
mag 15 star is off the southwest side, 0.9' from center, and a few extremely
faint stars sparkle around the edges.
Located 5.7' S of mag 8.8
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2120 = h2980 on 30 Nov 1834 and described as "vF; pL; R;
glbM; 80"." His position
(measured on 2 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
05 48 12 -71 28
54
V = 12.4; Size 2.3'x1.5'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): at 318x; bright, very large, slightly elongated ~N-S,
2.0'x1.6', only a broad weak concentration. Fairly smooth appearance with only a slight granularity. A couple of mag 15.5-16 are resolved
around the edges. Mag 9.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2121 = h2982 on 9 Feb 1836 and described as "vF; vglbM;
3'." His position from one
sweep is accurate.
******************************
05 48 53 -70 04
12
V = 10.4; Size 4.5'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): Superb HII region and cluster! Unfiltered, at least 3 dozen stars are resolved in a 4'
region including several fairly bright mag 12 stars. The brightest mag 12.2 star
Open cluster S-L
740 is 10' SSE and S-L 769 is 23' due east. At 394x; S-L 769 appeared large, round, smooth moderate
surface brightness, nearly 1' diameter.
A mag 13 star is attached at the east end.
James Dunlop discovered
NGC 2122 = D 106 on 3 Aug 1826 with his 9" reflector and recorded "A
faint elliptical nebula, about 2' diameter; slightly condensed to the
centre." He made 2
observations and his position is just 3' NE of center.
JH observed this
cluster/nebula on 5 sweeps (h1319).
On his first observation from 24 Nov 1834 he logged "B, L nebula,
6' l, 5' br; resolved, in part; chief star 11th mag taken." On a second sweep he called it
"pB, L, irregularly round, glbM, 3', resolved into stars 15th
mag." On his 4th sweep he
noted "cluster, irregular figure, consists of 3 or 4 disjoined clusters,
the middle one the largest and brightest; of 3 or 4 large stars and nebulosity;
chief star taken."
******************************
05 51 43.5 -65
19 18
V = 12.6; Size 1.2'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): very faint, small, round, 30" diameter. This LMC cluster is located 50' NE of
mag 4.3 Delta Doradus. In the 105x
field it is 8' SE of mag 8.0
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2123 = h2983 on 30 Nov 1834 and described as "pB; vS; R;
vglbM; 12"." His
position (measured on 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
05 57 52.2 -20
05 05
V = 12.6; Size 2.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 2d
17.5"
(12/3/88): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 2:1 N-S, broadly
concentrated halo. A mag 15 star
is at the south edge. Located in a
rich star field.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2124 = H III-225 on 20 Oct 1784 (sweep 304) and noted "eF,
E, resolvable, near 1' long.
Verified 240 power."
Auwer's reduction places his position is 2.4' NW of
******************************
05 50 54 -69 28
48
Size 1.0'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; fairly faint to moderately bright glow, elongated
NW-SE, 35" diameter. A mag
14.7 star (~5" double with a mag 16 star) is at the northeast end, a mag
15.7 star is at the southwest tip and a mag 16 star is at the northwest
edge.
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): fairly faint, fairly small, 30" diameter,
unconcentrated. A couple of very
faint stars are resolved as well as a mag 14.5-15 star on the northeast edge. Faintest of 3 clusters with NGC 2127
7.5' NE and NGC 2136/2137 11' ESE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2125 = h2985 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "vF; R; 50";
gbM." His position (single
sweep) is 1' too far south.
******************************
06 02 31 +49 52
00
Size 6'
13.1"
(2/25/84): 25-30 stars mag 12-14.5, fairly dense, small, pretty cluster. The cluster is dominated by mag 6.1 SAO
40801 which lies on the NE side of the cluster.
8"
(1/1/84): 20 stars mag 12-13.5.
Located close SW of a mag 6 star, appears rich with averted vision.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2126 = H VIII-68 on 12 Nov 1787 (sweep 781) and recorded "a
small cluster of scattered stars, not rich, one 7th mag towards the northern
side, but it does not seem to be connected with the cluster." His position is very close to mag 6 HD
40626, although this is at the northeast side of the cluster and is probably
not related.
Ling notes that
position of this cluster should be 06h 02.6m +49d 52' according to Megastar
position.
******************************
NGC 2127 = ESO
057-SC045 = S-L 751
05 51 22 -69 21
39
V = 11.6; Size 1.2'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): very bright, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, 30"
diameter, high surface brightness, stellar nucleus. No resolution except for
mag 14.5 star at the south tip and a mag 15.5 star at the west edge. NGC 2125 is 7.5' SSW and NGC 2136 is
12' SE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2127 = h2986 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "B, S, R, 15"."
His position (measured on 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
06 04 34.2 +57
37 40
V = 12.6; Size 1.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 60d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, small, oval 3:2 SW-NE, bright core, stellar nucleus.
Edward Swift,
Lewis' 15 year-old son, discovered NGC 2128 = Sw VI-25 on 27 Dec 1886. There is nothing near the published
position but exactly 30' south is
******************************
06 01 07 +23 19
24
V = 6.7; Size 7'
17.5"
(12/20/95): bright, fairly rich group surrounding two mag 7.5 and 8 stars (SAO
77842 and 77839) oriented N-S.
There are about three dozen stars mag 10-14 in an 5' well-detached
circular group with several double stars including a faint pair preceding the
northern mag 8 star. The southern
mag 8 star has a couple of very faint companions.
This group is
apparently an asterism based on a 1994 study.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2129 = H VIII-26 = h372 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 317) and described
"A Cl of st of various magnitudes, not very rich, 6 or 7' diam." JH recorded "about 40 or 50
st. The brightest 8m taken. The rest are 10...15m." The center (as defined as the midpoint
of the two mag 7.5-8 stars) is 06 01 07 +23 19.4 (J2000).
By analyzing William
Herschel's early "reviews" of bright stars (before his systematic
sweeps), which resulted in the discovery of many double stars, Wolfgang
Steinicke recently found (email Oct '16) that Herschel first discovered the
cluster on 6 Feb 1782 using his 6.2" reflector.
******************************
05 52 24 -67 20
06
V = 12.1; Size 1.2'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x and 394x; bright, small, round, high surface
brightness, 35" diameter.
Four or five mag 14.5-15 stars are resolved in the halo on the NW, SW
and E sides.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2130 = h2987 on 2 Nov 1834 and the cluster was observed on 7
sweeps! His descriptions for this
cluster range from "faint" to "pretty bright" with sizes ranging
from 18" to 45".
******************************
05 58 47.4 -26
39 10
V = 14.1; Size 1.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 118d
17.5"
(12/8/90): very faint, very small, round, low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is in contact on the
north end. A possible companion is
about 4' NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2131 = h2984 on 20 Jan 1835 and recorded "eF; S; R; has a
*13 m in centre." His
position matches
******************************
05 55 58 -59 55
42
Size 17'x11'
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): 20 stars (half-dozen bright ones) in a 10'x3' region,
roughly arranged in two east-west strings. This group (asterism or cluster) includes mag 7.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2132 = h2988 on 11 Jan 1836 and described the "chief * of a
cluster 8th class of about a dozen bright and some smaller stars." His
position corresponds with mag 8
Eric Lindsay, in
his 1964 paper "Some NGC objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ,
6, 286-289) notes "Not found. Centered on CPD 59°542. This is supposedly
the chief star of a cluster of about a dozen stars. Dreyer has a marginal note
"1/2 doz. only". Not in the Nubec. Major Catalogue. No sign here of a
cluster." RNGC follows
Lindsay as classifies as nonexistent and the number is missing from the ESO
catalogue, although it stands out on the DSS.
******************************
05 51 29 -71 10
30
V = 12.4; Size 1.7'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): moderately bright and large, round, 45" diameter,
relatively large brighter core, unresolved. This cluster is a smaller and paler version of
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2133 = h2989 (along with NGC 2134 = h2991) on 24 Nov 1834 and
recorded "pB; pL; R; gbM; 60"." His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2134 = ESO 057-SC047
= S-L 760
05 51 57.2 -71
05 52
V = 11.1; Size 2.5'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): bright, fairly large, round, 1.1' diameter, sharply
concentrated with a relatively large bright core. No resolution in the halo except for a mag 14.5 star just
off the northeast edge and a mag 15.5 star at the south-southwest edge. NGC 2133 lies 5' SSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2134 = h2991 (along with NGC 2133 = h2989) on 24 Nov 1834 and
recorded it in four sweeps. His
first observation reads "B; L; R; gbM; 90"." His mean position is 05 51 57.2 -71 06
27 (2000) which is close to the ESO position of 05 51 56.7 -71 05 50 (2000) but
RNGC has an incorrect RA of 05 50.1, which is repeated in NGC 2000.0.
******************************
NGC 2135 = ESO
086-SC039 = S-L 765
05 53 35 -67 25
36
V = 12.1; Size 1.0'
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x and 394x; bright, small, roundish, mottled, high
surface brightness, 30" diameter.
Unresolved (too compact) except for a mag 14.5 star at the west edge. A mag 11 star is 1.9' WSW. NGC 2130 lies 9' NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2135 = h2990 on 23 Nov 1834 and recorded it on 5 sweeps. His first observation reads "vF,
R, glbM, 1'. Among stars."
His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2136 = ESO
057-SC048 = S-L 762
05 52 59 -69 29
36
V = 10.5; Size 1.9'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; extremely bright LMC cluster, large, very mottled
and lively, relatively large bright core.
A mag 13-13.5 star is at the northwest edge and a mag 14 star is at the
south edge. Roughly a dozen stars
are resolved in total. A mag 10.8
star is 1.5' NNW and a mag 12 star is 1' SSW. Forms a striking double cluster
with
James Dunlop probably
NGC 2136 = D 160 on 24 Sep 1826 and described "a small round pretty well
defined nebula." He made 2
observations and his position is 8.6' too far SW (typical error).
JH attributed
Dunlop with the discovery and recorded the cluster on 4 sweeps. His first observation of h2992 reads
"pB, R, bM, 1'; has a star 10.11th mag N.p. (thick haze)." On his last sweep he noted
"Globular cluster, pB, R, gmbM, resolved, stars 14..16 mag; has a vvF neb
N.f [NGC 2137]."
******************************
NGC 2137 = ESO
057-SC049 = S-L 764
05 53 13 -69 28
54
V = 12.7; Size 0.8'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; moderately bright, small, round, 20"
diameter, lively, several extremely faint mag 16+ stars resolved. A mag 13 star is 50" NE. NGC 2137 is the fainter and smaller of
a striking double cluster with much brighter NGC 2136 just 1.4' SW!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2137 = h2994 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "vF; R; 30";
the following of 2 [with NGC 2136]."
His position (2 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
05 54 49 -65 50
06
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): relatively faint, small, round, 25"-30"
diameter, slightly brighter core, low surface brightness, no resolution. Four bright field stars lie directly
south including mag 7.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2138 = h2993 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded "eF; S; R; has 3 B
st pretty distinct towards the south." His position from a single sweep is accurate.
******************************
06 01 07.9 -23
40 25
V = 11.6; Size 2.6'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 140d
17.5"
(12/8/90): moderately bright, moderately large, slightly elongated, broad
concentration, core appears offset to the northwest of center. A mag 14 star is at the north edge 1.3'
from center and a mag 11 star lies 3.5' SSE.
8"
(1/1/84): faint, fairly small, round, broad concentration. A mag 11 star is 4' SSE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2139 = H II-264 on 17 Nov 1784 (sweep 322) and called it
"F, S." He added "The RA cannot be above 10 or 15 sec out;
the roller went off the apparantus which occasions the uncertainty."
This was the only nebula found in the sweep.
Lewis Swift
independently discovered this galaxy from Southern California on 1 Dec 1897 and
reported it in discovery list XI-90 (later
******************************
05 54 16.5 -68
36 05
V = 12.4; Size 1.7'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright LMC cluster,
elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, 40"x25".
A star is located at the WNW tip.
Situated between a mag 10.2 star 3.2' NW and a mag 10.1 star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2140 = h2995 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "pF; irreg R;
psbM." His next observation
reads "pF; R; bM; 30"."
On his last sweep he wrote "F; lE; gbM."
******************************
06 02 56 +10 26
48
V = 9.4; Size 10'
17.5"
(12/8/90): 20-25 faint stars mag 13-15 at 220x over extensive haze. Located within an incomplete circle of
several brighter mag 11-12 stars about 8' diameter.
E.E. Barnard
discovered NGC 2141 in Jan 1883 with his 5-inch refractor. His announcement note in Sidereal
Messenger, Vol 3, p9 titled "A New and Faint Nebulosity" gives an
accurate position and describes a "very faint nebulosity. It lies a little
over 3/4° north of Mu Orionis, and requires a low power to be seen at all. With
my 5-inch refractor and a power of 30, it is quite distinct; but high powers
diffuse it greatly. There is a faint star in its center, and several others on
its border, about 2' diameter. I have repeatedly seen this nebula since January
1883."
******************************
06 01 50.4 -10
35 53
V = 5.0
=* 5.0 = 3 Mon,
Corwin. =NF, RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2142 = h373 on 6 Jan 1831 and recorded "3 Monocerotis. I am sure this star has a F neb atm
2'-3' diam." This is a mag 5
star free from nebulosity. There
are other similar cases from Herschel including
******************************
06 03 07.5 +05
43 42
Size 15'
18"
(11/6/04): at 73x this asterism is a large, scattered rectangular group,
roughly 10'x6', and elongated N-S. On the west side is a N-S string of stars
while the east side is dominated by three brighter mag 9.5-10.5 stars including
mag 9.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2143 = h374 on 2 Feb 1831 and recorded "L, p rich, very
scattered; place of *10m in M."
His position corresponds with mag 9
******************************
05 40 57.2 -82
07 10
V = 13.0; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 93d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright and large, slightly
elongated ~E-W, 1.4'x1.1'.
Contains a bright core that increases to the center. Located between a mag 10 star 6' E and
a mag 11 star 6' WNW. This is the
third closest NGC galaxy to the south celestial pole.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2144 = h3009 on 17 Jan 1836 and reported "F; irreg R;
pslbM; 40 arcsec." His
position (measured on 2 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
05 54 23 -70 54
06
V = 12.1; Size 1.7'
25"
(10/10/15 - OzSky): bright, fairly small, roundish, 40" diameter,
well-defined slightly brighter core.
A mag 14 star is at the southeast edge and two mag 15.5-16 stars are
just off the north and east side. A bright mag 11.7 star is 50" SSW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2145 = h2998 on 12 Nov 1836 and described as "F; lE;
resolvable." His position
from a single sweep is off by 1.7' in dec (too far south).
******************************
06 18 39.0 +78
21 28
V = 10.6; Size 6.0'x3.4'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 123d
48"
(10/29/16): at 488x, the "Dusty Hand" galaxy has an unusual, highly
disrupted appearance. The
very bright core is large and elongated NW-SE with a small, intense
nucleus. A prominent, fairly wide
dust lane slices through the center with the brightest part of the core roughly
parallel on the north side. A small portion of the core is on the south side of
the lane. On the
southeast side a fairly prominent "arm" or plume (part of a merged
companion?) extends generally east beyond a mag 14.5 star 2' ESE of center. The halo is very diffuse to the north
of this arm. At the northwest end
of the a galaxy a very faint "arm" curls sharply clockwise and with
careful viewing a very low surface brightness plume (detached from the central
portion) extends south on the west side.
On deep images these arms and plumes seem to be a single tidal structure
or stream that wraps around the galaxy.
24"
(12/28/13): this highly distorted galaxy was observed at 260x. The galaxy appeared very bright, very
large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, ~5'x2', with a very asymmetric structure. It contains a very bright, elongated
core, ~1.2'x0.5' NW-SE, but with no distinct nucleus. A low contrast dust lane cuts through the core unevenly,
with the main section on the north side, so the lane initially appears to run
parallel to the core on the southwest side. But a fainter, elongated section of the core extending NW-SE
is just beyond the dust lane on the southwest side. To the southeast of the core, the outer halo is diffuse,
with a low surface brightness and is not aligned with the major axis of the core,
extending more towards the east.
On the NW side of the core, the halo has a higher and irregular surface
brightness with a slightly brighter curving arc (arm) along its eastern side.
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly bright, fairly large, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE, bright
core. A mag 11 double at 30"
separation is just off the SE end.
A few brighter mag 10-11 stars are 6' E.
Friedrich August
Winnecke discovered NGC 2146 = T 1-18 in 1876 using a 6.5-inch comet seeker at
the Strasbourg Observatory. It was independently discovered by Wilhelm Tempel
the same year and by Johann Palisa (AN 2732). This is one of 3 galaxies discovered by Winnecke, along with
As there is no
candidate for a previous interaction (creating the disrupted appearance and
nuclear starburst), it has been proposed that NGC 2146 is a far-evolved merger.
******************************
05 55 46 -68 12
06
V = 12.9; Size 1.0'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; very bright, small, roundish cluster, 25"
diameter. Contains a very small,
extremely bright core. Three or
four stars are resolved in the small halo on the west side and south side. Located 3.6' NNW of mag 9.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2147 = h2997 on 30 Jan 1835 and logged "vF; R; bM;
30"." On a second sweep
he also noted "connected with stars, etc." The "stars" probably refers to S-L 785.
NGC 2147 was
possibly discovered by James Dunlop on 27 Sep 1826 with his 9"
reflector. He described D 191 as
"a pretty bright round nebula, 40" diameter". His position is 12' west of the cluster,
a typical error. Also D 190,
described as "two very small faint nebulae" is roughly at the same
position, so could also apply to this object. Herschel didn't reference these possible earlier discoveries
by Dunlop and neither does Glen Cozens.
******************************
05 58 45.8 -59
07 34
V = 13.8; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 150d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): extremely faint, very small, round, 20"
diameter, required averted vision.
A mag 12.5 star is 33" E of center and two mag 13 star are within
2' to the south. Observation made
in quite hazy conditions through thin clouds or smoke.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2148 = h2996 on 4 Dec 1834 and recorded "eF; S; R;
20"; has a *12m, sf very near."
The star is 33" E of center.
******************************
06 03 30.8 -09
43 50
Size 3'x2'
17.5"
(1/19/91): this moderately bright reflection nebula is fairly small and has a
12th magnitude (illuminating) star on the west side. Appears prominent with an OIII filter(?) at 140x.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2149 = St VIIIb-18 on 17 Jan 1877 with the 31" refractor at
Marseille Observatory. His
position is accurate. NGC 2149 was
misclassified as a galaxy in the Shapley-Ames list and misplotted as a galaxy
on the Skalnate Pleso Atlas of the Heavens.
******************************
NGC 2150 = ESO
057-055 = PGC 18097
05 55 46.4 -69
33 40
V = 13.0; Size 1.1'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 143d
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small,
oval 4:3 or 5:4 NW-SE, 0.7'x0.5', smooth halo then suddenly increases to a
bright, very small core. A mag
16.5 star is at the southeast edge.
Located 9' SW of mag 8.0
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2150 = h3000 on 9 Feb 1836 and recorded "F; vS; R; vsbM;
stellar." His position is
~35" south of
******************************
05 56 21 -69 01
06
Size 1.0'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; moderately bright, small, roundish, 35"
diameter. A mag 15.2 star is
resolved on the southwest edge and a mag 14 star is at the northeast end. The bright nucleus is nearly stellar,
so on first glance it looked like three collinear stars. A 13" pair of similar mag 12.6/12.8
stars lies 4.5' ENE and a mag 10.6 star is 3.7' SSW. Located 12.6' NW of NGC
2157.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2151 = h3001 on 31 Jan 1835 and logged "F; R; bM;
45"." His position is
accurate. The Hodge-Wright Atlas
completely misplaces NGC 2151 onto chart 66, near 05 57 50 -63 53 38 (2000),
about 20' SW of
******************************
06 00 55.2 -50
44 27
V = 13.8; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 69d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): very faint, small, slightly elongated,
25"x20", low surface brightness, no noticeable concentration. A mag 14 star is just off the northeast
edge. A mag 10 star is 4.4'
E. Located 29' N of mag 5.7 HD
41214. Observation through thin
clouds or smoke.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2152 = h2999 on 28 Dec 1834 and noted, "eeF; R; attached to
a vS star." His position is
fairly accurate and the star is off the northeast edge.
******************************
05 57 52 -66 24
06
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): moderately bright, fairly small, round,
35"-40" diameter, smooth glow. A mag 14 star is easily resolved at the southwest
edge. Located 8' SE of mag 8.2 HD
40924. A mag 10 star is 4'
NNE. NGC 2153 happens to be situated
just 16' NW of the south ecliptic pole!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2153 = h3002 on 3 Jan 1837 and recoded "eeF; R or lE;
attached to a * 16m." His
position, from a single sweep, is accurate and the faint star appears to be at
the south end.
******************************
05 57 38 -67 15
42
V = 11.8; Size 2.3'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): this LMC globular is located 50' SE of mag 5.1 Epsilon
Doradus. It appeared bright,
large, round, 1.5' diameter, broad concentration, mottled with a couple of mag
15-16 stars resolving. A mag 14
star is close off the north side.
S-L 800 lies 10' NNE and NGC 2135 is 25' SW.
S-L 800 was
fairly faint, round, 0.6' diameter, low surface brightness. A mag 12.5 star is at the west end and
a mag 14.5 star is just off the east side.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2154 = h3003 on 2 Nov 1834 and observed on 4 sweeps. His first description reads "F; L;
R; glbM; 100".
******************************
NGC 2155 = ESO
086-SC045 = S-L 803
05 58 32.3 -65
28 40
V = 12.6; Size 2.1'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): faint, fairly small, round, 1.1' diameter, weak
concentration. Near a scattered
group of bright (mag 9-10) Milky Way stars and nearly collinear with two mag
9/9.5 stars 7' NW and 13' NW. This
is a well-studied older intermediate-age LMC cluster with an age of 2.5 - 3.5
billion years.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2155 = h3004 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded "vF; pL; R; vlbM;
80"; in a rich field."
His position (from 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
05 57 50 -68 27
36
V = 11.4; Size 1.1'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the first of four bright
clusters in a 16' field! At 200x
it appeared bright, fairly large, elongated N-S, ~1.2'x0.8', sharply
concentrated. At 350x a couple of
stars are resolved in the halo and the central core is just broken up into
several clumps or knots with a couple of very faint stars resolved. Located 6.9' NW of the impressive
cluster globular
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2156 = h3005 on 23 Nov 1834 and recorded "pF; S; irreg R;
psbM; 25". He observed this
cluster on 5 sweeps and other than brightness, the descriptions are similar.
James Dunlop
possibly made the first observation (D 197) on 27 Sep 1826 and noted a
"small faint round nebula".
His position, though, while correct in declination is nearly 19' too far
east and might also apply to
******************************
05 57 35 -69 11
48
V = 10.2; Size 2.7'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): extremely bright, very large, 1.3' diameter, strong
concentration with a very bright, large core, very mottled appearance,
showpiece (globular?) cluster. At
394x, several obviously mag 14.8-15.5 stars are resolved in the halo and around
the edges. With careful viewing
the core broke up into a few dozen extremely packed stars (too tight and faint
to count). A mag 11.4 star is 1.4'
WNW of center. NGC 2151 lies 13' NNW.
These clusters are on the east end of the LMC.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2157 = D 161 on 6 Nov 1826 with his 9" speculum reflector
and described "a small faint nebula, 15" diameter; a small star near
the north preceding edge."
Dunlop made a single observation and his position is 6.8' too far
SW. Despite the small size
estimate, there is a mag 11 star off the NW edge.
JH recorded this
cluster (h3006) on 4 sweeps, first recording "vB, R, gbM, 30"." On a second sweep he logged "globular cluster, vB, R,
vgvmbM, resolvable." JH noted a very uncertain (??) identification with D
161.
******************************
06 07 26 +24 05
48
V = 8.6; Size 5'
18"
(2/24/06): at 323x, this rich, irregularly shaped cluster is beautifully
resolved into 45-50 stars that are peppered over a 5' background glow. Appears like a resolved globular of low
concentration class. Includes a couple of dozen mag 13.5-14.5 stars along with
a rich carpet of fainter mag 15 stars.
There are several close pairs (1"-2" and possibly closer) and
the number of stars keep increasing in moments of rock steady seeing as they
seem to emerge from the background.
A single brighter star is at the east edge.
17.5"
(2/8/86): 30-35 stars resolved, unusually rich, compact, about 5'
diameter. The appearance is
similar to a resolved globular cluster.
Located 30' SW of
13.1"
(2/16/85): at least 20-25 stars resolved at 415x.
13.1"
(11/5/83): ~15-20 stars, mottled clump near SE edge.
8": few
stars resolved over haze.
13x80mm
(1/20/07): visible in the finder as a very faint, small glow about a
half-degree SW of M35.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2158 = H VI-17 = h375 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 317) and logged
"a very compressed cluster of vS stars, very rich." JH described the cluster as
"rich; much compressed almost to nebulosity; stars very small; irregular
triangular figure."
NGC 2158 has
been classified as a globular by Rosino in 1954 (Contr. Padova in Asagio No.
52), Helen Sawyer Hogg, 1959 (Star Clusters) and more recently in the RNGC due
to its richness. Nevertheless, it
is considered an intermediate age open cluster (~ 1 billion years old). NGC 2158 is also five or six times as
distant as M35, as far as 16,000 light years away (5071 parsecs).
******************************
NGC 2159 = ESO
057-SC060 = S-L 799
05 58 03 -68 37
30
V = 11.4; Size 0.9'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x this cluster appeared
bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.9'x0.7'. A brighter star is at the north edge. At 350x, at least three additional
faint stars are resolved on the north side and the appearance is asymmetric as
the cluster is brighter on the north side. Located 8' SW of NGC 2164 and 10' S of NGC 2156. NGC 2172 lies 11' ESE, NGC 2140 is 20'
WNW and S-L 791 is 6' W.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2159 = D 193 on 6 Nov 1826 and recorded "pB; R;
well-defined, 12"." He
made a single obervation and his position is just 3' S of this cluster.
JH observed the
cluster (h3007) on 4 sweeps, first reportin on 23 Nov 1834, "pF; S; irreg
R; psbM; 25"." Next he
logged it as "pF; S; R; the second of three [with NGC 2156 and
2164]." On the third sweep he
logged "pB; S; R; has a *15m close to the edge, nf". Herschel attributed Dunlop with the
discovery.
******************************
NGC 2160 = ESO
057-SC061 = S-L 801
05 58 13 -68 17
24
V = 12.2; Size 1.2'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; bright, small cluster, 25"-30"
diameter. Three stars are resolved
in the small central clump including a mag 13.5 star on the northwest edge. Two fainter stars are on the east side
and just south of center. NGC 2156
lies 10' SSW, NGC 2164 is 14' SSE, NGC 2147/S-L 785 is 15' WNW and S-L 822 is
22' ESE. The last cluster appeared
as a moderately bright, small round glow.
A mag 13.5 star is involved at the north edge.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2160 = h3008 on 30 Dec 1836 and recorded as "pF; R; gbM;
30"." His position from
a single observation is accurate.
James Dunlop's D 195 possibly refers to this cluster, but it seems too
faint to have been described as "a small pretty bright round nebula,
10" or 12" diameter."
His position is 10.6' NE of the cluster.
******************************
05 55 43 -74 21
12
V = 12.9; Size 2.3'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): this outlying LMC globular appeared moderately bright,
fairly large, slightly elongated, nearly 1' diameter, weak concentration, no
resolution. It seemed the cluster was slightly brighter along a central spine
oriented WSW-ENE (probably due to slightly brighter unresolved stars).
S-L 804 was
picked up 13' NE as a faint, relatively large glow, round, ~50" diameter,
low even surface brightness. A mag
10.6 star is 6' SW.
S-L 828, located
28' ENE, is fairly faint, fairly small, round, ~35" diameter, smooth
surface brightness, no resolution.
Two mag 13-14 stars lie 2' SW.
S-L 783, located
16' SSW, is very faint, fairly small, round, 30" diameter, smooth glow,
fairly low surface brightness, no resolution.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2161 = h3013 on 8 Feb 1836 and described as "F; pL; R;
gpmbM; 2'." His position from
a single sweep is about 30" NW of center. Located outside the boundaries of the Hodge-Wright LMC
Atlas.
******************************
NGC 2162 = ESO
086-SC047 = S-L 814
06 00 30 -63 43
18
V = 12.7; Size 2.1'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; fairly bright, very large, round, contains a
relatively large brighter core, mottled.
A couple of very faint stars are fairly easily resolved and several more
pop in and out with averted vision.
Located 4' W of mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2162 = h3010 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded "vF; pL; R; vglbM;
80"." On a second sweep
he noted "F; R; glbM; 40"; a *9 mag follows in parallel, and 3 more
11 mag near." His position
(recorded on 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
06 07 49.5 +18
39 27
Size 3'x2'
17.5"
(1/9/98): moderately bright reflection nebula surrounding a young mag 11 star
(HBC 193). The brightest portion
of the nebula is noticeably elongated N-S from the central star and 2'-3' in
length tapering towards the star.
The northern extension has a slightly higher surface brightness. Located
3' W of a mag 9 star. Observed at
220x without filtration.
17.5"
(12/23/92): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 N-S, ~2.5'x1.0', fairly high
surface brightness. A mag 11 star
is at the south tip of the bright portion and a small very faint extension
appears south of this star.
Located 3' W of mag 9
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2163 = St IX-6 on 6 Feb 1874 with the 31-inch reflector at the
Marseille Observatory and recorded "eF, E, dif, *11 attached
south." He observed it again
on 6 Jan 1878. In compiling the
NGC, Dreyer accidentally copied the declination of
Skiff recomputed
Stephan's original position using precise coordinates for his offset star HD
41787 as 06 04 53.62 +18 40 08.7 (1950).
At this exact location is the reflection nebula
More recently,
Cederblad 62 wasn't referenced as a NGC object in the first edition of the
Uranometria 2000.0, Sky Atlas 2000.0 or the Sky Catalogue 2000. The RNGC identifies this object as
nonexistent and furthermore reverses the sign of the declination. In addition, a poor RA was given for
Ced 62 in Sky Catalogue 2000 and it was misplotted on the Uranometria 2000
(first edition) too far east, though the position was corrected in the second
edition. The Millenium Star Atlas
labels this object Ced 62 at the wrong position.
******************************
NGC 2164 = ESO
057-SC062 = S-L 808
05 58 56.0 -68
30 57
V = 10.3; Size 2.5'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the brightest of four
clusters in a 10' field. At 260x
it appeared very bright, large, round, sharply concentrated with an extremely
bright core (appears to be a globular), the large outer halo extends to 2'
diameter. Roughly 15 stars are
resolved in the halo - some of these are easily resolved 14th mag stars, while
others are quite faint. At 350x,
two dozen stars are resolved and the core is very grainy. Overall, this is a
very impressive cluster. NGC 2156
lies 6.8' NW, NGC 2159 is 8' SW and NGC 2172 is 9.7' SE..
James Dunlop
probably NGC 2164 = D 194 on 27 Sep 1826 and described a "A pretty large
faint ill-defined nebula."
His position is just 3' SW of this cluster. There are 3 other clusters within 9' (NGC 2156, 2159, 2172),
but this is the largest and brightest.
D 193, decribed by Dunlop as "pretty bright" is south of NGC
2159, but could also apply to NGC 2164.
JH observed this
cluster (h3011) on 5 sweeps beginning on 23 Nov 1834, when he recorded
"vB, R, gmbM; 90",
resolvable." Herschel
attributed Dunlop with the discovery.
******************************
06 11 05 +51 40
36
17.5"
(3/1/03): Roughly a dozen stars in a 6'x4' group at 100x. Extended E-W except for a few stars
which tail off towards the north on the following end. Nine of the stars in the group are
fairly evenly distributed and similar in magnitude (10.5-11). No concentration or dense spots and
appears to be an asterism. Listed
as a nonexistent cluster in the RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2165 = h376 on 12 Feb 1831 and noted "a ppor cl 7' length,
3' broad; about a dozen stars 11m." There is a very scattered group of brighter stars on
the DSS at Herschel's position with the fields to the west lacking in stars. Karl Reinmuth, using a Heidelberg plate,
described a "Cl, P, 20-25 st 11...". RNGC classifies this object as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
05 59 34 -67 56
30
V = 12.9; Size 1.2'
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; very bright, fairly small, round, 24"
diameter, high surface brightness.
Contains a relatively large bright core and smooth halo. A mag 12.5 star is off the northeast
side [42" from center].
Located 6' S of mag 9.3
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2166 = h3012 on 2 Jan 1837 and recorded "F, S, R, gbM,
15"." His position is
accurate. JH credits D 223 as the possible earlier discovery. James Dunlop found D 223 and/or D 222
on 27 Sep 1826. His description for
D 222 reads "small round nebula preceding a small star." There is a "small star" just
following the cluster, though his position is 9' too far west. D 223 has a relatively accurate
position (1.6' N) with description "pretty bright and well-defined small
round nebula." Both objects
were recorded as observed once, though I don't know if they were on the same
night.
******************************
06 06 58.5 -06
12 08
V = 6.6
=*6.6 SAO
132848, Gottlieb and Corwin. = no
neb, Carlson.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2167 = h378 on 8 Jan 1831 and described "a star 7m with a p
strong neb atmosphere." His
position matches mag 6.6
Several
unsuccessful attempts were made to see h378 at Birr Castle. The GC and NGC used JH's position and
description for h378, so NGC 2167 = h378 = HD 41694, and not H IV-44.
Dreyer commented
that IV-44 ≠ h378 in the notes to his 1912 Scientific Papers of WH:
"Occurs only in Sw. 640, 2m 0s p, 4' n of IV 38 [
Dreyer is
proposing IV-44 = vdB 68 = Ced 65 (and Wolfgang Steinicke concurs), though
Corwin feels H IV-44 is more likely a duplicate observation of NGC 2170 = H
IV-19, which is brighter and 8' due south of WH's position.
******************************
06 08 54 +24 20
V = 5.1; Size 28'
18"
(11/14/09): gorgeous view at 75x, which beautifully frames the cluster as well
as NGC 2158. The densest portion
is the central 25' where roughly 250-300 stars are resolved. The cluster is noticeably lopsided due
to a loop of stars that juts out on the SE side of the cluster. This loop
includes mag 7.5
8": very
bright string cluster, very large, excellent field but not rich in faint
stars. Many of the stars are
arrange in rows and loops.
Naked-eye:
Visible as a fairly small naked-eye glow in a dark sky.
Phillippe De
Chéseaux discovered M35 = NGC 2168 = h377 in 1745-46. John Bevis independently found the cluster before 1750
(possibly earlier than De Chéseaux).
JH described "a L, coarse, p rich cl of st 9...16m, which fills 2
or 3 fields, but cheifly one in which are about 100 stars."
******************************
06 08 25 +13 57
54
V = 5.9; Size 7'
17.5"
(1/19/91): 20 stars mag 7.5-13 in bright, distinctive group. Fairly small, about 6' diameter, not
rich. The stars are divided into
two main subgroups - along the west side is a string of six stars aligned N-S
in a very shallow "V" asterism.
The northern two stars in this string form the wide double ∑844 =
8.8/9.9 at 24" and less than 2' S is mag 8.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2169 = H VIII-24 = h379 on 15 Oct 1784 (sweep 293) and recorded
as "a small cluster of pretty large white stars, prettily arranged, not
many of them." On 24 Dec 1786
(sweep 662) he note "a cl of brilliant stars, not many in number, but pretty
much compressed; with a vacancy in the middle."
By analyzing
William Herschel's early "reviews" of bright stars (before his
systematic sweeps), which resulted in the discovery of many double stars,
Wolfgang Steinicke found (email Oct '16) that Herschel first discovered the
cluster on 12 Oct 1782 using his 6.2" reflector.
******************************
NGC 2170 = LBN
994 = vdB 67 = Ced 63 = RAFGL 877
06 07 31.8 -06
23 57
Size 2'x2'
18"
(1/13/07): fairly bright, moderately large reflection nebula surrounding a mag
9.5 star, ~2.5' diameter. There
are two stars bracketing the nebula at the north and south ends with the
brighter southern star of 10th magnitude.
Reflection
nebula
13.1"
(1/28/84): fairly bright nebulosity surrounds mag 9.5
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2170 = H IV-19 on 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 296) and recorded "a
pretty large star, about the 9th magnitude, surrounded by milky nebulosity, not
circular; but an irregular ellipsis." He recorded it again on 23 Feb 1786 (sweep 528) and logged
"a considerable star with milky nebulosity E in meridian or a little from
np to sf. It involves a smaller
star which is about 1.5' north of it.
Other stars of equal magnitude are perfectly clear from it." It was possibly recorded again on 28
Nov 1786 as IV-44 (sweep 640) as a "star involved in milky chevelure,
situated between two stars, with a 3rd star at rectangles to the former
two." His position is 8'
north of NGC 2170.
******************************
05 58 59 -70 43
09
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): there are no good candidates matching Herschel's
description for this number, but Mati Morel suggested NGC 2171 was possibly S-L
691 and 692 with a large error in RA (15 min of RA). Although Corwin has since rejected this possibility as it is
out of RA order in the sweep, here are the descriptions of these clusters.
S-L 691: faint
or fairly faint, small, round, glow, 25" diameter. S-L 691 is the northern of close pair
of LMC clusters with S-L 692 just 48" S. Located 5' ESE of NGC 2107.
S-L 692: fairly
faint, fairly small, slightly elongated glow, 35" diameter, no
resolution. Visually, there is no
noticeable star cloud surrounding these two clusters.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2171 = h3016 on 16 Dec 1835 and recorded "eeF; vL; R; glbM;
4'." There is nothing at this
position though ~5' NW is S-L 809 = KMHK 1571. Eric Lindsay, in his 1964 paper "Some NGC objects in
the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ, 6, 286-289), notes "This may be the
small object S/L 809, 0.5 min W, 2' N which may be an unresolved cluster or
possibly a galaxy. The size does not agree." SIMBAD also identifies S-L 809 as NGC 2171. But this tiny cluster is roughly
30", so it's not a reasonable match with a 4' object. The Hodge-Wright Atlas misidentifies a
faint star as NGC 2171.
Mati Morel has
proposed that h3016 is a star cloud at 05 44 14 -70 40 09, which includes S-L
691 and S-L 692. This requires a
very large error in RA (over 15 min of RA). Harold Corwin notes that the sweep order argues against such
an error (see his identification notes) and this object appears to be lost.
******************************
NGC 2172 = ESO
057-SC065 = S-L 812
06 00 05.6 -68
38 14
V = 11.8; Size 1.7'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): At 200x this LMC cluster appeared
moderately bright, fairly small, ~0.8' diameter, irregular, a couple of stars
are resolved within the glow. At
350x, the glow is clumpy with four stars resolved with the brightest star at
the SE edge. Located 10' SE of NGC
2164 and 11' ESE of NGC 2159.
Fourth of four (including NGC 2156) in a 16' circle.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2172 = h3015 on 31 Jan 1835 and recorded "vF; L; R; gbM;
2'." On a second sweep he
recorded "pF; R; lbM; 50"." His mean position (two sweeps) is at the south edge of the
cluster.
James Dunlop's D
197, found on 27 Sep 1826 possibly is an earlier discovery, though this cluster
may be too faint to have seen by Dunlop.
He described a "small faint round nebula" that was placed 12'
NE of this cluster.
******************************
05 57 58.9 -72
58 46
V = 11.9; Size 2.3'
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x this outlying LMC cluster
(classified as a GC in SIMBAD with an age of ~2 billion years) appears as a
fairly bright, round glow, ~2' in diameter, weak concentration, no
resolution. A wide pair of 12th
magnitude stars lies 2.4' ENE and 3.5' ESE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2173 = h3018 on 8 Feb 1836 and described as "pF; R; gmbM;
90"." His single
position is accurate.
******************************
06 09 23.6 +20
39 34
Size 40'x30'
17.5"
(1/16/02): at 64x and OIII filter, this is a beautiful, detailed nebulosity
surrounding a mag 8 star (
Without a filter
at 64x, I was surprised to immediately notice a moderately bright 3' round
glow, situated ~11' NNW of SAO 78049 near the NW edge of the main glow. Interestingly, this patch of nebulosity
is more prominent than the main body without a filter and is probably the
section of the HII complex visually discovered by Stephan! It seemed quite strange that this patch
had such a different filter response and dimmed significantly with the OIII
(mainly reflection component?). A
curving arc of stars is situated along the north side of the glow. The entire nebula is situated among a
scattered group of stars, which is often mistaken for
17.5"
(2/28/87): very large, irregular nebulosity surrounding mag 8.0 SAO 78049. Dark lanes are evident west of the
star, appears very streaky. A
bright small unresolved knot is 3.2' ENE of the bright star using an OIII
filter [this is NGC 2175].
13"
(1/18/85): very bright with filter, very large, surrounds a mag 8 star, sky
very dark off west side. West of
the star the nebula is mottled and streaky with a bright region near the north
edge.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2174 = St IX-7 on 6 Feb 1877. His description does not describe the entire nebulosity or a
scattered cluster but rather a small patch of nebulosity (without the accents):
"excessive., excess., faible (a peine observable); a l'interieur d'un
triangle forme par trois petites etoiles."
He gives a 1878
position of 06 02 07.47 +20 40 54.4 which precesses to 06 09 24.0 +20 39 53
(2000), and falls on the northwest side of the nebula. This probably needs a small correction
in declination based on his reference star, but is still accurate enough to
clearly identify a small brighter patch of nebulosity. His three stars are mag 13-14 and the
knot of nebulosity is quite prominent on the DSS just following the middle of
these three stars. This star has a
position of 06 09 21.9 +20 39 30 (2000) and Stephan's knot appears only
30-40" in diameter.
******************************
NGC 2175 =
"Monkey Head" Nebula = Ced 67a = LBN 854 = Sh 2-252E = Cr 84
06 09 39.5 +20
29 15
Size 40'x30'
17.5": See
description for NGC 2174. Although
the scattered group of stars involved with the HII region is identified as NGC
2175, the NGC description (from Auwers and Bruhns) does not refer to a cluster but
rather a "*8m in neb (Auw No 21)". The position given is 10' S of NGC 2174 and 16 tsec
east. But in the IC 2 notes and
correction, Dreyer gives a correction in RA from Bigourdan to 06 01 32. This places NGC 2175 at 06 09 52 +20
29.1 (2000) and is just 1' S of the brightest section of the nebula (about 3'
ENE of mag 8 SAO 78049). The
scattered group is catalogued as
Carl Christian
Bruhns discovered NGC 2175 = Au 21 in 1857 using a comet-seeker at the Berlin
Observatory. His position
corresponds with mag 7.6
******************************
06 01 19 -66 51
12
Size 1.3'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, roundish, 30" diameter, low surface
brightness, no resolution although a mag 14 star is just off the east
side. The compact cluster S-L 824
is 8' SE and large S-L 800 is 23' SW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2176 = h3017 on 3 Jan 1837 and recorded as "eeF; R; pL;
gbM; 2'." His position from a
single sweep matches this cluster.
******************************
NGC 2177 = ESO
057-SC066 = S-L 816
06 01 17 -67 44
00
V = 12.8; Size 1.2'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 30"
diameter, fairly even surface brightness, no resolution. Located 8' NNW of mag 9.3
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2177 = h3020 on 13 Dec 1835 and recorded "F; R; lbM;
15"." On a second sweep
he noted "pF; irreg R; resolvable." His mean position matches this cluster.
******************************
06 02 47.6 -63
45 50
V = 12.6; Size 1.1'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.7
30"
(10/13/15 - OzSky): at 394x; fairly bright, moderately large, slightly
elongated WSW-ENE, 50"x40", contains a very small bright core and
stellar nucleus. A mag 15.3 star
is close west-northwest [33" from center]. Located 2.7' WSW of mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2178 = h3019 on 31 Jan 1835 and logged "eF, vS, r,
10"." His position is
35" south of
******************************
06 08 02.2 -21
44 48
V = 12.3; Size 1.7'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 170d
13.1"
(1/28/84): fairly faint, fairly small, almost round, broad concentration. Located 15' ENE of mag 6.0
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2179 = h3014 on 21 Nov 1835 and noted "F, pmE, glbM,
40"." His position
matches
******************************
06 09 37.6 +04
43 03
Size 15'
18"
(3/5/05): large, scattered group viewed at 115x with the 31 Nagler. Most distinctive is a
"candy-cane" loop of a dozen mag 10-11 stars which closely wrap
around to the east of mag 7.9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2180 = H VIII-6 = h380 on 24 Jan 1784 (sweep 114) and reported
"A Cl of scattered stars, about 30 large and many small ones." A later sweep provided an accurate
position. JH felt this was a
"a fine cluster, coarse, p rich, place of a *9m." His position corresponds with mag 8.4
Karl Reinmuth,
in his 1926 photographic survey, lists dimensions of 20'x20' with the
description "Cl, L, pR, P, sc, st 8.7..., B* BD+4d1141 nr M." RNGC classifies this object as
nonexistent (Type 7), though a recent journal article suggests this is an
evolved, disrupted cluster (A&A 427, 485-494 (2004).
******************************
06 02 43.2 -65
15 52
V = 13.6; Size 1.6'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): extremely faint, fairly small, irregular, ~1' diameter,
very low surface brightness. This
LMC cluster is located 2.8' WSW of a mag 10 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2181 = h3021 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded "vF; S;
R." His position from this
single sweep is 1' too far east.
******************************
NGC 2182 = LBN
998 = vdB 72 = Ced 68
06 09 30.9 -06
19 35
Size 3'x3'
18"
(1/13/07): bright reflection nebula, round, ~2' diameter, surrounding 9.3 HD
42261. In a group of reflection
nebula with NGC 2170 28' WSW and
13.1"
(1/28/84): faint, small, nebulosity surrounding mag 9.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2182 = H IV-38 = h381 on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 529) and described
"a considerable star very faintly affected with milky chevelure, the
milkiness not far from the parallel." A second observation (also with an accurate position), was
made on 28 Nov 1786 (sweep 640), although Sherburne Burnham (Publ of Lick
Observatory, II) incorrectly stated the RA should be 1 min larger.
******************************
NGC 2183 = LBN
996 = Ced 69
06 10 46.9 -06
12 43
Size 1'x1'
18"
(1/13/07): fairly faint reflection in a group. Appears ~1' diameter and notably was *not* surrounding a
bright star as are the other nebulae in the group. There appears to be a faint star, though, at the south edge
which may be the illuminating star.
A much larger complex of of nebulosity including
13.1"
(1/28/84): very faint reflection nebula near four faint stars just SE. Forms a pair with NGC 2185 4.8' E. Located 25' ENE of NGC 2182.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2183 on 11 Dec 1850 using Lord Rosse's 72" and noted
"about 65' following h378 [NGC 2167} is a small nebula with nucleus or
stellar point." On the sketch
of 24 Jan 1851, it's labeled as Epsilon and NGC 2185 is labeled Alpha.
Heinrich
d'Arrest independently found this reflection nebula on 11 Jan 1864 and measured
an accurate position (as well as NGC 2185). He noted a mag 11-12 star 2.5' south and 1.4 sec of time
preceding. Stoney's observation
was not included in the GC (because of his rough location) and Dreyer only
credited d'Arrest with the discovery in the GC Supplement and NGC.
******************************
06 11 04 -03 31
12
Size 20'
17.5"
(12/23/92): scattered group of 75 stars mag 7.8 to 13 in a 30' diameter. Bright, very large, includes a mag 7.8
star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2184 = h382 on 19 Feb 1830 and recorded "A large loose
straggling cl of 8th class. The
place is that of a double star [HJ 2299]." Karl Reinmuth, in his 1926 photographic survey "Die
Herschel-Nebel", gives dimensions 30'x30' and a description "Cl, vL,
P, v sc, iR, st 9..."
RNGC classifies
this number as a nonexistent cluster (Type 7) and it is not included in the
Lynga catalogue.
******************************
NGC 2185 = LBN
997 = vdB 73 = Ced 70 = GN 06.08.7
06 11 06.1 -06
12 38
Size 3'x3'
18"
(1/13/07): faint, fairly small, 1' reflection nebula surrounding a mag 12-12.5
star. A few arc minutes southwest
is a group of 4 mag 12 stars which are also encased in a larger 3' haze of weak
nebulosity. Both of these pieces
are part of NGC 2185. Located 5' E
of NGC 2183.
13.1"
(1/28/84): this faint reflection nebula surrounds a mag 12 star. A group of four mag 11.5-12.5 stars is
2' to 3' SW. Forms a close pair
with NGC 2183 in the NGC 2182 group.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2185 = H IV-20 = h383 on 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 296) and recorded as
"a small star of the 11 or 12 mag, affected in the same manner [as NGC
2170], but very faint. 240 also
showed it, other stars of the same magnitude are perfectly free from these
appearances." He observed
this reflection neb again on 23 Feb 1786 (sweep 528) and logged "5 or 6 pS
stars within a space of 3 or 4'; all affected with vF milky nebulosity. It is remarkable that the general
milkiness which involves them, seems to be a little stronger about each star;
but this last circumstance may be a deception arising from the light of the
star."
JH recorded on
sweep 235, "A *10m with a vF atmosphere. Two others sp are free from such atmosphere. A very F neb suspected south preceding
this object [this may refer to NGC 2183, which is due west].
******************************
06 12 08 +05 27
30
V = 8.7; Size 4'
17.5"
(1/19/91): at 140x about 30 stars in a 4' diameter including three mag 10
stars. Includes a prominent
subgroup with a mag 10 star on the north side and a double star 11/12 at
10". A clump of mag 13/14
stars is just west of this subgroup.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2186 = H VII-25 = h384 on NGC 2186 (sweep 512) and logged
"a cluster of pretty compressed stars of several sizes, 4' or 5' diameter
wth extensively straggling ones."
JH described "a pretty rich, comp cl, one st = 9, 3 or 4 = 11, and
many 12...15. Place that of double
star h2288." JH's position is
accurate.
******************************
06 03 48.3 -69
34 59
V = 12.1; Size 2.5'x1.1'; PA = 79d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): although described as a
"double nebula" by John Herschel, this close pair of galaxies
received a single NGC entry. At
260x the double system is oriented SW-NE with their outer halos overlapping. The brighter northeast component is
fairly bright, fairly small, round, 35" diameter, strong
concentration. The southwest
member is fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated
E-W, 40"x35", weak concentration, with a lower surface brightness
than the NE member of the pair.
The pair shines through the eastern portion of the LMC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2187 = h3025 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded a "Double nebula,
position 12.5 degrees; larger pB, R, gbM, 40"; smaller vF, R, glbM."
His position (measured on 3 sweeps) corresponds with the double system ESO
57-68A. On the other two sweeps he only described a single object and he only
gave a single entry in the GC.
******************************
06 10 09.5 -34
06 22
V = 11.7; Size 4.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 175d
24"
(1/25/14): at 200x-260x appeared fairly bright, large, very elongated 5:1 N-S,
4.0'x0.8', broad concentration with a large, slightly brighter elongated
core. Mag 8.5
13.1" (2/23/85):
faint, moderately large, edge-on streak 6:1 NNW-SSE. A mag 13.5 star is at the NNW end. Located 7.8' NE of mag 8.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2188 = h3022 on 9 Jan 1836 and described as "pF, vmE,
gvlbM, 2' long." His position
is accurate.
******************************
06 12 18 +01 08
=Not found,
Carlson.
Truman Safford
discovered NGC 2189 = HN 25/26 on Mar 19 1863 using the 15-inch Merz refractor
at Harvard College Observatory. In
AN #1453, George Bond (then director of the observatory) noted "two
clusters, seen 1863 Mar 19, near two stars of the 10th, 11th magnitude by J.H.
Safford, with the Great Refractor."
The positions for the two stars are roughly 15' apart E-W although
Dreyer used a mean position and only a single entry in the NGC. In any case,
there are no obvious clusters on the DSS at his positions, just scattered
stars. The same night he also
found
Karl Reinmuth,
in his 1926 photographic survey using Heidelberg places, was unable to identify
NGC 2189. Corwin very tentatively
identifies a group of stars at 06 14 29 +01 02.2.
******************************
06 01 04 -74 43
30
V = 12.9; Size 2.0'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, relatively large, ~1' diameter, fairly
low smooth surface brightness. No resolution, though viewed through thin
clouds. NGC 2161 lies 30' NW. Located 36' W of mag 5.1 Alpha Men.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2190 = h3027 on 8 Feb 1836 and described as "vF; R; gbM;
2'." His position from single
sweep is accurate (45" NW of center). NGC 2190 is located outside the boundaries of the
Hodge-Wright LMC Atlas.
******************************
06 08 23.8 -52
30 44
V = 12.3; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 118d
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x, this Carina galaxy (on border with Pictor)
appeared fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, 0.7'x0.5'. Sharply concentrated with a very small
brighter core. Surrounded by
several brighter stars including mag 9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2191 = h3023 on 9 Jan 1837 and reported "pB, vS, E, vsbM; a
ruddy star 9th mag precedes about 5 seconds in R.A." His position is accurate. The ruddy star is mag 9 HD 42537.
******************************
06 15 18 +39 51
18
Size 6'
13.1"
(12/22/84): two dozen very faint stars in a 4' diameter over unresolved haze.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2192 = H VII-57 on 31 Dec 1788 (sweep 901) and recorded "a
compressed cluster of vS stars, irregular figure, 6' diameter, considerably
rich." His position (Auwer's
reduction) is accurate. This older
cluster has an age of roughly 2 billion years
******************************
NGC 2193 = ESO
086-SC057 = S-L 839
06 06 17.5 -65
05 54
V = 13.4; Size 1.9'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): very faint, fairly small, round, ~1' diameter, low
surface brightness. NGC 2181 lies
24' SW. This LMC globular is the
most elliptical of any known globular cluster with eccentricity = 0.33 (see
http://aa.springer.de/papers/9348002/2300418/sc2.htm). NGC 2193 is located 8' SE of HJ 3838, a
mag 10.5/10.5 pair at 10".
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2193 = h3026 on 3 Dec 1834 and recorded "F; irreg fig;
glbM; has 2 or 3 stars in it."
His position from this single sweep is just 30" NNW of center.
******************************
06 13 46 +12 48
24
V = 8.5; Size 10'
13.1"
(1/18/85): at least 50 stars in a 5' region including many mag 14/15 stars,
very rich with averted. Includes a
few brighter stars on the east edge.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2194 = H VI-5 on 11 Feb 1784 and described a "a cluster of
very close stars. Rich and of
large extent, i.e. about 7 or 8' or more." On 24 Dec 1786 (sweep 662) he recorded "a beautiful
cluster of very compressed small stars of several sizes, gradually most
compressed in the middle, irr R, 12 or 15' in diameter." In his 1814 PT paper he considered this
as an example of a cluster in an advanced state of insulation, "not much
differing from a globular figure."
Adolph Petersen
independently found the cluster in 1849 but with a poor position. The position was accuratelly measured
by d'Arrest on 18 Sep 1862 and by Vogel on 7 Dec 1869. Dreyer missed the equivalence with H.
VI 5 and entered d'Arrest's observation as GC 5380 in his Supplement.
******************************
06 14 33.8 +17
38 22
V = 13/14
17.5"
(12/23/97): this close pair of mag 13/14 stars was picked up at 100x just south
of a mag 10 star. At 220x and 280x
this double star was cleanly resolved [10" separation] although the region
between the pair and the bright star (just 30" from the southern star)
appeared slightly hazy, probably due to two additional very close faint stars
just below resolvability. At 410x, at least one very faint sparkle was
occasionally glimpsed close to the mag 10 star. It is not difficult to see why Lohse may have suspected this
object to be nebulous.
Coincidentally, a very faint reflection nebula (GN 06.11.5) is located
6.7' NNW and it is misidentified as NGC 2195 in RNGC.
Gerhard Lohse
discovered NGC 2195 around 1886 with the 15.5-inch refractor at the private Wigglesworth
Observatory in England. His
position is 17 tsec west of a double star (with two additional very faint stars
in a chain). His description of a
mag 10 star 30" north pins down this identification. Interestingly, on my first observation
of this object, I also thought it was nebulous - either due to glare from the
mag 10 star or the closeness of the chain of the stars. Coincidentally, there is a very faint
reflection nebula (GM 1-45 = P-P 58) 6.7' NNE in the same field which was also
visible in my 17.5" and this object has the same RA as Lohse's original
position. The RNGC has
misidentified this reflection nebula as NGC 2195. See Corwin's notes.
Wolfgang
Steinicke commented "The discoverer was Gerhard Lohse, a German working at
Scarborough using a 15.5 inch refractor. The object is one of 18 nebulae (from
a total of 20) Dreyer put into the NGC. Lohse is among the observers with the
poorest statistics: Only 3 objects
are real nebulae (the galaxies
******************************
06 12 09.5 -21
48 27
V = 11.0; Size 2.8'x2.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 45d
13.1"
(1/28/84): fairly bright, fairly small, almost round, increases to a small
bright core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2196 = H II-265 = h3024 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 325) and logged
"pF, pS, iF, bM of an irregular shape, somewhat elongated." His position is 30 sec of RA too large
and 3' too far south. JH observed this galaxy from the Cape on 4 sweeps, first
recording it as "B, pL, R, pspmbM. Many stars near it." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 06 09 -67 05
54
V = 13.4; Size 1.7'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, round, 35" diameter, even surface
brightness, a mag 15 star is resolved at the north edge and one or two others
occasionally pop. The galaxy ESO
86-59 is 3.8' SE (= HS 452 in Hodge-Wright Atlas), but was not noticed. NGC 2197 is situated 12' NNW of mag 6.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2197 = h3028 on 31 Jan 1835 and noted "vF; R;
40"." His mean position
from two sweeps matches this LMC cluster.
******************************
NGC 2198
06 13 54 +01 00
24"
(1/22/15): at the position given here is a 10' to 12' field with perhaps a
half-dozen mag 10-11 stars and a number of fainter stars. The group, though, is totally
unimpressive and does not stand out in the general field. On the southwest side is a 20"
pair (one of Safford's 10th magnitude reference stars). About 25' south is a scattered
group of mag 9-10.5 stars (along with some fainter stars) that is much more
distinctive, though doesn't match Safford's position.
Truman Safford
discovered NGC 2198 = HN 27 on 19 March 1863, along with the nonexistent
cluster NGC 2189, using the 15-inch Merz refractor at the Harvard College
Observatory. In AN #1453, George
Bond (director of the observatory) reported "A cluster, seen 1863 March
19, by J.H. [sic] Safford, between two stars in the following position. With the Great Refractor." The positions for the two stars are
fine (separated by ~8' east-west) but there is no obvious clustering nearby.
Karl Reinmuth,
in his 1926 photographic survey "Die Herschel-Nebel", reported
"no CL, many pB st sf Dreyer's place." RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent (Type 7). Harold Corwin suggests Safford's object
might be "a scattered group of 20-30 stars, probably no more than a random
field, centered at 06 11 56, +01 03.2 (
******************************
NGC 2199 = ESO
034-003 = PGC 18379
06 04 45.0 -73
24 00
V = 12.8; Size 1.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 37d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright and large, elongated 2:1
SW-NE, 1.2'x0.6', small bright core, occasional sharp stellar nucleus. NGC 2173 and NGC 2209, both likely LMC
clusters, lie 38' NW and 30' SE, respectively.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2199 = h3031 on 8 Feb 1836 and recorded "F, vS, R,
bM." His position matches ESO
034-003 = PGC 18379, a galaxy shining through the southeast side of the LMC.
******************************
06 13 17.4 -43
39 48
V = 14.2; Size 1.0'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 170d
25"
(10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; faint, fairly small, round, 40" diameter, low
surface brightness. A mag 15.5
star is at the southwest edge.
Located 5' SE of mag 9.2
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2200 = h3029, along with NGC 2201, on 1 Jan 1835 and recorded
"eF; R; vlbM; 40"."
He observed the pair again in Dec 1837, but his NPD was 1° further
south. His first position was
accurate and matches
******************************
NGC 2201 = ESO
254-040 = MCG -07-13-007 = PGC 18658
06 13 31.4 -43
42 18
V = 13.4; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 113d
25"
(10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; fairly faint, small, elongated 5:3 WNW-ESE,
25"x15". Slightly
brighter of a pair with NGC 2200 3.5' NW.
The two galaxies are nearly collinear with a mag 9.2 star 5' further
northwest.
24"
(2/22/14): at 260x; very faint, small, 18" diameter, low even surface
brightness. Viewed at 9°
elevation. Forms a pair with NGC
2200 3.5' NW, but the companion was not seen at this low elevation.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2201 = h3030 (along with NGC 2200 = h3029) on 1 Jan 1835 and
recorded "eF; vS; pslbM; rather a doubtful object." He observed the pair again in Dec 1837,
but his NPD was 1° further south.
His first position was accurate and matches
******************************
06 16 51 +05 59
48
17.5"
(2/2/02): fairly distinctive asterism at 100x (20 Nagler), consisting of a
bulbous mushroom-shaped ring of about a dozen fairly bright stars with a few
others nearby. Within this
irregular ring is a nice, mag 9.1/10.8 double (
Wilhelm Struve
discovered NGC 2202 = ∑ 885 in 1825 with the 9.6" refractor at the Dorpat
Observatory and he listed it in his main catalogue of double stars. JH observed this cluster (or asterism)
on Feb 2 1831 and recorded h385 as "The chief of a tolerably neat cluster
of large stars." The double
star is a 9.1/10.8 pair at 10" separation located at 06 16 51.5 +05 59 47.
Karl Reinmuth described the photographic appearance as "Cl, S, R, vP, st
8.5..." with dimensions 6.5'x6.5'.
RNGC classifies NGC 2202 as a nonexistent cluster.
******************************
06 04 43 -75 26
18
V = 11.3; Size 3.2'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): this LMC cluster (outside the Hodge-Wright Atlas)
appeared fairly bright and large, round, ~1.4' diameter, unresolved but
slightly patchy or mottled with a weak concentration. A mag 12.4 star is off the NW side [1.6' from center] and a
mag 14.5 star is off the south side [1.6' from center]. Located 46' SSW of mag 5.1 Alpha
Mensae.
The galaxy IC
2164 lies 9' NE and was logged as "faint, small, round, 30" diameter,
fairly low surface brightness, no concentration. A mag 14 star is 1' SE."
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2203 = h3035 on 23 Jan 1836 and recorded "pB; irreg R;
vgpmbM; 2'; resolvable. His position
from this single sweep is accurate.
DeLisle Stewart called this object a "faint cluster, not a
nebula" (given in the IC Notes).
******************************
06 15 33 -18 40
00
V = 8.6; Size 13'
13.1"
(1/28/84): two dozen stars mag 12-14 in a 10' diameter. Two mag 9 stars are on the SW and NW
edge and many stars are aligned in strings. Mag 6.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2204 = H VII-13 on 6 Feb 1785 (sweep 367) and recorded "a
cluster of scattered stars, not very rich, above 15' diameter, south following
a star 6-7 mag." Jane Houston
Jones credited Caroline Herschel credit for the discovery in her Sky & Tel
article on CH, but she is not referenced in the NGC nor in WH's
catalogues. The error was caused
by a transcription error when William's handwritten catalogue went to the
printer (she discovered H VII-12 = NGC 2360).
******************************
06 10 33.0 -62 32
19
V = 12.7; Size 1.3'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 80d
14" (4/7/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated E-W,
25"x20". A mag 11.7 star
is 3.3' NNE and a similar star is 5' SSE.
A group of stars (mag 10.6 and fainter) is ~10' W. Located 33' SE of a mag 5.0 HD
42540. Observation made in hazy
conditions (thin clouds and/or smoke).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2205 = h3034 on 9 Dec 1836 and noted "pF, R, bM,
20"." There is nothing
at Herschel's position, but Eric Lindsay comments in his 1964 paper "Some
NGC objects in the Large Magellanic Cloud" (IAJ, 6, 286-289), this is
"Probably the galaxy 3/4m West."
******************************
06 15 59.9 -26
45 57
V = 12.2; Size 2.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 138d
17.5"
(2/8/86): moderately bright, small, almost round, small bright core. A star is superimposed very close east
of the core.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2206 = h3033 on 20 Jan 1835 and remarked "vF; R; vlbM;
50"." His position
(measured on 3 sweeps) matches
******************************
06 16 22.0 -21
22 21
V = 10.8; Size 4.3'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 112d
48"
(2/20/12): this beautiful spiral galaxy forms a stunning pair with
IC 2163 is
attached at the east side of NGC 2207.
The central region is very bright, round, ~1' diameter, small bright
core. Attached on the southwest
side is a spiral arm that gracefully sweeps to the east while curving gently
clockwise. The arm is ~1.5' long
and significantly increases the overall size to roughly 2'x1'. Just northeast of the tip of the arm is
2MASX J06163579-2122032, which appears as a faint, very small knot. This galaxy is probably a dwarf
elliptical at the same distance as the pair.
18"
(2/5/11): fairly bright, fairly large, sharply concentrated with a bright,
elongated core (WSW-ENE) ~1' diameter and a large, much lower surface
brightness halo ~2.5'x2.0'. A
faint star is close WSW of the nucleus.
A mag 13.5 star is at the NW edge of the halo.
Forms an
interacting pair with IC 2163, which is embedded on the east side of the
halo. The fainter companion
appears fairly faint, moderately large, oval E-W, 1.0'x0.7', weakly
concentrated
13.1"
(1/28/84): moderately bright, moderately large, bright core, double
nuclei. A faint extension is
visible to the east. This is an
unusual interacting pair and the extension to the east is IC 2163.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2207 = h3032 on 24 Jan 1835 and recorded "pB, pL, mE in pos
= +/- 87°, pslbM, 2.5' long, 40" broad, to a tolerably well defined round
nucleus." His position and
Engelhardt's micrometric measurement are accurate, though I'm surprised that
Herschel wasn't able to resolve the IC component of the system. The IC Notes mentions "binuclear,
surrounded by faint trace of ring" from Herbert Howe (based on a visual
observation with a 20" refractor) and DeLisle Stewart (based on plates
taken at Harvard's Arequipa station).
Holmberg 85b refers to the inner spiral arm (ring) to the west of the
core.
******************************
06 22 34.7 +51
54 34
V = 12.8; Size 1.7'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 110d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, small, elongated 2:1 E-W, weak concentration. A mag 13 star is 1.1' W of center.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2208 = Sw VI-26 on 24 Nov 1886 and noted "pF, pS,
lE." His position is 6 tsec
of RA west and 1.6' north of
******************************
NGC 2209 = ESO
034-SC006 = S-L 849
06 08 35 -73 50
18
V = 13.2; Size 2.8'
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this fairly bright outlying LMC cluster
(probable globular cluster) appears as a 2.5'-3' glow with only a weak
concentration and no resolution.
Surrounded by a number of stars including a mag 11.5 star 3.4' W. NGC 2199 (a galaxy) lies 30' NW and
continuing in this direction another 38' is NGC 2173, a slightly smaller LMC
cluster.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2209 = h3037 on 8 Feb 1836 and remarked "vF; L; R; gvlbM;
3'." His position from this
single sweep is accurate.
******************************
06 11 32 -69 07
18
V = 10.9; Size 1.7'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): bright, relatively large, round, at least 1' diameter,
contains a very bright grainy core and a relatively thin halo, no definite
resolution. A mag 14 star is off
the southeast side [1.3' from center].
Located 9.3' NW of a mag 8.2 star and 22' SE of mag 5.1 Nu Doradus. NGC 2210 is one of 15 bona-fide ancient
GC's in the LMC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2210 = h3036 on 31 Jan 1835 and logged "vB; S; R; pgvmbM;
35"; not resolvable." He
noted the observation probably had a one degree error in the polar distance as
the next two sweeps agreed in position.
******************************
06 18 30.3 -18
32 14
V = 12.7; Size 1.4'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 22d
17.5" (1/20/90):
fairly faint, very small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, small bright core. Forms a pair with
Francis
Leavenworth discovered NGC 2211 = LM I-150, along with NGC 2212, on 11 Dec
1885. His rough position is
accurate to the nearest min of RA, though Bigourdan (on 9 Mar 1890), Herbert
Howe and Ormond Stone measured an accurate RA (given in the IC 2 Notes).
******************************
NGC 2212 = ESO
556-014 = MCG -03-16-022 = PGC 18796
06 18 35.7 -18
31 10
V = 13.5; Size 1.5'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 136d
17.5"
(1/20/90): extremely faint, very small, round, very low surface
brightness. A line of three
equally spaced mag 14 stars begins 1.5' E and ends 1.3' N. Forms a pair with NGC 2211 1.5' SW.
Francis
Leavenworth discovered NGC 2212 = LM I-151 (along with NGC 2211 = LM I-150) on
11 Dec 1885. His rough position is
accurate to the nearest min of RA, though Bigourdan, Herbert Howe and Ormond
Stone measured an accurate RA for nearby NGC 2211 (given in the IC 2 Notes).
******************************
06 10 42 -71 31
42
V = 12.4; Size 2.1'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): moderately bright and large, round, 45" diameter,
slightly brighter core, no resolution.
A distinctive 1' trio in a slight curve, consisting of a mag 11 star and
two mag 12 stars, lies 3' W.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2213 = h3038 on 9 Feb 1836 and recorded "vF; R; glbM;
30". A triple star
precedes." His position from
this single sweep is 30" SW of center.
******************************
06 12 57 -68 15
36
V = 10.9; Size 3.6'
18" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 236x): this young massive LMC cluster appeared very bright,
fairly large, noticeably elongated E-W, ~1.6'x1.1'. About a half-dozen stars are resolved around the edges and
within the main glow. Well
concentrated with a bright central region and a slightly mottled halo.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2214 = D 201 on 27 Sep 1826 and described "a round
well-defined small nebula, 20" diameter, bright at the centre." Dunlop made 3 observations and his
position is about 2' SW of center (unusually accurate).
JH made two
observations, first on the sweep of 30 Jan 1835 when he recorded h3039 as
"B; S; R; or lE; resolved into stars 14...16m; 50"." On a second sweep he logged it as
"B; irreg R; or lE; gbM; 80"; resolvable."
******************************
06 20 50 -07 17
00
V = 8.4; Size 11'
17.5"
(12/28/94): about 50 stars mag 11-14 in a 12' region, pretty evenly distributed
and stands out well in the field at 100x.
At the west edge is a faint detached group of 8 stars. Near the center are several wide pairs
and one close evenly matched fainter pair. The cluster is not well defined on the east side and merges
into the general field.
17.5"
(2/1/92): 30 stars mag 11-14 in 10' diameter, fairly bright, elongated ~E-W,
pretty evenly distributed, fairly rich although there no dense areas. Includes about 10 mag 11 stars but
there is no single dominant star.
The remainder are mag 12-14.
Set over background haze.
Stands out well in low power field.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2215 = H VII-20 = h386 on 1 Nov 1785 (sweep 468) and recorded
"a cl of coarsely but pretty evenly scattered pS stars, of nearly the same
magnitude, coarsely round and about 15' diam." His summary description (based on 3 sweeps) reads "a
beautiful cluster of pretty compressed and equally scattered stars, 10' or 12'
diameter."
******************************
06 21 30.7 -22
05 14
V = 12.8; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 20d
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, fairly small, oval SW-NE, even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is off the SE end 1.7'
from center and a mag 14.5 star is superimposed at the SE end. A group of 20 stars are in the field to
the west.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2216 = h3040 on 23 Jan 1835 and noted it as "vF, pL, R,
vglbM, 40"." His position (single sweep) matches
******************************
06 21 39.8 -27
14 04
V = 10.7; Size 4.5'x4.2'; Surf Br = 13.8
24"
(2/5/13): very bright, very large, contains a brighter 1.3' core that is
sharply concentrated with an intense nucleus! The round halo extends 3' and has a fairly smooth surface
brightness. The outer halo passes through
a wide pair of mag 12/13 stars on the west side. UGCA 126, a thin edge-on, lies 60' WSW.
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly bright, small, elongated ~E-W, well concentrated with a
bright core surrounded by small faint halo, stellar nucleus at moments.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2217 = h3041 on 20 Jan 1835 and recorded "vB; R; psmbM;
30", r." His position
(measured on two sweeps) matches
******************************
06 24 41.5 +19
20 29
=4*,
Reinmuth =no cluster, RNGC.
Edward Cooper
discovered NGC 2218 on 13 Jan 1853 at the Markree Observatory in Ireland while
compiling the Markree Ecliptic Catalogue.
Arthur Auwers couldn't find it using the 6" Heliometer at
Konigsberg, though included it as #22 in his 1862 list of new nebulae. Karl Reinmuth, using Heidelberg plates,
reported "only 4 st 14...15".
There is only a small group of 3-5 stars on the DSS at Cooper's position. The RNGC classifies this number as
nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
06 23 45 -04 40
36
17.5"
(2/2/02): at 100x, 15-20 fairly faint mag 13-14 stars and a few brighter stars
are visible just following mag 6.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2219 = h387 on 19 Feb 1830 and noted "The first *6 of a
course poor cl; *11...12."
His position corresponds with mag 6.7 SAO 133199 at 06 23 22.8 -04 41 15
(J2000). Karl Reinmuthm, based on
his 1926 photographic survey, gives a size of 10' and describes "Cl, pL,
P, st 10...; B* BD -4 1484 p."
RNGC classifies this number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
06 21 11.0 -44
45 32
Size 22'
24"
(2/22/14): at 125x, this asterism is a scattered 20' field containing several
bright stars. There are two
groupings with the more prominent southeast group containing 8 brighter stars
including mag 7.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2220 = h3042 on 29 Dec 1834 and recorded a "A poor, very
coarsely scattered, but brilliant cluster of 8th class. Place of a star 8m = B 1222, the chief
of cl." His position
corresponds with mag 7.7 HD 44737 at 06 21 11.3 -44 45 31 (2000). The asterism also includes HD 44665 =
HJ 3852 (8.4/10.7 at 7") and mag 8.8 HD 44764. WEBDA has no listing, and this grouping is probably an asterism. RNGC calls NGC 2220 nonexistent (Type
7).
******************************
06 20 15.7 -57
34 42
V = 12.9; Size 1.9'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 0d
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is the brightest member of a
trio of elongated galaxies (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2221 = h3044 (along with NGC 2222 = h3045) on 4 Dec 1834 and
recorded "vF; lE; vgbM; the preceding of 2." His position is 1' too far north.
******************************
NGC 2222 = ESO
121-025 = KTS 33B = PGC 18835
06 20 17.0 -57
32 04
V = 13.3; Size 1.2'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 150d
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x, this edge-on galaxy
appeared moderately bright and large, elongated 3:1 NNW-SSE, 0.9'x0.3',
gradually increases to a small bright core. This is the second brightest in a trio of elongated systems
with NGC 2221 2.6' S and ESO 161-001 2.9' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2222 = h3045 (along with NGC 2221 = h3044) on 23 Jan 1835 and
recorded "vF; lE; vgvlbM; the following of 2." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 24 36.0 -22
50 18
V = 11.6; Size 3.2'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 175d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, even surface
brightness. A mag 14 star is on
the north end 24" from center.
Apparently I missed the outer 3' low surface brightness outer halo as
the superimposed star is just outside the core.
8"
(1/1/84): very faint, fairly small, elongated ~N-S.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2223 = h3043 on 23 Jan 1835 and logged "F; R glbM; has 1 or
2 stars on it and a small close double star (dist 3", 12 and 12 mag)
north." His mean position
(measured on 3 sweeps) matches
******************************
06 27 28 +12 35
36
= no cluster,
RNGC.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2224 = H VII-35 on 24 Dec 1786 (sweep 662) and described "A
cluster of small pretty much compressed stars with suspected nebulosity, but the latter may be a
deception." His position is
close to a mag 9.6 star in a rich field containing some extremely faint
nebulosity. Robert Ball,
observing with the 72" on 9 Dec 1866, noted "some stars scattered
about, but no neby see. Sky not
good."
Karl Reinmuth
reported "no pC Cl seen", based on Heidelberg plates. The RNGC
classifies this number as nonexistent and it is not listed in any open cluster
catalogue. Harold Corwin there is
an elongated group of very faint stars close to Herschel's position and these
are embedded in very faint nebulosity, though I haven't checked this field.
******************************
06 26 37 -09 38
30
17.5"
(1/23/93):
Listed as
nonexistent in RNGC though shows up well on the DSS.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2225 = H VII-26 = h388 on 30 Jan 1786 (sweep 516) and described
"a cluster of extremely small and pretty much compressed stars, with a few
larger ones, but not very rich; in the shape of a hook." His position is off the southeast side
of the cluster (or asterism) and the "large ones in the shape of a
hook" probably refer to a group of stars off the northeast side of the
core of the group. JH measured a
more accurate position.
This cluster,
though, is not listed in the Lynga catalogue and RNGC classifies the number as
nonexistent with the comment "NOCL". NGC 2226 is the small core of NGC 2225.
******************************
NGC 2226
06 26 37.6 -09
38 34
Size 2'
17.5"
(1/23/93): faint group of six mag 14 stars over unresolved haze giving a fairly
rich appearance. Forms an
irregular arc 2' length N-S bending west on the south end. Located 1' N of a mag 10 star and a mag
12 star is 4' N. Several more mag
13.5-14 stars are nearby, which together as a 5' group elongated N-S may form
NGC 2225.
E.E. Barnard
discovered NGC 2226 (discovery date unknown). Harold Corwin notes Barnard was
probably using a 5- or 6-inch refractor at Nashville and the discovery was
directly communicated to Dreyer.
His rough position is nearly identical to this cluster, but the NGC
description "small,very difficult,*10 close S" suggests he only noted
the core of the larger group (NGC 2225) discovered by WH. RNGC classifies this number as
nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
06 25 57.9 -22
00 18
V = 12.5; Size 2.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 19d
17.5"
(2/8/86): faint, fairly large, fairly diffuse, elongated ~N-S, almost even
surface brightness. A mag 10 star
is 8' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2227 = h3046 on 27 Jan 1835 and remarked "eF; R; has coarse
double star preceding on same parallel 90" dist." His description and position (NPD
corrected by two degrees in his addendum) matches
******************************
06 21 15.6 -64
27 33
V = 13.6; Size 0.8'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.7
25"
(10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; fairly faint, fairly small, round,
30"-36" diameter, very small bright core. At 397x the core seemed elongated ~E-W, but this was due to
a mag 15.6 star that occasionally resolved at its east edge. Located 11.6' NW of mag 8.2
NGC 2228 is a
member of ACO S585 = AGC 3389, which includes
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2228 = h3047 on 31 Jan 1835 and noted "F; R; glbM;
20"." His position
(single sweep) matches
******************************
NGC 2229 = ESO
087-008 = PGC 18867
06 21 23.7 -64
57 24
V = 13.4; Size 1.4'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 133d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly faint, very elongated 3:1
NW-SE, 0.75'x0.25', a mag 14 star is 45" S of center. In the core of the rich cluster AGC
3389 = ACO S585 with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2229 = h3048 (along with NGC 2230, 2233 and 2235) on 30 Nov 1834
and logged as "eF; vS; R; the preceding of 3." His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2230 = ESO
087-009 = PGC 18873
06 21 27.5 -64
59 35
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 81d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright, round, 0.9'
diameter, moderately concentrated with a bright 20" core. Situated in the core of the rich
cluster
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2230 = h3049 (along with NGC 2229, 2233 and 2235) on 30 Nov 1834
and logged "eF, S, lE, the middle of 3." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 20 43 -67 31
06
V = 13.2; Size 2.0'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): this LMC globular appeared fairly faint, moderately
large, round, ~45" diameter, fairly low but irregular surface brightness,
increases in size with averted, no resolution. A number of brighter stars in the field including HJ 3862, a
mag 9.5/11.5 pair at 8", which lies 5' SE. In addition, a mag 10 star is 6' NNE and two other mag 11
stars are within 4' N. Several
more mag 12 stars (some closer) are in the field. S-L 885 lies 3.7' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2231 = h3050 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "F, pL, R, gvlbM,
precedes a double star [h3862]." On a second sweep he called it "F,
L, R, 50", among 10 or 12 stars 10th and 11th mag." His position (measured on 3 sweeps) is
good.
******************************
06 28 02 -04 50
48
V = 3.9; Size 30'
17.5"
(12/28/94): at 100x appears as a scattered group of bright stars surrounding 10
Monocerotis (V = 5.1) with the remaining stars forming a wedge tapering to the
SW. Includes 7 brighter mag 8-10
stars and another two dozen fainter stars. Richest surrounding 10 Mon and five brighter stars form a
distinctive box around the bright star.
Too large and scattered for higher power.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2232 = H VIII-25 on 16 Oct 1784 (sweep 296) and recorded
"The 10 Monocerotis surrounded by many bright stars." His position matches the bright
star. The position in Lynga #5, RNGC,
NGC 2000.0 and Sky Catalogue 2000 is about 20' too far west! Brian Skiff suggests a centroid position
of 06 28 02 -04 50.8 based on the star GSC 4793-2505. See my RNGC Corrections #7.
By analyzing
William Herschel's early "reviews" of bright stars (before his
systematic sweeps), which resulted in the discovery of many double stars,
Wolfgang Steinicke found (email Oct '16) that Herschel first discovered the
cluster on 5 Dec 1779 using his 6.2" reflector. This is apparently his earliest non-stellar discovery!
******************************
NGC 2233 = ESO
087-011 = PGC 18882
06 21 40.1 -65
02 00
V = 13.8; Size 0.9'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.0; PA = 45d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly faint, fairly small,
edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, 36"x9", fairly low surface brightness with little
or no concentration. Located 2.8'
SE of NGC 2230 in the core of the rich cluster AGC 3389 = ACO S585.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2233 = h3051 (along with NGC 2229, 2230 and 2235) on 30 Nov 1834
and logged "eF; S; the last of 3." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 29 22 +16 43
24
Size 25'
18"
(1/26/09): at 175x only a scattered group of ~75 stars in a non-descript 10'
region. Includes a number of mag
12 stars forming the outline of two rough loops or a butterfly shape. This poor grouping is immediately SE of
the listed position. The Milky Way
is patchy here and the stars are set over unresolved haze. This grouping appears a very weak field
enhancement at best and not a cluster.
William Herschel
described a larger grouping (nearly 30'), though the entire field is not really
distinguishable from the surrouding area.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2234 = H VIII-9 = h389 on 19 Feb 1784 (sweep 148) and reported
as "A cluster of stars very much scattered; takes up near 1/2 degree. It is not very rich; the stars are of various
magnitudes." JH described
"a p rich v loose cl, fills 2 or 3 fields, not bM, st 10...13m."
Karl Reinmuth
noted "no distinct Cl" on Heidelberg plates and the RNGC classifies
this number as nonexistent (Type 7).
There is a fairly even scattering of mag 10-13 stars in the vicinity on
on the POSS.
******************************
NGC 2235 = ESO
087-013 = PGC 18906
06 22 22.0 -64
56 03
V = 13.0; Size 1.3'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 68d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): moderately bright, elongated 3:2
SW-NE, 0.9'x0.6', broad concentration with a slightly elongated 25"
core. A mag 10.8 star is right at
the northeast edge of the halo.
This is the brightest of 7 galaxies, including NGCs 2229, 2230 and 2233,
viewed in the core of ACO S585 = AGC 3389 and the furthest northeast.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2235 = h3052 (along with NGC 2229, 2230 and 2233) on 30 Nov 1834
and logged "vF; S; R; 30"." His position (single sweep) is accurate.
******************************
06 29 40 +06 49
48
V = 8.5; Size 7'
13.1"
(1/18/85): two dozen faint stars in a 5' region over background haze. The brighter stars are in a rich 1'
triangular outline with the brightest mag 11 star in the cluster. A long curving arc of fainter stars
emanates from the group. Fairly
striking cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2236 = H VII-5 = h390 on 23 Feb 1784 (sweep 156) and described
"a cluster of compressed stars of various magnitudes, pretty rich in small
stars; the preceding part contains chiefly large onces, not round." JH described an "Irreg fig cl like
a hollow triangle in a crowded part of the Milky Way; stars vS; 12...15m; one
star 10m. The surrounding loose
stars are all large."
******************************
06 30 18 +05 03
Size 80'x60'
13.1"
(11/5/83 and 1/23/82): the complete annulus of the Rosette Nebula was clearly
visible surrounding the naked-eye cluster
8"
(1/1/84): complete annulus easy visible in field at 42x or in 8x50 finder with
filter as a large, soft ring surrounding the cluster.
Naked-eye
(1/8/00): using an OIII filter, the apparent diameter of the cluster (NGC 2244)
noticeably increases in size due to the surrounding nebulosity becoming
visible. The overall brightness,
though, is slightly decreased with the filter as the cluster is significantly
dimmed.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2237 = Sw II-31 around 1865 while comet hunting with his
4.5-inch refractor, though the discovery wasn't published until 1884 (Sidereal
Messenger, 3, 57-58). Swift reported "Some ten years ago, while
searching for comets, I ran across an exceedingly large and fairly bright
nebula near 12 Mon which I of course supposed was familiar to every
astronomer." It was described
as "quite sharply defined and in a shape of a perfect ellipse, having at
each focus either a round and much brighter nebula, or it has two centres of
condensation, probably the latter."
This was the first observation of the main part of the Rosette Nebula,
though Swift mentioned he saw nebulosity on one side of the cluster only.
E.E. Barnard independently discovered the Rosette on 29 Jan 1883 with his
5-inch refractor while searching for comets (Sidereal Messenger 4, 313) and was
the first to see the entire annulus. He commented in his logbook "Found a
large nebulous object, [near] a scattering cluster of bright stars; it is
elongated southwest and northeast.
Larger than the field of view." His notification prompted Swift to claim an earlier
discovery.
Barnard referred
to the nebula as "Swift's Nebula", though it was often called
"Barnard's Ring" before the "Rosette Nebula" nickname was
introduced. The oldest confirmed usage was in JRASC from 1949 (vol 43, 122):
"Often referred to as the Rosette Nebula, it is known to astronomers as
NGC 2237."
******************************
06 30 40.4 +05
00 47
13.1":
small knot on the west side of the Rosette Nebula. See NGC 2237 for description.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2238 = m 99 on 28 Feb 1864 with Lassell's 48" reflector on
Malta. This is a small, nebulous area
around a star in the western half of the Rosette Nebula but there was no
mention of the entire nebula, which was first recognized by Lewis Swift and
E.E. Barnard.
******************************
06 31 55 +04 56
36
V = 4.8; Size 24'
See observing
notes for NGC 2244.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2239 = h392 in March 1830 and noted "the place of a *8m in
most compressed part of a large, poor, but brilliant cluster." His position is 1 min of RA west of mag
6.8
******************************
06 33 11 +35 15
00
18"
(1/26/09): at 175x this is a fairly course, scattered group of three dozen mag
10-13 stars in a 10' region.
Located just following mag 6.8
Described by WH
(VIII 49) as "A cluster of coursely scattered large stars, not rich"
and by JH (h391) as "a v coarse straggling cl 10' diam; 30 or 40 stars
10...15m. A *10m taken, but one of
7m precedes to the north." Listed
as nonexistent in the RNGC.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2240 = H VIII-49 = h391 on 3 Jan 1786 (sweep 509) and reported
"A cluster of coursely scattered large stars, not rich." JH described "a v coarse
straggling cl 10' diam; 30 or 40 stars 10...15m. A *10m taken, but one of 7m precedes to the N." Karl Reinmuth gives a diameter of 10'
and description "Cl, pL, iR, pP, sc, st 10...; bet BD +35 1436 and BD +35
1444.", based on its photographic appearance. RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent as this object may
be an asterism.
******************************
06 22 53 -68 55
30
V = 13.2; Size 1.3'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly faint or moderately bright LMC cluster, round,
30"-40" diameter, smooth surface brightness, no resolution. A mag 11.9 star is 2.4' SW and a mag 11
star is 2' S. The cluster forms the northern vertex of a rough right triangle
with the two bright field stars.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2241 = h3054 on 31 Jan 1835 and recorded "F; pL; R;
30"." His position
(measured on 3 sweeps) matches this LMC cluster.
******************************
06 34 07.4 +44
46 38
V = 15.2; Size 20"
17.5"
(1/31/87): faint, small, almost round.
Unusually weak filtration response as appears similar brightness or
slightly fainter using filters!
Estimate V = 14.5. This
object was recently discovered to be a planetary in 1985 (Shaw and Bidelman)
and is listed in the CGCG.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2242 = Sw VI-27 on 24 Nov 1886 with the 16" refractor at
Warner Observatory. This is the
last planetary nebula, by discovery date, to be included in the NGC. RNGC and CGCG (204-005) misclassify NGC
2242 as a galaxy although the RNGC new description reads "R, HISB, STEL,
PLN??", so it questioned if it was perhaps a PN instead.
In 1985,
spectroscopic investigations by Richard Shaw and William Bidelman revealed that
NGC 2242 is a previously uncatalogued planetary nebula (independently shown to
be a planetary by Machara in A&A 178, 221). It was included as a new planetary nebula in Kohoutek's 4th
update list (AN 315, 1994). See my
RNGC Corrections #2.
******************************
06 29 35 -31 16
54
V = 9.4; Size 5'
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly small faint cluster located just 8' SW of mag 7.4 SAO
196879. Consists of unresolved
haze except for four stars on the west edge and a few stars on the east edge.
John Herschel discovered
NGC 2243 = h3053 on 19 Oct 1835 and recorded "pB, R, vglbM, all evidently
resolved into stars, not very rich. Something between a cluster and a globular
cluster. [This ob makes the RA 24m 8.9s, but it is pretty clear that this is a
misreading of the chronometer.]"
On a second sweep he logged "pB, R, gbM, 4' diameter, mottled or
resolved, amongst bright stars."
His mean position (two sweeps) matches this cluster.
James Dunlop
possibly discovered the cluster earlier on 24 May 1826. His entry for D 616 reads "an
ill-defined faint nebulosity of some considerable extent, with several small
stars scattered in it."
Although this description fits, his position is 33' further
east-southeast and JH gave an uncertain equivalence.
******************************
NGC 2244 = NGC
2239 = Cr 99 = Mel 47 = OCL-515 = Ced 76b
06 31 55 +04 56
36
V = 4.8; Size 24'
17.5"
(2/11/96): unusually bright, large cluster of ~15'x5' elongated NW-SE in a
rectangular outline and situated in the heart of the Rosette Nebula! The brightest 8 mag 6/7 stars lie along
the sides and vertices of the rectangle with the brightest member, yellowish 12
Mon (V = 5.9), residing at the SE vertex.
There are ~40 stars within the cluster although the only concentration
is 15 mag 11/12 stars surrounding mag 6.8
8": bright,
large cluster in the center of the Rosette Nebula. The six brightest stars form a rectangular outline with the
brightest star 12 Monocerotis (V = 5.9) at the SE corner. At the north and NW corners of the
rectangle are two bright wide pairs with mag 7/8 stars. Many faint stars are near the center
surrounding the wide pairs. Faint
naked-eye cluster in dark sky.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2244 = H VII-2 on 24 Jan 1784 (sweep 114) and described
"the 12th Monocerotis is a beautiful scattered cluster of stars. They are chiefly of two sorts; the
first very brilliant, and the 2nd sort arranged in beautiful winding lines; of
these there are about 30 or more.
There are besides many very small stars."
Wolfgang
Steinicke credits John Flamsteed with the discovery on 17 Feb 1690 as he
recorded the 6th magnitude star 12 Monocerotis on his Atlas Coelestis. But Stephen O'Meara notes that
Flamsteed didn't note any of the fainter cluster stars (or general fuzziness),
so doesn't deserve credit for the discovery.
******************************
NGC 2245 = LBN
904 = Ced 80 = PP 62 = P 13
06 32 41.2 +10
09 24
Size 5'x3'
17.5"
(1/19/91): bright, fairly large, about 3' diameter, elongated SW-NE. Fans out to the southwest from a fairly
bright mag 11 star at the northeast end.
Fades smoothly into background. Located 2' WSW of mag 8.0 SAO
95816. Reflection nebula
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2245 = H IV-3 = h393 on 16 Jan 1784 (sweep 81) and reported
"A nebula. It is fan shaped,
and appears like a star with a faint, electric brush at one side of
it." JH called it "a *11
with a milky neb surrounding it, but chiefly on the sp side. The star is not sharp - not stellar,
and the neb fades gradually away from the star; 70" or 80" diam; has
a * 7m 30° nf."
The account by
LdR (or assistant George Stoney) on Feb 28 1850 is remarkable: "...this
neb is part of an enormous neby, which I traced following and north to a great
distance, some degrees. It narrows
at times to a band across the finding eyepiece of about 6' or 8'. I fancied the number of bright stars
was greater in it than in the neighborhood; I am certain the number of small
stars is much less..." A
sketch made was included in Lord Rosse's 1861 publication (plate XXVII, fig
11).
******************************
NGC 2246 =
Rosette Nebula = Sh 2-275
06 32 33.8 +05
07 42
13.1"
(1/23/82): this is a brighter patch on the inner northeast side of the Rosette
Nebula. A slightly darker gap in
the annulus is located at the west end of this portion.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2246 = Sw III-36 on 27 Feb 1886 and described as "eeF; L;
iR; e diff. Probably an offshoot
of [NGC 2237] Two or three others
suspected." The position is
on a brighter patch of the Rosette Nebula on the inner portion of the annulus
on the northeast side. Wolfgang
Steinicke notes this is the last discovered emission nebula included in the NGC
(published in 1888).
******************************
NGC 2247 = LBN
901 = Ced 81
06 33 05.1 +10
19 17
Size 4'x3'
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, oval shape. Surrounds a bright mag 8.5 star (Herbig Be star V700 Mon)
although extends further to the east side of the star. Reflection nebula NGC 2245 lies 12'
SSW.
13" (1/18/85):
fairly faint nebulosity surrounds mag 8 star, round, fans out to south in
direction of three faint stars.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2247 = Sw 1-7 on 24 Nov 1883 with the 16" refractor at
Warner Observatory and noted a "nebulous star; v diff; B* exactly in
center of L, eF nebulosity; follows 1425 [NGC 2245] 28 sec and is 10' N." His position is 2' SE of this reflection
nebula.
Dreyer also
credited LdR with the co-discovery of NGC 2247. It's possible that Dreyer was referring to Johnstone
Stoney's comment on 28 Feb 1850, "...This nebula [NGC 2245] is part of an
enormous neby, which I traced f and n to a great dist. some degrees."
******************************
06 34 35.7 +26
18 16
Size 45"
18"
(2/14/10): at 175x a small clump of 4 stars was resolved. The brightest two are a 16" pair
of mag 12/13 stars, while the fainter two are probably mag 14.5/15.5.
Edward Cooper
discovered NGC 2248 on 23 Dec 1853 while compiling the Markree ecliptic
Catalogue. Auwers included it as
#23 in his 1862 table of new nebulae and mentioned in the 6" Heliometer at
Konigsberg it appeared "extremely faint, just resolvable spot of 2-3' dia.
The brightest star 12m." At
Cooper's position is a small clump of stars (45" diameter), including a
mag 12/13 pair at 16" separation with several fainter stars in a chain to the
east. Harold Corwin calls this an
"asterism of nine stars".
RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent.
******************************
NGC 2249 = ESO
057-SC082 = S-L 893
06 25 50 -68 55
12
V = 12.2; Size 1.7'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 184x): fairly bright, intermediate age LMC cluster, relatively
large, 1.0' diameter, round, gradually increases to the center, no
resolution. An unequal mag 11/13
pair at ~10" separation lies 3.7' WNW and mag 8.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2249 = h3055 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "F; R;
vglbM." On a later sweep he
logged "pB; R; gbM; 50"; has a double star preceding." His position is accurate. This object is classified as a globular
cluster in SIMBAD
******************************
06 33 49 -05 05
12
Size 7'
18"
(1/26/09): at 175x about two dozen stars mag 12-14 stars are resolved in an
8'x4' irregular group, elongated E-W.
The brightest star is mag 8.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2250 = h394 on 20 Feb 1830 and noted as "place of a *8-9 m
in following part of a large pretty rich loose cluster; irreg oblong fig; stars
12...14m." His position
matches mag 8.7 HD 46576. The
Lynga and RNGC position is 1 tmin too far west.
******************************
06 34 39 +08 22
00
V = 7.3; Size 10'
18"
(3/4/08): at 175x, this is a fairly striking cluster that includes a fairly
rich 6' string oriented N-S. The
string contains ~20 stars including a mag 10.5/11.5 double at 5" (Barton
2120). The brightest star in near the geometric
center and is part of second group of ~20 stars with several in a 2' loop. The bright star is a mag 9.5/11.5 pair
at 9". Finally, on the north
side is a small string of a half-dozen stars oriented E-W.
17.5"
(3/12/94): about 40 stars mag 10.5-14 in an 11'x4' fairly rich string
NW-SE. Includes about 10 brighter
mag 11 stars. The brightest mag
9.5 star is part of a small, roundish subgroup on the west side and is a
pleasing double with components mag 9.5/12 at 10". This subgroup has three brighter stars
and 15 faint stars mostly west of the double. The main string is fairly uniform except for an empty 3' gap
SE of the mag 9.5 star. Located 5'
NW of the cluster is an isolated mag 10 star which appears to be a field star.
17.5"
(2/1/92): 35 stars mag 10-14 in 12'x6' string NNW-SSE, bright, moderately
large, fairly rich but not dense.
Consists of 3 main subgroups.
The western group is 2' diameter and includes a close double star 10/12
at 10". The NW group is 3'
diameter and includes two mag 11 stars with three mag 13 stars between. The SE group is largest and includes 15
stars in a 6' string very elongated N-S with a close double star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2251 = H VIII-3 = h395 on 26 Dec 1783 (very early sweep 67) and
noted "a small cluster of very close stars, not very
remarkable." His summary
description (2 observatins) reads "an extended cluster of large scattered
stars." His position falls
just west of center of this cluster.
JH called it "a large tract full of stars; v rich; place from
working list."
******************************
06 34 19.8 +05
19 22
V = 7.7; Size 18'
18"
(3/13/04): at 115x, this fairly rich field is located just 50' NE of the center
of the Rosette Nebula! Most
distinctive in the field is a very elongated N-S group of roughly 50 stars in a
12'-15' string just 2' wide. The
group has a distinctive hook on the north end as it curves sharply towards the
SW. A near perfect triangle of mag
9 stars at 30", 34" and 40" separation lies 23' E.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2252 = H VIII-50 = h396 on 27 Jan 1786 (sweep 512) and reported
"a cluster of stars arranged in a broad row, 25' long and 6 or 8' broad,
not very compressed but pretty rich." His position is on the east side of the cluster. JH called it "L, pretty rich; stars
small; place by working list."
******************************
06 42 31 +66 24
24"
(3/22/14): this number might apply to a fairly rich string of stars about 30'
north of William Herschel's position.
The surrounding field was examined at 125x (49' field of view) and the
only object that caught my attention was a 4' string containing a dozen mag
13-14 stars oriented SW-NE. In
addition, a larger group of mag 14 stars is just south (though detached), with
the total size of both groups roughly 10'. This asterism is penned in by some brighter stars: mag 9.6
star (
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2253 = H VII-54 on 1 Nov 1788 (sweep 879) and recorded "A
vF patch of eS stars." There
is nothing at Harold Corwin's re-reduced position of 06 41 52 +65 50.3 (J2000)
-- similar to Auwers -- and Bigourdan failed to recover this object. Corwin suggests NGC 2253 might be
"a small group of about 10-15 stars" at 06 42 32 +66 24.3 (2000). This clump is roughly 30' north of WH's
position (possibly a digit error) and described above.
RNGC, CGCG and
SIMBAD misidentify
******************************
06 35 50 +07 40
24
V = 9.7; Size 4'
18"
(3/4/08): small, dense group of ~25 stars in 3' at 225x and 300x. About a dozen of the stars are arranged
in a semi-circular chain or "C" that is open on the east side. Several mag 14+ stars are near this
loop, segregated into small clumps.
17.5"
(2/8/91): at 220x, about two dozen stars over haze in a 3'-4' diameter. About 6 stars of mag 13 form a
"C" shaped asterism open on the east side. The brightest mag 13 star is on the NW side of this
arc. The rest of cluster members
are 14-15th magnitude.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2254 = H VII-22 = h397 on 28 Dec 1785 (sweep 496) and noted
"a small cluster of pretty compressed vS stars." His position is just west of center. JH
called this "a pretty rich, small cluster; irreg fig; st 11...15m."
******************************
06 33 58.6 -34
48 45
V = 13.4; Size 1.5'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 152d
18"
(3/11/07): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.5', weakly
concentrated.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2255 = h3056 on 2 Feb 1835 and described as "eF; R; vlbM;
25-30"." His position
(measured on two sweeps) matches
******************************
06 47 13.9 +74
14 11
V = 12.5; Size 2.3'x2.0'; Surf Br = 14.0
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, moderately large, oval 4:3 E-W, broad but only weak
concentration. Located 3.5' NNW of
a mag 10 star.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2256 = T IX-3 (along with NGC 2258) on 1 Aug 1883 with an
11" refractor at the Arcetri Observatory. His position and description matches
******************************
06 30 12.4 -64
19 40
V = 12.6; Size 2.2'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): fairly faint, fairly large, round, 1.5'-2' diameter,
broad weak concentration, no resolution.
An elongated group of a half-dozen mag 10-11 stars oriented NW-SE passes
just north of the cluster. NGC
2257 is one of 15 bona-fide ancient GC's (over 10 billion years old) in the LMC
and is situated at the northeast periphery of the cloud.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2257 = h3057 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded as "F; vL; R;
gvlbM; 3'." On his third
sweep he logged "pB; L; R; vgbM;
resolvable; diam in RA = 17s of time." His position is accurate. NGC 2257 was identified by Gascoigne and Lynga as the
"easternmost object to which membership of the Clouds may certainly be
assigned".
******************************
NGC 2258 = UGC
3523 = MCG +12-07-016 = CGCG 330-115 = PGC 19622
06 47 46.1 +74
28 54
V = 11.9; Size 2.3'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 150d
17.5"
(1/19/91): moderately bright, small, round, small bright core, stellar
nucleus. A mag 11 star is just
0.8' NE of center and a mag 12 star is 1.2' SSE. NGC 2256 lies 15' SSW and
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2258 = T IX-4, along with NGC 2256, with the 11" refractor
at the Arcetri Observatory. Tempel
just gives a rough RA, but his position is about 6' south of
******************************
06 38 33.3 +10
52 57
Size 5'
18"
(3/4/08): at 175x, appears as a 4' rich group of faint stars over haze. At 300x, about two dozen stars in total
are resolved, mostly in a 2' circular clump. About 1' N of this dense patch of stars is the brightest mag
11.5 star which has a 13th magnitude companion. This cluster is located 5' E of mag 8.8
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, small, 3'-4' diameter, rich, irregularly round. Consists of about 15 faint stars mag
13.5-14.5 sparkling over a layer of background haze. A double star mag 12/13 at 7" separation is at the
north edge. Mag 8.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2259 = H VI-28 on 11 Jan 1787 (sweep 682) and called "a
cluster of extremely compressed and exceedintly S stars, considerably rich, irr
F, the following and most compressed part of it round." His position (Auwer's reduction) is on
the south side of the cluster.
******************************
06 38 03 -01 28
24
17.5"
(2/1/03): roughly 50 stars are visible at 100x spread out over 15'. The stars are in two main subgroups,
oriented SW and NE. The SW group
includes mag 8.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2260 = H VIII-48 = h398 on 1 Jan 1786 (sweep 506) and noted
"A Cl of very scattered stars of various sizes, of more than 1/2 degree of
extent." JH called it "very course, v poor, v straggling, the chief
*8 taken." His position
corresponds with mag 8.2 SAO 133505 at 06 38 05.8 -01 26 40. Karl Reinmuth gave
an approximate size of 15' with description "Cl, pL, P, st 8..."
based on its photographic appearance on Heidelberg plates. The group is not included in the Lynga
cluster catalogue and RNGC classifies it as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
06 39 10 +08 44
42
Size 2'x1'
18"
(3/4/08): Hubble's variable nebula is a striking fan-shaped object, with a mag
12 star at its south tip with the nebula extending to the north. The fan displays a great deal of
variation in brightness and structure at 300x. The brightest portion is on the northwest side of the fan,
though it dims a little near the tip on the west side. The eastern rim is bright and sharply
defined N-S like a thin finger. The nebulosity dims along northern end of the
fan and a small, wedge-shaped darker area extends into the fan from the north.
13.1"
(1/28/84): Hubble's Variable Nebula is bright, small, fan-shaped 2:1 N-S and
widest at the north boundary. The
nebulosity tapers down towards 12th magnitude R Monocerotis at the south tip
which appears to have a very small high surface brightness halo. The western edge (oriented NW-SE) is
slightly weaker and more curved than the eastern edge which is sharper and
straighter N-S. This is an
impressive nebula with high surface brightness and interesting structure.
8":
comet-like nebula extends from R Mon.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2261 = H IV-2 = h399 on 26 Oct 1783 (very early sweep 67) and
recorded "a curious nebula of a fan shape." His summary description (based on 4 observations) reads "cB,
fan-shaped, about 2' long from the centre." His placed it in class IV, which includes planetary
nebulae. JH called it a "*12m
with bright cometic branch 60" l whose axis is 60° np. The star is a little ill-defined. The apex of the neb comex exactly up to
star, but does not pass it."
George Stoney
sketched the nebula using the 72" on 16 Jan 1850 (plate XXXVII, figure
10). He noted "two
comparitively dark spaces, one near the vertex and other near the base of the
cone." William Lassell
observed and sketched NGC 2261 in March 1853 with his 24-inch equatorial
reflector from Malta. He noted, "the nucleus not stellar, but like the
nucleus of the nebula in Andromeda [
In 1916 Hubble
discovered the nebula was variable, hence the popular nickname. This is an unusual bipolar nebula with
the second southern jet hidden from view.
According to the California Institute of Technology, Hubble's Variable
Nebula was the first object photographed through the 200-inch Hale telescope at
Palomar Observatory. Hubble sat in the prime focus cage of that instrument and
recorded an image of it on 26 Jan 1949.
******************************
06 39 38.7 +01
08 30
Size 4'
13.1"
(1/18/85): about 10 very faint stars in cluster over unresolved background
glow. Incorrect position given in
modern catalogues.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2262 = H VII-37 = h400 on 27 Dec 1786 (sweep 668) and described
"A Cl of v. com eS st, considerably rich, 3 or 4' dia., most condensed
around the middle." His
position matches this small cluster.
JH recorded "A great many sc st; and a strong suspicion of a more
comp part (thick haze)" and measured an accurate position.
The wrong
position (06 38.4 +01 11 (2000)) is given in modern sources such as Sky
Catalogue 2000, Lynga, NGC 2000.0, RNGC and SIMBAD (now corrected). Brent Archinal notes (e-mail from
3/11/98) the error originated with Per Collinder's list of clusters (1931) and
copied into the modern catalogues.
******************************
06 38 28.9 -24
50 55
V = 12.1; Size 2.6'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 143d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, fairly small, oval NW-SE, even surface
brightness. Situated between two
mag 13.5 stars 1' N and 1' S with a similar star 1.7' ENE. Located 4.2' N of mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2263 = h3058 on 20 Jan 1835 and recorded "Not vF, R, or lE,
pslbM, E between two vS stars, and has two stars about 8th mag S.p. pointing to
it." His description and coordinates matches
******************************
06 40 58 +09 53
42
V = 3.9; Size 60'x30'
17.5"
(12/28/00): besides the bright nebulosity extending southwest of mag 4.7 S
Monocerotis (15), most of the central region of the cluster was set against a
weakly glowing background (part of Sh 2-273). At the southern end of the cluster (tip of the
"Christmas Tree"), this low surface brightness glow was more evident
and clearly extended beyond the 7th magnitude star at the tip towards the
SE. The west edge of this weakly
glowing extension forms the eastern border of the dark Cone Nebula (LDN 1613). There is a lack of faint stars within
the region of the Cone Nebula but the inclusion itself was not darker than the
general background.
17.5"
(12/30/99): nebulosity was quite prominent to the SW of south Mon as well as a
weaker glow in the vicinity around ∑954 at the south end of the cluster. At 100x (unfiltered) there appeared to
be a slightly darker vacuity to the south of this star in the position of the
Cone nebula but there is no sharp "edge" with the nearby nebulosity.
13"
(11/5/83): very bright, very large scattered group, elongated N-S, striking
Christmas tree shape. A bright
multiple star 15 Monocerotis = south Mon (4.7-7.5 at 2.8" and companions)
is at the base of the tree at the north end of the cluster and is surrounded by
several stars. Easy nebulosity is
visible which extends 10' SW of south Mon and includes a group of three
brighter stars. At the south end
of the cluster is the double star ∑954 = 7.1/9.6 at 13". The Cone nebula (not seen) extends
south of ∑954 and "points" towards ∑954.
8": bright,
very large, scattered, Christmas tree outline, fairly rich, includes multiple
star south Mon.
Naked-eye
(1/8/00): vislble as a 4th magnitude nebulous glow including the mag 5 star (S
Mon), but appears much smaller naked-eye than the listed dimensions.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2264 = H V-27 = H VIII-5 = h401 on 18 Jan 1784 (sweep 81) and
recorded VIII-5 as "The 15th Mon is attended by above 30 considerable
stars, and is itself a double star of the 3rd class. The star extremely unequal and probably not visible in
smaller instruments. There is also another double star of the 3rd class not far
from it consisting of equal stars."
On 26 Dec 1785 (sweep 494) he logged V-27 as "I observed about 7'
or 8' sp 15 Mon, some of the pB stars to be contained within vF milky
nebulosity which loses itself imperceptibly; but there remains a doubt of the
reality." On the 28 Dec 1785
(sweep 496) he mentions "I examined the stars south preceding 15 Mon and
believe they contain Milky nebulosity.
It is very difficult to ascertain it on account of the glare of the
15th, but I have hardly any doubt.
Again on 11 Jan 1787 (sweep 682) he noted "I suspect the sp 2 stars
(of which one is Double [15 Mon] to be affected with vF milky nebulosity but
may be a deception." WH's
descriptions and position apply to the cluster and to the brightest part of the
nebulosity southwest of mag 4.7 S Monocerotis. JH also reported "a *5.6 enveloped in a nebulous
haze.", although this may be a result of scattered light.
The region
around 15 Mon was examined a number of times at Birr Castle, searching for
nebulosity. There was several
negative results in the 1850's and Lord Rosse wrote "No neby. Found, and
only a few stars arranged in pairs; no cl. Has there been a change here? But a couple of later observations (including by Dreyer)
were successful. E.E. Barnard and
Roberts reported extensive nebulosity in the region based on photographs.
On 10 May 1895
Isaac Roberts showed a three-hour exposure of the NGC 2264 complex taken with
his 20-inch reflector on 13 Feb to a meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society.
It clearly showed the nebulosity southwest of S Mon (first photographed by
Barnard in 1894) but also revealed a “conical dark space bounded by a rim of
nebulosity” — this is the famous ‘Cone Nebula’.
******************************
06 41 42 +11 54
18
17.5"
(2/1/03): this is a Milky Way cloud of ~50 faint stars mag 12-14. There is central "hole"
lacking any stars, and there are no rich subgroups. Does not look to be a reasonable cluster and candidate and
in fact, doesn't stand out in the field at 100x. There does seem to be some
unresolved background or Milky Way glow.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2265 = h402 on 23 Jan 1832 and described "A poor cluster 30
or 40 small stars 12-13m."
Karl Reinmuth called this "a rich region, >1 degree, no distinct
Cl.", based on its photographic appearance. There is a scattering of mag
10-13 stars near Herschel's position on the POSS, but nothing that looks like a
cluster. RNGC classifies this number as nonexistent.
******************************
06 43 20 +26 58
12
Size 7'
13.1"
(12/22/84): three dozen stars mag 9-15 in a 4' diameter. Most members are very faint and the
cluster appears quite rich with averted over unresolved background haze. The brightest star, mag 8.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2266 = H VI-21 = h403 on 7 Dec 1785 (sweep 486) and recorded
"a very rich and very compressed cluster of stars of about 4 1/2 or 5'
diameter, 5 or 6 of the largest stars are in a row." His position is on the southeast side of
the cluster. JH noted his position
is "the most condensed part of a p rich, p comp cl of stars 11...15m;
irreg figure; diam of most compressed part = 3...4'' triangular."
******************************
06 40 51.8 -32
28 57
V = 12.2; Size 1.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 36d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, very small, oval 3:2 NW-SE, bright core. Two nearby stars confuse the
observation: a mag 13 star just 36" W of center (at the NW edge) and a mag
14 star 0.9' SW of center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2267 = h3059 on 16 Feb 1836 and described as "pB, S, R,
20"; has 2 or 3 small stars close to it." DeLisle Stewart, using photographic plates from Peru,
described this object as "two nebulae close together."
******************************
07 14 17.6 +84
22 57
V = 11.5; Size 3.2'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 63d
17.5"
(8/27/87): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated SW-NE, bright core, faint
stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star is
at the SW edge 1.1' from center.
17.5"
(2/22/87): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, faint halo
gradually increases to a large brighter core, small bright nucleus, faint
stellar nucleus.
Alphonse
Borrelly discovered NGC 2268 = T I-19 around 1871 with a 7.2-inch comet-seeker
at the Marseille Observatory. He noted "pretty faint, extended, elliptic,
no bright point" and his micrometric position (MNRAS, 32, 248) matches UGC
3653. Wilhem Tempel independently discovered the galaxy in 1877 . The RNGC RA is 8.0 tmin too far east.
******************************
06 43 16.8 +04
37 04
V = 10.0; Size 4'
17.5"
(1/1/92): two dozen stars mag 11.5-15 in a 4' diameter. The main portion is a rich, thin 3'
string oriented NW-SE with about 15 stars including a mag 11.5 and 12 star over
unresolved haze. The scattered
outliers to 4' radius increase the total to two dozen stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2269 = H VI-3 = h404 on 24 Jan 1784 (sweep 114) and described
"a cluster of very compressed; they are eF and I suppose cannot be visible
with my 7 ft reflector. It
contains a few L ones. It is of an
extended figure, and as it were, divided." His position is poor - 37 sec of RA too far east and 4' too
far south, but not unusual for his early sweeps. JH described a "close cl of v small st; poor; twilight;
preceded by a coarse cl of large ones." Both Herschels' positions are too far east and so the NGC
position is ~9' ESE of center.
******************************
06 43 58 +03 27
12
17.5"
(2/1/03): this is a large, scattered field, ~10' diameter surrounding a
kite-shaped asterism of mag 8.5-10 stars.
There is no concentration but there are a couple of denser clumps of
faint stars on the east side. A
curving string of stars heads NE and ends at a group of stars surrounding mag
7.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2270 = H VII-36 = h405 on 26 Dec 1786 (sweep 667) and noted
"A Cl of very scattered stars, considerably rich, and of great
extent." JH logged a
"coarse scattered cluster; not very rich; place of *9m." His position is just 5 tsec east of mag
8.8
******************************
06 42 52.9 -23
28 33
V = 12.2; Size 2.1'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 71d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, small, oval E-W, weak concentration. There is a string of five stars mag
9-11 on line to north including mag 9.4
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2271 = h3060 on 23 Jan 1835 and recorded as "pB, S, R, lbM,
20"." His position (measured
on 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
06 42 41.3 -27
27 34
V = 11.7; Size 2.5'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 123d
13.1"
(12/22/84): fairly faint, small, round, small faint core.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2272 = h3061 on 20 Jan 1835 and called "F, E, bM,
20"." His position
(measured on 3 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
06 50 08.6 +60
50 45
V = 11.7; Size 3.2'x2.5'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 50d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly bright, moderately large, oval SW-NE, very bright core,
stellar nucleus. Located 5.2' SSW
of mag 8.5
Swedish
astronomer Nils Dunér discovered NGC 2273 on 15 Sep 1867 using the 9.6-inch
Merz refractor of the Lund Observatory.
In AN 78, 251 (1871) he described it as "fairly bright and at least
2' in diameter, with a strong concentration in the middle." and measured
an accurate position (using mag 8.6
******************************
06 47 17.3 +33
34 02
V = 12.1; Size 1.7'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 169d
24"
(1/4/14): moderately bright to fairly bright, moderately large, slightly
elongated N-S, sharply concentrated with a round high surface brightness core
of 0.4' diameter that gradually increases to the center. Halo increases with averted to
0.9'x0.7'. Brighter of a close
pair with
18"
(3/4/08): moderately bright and large, slightly elongated N-S, 0.9'x0.8',
contains a sharply concentrated, bright 25" core and a much fainter
halo. Forms a close pair with NGC
2275 1.9' N.
18"
(10/21/06): moderately bright, fairly small, round, 0.8'-1' diameter, bright
core. This galaxy is slightly
brighter than its companion, NGC 2275, located 2' N. The
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, round, small bright core. Forms the brighter of a pair with NGC
2275 2' N.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2274 = H II-614 = h406, along with NGC 2275, on 26 Oct 1786
(sweep 628) and described both as "Two, both F, S, R, bM. The southern one [NGC 2274] is the
largest." The pair was
observed a total of 14 times at Birr Castle! Harold Corwin notes the identifications of NGC 2274 and NGC
2275 are reversed in the MCG.
******************************
NGC 2275 = UGC
3542 = MCG +06-15-007 = CGCG 175-016 = WBL 121-002 = LGG 139-002 = PGC 19605
06 47 17.9 +33
35 57
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 20d
24"
(1/4/14): fairly faint to moderately bright, elongated 5:3 N-S,
50"x30". Sharply
concentrated with a small, much brighter core that gradually increases to the
center. UGC 3537 lies 6.8' WNW.
18"
(3/4/08): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated N-S, 0.9'x0.6', contains a
small bright core ~15" in diameter and a much fainter halo. Slightly fainter of a close pair with
NGC 2274 1.9' S.
18"
(10/21/06): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.8'x0.6', brighter
core. Located 2' N of slightly
brighter NGC 2274.
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, even surface brightness. Forms the fainter of a pair with NGC
2274 2' S.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2275 = H II-615 = h407, along with NGC 2274, on 26 Oct 1786
(sweep 626) and described both as "Two, both F, S, R, bM. The southern one [NGC 2274] is the
largest." His single position is 9 tsec of RA too far west, but JH
measured a more accurate RA.
Harold Corwin notes the identifications of NGC 2274 and NGC 2275 are
reversed in the MCG.
******************************
NGC 2276 = Arp
25 = Arp 114 = UGC 3740 = MCG +14-04-028 = CGCG 362-042 = CGCG 363-027 = VII Zw
134 = LGG 145-008 = PGC 21039
07 27 14.4 +85
45 16
V = 11.4; Size 2.8'x2.7'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 20d
48"
(4/4/13): at 488x, NGC 2276 appeared fairly bright, fairly large, irregularly
round, 2' diameter. Contains a
very small, very bright nucleus, surrounded by a patchy halo with weak spiral
structure. The most prominent arm
winds along the western edge of the galaxy, curving from west to northwest and
creating a very asymmetric appearance.
Along this arm segment is a prominent knotty section with two or three
clumps, including [HK83] 69, a bright 6" knot. On the southwest side of the halo is [HK83] 63, a faint
6" knot on a line between the nucleus and the 8th-magnitude star (HD
51141) 2.3' SW. In the brighter central region surrounding the nucleus are
several brighter, small patches that define the inner arms. A slightly brighter region close
southwest of the nucleus includes the multiple designations [HK83]
17/42/46/51. Finally, [H83] 24/27
are weak enhancements on the southeast side of the nucleus. HII region #24 was the site of SN
2005dl.
24"
(9/15/12): moderately bright, fairly large, round, 2' diameter. Although spiral arms were not visible,
the galaxy has an odd appearance with brighter knots and regions resolved. A non-stellar knot, identified in NED
as NGC 2276:[HK83] 69 is visible at the NW edge. The central region contains a faint quasi-stellar nucleus,
along with one or two other stellar knots including NGC 2276:[HK83] 24, close
east of the nucleus. Another knot (nonstellar) is southwest of the nucleus
(perhaps NGC 2276:[HK83] 63). The
halo appears weaker on the east side and brighter on the west side. Located 2.3' ENE of a mag 8 star and it
helps to move the star just outside the field.
18"
(8/2/11): moderately bright, large, round, ~2.0' diameter, weak concentration,
slightly brighter core. The halo
has an irregular surface brightness giving a strong impression of spiral
structure with slightly brighter knots on the west side. Located 2.3' ENE of mag 8.1
18"
(3/13/04): fairly faint, large, slightly elongated,~2.0'x1.6', low surface
brightness. The halo fades
gradually into the background, particularly on the eastern side, so it was
difficult to determine a definite edge.
Located 2.2' E of mag 8.4
13.1"
(1/18/85): diffuse, slightly elongated.
Located 2.2' ENE of mag 8.4 SAO 1148 which interferes with viewing. Three mag 11 stars also in line with
the 8.4 star to the south including a mag 11.5 star just 1.4' SW. Forms a pair with NGC 2300 6.4' ESE.
8"
(1/1/84): faint, moderately large, low surface brightness, slightly
elongated. A mag 9 star is near.
August Winnecke
discovered NGC 2276 on 26 Jun 1876 with the 6.5" refractor at the
Strausberg Observatory. Wilhelm
Tempel independently discovered the galaxy the same year with the 11"
refractor at the Arcetri Observatory and included it in list I-20. Winnecke also thought he discovered NGC
2300 but Borrelly found that galaxy earlier (either 1871 or 1872) at Marseille
. NGC 2276 is the 3rd closest to
the pole in the NGC or IC.
******************************
06 47 47 +33 27
18
24"
(1/4/14): a 7" pair of mag 13.4/14.1 stars were fairly easy to resolve at
375x even in soft seeing. Located
9' SE of NGC 2274 (2' pair with NGC 2275).
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2277 on 20 Apr 1865, while reobserving the nearby
galaxies in the
******************************
NGC 2278
06 48 16.4 +33
23 39
24"
(1/4/14): this 10" pair of fairly evenly matched mag 14.0/14.4 stars
(oriented N-S) was easily split at 375x.
This pair was easier to resolve than nearby NGC 2277 7' NW and
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2278 on 1 Jan 1865. At his exact position is a 10" double star (mag
14/14.5). Nearby NGC 2277 from
d'Arrest also refers to some faint stars.
RNGC misidentifies NGC 2278 = NGC 2275.
******************************
NGC 2279
06 48 24.8 +33
24 55
24"
(1/4/14): this is an unequal pair of mag 14.1/15.7 stars at 14"
separation. The faint companion
was just visible in soft seeing at 375x.
Situated just 2' NE of NGC 2278, an easier 10" pair of mag
14.0/14.4 stars.
Guillaume
Bigourdan discovered NGC 2279 = Big. 24 on 8 Jan 1885 and noted 10"
diameter with a "stellar aspect". Bigourdan's position is less than 1' S of a triple star (two
were resolved in my scope) at 06 48 24.8 +33 24 55. It was found while he was measuring previously discovered
nebulae (and asterisms) in the area.
RNGC misidentifies NGC 2279 = NGC 2275.
******************************
NGC 2280 = UGCA
131 = ESO 427-002 = MCG -05-16-020 = LGG 138-001 = PGC 19531
06 44 48.9 -27
38 20
V = 10.3; Size 6.3'x3.1'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 163d
13.1"
(12/22/84): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, bright
core. Located 3.9' SE of a mag 10
star. Almost collinear with a
second mag 10 star 5.4' NW. NGC
2272 lies 30' WNW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2280 = h3062 on 1 Feb 1837 and noted "pF; L; irreg R; or
lE; gbM; 2'." His position
(single sweep) matches
******************************
06 48 18 +41 04
42
V = 5.4; Size 15'
18"
(3/13/04): ~75 stars in a 30' region to the south of mag 7.3
13.1": ~40
stars mag 7-13 in cluster, bright, loose.
Five double stars are visible including a mag 9.5-11.0 pair at 11"
and a mag 11.0-11.5 pair at 15".
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2281 = H VIII-71 on 4 Mar 1788 (sweep 813) and recorded "a
cluster of coarsely scattered pretty large stars, pretty rich, the place is
that of a double star of the third class." His RA is 1.0 minute too large. The position carried forward to the GC and NGC and modern
catalogues including the Lynga Open Clusters Catalog (5th edition) and the
RNGC.
By analyzing
William Herschel's early "reviews" of bright stars that resulted in
the discovery of many double stars, Wolfgang Steinicke recently found (email
Oct '16) that Herschel first discovered the cluster on 6 Nov 1782 using his
6.2" reflector.
******************************
06 46 51 +01 18
54
Size 3'x3'
13.1"
(1/18/85): very faint reflection nebula with a mag 10 star involved, fairly
small, round.
E.E. Barnard
discovered NGC 2282 on 3 Mar 1886 with the 6-inch refractor at Vanderbilt
University (announced in AN 2756 and Sidereal Messenger, vol. 5, p154).
He reported finding "a star of 9.5 or 10 magnitiude, with a faint
nebulosity surrounding it. I strongly suspect that is not a stellar point but
an extremely small nebula with faint nebulosity surrounding. At best with
the 6-inch it did not appear like any of the neighboring stars. A short
distance (4' or 5') preceding this and very slightly north is a faint double
star that I suspect is enveloped in nebulosity." His position
matches the central star
Barnard found
this reflection nebula again on 30 Oct 1888 using the 12-inch refractor at Lick
Observatory. He noted a "9
1/2 mag star with faint nebulosity about it. 1' in diameter, a little heavier nf. Examined several other stars near, and
no nebulosity seen."
Apparently Barnard didn't connect this with his earlier observation and
notified Dreyer who catalogued it again as
This RN is
involved with a sparse open cluster OCL 535.1 = C0644+013, listed in Lynga 5 as
******************************
06 45 52.7 -18
12 37
V = 12.2; Size 3.6'x2.8'; Surf Br = 14.6; PA = 2d
13.1"
(11/5/83): very faint, small, diffuse, even surface brightness. Three faint stars are involved
including two mag 13 stars at the NE edge and the north edge. Located in a rich star field 90' S of
Sirius and just 9° from the galactic equator!
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2283 = H III-271 on 6 Feb 1785 (sweep 367) and reported "3
or 4 small stars with vF nebulosity between them forming an irregular
triangle. 240 power showed the
same very plainly." Auwers
made an error reducing WH's position, but JH corrected the error in the GC and
his position matches
Harold Corwin
comments that E.E. Barnard's
******************************
06 49 16.2 +33
09 59
24"
(1/22/15): this number applies to one of two possible triples. At 200x, I found a mag 13.8 star with a
mag 14.5 star 19" SW and a mag 15-15.5 star 19" N. The stars were widely split with no
hint of appearing nebulous. A
fourth mag 16-16.5 star listed in Corwin's table was not seen viewing through
thin clouds.
Just 2' SE of
these stars is a very nice equilateral triple! The three stars range from mag 12.3-13.5 with sides of
10", 12" and 13".
These were also easily resolved.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2284, along with
******************************
NGC 2285
06 49 35.9 +33
21 53
24"
(1/22/15): at 200x; a 12" pair of mag 14.6 and 15.8 stars was
resolved. The fainter star was
difficult in hazy conditions. Just
1.6' southeast is a relatively bright double, consisting of mag 10.8/12 stars
at 11" separation. d'Arrest
didn't mention this pair, which should have been easily resolved, though it is
certainly much more eye-catching.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2285, along with NGC 2284, on 20 Apr 1865 with the
11" refractor at Copenhagen Observatory. About 1' northeast of his single position is a mag
14.6/15.8 pair of stars at 12" separation and he was uncertain if it was
nebulous or stellar. RNGC
classifies the number as nonexistent.
******************************
06 47 40 -03 08
54
V = 7.5; Size 15'
17.5"
(12/20/95): at 100x, ~40 stars within an arbitrary 10' region, elongated
N-S. This is a fairly rich group
of mostly mag 12 and 13 stars bordered by brighter stars grouped in pairs and
trios. There is some concentration
with a richer 4' core. A wide pair
of mag 9 stars is off the SE side.
17.5"
(2/1/92): ~60 stars mag 11-14 in the central 10' diameter. Bright, large, fairly rich though not
dense. Richest in a lane running
NNW-SSE over haze although the brightest mag 10 stars are outliers to the W,
north and SE. There is also a
bright lane 15' length oriented N-S located to the east of the main group which
includes several wide double stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2286 = H VIII-31 = h408 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 352) and noted
"A larger cluster of scattered stars, not v rich." JH made two observations and noted a
"Loose L irreg scattered cl of about 100 st 9...15m." His first position is accurate.
******************************
06 46 00 -20 45
18
V = 4.5; Size 38'
18"
(2/14/10): this naked-eye cluster was perfectly framed at 73x with the 31mm
Nagler (67' field).
A number of
loops and chains appear to spin out from the central grouping. One long chain extends NNW to the edge
of the cluster and a shorter nearby chain heads WNW and includes a pretty equal
mag pair before bending abruptly SW.
Two other chains extend from the center to the SW and ENE. About 20' SE of the center of the
cluster is mag 6.1
8"
(10/4/80): ~60 stars mag 7-11.5, very bright, very large, very rich, includes
10 bright stars mag 7 and 8. Many
of the stars are arranged in curving rows and groups, includes several double
stars. Located about 20' NW of mag
6.0 12 Canis Majoris. Naked-eye
object in dark sky.
Naked-eye
(numerous times): fairly easy naked-eye glow in a dark sky.
Giovanni
Hodierna discovered M41 = NGC 2287 = h411 in 1654 (using a small refractor at
20x). It was independently
discovered by John Flamsteed on 16 Feb 1702: "Near this star (12 CMa),
there is a cluster." Le
Gentil also found it in 1749.
Wolfgang Steinicke credits Aristotle with the visual discoverer based on
comments by J.E. Gore in his 1902 review of the Messier objects. But the source material is not very
reliable. See
http://seds.org/messier/more/m041_ari.html for this possibility.
William Herschel
recorded M41 in 1784 as "A large cluster of very coarsely scattered large
[bright] stars." and JH called it "Coarse; fills field. The chief, 8m, is red; a poor
cluster." The position in the
NGC, RNGC and NGC 2000 is 1 tmin of RA too far east.
******************************
NGC 2288 = MCG
+06-15-011 = CGCG 175-017 = WBL 126-001 = PGC 19714
06 50 52.0 +33
27 45
V = 14.4; Size 0.4'x0.3'; Surf Br = 10.3
18"
(3/4/08): very faint, extremely small, round, no more than 10"
diameter. Located just 1' SSW of
18"
(10/21/06): faint, extremely small, elongated 5:3 E-W, 20"x12". In a close trio with NGC 2289 1' NNE
and NGC 2288 2' SE.
17.5"
(12/19/87): very faint, extremely small, elongated WNW-ESE. First of five in a group and forms a
close trio with NGC 2289 1.1' NNE and NGC 2290 1.8' SSE.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2288 on 22 Feb 1849 using Lord Rosse's 72", noting
"5 neb. in one field [with NGC 2289, 2290, 2291 and 2294]. It was labeled
Beta on an accurate sketch of the quintet. The positions of all 5 galaxies (computed by Dreyer and
repeated in the GC and NGC) are offset 4' too far south and ~9 seconds too far
west, though the relative positions are correct. The RNGC reverses the identifications of NGC 2288 and 2289.
******************************
NGC 2289 = UGC
3560 = MCG +06-15-010 = CGCG 175-018 = WBL 126-002 = PGC 19716
06 50 53.6 +33
28 43
V = 13.2; Size 1.1'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 92d
18"
(3/4/08): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated E-W, ~25"x20". A mag 13.5 star is close off the north
side. One of the brightest two
galaxies in a compact galaxy group (all within 6') of 5 NGCs including NGC 2290
2.5' SSE and NGC 2288 1' S.
18"
(10/21/06): fairly faint, very small, round, 25" diameter. A mag 13.5 star is just off the north
side [38" from the center].
In a compact quintet with NGC 2288 1' S and NGC 2290 2.5' S.
17.5"
(12/19/87): faint, fairly small, diffuse, slightly elongated, almost even
surface brightness. A mag 13.5
star is just 0.7' N. Second of
five in the NGC 2289/NGC 2290 group with NGC 2288 1.1' SSW and NGC 2290 2.6'
SSE.
13"
(12/22/84): faint, small, slightly elongated NW-SE. Forms a pair with NGC 2290 2.6' SSE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2289 = H III-897 = h409, along with NGC 2290, on 4 Feb 1793
(sweep 1031) and recorded "Two, eF and vS. The place is taken between them. They are about 4' asunder and northern one which is the
largest precedes the other about 2 sec.
300x shows the same."
Assuming Herschel observed the brightest two galaxies with the
orientation NNW-SE, then H III-897 = NGC 2289 and H III-898 = NGC 2290 (Dreyer
was confused on the WH and JH identifications in the GC and NGC). His RA is 15 sec too large, but the NPD
is in between the pair. These two galaxies were also observed by JH (same
orientation and 3 or 4' apart). In the NGC, Dreyer incorrectly assigned III-898
to NGC 2289.
The RNGC reverses
the identifications of NGC 2288 and NGC 2289. MCG also misidentifies this galaxy as NGC 2288. See my RNGC Corrections #1 and Malcolm
Thomson's article in the Webb Society Quarterly Journal in 1/84.
******************************
NGC 2290 = UGC
3562 = MCG +06-15-012 = CGCG 175-019 = LGG 139-003 = WBL 126-003 = PGC 19718
06 50 56.9 +33
26 15
V = 13.2; Size 1.3'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 50d
18"
(3/4/08): brightest and furthest south in a compact group of 5 NGC's, along
with NGC 2289. Appears moderately
bright and large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, ~45"x22", the halo is weakly
concentrated with a sharply concentrated 10" core. NGC 2289 and NGC 2288 lie 2' N. The cluster is 0.6° SW of mag 3.6 Theta
Gem.
18"
(10/21/06): furthest south in a curving chain of 5 galaxies including NGC 2288,
NGC 2289,
17.5"
(12/19/87): third of five and brightest in the NGC 2289/NGC 2290 group. Fairly faint, fairly small, oval SW-NE,
bright core. NGC 2289 lies 2.6'
NNW and NGC 2288 1.8' NNW.
13"
(12/22/84): faint, small, elongated SW-NE, similar to NGC 2289 2.6' NNW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2290 = H III-898 = h410, along with NGC 2289, on 4 Feb 1793
(sweep 1031) and noted "Two, eF and vS. The place is taken between them. They are about 4' asunder and northern one which is the
largest precedes the other about 2 sec.
300x shows the same."
His RA is 15 sec too large, but the NPD is in between the pair. JH also observed the pair on sweep 51
(22 Jan 1827) and measured reasonably accurate positions.
George Stoney
independently found the entire quintet (NGC 2288, 2289, 2290, 2291, 2294) on 19
Apr 1849 and the group was accurately sketched. Dreyer credited LdR and d'Arrest (his single position is 10
sec of time too large) with the discovery in the GC supplement (GCS 5369) as he
was probably unsure of the identities of H III-897 and III-898. All positions in the GC and NGC are
offset roughly 4' too far south and 8 tsec too far west. In the NGC, Dreyer incorrectly assigned
III-897 to NGC 2290 or NGC 2291.
******************************
NGC 2291 = MCG
+06-15-013 = CGCG 175-020 = WBL 126-004 = PGC 19719
06 50 58.6 +33
31 30
V = 13.2; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.8
18"
(3/4/08): faint, fairly small, round, 30" diameter, weak concentration to
a very small slightly brighter core.
Collinear with a mag 10 star 2.7' NNW and a mag 12 star 0.9' NNW.
18"
(10/21/06): faint, small, round, 30" diameter, low surface
brightness. Located 2.8' SSE of a
mag 10 star. In a chain of 5
galaxies with NGC 2294 2.6' E and NGC 2289 3' SSW.
17.5"
(12/19/87): very faint, small, slightly elongated, even surface
brightness. Fourth of five in a
group. On a line with NGC 2288
4.0' SSW and NGC 2289 3.0' SSW.
NGC 2294 lies 2.6' ENE.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2291 on 22 Feb 1849 using Lord Rosse's 72", noting
"5 neb. in one field [with NGC 2288, 2289, 2290 and 2294]. It was labeled
Delta on the field sketch. Dreyer
assumed this nebula was JH's h409 (described as "eF; the northern of two,
3 or 4' apart") and possibly WH's III-897, but the Herschel designations
more likely apply to NGC 2289. The positions of all 5 galaxies (computed by
Dreyer and repeated in the GC and NGC) are offset 4' too far south and 8-9 sec
of RA too far west.
******************************
06 47 40 -26 44
48
V = 10.8; Size 4.1'x3.6'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 1d
17.5"
(1/20/90): very faint, very small, round, low even surface brightness. Forms a close pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2292 = h3063 on 2 Feb 1835 and described "a double nebula
[with NGC 2293], the preceding eF; the following (whose place is here set down)
pB; both R gbM; in a field full of stars, among which is also a third
nebula." His
description clearly refers to the double system
******************************
NGC 2293 = VV
178a = ESO 490-049 = MCG -04-16-023 = LGG 138-002 = PGC 19619
06 47 43 -26 45
12
V = 11.2; Size 4.2'x3.3'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 125d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, small, round, very bright core, stellar nucleus. In a tight group with NGC 2292 1' WNW
(double system in a common halo) and NGC 2295 4' W.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2293 = h3063 on 2 Feb 1835 and described "a double nebula
[with NGC 2292], the preceding eF; the following (whose place is here set down)
pB; both R gbM; in a field full of stars, among which is also a third
nebula." His
description clearly refers to the double system VV 178 = ESO 490-048/049,
although he reversed the orientation and position with NGC 2295! JH listed a single entry for both
galaxies, although Dreyer gave separate designations for
******************************
NGC 2294 = MCG
+06-15-014 = CGCG 175-021 = WBL 126-005 = PGC 19729
06 51 11.3 +33
31 38
V = 13.8; Size 0.9'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 6d
18"
(3/4/08): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 ~N-S, 0.6'x0.35', weak
concentration. Furthest NE in a
group of 5 NGCs. A wide double of
mag 10.5-11 stars lies 2' SE.
18"
(10/21/06): fairly faint, small, elongated 2:1 ~N-S, 0.6'x0.3', very weak
concentration. NGC 2291 lies 2.6' W and NGC 2288, NGC 2289 and NGC
2290 are all nearby to the SW. A
40" pair of mag 10.5-11.5 stars lies 2' SE.
17.5"
(12/19/87): fairly faint, small, oval ~N-S. Follows four stars on a line. Last of five in the NGC 2289/NGC 2290 group with NGC 2291
2.6' W.
13"
(12/22/84): very faint, extremely small, almost round, no details.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2294 on 22 Feb 1849, noting "5 neb. in one field
[with NGC 2288, 2289, 2290 and 2291]. It was labeled Epsilon on the field
sketch. The positions of all 5
galaxies (computed by Dreyer and repeated in the GC and NGC) are offset 4' too
far south and 9 tsec too far west.
******************************
NGC 2295 = ESO
490-047 = MCG -04-16-021 = PGC 19607
06 47 23.5 -26
44 09
V = 12.7; Size 2.1'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 46d
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, even surface
brightness. Located between two
mag 13 stars 30" SSW of center and 20" NNE or center. A similar star is also 1.5' N. First of three with the NGC 2292/2293
duo 4' E.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2295 = h3064 on 2 Feb 1835 and described as "eF; S; R;
between stars. A double nebula
precedes." His
description clearly refers to
******************************
06 48 39.1 -16
54 06
Size
1.9'x1.4'; PA = 145d
17.5"
(1/19/91): moderately bright but very small, round, very small bright
core. Sirius is 50' WNW and
creates a reflection in the field!
This object is probably a galactic diffuse nebula located within an
absorption patch.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2296 = Sw VI-28 on 11 Mar 1887 and recorded "vF; vS; R; in
finder field with Dog star."
His position is 0.7 min of RA too far east and 1' south. Bigourdan found this reflection nebula
again on 9 Mar 1890 while searching for NGC 2296, measured an accurate position
and Dreyer recatalogued Big. 147 as
******************************
06 44 24.6 -63
43 03
V = 12.7; Size 1.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2
18" (4/5/16
- Coonabarabran, 236x): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated N-S,
45"x30", contains a faint quasi-stellar nucleus. A mag 9.7 star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2297 = h3066 on 31 Jan 1835 and called "vF, R, vglbM,
30"." His position
(single sweep) is accurate.
******************************
06 48 59.2 -36
00 19
V = 9.2; Size 5'; Surf Br = 0.4
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 200x, this is a compact, fairly bright globular that
is well-concentrated with a bright 1.5' core and a fainter halo of ~3'
diameter. Roughly two dozen stars
are resolved (brightest cluster members are mag 13.4) including several across the
core and a number of stragglers, which are easier to resolve in the outer halo.
17.5"
(1/31/87): moderately large globular with no sharp core. A dozen stars are resolved over the
mottled disc.
8"
(1/1/84): no resolution, fairly small, smooth.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2298 = D 578 on 8
May 1826 and described "a pretty bright round nebula, 3' or 4' diameter,
moderately condensed to the centre. This is resolvable into stars." He made 6 observations and his
published position is 6' W of center of the globular.
JH observed the
globular (h3065) on four sweeps from the Cape of Good Hope, first recording it
on 2 Feb 1835 as "B, R, gpmbM, 3', all resolved into stars 14th mag. In
the centre is a star 13th mag."
******************************
06 51 54 -07 05
00
See observing
notes for
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2299 = h412 on 19 Jan 1828 and described "A coarse cl, not
v rich, 30 or 40 st, probably only an outlying portion of VIII 39 [NGC
2302]". There is nothing at
his position (about 7' W of mag 6.6
Harold Corwin
notes that JH's positional offset from NGC 2302 (discovered earlier by WH) is
"nearly the same as
******************************
NGC 2300 = Arp
114 = UGC 3798 = MCG +14-04-031 = CGCG 362-043 = CGCG 363-029 = LGG 145-003 =
07 32 20.0 +85
42 32
V = 11.1; Size 2.8'x2.0'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 80d
18"
(8/2/11): bright, moderately large, slightly elongated, ~1.5'x1.3'
diameter. Sharply concentrated
with a very bright core that increases steadily to the center. The halo fades out and increases with
averted vision. Forms a striking
pair with NGC 2276 just 6' NW.
Brightest in a group of galaxies near +85° declination.
18"
(3/13/04): fairly bright, fairly small, irregularly round, 1.2' diameter. Well concentrated with a bright
25" core and a much fainter irregular halo. Forms a trio with NGC 2276 6'
W and
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly bright, bright core, small fainter halo. Forms a pair with NGC 2276 7' W. IC 455 is 11' SSE.
8"
(1/1/84): moderately bright, small, bright core, slightly elongated.
Alphonse
Borrelly discovered NGC 2300 in 1871 or 1872 with a 7.2-inch comet-seeker at
the Marseille Observatory. He
noted "Nebula pretty bright, moderately extended, round; nucleus of 12-13
magnitude." and his micrometric position (MNRAS, 32, 248) is accurate. August Winnecke independently found the
galaxy on 26 Jun 1876 as well as Wilhelm Tempel (list V-21) in 1877. This galaxy is the 4th closest to
the pole in the NGC or IC.
******************************
06 51 45 +00 27
36
V = 6.0; Size 12'
17.5"
(2/28/87): ~60-70 stars in cluster.
A bright blue/yellow double star (h740 = 8.6/9.3 at 21") is near
the center. Many of the stars are
arranged in two strings oriented SW-NE which pass through the center.
13.1"
(1/1/84): striking, ~60 stars in cluster, dozens more nearby. A very elongated string passes through
the center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2301 = H VI-27 = h413 on 27 Dec 1786 (sweep 668) and described
"a very beautiful cluster of much compressed small and large stars of many
sizes, above 20' diameter." His
position is accurate. JH noted a
"double star in the chief group of a prety rich coarse cl, not very
compressed. Broken into 3
groups. The sp group is the
richest."
******************************
NGC 2302 = NGC
2299?? = OCL-554 = Lund 264
06 51 54 -07 05
00
V = 8.9; Size 3'
17.5"
(2/1/03): at 140x, this a fairly small group (~4' diameter) of roughly two
dozen stars embedded in a large, scattered field of stars. On the west side is a nice quadruple
including three mag 10 stars. On
the east side is a double and a triple star forming a "V"
asterism. Located 7' SE of mag 6.6
17.5": 20
stars resolved at 140X, in fairly small group. Not rich but includes some close doubles. The three brightest mag 10 stars form a
shallow arc on the west side with fourth fainter star nearby. On the east side is a V-shaped group of
six stars with the vertex at the east side. The central portion includes a few scattered stars with a
line of three stars on the south side.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2302 = H VIII-39 = h414 on 4 Mar 1785 (sweep 377) and recorded
"a cluster of scattered large stars, of various sizes, not very rich; but
taking up above 20 minutes."
His position is ~20 seconds of RA too large, though his description
includes the surrounding field. JH
measured an accurate position (measured on 3 sweeps). NGC 2299 = NGC 2302 is a duplicate observation (see notes).
******************************
06 56 17.5 +45
29 34
V = 12.6; Size 1.5'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, very small, round, small bright core, stellar nucleus.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2303 = Sw VI-29 on 24 Nov 1886 with a 16" refractor at
Warner Observatory. His position is 11 tsec west and 23" north of
******************************
06 55 12 +17 59
18
Size 5'
13.1"
(12/22/84): ~20 faint stars, unresolved haze, rich, elongated WSW-ENE in a thin
wedge.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2304 = H VI-2 = h415 on 30 Dec 1783 (early sweep 68) and
recorded "a cluster of extremely small stars, very much compressed, 5 or
6' diameter. The stars of the
cluster are of unequal sizes but chiefly of two sorts, vS and eS. I viewed them with a power of 500 and
found them very numerous and compressed.
The cluster is of an irregular oval or almost round form." Auwer's reduction is 40 sec of RA east
of the cluster. JH measured an accurate
position on sweep 313 and noted a "pretty rich cl; acutangular, the acute
angle precedes; the p side is bounded by a remarkably definite line..."
******************************
NGC 2305 = ESO
087-044 = PGC 19641
06 48 37.8 -64
16 24
V = 11.7; Size 2.0'x1.5'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 140d
18" (4/5/16
- Coonabarabran, 236x): moderately to fairly bright, fairly small, slightly
elongated NW-SE, 50"x40", sharply concentrated with a very bright
small core. Bracketed by two close
stars; a mag 12.5 star is 35" S of center and a mag 11.6 star is less than
30" E of center. Forms a pair
with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2305 = h3067, along with NGC 2307 = h3068, on 30 Nov 1834 and
recorded, "F; vS; R; makes a small triangle with 2 stars." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 54 30 -07 12
18
Size 20'x10'
18"
(1/26/09): at 175x, ~75 stars are resolved in an 18'x10' Milky Way group or
cloud that streams WSW to ENE. The
richest portion is on the west side just south of mag 8.6
WH (VIII 51)
noted this object as "a cluster of very scattered stars" and JH, who observed it three times
(h416) described as an outlying portion of VIII 39 = NGC 2302 and "has no
title to be called a cluster."
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2306 = H VIII-51 = h416 on 23 Feb 1786 (sweep 528) and noted
"a very much scattered cluster." JH made 3 observation and described
an outlying portion of NGC 2302 = H VIII-39 that "has no title to be
called a cluster." Karl Reimuth also comments "many st, but nothing
like a cluster.", based on its photographic appearance. RNGC classifies the number nonexistent
(Type 7). See
Corwin'sidentification notes.
******************************
NGC 2307 = ESO
087-045 = PGC 19648
06 48 50.8 -64
20 07
V = 12.0; Size 1.7'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 142d
18" (4/5/16
- Coonabarabran, 236x): slightly larger and fainter of a pair with NGC 2305 4'
NNW. Appeared moderately bright
and large, roundish, contains a bright elongated core or "bar"
oriented NW-SE [~40" in length] with a diffuse halo ~1.3' diameter.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2307 = h3068 (along with NGC 2305 = h3067) on 30 Nov 1834 and
noted "vF; pL; lE; in the parallel." His position is accurate.
******************************
06 58 37.6 +45
12 38
V = 13.2; Size 1.8'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 170d
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, oval 2:1 N-S. Overpowered by 16 Lyncis (V = 4.9) located 9' SW in the
field.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2308 = St VI-5 on 13 Jan 1872 with the 31" silvered-glass
reflector at the Marseille Observatory.
His position matches
******************************
06 56 04 -07 10
30
Size 3'
17.5"
(1/1/92): three dozen stars mag 11-15, fairly rich, compact, 4' diameter. Most stars are located within two streams. The brighter stars in the southern
stream are oriented E-W. A fainter
star lane to north is oriented NW-SE.
At the NW end it hooks NE to mag 9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2309 = H VI-18 = h417 on 4 Mar 1785 (sweep 377) and logged
"a cluster of considerably compressed small stars, pretty rich, 8 or 9'
diameter, irr figure. With a smaller
aperture it would probably appear nebulous." JH called it "a cluster, not v rich; 4' diam' irreg
fig' st 12...13m." He
observed it on 3 sweeps.
******************************
06 53 54.0 -40
51 45
V = 11.8; Size 4.4'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 47d
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x appears as a fairly faint, very thin edge-on
splinter oriented SW-NE, 1.0'x0.15'.
Contains a stellar nuclues.
Situated in a fairly rich Puppis starfield. This edge-on galaxy has a "box-peanut" central
bulge (similar to
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2310 = h3069 on 2 Jan 1835 and described "pB; vmE; pos
46.6°; psbM; 90" l; 10" br; in a field very full of small stars. His position and description is
accurate.
******************************
06 57 48 -04 36
42
Size 7'
18"
(3/4/08): at 225x, ~40 stars are resolved in a fairly rich 5'x3' group,
elongated NW-SE. The cluster
includes a few pairs with a nice equal mag pair on the south side. A weak stream of stars trails off to
the east from the SE end of the cluster towards a mag 9.8/10.4/13 triple at
3" and 9" (ADS 5636).
17.5"
(1/1/92): three dozen stars mag 11-15 in 5'x2' region elongated ~N-S. Fairly rich though no dense spots. Most stars form a thin isosceles
triangle with the vertex star mag 13 at the north end, although the brightest
star is a wide double 2' ESE of the vertex. From the base of the triangle a stream heads SE and then
east from the cluster mixing with some brighter field stars. The cluster includes a few close faint
double stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2311 = H VIII-60 = h418 on 26 Nov 1786 (sweep 639) and described
"a cluster of pL scattered stars, not very rich. The place taken is the most compressed part, but not the
middle. May be a projecting point
of the milky way." His
position is is just northeast of center of this cluster.
******************************
06 58 48 +10 17
42
17.5"
(2/1/03): stands out reasonably well in the field at 140x with ~16 stars,
highlighted by a mag 10 star at the south end. The group is ~4'x1.5' in size, elongated N-S and includes a
close, faint double on the NE end, which was noticed at 220x. Listed as nonexistent in the RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2312 = h419 on 30 Nov 1834 and recorded a "A poor
cluster. The largest *10
taken." His position
corresponds with a mag 10 star at 06 58 50.0 +10 15 38 (J2000) with a
scattering of mag 12 stars to the north . Karl Reimuth called this group a
"loose clustering of pF st.", based on Heidelberg plates. The RNGC
classifies the number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
06 58 02.8 -07
56 42
Size 1.6'
18"
(2/3/05): at 225x this reflection nebula appears as a very faint, very small,
low surface brightness glow surrounding a mag 14 illuminating star,
~15"-20" diameter.
Situated within a rich Milky Way field which has a mottled appearance at
low power. Located 20' NE of mag
6.3
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2313 on 4 Jan 1862. His position (measured on 3 nights) matches this small
reflection nebula. He also
measured a mag 15 star that follows by 6 seconds of time and a mag 11 star that
follows by 14 seconds. Dreyer,
observing with the 72" on 15 Feb 1877, recorded "pF, pS, iR, fades
away nf, 2 F st f about 1'."
The RNGC misclassifies this object as nonexistent and it is not plotted
on the Uranometria 2000.0 Atlas.
******************************
07 10 32.6 +75
19 37
V = 12.2; Size 1.7'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 25d
17.5"
(8/27/87): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, bright core,
stellar nucleus.
17.5"
(2/27/87): moderately bright, fairly small, round, small bright core, stellar
nucleus. 25' to the west is a nice
double ∑973 = 7.1/8.1 at 12".
Forms a pair with IC 2174 6' WNW.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2314 = T IX-5 on 1 Aug 1883 with the 11" refractor at the
Arcetri Observatory. His
description says "follows close on the same parallel against the mag 7
star DM +75 ° 281, the latter is a double star". Although his rough RA is good (nearest min), the galaxy lies
6' N of the double star.
******************************
07 02 33.0 +50
35 27
V = 13.6; Size 1.3'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 116d
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, small, edge-on WNW-ESE, bright core. Located 4' S of mag 8.4
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2315 = h420 on 16 Feb 1831 and simply noted "eF;
doubtful." His RA was roughly
10 tsec too large. Bigourdan
measured an accurate position on 15 Nov 1885 (repeated in the
******************************
06 59 40.8 -07
46 40
Size 4'x3'
13.1"
(2/25/84): moderately bright nebulosity, small, possibly surrounds two
stars. Located just 1' S is an
obtuse triangle of mag 12 stars.
Enhanced with a Deep Sky filter.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2316 = H II-304 = h421 on 4 Mar 1785 (sweep 377) and noted
"3 or 4 stars, containing vF nebulosity. 240 would not resolve it; but showed the same
nebulosity." Bindon Stoney
observed it on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and called it a "S
close D neb, below 3 st, 2 stellar points (or nuclei)." The 3 stars are just south. The second nuclei received the
designations GC 1478 = NGC 2317. Heinrich d'Arrest measured an accurate
position (#76 in AN 1500).
******************************
06 59 41.5 -07
46 29
13.1"
(2/25/84): part of NGC 2316. See
NGC 2316 for description.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2317 on Feb 20 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and recorded NGC
2316 = H II-304 as a "S close
D neb, below 3 st, 2 stellar points (or nuclei)." The nebula was sketched on Nov 23 1851
and included in LdR's 1861 publication. The RA is is only roughly given in the
GC and the NGC (nearest min of RA).
The RNGC misclassifies this number as nonexistent although NGC 2317 is
part of NGC 2316.
******************************
06 59 27 -13 41
54
17.5"
(2/1/03): this is just a weak enhancement of mag 11-13 stars in a Milky Way
field, perhaps only noticed by Herschel because of the mag 8.2
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2318 = H VII-14 = h422 = h3070 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 370) and
logged "a cluster of stars above 20' in dia, the stars much
scattered." JH observed the
group both at Slough, England and at the Cape of Good Hope. At the Cape he described "A large
region full of scattered stars forming a cluster of which the chief (=8 m)
taken. It seems, however to be
only a clustering part of the milky way which here comes on rather
suddenly." His position
corresponds with mag 8.6 SAO 152208 at 06 59 28.4 -13 41 49 (J2000). RNGC classifies this number as
nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
07 00 32 +03 02
48
17.5"
(2/1/03): very nice 15' string of a couple dozen stars heading west of a mag
8.9
William Herschel
possibly discovered NGC 2319 on 18 Dec 1783 (early sweep 48) and noted "a
cluster of vS stars not very rich."
He states this cluster follows 18 Mon by 11 minutes, but only gave a
rough polar distance (75' range).
It was assigned the internal discovery #12, but not an H-designation.
JH rediscovered
NGC 2319 = h423 in March 1830 (unknown if he was searching for his father's
#12) and recorded a "Linear cluster of stars 11..13m forming a bent line
nearly 15' long, terminating on the following side by a *8 whose place is that
here taken." His position
corresponds with mag 8.8 SAO 114784 at 07 01 06.5 +03 03 11. The "bent line" of stars preceding
is oriented WNW-ESE and is fairly striking. JH equated h423 with his father's #12, but identified it as
VIII-1 (the previous class VIII object discovered by his father). In the GC, he referred to it as
VIII-1B. In the 1912 revision of
WH's catalogues, Dreyer gives the details of the sweep. Steinicke equates VIII-1B = h423,
though this identification is likely uncertain. The RNGC classifies this number
as nonexistent (probably an asterism).
******************************
07 05 42.0 +50
34 51
V = 11.9; Size 1.4'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 140d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, small, spindle NW-SE, weak concentration. Located 1.7' WSW of mag 9.0 SAO
26147. Brightest of three with NGC
2322 5' SE and
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2320 = H II-861 = h424, along with
******************************
NGC 2321 = UGC
3663 = MCG +08-13-053 = CGCG 234-051 = PGC 20141
07 05 59.0 +50
45 22
V = 13.6; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 135d
17.5"
(1/20/90): very faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, low even surface
brightness. NGC 2320 lies 11' SSW.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2321 on 18 Dec 1849 using LdR's 72" and labeled Beta
in the sketch of the field (includes NGC 2320, 2322 and 2326). Although this was an early discovery,
it was not included in the 1861 publication so did not receive a GC
designation. Dreyer added it in the GC Supplement (GCS 6248). Bigourdan measured an accurate position
on 15 Nov 1885 (repeated in the IC 2 notes).
******************************
NGC 2322 = UGC
3662 = MCG +08-13-054 = CGCG 234-050 = PGC 20142
07 06 00.3 +50
30 37
V = 13.8; Size 1.1'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 136d
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, small, elongated NW-SE, even surface brightness. Forms a pair with NGC 2320 5' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2322 = H III-874, along with NGC 2320 = H II-861, on 28 Dec 1790
(sweep 990) and noted "vF, vS, lE." His position (Auwer's reduction) is 2.5' too far northwest,
the same offset as NGC 2320.
Bigourdan measured an accurate position on 15 Nov 1885 (repeated in the
IC2 Notes).
******************************
07 02 48 -08 22
36
V = 5.9; Size 16'
18"
(3/15/10): very bright, fairly scattered cluster, though contains a richer
subgroup. About 125-150 stars were
resolved at 175x in the central 10'-12'.
The cluster has roughly a triangular or wedge-shaped outline,
highlighted by an 8' string of stars oriented ~E-W on the north side (including
mag 9.0
13.1"
(3/24/84): ~75 stars including some brighter stars at the south and northeast
borders. There are a few dense
spots and many stragglers. An
orange/red mag 8 star is at the south edge and a nice 16" pair of mag 9/11
stars (h748) is 1' NW. There is an
elongated 4'x3' region that is devoid of stars just north of the colored mag 8
star. Located 42' E of mag 6.0 HD
52312.
Giovanni
Domenico Cassini possibly discovered
******************************
07 04 08 +01 02
42
V = 8.4; Size 8'
17.5"
(3/20/93: 65 stars mag 10-14 in very irregular 8' diameter. Includes two mag 10 stars at the NE
corner and NW side. Includes
several mag 12 stars but rich in mag 13-14 stars. Somewhat uneven distribution of very faint stars due to a
couple of 2' diameter dark voids; one near the center. The cluster includes several very
close, faint double stars.
8": rich in
faint stars 12-13, includes two mag 9 stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2324 = H VII-38 = h427 on 27 Dec 1786 (sweep 668) and noted
"a beautiful cluster of small stars of several sizes, considerably
compressed and rich in the middle, 10 or 12' diameter." JH observed the cluster on 3 sweeps,
first logging it as a "rich L cl; fills field; st 14...16m; not comp
towards a centre."
******************************
07 02 40.3 -28
41 50
V = 11.4; Size 3.3'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 6d
13.1"
(3/3/84): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated N-S. A mag 12 star is off the SE edge 1.6' from center. Located in a rich star field.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2325 = h3071 on 1 Feb 1837 and recorded "pB; pL; lE; gbM;
r; 2' long." His position
(single sweep) matches
******************************
07 08 11.0 +50
40 55
V = 13.1; Size 1.9'x1.8'; Surf Br = 14.3
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, fairly small, irregularly round, bright core. Four mag 12-12.5 stars in a group lie
3' W. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2326 = H II-734 = h426 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and recorded
"F, pL, iF, mbM, S.f. a triangle of small stars." His position is 2' north of
The RNGC has a
poor position 0.3 tmin of RA too far east and 3' north. NGC 2326A, located just 4.8' SE, is
correctly placed in RNGC. Listed in RNGC Corrections #5.
******************************
07 04 07.2 -11
18 51
18" (2/23/06):
moderately bright, 1' reflection nebula surrounding a mag 9.5 star with a mag
12 companion at 7". Viewed
unfiltered at 225x.
17.5"
(3/8/02): small but high surface brightness reflection nebula surrounding an
unequal pair of mag 9.5/12.5 stars at 7" separation. At 280x, the nebulosity is round and
approximately 50" in size although it fades smoothly into the background
and may be a bit larger. This
small knot of nebulosity is at the western end of a striking arc of 6 stars
which trail off to the NE. The
next star in the arc, 1.5' E, also seems to be encased in a very small
halo. A similar mag 9.5 comparison
star (with no halo) lies 4' ESE and several other mag 9.5-10.5 stars are
scattered across the field. The
background sky in this vicinity is weakly luminous, as NGC 2327 is situated
midway along the western side of
This bright
nebula was discovered by William Herschel (IV 25) in 1785 and reobserved by his
son, John. Although their
positions and descriptions match this object there is a great deal of confusion in the literature as to
its identification and position and some sources misidentify NGC 2327 with the
much larger Sh 2-292 = Gum 1 located 50' to the north (also associated with IC
2177).
13"
(12/22/84): fairly faint reflection nebula, fairly small, surrounds a mag 8
star (close unequal double).
Located along the faint, extremely large, curving strip of nebulosity =
IC 2177.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2327 = H IV-25 = h428 on 31 Jan 1785 (sweep 363) and described
"A pretty considerable star with vF and vS milky chevelure of an irregular
chevelure, other stars of the same size are perfectly free from that
appearance." JH reported
"a double star whose large star is in the center of a very faint nebula
which involves the small star also."
His position of 07 04 07.6 -11 19.0 pins down the identification as a
compact HII/Reflection nebula on the west side of the Seagull Nebula. In 1886,
Engelhardt also published an accurate micrometric position of 07 04 07.77 -11 18 56.6 (J2000). Herbert Howe noted the central star is
double with separation 7".
Despite JH's
accurate position and description, there has been a great deal of confusion in
the literature as to the identification and position.
******************************
07 02 36.1 -42
04 06
V = 12.8; Size 1.6'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 115d
18"
(2/19/09): at 175x appeared very faint, small, round, 20" diameter
(probably viewed brighter core region only). Steadily visible with direct vision though viewed at a very
low elevation, so the surface brightness of the core is moderately high. Starhopped from mag 5.2
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2328 = h3072 on 1 Jan 1835 and recorded "F; vS; R; pslbM;
15"; like a blotted star; in field with many small stars." His position (measured on two sweeps)
is accurate.
******************************
07 09 08.0 +48
36 55
V = 12.5; Size 1.3'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 175d
18"
(1/13/07): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 N-S, 0.8'x0.5', small
bright core. Brightest in the core
of
18"
(11/18/06): moderately bright, moderately large, oval 4:3 N-S, 1.2'x0.9',
contains a large, brighter core.
This galaxy and UGC 3696, located 2.8' NE, are the brightest member of
AGC 569. I observed 7 members of
the cluster at 280x.
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, bright core. A mag 15 star is 0.7' W of center. Three mag 14 stars lie 1.7' W, 1.3' NE
and 2.0' NE. Forms a pair with UGC
3696 3' ENE. Brightest member of
AGC 569.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2329 = H II-735 = h429 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and called
"F, stellar." His position is 3' east of
Although usually
classified as a Lenticular Galaxy, recent studies have concluded NGC 2329 is a
'cluster dominant' Elliptical Galaxy (cD). It is an x-ray source with a radio
jet streaming from its core, like many other cD's. In addition that is also a
'radio tail' extending from this galaxy.
******************************
07 09 28.4 +50
09 08
V = 14.7; Size 0.4'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.2
17.5"
(1/20/90): extremely faint and small, round. A mag 15 star is 1' NE. Located 2' SW of
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2330 on 2 Jan 1851as the observing assistant on Lord Rosse's
72". He noted a small nebula,
labeled "b" on the published diagram, and placed it SSW of NGC 2332
(the direction of drift is reversed on the sketch). At this position is
Although 9
nebulae were found at Birr Castle over 3 nights, the 1861 publication only
included the comment "several knots around" NGC 2332. JH added just one new entry in the GC
(1492), which Dreyer assigned to either NGC 2330 and
Since absolute
positions were not computed at Birr Castle, Dreyer relied on Bigourdan's
erroneous position (he measured a faint star) for NGC 2330. As a result NGC 2330 was misplaced 2.4'
north of NGC 2332 instead of south-southwest (as on the 1851 sketch). In 1893, Hermann Kobold measured an
accurate position and Dreyer catalogued it as IC 457. Assuming this is the nebula Dreyer had in mind as NGC 2330
(Malcolm Thomson disagrees), then NGC 2330 = IC 457 = CGCG 234-074. Ironically, Bigourdan measured accurate
positions for the other Rosse nebulae in 1885, but these were not published
until 1919, so Kobold (and LdR) were given credit for these in the IC.
The RNGC
reverses the identifications of NGC 2330 and NGC 2332, making NGC 2330 the
brighter northern member of the pair and incorrectly describes NGC 2332 as
"almstel" (same error in MCG).
UGC and CGCG label NGC 2330 as IC 457. See RNGC Corrections #5 and Corwin's notes for much more on
this complicated story!
******************************
07 07 00 +27 15
42
Size 18'
17.5"
(1/20/90): at 82x, very large scattered group of about 40 stars mag 10-14, 15'
diameter. There is a small circle
of 6 stars at the east end. The classification of this group as a true cluster
is doubtful.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2331 = H VIII-40 = h432 on 11 Mar 1785 (sweep 384) and recorded
"some clustering, large scattered stars; many of an equal size." JH noted this as "a small cluster
of 10 or a doze st 11...13m in an ellipse."
******************************
NGC 2332 =
(R)NGC 2330 = UGC 3699 = MCG +08-13-079 = CGCG 234-075 = WBL 133-002 = PGC
20276
07 09 34.2 +50
10 56
V = 12.8; Size 1.5'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 60d
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE, bright core, stellar
nucleus. A mag 15 star is 1' SW. Forms a pair with NGC 2330 = IC 457 2'
SW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2332 = h430 on 8 Mar 1831 and recorded "F; S; R psbM;
12"." His position
matches
The
identications of NGC 2330 and NGC 2332 are reversed in the RNGC and MCG.
******************************
07 08 21.3 +35
10 12
V = 13.3; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 35d
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, very small, sharp stellar nucleus surrounded by faint oval
halo 3:2 ~N-S.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2333 = H III-899 = h431 on 4 Feb 1793 (sweep 1031) and noted
"vF, S, nearly R, bM."
******************************
NGC 2334 = IC
465 = MCG +08-13-098 = CGCG 234-095 = WBL 133-012 = PGC 20357
07 11 33.6 +50
14 53
V = 13.6; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 70d
18"
(12/18/06): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, 0.5'x0.4',
gradually increases to a very small, brighter core. Furthest NE in a group of 7 galaxies in the field and 5.8'
NE of the brightest member, NGC 2340.
This galaxy is generally identified as
17.5"
(1/20/90): faint, small, round, bright core. Last of four galaxies in a 20' field and located 5.8' NE of
NGC 2340. Identification as NGC
2334 is uncertain.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2334 on 2 Jan 1851 as the observing assistant on LdR's
72". He noted a small nebula
(unlabeled on a sketch of h433 = NGC 2340), which was noted as 6'
south-following NGC 2340.
Unfortunately the direction of drift was confused as
Although 9
nebulae were found at Birr Castle on 3 nights, the 1861 publication only
included the comment "several knots around" NGC 2332. JH added just one new entry in the GC
(GC 1492), which Dreyer assigned to either NGC 2330 and NGC 2334 (with question
marks) and the additional Rosse nebulae were not included in the NGC.
Since absolute
positions weren't computed at Birr Castle, Dreyer relied on Bigourdan's
erroneous position for NGC 2334 (he measured a faint star 3' ENE of NGC
2332). In 1893, Hermann Kobold
measured an accurate position for Stoney's nebula and Dreyer recatalogued it as
IC 465. So, NGC 2334 = IC
465. Ironically, Bigourdan
measured accurate positions for the other Rosse nebulae in 1885, but these were
not published until 1919, so Kobold (and LdR) were given credit in the IC. Karl Reinmuth couldn't find NGC 2334
(at Bigourdan's position) and noted "in Dreyer's place not found, = IC
464?"
The question
remains if IC 465 is the galaxy Dreyer meant as NGC 2334. Dreyer credits both Rosse and Kobold in
the IC, so this seems probable, although Malcolm Thomson disagrees. MCG, CGCG, PGC, SIMBAD all label this
galaxy as IC 465 and not NGC 2334.
NED and HyperLeda give the equivalence. See Corwin's identification
notes for more on this complicated situation.
******************************
07 06 49 -10 01
42
V = 7.2; Size 12'
18"
(2/23/06): at 225x, ~75 stars are resolved in a 10'x5' region elongated
N-S. The cluster is broken up by a
circular void on the south side that extends to the west in a dark (dust)
lane. Also an elongated
rectangular-shaped void of stars is on the north side of the cluster. The brightest cluster star is on the
northeast side and is part of a "keystone" asterism that mimics the
shape of the main body of Hercules.
A mag 7 star lies 10' ENE outside the borders of the cluster. The Milky Way background is very patchy
in this vicinity and appears significantly affected by dust in the region and
possible nebulosity. This affect is best seen at 115x (20 Nagler). Located just north of IC 2177 = Seagull
Nebul, an extremely long N-S string of nebulosity.
17.5"
(3/20/93): 50-60 stars mag 10.5-14 in a 10' diameter. Mag 6.9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2335 = H VIII-32 on 10 Jan 1785 (sweep 356) and reported "a
cluster of coarsely scattered stars of many sizes, pretty rich, more than 15'
diameter." His position is on
the west side of this open cluster.
******************************
07 27 03.8 +80
10 43
V = 10.4; Size 7.1'x3.9'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 178d
17.5"
(8/27/87): fairly bright, fairly large, bright core, faint halo elongated
N-S. A mag 15 star is superimposed
just east of the core. Located
3.6' SSE of a mag 10 star.
17.5"
(2/22/87): fairly bright, small bright core surrounded by a large, diffuse halo
elongated 2:1 N-S. Located 26' S
of a mag 7.3 star.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2336 = T I-22 in 1876 with the 11" refractor at the Arcetri
Observatory and described a "beautiful II class nebula, R, lbM, 2'
diameter, forms a triangle with two mag 10-11 stars." Tempel's very rough position (only the
hour of RA is given!) is off by 2.5 tmin of RA (west) and 3' dec (north) and
the two stars in the description are just north.
******************************
07 10 13.6 +44
27 26
V = 12.5; Size 2.2'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 120d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ENE, even surface
brightness. Bracketed by a mag 14
star 1.1' SW and a mag 13.5 star 1.3' ENE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2337 = St VIIIb-19 on 17 Jan 1877 with the 31" reflector at
the Marseille Observatory. His
position matches
******************************
NGC 2338
07 07 47 -05 43
12
17.5"
(2/3/03): roughly 3 dozen stars in an elongated N-S group, ~8'x3'. Includes a few mag 11 stars, with the
rest of stars mag 12-14. Just
stands out at 100x as a weak field enhancement and detached enough in the field
that a definite border can be traced out.
Still this is probably just an unrelated group of stars and NGC 2338 is
listed as nonexistent in the RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2338 = h435 on 19 Jan 1828 and noted a "Very loose and
straggling cluster." There is
nothing noticeable at JH's (uncertain) position. In 1926, Karl Reinmuth noted (based on Heidelberg plates)
"many st, but nothing like a cluster." and RNGC classifies the number
as nonexistent (Type 7). Harold
Corwin suggests that NGC 2338 is a group of stars ~50 tsec of RA east and 5'
south of his position. If a
similar offset is applied to NGC 2299 (found by JH on the same sweep), it
matches NGC 2302, so this error is quite plausible.
******************************
07 08 20.5 +18
46 49
V = 11.8; Size 2.7'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 175d
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly faint, nearly round, very weak concentration, low surface
brightness. A mag 13.5 star is
superimposed at the east edge 30" from center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2339 = H II-769 = h434 on 22 Feb 1789 (sweep 906) and recorded
it as "pB, pL, iR, easily resolvable, bM.". His position is 16 sec of RA east of
******************************
NGC 2340 = UGC
3720 = MCG +08-13-096 = CGCG 234-091 = WBL 133-010 = PGC 20338
07 11 10.8 +50
10 28
V = 11.7; Size 1.8'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 80d
18"
(12/18/06): moderately bright, moderately large, oval 3:2 WSW-ENE, 1.5'x1.0',
large bright core increases gradually to the center. A mag 12 star lies 1.7' NW. Brightest in a group of 12 galaxies (WBL 133) incuding IC
464 2.5' SSW. Beyond
17.5"
(1/20/90): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated E-W, bright core. Brightest of four in the field with IC
458, IC 464 and IC 465 = NGC 2334?
Two mag 12 stars lie 1.7' NW and 2.4' WNW of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2340 = H II-736 = h433 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and called
"pF, vS, lbM, resolvable."
His position (CH's reduction) is just off the east edge of the
galaxy. Harold Corwin concludes
that H II-862 (found on sweep 990, 28 Dec 1890), although equated with NGC 2332
= h430, is actually a duplicate observation of this galaxy. JH described this object as "pB;
pL; R; gbM; 25"; two small stars preceding." and measured a more
accurate position.
******************************
07 09 12.1 +20
36 10
V = 13.2; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.6
17.5" (1/20/90):
faint, very small, slightly elongated E-W. A mag 13.5 star is 0.7' N. Forms a pair with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2341 = m 100 (along with NGC 2342 = m 101) on 10 Nov 1864 with
Lassell's 48" on Malta. His
position matches
******************************
NGC 2342 = UGC
3709 = MCG +03-19-004 = CGCG 086-007 = Holm 86a = PGC 20265
07 09 18.1 +20
38 11
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 126d
17.5"
(1/20/90): moderately bright, moderately large, irregularly round, slightly
elongated SW-NE, slightly brighter along major axis but no core. Forms a pair with NGC 2341 2.5' WSW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2342 = m 101 (along with NGC 2341 = m 100) on 10 Nov 1864 with
Lassell's 48" on Malta. His
position matches
******************************
07 08 07 -10 37
00
V = 6.7; Size 7'
18"
(2/23/06): at 225x, three dozen stars are resolved in a fairly scattered, but
well-detached 5' group. The
brightest star at the southeast end is a wide double (∑1028) with a mag 8.8
yellow primary and a mag 11 bluish secondary at 11". The stars are arranged in long winding
strings with a couple of offshoots.
There are no dense areas and the strings appear to wrap around regions
devoid of stars. Located off the
northeast end of IC 2177. Two
ill-defined groups,
17.5"
(3/20/93): two dozen stars mag 8-13 in compact 5' diameter. The cluster has a distinctive boxy
shape but is not rich. Includes an
unequal double star ∑1028 = 8.8/11.1 at 11" at the east side. Stars are arranged in small subgroups
with no central concentration, well detached in field. Located off the NE end of the huge,
strip of nebulosity IC 2177.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2343 = H VIII-33 on 10 Jan 1785 (sweep 356) and called it
"a cluster of scattered large stars, not so extensive as the last [NGC
2335], nor so rich." His
position is just off the southeast side of the cluster.
******************************
07 12 28.7 +47
10 00
V = 12.0; Size 1.7'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.0
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, round, broad mild concentration, faint
stellar nucleus, edges fade smoothly into background.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2344 = Sw VI-30 on 24 Nov 1886. His position is 16 sec of RA west and 81" north of UGC
3734 = PGC 20395 and his description "pB, pS, R" applies. Hermann Kobold measured an accurate
position at the Strassburg Observatory in 1893.
******************************
07 08 19 -13 11
36
V = 7.7; Size 12'
17.5"
(3/20/93): 50 stars mag 9-14 in 10'x8' region elongated SW-NE. Fairly rich in faint stars. Includes the pretty double h3930 =
9.7/10.6 at 15" on the north side.
Near the center is a small clump of about 8 stars including an unequal
triple star. Located midway
between mag 8
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2345 = h3073 on 14 Feb 1836 and recorded "a pretty rich
cluster; irregular fig; 7' diam; gbM; stars 10..14 m; place that of a double
star, the chief *." His
position corresponds with HJ 3930 = 9.7/10.6 at 15".
******************************
07 09 22.5 -00
48 23
V = 11.9; Size 60"x50"
17.5"
(2/2/02): easily picked up at 100x as a fairly small, round halo surrounding a
bright mag 11.5 star. Nice view at
280x and 380x. The halo is
irregularly round, ~50"x45" with a slightly uneven surface brightness
and it appears a bit thinner or pinched on the NW side. Modest contrast gain with a UHC filter
at 100x-280x, although this object does not require a filter.
13"
(1/11/86): bright mag 11.5 central star surrounded by fairly small, round
disc. Located between two mag 13
stars 0.8' E and 1.2' W. View
enhanced with Daystar 300 filter.
Central star is the variable V651 Mon (mag 11.3-13.5).
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2346 = H IV-65 on 5 Mar 1790 (sweep 935) and recorded "a
pretty considerable star, 9 or 10m, visibly affected with vF nebulosity, of
very little extent all around. A power of 300 shewed the same, but gave a little
more extent to the nebulosity. The 22d Monocerotis was quite free from
nebulosity." CH's reduced
position is 1° too far south, but a note was added on the sweep there may be an
error of 1°, due to a confusion on the polar distance.
Dreyer observed
the PN on 14 Feb 1877 with the 72" at Birr Castle and reported "*9
mag seems nebulous, especially on the n or np side. At last we agreed that it was nebulous all round. About 4' sp is a reddish *10 with a
white-bluish *11 1' south. The
nebulous star has a bluish tint."
******************************
07 16 04.0 +64
42 41
V = 12.5; Size 1.8'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 175d
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, fairly small, bright core, slightly elongated N-S,
diffuse. Located 4' S of mag 7.3
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2347 = H III-746 on 1 Nov 1788 (sweep 879) and recorded,
"vF, S, R lbM." His
position, based on Auwers' reduction, is 3.3' N of
Bigourdan later
observed this field in 1894 and 1900. His position for B. 267 = IC 2179 in
Comptes Rendus is 07 15 33 +64 57 (2000), which is an excellent match for UGC
3750. CGCG, UGC, MOL, DSFG, RC3,
PGC and U2000 all label this galaxy as IC 2179. But, Bigourdan's listing in his complete Observations, etc.
for B. 267 corresponds with UGC 3759, the galaxy identified as NGC 2347 in
modern catalogues and his listing for NGC 2347 matches UGC 3750 (Corwin notes
an error in his identification of the reference star). So, Bigourdan reverses
the modern identifications.
The question
still remains - which of these two galaxies is WH's III-746? See Corwin's identification notes for
more on this story (also analyzed by Malcolm Thomson).
******************************
07 03 03 -67 23
36
Size 11'
25"
(10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; bright, distinctive group of stars appears fully
resolved, ~10' diameter, ~35 stars mag 10-14. A bright mag 9.9 star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2348 = h3074 on 31 Jan 1835 and recorded as a "Coarse loose
cluster of about 30 stars, many 11m, one 10m taken." His position corresponds with a mag 10
star in the center of an 8' circular cluster or group.
RNGC calls this
"an unverified southern cluster" and neither Lynga, ESO or WEBDA has a listing for this
object. Bica et al includes NGC
2348 in a 2001 paper on "Dissolving star cluster candidates"
******************************
07 10 48 -08 36
17.5"
(2/3/03): group of ~30 stars, elongated SW-NE, ~8'x3'. Stands out reasonably well in the field
an over background haze but is probably just an asterism. Most stars are 12-14th magnitude. This group is ~11' following John
Herschel's position, but the star density is richer on this group. Listed as
nonexistent in the RNGC.
Caroline
Herschel discovered NGC 2349 = H VII-27 = h436 on 4 Mar 1783. Three years later on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep
529), WH recorded "An irregular cluster of extremely small stars,
considerably compressed, 9 or 10' l, 4 or 5' b with an extending branch towards
sp." Close to his position
(Auwers' reduction) is the group of stars described in my observation. JH recorded "a poor straggling cl,
place of a D*", but his position is 1 min of RA too far west and
corresponds with a mag 10/11.5 at 30" separation that is not involved in
any clustering. Unfortunately JH
used his own position in the GC and it was repeated by Dreyer in the NGC.
Based on Heidelberg
plates, Karl Reinmuth noted "many st in a dense region, very little
clustering." RNGC classifies
the number nonexistent (Type 7).
See Harold Corwin's identification notes.
******************************
07 13 12.2 +12
15 58
V = 12.3; Size 1.3'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 110d
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, bright core. Several mag 14 stars are near including
one 1' SE of core. A nice double
star (mag 10/10 at 20" separation) lies 10' NNE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2350 = St VI-6 on 18 Sep 1871 with the 31" reflector at the
Marseille Observatory. His
position matches
******************************
07 13 29 -11 29
12
=Not found,
Gottlieb. Possibly a scattered
group around two stars, wrong dec in NGC, Corwin.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2351 = h437 on 9 Mar 1828 and noted as "A loose straggling
cluster, place of double star." There is nothing at his position and even
the double star doesn't seem to be there. Exactly 1 degree north is a mag
9.4/12 double star at 12" separation with two mag 9/10.9 stars 1' NW and
1' SW. But there is no obvious
clustering here on the POSS.
Alister Ling questions if this object is a duplicate of
******************************
07 13 05 -24 02
48
17.5"
(3/8/97): at 82x there is no obvious cluster at this position, although there
are about a dozen mag 12/13 stars in a 7' string ~N-S, roughly centered on a
mag 11.5 star at 07 13.1 -24 03.
At 220x, several fainter stars are visible increasing the total to ~20
stars and it stands out a little better.
The stars in the N-S string are arranged in "seagull wings"
concave to the west. Listed as
nonexistent in RNGC.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2352 = H VII-15 on 6 Mar 1785 (sweep 381) and called "A
small cluster of pretty compressed stars, not very rich." There is nothing at his position, but
40 sec of RA west is string of stars oriented N-S. Howe also "saw nothing noteworthy in the place given
for this cluster, except that the whole background contains myriads of minute
stars, on the limit of vision."
RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
NGC 2353 = Cr
130 = Mel 62 = OCL-567
07 14 30 -10 16
00
V = 7.1; Size 20'
17.5"
(3/20/93): over 100 stars mag 6-13 in a 20' diameter, requires 100x (20mm
Nagler) for best view. Richest
around mag 6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2353 = H VIII-34 on 10 Jan 1785 (sweep 356) and noted "an
extensive scattered cluster contains a very bright star."
******************************
07 14 15 -25 41
36
V = 6.5; Size 20'
17.5"
(3/12/94): ~100 stars in a 20' diameter, circular outline, fairly uniform in
magnitudes. There are no prominent
subgroups or individual stars but the cluster is fairly detached in the field
at 100x. Unconcentrated with a
9'x3' void or dark lane in the center elongated N-S. A double star with components 11.5/12.5 at 14"
separation is just following the dark lane towards the south end.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2354 = H VII-16 = h438 on 6 Mar 1785 (sweep 381) and called it
"a large cluster of scattered stars, considerably rich, about 20' in
diameter or more." His
position matches this cluster. JH
recorded a "loose straggling cl; the preceding part is rather separated
from the following, and more comp.
Place that of 3 stars in the following part."
******************************
07 16 59 +13 45
00
Size 9'
18"
(3/15/10): fairly rich group with ~70 stars in an 8'-9' diameter group, with
the richest portion in the central 4'.
On the north side of the central region is a 13" pair of mag 11/12
stars with a mag 13 star 16" S forming an easy triple. The stars are pretty evenly distributed
and many are similar magnitudes, though a number appear to be arranged in
strings that extend out radially from the center. The brightest member is a mag 10 star on the SE side. The cluster shares the field with mag
8.3
18"
(2/23/06): rich cluster at 257x with ~75 stars in an 8' irregular group. Very rich in a 2.5' central
"core" with the brightest mag 10 star just SE of this core. The outline is marked by rows of stars
giving a triangular outline. Mag 8
HD 56329 lies 7' NE of the cluster.
13.1"
(1/18/85): about 50 stars down to mag 14 in a 8'x5' group elongated N-S
including a mag 10 star at the SE edge.
Rich, fairly compact, a number of stars are arranged in lanes. Located about 7' SW of mag 8.0 SAO
95722.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2355 = H VI-6 = h439 on 8 Mar 1784 (sweep 161) and reported
"a cluster of stars of various magnitudes, pretty much compressed in the
middle, and the cluster is pretty rich.
Of an iR form; most of the stars are S and I suppose if it is at all
visible in my 7 ft reflector it must assume a nebulous appearance. To the north of it is a pretty
considerable star which my field will take in with the cl." There is nothing at his position, but 1
min 40 sec of east of his position is this cluster and it fits his description. Karl Harding independently found the
cluster around 1823 and reported it as a new discovery (7 of the 8 objects in
his list were previously discovered).
JH measured an accurate position and questioned whether his h439 was
identical to H VI-6. JH recorded
"a p rich cl of very small stars; irreg; R; 5' diameter; not bM; st
11...16m."
******************************
07 16 59 +13 45
00
18"
(2/23/06): there is no cluster at William Herschel's position or nearby group
of stars that match his description "A pretty rich and compressed cluster
of stars" other than NGC 2355 10' S of his position. Corwin equates NGC 2356 = NGC 2355 (see
description for NGC 2355). Also
about 20' W of Herschel's position are 15 stars in a 3' arrowhead outline. This asterism is well detached in the
field and though not impressive is also a possible candidate. A nice equilateral triangle of mag
11.5-12.5 stars with sides of 1' form the eastern corner of the group.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2356 = H VII-6 on 16 Mar 1784 (sweep 176) and described "A
pretty rich and compressed cluster of stars." There is nothing at his position (reduced using the offsets
given in Dreyer's 1912 "Scientific Papers of WH) but ~15' S is NGC 2355
and Harold Corwin concludes this number is probably a duplicate observation of
NGC 2355. His position for NGC
2355 is not good either -- it's 100 tsec of RA too far west!
Based on
photographic plates taken at the Heidelberg Obseratory, Reinmuth adds "no
Cl north of NGC 2355, in 7h 8m.0 +14d 13' (1860) a loose clustering of st 11...
in triangle." At Reinmuth's position (about 1 tmin preceding the NGC
position) is a triangular group which stands out pretty well. But NGC 2355 is the best fit for NGC
2356. RNGC classifies the number
as nonexistent.
******************************
07 17 40.9 +23
21 23
V = 13.3; Size 3.5'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 122d
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, large, edge-on 6:1 NW-SE. Appears as a very low surface brightness ghostly streak with
no central condensation! A mag 13
star is off the NW end 1.3' from center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2357 = St XIII-27 on 6 Feb 1885 with the 31.5" silver-on-glass
reflector at the Marseille Observatory.
His position matches
******************************
07 16 56 -17 07
Size 20'x15'
18"
(3/13/10): gorgeous low power Milky Way field at 72x (63'), though nothing
stands out distinctly as cluster-like.
At the given position (07 16.9 -17 07 (2000), is a weak enhancement,
roughly 20' diameter, with a nice quardruple group of mag 10-11 stars on the
south side. This field enhancement
is only noticeable as the Milky Way is weaker or dusty to the north and south
of the group and the background glow brightens near the position of NGC 2358.
Listed as
nonexistent in the RNGC and William Herschel's description ""A course
scattered cluster of stars, not rich." is not specific enough to pin down
his intended "cluster".
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2358 = H VIII-45 on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) and noted "A
course scattered cluster of stars, not rich., not compressed" JH did not record an observation of
this "cluster" and it was not observed at Birr Castle. There is a large (~20') Milky Way field
(described in my observation) including a number of mag 10 stars close to WH's
position. RNGC classifies the
number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
07 18 31 -13 13
30
Size 8'x6'
48"
(4/13/10): the 5' central region of Thor's Helmet was mesmerizing at 267x and
330x (unfiltered). A large, bright
knot is at the south end of the rim where the inner portion of the bright wing
that heads southwest connects with the central bubble. Along the northern edge of the rim are
three collinear mag 11 stars (2.2' length) oriented E-W. The rim of the bubble
is noticeably brighter in a thin arc beginning due north of center (between the
two western stars) and extending about 90° clockwise to the west (this portion
of Thor's Helmet was catalogued separately as
Three brighter
stars (nearly collinear) and several fainter stars are superimposed within the
main bubble. A second, smaller,
incomplete bubble just north of center outlines an inner dark "hole",
which includes one of the brighter stars.
The 11.4-magnitude ionizing Wolf-Rayet star
17.5"
(12/28/00): "Thor's Helmet" is a remarkably bright, detailed
nebulosity at 100x using an OIII filter.
The central region is a 5' bubble (illuminated by a Wolf-Rayet star)
with a brighter rim along the west side giving a "C" appearance with
irregular knots, filamentary wisps of nebulosity and areas of thinner
nebulosity in the interior. A
number of fainter stars are superimposed in the central region along with some
brighter mag 11 stars on the north portion of the rim. Attached at the south end is a brighter
4' extension elongated towards the west with a mag 9 star at its SE side. This section then thins out into a long
10' streamer that precedes the main section and forms the southern
"horn" of the helmet. A
second long, thicker streamer is attached at the north end of the central mass
and extends out to the NW (this piece has been misidentified as
13"
(1/28/84): unusual emission nebula, fairly bright, fairly large, about
7'x5'. A thinner section elongated
at a right angle (E-W) extends west of a mag 10 star on the south end. A few fainter stars are superimposed on
the north side. A very faint
section is attached at the NW end extending towards the NW.
13x80mm
(1/13/07): the circular central region of Thor's Helmet was easily visible at
13x in my 80mm finder using an OIII filter (24mm Panoptic), though the
"horns" of the helmet were not seen.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2359 = H V-21 = h3075 on 31 Jan 1785 (sweep 363) and recorded
"A broad elongated nebulosity, in the form of a parallelogram with a short
ray southwards from the south preceding corner. The nebulosity between the milky and resolvable, almost of
an equal brightness; but very faint.
The parallelogram about 8' long and 5 or 6' broad, but
ill-defined." He published a
sketch in his 1811 paper (Fig. 3) as an illustration "of detached
Nebulosity".
JH observed this
nebula from the Cape and recorded "a very singular nebula, much like the
profile of a bust, (head, neck and shoulders,) or a silhouette portrait, very
large, pretty well defined, light nearly uniform, about 12' diameter. In a
crowded field of milky way stars, many of which are projected on it." His RA is exactly 1 min too small (but
accurate in NPD) and this position was copied into the GC and later the
NGC. Howe noted this error when he
observed the nebula. His sketch
(Plate IV, figure 4) shows the silhouette shape well with the shoulders/bust
region the brighter "wing". See notes for NGC 2361.
I'm surprised
this nebula is mentioned in Garrett Serviss' 1901 "Pleasures of the
Telescope" written for at most 5-inch telescopes: "In [GC] 1511 we
have a faint nebula remarkable for the rows of minute stars in an near
it." And in the 1909 book "In Starland with a 3-inch
Telescope", William Olcott repeats "Note the nebula [GC] 1511 and the
curving row of faint stars near it."
Based on plate
taken with the 60-inch at Mt Wilson in 1917, Pease reported: Sir John Herschel
pictured it as resembling a bust, while Lassell drew it like balloon, with a
long neck twisted in the Sp direction.
The balloon or head is approximately 5' in diameter; the neck is to the
south, with nebulosity about 1' wide extending 8' west, concave on the north
and gradually narrowing and fading out.
From the top (N) of the head a symmetrical streamer concave to the south
extends in the western direction...A second streamer about 1' wide extends east
from the top of the head to a distance of 9'."
******************************
07 17 43 -15 38
30
V = 7.2; Size 13'
13.1"
(1/28/84): includes about 40 fainter stars in an elongated, arrowhead shape with
mag 9
Caroline
Herschel discovered NGC 2360 = H VII-12 = h440 = h3076 on 26 Feb 1783. This was her first deep sky
discovery. On 4 Feb 1785 (sweep 366)
William recorded "a large cluster of pretty compressed scattered stars,
near 1/2° in diam, considerably rich, most of the stars of the same
size." Another observation on
31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) describes "A beautiful cluster of pretty
compressed stars, very large."
JH recorded it from the Cape of Good Hope as "Middle of a fine
large, rich cluster, not compressed to the middle. Stars 9..12th mag; fills
field."
******************************
NGC 2361 = Part
of NGC 2359 = Thor's Helmet = LBN 1041 = Sh 2-298
07 18 23.4 -13
12 40
48"
(4/15/10): Along the northern edge of the rim of Thor's Helmet are three
collinear mag 11 stars (2.2' length) oriented E-W. The rim of the bubble is
noticeably brighter in a thin arc beginning due north of center (between the
two western stars) and extending about 90° clockwise to the west. Bigourdan's NGC 2359 refers to this
brighter portion of the Wolf-Rayet nebula. See observing notes for NGC 2359 for a complete description of the nebula.
Guillaume
Bigourdan discovered NGC 2361 = Big. 27 on 25 Feb 1887. Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2361 with
a bright knot along the west side of the main bubble of NGC 2359. Wolfgang Steinicke also lists Wilhelm
Tempel as a co-discoverer (in 1887), though he is not credited in the NGC.
******************************
07 18 42 -24 57
18
V = 4.1; Size 8'
13.1"
(1/30/06 - Costa Rica): gorgeous low power field surrounding Tau CMa using the
20 Nagler (75x). Tau was easily
resolved into a triple with two mag 10 and 11.2 companions at 8.5" and
14" to the east. At 170x,
75-80 stars are visible and the cluster appears fully resolved. A string of stars passes to the north
of Tau oriented NW to SE. Several
faint stars and a detached clump lie to the north of Tau beyond the
string. A mag 8.5 star marks the
south border of the cluster.
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): stunning open cluster at 105x surrounding Tau Canis
Majoris which is a very close triple star. Perhaps 75 stars are resolved in a well-detached 6' region.
17.5"
(3/2/02): at 100x, this is a gorgeous, uniformly rich cluster surrounding Tau
CMa, which is offset north of center. A WNW-ESE string of stars north of Tau
gives a flattened border and the rich southern portion tapers to the south
giving a triangular appearance. At
220x, ~60 stars are visible in a 6' diameter, many of 10.5-11. Just following the central star to the
ESE are two mag 11 companions.
Several other fainter stars are in the central core including one fairly
close preceding.
17.5"
(2/28/87): about 75 stars in 6' diameter surrounding Tau Canis Majoris (V =
4.4) in an unusually rich, impressive cluster! Tau is resolved into several components.
13.1": 50
stars in a triangular-shape surrounding Tau Canis Majoris, very rich,
impressive.
Giovanni
Hodierna probably discovered NGC 2362 = H VII-17 = h441 = h3077 around 1654
(marked on a map of Canis Major).
It was discovered again by WH on 6 Mar 1783 (sweep 381) and called
"a most beautiful cluster of pretty large stars with one of the 7th
magnitude in the center, which however I suppose does not belong to
it." The cluster was observed
by JH at both Slough and the Cape of Good Hope, where he recorded "a fine
cluster of discrete stars, 60 or 70 in number. R, gbM, 8'
diameter." It's surprising this bright cluster wasn't found by one of
Messier contemporaries.
******************************
07 28 29.6 +69
11 34
Size
1.7'x1.1'; PA = 20d
48"
(4/15/10): NGC 2363 is either a small satellite galaxy of
A 2010 study
suggests NGC 2363 was very close to the southern tip of NGC 2366 less than 10
Myr ago, and could have triggered the interaction which has led to the strong
episodes of star formation in the southern half of NGC 2366 as well as this
galaxy.
Ralph Copeland
discovered NGC 2363 on 9 Mar 1874 with the 72" while observing NGC 2366 =
H III-748. He noted a
"diffused nebulosity preceding, pos. 265.9°, dist 71.4"." Copeland's offsets were measured with
respect to the unusually bright HII knot at the southwest end of the galaxy,
which has always been assumed to be NGC 2363. But Copeland's "diffused nebulosity preceding"
refers to
CGCG
misidentifies NGC 2363 as the "bright emission patch at the SW end of NGC
2366" and RNGC misclassifies NGC 2363 as nonexistent with the comment
"Patch in NGC 2366, Zwicky".
See Harold Corwin's identification notes for the complete story.
******************************
07 20 47 -07 33
00
18"
(3/13/04): pretty neat group of 50-60 stars at 115x arranged in two rows of
stars converging towards the north.
The eastern group of stars hooks on the SE end, bending back towards the
north. Both groups have strings of
faint stars extending to the north beyond a mag 9.5 star located ~5' N of the
main groups. Listed as a
nonexistent cluster in the RNGC, although the group is fairly distinctive.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2364 = h442 on 8 Jan 1831 and noted "Two small pretty close
groups of pL stars in the milky way, rather a remarkable cl." There are two strings of stars at JH's
position, matching his description.
RNGC classifies this object as nonexistent (Type 7).
WH apparently
made the original discovery on 24 Feb 1786 (sweep 529) and noted
"Clustering stars, in three short parallel lines, the two last whereof are
joined to the sp; the placed taken is that of the middle lane." He didn't assign it an internal discovery
number, so this observation went uncatalogued.
******************************
07 22 22.5 +22
05 00
V = 12.4; Size 2.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 170d
24"
(2/14/15): at 260x; moderately bright and large, elongated 2:1 N-S, ~1.2'x0.6',
well concentrated with a bright oval core. A mag 14 star is at the southwest edge [48" from
center]. Located 32' ENE of mag
3.5 Delta Geminorum.
Forms a close
pair with
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, fairly small, oval 3:2 NNW-SSE, bright core. A mag 14 star is just off the SW side
0.7' from center and a mag 12.5 star is 1.3' SW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2365 = m 102 on 10 Nov 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"vF, pS, R, psbM."
Édouard Stephan independently discovered this galaxy on 13 Jan 1874 and
reported it in list VI-7.
******************************
NGC 2366 = UGC
3851 = MCG +12-07-040 = CGCG 330-038 = Mrk 71 = PGC 21102
07 28 55.0 +69
12 57
V = 11.1; Size 8.1'x3.3'; Surf Br = 14.6; PA = 25d
48"
(4/15/10): The most striking feature of NGC 2366 is a prominent double knot
(giant HII/starburst complex) at the SW end (also known as
NGC 2363, a low
surface brightness companion or detached OB association/HII region, lies 1.2' W
of the bright double knot. At 330x
it appeared fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 or 5:2 SW-NE, with a
low but irregular surface brightness.
18"
(3/19/04): at the SW end of the galaxy is a very bright knot (HII region),
roughly mag 12.5 and perhaps 15" in size which responds to a UHC filter at
160x! At 323x this knot is
irregular in shape (~20"x15", SW-NE) and brightness and at moments
resolves into two or three components.
The galaxy itself is fairly faint, large, and very elongated SSW-NNE,
3.5'x1.0', with a low surface brightness.
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, very large, elongated 5:2 SW-NE, low almost even
surface brightness. An unusually
bright HII region is at the SW end of the galaxy (2' from the center) and
appears as a "fuzzy" 12th magnitude star. Although very small, it appeared elongated SW-NE and similar
to a poorly resolved double star.
Definite contrast gain with OIII filter.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2366 = H III-748 on 3 Dec 1788 (sweep 889) and called it
"vF, vS, stellar. 300
confirmed it and showed a vF branch to the nf." His description and position matches the prominent HII
region at the southwest end of the galaxy. The "vf branch nf" refers to the actual
galaxy. So, NGC 2366 applies to
the HII region (also known as Mrk 71) as well as the galaxy. Modern sources misidentify the large
HII knot as NGC 2363. See
historical comments for NGC 2363.
Ralph Copeland
described it on 9 Mar 1874 with the 72" as a "diffused neby
preceding, pos 265.9°, dist 71.4"
Neb * or neb knot post 318°, dist 77.6". The object has a curved tail, pos 30.9°, convex on the
following side, traced 9' or 10'.
The neb knot preceding is connected with the principal enbulosity. Line of stars spp, curved towards
preceding side, nebulous? At least
the enbula appears to extend so far on spp side. [See Pl I.]."
******************************
07 20 05 -21 53
06
V = 7.9; Size 4'
17.5": 25
stars in a distinctive, fairly rich 6' group which is elongated N-S. The brightest star
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2367 = H VIII-27 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and recorded "a
small cluster of scattered stars, not rich, nor very compressed." His position is ~3' south of the center
of this compact cluster.
******************************
07 20 59 -10 22
48
Size 5'
17.5"
(3/20/93): two dozen stars mag 12-14 in 4' diameter, unimpressive although
unusual form, no dense spots.
Divided into two distinct groupings; a dozen stars in the SW triangular
group with a double star 12/13 at 18" separation at the west end; also a
dozen stars in the NE group consists of two strings of stars oriented ~N-S
forming a thin triangle. The two
groups are separated by a dark lane oriented NW-SE. The classification of this
group as a true cluster is doubtful.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2368 = h443 on 9 Mar 1828 and described "the preceding star
(which is red) of a pretty rich small cluster; fig irreg triangular; stars 15m
- in Milky Way." His position
is on the southwest side of the group.
******************************
07 16 37.7 -62
20 37
V = 12.3; Size 3.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 177d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appeared bright, large,
very elongated 5:2 N-S, 2.4'x0.9', broad concentration with a slightly bulging
middle. A 16th magnitude star is
at the north end and a mag 15 star is just following the core. Nearly collinear with two mag 12/13 stars
2.5' and 3' NE. Brightest in a
group with
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x this Carina galaxy is fairly faint, fairly
large, elongated 5:2 N-S, 1.7'x0.6', broad weak concentration but overall has a
fairly low surface brightness (viewed at 16° elevation). In a group with NGC 2381 and NGC 2417.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2369 = h3078 on 26 Dec 1834 and recorded "pB, E or
irregular figure, glbM." His
position (2 sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
07 25 01.7 +23
47 01
V = 13.6; Size 0.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 43d
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 0.8'x0.4', even surface
brightness. A mag 14 star is
attached at the NE end 0.4' from center.
The galaxy appears to extend from the star like a comet tail!
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2370 = m 103 on 10 Nov 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"eF, vS, E." His
position is 1' south of
******************************
07 25 33.8 +29
29 18
V = 11.2; Size 74"x54"
48"
(4/1/11): I was stunned by the view of this bipolar nebula. There was so much
intricate detail in NGC 2371/72 it had little resemblance to previous views
through my 17.5" and 18" scopes. The most prominent feature was two, irregularly round, very
bright nodules on the southwest and northeast side of the boxy, elongated
central region. Each nodule was
distinctive and varied in surface brightness and shape with the southwest lobe
brighter. Filamentary streamers or
a "hairy tail" extended from the northeast node towards the northwest
and similar wisps extended mainly southeast from the southwest node, creating a
sense of rotation around the fairly bright central star. The interior and sides
were filled with much fainter nebulosity.
A very faint filament connected the main lobes on the northwest
edge. Detached from the main 1'
structure were two amazing outer wings, symmetrically hanging 1' NW and 1' SE
from the central star. These wings
or "polar caps" were easily visible without a filter at 488x and both
extended ~40"x10" in a SW-NE orientation, increasing the total
diameter of the planetary to 2'. A
mag 13.5 star lies 1.5' NW and a mag 16 star is 50" NE of center.
17.5"
(2/14/99): very unusual appearance at 380x with two bright knots oriented SW-NE
about 30" between centers and 0.9' in total length. The southwest knot is 15"-20"
in size, slightly elongated and the brighter of the two. The northeast condensation has a
slightly lower surface brightness and appears ~20" in diameter. The faint mag 14.9 central star is
symmetrically placed between the knots.
Weaker nebulosity connects the two knots giving a "dogbone"
appearance with a very faint rounder halo encasing the structure!
17.5"
(2/13/88): unusual planetary, bright, moderately large, elongated SW-NE. Two bright knots are at both ends (with
two NGC designations) although the SW end is brighter and concentrated.
13"
(2/25/84): two condensations in halo.
The WSW side is brighter and sharper.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2371 = H II-316 = h444, along with
John Herschel
called NGC 2371 "the south-preceding of a curious bright double neb or an
elongated bicentral neb; nuclei approaching to stars 45° nf or sp - distance of
centre 60". See fig
72." Lord Rosse sketched this
bipolar PN with his 72" and reported (19 Dec 1848) a "bright star
between, tails and curved filaments, perhaps an annulus round the two
nebulae." William Lassell
made an observation in March 1853 with his 24-inch equatorial reflector from
Malta. He noted the
"preceding one [nebula] is the brightest" and made a sketch (figure
IX in his 1854 MRAS paper).
******************************
NGC 2372 =
Peanut Nebula = Double Bubble Nebula = PK 189+19.1 = PN G189.1+19.8
07 25 35.8 +29
29 30
V = 11.2; Size 74"x54"
48"
(4/1/11): see description for NGC 2371.
17.5": see
description for NGC 2371.
13": this
is the fainter NE component of NGC 2371/NGC 2372. Slightly fainter and more diffuse than NGC 2371.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2372 = H II-317 = h445, along with NGC 2371, on 12 Mar 1785
(sweep 385). See NGC 2371 for his
description.
******************************
07 26 36.9 +33
49 25
V = 13.8; Size 0.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 0d
18"
(1/13/07): faint, very small, round, 20". A mag 12.7 star is just off the NE side 24" from the
center. Located 6.8' W of
13.1"
(2/23/85): faint, elongated, small.
A mag 13 star is at the NE edge.
Forms a trio with NGC 2375 6.7' E and
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2373 = St IX-8 on 20 Feb 1849 (along with NGC 2375) using
Lord Rosse's 72" and recorded "6 nebulae of which epsilon [NGC 2375]
is perhaps a double star."
This galaxy was labeled Zeta on the sketch in the 1861 publication and
accurately measured from NGC 2375, JH didn't assign it a GC designation. Dreyer first catalogued NGC 2373 as GCS
5380. Édouard Stephan
independently discovered the galaxy on 8 Feb 1878 and measured an accurate
position.
******************************
07 23 56 -13 15
48
V = 8.0; Size 19'
17.5"
(3/12/94): ~50-60 stars in 7'x4' region elongated SW-NE. Located in a rich star field so the
cluster does not have a distinct border.
A detached group with four brighter mag 10-11 stars is off the NE end. The richest portion is 3'-4' diameter
at the SW end and consists of three dozen stars over some unresolved haze. At the SW edge is a nice curving
U-shaped group of 9 stars mag 13 that is open to the SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2374 = H VIII-35 = h3080 on 31 Jan 1785 (sweep 363) and recorded
(summary from 3 sweeps) "a cluster of pretty large scattered stars, pretty
rich, about 20' long, crooked figure." JH observed it from the Cape of Good Hope and recorded
"the most compressed part of a scattered cluster or rather region, more
crowded with stars than the rest of the milky way, though hardly entitled to
rank as a cluster. The stars run in singular lines and curves on a dark
ground."
******************************
NGC 2375 = UGC
3854 = MCG +06-17-005 = CGCG 177-017 = PGC 21035
07 27 09.5 +33
49 54
V = 13.6; Size 1.3'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 170d
18"
(1/13/07): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 ~N-S, 0.7'x0.4', broad
concentration. Larger but lower
surface brightness than NGC 2379 3.6' ESE.
13.1"
(2/23/85): second of three in the NGC 2389 group. Faint, low surface brightness, appears larger than nearby
NGC 2379 3.7' E. NGC 2375 lies
6.7' W.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2375 on 20 Feb 1849 (along with NGC 2373) and recorded
"6 nebulae of which epsilon [NGC 2375] is perhaps a double
star." Although the sketch
was included in the Lord Rosse's 1861 publication, JH didn't assign it a GC
designation but Dreyer first catalogued it as GCS 5383. Édouard Stephan independently
discovered the galaxy on 8 Feb 1878 and measured an accurate position (list
IX-9).
******************************
07 26 35.9 +23
04 23
V = 13.8; Size 0.6'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.5
17.5"
(2/8/91): very faint, very small, round.
A mag 15.5 star is attached at the west end.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2376 = m 104 on 10 Nov 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"eF, vS." His position
matches
******************************
07 24 56.8 -09
39 37
V = 12.7; Size 1.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 170d
18"
(3/4/08): unusual location for a galaxy in a rich Milky Way star field. At 220x appears fairly faint, fairly
small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE, low even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is embedded on the south
end and a mag 14.7 stars is on the NE side. Finally, an extremely faint mag 15.5 star is occasionally
visible close south of the fainter star.
17.5"
(2/1/92): faint, fairly small, elongated SSW-NNE, ~1.0'x0.5', low surface
brightness, no core. A mag 12 star
is attached at the south end and an extremely faint mag 15 star is involved at
the north end. Appears diffuse
with ill-defined edges and seems similar to a faint nebulosity in a rich Milky
Way field! Unusually low galactic
latitude for a galaxy. Incorrectly
listed as nonexistent in RNGC but plotted on U2000.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2377 = St VI-8 on 19 Jan 1874. His position and description matches UGCA 132. Classified as nonexistent (Type 7) in
RNGC. Correctly identified in RC2
as NGC 2377.
******************************
07 27 24.1 +33
49 52
=**, Corwin.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2378 = St IX-10 on 8 Feb 1878. At Stephan's position is a close
pair of stars (mag 14.7/15.2 at 8" separation). The double is cleanly
resolved on the DSS. The RNGC incorrectly equates NGC 2378 = NGC 2379.
******************************
NGC 2379 = UGC
3857 = MCG +06-17-006 = CGCG 177-018 = PGC 21036
07 27 26.3 +33
48 40
V = 13.5; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.9
18"
(1/13/07): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, 25" diameter, very
small bright core, stellar nucleus.
This compact galaxy has a fairly high surface brightenss. A mag 12.5 star lies 1' NW and a mag 11
star 3.6' NE. NGC 2375 lies 3.6'
WNW.
13.1"
(2/23/85): third of seven in the NGC 2389 group. Faint, extremely small, round. A mag 12.5 star is 1.0' WNW of center. NGC 2375 lies 3.7' W.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2379 = h446 on 6 Mar 1828 and simply called the "first of
four [with
******************************
07 23 54.6 -27
31 43
V = 11.2; Size 2.0'x1.9'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 99d
17.5"
(1/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, bright core, compact but fairly
high surface brightness, appears out of place in very rich Milky Way
field. Located only 5.7° from the
galactic equator!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2380 = h3079 on 5 Feb 1837 and called "pF, R, vgmbM,
40", in a rich field."
His position matches
******************************
NGC 2381 = ESO
088-010 = LGG 144-003 = PGC 20694
07 19 57.4 -63
04 01
V = 12.8; Size 1.6'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.5
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appeared moderately
bright, fairly small, round, sharply concentrated with a very bright 25"
core that increases to a stellar nucleus.
The core is surrounded by a much fainter, fairly small halo, ~0.8'
diameter. A mag 13 star lies 2'
NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2381 = h3084 on 26 Dec 1834 and noted as "vF, vS, R. In a
field full of stars." His
position is just off the southwest side of
******************************
NGC 2382 = NGC
2380 = ESO 492-012 = MCG -05-18-005 = PGC 20916
07 23 54.6 -27
31 43
See observing
notes for NGC 2380.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2382 = h3082 on 1 Feb and recorded "pF; R; bM; 30";
nearly on meridian of Eta Canis, or perhaps somewhat preceding." He gave approximate coordinates and his
position is 9' north and 18 seconds of time west of NGC 2380 (discovered 4 days
later). Herbert Howe couldn't find
NGC 2382 at JH's position, but gives a corrected position, which corresponds
with NGC 2380. ESO equates NGC
2380 = NGC 2382 and Harold Corwin concurs.
******************************
07 24 43 -20 56
54
V = 8.4; Size 6'
17.5"
(3/7/92): about 30 stars mag 10-14 in 5' diameter and rich in mag 13-14 stars
near the center. Includes three
mag 10 stars; one at the west end, another just east of center and the last at
the east end. Just SW of the mag
10 star near the center is a rich glowing knot which is very pretty with
averted. The cluster is set over
unresolved background haze. NGC
2384 is in the field 8' SE.
8"
(3/28/81): small, rich cluster of mag 11-13 stars, three mag 10 stars are near,
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2383 = h3081 on 15 Feb 1836 (along with NGC 2384 = h3083) and
recorded "cluster, irregularly round, pretty much compressed, 6'. Stars of
mixed magnitudes." His first
position (of two) is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2384 = Cr
143 = ESO 559-SC009
07 25 12 -21 01
24
V = 7.4; Size 3'
17.5"
(3/7/92): about 20 stars mag 9-14 in an elongated E-W group about 5'
length. Includes the close bright
double star h3964 = 9.0/9.7 at 5" near the center. A mag 9 star is at the west end and
close east are two mag 11/12 stars and a group of six fainter stars. The rest of the cluster mainly consists
of a string of six brighter stars oriented SW-NE with h3964 at the SW end of
this string and a mag 10 star 30" SSE. In the same field with richer NGC 2383 8' NW.
8": small
group, including 9.0/9.6 at 5".
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2384 = h3083 on 15 Feb 1836 and described as "a cluster
composed to two groups of bright stars separated in RA by a dark interval.
Chief star of preceding group taken." His position (measured on two sweeps) is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2385 = MCG
+06-17-008 = CGCG 177-020 = WBL 142-001 = PGC 21080
07 28 28.2 +33
50 16
V = 13.9; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 50d
18"
(1/13/07): faintest of trio with NGC 2389 7.7' ENE and
13.1"
(2/23/85): extremely faint, very small, possibly elongated. Located 5' W of NGC 2388. Fourth of seven in the NGC 2389 group.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2385 = H III-900 = h447, along with NGC 2388, on 4 Feb 1793
(sweep 1031) and called "I suspected another a little south preceding [of
NGC 2389] and 300 confirmed it; and a third almost directly preceding [NGC
2385], and 300 confirms that also.
I saw all the three very plainly."
******************************
07 28 38.1 +33
46 29
18"
(1/13/07): this is an 18" pair of mag 13/14 stars that was misidentified
by Rosse as a nebulous object in the field of NGC 2389. There is a fainter mag 15 star a bit
further west forming a triangle.
Lawrence
Parsons, the 4th Earl of Rosse, discovered NGC 2386 on 1 Jan 1876 while
observing the NGC 2374-2391 group.
His micrometric offsets from GC 1530 = NGC 2388 (342" in PA 103°)
points to a close double (mag ~14.5/15.5 at 3") with a third mag 14.5 star
at 18". Dorothy Carlson, in
her 1940 lists of NGC/IC corrections, identifies NGC 2386 as a triple star, and
Harold Corwin concurs with this conclusion.
******************************
07 29 26.1 +36
46 07
Size 8"
24"
(2/22/14): at 125x, this 7" double star generally appeared as an
unresolved quasi-stellar glow and it was easy to see how it could be mistaken
as a possible nebula. At 200x, it
was often cleanly resolved, but still the fainter companion is dim enough to
often appear not as a sharp star, but a very faint "appendage" to the
brighter component, mimicking a tiny nebula. Also, there are 3 mag 15-16 stars
closeby [within 25"] that perhaps contribute to noticing this pair. At 260x and above, the pair was nearly
always resolved cleanly.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2387 = H II-820 on 10 Mar 1790 (sweep 937) and recorded
"pB, S, stellar. The wind too
high to verify it." There is
nothing at his position, but Harold Corwin suggests Herschel most likely picked
up a faint double only 1.5' north of his position (based on Auwers'
reduction). This pair looked like
a tiny nebula in my scope at 200x.
Karl Reinmuth, in his 1926 photographic survey at Heidelberg, describes
NGC 2387 as a single mag 13.5 star with "a small group of 5 small stars nnp
3'." Corwin's double is part
of these "5 small stars".
Dreyer took CGCG
177-023 as H II-820 on his 23 Feb 1876 observation with the 72": "Irr
R, probably lE pf, looks like a hazy star. Forms a rectangular triangle with a *16 sf and a *17 nff
about 2' distant. 3 st 14-15m
preceding in a curved line, the nearest one in Pos 279.5°,
161.2"." This
galaxy is ~25 sec of RA west and 8' N of WH's position and his description and
class (II) does not fit this galaxy.
RNGC, CGCG and PGC also misidentify CGCG 177-023 as NGC 2387. So,
assuming WH's observation refers to the double star, CGCG 177-023 is left
without a NGC designation. Also,
see Harold Corwin's comments.
******************************
NGC 2388 = UGC
3870 = MCG +06-17-010 = CGCG 177-022 = WBL 142-002 = PGC 21099
07 28 53.5 +33
49 08
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 65d
18"
(1/13/07): fairly faint, small, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, 0.6'x0.4', small
brighter core. A mag 13.5 star
lies 1' NE of center. Located 3.4'
SW of NGC 2389 with NGC 2385 5.4' WNW.
13.1"
(2/23/85): fifth of seven in the NGC 2389 group. Faint, small, slightly elongated SW-NE. NGC 2389 lies 3.4' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2388 = H III-901 = h448, along with NGC 2385, on 4 Feb 1793
(sweep 1031). See description
under NGC 2385. JH and Dreyer
assigned H III-900 to NGC 2388.
******************************
NGC 2389 = UGC
3872 = MCG +06-17-011 = CGCG 177-024 = WBL 142-003 = PGC 21109
07 29 04.7 +33
51 38
V = 12.9; Size 2.0'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 83d
18"
(1/13/07): brightest galaxy in a group.
At 280x appeared moderately bright, fairly small, oval 5:3 ~E-W,
~1.1'x0.7' though the outer halo fades into the background gradually so
difficult to trace with averted vision.
Broad, weak concentration with no well-defined core althought there is a
small brighter nucleus with direct vision. Trio with NGC 2388 3.4' SW and NGC 2385 7.7' WSW. Also, an unusual edge-on
13.1"
(2/23/85): this galaxy is the brightest in the NGC 2389 group. Fairly faint, slightly elongated ~E-W,
bright core. Third of three in a
tight subgroup with NGC 2385 and NGC 2388.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2389 = H III-703 = h449 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and noted as
"vF; vS; perhaps a patch of star." His position is just 1' north of
******************************
07 29 04.2 +33
50 10
18"
(1/13/07): this is a 14th magnitude star located 1.4' S of NGC 2389. Misidentified as a nebulous object by
Robert Ball, a Birr Castle assistant.
Sir Robert Ball,
an assistant on the Lord Rosse's 72" telescope, discovered NGC 2390 on 10
Dec 1866 (along with
******************************
NGC 2391
07 29 07.5 +33
49 33
=*, Corwin. =NF, Carlson
Sir Robert Ball,
an assistant on the Lord Rosse's 72" telescope, discovered NGC 2391 on 10
Dec 1866 (along with NGC 2390) and noted "Theta is eF and S and only seen
by glimpses." He placed this
object 147" in PA 163.5° with respect to NGC 2389 and at this position is
a mag 15.6 star. Karl Reinmuth, in
his 1926 photographic survey "Die Herschel-Nebel", describes a
"*14.7, nebulous?, 2.2' ssf of N2389." Nearby NGC 2390 is also a faint star.
******************************
07 29 10.8 +20
54 42
V = 9.2; Size 47"x43"
48"
(4/1/11): I just took a quick look at the Eskimo at 488x but the view of the
double green shells was stunning.
The inner, brilliant annulus is irregularly shaped, with an elongated
bulge on the north side. The ring
essentially splits into two sections at the north end (the inner
"ring" is fainter) with a darker interior forming a small pouch
within the ring. This feature
could be considered the "chin" at the bottom of the Eskimo's
"face" in the eyepiece view.
The outer shell is irregularly lit and brighter along the southern
rim.
18"
(2/24/06): viewed at 807x in good seeing. This remarkable double-shelled
planetary has a darker ring around the bright, 9th magnitude central star. The
darker ring is surrounded by fairly narrow bright annulus, perhaps 20" in
diameter. The rim of the inner
annulus appears slightly brighter along the western half and brightest along
the northwest section. Moving outwards,
a narrow darker ring separates the inner shell from a large, lower surface
brightness outer halo that extends to nearly 1' in diameter (listed diameter is
only 47").
17.5"
(12/19/87): using 410x exhibits a prominent double shell structure with a very
bright inner shell about 20" diameter with a darker central hole
surrounding a very bright mag 9 central star. The Eskimo has a very high surface brightness with a bluish
color and easily takes this magnification. The inner shell is surrounded by a thin dark ring about 2/3
of the way out from center and a faint, barely detached outer halo. Located 1.6' S of mag 8.3
13"
(1/28/84): bright mag 9 central star surrounded by a double shell with a bright
inner disk and a dark ring separates the two shells.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2392 = H IV-45 = h450 on 17 Jan 1787 (sweep 694) and recorded
"a star with a pretty strong milky nebulosity equally dispersed all
around. The star about 9m. Having but just began I suspected the
glass to be covered with damp, or my eye not yet to be in order; however a star
10 or 11m just north of it was free from the same appearance. A very
curious phenomenon; like my northern Planetary in its growing state."
The next night he added "One of the most remarkable phenomena I ever
have seen." In the 1814 PT paper he used this object as an example
of an evident connection between an atmosphere and a star.
The annularity
of NGC 2392 was discovered by George Johnstone Stoney, Lord Rosse's
assistant. The sketch (figure 15,
plate XXXVIII in the 1850 PT paper) also shows a dark spot just to the right
(west?) of the central star.
William Lassell reported similar structure with his 24-inch in Jan 1853:
"The nebulous star has its envelope evidently fainter on the preceding
side. Its circular outline is
almost wanting there. About half-way between the centre and circumference there
is a narrow, concentric, dark ring, within which the nebula is brighter than
the exterior portion." His sketch was published in his 1854 MRAS paper
(figure 6) on observations from Malta.
Using an
18.2-inch silvered-glass reflector Henry Cooper Key reported, "the present
appearance of this object, as seen in my instrument, is that of a bright, but
somewhat nebulous star closely surrounded by a dark ring; this again by a
luminous ring; then an interval much less luminous, and, finally, at some
distance, an exterior luminous ring" (1867MNRAS..28....2A). Father
Secchi also sketched the double ring structure with the 9.5" refractor in
Rome around 1856 as well as Barnard with the 12-inch refractor at Lick
Observatory on 10 Apr 1890. He reported "a condensed point or 2 in
the preceding part [of the inner disc], then there seems to be a dark vacuity
about this disc and then a fainter nebulous ring. It is a remarkable
object."
The CGCG
misidentifies
******************************
07 30 04.7 +34
01 39
V = 14.0; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 103d
18" (1/13/07):
very faint, fairly small, slightly elongated E-W, 0.6'x0.5', low even surface
brightness. Located 16' NE of NGC
2389 in a cluster.
13.1"
(2/23/85): extremely faint, similar in size to NGC 2388 but a lower surface
brightness. Located 16' NE of NGC
2389. Last of 7 in the cluster.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2393 = St XIII-28 on 7 Feb 1885. His position matches
******************************
07 28 37 +07 05
12
18"
(3/13/04): at 115x, appears as a 15'x5' scattered group of roughly two dozen
stars, extended E-W. Includes a
about a dozen mag 10-11 stars. The
stars appear to be arranged in a zig-zag chain which is fairly distinctive. Additional stars are scattered to the
north and south of this string.
But NGC 2394 may be just a random grouping. Located just 10' NE of Eta CMi (V = 5.3) in the same field!
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2394 = H VIII-44 on 28 Dec 1785 (sweep 496) and noted "A
cluster of very coarse scattered large stars, they form a cross and extend over
a large space; not rich."
There were no observations made by JH or at Birr Castle. Based on Heidelberg plates, Karl
Reinmuth described NGC 2394 as "a very loose clustering of pB st, bet
BD+7d1729 and BD+7d1739."
There are about 15 fairly bright mag 10-11 stars in the vicinity. RNGC classifies this number as
nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
07 27 13 +13 36
30
V = 8.0; Size 12'
13.1"
(12/22/84): scattered cluster of roughly 50 stars mag 10 and fainter in 15'
field, not rich. Visible faintly
in the 16x80mm finder. The Medusa
Nebula (
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2395 = H VIII-11 on 16 Mar 1784 (sweep 176) and noted "a
cluster of scattered stars."
There is nothing at the Caroline's reduced position (or the GC/NGC
position), but 30' southwest is this scattered group of stars. Auwers' reduced position is 1° too far
south, so he made a reduction error.
Still, this is an unusually large error, though the cluster was found
only 3 months after WH began his sweeps and his positions are sometimes off
quite a bit in his early sweeps.
Caroline Herschel also noted a confusion in the sweep record about the
offset star -- whether it was 50 or 51 Geminorum, so perhaps there is still an
error to be uncovered.
******************************
07 28 06 -11 44
Size 10'
18"
(3/2/08): at 94x, roughly three dozen stars are resolved, mostly mag 11-13.5
with a pale orange mag 8.5 star on the west side. At 175x, roughly 50 stars are resolved in a 10' region. A chain of stars extends a few
arcminutes NE from the mag 8.5 star and then abruptly loops due south for the
same distance. This chain then
curves around making a large oval loop forming the east side of the
cluster. Located 10' S of a triple
star (ADS 6104) consisting of a mag 8.5 primary with mag 8.5 and 9.5 companions
at 20" and 23". The
brighter two stars have an orange/blue color contrast. Located in a rich star field so the
borders of the cluster are ill-defined.
25x80mm finder
(3/2/08): roundish, glowing region just following a mag 8 star.
17.5"
(2/8/91): about three dozen stars mostly mag 11-13 are resolved at 82x. Evenly distributed, not rich and does
not stand out well in a rich field.
The brightest star is mag 8.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2396 = H VIII-36 = h451 on 31 Jan 1785 (sweep 363) and called it
"a coarsely scattered forming cluster about 20 or 30' diam." His position is within this scattered
group. JH simply noted a "straggling
portion of the Milky Way." and his position is 16 tsec of RA further east.
******************************
07 21 19.7 -69
00 05
V = 11.8; Size 2.5'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 123d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appears very bright, large,
elongated nearly 5:2 NW-SE, ~2.4'x1.0', broadly concentrated to a brighter core
and then rising quickly to a small, brighter nucleus. A mag 14.5 star is just off the east end 1' from the
center. Forms a pair with NGC
2397A 7' S. Member of the
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2397 = h3085 on 21 Feb 1835 and recorded "B, L, mE, gbM, 2'
long, 1' broad." On a second
sweep he called this nebula "F, pL, pmE, pslbM, 90", pos of extension
= 117°." His position and
description matches
******************************
07 30 16.3 +24
29 16
V = 14.1; Size 0.8'x0.65'; PA = 126d
24"
(2/14/15): faint to fairly faint, small, very slightly elongated,
20"x16", nearly even surface brightness. A mag 15 star is off the northwest edge [23" from
center].
Forms a very
close pair with
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, small, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, broad concentration, stellar
nucleus.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2398 = St XIII-29 on 10 Feb 1885 with the 31-inch reflector at
Marseilles Observatory. His
position is accurate.
Stephane Javelle
resolved it into a double nebula on 7 Feb 1896 and made a footnote in his
listing for IC 2191 = J III-1000 that "NGC 2398 appears double".
Dreyer didn't assign CGCG 117-046 an IC designation as Javelle didn't note an
offset or position, though he commented in the IC 2 Notes section "seems
to be a double neb (Javelle III.)
******************************
07 29 50.3 -00
12 45
=**,
Gottlieb. =***, Corwin.
George Bond
discovered NGC 2399 = HN 9, along with
******************************
NGC 2400
07 29 54.9 -00
12 52
=***, Corwin.
George Bond
discovered NGC 2400 = HN 10, along with NGC 2399, on 26 Feb 1853 at Harvard
College observatory. Near Bond's
position is a triple star with separations of ~10" and 14". Heinrich d'Arrest's positions for both
NGC 2399 and 2340, measured on 30 Jan 1865, is exactly 1 minute of RA too
large, though he apparently did not resolve the triple. See NGC 2399.
******************************
07 29 24 -13 58
00
Size 2'
18"
(3/2/08): at 225x appears as a rich, glowing 1.5' knot with roughly a dozen
very faint mag 14-14 stars peppered over the glow. Appears rich with averted but only partially resolved. A mag 7 star (
13.1"
(1/11/86): About 7 very faint mag 13.5-15 stars resolved over haze,
unimpressive. Located in a very
rich field 7' W of mag 7.2
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2401 = H VII-65 = h454 on 8 Mar 1793 (sweep 1034) and recorded
"a small cluster of vS stars, considerably rich and compressed." His position is just off the southeast
side of the cluster, but close enough to be unambiguous.
******************************
07 30 47.8 +09
38 59
V = 14.4; Size 0.8'x0.8'
24"
(2/16/15 and 2/14/15): at 322x; faint to fairly faint, small, slightly
elongated, ~25"x20", weak concentration with a very small brighter
nucleus. A mag 13.5-14 star is at
the east-northeast edge [21" from center]. This star is the last of four in a northwest to southeast
string with two mag 13 stars and a mag 11 star at the northwest end. Also, a fainter mag 14.5 star is
superimposed on the north edge - just 10" from center!
Forms a double
system with
17.5"
(11/25/87): faint, very small, round.
A mag 14 star is at the east edge 22" from center. A chain of four stars begin with a mag
14 star 40" N and forms a line to the NW. Located 3' N of mag 8.8
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2402 = H III-19 = h453 on 11 Mar 1784 (sweep 163) and recorded
"2 vS and close stars suspected to be mixed with some nebulosity, but not
having a higher power at hand I could not put them to the trial. However I rather think it may be a fallacy." His position is 5' NE of
******************************
07 36 50.6 +65
36 09
V = 8.5; Size 21.9'x12.3'; Surf Br = 14.4; PA = 127d
48"
(4/15/10): this amazing multi-arm spiral stretched across the entire 15' at
330x, with the major axis running NW to SE. A striking prominent spiral arm is attached near the NW end
and sweeps counter-clockwise 180° along the northern side of the galaxy,
tapering as it extends to a point roughly 5' SE of the core. The arm is widest near the NW end,
where it begins sweeping east. A
second inner arm attaches near the SE end of the main body and tightly hugs the
southern side of the galaxy as sweeps to the NW side. A more ill-defined branch heads west from the SE end past a
mag 11 star situated 2' WSW of the core.
The field was too small to trace out the outer arms. Numerous HII splotches stained the
surface and I only had time to quickly sketch the most obvious knots.
The supergiant
HII complex
On the SE side
of the galaxy is a pair of HII knots separated by 40". The eastern knot is SP-346 = VS 51 =
A80 and is situated 1.6' SE of the mag 10.5 star and the western knot includes
SPC-318/321/322. At the SE end of
the spiral arm that contains NGC 2404 is another 10" knot, which includes
SPC-348/351/352 = VS 52 = A81. It
can be pinpointed 1.0' NE of the mag 10.5 star. On the SE end of the galaxy a fairly faint, irregular knot
(SPC-331/336/343 = VS 48/49 = A73) was noticed 1' W of a mag 14 star.
18"
(3/19/04): at 160x, this chaotic spiral displayed a tremendous wealth of detail
with two broad, diffuse spiral arms, dark lanes, mottling and a few obvious
giant HII regions. A number of
stars are superimposed including two mag 11 stars. I focused on observing the HII regions that were best viewed
at 323x.
The brightest is
the HII complex NGC 2404 (VS 44 = SP 298)
on the east side of the core 1.5' from center and 1.5' N of a mag 11
star to the SW of the core. This
knot is fairly bright at 323x, perhaps 15" diameter and irregularly round.
On the NW side
of the halo is a collinear string of two stars along with a fuzzy knot (VS 3 =
SP 44 = A14), oriented from SW to NE.
This HII knot forms the SW end of the string and is clearly nonstellar
at 323x, ~15" diameter. It
can also be pinpointed 2.4' NW of the mag 11 star west of the core (middle of
three in a E-W string).
At the NNW edge
of the core is a mag 13.5 "star" that does not focus sharply and
appears to be another HII knot (VS 24 = SPC-174 = A36). Close following is a fainter, but
definite nonstellar knot ~10" diameter (VS 38 = SPC-224 = A45).
Finally,
returning to star on the SW edge of the core, a fainter mag 14 star is close
south with a weak nebulous glow attached (SPC-221/222/225). This region is also catalogued as A41
in Hodge's 1985 "Stellar Associations in the Galaxy NGC 2403" from
PASP, 97, 1065 .
17.5"
(2/28/87): very bright, very large, bright core, elongated 5:2 NW-SE,
15'x6'. Impressive galaxy with
spiral structure clearly visible.
Two spiral arms are attached at opposite ends of the central region and
both wind almost 180°. The tip of
the northern arm ends at the emission nebula NGC 2404. Several stars are superimposed
including two mag 11 stars.
17.5"
(2/22/87): two spiral arms are visible on attached at the opposite sides of the
galaxy and winding a half of revolution.
The northern arm ends at the HII knot NGC 2404. The galaxy has a mottled appearance.
13"
(1/11/86): spiral arm definite on the west side of the galaxy with a dark gap
between this arm and the main body (core). This feature is very faint but definite with averted.
13"
(12/22/84): spiral arm highly suspected attached at the west side winding along
the north side to a faint knot = NGC 2404.
13"
(1/28/84): very bright, large bright core. NGC 2404 is clearly visible as a faint, very small nebulous
knot along the east side of the galaxy.
Spiral structure (arms) is just suspected. On 3/24/84 the knot was difficult to view at 144x, but on
1/11/86 was fairly easy.
8"
(1/1/84): bright, large, bright core, faint star superimposed, mottled?
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2403 = H V-44 on 1 Nov 1788 (sweep 879) and recorded "cB;
R; vgbM; BN; 6 or 7' dia; resembling a star with a misty atmosphere." His
summary description, also based on a later observation, states "with a
faint branch extending a great way to the np side; not less than 1/2 degree;
and to the n or nf the nebulosity diffused over a space, I am pretty sure, not
less than a whole degree."
Obviously, his size estimate is well off, but his description of a
"faint branch extending a great way to the np side" applies to the
spiral side on the west side and the comment "to the n or nf the
nebulosity is diffused over a space" probably applies to the northern arm
that extends to the east (and contains NGC 2404).
Based on
photographs taken with the 60-inch reflector at Mt Wilson, Francis Pease (1917)
remarked "This fine right-handed spiral nebula resembles
******************************
NGC 2404 =
[VS65] 44 = [SPC90] 298 = [H85] A67
07 37 07.1 +65
36 39
Size 20"
48"
(4/15/10): The supergiant HII complex NGC 2404 (perhaps 2000 light-years
across) is located 1.7' ENE of the core and 1.5' NNW of a superimposed mag 10.5
star. It appeared as a very
bright, irregular, 20" knot. At the relatively low power of 330x, I
quickly logged 8 HII knots in the galaxy (see description of NGC 2403).
18"
(3/19/04): brightest of 3 or 4 HII regions visible in NGC 2403. Fairly bright at 160x, small,
round. Located just east of the
core, 1.5' from center, and 1.5' N of a prominent mag 11 star to the SW of the
core.
17.5" (2/22/87):
this is a prominent knot (superassociation) located at the end of the northern
spiral arm of NGC 2403. Appears
fairly faint, small, round, clearly nonstellar.
13":
extremely small emission "knot" at the east end of NGC 2403.
Guillaume
Bigourdan discovered NGC 2404 = Big. 28, a superassociation/HII region in NGC
2403, on 2 Feb 1886 with the 12.4-inch refractor of Paris Observatory. The NGC position, based on Bigoudan's
original published position in list I, is in error but Bigourdan later measured
and published an accurate position in his five volume (3000 pages) compilation
(Annales de l'Observatoire de Paris). RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent
(Type 7), although Type 35 (diffuse nebula in galaxy) would be more
appropriate.
******************************
07 32 14.0 +25
54 23
V = 13.8; Size 0.7'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 95d
17.5"
(2/8/91): very faint, small, very low even surface brightness. A mag 15.5 star is just off the north
edge.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2405 = m 105 on 7 Nov 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"vF, S, iR." His
position is 1' S of
******************************
07 31 47.7 +18
17 17
V = 13.9; Size 0.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8
17.5"
(1/31/87): very faint, small, round, faint core, slightly smaller and fainter
than
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2406 = St XIII-30 on 7 Feb 1885 (along with NGC 2407 = St
XIII-31) with the 31" silvered-glass reflector at the Marseille
Observatory. His position matches
******************************
NGC 2407 = UGC
3896 = MCG +03-20-001 = CGCG 086-042 = CGCG 087-003 = PGC 21220
07 31 56.7 +18
19 59
V = 13.4; Size 1.1'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 75d
17.5"
(1/31/87): faint, small, slightly elongated, small bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2406 3.4'
SSW. Located 7' W of mag 7.8
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2407 = St XIII-31 on 7 Feb 1885 (along with NGC 2406 = St
XIII-30) with the 31" silvered-glass reflector at the Marseille
Observatory. His position matches
******************************
07 40 32 +71 40
30
Size 20'
18"
(3/13/04): at 115x, ~50 stars mag 9.5 and fainter are scattered in a 20'
triangular group. The group is
unconcentrated and there are only a few stars within the interior of the
outline. Strings of stars extend
off the triangle so there no clear boundaries to the group and it appears to be
a chance asterism or an open cluster remnant. A mag 9 star is on the west side of the group.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2408 = h452 in Jan 1830 and noted "A very loose scattered
cluster of large stars, or a starry place." His position corresponds with a mag 9 star. Harold Corwin
identifies a scattered group of mag 10-12 stars (asterism) with a diameter of
~20'. Bica et al, classify this
object as a "possible open cluster remnant" (2001A&A...366..827B).
******************************
07 31 37 -17 11
24
V = 7.3; Size 2'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, this is a 2' group of 8 stars with no faint members, so it
appears to be an asterism. The two
brightest mag 8.5/9 stars are part of a boxy quadrilateral with the other 4
stars grouped into two wide pairs.
The three brightest stars are resolved in the 80mm finder at 25x. Sh 2-302, a very faint large HII region
is centered ~13' N.
17.5"
(2/9/02): small, bright, distinctive group of 8 stars mag 9-11.5 in a 2'
knot. Includes two mag 9 stars in
a small quadrilateral and two other pairs. Stands out well in the field, though seems too sparse to be
a real cluster (Bochum 4).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2409 = h3086 on 12 Feb 1836 and noted "a small but
brillliant group of 6 or 8 large stars, 8, 9, 10m, within a very small
compass." His position
matches this small, bright group of stars. While observing with the 72", Dreyer called this group
"only 4 stars 9...11 mag and some fainter ones. I suppose there are millions of such clusters." Herbert Howe noted it "Consists of 10 scattered
stars." This knot of stars is
plotted on Norton's Star Atlas and described in Webb but RNGC classifies the
number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
07 35 02.4 +32
49 18
V = 13.0; Size 2.5'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 31d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated SW-NE, bright core. A pair of mag 14 stars are 1.0' SE and
1.5' SSE of center.
Truman Safford
discovered NGC 2410 = Sf 74 on 5 Feb 1867 with the 18.5" refractor at the
Dearborn Observatory and recorded "pS, pB, vmb M N = 12-13m." Safford's discovery, though, was not
published until 1887, too late to be credited in the NGC. Stephan independently found the galaxy
on 2 Feb 1877, recorded it in list VIIIb-20, and was credited with the
discovery in the GC Supplement (5388) and the NGC. It was later found again by Stephane Javelle on 11 Feb 1898
and described in list III-1005 as "F, E 250 deg, 1' long, gbM, r."
******************************
07 34 36.3 +18
16 53
V = 13.6; Size 1.0'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 50d
24"
(2/14/15): at 375x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE,
24"x18", well concentrated with a very small bright nucleus. A mag 14 star is just west of the
southwest end.
Forms a close
pair with
17.5"
(1/31/87): fairly faint, small, almost round, sharp concentration. PGC 1555546, a faint companion off the
NE side, was not seen.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2411 = St XIII-32 on 7 Feb 1885. His position matches
******************************
07 34 21.5 +08
32 44
=**, Gottlieb.
=NF, RNGC.
Gerhard Lohse
discovered NGC 2412 in 1886 with the 15.5-inch Cooke refractor at the private
Wigglesworth Observatory in Scarborough, England. At his position is a pair of mag 12.2/13.8 stars at 14"
separation that match Lohse's description of a nearby bright star. The mean position of these two stars is
used. Only 3 of his 16 objects in
the NGC are galaxies (two others were earlier discoveries), the rest being
stars or missing.
******************************
07 33 18.5 -13
07 09
Size 10'
18"
(3/13/04): appears as two groups of stars symmetrically placed to the north and
south of mag 8.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2413 = H VIII-52 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 540) and called it
"a cluster of vL coarsely scattered stars, not rich, nearly R." His position is 1.5' north of mag 8.8
HD 60307, on the south side of the group.
JH did not
reobserve this object but it was described at Birr Castle on 3 Jan 1873 as a
"very loose Cl, scarcely more compressed than the neighborhood." Brian Skiff notes two clumps in a 10'
diameter. RNGC classifies the
number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
07 33 13 -15 27
12
V = 7.9; Size 4'
18"
(3/2/08): very pretty cluster with ~40 stars mag 12-14 resolved in a 4'x3'
group using the 13mm Ethos (175x).
A mag 8.2 star (
13.1"
(1/11/86): about 20 faint stars surrounding mag 8.2
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2414 = H VIII-37 = h455 on 4 Feb 1785 (sweep 366) and recorded
"A small cluster of scattered stars of various sizes, not very
rich." JH noted "a cl
with 1 st 9m; not rich." and measured an accurate position.
******************************
07 36 56.6 +35
14 32
V = 12.4; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.0
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, fairly small, round, bright core. Located 2.0' SW of mag 9.1 SAO
60227. Bracketed by two mag 14
stars just 0.6' NW and 0.9' ESE of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2415 = H II-821 = h456 on 10 Mar 1790 (sweep 937) and called
"pB, cS, resolvable, preceding a considerable star." His position is 1.2' WNW of
******************************
07 35 41.5 +11
36 43
V = 13.4; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 110d
17.5"
(11/25/87): very faint, fairly small, round, diffuse, even surface brightness.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2416 = m 106 on 26 Jan 1865 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
noted as "eF, S." His
position is 9 sec of RA east and 1' south of
******************************
NGC 2417 = ESO
123-015 = AM 0729-620 = LGG 144-006 = PGC 21155
07 30 12.1 -62
15 10
V = 12.0; Size 2.8'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 81d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appears bright, large, oval 4:3 or
3:2 WSW-ENE, ~3'x2', broadly concentrated with a large, brighter core. A very faint star is at the south edge
of the halo. The galaxy pair IC
2200A and
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2417 = h3087 on 8 Mar 1836 and recorded "vF, L, R, gbM,
resolvable. Is no doubt a very distant cluster of 6th class." His position
matches
******************************
07 36 37.5 +17
53 02
V = 12.2; Size 1.8'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(1/31/87): moderately bright, fairly small, round, broadly concentrated halo,
bright stellar nucleus.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2418 = St VIIIb-21 on 23 Jan 1874. His position matches
******************************
07 38 08.5 +38
52 55
V = 10.3; Size 4.6'; Surf Br = 0.3
17.5"
(3/20/93): fairly faint, round, 2' diameter, gradually brighter core but no
well-defined nucleus, mottled appearance although no resolution into
stars. Framed by a quadrilateral
of four mag 13-14 stars and a few other faint stars. Collinear with mag 7.0
8": very
faint, small, round, no resolution.
Collinear with two mag 8 stars to the west and a mag 9 star in the field
W.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2419 = H I-218 = h457 on 31 Dec 1788 (sweep 901) and wrote
"cB, R, vgmbM, about 3' diameter." JH observed this gc on two sweeps and remarked "not vB;
L; pmE in parallel; 2' l and 75" br." This is an interesting observation as the globular is
generally described as round. The
first time it was logged at Birr Castle on 9 Mar 1850, Lord Rosse remarked
"I think clearly resolved, several points, at least 3 seen plainly in edge
which I suspect to be filamentous; no nucl., more round than h[erschel]
describes it." The 13 Feb
1852 observation even notes "Lord Rosse thought it like a cluster at a
great distance."
NGC 2419 was
shown to be globular cluster in 1922 on a plate taken at Lowell
Observatory. Shapley estimated a
distance of 160,000 l.y. (current estimate ~275,000 l.y. in the outer halo) and
along with Sawyer, assigned it concentration class II. He may have been the first to use the
nickname "Intergalactic Tramp" in the 1944 paper "Revision of
the Distances of 30 high-latitude Globular Clusters."
******************************
07 38 24 +21 34
30
V = 8.3; Size 10'
18"
(3/15/10): this is a rich, pretty group at low power with roughly 80-100 stars
in a 10' region at 175x. Higher
power brings out the fainter members.
The brightest mag 9.4 star is at the west end of the cluster and forms a
large mag contrast pair with a 13th companion 12" south. On the north end of the cluster is an
equally spaced, collinear trio with separations of 14". The brighter stars in the cluster are
pretty evenly distributed. Many of
the fainter stars are in a 2'-3' patch that follows the mag 9.4 star and which
includes some unresolved haze. A
couple of brighter mag 8-9 stars are in the field to the south of the cluster
and also to the north.
17.5"
(1/23/93): excellent cluster of at least 50 stars mag 11-15 within a 6'
diameter. Good spread of
magnitudes, includes 15 stars mag 11-13 over a rich background of numerous mag
14-15 stars and unresolved haze.
The brightest mag 10 star is on the west side and has a mag 13 companion
12" S. Located between mag
9.1
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2420 = H VI-1 = h458 on 19 Nov 1783 (very early sweep and 4th
object discovered) and recorded "a beautiful cluster of many large and
compressed small stars, about 12' diameter." On 10 Feb 1787 (sweep 697) he noted "A brilliant rich
cluster of stars." JH called
it "a p rich cl; irreg fig; 50...100 stars; 11...18m; 5..7' diam. His position was accurate.
******************************
07 36 12 -20 36
42
V = 8.3; Size 10'
18" (3/2/08):
~80 stars mag 10-15 stars are resolved at 175x within a 10' region. Includes a large number of mag 11-12
stars. The group is well-detached
in the field, particularly on the west, north and southeast sides. One concentration of stars is on the
soiuthwest side. Just to the
northeast, a number of the cluster's stars form the outline of a large,
equilateral triangle. A rich clump
of stars is the center of this triangle including a mag 11/11.5 pair at
18". At 225x, ~100 stars are
visible, although the cluster spreads out too much to be pleasing at this
power.
25x80mm
(3/2/08): appears as a fairly large, richly glowing region with a few brighter
stars resolved.
17.5"
(3/7/92): about 60 mag 10-14 stars in a 10' field. Many stars are similar magnitudes and the cluster is pretty
evenly distributed. Brighter stars
at the borders give a triangular outline including mag 10.5 stars at the SW, SE
and NE edges. A wide brighter
double star (ARA 962 =10.9/11.5 at 18") oriented N-S lies NE of center and
two faint companions are also near.
8"
(1/1/84): almost three dozen faint stars, triangular-shape, rich field.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2421 = H VII-67 = h3089 on 30 Jan 1799 (sweep 1089) and
described "a cluster of compressed stars, considerably rich." JH recorded it from the Cape of Good
Hope as "a large fine rich cluster, not much compressed, but nearly
filling the field. Stars 11..13th mag, no conspicuous star, place that of a
coarse double stars 11th mag."
******************************
07 36 35 -14 29
00
V = 4.4; Size 30'
18"
(3/2/08): this naked-eye cluster is stunning at 73x (31 Nagler), though at 30'
diameter is too spread out for higher powers. The stars are arranged in beautiful chains and groups. The brightest half-dozen stars are in a
10' subgroup in the center including a striking white double star (∑1121 =
7.0/7.3 at 7") that is is surrounded by many stars in chains and
loops. The brightest star on the
west side is a wide, unequal double (5.7/9.7 at 20"). Perhaps 200 stars are scattered around
at low power.
13.1"
(11/5/83): very bright, very large, fairly rich, impressive. Includes double stars ∑1121 = 7.9/7.9
at 7" in the center and ∑1120 = 5.7/9.6 at 20" on the west side. Easy naked-eye object in a dark sky.
8": very
bright, large but scattered, includes ∑1121 = 8/8 at 7" near core and
∑1120 on west side, many colored stars.
Caroline
Herschel independently discovered
Giovanni
Hodierna probably was the first to discover M47 before 1654 and simply recorded
"a Nebulosa between the two dogs". Charles Messier rediscovered it 117 years later on 19 Feb
1771, though he clearly made an error as there is nothing at his position. Messier's missing object was assigned
GC 1594 and NGC 2478. In 1959,
Canadian amateur T.F. Morris identified M47 as identical to NGC 2422. See notes for NGC 2478.
******************************
07 37 07 -13 52
18
V = 6.7; Size 19'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, ~100 stars are resolved in a 18' region with an excellent
double at the center (h3983 = 9.1/9.7 at 8"). The stars are pretty evenly
distributed with no rich subgroups though with several doubles and small
groupings.
13.1"
(1/28/84): about 50 stars in 15' field.
Fairly rich in faint stars.
A mag 9 double star is near the center. The primary, itself, is a very
close pair (RST 3532 = 9.6/10.2 at 0.5"). Located 37' N of M47.
25x80mm finder
(3/2/08): A chain of stars extends north from M47 to this obvious glow with a
few resolved stars superimposed.
15x50 IS
binoculars (1/15/07): visible about 40' N of M47 in binoculars as a faint glow
with the brighter mag 9 and 10 stars resolved.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2423 = H VII-28 = h3090 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 540) and noted
"a cluster of pS stars, pretty rich, 15' diameter." His position is accurate. JH observed the cluster from the Cape
of Good Hope and recorded "a very large, rich fine cluster of small stars
which nearly fills the field. Place that of a double star, class II."
******************************
07 40 39.3 +39
13 58
V = 12.6; Size 3.8'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 81d
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, edge-on 5:1 WSW-ENE, very small bright core, faint
stellar nucleus, very thin extensions from core. Located 7' WNW of mag 7.8
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2424 = St XIII-33 on 6 Feb 1885 and described "vF; pS; lbM;
mE WSW-ENE; length ~1'." His
position and description matches
******************************
07 38 18 -14 52
42
Size 3'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, ~18 stars are resolved over haze in a small 4'x2' group
elongated WSW-ENE. At 225x,
perhaps two dozen stars are visible.
On the east end is a distinctive line of 5 stars oriented SW-NE, though
the richest clump of stars is at the west end of the cluster.
13.1"
(1/11/86): 15 stars mag 13.5-15.0 over haze in a 4'x2' region elongated
~E-W. Four collinear mag 13 stars
are on the east end. Lies SE of
M47.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2425 = H VIII-87 on 8 Mar 1793 (sweep 1034) and noted "a
small cluster of small stars, not very rich." His position is 2' too far south.
******************************
07 43 18.5 +52
19 06
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, small, round, small bright core, stellar nucleus. Located 2.7' NNW of a mag 10 star. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2426 = H II-822 = h460 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and called it
"pF, R, resolvable, vgbM."
His position (based on Auwers reduction) is less than 1' SW of
******************************
07 36 27.8 -47
38 08
V = 11.5; Size 5.2'x2.2'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 122d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this large, unusual galaxy is set in a very
rich Milky Way field and appears as a diffuse, very large, elongated glow with
a low surface brightness and a size of ~4.5'x2.0'. A star is superimposed and mimics an offset stellar nucleus,
but otherwise there is little concentration. Situated nearly at the midpoint of two mag 10 stars 5.5' SW
and 5.5' NE. The cometary globular
CG 4 and
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2427 = h3091 on 1 Mar 1835 and recorded "eF, L, pmE, vlbM,
involves two stars." His
position is 1.5' NE of the center of
******************************
07 39 18 -16 32
Size 10'
18"
(2/4/08): at 175x, roughly 40 stars in 10' barely stand out as a group within a
rich Milky Way field. Most
eye-catching is a small trapezoidal group with a double star at the NW vertex
and a wide pair at the SE vertex.
A string of 3 stars oriented SW-NE is within the trapezoid. Off the SE vertex an oval chain of
stars extends south and west before looping back towards the trapezoid. There are no dense regions and this
appears to be an asterism. An even
weaker concentration of stars about 10' NNE may be
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2428 = H VIII-47, along with NGC 2430, on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep
503), and noted "A very much scattered and vL cl or stars; or rather the
milky way very much crowded with stars not differing much in size and
colour." His position is 10'
south of H VIII-46 = NGC 2430 and corresponds with a fairly rich star field on
the DSS. RNGC classifies this
number as nonexistent.
******************************
NGC 2429 = VV
284 = UGC 3983 = MCG +09-13-039 = CGCG 262-023 = PGC 21664
07 43 47.6 +52
21 27
V = 13.8; Size 1.6'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 145d
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, small, very elongated 4:1 NW-SE, low even surface
brightness. A mag 13.5 star is
involved at the SE end 0.3' from center and a mag 11 star is 0.8' SE. Forms a pair with NGC 2426 5.0' SW.
Ralph Copeland
discovered NGC 2429 on 10 Mar 1874 with the 72" and recorded "pF, pS,
vmE 146.4°, att to a *12 at sf end."
Copeland's description and micrometric offset from a mag 10 star matches
the double system
******************************
NGC 2430
07 39 30 -16 20
24
Size 8'
18"
(2/4/08): scattered, undistinguished group with three brighter stars
(separations of 3'-4') including mag 8.5
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2430 = H VIII-46, along with NGC 2428, on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep
503) and reported "a very large but coarsely scattered cluster of
stars." There is nothing that
stands out significantly visually at his position as noted in my observation,
so this identification is very uncertain.
See Corwin's identification notes for more.
******************************
07 45 13.4 +53
04 30
V = 13.4; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 35d
17.5"
(3/20/93): faint, small, round, small bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 11.5 star is 1.7' SE and a
fainter mag 13 star is 2.2' W.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2431 = H III-829 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and noted "eF,
vS, R, bM." Auwers' reduced
position is 2.8' north of
******************************
07 40 54 -19 05
12
Size 8'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, appears a very distinctive 5' N-S string with a total of ~60
stars resolved in a 5'x3' area.
The richest part is along the string with numerous mag 13-14.5 stars
packed tightly. The north side of
the string bifurcates into two prongs.
13.1"
(1/11/86): three dozen faint stars mag 12-15 in a very elongated string
oriented N-S with dimensions 5'x1.5'.
This is a rich, pretty group with several pairs.
13.1"
(1/18/85): ~35 faint stars in an elongated string along one side of bright
trapezoid of stars.
8"
(3/28/81): rich in faint stars or haze, small, elongated.
80mm (3/2/08):
faintly visible in the finder at 25x as a thin, elongated glow N-S.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2432 = H VI-36 = h3092 on 4 Mar 1790 (sweep 934) and described a
"very compressed cluster of small, and some large stars; extended nearly
in the meridian; the most compressed part is about 8' long and 2' broad, with
many stars scattered around it to a considerable distance." In his 1814 PT paper, Herschel
speculated "the construction of this cluster may have arisen from the
situation of many stars in the same plane, drawn towards a centre by the
clustering power, for any plane seen obliquely will have the appearance of an
extended form." From the Cape
of Good Hope, JH called this "a rather irregular cluster of 8th class,
pretty much compressed. The most compressed part forms a ridge or body of stars
elongated in the meridian. Stars 12..15th mag with larger outliers."
******************************
07 42 43.5 +09
15 33
Size 6"
24"
(1/28/17): at 375x; two of the components of this faint, close triple star were
resolved. The brightest (mag
~14.8) is at the north end, with a mag 15 component just 5" SE. At 450x, the third component (mag 15.6)
was occasionally resolved 5" south of the northern star. So, the three stars formed a tiny
equilateral triangle of sides 5"!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2433 = h462 on 19 Jan 1828 and logged "eF, has a *15
90" dist 30 deg [north-preceding]." At JH's position (07 42 43.5 +09 15 33) is a close triple
star (separations ~5"-6") that Corwin identifies as NGC 2433. The star JH mentions north-preceding is
at 50" separation. RNGC and
PGC misidentify
******************************
07 34 51.3 -69
17 03
V = 11.3; Size 2.5'x2.3'; Surf Br = 13.1
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this galaxy is located 16' NW of the
remarkable barred spiral, NGC 2442.
At 260x it appeared bright, moderately large, slightly elongated 5:4,
~1.0'x0.8' in diameter. Sharply
concentrated with a very small, very bright core. Mag 6.9 Delta Vol lies 15' NE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2434 = h3096 on 23 Dec 1834 and measured it on 5 sweeps. His original description reads
"pB, R, gpmbM, 35"." and his position matches
******************************
07 44 13.5 +31
39 03
V = 12.8; Size 2.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 36d
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE. The halo is evenly concentrated down to
a small bright core containing a stellar nucleus. A mag 13 star is 1.2' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2435 = H II-616 on 26 Oct 1786 (sweep 628) and noted "F, S,
lbM." His position is 2'
northwest of
******************************
NGC 2436
07 45 48.3 +52
02 17
=**, Gottlieb. =
NGC 2431:, Corwin. =*, RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2436 = h461 on 16 Feb 1831 and recorded "vF, S, R, bM, diam
8"." About 3' west of
his position is a faint pair of mag 14.4/15.4 stars with a separation of
8" that could be his object.
The mean position of these two stars given here. But Harold Corwin notes that JH's
position is exactly 1.0 min of RA east and 1 degree south of NGC 2431 and the
description matches the bright core.
As the errors are just single digits, he feels NGC 2436 is more likely a
duplicate of NGC 2431, though I feel the faint pair of stars is also a
possibility.
******************************
07 41 47 -14 48
36
V = 6.1; Size 27'
17.5"
(3/16/96): At 100x,
8": bright,
very rich, large, includes a couple of mag 9 stars but most stars are mag 10-13
and fairly uniform in magnitude and distribution except for a gap near the
center. Contains the striking pn
Charles Messier
discovered M46 = NGC 2437 = h463 on 19 Feb 1771. WH described the cluster (unpublished) on 19 Mar 1786 as
"a beautiful, very rich, compressed cluster of stars of various
magnitudes." JH reported
"the brightest part of a v fine rich cl; stars = 10m; which fills the
field. Within the cluster at its n
edge is a fine planetary nebula [NGC 2438]."
******************************
NGC 2438 = PK
231+4.2 = PN G231.8+04.1
07 41 50.6 -14
44 07
V = 11.5; Size 73"x68"
48"
(2/20/12): at 488x, much of the same detail described in the 4/15/10
observation was seen, though not as much detail in the ring. Besides the slightly off-center bright
star (the ionizing star is a mag 17.5-18 companion) and a mag 14.5 star
~15" SW, a 16th mag star is at the edge of the rim on the SW side. A mag 16 star on the SE side appears
just inside the bright ring.
Finally another 16th mag star is near the north edge of the annulus, but
clearly within the planetary, for a total of 5 interior stars. The outer rim brightens at this point
in a 90° arc to the east and is slightly flattened. The challenging Calabash Nebula (protoplanetary) lies 6.5'
ENE.
48"
(4/15/10): at 700x, NGC 2438 was a beautiful "cheerio" ring with a
sharply defined rim of 1.2' diameter and a fairly large, dark central hole of
25-30". The mag 12.8 star in
the center was prominent with a second mag 14.5 star ~15" SW of
center. A third mag 16 star was
just inside the annulus on the SE side, ~20" from center. The rim had a very uneven surface
brightness with an impression of some radial streaks and one or two additional
faint, embedded stars. The rim was
noticeably brighter along the NE quadrant and to a slightly lesser extent along
the opposite SW portion of the rim, creating a bipolar appearance. A bright mag 11 star is just off the SE
side and the planetary floats in the beautifully rich star field of M46.
18"
(2/24/06): beautiful view of this 70" planetary within M46 at 323x. The annulus is quite prominent and
relatively thick with a weakly glowing interior. The rim is irregularly lit and a bit weaker on the NW side
and brighter along the eastern edge.
A mag 12.8 star is just NW of the center of the annulus (this is not the
central star, though) and a fainter interior star (mag 14?) on the SW side
(half-way to the rim) was also visible.
A mag 11 star is just off the SE edge. At 807x, the rim is noticeably brighter and thicker on the
eastern half compared to a weaker section along the NW side and an extremely
faint star intermittently pops out on the NNE side on inner edge of the annulus
(confirmed on 3/4/08 at Lake Sonoma).
17.5"
(3/2/02): at 280x this is a beautiful, 1' diameter PN with a darker central
hole at 280x situated on the NE side of the rich oc M46. A mag 13 star (not the central star) is
within the central hole slightly offset NW of center. The rim is fairly uniform but slightly brighter along the NE
side. The 20" central hole is
clearly darker although there is not a dramatic contrast. A brighter mag 11 star is just off the
SE edge (about 15"-20" SW of the mag 11 star, a faint mag 14-15 star
was also intermittently visible) and a string of faint stars oriented WNW-ESE
is just over 1' S.
13.1"
(1/18/85): star near center very easy and second interior star definite.
13.1"
(1/28/84): annular planetary on the NE side of M46! Fairly bright, moderately large, round, 1.0' diameter. A mag 11 star is just off the SE edge
and a mag 13 star is just NW of the geometric center (this is not the central
star). A third extremely faint
star lies on the SW side.
13.1"
(11/5/83): clearly annular at 166x.
8"
(1/1/84): slightly darker center, fairly small, round.
80mm (1/15/07):
visible continuously in the finder using an OIII filter and a 13mm Nagler (25x)
as a very faint, very small disc on the NE side of M46.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2438 = H IV-39 = h464 = h3093 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 540) and
recorded "pB, R, resolvable, within the 46th of [Messier], almost of an
equal light throughout, about 2' diameter, no connection with the cluster,
which is everywhere free from nebulosity." On 8 Mar 1793 (sweep 1034) he noted "A round, pretty
well defined nebula; almost of a planetary nebula aspect." JH described it from the Cape of Good
Hope as "a very fine planetary nebula, oval, uniform in light, and of a
very flat appearance; rather faint; diam in RA = 4 seconds; has a star 15th mag
on it, and one 13th mag close to its border. This object is excentrically
situated in a superb cluster of stars 12..16th mag. (46 Messier)"
Lord Rosse
sketched NGC 2438 as annular on 12 Dec 1848 (published in his 1850 PT paper). It was observed 21 times at Birr Castle
including using a visual spectroscope on 15 Feb 1876. William Lassell also noted the annularity using his 24"
equatorial reflector on 11 Jan 1853: "The star is not in the centre, and
the nebula seems to retreat from the star, leaving it on a much darker ground
than the external parts of the nebula.
With slight attention another star is seen; and two or three points or
bright spots in the nebula occasionally catch the eye." His sketch was published in his 1854
MRAS paper (figure 5) on observations from Malta. Perhaps following Lassell's lead, Secchi sketched in 1856
the "central star" slightly eccentric, along with a second interior
star using the 9.5" refractor in Rome.
Based on
Crossley photographs, Curtis (1918) reported "the nebula is a very
irregular, broad, patchy ring 68" in diameter. The star at SW lies in a gap in the ring."
This planetary
is not physically associated with M46 based on differing radial velocities and
the youthful age of cluster and is probably superimposed in foreground). Les Dalrymple states a distance of 4500
l.y. for the cluster and only 3000 l.y for the planetary in a S&T article
(Dec 2002).
******************************
07 40 45 -31 41
36
V = 6.9; Size 10'
17.5"
(1/19/91): at 220x, 70 stars visible in a 10' diameter. Bright, fairly large, elongated
N-S. This is a rich, pleasing
cluster and includes mag 6.7 R Puppis on the northeast edge. About 1' SW and 2' SSE of R Puppis are
two easy but prominent double stars equally spaced with similar magnitudes but
with perpendicular orientations (N-S and E-W). The pair 1.7' SSE is PRO 41 (9.2/10.3 at 12"). These
wide double stars form a striking group and are part of an elliptical outline
of stars with a void in center.
Very unusual appearance!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2439 = h3094 on 28 Jan 1835 and recorded "a cluster of
about 150 stars, B, pL, p rich, not much more compressed to the middle, 8'
diameter, has one star 8th mag (place taken), one red one 9th mag, the rest
12..14th mag."
******************************
07 41 55.4 -18
12 31
V = 9.3; Size 74"x42"
48"
(2/20/12): the view of this explosive appearing planetary was remarkably
detailed at 488x and 814x. The
very high surface brightness central region is irregularly shaped with a very
ragged periphery, giving the impression that the central region is erupting or
bursting. Within the east side of
the central portion are two intense condensations or knots, oriented ~N-S, with
the southern knot brighter. A
third, smaller elongated knot is just west and sits close to the center. The main body is elongated nearly 2:1
SW-NE, roughly 1.1'x0.6', but with an irregular outline. The southwest end of the planetary dims
and protrudes out, creating a cup-shaped hollow with a very small brighter knot
at its southwest tip. A prominent
partial loop or outer wing is attached on the northwest edge of the central
section, like a spiral arm, and swings clockwise to the west and slightly
south. The eastern portion of the planetary consists of a large complete,
irregular loop (darker in the interior), giving the strong appearance of being
blown out from the central region.
17.5"
(2/14/99): this bi-polar planetary reveals fascinating detail at 380x! The compact high surface brightness
inner region is elongated NNW-SSE.
Two bright knots comprise both ends and the surface brightness is
irregular. The nebulosity is much
weaker SW of the main body with a cup-shaped dark "notch" protruding
into this central bar. The outer
halo is oriented SW-NE with a brighter wing similar to a spiral arm attached at
the west edge which swings back towards the south. The outer nebulosity is weaker and less well-defined on the
north and NE sides.
13"
(2/23/85): very bright and small with a very high surface brightness. This planetary has a double shell
structure with an elongated box-shape oriented NW-SE and a fainter shell
oriented SW-NE. One or two
condensations are visible in the central part. Located 3.0' W of mag 8.4 orange
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2440 = H IV-64 = h3095 on 4 Mar 1790 (sweep 934) and described a
"beautiful planetary nebula of a considerable degree of brightness, but
not very well defined. About 12 or
15" in diameter."
William Lassell
observed NGC 2440 in Jan 1853 with his 24-inch equatorial reflector on
Malta. He commented, "no
description can do justice to this singular object. With 150 it just attracts the eye in sweeping, as a a
bluish-white spot, a few seconds in diameter. A most extraordinary object [at 650x], not beautiful, for it
has no symmetry – but wonderful." His sketch, showing 4 or 5 knots, was included in his 1854
MRAS paper (figure 7). Father
Angelo Secchi published a detailed sketch and description in 1856 using the
9.6" refractor in Rome. He
noted, "It seems to consist of two twin nebulae joined to a third
transverse elliptical nebula…but it is very difficult to recognize the true
structure."
Ralph Copeland
made a detailed observation at Birr Castle on 20 Jan 1874: "vB, pL, very
blue. An eB nucleus which is E or
bi-central in pos 151.4° in vF outer nebulosity, vmE 33.1° and 2' or 3'
long. 35 stars in field (diam
11'), the nearest of which is *16m pos 200.8°, dist 54.8"..."
Based on
Crossley photographs, Curtis (1918) reported NGC 2440 has "no central
star; the strong central masses are nebulous in the shortest exposures. A very irregular and patchy oval; main
portion 54"x20" in pa 37°, with a faint extension at east, north of
the middle."
******************************
07 51 54.8 +73
00 55
V = 12.2; Size 2.0'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(2/22/87): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, diffuse. Only a very weak concentration.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2441 = T VI-1 on 8 Aug 1882 with the 9.4-inch "Amici
II" refractor (this was his only discovery with the small refractor). He reported a "Weak Neb III class
but 1' dia. Found on the terrace with Amici II and seen again on 9 Aug with
Amici I; bright III class."
His position is off by a few arc minutes too far southeast, but this is
the only nearby candidate.
******************************
NGC 2442 =
Meat-hook Galaxy = N2443 = ESO 059-008 = LGG 147-003 = PGC 21373
07 36 23.9 -69
31 48
V = 10.4; Size 5.5'x4.9'; Surf Br = 13.9
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): I was amazed how prominent the sweeping
spiral arms appeared at 260x giving a stunning "S" appearance. The main bar of the galaxy is fairly
bright and extended ~2:1 in a SW to NE orientation with a length of ~3'. The bar has just a weak, broad
concentration with no real core but it rises sharply at the center to a very
small, brighter nucleus. The main
arm is attached at the northeast end of the bar and extends a short distance in
that direction before dramatically bending sharply to the west (turning nearly
150°) and extending ~3.5' in length towards a mag 12.9 star. At the NW end this well-defined arm
fades and broadens a little, terminating just SE of the 13th magnitude
star. At the SW end of the bar, a
thick arm emerges extending to the SW where it more gently curves around towards
the east while fanning out. This
arm is not as sharply defined as the inside (east) portion of the curve blends
with a diffuse glow extending from the bar. The total distance between the tips of the arms spans nearly
5'. In the same field 10' ENE lies
20" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 127x (20mm Nagler), the main body of
this unusual galaxy appeared as a fairly faint, large, thick "bar"
with just a weak concentration except for an extremely small bright core. On
the NE end of the bar, a faint "arm" emerged at a sharp angle towards
the NW. The contrast was improved
at 212x and the brighter arm was easier to view, extending at nearly a right
angle to the main body and curving towards the west on the north side. On the SW end, a broad, short, low
surface brightness extension was visible bending towards the SE. The main bar was elongated 2:1 SW-NE,
roughly 3'x1.5', but the thick outer arm significantly increased the size to
~4.5'x2'.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2442 = h3097 on 23 Dec 1834 and recorded "A double nebula;
very large; very faint; position of centres = 40°; diameter 4' and 3' running
together, and having a star 13th magnitude at their junction." In his 2nd
(of 4 sweeps) he called it "faint, very large, much elongated, very suddenly
a little brighter to the middle, to a star 13th mag, like a very faint
atmosphere, about a nucleus 3.5' long, 1.5' broad; pos of its extension = 39.8
. I think it has some sort of hooked appendage." The "hooked appendage" (
******************************
NGC 2443 = NGC
2442 = "Meat-hook Galaxy" = ESO 059-008 = PGC 21373
07 36 23.9 -69
31 48
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): This number refers to the prominent arm
attached at the NE end of the bar.
This arm extends a short distance in that direction before dramatically
bending sharply to the west (turning nearly 150°) and extending ~3.5' in length
towards a mag 12.9 star. At the NW
end this well-defined arm fades and broadens a little, terminating just SE of
the mag 13 star. See NGC 2442 for full description of the galaxy.
20" f/5
(7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): This is the NE portion or NE spiral
arm of NGC 2442. At 127x (20 Nagler),
on the NE end of the bar, a faint "arm" emerged at a sharp angle
towards the NW. The contrast was
improved at 212x and the brighter arm was easier to view, extending at nearly a
right angle to the main body and curving towards the east on the north side.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2443 = h3097 on 23 Dec 1834. In sweep 523, he described a "double nebula, vL, vF,
position of centres = 40 deg, diameters 4' and 3' running together and having a
star 13m at their junction."
JH assigned two GC designations for the double nebula (GC 1568 and 1569)
and they received two NGC designations, NGC 2442 and NGC 2443, although the
latter number refers to the massive spiral arm on the northeast side of NGC
2442.
******************************
07 46 53.0 +39
01 55
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0
48"
(4/5/13): NGC 2444 is the northwest component of a remarkable interacting
system with the multi-component ring galaxy
13.1"
(1/18/85): forms an interacting double ring system with NGC 2445. Both appear as two nearly stellar knots
oriented NNW (NGC 2444) and SSE (NGC 2445) with a separation of 1.0',
surrounded by faint halo which may merge.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2444 = St VIIIb-22 on 18 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2445. His position matches the northwest
component of
******************************
NGC 2445 = Arp
143 NED2 = VV 117e = UGC 4017 = MCG +07-16-017 = CGCG 206-024 = PGC 21776
07 46 55.1 +39
00 54
V = 13.3; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 15d
48"
(4/5/13): this remarkable ring galaxy forms an interacting pair with NGC 2444,
just 1' N. At 488x, it was
resolved into six components -- the bright ring nucleus and five very small HII
regions which are roughly equally spaced around the nucleus (separations
between 25" and 42").
The four closest (
VV 117b is at
the northern end of NGC 2445, just 27" N of the nucleus and 36" SSE
of NGC 2444. It appeared very
faint, very small, round, 8" diameter.
Finally,
13.1"
(1/18/85): this is the SE component of a double galaxy with NGC 2444. Both appear as two nearly stellar knots
oriented NNW (NGC 2444) and SSE (NGC 2445) with a separation of 1.0',
surrounded by faint halo which may merge.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2445 = St VIIIb-23 on 18 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2444. His position matches the southeast
component of UGC 4016.
******************************
07 48 39.2 +54
36 42
V = 12.9; Size 1.9'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 130d
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE. Unusual appearance as cradled by
several stars including a mag 12 star at the west end, two mag 13 stars at the
east end and close NW and a mag 15 star is superimposed.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2446 = h465 on 10 Feb 1831 and recorded "four small stars
in a semicircle, within whose concavity there is a F nebulosity, which I am
pretty sure is real." His
position and description matches
******************************
07 44 29 -23 51
12
V = 6.2; Size 22'
18"
(3/2/08): very easy with any optical aid (at the threshold of naked-eye
visibility) with a few of the brighter stars resolved in 15x50 IS
binoculars. The cluster is fairly
well resolved at 25x in the 80mm finder.
The central region is superb in the 18" at 175x (13mm Ethos) with
~100 stars resolved in the 10' region and richest in the core. Appears fully resolved into mag 10-14
stars. A small, near parallelogram
of 4 stars (sides ~40"x20") stands out near the center with numerous
fainter stars nearby. The
brightest star on the SW side of the cluster is a nice, unequal double (ARA
2066 = 8.3/11.3 at 10").
13.1"
(3/24/84): about 60 stars, bright, large, pretty rich. Contains a tight quadrilateral near the
center with three faint companions.
8": bright,
very rich, triangular-shape, pretty compact, excellent field.
Charles Messier
discovered
******************************
07 44 57 -24 40
30
18"
(3/13/04): at 115x, this is a fairly distinctive 15' elongated group with mag
5.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2448 = h466 on 7 Jan 1831 and reported "a *8m followed by a
poor cl of 18-20 st, 11...13m."
His position is less than 1' south of mag 5.6 HD 62747. This bright star is surrounded by a
several brighter stars, mostly on the following side (at the position given by
Harold Corwin). RNGC classifies
this asterism (not a true cluster) as nonexistent.
******************************
07 47 20.4 +26
55 49
V = 13.4; Size 1.3'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 137d
24"
(2/16/15): at 300x and 375x; fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small,
elongated 2:1 NW-SE. Contains low
surface brightness extensions (arms) extending ~40"x20" and a sharply
defined oval core 25"x12".
A mag 14.7 star is just off the west side [34" from center] and a
mag 15.5 is off the southwest side [35" from center].
NGC 2449 is the
brightest member of a small group (WBL 152) with
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated NW-SE, bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2450 6.0' NNE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2449 = St VI-9 on 18 Jan 1874. His position matches
******************************
NGC 2450 = MCG
+05-19-008 = CGCG 148-022 = WBL
152-004 = PGC 21807
07 47 32.3 +27
01 09
V = 14.6; Size 0.9'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 156d
24"
(2/14/15): at 300x and 375x; faint to fairly faint, fairly small, very
elongated 3:1 NNW-SSE, 0.6'x0.2'.
Brighter along a thin strip of the major axis. A mag 14.6 star is close off the northwest edge. Last of a 12' quartet (WBL 152) with IC
2205, NGC 2449 and IC 476.
17.5"
(2/20/88): very faint, very small, very elongated NNW-SSE. A mag 14.5 star is just off the NW edge
0.5' from center. Forms a pair
with NGC 2449 6.0' SSW.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2450 = St IX-12 on 8 Feb 1878. His position matches
******************************
07 45 15 -37 58
06
V = 2.8; Size 45'
13.1"
(2/25/84): very bright scattered group of stars including yellow mag 3.6 c
Puppis and about 10 bright stars.
This naked-eye cluster appears very large but lacking in faint
stars. Recent research shows this
is a random grouping and not a cluster.
8"
(3/28/81): very bright, very large, very scattered, includes mag 4 c
Puppis. Resolved in 8x50 finder.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2451 = h3099 on 1 Feb 1835 and recorded "The chief star
(4th mag) of an orange colour, of a very large and very diffused cluster of
large stars, too loose to be a fit object for the ordinary magnifying
power." His position matches
mag 3.6
A study
published in May '94 Astronomy & Astrophysics concluded NGC 2451 is a
chance alignment of stars that does not share a common motion. The authors,
though, identified 24 stars in the vicinity of NGC 2451 which, on the basis of
common or similar proper motion, appear to form a "moving group".
They call it the "Puppis Moving Group", and emphasized that it is not
NGC 2451 (although several stars are common to both objects).
******************************
07 47 26.2 -27
20 08
V = 11.9; Size 31"x24"
18"
(3/2/08): very interesting bipolar appearance at 450x. Appears elongated N-S,
~30"x22", with brighter lobes and rims on the north and south
ends. The center appears slightly
darker and pinched in. The small
open cluster
17.5"
(3/2/02): at 380x this is a moderately bright, fairly small but interesting
planetary. Appears elongated N-S,
~30"x20" with an irregular surface brightness and a slightly darker
center or a darker spot. The halo
appears brighter at the north and south ends giving a slightly bipolar
appearance with the impression of two lobes diminishing in brightness in the
center. A faint mag 14.5 star is
just off the north edge. Located 8' S of open cluster NGC 2453.
13"
(3/24/84): moderately bright, small, slightly elongated N-S, no interior star
visible. Located 6' S of open
cluster NGC 2453.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2452 = h3100 on 1 Feb 1837 and described as "An object
whose nature I cannot make out. It is certainly not a star, nor a close double
star; but it is not round, and I should call it an oblong planetary nebula, by
reason of its decidedly marked though somewhat dim outline, were there not some
suspicion of its being double, as if a very close and highly condensed double
nebula. It is very small and rather faint, 8" long, 5" broad, and
equals a star of 10th mag. In a field with at least 60 or 80 stars [NGC 2453],
all sharp and well defined but this.
Four nights later he recorded "Planetary nebula. In a field with,
and south of a cluster, and on a rich ground is the undefined object of Sweep
769. It is no doubt a very faint, small, round planetary nebula..."
Based on
Crossley photographs at Lick, Curtis (1918) reported "there is probably a
faint central star, not brighter than mag 19. Extreme length about 22" in pa 85° the centers of the
bright lateral lobes are 11" apart.
In this exposure time the object has much the appearance of a reversed
letter Z."
******************************
NGC 2453 = Cr
162 = ESO 493-SC012
07 47 34 -27 11
42
V = 8.3; Size 5'
18"
(3/2/08): at 220x appears as a fairly rich group of two dozen stars in a 3'
clump, just SE of a mag 9.5 star (
17.5"
(3/2/02): at 220x, this is a small but dense open cluster with about two dozen
stars resolved in a 3' region with a mag 9.5 star (
13"
(3/24/84): about a dozen stars resolved in a compact 2.5' cluster including
three mag 9.5-10 stars. The
brightest mag 9.5 star is at the NW edge.
There is one dense, partially resolved clump. Planetary nebula NGC 2452 lies 6' SSW. Clouds may have interfered with the
observation.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2453 = h3101 on 5 Feb 1837 and recorded "a small but
condensed cluster, Class VII. Pretty rich. Dia 3'. [This is the cluster
referred to, as in the field with the Planetary Nebula (NGC 2452).]"
******************************
07 50 35.0 +16
22 07
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 100d
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, small, elongated 2:1 E-W, small bright core. A mag 14.5 star is 40" S.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2454 = St VI-10 on 19 Jan 1874. His position matches
******************************
07 48 59 -21 18
00
Size 8'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, this is a fairly rich group of ~45 stars, mostly mag
12.5-13.5, situated ~7' W of mag 8
17.5"
(1/19/91): about two dozen stars in a fairly large scattered group. Consists mostly of brighter mag 10-12
which are aligned in two perpendicular rows oriented E-W and N-S. Although the stars are fairly bright
the cluster does not stand out as located in very rich field.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2455 = h3102 on 15 Feb 1836 and recorded "Irregular
cluster, p Rich, not much compressed middle, 10', stars 12m nearly equal. General middle taken." His position corresponds with the group
at my position.
******************************
07 54 10.6 +55
29 43
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 30d
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, small, slightly elongated, broad mild concentration. A mag 14 star is 1.2' SSE. Forms a pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2456 = h467 on 10 Feb 1831 and recorded "vF; R; vgbM; and
losing itself imperceptibly."
His position is at the south edge of
******************************
NGC 2457 = MCG
+09-13-086 = CGCG 262-046 = PGC 22161
07 54 45.7 +55
32 48
V = 14.7; Size 0.6'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.2; PA = 131d
17.5"
(1/19/91): extremely faint, very small, round, very low surface
brightness. Forms a pair with NGC
2456 5' WSW. Two extremely faint
companions 1.2' E and 3' NNE were not seen.
Ralph Copeland
discovered NGC 2457 on 10 Mar 1874 with the 72" at Birr Castle during an
observation of NGC 2456. He
described (with respect to NGC 2456) "F, pL, R, Pos 54.8°, dist 339"
[or 32.9s f, 195.4" n]. About
3' n of the nova there seemed to be another vF neb. Telescope now at the limit of its range." Copeland's micrometric offset matches
MCG and PGC (as
well as Megastar, etc) misidentify
******************************
07 55 51.4 +56
42 38
V = 14.5; Size 0.15'x0.15'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 158d
24"
(1/25/14): faint, very small, round, 10" diameter, quasi-stellar
nucleus. A mag 13.5 star lies
35" SW. Located 4.8' ENE of a
mag 10.5 star and second in a string of 6 faint galaxies (several of which have
identification problems). This
galaxy is identified as
17.5"
(1/19/91): not found.
Bindon Stoney discovered
NGC 2458 = Big. 29 on 20 Feb 1851 and noted as one of a "Great many knots,
reckoned 10 nearly in a line p f."
This was the only observation made at Birr Castle and no positions were
measured or even a rough sketch produced.
JH added 8 additional entries in the GC, as h469 (later
Dreyer followed
Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning positions and descriptions
("vF,*12 close").
Bigourdan's position is 23 sec of RA west of
******************************
07 52 02.8 +09
33 27
17.5"
(2/22/03): this very small group of 5 faint mag 14-15 stars within 30" was
just resolved at 220x . At low
power it appeared like a nebulous spot.
Although this may be a multiple star, it's likely just a compact
asterism.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2459 = H III-479 = h468 on 26 Dec 1785 (sweep 494) and noted
"suspected. eF, vS, lE, but may be a deception." JH called it "a large group of
small stars which has a nebulous look, and perhaps there may be neb among
them. No other near." On a later sweep he wrote "a small
group of stars; with attention counted 5 with power 320; form a neb group
20" diameter. This asterism
was observed 6 times at Birr Castle and last noted by Dreyer as a "vs Cl
of 5 st, no neby seen." Karl
Reinmuth described the photographic appearance in "Die
Herschel-Nebel" as "a small group of 5 st 13.7...15.5" and
Harold Corwin also calls this a "group of five stars."
******************************
07 56 52.4 +60
20 58
V = 11.8; Size 2.5'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 40d
13.1"
(1/11/86): moderately bright, fairly small, bright core, diffuse halo, slightly
elongated SW-NE. Forms a (probably
interacting) pair with
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2460 = T VI-3 on 11 Aug 1882 and recorded a "small nebula
II-III class, round, with star in the middle; repeatedly seen." His position is just 7 tsec E and 1.5'
N of U04097 = M+10-12-021 = Z287-010.
******************************
NGC 2461 = Holm
88a
07 56 26.4 +56
40 24
=*, Corwin.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2461 = Big. 30 on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and
refers to one of a "Great many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p
f." This was the only
observation made at Birr Castle and no positions were measured or even a rough
sketch produced. NGC 2461 = GC
1582 is one of 8 entries that JH added to the GC without specific coordinates
besides the two earlier discovered galaxies: h469 (later NGC 2463) and H
III-836 = h470 (later NGC 2469).
So, Stoney's specific object is unknown.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning a position
and description ("*13 slightly nebulous"). His relative position from
******************************
NGC 2462 = MCG
+10-12-024 = CGCG 287-009 = Holm 88a = PGC 22259
07 56 32.1 +56
41 14
V = 14.5; Size 0.5'x0.3'; PA = 155d
24"
(1/25/14): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, 20"x15",
weak concentration to the center.
NGC 2463 lies 5.5' ESE.
Located 11' N of mag 6.7
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, very small, round, very weak concentration. Located 10' N of mag 6.5 SAO
64347. First of four on a line
with NGC 2463 5.6' E.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2462 = Big. 31 on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and
probably refers to one of a "Great many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a
line p f." This was the only
observation made at Birr Castle and no positions were measured or even a rough
sketch produced. NGC 2462 = GC
1583 is one of 8 entries that JH added to the GC (two were previously found by
the Herschels) without specific coordinates.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning a position
and description ("vF, vS, vlbM"). Bigourdan's position is 21 sec of RA east and 1' S of
******************************
NGC 2463 = MCG
+10-12-031 = CGCG 287-013 = PGC 22291
07 57 12.5 +56
40 36
V = 14.1; Size 0.6'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.1
24"
(1/25/14): at 375x appeared fairly faint, small, round, small bright core
increases to a faint stellar nucleus.
Located 7' W of NGC 2469 in a group of faint galaxies (4th of 6 in a 25'
E-W string). A mag 10.3 star lies
3.2' S.
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, very small, round, broad concentration. In a group with NGC 2462 5.6' W and NGC
2469 8' E.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2463 = h469 on 10 Feb 1831 and recorded "eF; R; the
preceding of two [with NGC 2469]."
His position is an exact match with
******************************
07 57 32 +56 41
24
=***, Corwin.
=NF, RNGC.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2464 = Big. 32 on 20 Feb 1851 and refers to one of a "Great
many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p f." This was the only observation made at Birr Castle and no
positions were measured or even a rough sketch produced. JH added 8 additional entries in the GC
as h469 (later NGC 2463) and H III-836 = h470 (later NGC 2469) were previously
discovered, but was unable to provide specific coordinates for these 8 objects.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning a position
and description ("pS Cl, st eF, nebulous"). There is nothing at Bigourdan's published position and
Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2464 with a string of three mag 15 stars (within
50" separation) about 2.5' northeast of his position. RNGC classifies this number as
nonexistent.
******************************
07 57 26.1 +56
49 18
=*, Corwin =NF, RNGC.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2465 = Big. 33 on 20 Feb 1851 and refers to one of a "Great
many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p f." This was the only observation made at Birr Castle and no
positions were measured or even a rough sketch produced. JH added 8 additional entries in the GC
as h469 (later NGC 2463) and H III-836 = h470 (later NGC 2469) were previously
discovered, but was unable to provide specific coordinates for these 8 objects.
Harold Corwin notes that Stoney likely only observed the 6 brightest galaxies
in this region, so 4 of his objects are probably single stars or asterisms.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning a position
and description ("*, nebulous?"). There is nothing at Bigourdan's published position and
Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2464 with a mag 15 star situated ~5' NNW of the
NGC position (perhaps based on a later observation). RNGC classifies this number as nonexistent.
******************************
07 45 16.2 -71
24 38
V = 13.0; Size 1.5'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.6
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appears moderately bright, fairly
small, irregularly round, 0.9'x0.8'.
Broad, weak concentration to a very small, brighter core. The outer halo appears to change
orientation or extent using averted vision (this is a face-on spiral). Located 1.2° NNE of mag 3.9 Zeta
Volantis.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2466 = h3104 on 20 Feb 1835 and reported "vF; R; lbM;
25"." His position is
accurate.
******************************
07 52 29 -26 25
48
Size 8'x7'
13.1"
(1/30/06 - Costa Rica): bright, large nebulosity at 75x using an OIII filter,
~4-5' diameter, surrounding a mag 7.5 star. The main section is roughly mushroom shaped, extending
generally south of the bright star.
The southern border is locally brighter along a strip oriented NW to
SE. There is a sharp light cut-off
(apparently due to dust) passing to the north of the central star and oriented
E-W. Faint haze extends ~15' to
the east. To the north, fainter
nebulosity extends 12' E-W, and brightens towards the east end at an elongated
group of brighter stars (Haffner 18), oriented NW-SE. Removing the filter this is a gorgeous low power Milky Way
field with numerous faint stars peppered in the region of the nebula.
17.5"
(3/2/02): Using a 31 Nagler at 64x and an OIII filter, this is a prominent 7'
nebulosity surrounding a mag 8 star.
A dark lane appears to cut through the nebula from west to east starting
NW of the central star. Fainter
nebulosity extends beyond the dark lane but then fades out to the north. The south and southeast border of the
main mass has a bright, distinct edge and the southern border has a small
extension on the west edge which hooks towards the NW.
A finger of
nebulosity extends north from the main body and involves a scattered group of
brighter stars. This strip dims but nearly merges with a much larger, elongated
mass of fairly faint nebulosity extending NW to SE at a roughly right angle. This section is ~15' in size with an
irregular border that is bounded on the NE side by a string of brighter stars
(Haffner 18). This is a
fascinating HII complex to explore in a rich star field!
17.5"
(1/23/88): at 82x with OIII filter appears as a large, bright, circular
nebulosity about 10' diameter. A
mag 7.8 star is involved north of center and several fainter stars are
involved. The nebulosity is
brightest along the south side in a strip oriented NW-SE. A group of brighter stars is NE
(Haffner 18). A separate larger
(~15') but fainter section is 10'-15' NE and appears elongated.
8"
(3/24/84): fairly bright, moderately large, roughly circular. A mag 8 star is north of center. This is a prominent nebulosity even
with this aperture.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2467 = H IV-22 = h472 on 9 Dec 1784 (sweep 333) and recorded
(two observations combined) "L, pB, almost R, easily resolvable, 6 to 10'
diameter, a faint red colour visible. A star 8 mag not far from the center, but
they evidently have no connection together. By second observation, 9 or 10' diameter." JH called this nebula "a *9m with
a W of stars and nebulosity, or ? is not a vF neb about the stars - (no red
colour seen)." See Harold
Corwin's identification notes for more.
******************************
07 58 02.4 +56
21 35
V = 13.9; Size 1.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 45d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, very small, oval 2:1 SW-NE. A mag 12 star is off the NW edge 1.2' from center. Located 15' SE of mag 6.5
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2468 on 1 Jan 1865 and recorded "F, R, lbM.
Without doubt one of the LdR nebulae." See NGC 2458 for some background on the LdR observations on
20 Feb 1851. His single position
matches
******************************
NGC 2469 = UGC
4111 = MCG +10-12-035 = CGCG 287-017 = PGC 22327
07 58 03.4 +56
40 50
V = 12.7; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 160d
24"
(1/25/14): at 375x appeared moderately bright to fairly bright, fairly small,
elongated 4:3 NNW-SSE, 36"x28", slightly brighter core, appears
mottled. Located 2.3' SSW of a mag
9.5 star. 5th of 6 galaxies in a
25' E-W string.
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, small, oval 3:2 NNW-SSE. A mag 14.5 star is off the NW end 0.8' from center. Third of three on a line with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2469 = H III-836 = h470 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and recorded
"vF, vS, may be a patch of stars." His position is 12 tsec west of
******************************
07 54 20.6 +04
27 34
V = 12.7; Size 1.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 128d
17.5"
(12/19/87): moderately bright, fairly small, pretty edge-on NW-SE, bright
core. A mag 13 star is 0.8' N of
center.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2470 = Sw V-68 on 24 Oct 1886 and recorded "eF; S; eE; betw
2 stars; 2 other stars preceding form trapezoid." His position is 6 tsec of RA west of
******************************
07 58 33.0 +56
46 34
=**,
Corwin. =*, Carlson.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2471 = Big. 34 on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72",
noting one of a "Great many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p
f." This was the only
observation made at Birr Castle and no positions were measured or even a rough
sketch produced. Harold Corwin
notes that Stoney likely only observed the 6 brightest galaxies in this region,
so 4 of his objects are probably single stars or asterisms.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's observation on 9 Mar 1886 in assigning a position
and description ("*13 slightly nebulous?"). There is nothing at Bigourdan's published position and
Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2464 with a faint double star (~16"
separation) about 2.5' NW of the NGC position. RNGC classifies this number as nonexistent.
******************************
NGC 2472 = NGC
2473? = MCG +10-12-039 = CGCG 287-019 = PGC 22364
07 58 41.9 +56
42 04
V = 14.4; Size 0.6'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.1
24"
(1/31/14): at 375x appeared faint, small, round, 12"-15" diameter,
visible continuously but low surface brightness and no concentration. This is the last of 6 galaxies in a 25'
E-W string with NGC 2469 5.5' WSW.
17.5"
(1/19/91): extremely faint, very small, very low even surface brightness. Fourth of four on a line with NGC 2469
6' W.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2472 on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and refers to
one of a "Great many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p f." This was the only observation made at
Birr Castle and no positions were measured or even a rough sketch produced but
there are 6 galaxies here in shallow arc oriented east-west.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's positions and descriptions for six of these 8
entries, but Bigourdan did not record an observation for NGC 2472 or 2473, so
these coordinates are given approximately in the NGC. So, any assignment is
somewhat arbitrary and this number could be considered lost.
The CGCG and
RNGC identify
******************************
07 55 34.8 +56
44 10
V = 15.1; Size 0.3'x0.2'; PA = 80d
24"
(1/25/14): extremely faint to very faint, very small, slightly elongated,
15"x12", low even surface brightness. Located at the west end of a 25' string of 6 galaxies (4
found at Birr Castle), several of which have identification problems).
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2473 on 20 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and refers to
one of a "Great many knots, reckoned 10 nearly in a line p f." This was the only observation made at
Birr Castle and no positions were measured or even a rough sketch produced, but
there are 6 galaxies here in shallow arc oriented east-west.
In the NGC,
Dreyer followed Bigourdan's positions and descriptions for six of these 8
entries, but he did not record an observation for NGC 2472 or 2473 and the
coordinates are approximate in the NGC.
So, any assignment is somewhat arbitrary and this number could be
considered lost.
The RNGC, CGCG,
PGC (and software such as Megastar) identify CGCG 287-019 as NGC 2472 = NGC
2473. Assuming Stoney saw all 6 of
the brightest galaxies in this string, Harold Corwin suggests assigning PGC
22191 (which does not have a NGC number) to NGC 2473. This seems reasonable although the westernmost galaxy in the
string receives the highest NGC number.
PGC 22191 is identified as NGC 2458 in RNGC, PGC and NED and as NGC
2458: = NGC 2473 in LEDA. See
Harold Corwin's identification notes for NGC 2469.
******************************
07 57 58.9 +52
51 26
V = 13.3; Size 0.6'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.0
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, very small, round, very small bright core. Forms a double galaxy with
13.1"
(12/7/85): this is the SW member of a double galaxy with NGC 2475. Almost stellar, round, faint, NGC 2475
very close NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2474 = H III-830 = h471 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and called it
"cF, pS, bM." His
observation probably refers to the brighter northeast component or both were
seen but unresolved. JH recorded
"pF; E; or has a vS star sp and a large [bright] star nf. Also query if not vS star in
centre." The comment "vS
star sp" refers to the fainter southwest component."
JH's position
(used in the NGC) matches the double system
******************************
NGC 2475 = UGC
4114ne = MCG +09-13-097 = CGCG 262-052ne = PGC 22322
07 58 00.4 +52
51 42
V = 13.1; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.5
17.5"
(1/19/91): brighter of a double system with NGC 2474 just 21" SW between
centers. Moderately bright, small,
round, very small bright core.
Forms a striking pair with NGC 2474. Located 2.3' SW of mag 8.8 SAO 26594.
13.1"
(12/7/85): brightest of double galaxy, moderately bright, small, round. A mag 9 star is 3' NE.
R.J. Mitchell
resolved the double system NGC 2474/2475 on 9 Jan 1856 using Lord Rosse's
72". He recorded "may be
a double neb. I see no star
between (as suspected by [JH], but the two almost touch." JH appears to have resolved the fainter
southwest component, but thought it was a star: "vS star sp." Dreyer assigned the discovery of NGC
2475 to LdR, but NGC 2474 is clearly the fainter component seen by Mitchell.
******************************
07 56 45.2 +39
55 40
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 135d
17.5"
(2/24/90): fairly faint, fairly small, sharp concentration, stellar nucleus,
slightly elongated halo. The NGC
2493/
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2476 = St IX-13 on 23 Feb 1878. His position matches
******************************
07 52 10 -38 32
00
V = 5.8; Size 27'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): remarkably rich carpet of mag 11-13 stars at 105x with
perhaps 250-300 stars resolved in a 25' field. The appearance is very similar to a highly resolved globular
without a sharply concentrated core.
There are no distinct boundaries as stars loop outside the main group
and many stars are arranged in long streamers. Located roughly 20' N of a mag 4.5 star (
13.1"
(12/22/84): superb cluster, over 200 stars resolved in a 25' diameter, very
rich in mag 11-14 stars. Appears
similar to
8"
(3/28/81): beautiful, large cluster, very rich in faint stars mag 11-13 over unresolved
haze. A mag 4 star is at the south
edge.
Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille discovered NGC 2477 = Lac I-3 = D 535 = h3103 in 1751-1752 using a 1/2-inch telescope
at 8x during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He recorded a "large nebula 15' to 20' diameter."
James Dunlop described this cluster as "a pretty large faint nebula,
easily resolvable into small stars, or rather a cluster of very small stars,
with a small faint nebula near the north preceding side, which is rather
difficult to resolve into exceedingly small stars. This is probably two
clusters or nebula in the same line; the small nebula is probably three times
the distance of the large nebula."
Dunlop's position for D 535 is ~12' NW of center of the cluster.
JH lists 3
observations in his Cape catalogue: on 1 Feb 1835 he recorded "Cluster 6th
class, bright, large, rich, not very highly condensed in the middle. Stars very
remarkably equal. All 12 or 13th mag. Very few 14th mag; none 11th mag. A fine
object." On a second sweep he
described it as "a very beautiful large cluster, very rich; stars nearly
equal, and 12th mag, gbm, not much compressed in the middle; more than fills
the field. (N.B. It is visible in the finder of the equatorial, and in the
telescope of that instrument appears as a fine cluster." Finally on his last sweep he described
it as a "Superb cluster, gbM, 20' diameter, much more than fills the whole
field. Stars 10 and 11th mag all nearly equal."
******************************
NGC 2478 = M47 =
NGC 2422
07 36 35 -14 29 00
See observing
notes for M47 = NGC 2422.
Charles Messier
discovered M47 = NGC 2478 on 19 Feb 1771 and recorded a "Cluster of stars
a short distance from the preceding [M46]; the stars are brighter; the middle
of the cluster was compared with the same star, 2 Navis. The cluster contains no nebulosity." There is nothing at his position, but
it was assigned GC 1594 and NGC 2478 as placeholders for the missing
cluster. Giovanni Hodierna
probably made the first observation of M47 before 1654 and simply recorded
"a Nebulosa between the two dogs".
In the October
1960 issue of Sky & Tel, Owen Gingrich claims in "The Missing Messier
Objects" that Messier apparently switched the signs of his offsets from
his comparison star, 2 Navis (now 2 Puppis), and cites articles or notes by
Oswald Thomas in 1934 and T. F. Morris in 1959. Harold Corwin doesn't fully buy this explanation (see his
identification notes) as reversing the offset sign doesn't yield a very good
match positional match. In any
case, the cluster now taken as M47 was independently discovered by Caroline
Herschel on 26 Feb 1783 and observed by WH on 4 Feb 1785. WH catalogued it as H VIII-38 (later
NGC 2422), so it is assumed M47 = NGC 2478 = NGC 2422. See Corwin's notes for the full story.
******************************
07 55 07 -17 42
48
Size 7'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, over 80 stars mag 12-14 are resolved in a 9' region with the
cluster extended WSW-ENE. A
semi-circular loop of stars is near the center and is open on the east side. The cluster is ~10' NE of a fairly well
matched, bright wide pair (h4015 = 9.1/9.5 at 20").
25x80mm
(3/2/08): in the finder this cluster appears as a hazy 8' cloud with no
resolution
13.1"
(12/7/85): about 50 faint stars spread out in a 10' diameter over some
haze. Several stars near the
center are arranged in a semi-circle open on the east side. A string of stars trail off to the SE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2479 = H VII-58 on 4 Mar 1790 (sweep 934) and reported "a
pretty compressed and rich cluster of small stars, iR, about 7 or 8'
diameter." His position is on
the southwest side oft his cluster.
******************************
07 57 10.5 +23
46 46
V = 13.7; Size 1.3'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 160d
17.5"
(2/20/88): very faint, very small, very elongated ~N-S, even surface
brightness. Forms a pair with NGC
2481 1' SE.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2480 on 1 Feb 1856 using Lord Rosse's 72". He described
******************************
NGC 2481 = UGC
4118 = MCG +04-19-010 = CGCG 118-027 = Holm 89a = PGC 22292
07 57 13.7 +23
46 04
V = 12.9; Size 1.4'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 18d
17.5"
(2/20/88): moderately bright, fairly small, edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, bright core,
stellar nucleus. Forms a close
pair with NGC 2480 1' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2481 = H II-302 = h473 on 28 Feb 1785 (sweep 374) and called it
"pF, vS, bM, easily resolvable." On 20 Feb 1787 (sweep 697) he noted "F, pL, irr
elongated." UGC has a typo
and calls this galaxy
******************************
NGC 2482 = Cr
166 = ESO 494-SC003
07 55 09 -24 15
00
V = 7.3; Size 12'
18"
(3/2/08): distinctive group of 80-100 stars at 175x in a 10'-12' field. A long, rich string of stars oriented
NW-SE passes through the middle of the cluster with arms or sprays of stars
extending outwards from this string.
The stars are fairly evenly distributed and similar in magnitude with
several close doubles. A mag 8
star (
13.1"
(12/7/85): about 50 stars mag 10-14 in cluster. The bright stars from a "Y" asterism. Located 1.5° ENE of Xi Puppis.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2482 = H VII-10 = h474 = h3106 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and
recorded "a cluster of scattered stars, the stars nearly of a size, more
than 15' diam, but not compressed."
On 6 Mar 1785 (sweep 381) he noted "a L cluster of scattered stars,
considerably rich and compressed; my field is too small to determine the extent
of it." JH, observing from the Cape of Good Hope, called it "a very
rich milky way cluster, or mass of stars, 10, 11 and 12th mag, diameter 20'.
The neighbourhood is rich, but much less so than this cluster." His position is a couple of arcmin
south of center.
******************************
07 55 39 -27 53
12
V = 7.6; Size 10'
18"
(3/2/08): at 175x, ~60 stars are resolved, many in a long WNW to ESE chain
extending to the NW of the central core of the cluster. Near the SE end of the string is a trio
of stars and a wide, equal mag pair.
Extending from this pair are two additional strings to the SW and
towards the east.
17.5"
(3/7/92): scattered group of 30 stars mag 9-14 in 10' diameter. Contains mag 8.9
25x80mm
(3/2/08): easily visible as a hazy cloud with several faint stars superimposed.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2483 = h3105 on 22 Jan 1835 and recorded "Cluster 8th
class. Large; loose and straggling.
A milky way cluster."
His position is about 1 min of RA west of this cluster.
******************************
07 58 28.1 +37
47 11
V = 13.1; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 145d
17.5"
(3/20/93): faint, small, round, broad concentration, faint stellar
nucleus. A mag 14 star is just
40" off the SW edge and 0.8' from the center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2484 = St XIII-34 on 21 Jan 1885. His position matches
******************************
07 56 48.7 +07
28 40
V = 12.2; Size 1.6'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.0
17.5"
(11/25/87): fairly faint, very small, round, bright core, stellar nucleus,
diffuse halo. A mag 13 star is
0.6' S of center.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2485 = m 107 on 25 Mar 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"neb *12." His position
matches
******************************
07 57 56.5 +25
09 39
V = 13.3; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 100d
17.5"
(2/20/88): faint, fairly small, oval E-W, broad concentration, faint stellar
nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC
2487 5' ESE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2486 = m 108 on 25 Mar 1864 (along with
******************************
NGC 2487 = UGC
4126 = MCG +04-19-012 = CGCG 118-030 = Holm 90a = PGC 22343
07 58 20.4 +25
08 57
V = 12.5; Size 2.6'x2.1'; Surf Br = 14.2; PA = 115d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, moderately large, 2' diameter oval, broad
concentration. A mag 10.5 is
20" off the south edge and 1.3' from center. Forms a pair with NGC 2486 5' WNW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2487 = m 109 on 25 Mar 1864 (along with NGC 2486) with Lassell's
48" and recorded "vF, S, gbM." His position is 2' north of
******************************
08 01 45.8 +56
33 13
V = 12.4; Size 1.4'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 100d
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, bright core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2488 = H III-837 = h475 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and called
"eF, vS." His position
(CH's reduction) is 1' SSW of
******************************
07 56 16 -30 03
54
V = 7.9; Size 8'
13.1" (1/18/85):
about 50 stars in a 8' diameter.
Rich in mag 11-14 stars. A
richer group of stars is at the center surrounded by a larger incomplete ring
of stars. Located 13' N of mag 6.3
PX Puppis (6.3-6.7).
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2489 = H VII-23 = h479 = h3107 on 30 Dec 1785 (sweep 501) and
reported "a compressed cluster of pretty large stars, considerably
rich." This cluster was
probably first discovered by James Dunlop on 28 May 1826 and logged as "a
cluster of small stars, of an irregular round figure, with faint nebula, easily
resolvable. The 257 Argus is south following." His position for D 626 is 30' WNW of center, but despite the
poor position the description is reasonable.
JH observed the
cluster from the Cape of Good Hope on 22 Jan 1835 and recorded "A round,
pretty compressed cluster of stars 11..13th mag; 6th or 7th class; gradually
brighter in the middle, pretty rich, 7' diameter." On a second sweep he wrote
"Cluster 7th class. Round, 5' diameter, stars 12th mag."
******************************
07 59 17.9 +27
04 40
V = 14.3; Size 0.5'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.4
17.5"
(2/20/88): very faint, very small, round, even surface brightness. A mag 13.5 star is just 0.7' E. Located 4.0' NW of brighter
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2490 on 14 Feb 1857 with Lord Rosse's 72" and recorded
"I suspect Alpha to be h477 [NGC 2492], F, S, R, lbM. Beta is a vS, F patch, a star following
closely." The sketch and
description clearly established Beta as NGC 2490 = CGCG 148-080 = PGC
22382. On 14 Feb 1877, Dreyer
recorded "vF, vS, R, *13m 1' foll.
Pos 320.6°, Dist 243.7" [from NGC 2492].
******************************
07 58 27.4 +07
59 02
V = 15.1; Size 0.6'x0.3'; Surf Br = 11.7; PA = 78d
24"
(1/31/14): at 375x appeared faint, very small, round, 12" diameter, low
even surface brightness. Located
3.7' SW
24"
(1/25/14): at 375x appeared very faint to faint, small, elongated 4:3,
20"x15", low even surface brightness. Located 3.7' SW of much brighter NGC 2491.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2491 = Sw III-37 on 15 Nov 1885 (along with NGC 2496) with the
16" refractor at Warner Observatory and recorded "eeeF; pS; iR; B* nr
W; sp of 2 [with NGC 2496]; e diff.". His position is ~1.5' NW of
Harold Corwin
notes there are two brighter galaxies 10' N (
******************************
NGC 2492 = UGC
4138 = MCG +05-19-028 = CGCG 148-080 = PGC 22397
07 59 29.7 +27
01 35
V = 12.7; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 95d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2490 4.0' NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2492 = h477 on 24 Dec 1827 and logged "vF; S; R;
bM." His position matches UGC
4138. Dorothy Carlson, in her 1949
list of NGC Corrections, misidentifies NGC 2492 as a star.
******************************
08 00 23.7 +39
49 49
V = 12.0; Size 1.9'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(2/24/90): moderately bright, fairly small, round, halo gradually increases to
a small bright core. Located 9' SW
of mag 7.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2493 = H III-750 = h476 on 31 Dec 1788 (sweep 901) and noted
"vF, S, R, lbM."
His position matches
******************************
07 59 07.0 -00
38 17
V = 13.1; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 95d
17.5"
(1/23/88): moderately bright, oval ~E-W, fairly small, bright core. A nice triple star lies 4' ESE; the
closer components are mag 11/12 with separation 19".
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2494 = m 110 on 6 Feb 1864 and noted "F, S, lE." There is nothing at his position, but
exactly 1.0 min of RA east is
******************************
NGC 2495 = MCG
+07-17-008 = CGCG 207-016 = Holm 91b = Mrk 383 = PGC 22457
08 00 33.2 +39
50 23
V = 15.2; Size 0.4'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.4
17.5"
(2/24/90): extremely faint and small, round. A mag 14.5 is off the east edge 24" from center. Forms a pair with much brighter NGC
2493 1.8' WSW.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2495 on 14 Feb 1855, as the assistant on Lord Rosse's
72". While observing NGC
2493, he noted "a faint star precedes, a nebulous knot follows 2' or 3'
dist." At 2.0' ENE of the
center of NGC 2493 is
******************************
NGC 2496 = UGC
4127 = MCG +01-21-002 = CGCG 031-009 = PGC 22359
07 58 37.4 +08
01 45
V = 13.0; Size 1.4'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 2d
24"
(1/31/14): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated N-S, fairly high
surface brightness, gradually increases to the center but no distinct nucleus
or zones. A mag 14 star is
35" W of center. NGC 2491 lies 3.7' SW.
24"
(1/25/14): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 ~N-S,
~25"x18", weak concentration.
A mag 13.5 star is 33" W of center and a mag 11 star is 2' S.
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, weak concentration. A mag 14 star is 30" W. Forms a pair with NGC 2491 4' SW (not
seen).
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2496 = Sw III-38 on 15 Nov 1885 (along NGC 2491) using the
16" refractor at Warner Observatory and recorded "vF, pS, R, lbM, *
close foll, nf of 2". His
position matches
******************************
NGC 2497 = UGC
4168 = MCG +10-12-061 = CGCG 287-032 = PGC 22547
08 02 11.0 +56
56 32
V = 13.2; Size 1.4'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.6
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, extremely small, round, stellar nucleus stands out with
direct vision. Located 6' E of mag
8.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2497 = H III-838 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and called "eF,
vS." According to CH's
offset, his position is just 12 sec of RA too small. MCG does not label this galaxy (
******************************
07 59 38.8 +24
58 56
V = 13.4; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 113d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, small bright core, elongated NW-SE,
faint stellar nucleus. NGC 2486
lies 20' NW.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2498 = St XIII-35 on 19 Jan 1885. His position matches
******************************
07 58 51.7 +07
29 36
V = 14.3; Size 1.1'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 175d
17.5"
(3/7/92): very faint, very small, round.
Located 2' N of mag 8.9 SAO 26621.
Two mag 10/11 stars are 1.8' S and 2.8' SW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2499 = m 111 on 25 Mar 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"eF, pS, iR." His position matches
******************************
08 01 53.1 +50
44 15
V = 11.6; Size 2.9'x2.6'; Surf Br = 13.7
13.1"
(2/23/85): moderately bright, fairly large, almost round, mottled, weak
concentration. Situated midway
between a mag 12 star 1.9' NE and a mag 10.5 star 1.7' SW of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2500 = H III-709 = h478 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and recorded
"vF, R, vgbM; about 2 1/2 minutes in diameter." A later observation says "I can
perceive some of the stars." This is a mottled face-on spiral, so this
created the impression of resolving some stars. JH observed this galaxy on a single sweep and his position
is 1' too far north.
On 1 Feb 1851,
Lord Rosse "saw stars in it and suspected at one time a curvilinear
arrangement. On later observations
spiral structure was suspected and sketches (by R.J. Mitchell and Samuel
Hunter) reasonably capture the spiral structure, although they were not
certain. In addition a couple of
HII knots on the preceding side were apparently noticed.
******************************
07 58 30.0 -14
21 16
V = 13.7; Size 1.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 14.4; PA = 120d
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated ~E-W, bright core,
stands out well in rich Milky Way field.
Situated only 8° from the galactic equator.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2501 = h3108 on 14 Feb 1836 and recorded "F,R, gbM,
30", in a field full of stars." On a later sweep he logged "pF,
lE, in parallel; glbM, 25"." His position is accurate.
******************************
07 55 51.5 -52
18 25
V = 12.0; Size 2.0'x1.3'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 126d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): bright, moderately large,
elongated 3:2 NW-SE. Well
concentrated with a very bright 30" core that dominates the galaxy. The outer halo or arms are much fainter
and could be easily missed but extend to 1.2'x0.8'. Forms the NW vertex of a triangle with two mag 11 star 4.3'
E and a mag 11.5 star 3' SSE.
Located 41' NNW mag 3.5 Chi Carinae.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2502 = h3109 on 5 Jan 1837 and reported "pF; R; vgpmbM;
25"." His single
position matches
******************************
08 00 36.7 +22
24 00
V = 13.7; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.6
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, small, round, 0.8' diameter, low surface brightness,
very weak concentration. A mag
14.5 star is at the NW edge and a mag 11 star lies 2.0' SE of center. Located on the Cancer/Gemini border.
17.5"
(2/20/88): very faint, very small, round, diffuse, weak concentration. A mag 15 star is just off the NW edge
and a mag 11 star is 2.0' SE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2503 = m 112 on 17 Feb 1865 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
recorded "eF, S, glbM."
His position is 8 sec of RA east of
******************************
07 59 52.3 +05
36 30
V = 13.9; Size 0.5'x0.4'; Surf Br = 11.9
17.5"
(11/25/87): faint, very small, slightly elongated ~E-W, fairly low even surface
brightness.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2504 = m 113 on 25 Mar 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
recorded "vF, S, R." His
position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2505 = UGC
4193 = MCG +09-13-115 = CGCG 262-066 = PGC 22644
08 04 06.8 +53
32 57
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 0d
17.5"
(1/19/91): faint, fairly small, oval 2:1 N-S, very small brighter nucleus. Located 10' SW of mag 7.1
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2505 = H III-839 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and called it
"eF, vS." His position
(CH's reduction) is just 1.8' south-southwest of
******************************
08 00 02 -10 46
12
V = 7.6; Size 7'
18"
(3/15/10): at 175x, this is a beautifully rich 8' group of stars, roughly
circular, with 80-100 stars mag 11-14 over unresolved background haze. The brightest two stars are at the west
side and form a wide, 27" double.
The richest portion roughly forms a "U" outline, open to the
south, as if a chunk of the cluster was missing. The north side of the "U" consists of a string of
stars oriented WNW-ESE (north of the two brightest stars) with a pair at the
WNW end. At the ESE end of this
string a few brighter stars form a right angle heading SSW and forming another
side of the "U". A faint
string of stars extends out of the cluster to the SE and another string extends
out the WNW.
17.5"
(3/12/94): 75 stars in 10' diameter at 220x. The brightest members are a wide pair of mag 11/12 stars at
the west end with a separation of 27" oriented SW-NE and a mag 11.5 star
at the east end. Rich in mag 13-14
stars with a roughly circular outline except for a "bite" on the
south side. The richest subgroup
is following the two brighter stars at the west end and is 3' diameter forming
a "C" shaped asterism opening to the south over haze and is quite
striking.
13"
(2/23/85): at 220x, ~35 stars visible, many in a winding row. A number of brighter mag 11 stars
surround the group.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2506 = H VI-37 = h480 on 23 Feb 1791 (sweep 995) and recorded
"a very compressed and very rich cluster of stars. The stars are of 2
sizes, some considerably large and the rest next to invisible. The compressed
part 5' or 6' in diameter."
His position (Auwers' reduction) is 7' NNE of center of this
cluster. It was independently
found by Karl Ludwig Harding around 1823 and reported it as a new
discovery. JH's description reads
"the first *11m in the p part of a rich resolved p comp cl irreg fig; *s
11...20m, so as to be nebulous.
The most comp part = 4' or 5' diam. His Slough Catalogue position is accurate, but he subtracted
10' in NPD in the GC, assuming he made an error, as his position did not match
WH or Harding. See GC and NGC
notes.
Lord Rosse, or
his observing assistant George Stoney, commented on 27 Jan 1849 "More
approach towards spiral appearance than I have seen in any other cluster. Very curious black spaces with power
700x."
******************************
08 01 37.2 +15
42 35
V = 12.2; Size 2.5'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.7
24"
(2/14/15): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated 0.6'x0.5'. Moderately concentrated to a small
brighter nucleus. A very low
surface brightness halo increases the size to 0.8'x0.7'. A mag 12 star is off the southwest side
[1.3' from center]. A mag 15.5
star is at the southwest edge at 300-375x and a slightly fainter star is
embedded on the north edge [just 18" from center!]. An HII region (or galaxy?) at the NE
edge was not resolved.
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, gradually brighter
halo, stellar nucleus within slightly brighter core. A mag 11.5 star is 1.3' SW. NGC 2514 lies 18' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2507 = H II-554 = h481 on 18 Mar 1786 (sweep 538) and logged
"pB, pL, easily resolvable, gbM." JH reported "F; R; 15". Pos of a *12m = 225.5°, dist = 60"."
A couple of
faint stars as well as a faint galaxy are superimposed on NGC 2507. On 22 Feb 1867, Robert Ball reported
three "knots" were "well seen" at Birr Castle , though one
of these "knots" is apparently the nucleus. "The middle knot [nucleus], alpha, is much the
largest. Alpha to knot sp, Pos =
223.0° [this is a star], alpha to knot np 338.0° [this is also a star]."
******************************
08 01 57.2 +08
33 07
V = 12.7; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 130d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, oval slightly elongated NW-SE, small
bright core. Collinear with two
mag 13.5 stars 0.8' WSW and 1.3' WSW of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2508 = H III-7 = h484 on 23 Jan 1784 (sweep 100) and recorded
"a nebulous star, but doubtful of the nebulosity. Yet with 240 the same doubtful
appearance continues." There
is nothing near his position, but 1 min 42 sec of RA west and 3' south is UGC
4174. This was still an early
sweep in which his positions were unreliable. On 28 Dec 1785 (sweep 496) he mentions "I looked for
the supposed nebulous star of the 100th sweep, but the evening being remarkably
clear and my telescope in fine order I only saw near the place several very
close double stars, one of which probably has been the suspected one. Otherwise a small telescopic comet may
have been thereabout." JH
observed this galaxy on two sweeps although on sweep 120 no position was
measured and on sweep 123 the position was marked very uncertain. The accurate NGC position is from
Heinrich d'Arrest.
******************************
08 00 48 -19 03
00
Size 8'
18"
(3/2/08): beautiful cluster of 80-100 stars at 175x, highlighted by a dense
2-2.5' clump of fainter stars resolved over some remaining haze. Double or multiple stars are at the NE
and NW corners of this central knot.
At 220x the SE corner of the clump is very rich in faint stars with
averted! The brightest star is at
the SW side with a string of mag 10-11 stars extending outside of the cluster
to the SE from of this star. The
cluster is situated ~6' NW of mag 8.8
17.5"
(3/12/94): 50 stars resolved in a 6'x5' region outlined by a perfect
parallelogram. The majority of the
stars, though, lie in a prominent dense clump along the NW side of the
parallelogram and includes a nice double star. The NE vertex of the parallelogram is a double star with
components mag 13/13.5 at 12".
The parallelogram has no concentration and the interior southern portion
has only a couple of faint stars.
Mag 8.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2509 = H VIII-1 on 3 Dec 1783 (very early sweep, internal
discovery #7) and recorded "a cl of coarsely scattered stars. The place is that of the most comp
part, which is not M[iddle]"
On 4 Mar 1790 (sweep 934) and logged "a considerably compressed and
very rich cl of small star, irr F." and on 15 Mar 1801 (sweep 1095) he
noted "a beautiful cl of stars, arranced in a circular order."
******************************
08 02 10.6 +09
29 09
V = 13.4; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 115d
24"
(3/22/14): faint to fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE,
~40"x25", fairly low even surface brightness. First of 5 with
17.5"
(2/13/88): faint, fairly small, irregularly round, even surface
brightness. Similar size to NGC
2513 5.6' SE but lower surface brightness. In a group of five with NGC 2511 5.6' SSE.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2510 (along with NGC 2511) on 31 Jan 1851 with Lord Rosse's
72" in the NGC 2513 group.
The group was sketched on 26 Feb 1851 with NGC 2510 is labeled as Gamma
and precise offsets were measured from NGC 2513.
******************************
NGC 2511 = MCG
+02-21-008 = CGCG 059-024 = Mrk 1207 = WBL 169-006 = PGC 22549
08 02 15.0 +09
23 40
V = 14.1; Size 0.9'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 125d
24"
(3/22/14): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 40"x20",
weak concentation. Located 2.7' SW
of NGC 2513.
17.5"
(2/13/88): faint, small, slightly elongated, almost even surface
brightness. In a group with NGC
2513 3' NE and NGC 2510 5.6' SSW.
Located on the Canis Minor-Cancer border.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2511 (along with NGC 2510) on 31 Jan 1851 with Lord Rosse's
72" in the NGC 2513 group.
The group was sketched on 26 Feb 1851 with NGC 2511 labelled Beta and precise offsets were measured
from NGC 2513. Heinrich d'Arrest
independently discovered the galaxy in 1862 (#77 in AN 1500) and John Herschel
mistakenly credited d'Arrest with the discovery in the GC. Dreyer included both observers in the
NGC.
******************************
08 03 07.8 +23
23 30
V = 13.1; Size 1.4'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 113d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated WNW-ESE, weak
concentration, faint stellar nucleus.
Not identified as NGC 2512 in the UGC or CGCG.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2512 = H III-605 = h482 on 10 Feb 1787 (sweep 697) and noted
"F, S, iF." His position
(Auwers' reduction) is 1.4' too far north. JH measured an accurate position. CGCG and UGC fail to label their catalogue entries as NGC 2512.
******************************
NGC 2513 = UGC
4184 = MCG +02-21-009 = CGCG 059-025 = WBL-169-007 = PGC 22555
08 02 24.7 +09
24 49
V = 11.6; Size 2.5'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 170d
24"
(3/22/14): bright, fairly large, sharply concentrated with a very bright
20" core. The halo extends
~1.25'x0.9' N-S and has a fairly low surface brightness. Brightest in a group with NGC 2511 2.7'
SW, NGC 2510 5.6' NW,
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, fairly small, irregularly round, well
concentrated to a very bright core, small faint halo. Brightest in a group including NGC 2510 5.6' NW, NGC 2511 3'
SW,
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2513 = H III-512 = h483 on 3 Mar 1786 (sweep 534) and recorded
"vF, S, R, mbM, 240 showed it very well." His position is accurate. JH called the nebula "pB; R; psbM." The two fainter companions (NGC 2510
and 2511) were discovered at Birr Castle.
******************************
NGC 2514 = UGC
4189 = MCG +03-21-011 = CGCG 088-022 = PGC 22581
08 02 49.7 +15
48 30
V = 13.4; Size 1.3'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.8
24"
(2/16/15): fairly faint, moderately large, round, 0.9' diameter, no core but
irregular surface brightness (strong impression of a face-on spiral).
17.5" (2/8/91):
faint, fairly small, round, low almost even surface brightness. NGC 2507 lies 18' WSW.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2514 = St XIII-36 on 19 Jan 1885 with the 31" reflector at
the Marseille Observatory. His
position matches
******************************
08 03 21.3 +20
11 17
Size 9"
=**, Reinmuth.
George Bond
discovered NGC 2515 = HN 5 on 11 Sep 1852 with the 15-inch Merz refractor at
the Harvard College Observatory.
At his position is a 9" pair of mag 13 stars oreinted ~E-W. Most of Bond's discoveries in the early
1850's at HCO turned out to be close pairs or even single stars. NGC 2515 is correctly classified as a
double star in the RNGC (from Carlson's list), but the position is wildly off
at 09 47.3 +13 02 (2000).
******************************
07 58 00 -60 45
V = 3.8; Size 30'
13.1"
(1/30/06 - Costa Rica): very bright naked-eye cluster located 3° SW of Epsilon
Car (southern star in the False Cross).
Appears partially resolved in the 9x50 finder and an excellent view
using the 15x50 IS binoculars. The
cluster fills over half of the 20mm Nagler field, ~30'-35' diameter with over
100 stars resolved. The outline is
quite irregular though well-detached at low power. A mag 5.2 M-type giant orange star (V460 = HD 66342) lies at
the NE edge of the cluster. The
central region is more concentrated and uniform and includes a number of tinted
yellow or orange stars. A nice
triple star (h4027 = 7.1/7.8/9.3 at 9" and 20") is on the west edge
of the cluster and an excellent double (h4031 = 7.2/8.0 at 5") lies on the
east side of the cluster. A long
curving string starts in the center and heads NE to the mag 5.2 orange
star. This string includes a
9" evenly matched pair of mag 9 stars (Innes 1104) that was resolved at
low power. Mag 5.7 K-type orange
subgiant
13.1"
(2/17/04 - Costa Rica): this bright naked-eye cluster is located SW of the
"False Cross" (3 degrees SW of 2nd-magnitude Epsilon Carinae) and is
the only open cluster in western Carina.
It was well resolved in the 9x50 finder. At 105x, the main group is 25'-30' with outliers increasing
the size and roughly 100 stars are resolved including a number of mag 6-8
stars. Many of the stars are
arranged in loops and strings and overall the cluster is quite irregular in
magnitudes and star distributions.
There is a close, fairly bright double on the SE side (7.2/8.0 at
5.5") and a neat 13' chain of stars near the west side running N-S.
10x30 Canon IS
(7/10/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is a prominent naked-eye
cluster below the "False Cross" (formed by Epsilon and Iota Car as
well as Delta and Kappa Vel), on a line with the longer axis (Epsilon Car and
Kappa Vel) of the cross. In
binoculars, it appeared well-resolved, ~50' diameter including outliers with 5
bright stars (mag 6.5-7.5) with a couple of dozen stars resolved overall. Appears fairly rich towards the center
with a number of mag 8-10 stars.
Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille discovered NGC 2516 = Lac II-3 = h3111 in 1751-1752 using a 1/2-inch
telescope at 8x during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He noted a "Group of 10 to 12
stars, very compressed." NGC
2516 was not published in Dunlop's main catalogue but his handwritted notes
read "Very fine cluster about 35' diameter, many of the stars of the 6th
and 7th magnitude, mixed magnitudes.
Figure irregular branched."
JH observed the
cluster a number of times with his 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope at the CGH.
His first record reads: "An orange-coloured star 8th magnitude, in middle
of a large and magnificent cluster of perhaps 200 to 250 stars 8..16th mag.
Many of the larger magnitudes, and really a superb object. Very visible to the
naked eye, etc."
******************************
08 02 47.0 -12
19 04
V = 11.8; Size 1.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 70d
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, small, round, strong concentration with small bright
core. Located in a rich star field
between a mag 13 double star 1.1' S at 20" oriented E-W and a mag 11.5
star 1.0' NW. Mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2517 = h3110 on 16 Mar 1836 and noted "F; vS; R; between 3
stars 13 and 14 m." His
position is 5 sec of RA east and 1' north of
******************************
NGC 2518 = UGC
4221 = MCG +09-14-006 = CGCG 263-009 = PGC 22800
08 07 20.1 +51
07 53
V = 13.0; Size 1.2'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 35d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core, faint stellar
nucleus.
Gerhard Lohse
discovered NGC 2518, along with
******************************
NGC 2519
08 07 58.9 +51
07 42
=*?,
Corwin. =NF, Sulentic
Gerhard Lohse
discovered NGC 2519, along with NGC 2518, in 1886 at the private Wiggleworth
Observatory in Scarborough, England and described "Two nebulae, F, L, R,
gbM, delta RA = 42 seconds".
There is only a single galaxy at his position (UGC 4221) identified as
NGC 2518. Corwin notes that 39
tsec following this galaxy is a 14th magnitude star (with three much fainter
stars within an arcmin northwest) which might be the NGC 2519. There is an obvious error in the
position given in RNGC (both RA and Dec) although NGC 2518 is correctly
described as "Not found".
******************************
08 04 58 -28 08
48
See observing
notes for
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2520 = h3112 on 5 Feb 1837 and recorded a "Cluster 7th
class, distinguished among milky way clusters, pretty rich, bright. The star
taken is the chief of a condensed hook in the following part." In the Cape Observations, JH identifies
h3112 as equivalent to H VIII-30 = h488 but his position for h3112 is 3.0 min
of RA too far west. Although his
description matches H VIII-30 = h488, JH still listed separate entries in the
GC for h3112 and h488, which later
received the designations NGC 2520 and NGC 2527. So, NGC 2520 = NGC 2527, with NGC 2527 the earlier
observation.
******************************
08 08 49.3 +57
46 10
V = 12.8; Size 1.2'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 45d
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, very small, round, bright core, faint stellar
nucleus. Located 3.6' SSE of a mag
9 star (Z Lyncis). This is the
brightest of four in a group including
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2521 = h485 on 9 Feb 1831 and described "pF; R; psbM; sf a
*9 dist 3'." His position and
description matches
******************************
08 06 13.4 +17
42 24
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 32d
17.5"
(11/2/91): fairly faint, small, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, well concentrated
with a small high surface brightness core which dominates view, very thin
fainter extensions.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2522 = m 114 on 26 Jan 1865 and recorded "vF, vS, E,
psbM." His position matches
******************************
08 15 00.2 +73
34 44
V = 11.9; Size 3.0'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 57d
48"
(4/21/17): bright, very large barred spiral! At 488x view was superb, with a strong bar running WNW-ESE,
highlighted by an intensely brighter nucleus. Inner spiral arms are attached at the ends of the bar and
form a circular inner ring with dark regions on opposite sides (southwest and
northeast) of the bar. With
averted vision a fainter outer halo extended mostly SW and NE, though I
couldn't trace arm structure in the halo.
A mag 11.7 star is 1.7' SW of center. Brightest in a group with
NGC 2523B:
moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 5:2 E-W, 40"x15", very
faint outer extensions. A mag 14
star is at the southwest edge of the core. A mag 12.4 star is 1.2' SW.
UGC 4279:
extremely to very faint, thin ghostly streak 0.4'x0.1'. This is the brighter central bar and
the extremely low surface brightness arms or halo was not seen. Situated 7' NE of NGC 2523 and 2.5' S
of mag 8.2
NGC 2523C:
fairly bright, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 E-W, ~60"x20",
well concentrated with an elongated bright core and small brighter
nucleus. Located 20' SE of NGC
2523 and 10' WSW of mag 8.4
17.5"
(2/8/91): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, fairly small. A center contains a bright central bar
with a small bright core. A mag
11.5 is off the SW edge 1.5' from the center. Forms a pair with NGC 2523B = UGC 4271 9' W and NGC 2523C =
Edward Swift,
Lewis' 14 year-old son, discovered
NGC 2523 = Sw II-32 on 7 Sep 1885 with the 16" refractor at the
Warner Observatory. The
Swifts' position and description ("pB, pL, lE, lbM, * nr") is a good
match with
******************************
08 08 09.6 +39
09 26
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 125d
17.5"
(2/24/90): fairly faint, fairly small, bright core, almost stellar nucleus,
oval NW-SE. Forms a pair with NGC
2528 = UGC 4227 10' WNW.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2524 = St VIIIb-24, along with
******************************
08 05 38.0 -11
25 41
V = 11.6; Size 2.9'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 75d
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, large, slightly elongated E-W, diffuse, weak
concentration. Located 3.8' NNE of
mag 8.9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2525 = H III-877 = h486 on 23 Feb 1791 (sweep 995) and recorded
"vF, iR, resolvable, about 2' in diameter, almost of equal light
throughout." JH called this
galaxy "F; L; R; vgbM; 90"; among stars of the Milky Way." and
measured an accurate position.
The galaxy was
sketched as a spiral by R.J. Mitchell on 30 Jan 1856, using Lord Rosse's
72". He described "vF,
L, oval. Several F stars on edge,
suspect others in the neb., also dark spaces. Nucl or * in centre?
Spiral as in diagram. A
year later he saw additional details: "light very unequal, suspect nucleus
and a star close foll nucleus, also star in p edge? Again I though I saw a darkness across np centre [gap in
spiral arms] and knots in np edge, but it is very uncertain."
******************************
08 06 58.6 +08
00 14
V = 13.7; Size 0.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 140d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, oval WNW-ESE, broad concentration. There is a pretty pair of double stars
in the field including a mag 11/12 pair at 10" located 3.5' ENE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2526 = m 115 on 25 Mar 1864 and recorded "vF, S, mE."
His position matches
******************************
NGC 2527 = NGC
2520 = ESO 430-SC15 = Cr 174
08 04 58 -28 08
48
V = 6.5; Size 22'
17.5"
(3/7/92): 75-100 stars mag 10-14 in very large 30' loose group. This cluster is fairly bright with two
fairly rich subgroups. The central
10' core includes about two dozen stars with a mag 10 star at the NW corner
which has three fainter companions within 35". A rich string of faint stars oriented SSW-NNE of length 4'
has two mag 10-11 stars at the endpoints.
Outliers extend east and west and include a rich elongated group at the
NE edge of the cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2527 = H VIII-30 = h488 on 9 Dec 1784 (sweep 333) and noted
"a very large cluster of many coarsely scattered large stars." From
Slough, JH called the cluster "p rich; v coarsely scattered; fills field;
st 10...15m. RA by working list
[marked as uncertain]. JH also
observed this cluster at the Cape and gave a similar description (even noting
the equivalence with h488), but his RA was 3 min too far west. JH assigned separate GC designations
and Dreyer two NGC numbers, so NGC 2527 = NGC 2520.
******************************
NGC 2528 = UGC
4227 = MCG +07-17-015 = CGCG 207-032 = PGC 22805
08 07 24.9 +39
11 39
V = 12.7; Size 1.5'x1.5'; Surf Br = 12.9
17.5"
(2/24/90): faint, fairly small, round, almost even surface brightness. Forms a pair with NGC 2524 10' ESE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2528 = St VIIIb-25 on 22 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2528. Through a mix-up in measuring the
offset, Stephan's position for NGC 2528 is southeast of NGC 2524, instead of
northwest. Corwin sorted out the
situation (see his notes for NGC 2528), although it was first corrected by
Esmiol in his 1916 re-reduction of Stephan's positions. Esmiol's new position (calling the
object "Anon"), establishes NGC 2528 = UGC 4227.
******************************
08 07 48 +17 49
=Not found,
Corwin. Incorrect identification
in the RNGC.
Bigourdan
discovered NGC 2529 = Big. 35 on 29 Jan 1887, along with
******************************
NGC 2530 =
(R)N2529 = UGC 4237 = MCG +03-21-020 = CGCG 088-038 = PGC 22827
08 07 55.6 +17
49 06
V = 13.6; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 170d
17.5"
(11/2/91): very faint, small, elongated 3:2 N-S. Unusual appearance as a mag 13 star is attached at the north
end 0.8' from center and the galaxy appears to fan out to the south. The edges are difficult to define. NGC 2522 lies 25' WSW. Incorrectly identified as NGC 2529 in
the RNGC, UGC, CGCG.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2530 = H III-752 = h487 on 22 Feb 1789 (sweep 906) and noted
"eF, lE, south of a vS star." His position and description is
accurate, matching
RNGC
misclassifies NGC 2530 as nonexistent (Type 7), though the correct data for NGC
2530 is listed under the entry for NGC 2529. NGC 2530 is misidentified as NGC 2529 = NGC 2531 in UGC and
NGC 2529 in the MCG (+03-21-020). See my RNGC Corrections #5 and Harold
Corwin's identification notes.
******************************
NGC 2531
08 08 01 +17 49
=Not found,
Corwin and RNGC. Incorrect
position in the RNGC.
Guillaume
Bigourdan discovered NGC 2531 = Big 36 on 29 Jan 1887, along with NGC
2529. These two supposedly
nebulous objects were noted while examining NGC 2530. NGC 2531 was placed 1' SE, but there is nothing at this
offset. See my comments on NGC
2529 and 2530 as well as Corwin's identification notes.
******************************
08 10 15.4 +33
57 26
V = 12.4; Size 2.2'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 10d
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, moderately large, 1.5', slightly elongated NW-SE,
gradually brightens towards the center, faint stellar nucleus, slightly mottled
appearance. A mag 12 star 1.6' NNE
is within a collinear string of six mag 11/12 stars oriented WNW-ESE running
through the 20' field and a mag 11.5 star is 2.6' SSW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2532 = H II-726 = h489 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and remarked
"pF, pL, iR, lbM, resolvable, south of 2 stars that are nearly in the
parallel." His position
(Auwers' reduction) is just off the southeast side of the halo. This galaxy was observed 13 times at
Birr Castle and an arm was suspected several times on the south side. Also a companion close north was
sketched (not in GC or NGC), but this is probably a very faint star.
******************************
08 07 04 -29 53
06
V = 7.6; Size 4'
17.5"
(2/8/91): about 20 stars surrounding mag 8.8
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2533 = h3113 on 22 Jan 1835 and recorded "place (RA
doubtful) of a *9 m; cheif of cl p rich; irreg R; glbM; 5'; stars 13m. Belong to milky way, but is a much more
compressed part of it."
******************************
NGC 2534 = UGC
4268 = MCG +09-14-014 = CGCG 263-014 = Mrk 85 = PGC 23024
08 12 54.1 +55
40 19
V = 12.9; Size 1.4'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(1/19/91): fairly faint, small, round, broadly concentrated halo, faint stellar
nucleus. A mag 15 star is 1'
N. Located 2' N of mag 8.0 SAO
26726.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2534 = H III-840 = h490 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and noted
"cF, cS." His position,
based on CH's reduction is just 1.6' too far northwest (typical error), though
Auwers' reduced position is 9' S of
R.J. Mitchell,
observing on 7 Mar 1885 with Lord Rosse's 72" described "Has
r[esolved] look, * plain at north end.
Alpha [from sketch] is a knot or star. Neb is bM and probably spiral. Certainly a dark space from south-preceding to
north." Spiral structure is
not evident on the DSS.
******************************
08 11 13.5 +25
12 23
V = 12.8; Size 2.5'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 0d
48"
(4/2/11): this is the prominent member of a striking interacting pair (
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE, weak
concentration. Forms a close pair
with NGC 2536 1.8' SSE (Arp 82).
Located just following a line of three mag 12 stars 1.6' WSW, 1.2' W and
0.9' NW of center.
13"
(1/18/85): faint, small, round, diffuse, even surface brightness. Located 22' SSE of a mag 6 star.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2535 = St VIIIb-26 on 22 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2536. His position matches
******************************
NGC 2536 = Arp
82 NED2 = VV 9b = Holm 94b = MCG +04-20-005 = CGCG 119-009 = PGC 22958
08 11 16.0 +25
10 46
V = 14.2; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 112d
48"
(4/2/11): fainter and smaller member of an interacting pair (Arp 82) with NGC
2535. At 375x appeared fairly
bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, ~30"x20", high surface
brightness, moderate concentration with a very small, very bright core. Located 1.8' SSE of NGC 2535. A spiral arm hooks from the west side
of NGC 2535, appearing to be tidally stretched SE in the direction of NGC 2536,
though not reaching the companion.
17.5"
(2/20/88): faint, very small, oval ~SW-NE, small bright core. Forms a close pair with brighter NGC
2535 1.8' NW.
13"
(1/18/85): very faint, very small, diffuse. Located 2' SE of NGC 2535.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2536 = St VIIIb-27 on 22 Jan 1877, along with NGC 2535. His position matches
******************************
08 13 14.5 +45
59 31
V = 11.7; Size 1.7'x1.5'; Surf Br = 12.6
48"
(4/15/10): At 624x, the view of the highly irregular "Bear-paw"
galaxy (
17.5"
(3/23/85): moderately bright, fairly small, round. The "Bear-paw" galaxy has an unusual appearance
with a dark lane or vacuity in the center. A small slightly brighter knot is visible along the NW
edge. A mag 11 star is 2' SE. Located 6.5' E of mag 8.4
13"
(2/25/84): fairly faint, small, round, no structure.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2537 = H IV-55 = h491 on 6 Feb 1788 (sweep 809) and recorded
"pB; R; pL; preceding a star about 1'." On 10 Mar 1788 (sweep 817) he logged "pB, R, almost of
an even light througout, approaching to a planetary [he placed it in the
category of planetary nebulae] but very ill defined, and a little fainter on
the edges, about 3/4 or 1' dia." John Herschel observed the galaxy on 19
Mar 1828 and remarked, "It is a globular cluster. Being a remarkable fine night, I see
the stars." NGC 2537 was
observed 20 times at Birr Castle and even noted as "probably spiral"
in Jan 1852, although photographs show no significant spirality. Other observations refer to its
resolvability and the GC and NGC description call it a globular cluster! When it was photographed at Lick
Observatory with the Crossley reflector, Curtis noted (1918), "This is not
a cluster, as described in the NGC, but a bright, irregular spiral." Francis Peases desribed it as a
"horseshoe" based on a photograph with the 60" at Mt. Wilson,
and mentions a "faint spot" nearby to the east, which is the companion
galaxy NGC 2537A.
Wolfgang
Steinicke reports that the nickname is from Ron Buta, based on an observation
through a 36" telescope at McDonald 36" (Webb Society Galaxy
Handbook, 1981): "Small and of relatively high surface brightness; shaped
like a bear-paw, the structure consisting of a single spiral arm winding from W
to E around the N side; this ring-tail includes 3 knots, one of about 15 mag; a
bar-like feature shows in the interior region of the arm and extends to the S
edge of the galaxy; there is a faint glow between the arm and the bar
feature".
******************************
08 11 23.0 +03
37 59
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 25d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. Located between a mag 14 star 0.9' NW
and a mag 12 star 1.7' SE. A faint
double star mag 14/15 is just 1.2' E.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2538 = St VIIIb-28 on 2 Feb 1877. His position matches
******************************
08 10 37 -12 49
12
V = 6.5; Size 22'
18"
(3/2/08): this cluster is situated 10' NW of 4.7-magnitude 19 Pup. Roughly 125 stars are spread out over a
20' region. At the NW end is a
roughly equal mag pair, an 11" pair is on the east side and a brighter mag
10/11 pair at 20" is on the NE side.
13.1"
(2/25/84): about 85 stars in a 20' diameter. Fairly rich with uniform magnitudes. A brighter mag 10/11 pair at 21"
is on the north side. Located
about 10' NW of 19 Puppis (V = 4.7).
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2539 = H VII-11 = h3114 on 31 Jan 1785 (sweep 363) and called it
"a cluster of stars, coarsely scattered, but considerably rich, above 20'
diam." JH, observing from the
Cape of Good Hope, recorded "a large, extended, rich cluster. Fills field;
stars 12th mag approx. A bright star (6th mag) S.f."
******************************
08 12 46.5 +26
21 41
V = 13.5; Size 1.3'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 125d
17.5"
(3/20/93): faint, moderately large, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, fairly low surface
brightness halo, weak concentration.
Situated within a triangle of mag 14 stars the closest being 1.3' W. Located 8' NNE of mag 8.5
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2540 = St XIII-37 on 10 Feb 1885 with the 31"
silvered-glass reflector at the Marseille Observatory. His position matches
******************************
08 14 40.2 +49
03 43
V = 11.8; Size 6.3'x3.2'; Surf Br = 14.9; PA = 165d
13.1"
(2/23/85): faint, fairly large, very diffuse halo, elongated NNW-SSE, weak
concentration to an elongated core.
A mag 10 star lies 4.5' NNE.
In a group with NGC 2500 and NGC 2522.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2541 = H III-710 = h492 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and called it
"vF, iF, 2.5' long, 1.75' broad." His position is 20 sec of RA west of center. JH recorded "not vF; L; lE; vgbM;
90"." His position is
just north of the core of
******************************
NGC 2542 = 19
Puppis = SAO 153942 = ADS 6647
08 11 16.3 -12
55 37
V = 4.7
=* 4.7 = 19
Pup. No nebulosity, Corwin and
Carlson.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2542 = h3115 on 11 Dec 1836 and noted "a fine nebulous star
6 mag [19 Pup], in the following part of the cluster VII II [NGC 2539] and
almost connected to it. The nebula
is faint, but I feel confident that it is not the nebulous haze. [Notandum
-Nothing more difficult than to prove a nebulous star of the 6th mag and
above." In this case, the
star is free of nebulosity. This
is the 3rd brightest star with an entry in the NGC (after NGC 771 and 4530).
There are
several similar cases of bright stars which JH assumed had a nebulous halo (see
notes on NGC 4530). Harold Corwin
mentions that JH may have been misled by the faint companion of 19 Puppis,
though I think it's more likely he was misled by scattered light/dew. Interestingly, there were three
observations made with the 72" and all described the star as being
nebulous! In addition, Howe
reported "I examined it one night, and saw a faint halo about 2' in
diameter encircling it. It looked
like a telescopic flare."
******************************
08 12 57.9 +36
15 13
V = 11.9; Size 2.3'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 45d
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 2.0'x1.5', very
small brighter core. Two mag 11.5
stars are 2.4' NW and 3.9' NW on a line with NGC 2543.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2543 = H II-719 = h493 on 3 Feb 1788 (sweep 803) and recorded
"F, pL, iR, bM." His
position is 10 sec of RA west and 5' south of
JH noted
"vF; R; a course double * precedes points to it. Deta RA = 1 m 2 sec." There is nothing at his position but two minutes of RA west
is UGC 4273 and two stars at 1.6' separation are northwest. The RA given in the GC and NGC is ~1.0
tmin too far east but Rudolph Spitaler's micrometric position, measured on 24
Dec 1891 and published in the
******************************
08 21 40.3 +73
59 16
V = 12.9; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 70d
17.5"
(12/23/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, brighter
core. Located 5.5' SW of a mag 9.5
star. Forms a close pair with MCG
+12-08-035 1.3' ENE.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2544 = Sw II-33 on 7 Sep 1885 (along with NGC 2550) with the
16" refractor at the Warner Observatory. His description reads "eeF;
pS; R; sev B stars nearly surround it." His position is 16 sec of RA west and 1.4' south of
******************************
08 14 14.2 +21
21 20
V = 12.4; Size 2.0'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 170d
13.1"
(1/11/86): moderately bright, fairly small, almost round, gradually increases
to a small brighter core. A mag
14.5 star at the NNW edge 1.0' from center is similar to the substellar
nucleus. Located 3.9' ESE of a mag
9.5 star at the west edge of the Cancer I galaxy cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2545 = H II-627 = h494 on 11 Jan 1787 (sweep 683) and noted
"eF, pS, E." The same
sweep he observed Uranus and discovered the moons Titania and Oberon. On 13 Feb 1787 (sweep 698) he recorded
"F, S, irr F, lE sp to nf."
There is nothing at his position but 30 sec of RA preceding and 4' north
is
******************************
08 12 16 -37 35
42
V = 6.3; Size 41'
13.1"
(1/30/06 - Costa Rica): this very large, bright scattered cluster was just
visible to the naked eye close south of a brighter, hazy naked-eye patch of
unresolved stars. The field is
beautifully rich, at least 45' diameter though there was no distinct
border. The star field looks
impressive beyond the edges of the 66' field of the 20 Nagler. On the northwest side is a rich,
elongated strip of ~20 stars that is quite eye-catching. Includes a few pairs and a neat triple
with a fairly close unequal mag pair at the SSW end of the elongated strip.
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): this cluster is a very bright, scattered field of stars
that completely fills the nearly 40' field at 105x. Partially resolved in the 9x50 finder. At the NW edge is a rich elongated
strip of two dozen stars including a couple of close, unequal pairs and tight
fainter triple. John Herschel's
description applies to this denser group of stars. A mag 6.4 star (h4051 = HD
68450) with two mag 13.5 companions is off the NW side of the larger group but
does not appear to be part of the cluster and a similar star lies to the SE (HD
68862).
13.1"
(1/18/85): ~75 stars, bright, very large, scattered, overfills 30' field.
8"
(3/28/81): ~25 stars, rich, elongated.
At the edge of a large, scattered field of stars.
Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille discovered NGC 2546 = Lac II-4 = D 563 = h3116 in 1751-1752 using a
1/2-inch refractor at 8x during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He recorded II-4 as follows: "One
sees with the naked eye two neighboring confused groups of stars; but with the
telescope they are faint, distinct stars, very numerous & very close
together."
James Dunlop
observed the cluster on 8 May 1826 and recorded "a large cluster of stars
of mixt magnitude, rather extended figure, not rich in very small
stars." He made two
observations and his position is 17' N of center (typical error). JH made 3 observations from the CGH,
first recording on 1 Feb 1835 "a cluster 8th class of about 20 bright
stars in an oblong, 8' long, 3' broad."
******************************
08 10 11 -49 13
30
V = 4.7; Size 20'
13.1"
(1/30/06 - Costa Rica): this naked-eye cluster to the south of Gamma Velorum
(bright binocular double) is roughly 30'x20' in size. There is a very distinctive, gently curving arc of stars
bowed out to the east that defines the eastern side of the central region and
the brightest mag 6.5 star (
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): this is a very bright naked-eye cluster that includes a
number of mag 7-8 stars. It
appears at least 20'-25' in diameter, though the outer boundaries are pretty
arbitrary. Very unusual
arrangement as a number of the brighter stars form a curving arc which is bowed
out towards the east and which defines the eastern border of the cluster! The brightest mag 6.5 star is within
this arc on the south side of the cluster. The cluster is encased in faint reflection nebulosity,
though this was not visible.
Nicolas-Louis de
Lacaille discovered NGC 2547 = Lac III-2 = D 410 = h3117 in 1751-1752 using a
1/2-inch telescope at 8x during his expedition to the Cape of Good Hope. He described III-2 as "five faint
stars like the letter T in nebulosity." Dunlop observed the cluster twice recording "A
curiously arranged group of pretty bright small stars of mixt magnitudes. This
answers to the place of 310 Argus (Bode) and is described by Lacaille as nebula
with five small stars forming the letter T in it. There is no nebulosity in
this place. The diameter of the cluster may be about 12'. Figure 16 is a very
good representation of the group."
John Herschel
first logged the cluster on 28 Dec 1834 and recorded "chief star 7th mag
about, of a vL, loose, brilliant cluster of very scattered stars, 1 of 7th mag,
2 of 8th mag, rest 9...16th mag.
Fills more than field; 100...150 stars." JH inadvertently equated this cluster with D 411 instead of
D 410 and this error was copied into the NGC.
******************************
08 13 43 -05 45
00
V = 5.8; Size 54'
18"
(3/15/10): large, sprawling cluster that nearly fills the 67' field of the 31mm
Nagler. The most distinctive
portion, though, is a 20'x15' group near the center which contains roughly 75
stars, many arranged in strings.
Most prominent is a fairly dense SW-NE string of brighter stars that
cuts through the cluster with a nice double star in the center (h 2435 =
9.6/9.7 at 7"). A short chain of a few stars branches off to the south of
h2435. Another stream of stars branches off this string to the SSW. A third elongated group of stars extends SW-NE on the south
side, roughly parallel to main string, and is separated by a mostly starless
lane. The cluster includes a
number of mag 8-9 stars, with the brightest mag 8.2. At 73x, the main cluster is wedged between two very long
streams of stars, roughly oriented NW to SE off both the north and south sides
of the main group. These two
strings of stars extend the total diameter to over 50'. On the NW side of the central group, a
number of stars are scattered between these two streams including a few very
wide pairs, but the SE end the two streams are well separated with a very few
stars in between.
13.1"
(2/16/85): about 125 stars in a large 40' field with no distinct borders. A rich chain of stars oriented SSW-NNE
passes through the center.
Includes a number of brighter mag 10 stars and many double stars. Partially resolved in 16x80 finder.
Charles Messier
discovered
Caroline
Herschel independently discovered M48 on 8 Mar 1783 and WH also found it on 1
Feb 1786. He recorded VI-22 as
"a beautiful cluster of stars, considerably rich, and pretty much
compressed, 10 or 12' dia. The
stars are nearly of a size, white and pretty large." He later noted "C.H. [Caroline
Herschel] discovered it in 1783."
******************************
08 18 58.2 +57
48 11
V = 11.2; Size 3.9'x1.3'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 177d
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly bright, fairly small, edge-on 4:1 N-S, 2.0'x0.5', very bright
core, stellar or almost stellar nucleus.
Located 10' WNW of mag 5.9 30 Lyncis.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2549 = h495 on 9 Feb 1831 and recorded "pB; S; mE; pos in
merid; psmbM; 15" l, 6" br.
A *7m follows." His
position and description matches
******************************
NGC 2550 = UGC
4359 = MCG +12-08-037 = CGCG 331-039 = PGC 23604
08 24 34.4 +74
00 44
V = 12.8; Size 1.0'x0.4'; Surf Br = 11.6; PA = 103d
17.5"
(12/23/92): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 ~E-W, even
surface brightness. A mag 14.5
star is at the west tip 0.8' from center.
A nice unequal double star
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2550 = Sw II-34 on 7 Sep 1885 (along with NGC 2544) and recorded
"eeF; pS; cE; bet an eF *, and an unequal double star." His position and description matches
******************************
08 24 50.2 +73
24 44
V = 12.1; Size 1.7'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 55d
17.5"
(2/9/02): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 5:3 SW-NE,
1.3'x0.7'. A mag 12 star (with a
mag 14.5-15 companion 30" N) lies 2' NE. The halo suddenly rises to a very small, bright core and
stellar nucleus.
13.1"
(1/11/86): faint, diffuse, slightly elongated, brighter star off NE side. Observation made through thin clouds.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2551 = T VI-2 on 9 Aug 1882 (while searching for Comet Pons
(1812)) with the 11" refractor at Arcetri Observatory in Venice. He measured an approximate position and
noted "Class III nebula, stellar center; on 11 August observed them
again. Lewis Swift independently
discovered the galaxy on 7 Sep 1885, and recorded it in list II-35. Swift's position is 17 tsec west of UGC
4362. MCG misidentifies MCG
+12-08-039 (one degree north) as NGC 2551.
******************************
08 19 20.2 +50
00 26
V = 12.1; Size 3.5'x2.3'; Surf Br = 14.2; PA = 45d
13.1"
(2/23/85): faint, moderately large, elongated. A mag 11 star is off the NE side 3.1' from the center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2552 = H III-711 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and logged "eF,
E from sp to nf, about 3.5' long, 2.5' broad." His position (Auwers' reduction) is 2.4' NW of
******************************
08 17 35.0 +20
54 11
V = 13.8; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, small, round, gradually increases to small bright core,
occasional faint stellar nucleus.
A mag 12 star is 2' ENE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2553 = m 116 on 17 Feb 1865 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"vF, S, glbM." His
position is 2' north of
******************************
08 17 53.6 +23
28 20
V = 12.0; Size 3.2'x2.3'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 142d
24"
(2/16/15): at 322x; moderately to fairly bright, moderately large, oval 4:3
NNW-SSE, 1.2'x0.9'. Sharply
concentrated with a very bright core that increases to a very small, intense
nucleus. A mag 13.5-14 star is
barely off the southeast end, 1.2' from center and a comparable star is off the
north side, 1.4' from center.
17.5"
(3/28/92): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 N-S,
strongly concentrated with an abrupt well-defined very bright core, sharp
stellar nucleus, faint halo with ill-defined edge. Two mag 14 stars are 1.2' SSE and 1.4' NNE of center. Located at the north edge of the Cancer
I galaxy cluster. CGCG 119-032 is
just 1.5' W but was not noticed.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2554 = H II-303 = h497 on 28 Feb 1785 (sweep 374) and recorded
"F, S, mbM, r." On 11
Jan 1787 (sweep 683) he noted "eF, vS, near some vF stars; may be a patch
of a few extr small stars."
On 10 Feb 1787 (sweep 697), he logged "pF, S, mbM, irr
R." JH called the galaxy
"pB, R, bM" but his position was 1.0 min of RA too far east and this
error was repeated in the GC and finally the NGC. Dreyer corrected the RA in the IC 2 notes.
Five
observations of the galaxy were made with LdR's 72". Bindon Stoney recorded on 9 Mar 1852:
"R, bMNucl, 2 st 14m nf and sf, a vS * preceding about the same
dist." Interestingly, the
"vS * preceding" is CGCG 119-032, a faint compact galaxy. At V =
15.6, this is one of the fainter galaxies discovered with the 72" (though
of course it was seen as virtually stellar) and took some effort in my
24", knowing the exact position.
******************************
08 17 56.3 +00
44 45
V = 12.2; Size 1.9'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 115d
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, moderately large, oval NW-SE. Several stars are near including a mag
12 star at the SE edge 1.1' from the center, a mag 13 star 1.7' NNE and a mag
14.5 star is at the NW edge 0.9' from center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2555 = H III-256 = h498 on 20 Dec 1784 (sweep 346) and remarked
"vF, vS, diffused about the middlemost of 3 small stars in a row; but
seems not connected to them; they being too large and like the rest of the
scattered stars. Verified with 240
power." JH described the
galaxy as "vF; between a *12m sf and one 16m, north. The former dist about 1 diam, the
latter about 1/2 diam from edge.
His position is accurate.
Two stars at the NW edge were recorded in 1857 by R.J. Mitchell, the
observing assistant on Lord Rosse's 72".
******************************
NGC 2556 = CGCG
119-045 = LGG 158-006 = PGC 23325
08 19 00.9 +20
56 13
V = 14.4; Size 0.6'x0.3'; PA = 138d
18"
(2/26/11): very faint, very small, round, very small brighter core, sharp
stellar nucleus. A wide pair of
mag 13.14 stars are within 2' SSW and a mag 10.5 star is 3.5' SE. Located 24' WSW of
17.5"
(1/1/92): very faint, very small, round.
A pair of mag 13/14 stars are 1.3' S and 1.7' S.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2556 = m 117 on 17 Feb 1865 and noted "vF, vS." His
position is 2' north of
******************************
08 19 10.8 +21
26 09
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 55d
18"
(2/26/11): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, round, 30"
diameter, gradually increases to a small brighter core. Forms the eastern vertex of a small
isosceles triangle with two mag 13.5 stars 2.5' NW and 2.7' SW. Also forms a larger isosceles triangle
with mag 7.8
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, small, round, gradually brighter core. Located 5' SE of mag 8.2
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2557 = St VIIIb-29 on 2 Feb 1877 with the 31"
silvered-glass reflector at the Marseille Observatory. Esmiol's re-reduced position is an
exact match with
******************************
08 19 12.8 +20
30 38
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 160d
18"
(2/26/11): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 or
3:2 NNW-SSE, 32"x24", sharply concentrated with a 15" bright
core. Located south of the central
region of the Cancer I cluster.
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, gradually brighter halo, small
bright core. Member of Cancer I
galaxy cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2558 = H III-606 = h499 on 13 Feb 1787 (sweep 698) and recorded
"vF, S." JH called the
galaxy "pF; R; psbM; and then a feeble atmos 25"."
******************************
08 17 06.3 -27
27 33
V = 10.9; Size 3.7'x1.7'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 6d
17.5"
(2/8/91): moderately bright, moderately large, oval 3:2 N-S. Unusual appearance as nestled between
four stars in a rich Milky Way field!
Slight concentration but no core.
The brightest of four nearby stars is mag 9.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2559 = h3118 on 5 Feb 1837 and recorded "pL, F, glbM, in a
field of about 60 stars; one of which = 9th mag, and some others also of less
magnitudes are involved." His
position is just off the east side of
******************************
NGC 2560 = UGC
4337 = MCG +04-20-027 = CGCG 119-058 = PGC 23367
08 19 51.9 +20
59 06
V = 13.3; Size 1.4'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 93d
18" (2/26/11):
fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 or 3:1 E-W, 0.8'x0.3', sharply
concentrated with a small bright core and fainter extensions. Located 1.5' E of a mag 10.4 star and
11' SW of NGC 2563, the brightest galaxy in the core of the Cancer I cluster.
17.5"
(2/8/91): faint, small, very elongated 3:1 E-W, small bright core. Located 4.5' NE of mag 7.9 SAO
116633. A mag 10.5 star is 1.5' W. Located near the core of the Cancer I
galaxy cluster with NGC 2556 12' WSW.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2560 on 17 Mar 1862 with the 11" refractor at
Copenhagen Observatory (recorded as #78 in AN 1500). His position (based on 4 measurements) matches
******************************
08 19 36.9 +04
39 26
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 138d
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, very small, round, faint stellar nucleus. Located 7' SW of mag 8.6
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2561 = Sw VI-31 on 23 Mar 1887 with the 16" refractor at
Warner Observatory and recorded "vF, S, R, right angles with 2
stars." His position is 8 sec
of RA west of
******************************
08 20 23.7 +21
07 53
V = 12.9; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 3d
18"
(2/26/11): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 N-S,
30"x24", contains a small bright core that gradually increases to the
center. Forms a nice pair with
brighter NGC 2563 4.7' SE. NGC
2560 lies 11' SW and
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, small, oval 3:2 N-S, halo brightens to a small bright
core. Forms a pair with NGC 2563
4.7' SE. Member of Cancer I galaxy
cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2562 = H III-607 = h500, along with NGC 2563, on 13 Feb 1787
(sweep 698) and noted "F, S, bM." His position is less than 2' WNW of NGC 2562 (similar
offset as nearby NGC 2558 = H III-606).
JH's position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2563 = UGC
4347 = MCG +04-20-033 = CGCG 119-065 = LGG 158-005 = PGC 23404
08 20 35.7 +21
04 04
V = 12.2; Size 2.1'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 80d
18"
(2/26/11): moderately to fairly bright, moderately large, round, 1.0' diameter,
pretty sharply concentrated with a bright, 20" core. With direct vision, the core increases
to a brighter stellar nucleus.
Slightly brighter and larger than NGC 2562 4.7' NW. Located 20' NNE of mag 5.8
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, almost round, halo brightens evenly to a
small bright core. Appears similar
to NGC 2562 4.7' NW but slightly larger.
Member of the Cancer I galaxy cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2563 = H II-634 = h501, along with NGC 2562, on 13 Feb 1787 (sweep
698) and noted "vF, vS."
His RA is 6 sec too large.
******************************
08 18 30.0 -21
48 58
V = 13.4; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 60d
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, weak concentration,
faint stellar nucleus. A very
faint larger halo is visible at moments.
A wide pair of mag 12/13 stars at 35" separation lies 2' NNW and
two mag 14/15 stars are 1' NNW.
Located in a rich star field.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2564 = h3119 on 28 Jan 1837 and recorded "vF; vS; R; gbM;
at least 60 stars in field."
His position is 7 sec of RA west of
******************************
08 19 48.4 +22
01 51
V = 12.6; Size 1.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 167d
24"
(4/28/14): at low power appears as close "double" consisting of a mag
~14 star and the fuzzy nucleus (similar or slightly brighter) of the
galaxy! At 260x the bright core is
elongated 2:1 N-S, 20"x10" and surrounded by a very low surface
brightness halo, extending ~1.0'x0.6' NNW-SSE. The superimposed star is at the SSE edge of the core. At 375x, the galaxy is seen to be very
sharply concentrated with a very bright core and low surface brightness
halo. Forms a physical pair with
17.5"
(1/1/92): fairly faint, very small, small bright core, very faint halo
elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE. Unusual
appearance as the core of the galaxy forms a very close double with a similar
star at the SE end. The outer halo
appears to touch or encompass the star.
Located 6.5' NW of mag 8.9
Gerhard Lohse
discovered NGC 2565 around 1886 with the 15.5-inch Cooke refractor at the
private Wigglesworth Observatory in Scarborough, England. His position is 0.9 min of RA east and
1.5' N of
******************************
08 18 45.5 -25
29 59
V = 11.0; Size 3.4'x2.3'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 50d
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, fairly large, elongated 3:2 ~ENE-WSW, 2.5'x1.8', diffuse,
edges fade into background.
Unconcentrated except for a nearly stellar bright core. Unusual appearance (similar to a Milky
Way nebula) as it is located in a dense field among a rich group of faint stars
including a mag 13 star just following the nucleus. A 10' semicircle of stars heads to the north and west. Forms a pair with
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, fairly large, elongated 3:2 E-W, ~2.0'x1.5', very low even
surface brightness. There is no
core and the outer halo is not well defined. Several stars are superimposed including a mag 13.5 star
22" ESE of center. Situated
in a rich Milky Way field.
Brightest in a group including IC 2311 7.6' N. Located just 6° from the galactic equator.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2566 = H III-288 on 6 Mar 1785 (sweep 381) and recorded
"vF, considerably large, easily resolvable or rather some of the stars
visible besides those of the milky way scattered over it." His position is off the north side of
the galaxy. Herbert Howe described
the galaxy as a "vS neb or neb *11 w/*12 close". Visually, nearby IC 2311 has a higher
surface brightness and is more identifiable as a galaxy!
******************************
08 18 29 -30 38
42
V = 7.4; Size 10'
13.1"
(3/24/84): about two dozen stars mostly mag 11-13 in 10' diameter elongated
N-S. Includes a long string
oriented N-S on the east side. On
the SW wide is a "U" shaped group of brighter stars open to the
north. Mag 9.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2567 = H VII-64 = h503 = h3120 on 4 Mar 1793 (sweep 1033) and
recorded "a large cluster of stars of a middling size, irregularly
extended and considerably rich.
The stars are chiefly in rows." In his 1814 publication, Herschel speculated that each row
of stars may have a different preponderating attraction, but every row will
attract all the other rows..."
JH described the cluster as "a fine, p rich cl; stars 11m pretty
uniform 5..6' diam. The chief
stars make a zigzag line, the outliers extending 20'."
******************************
08 18 18 -37 06
18
V = 10.7; Size 5'
13.1"
(1/18/85): small, faint group of about 6 stars over haze, unimpressive.
E.E. Barnard
discovered NGC 2568 in 1881 with his 5-inch refractor in Nashville. In Sidereal Messenger, Vol 3, p60, he
described a "very faint nebulosity of moderate extension; pretty even in
light. A small star involved."
So, with the 5-inch scope he didn't resolve the cluster. His discovery list in AN 2588 (1884)
mentions Oliver Wendell, using the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College
Observatory, described it as being "rather diffuse and faint, but
gradually a little brighter in the middle." I'm surprised the large refractor didn't provide some
resolution.
Cederblad
catalogued the cluster
******************************
08 21 21.1 +20
52 03
V = 14.3; Size 0.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 119d
18"
(2/26/11): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, very small bright core
in a fainter halo. A thin,
distinctive triangle of mag 13 stars (separations roughly 12", 30",
30") is 1.5' following. Forms
a pair with
17.5"
(2/8/91): very faint, very small, round, small bright core in low surface
brightness halo. A group of three
mag 13 stars lie between 1.5'-2.0' E.
Forms a pair with NGC 2570 2.6' N.
Member of the Cancer I galaxy cluster.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2569 on 19 Feb 1862 with the 11" refractor at
Copenhagen Observatory (recorded as #79 in AN 1500). His position and description ("a miniature 'Triangulum'
is not much more than 1' distant") matches
******************************
NGC 2570 = UGC
4354 = MCG +04-20-036 = CGCG 119-068 = PGC 23443
08 21 22.6 +20
54 37
V = 14.5; Size 1.1'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 70d
18"
(2/26/11): very faint, small, slightly elongated ~E-W, 0.4'x0.3', very low even
surface brightness, no noticeable core or zones. Appears larger than NGC 2569, located 2.6' S, but more difficult
due to a lower surface brightness.
Located 14.5' SE of NGC 2563 (brightest galaxy in the region) and 17' NE
of mag 5.8 HD 69994.
17.5"
(2/8/91): very faint, small, very low surface brightness. Slightly larger than NGC 2569 2.6' S
but has a lower surface brightness.
Member of Cancer I galaxy cluster.
Ralph Copeland
discovered NGC 2570 on 20 Feb 1873 in his observation of GC 1650 = NGC 2569
(discovered by d'Arrest) with the 72". He recorded, with respect to NGC 2569, "eeF, L, R, pos
3.9°, dist 174.1". His
micrometric offsets matches
******************************
NGC 2571 = ESO
431-SC005 = Cr 181
08 18 56 -29 45
00
V = 7.0; Size 13'
13.1" (3/24/84): 18 stars mag 8.8-12 in 10'
diameter. Includes a wide bright
pair (mag 8.8
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2571 = H VI-39 = h502 on 3 Mar 1793 (sweep 1032) and noted
"a cluster of large stars, considerably rich, iR, above 15'
diameter." JH called it
"a v loose straggling but p rich cl which fills the field, st 9m and
under; vl comp middle. Some large
st preced it."
NGC 2571 was
discovered by WH (VI 39). Finder chart and photometry in PASP, 90, 1978.
******************************
08 21 24.6 +19
08 52
V = 13.8; Size 1.3'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 133d
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, low even surface
brightness. A mag 14 star is just
off the SSW end 0.5' from the center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2572 = St VIIIb-30 on 2 Feb 1877. His position matches
******************************
01 41 37.3 -89
20 04
V = 13.5; Size 2.0'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 70d
30"
(10/15/15 - OzSky): at 303x "Polarissima Australis" appeared
moderately bright and large, very elongated at least 3:1, ~1.5'x0.5'. Contains a small bright core and a
sharp stellar nucleus (possibly a star?).
Mag 10.3
NGC 2573 is the
brightest of three galaxies close to the south celestial pole with
24" (4/5/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): NGC 2573 is known as "Polarissima
Australis" and is located only 40' from the south celestial pole. At 260x it appeared fairly faint,
moderately large, very elongated 7:2, ~1.6'x0.45'. Contains a very small, bright nucleus with much fainter
extensions. A mag 10.6/11.2 pair at 7" separation was picked up 13'
NNE. This galaxy was brighter than
I expected based on descriptions I've read.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2573 = h3176 on 29 Mar 1837 and recorded "Neb Polarissima
Australis. Faint, round, gradually a little brighter in the middle, 25"
across. Situated nearly halfway between a star of 10th magnitude south of it,
and a small triangle of stars 11th, 13th and 13th mag. north." This is the
closest galaxy to the south celestial pole. Robert Innes reported he was unsuccessful in searching for
it with the 9-inch Grubb refractor from Johannesburg. The RNGC positions are in
error for NGC 2573, 2573A and 2573B.
******************************
08 20 48.1 -08
55 08
V = 12.9; Size 2.2'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 150d
17.5"
(2/1/92): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, low even surface
brightness, no core. A trio of
stars are at the south edge; a mag 11 star 1.4' SSE, a mag 13.5 star 1.3' S and
a mag 13 star 1.2' SSW. Located 5'
SW of mag 7.7
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2574 = LM II-401 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory. His
position is 7 sec of RA west and 2.8' south of
******************************
08 22 44.9 +24
17 49
V = 12.7; Size 2.3'x1.9'; Surf Br = 14.2; PA = 145d
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, fairly small, round, no core though uneven surface brightness. A mag 15 star is at the west end and an
extremely faint mag 16 star is involved at the east end. This is an outlying member of Cancer I
galaxy cluster.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2575 = St IX-14 on 23 Feb 1878. His position and description "eeF, iR, 1' dia, envelops
sev vF*" matches
******************************
08 22 57.7 +25
44 20
V = 14.3; Size 1.7'x0.3'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 41d
17.5"
(1/1/92): very faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, weak
concentration with thin extensions.
Located 3.2' E of mag 8.2
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2576 on 29 Mar 1865 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"eF, eS, stellar." His
position is accurate.
******************************
08 22 43.4 +22
33 11
V = 12.4; Size 1.8'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 105d
17.5"
(1/1/92): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 2:1 ~E-W, ~0.8'x0.4',
dominated by a prominent core, faint stellar nucleus. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2577 = H II-259 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and logged "F,
S, iF, resolvable." His position
(Auwers' reduction) is 3.7' NW of
******************************
08 21 24.3 -13 19
04
V = 12.6; Size 2.0'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 80d
24"
(2/16/15): at 322x; moderately bright and large, oval E-W, 1.0'x0.7', fairly
strong concentration with a well-defined bright core and much fainter
halo. A mag 15 star is
superimposed on the northeast side [24" from center]. Situated in a rich star field with a
mag 10.5 star 2.5' SE.
Forms a pair
with
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, small, oval 3:2 WSW-ENE, broad concentration, faint stellar
nucleus at moments, in a fairly rich star field. Located 2.5' NNW of a mag 11 star. Forms a pair with MCG -02-22-003 3' SE (not seen) which is
close following the mag 11 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2578 = H III-902 = h3121 on 8 Mar 1793 (sweep 1034) and logged
"vF, lE, bM, resolvable."
JH, observing from the Cape of Good Hope, recorded "vF, R, gbM, in
a field full of Milky Way stars."
Both Herschels' positions are accurate. JH missed the companion described in my observation.
******************************
08 20 54.8 -36
13 00
Size 2'
17.5"
(2/1/92): small, bright compact nebula involving a mag 10.5 star. Visible without filter as a small
bright knot forming a close double with the mag 10.5 star just west. Using an OIII filter at 140x the size
increases to 2' diameter and encompasses the mag 10.5 star. With this combination the nebula is
quite prominent as the surface brightness is quite high! Located within a large scattered group
of about 20 stars.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2579 = h3122 on 1 Feb 1835 and recorded "A double star
(h4083) involved in pB nebulosity, which seems to belong to both stars; but of
the two the smaller is more nebulous; diameter 50"; in a pretty rich patch
of the milky way." The next
night he logged "a double star, or a star and a nebula, very close and
involving the star ... the field contains about 70 stars, of which 8 are about
9th mag. I cannot be quite positive that the neb extends beyond the large star,
or that the small one is not a mere condensation of it. However, I remain
pretty well satisfied of its investing both." His mean position (4 sweeps) corresponds with this compact
HII region. The Lynga catalogue
includes NGC 2579 as an open cluster at 08 20.3 -36 15 (1950), placing the
object 20' too far SE! At the
Lynga position is a scattered group of stars. This error is repeated in amateur sky-plotting software such
as MegaStar.
******************************
NGC 2580 = ESO
431-SC006 = Cr 183
08 21 29 -30 17
48
Size 8'
13.1"
(3/24/84): 15-20 stars mag 10-13 within a rectangle of stars. A brighter double star is close
north. Located 44' NE of NGC 2567
and 47' SE of NGC 2571 in a group of 4 open clusters along with NGC 2587 53'
NNE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2580 = h3123 on 5 Feb 1837 and described a "cluster 7th
class; R; p rich; insulated; 10' diam; stars 12m, nearly uniform." His position is ~1.0' SE of center of
this cluster.
******************************
08 24 30.9 +18
35 49
V = 13.3; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 10d
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, small, round, fairly low even surface brightness. A mag 13 star is 2.0' N and a mag 14
star is 1.5' NE of center.
Outlying member of Cancer I galaxy cluster. Incorrectly identified in the UGC, CGCG and MCG as
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2581 = St XIII-38 on 7 Mar 1885 and measured an accurate
position. This is one of the last
few galaxies discovered by Stephen.
Max Wolf's IC 2351, found on Heidelberg plates, refers to a mag 16 star
at the southwest edge (30" SSW of center), and UGC, CGCG and MCG mislabel
the galaxy as IC 2351 instead of NGC 2581.
******************************
08 25 12.0 +20
20 05
V = 13.0; Size 1.2'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, fairly small, round, weak concentration, very symmetrical
appearance. A bright double star
O∑191 = 7.2/9.2 at 38" lies at the edge of the 220x field 11' SW. Outlying member of Cancer I galaxy
cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2582 = H III-753 = h504 on 22 Feb 1789 (sweep 907) and logged it
as "vF, S, R, vlbM."
There is nothing at his position (Auwers' reduction), but 10' southeast
is
Max Wolf
catalogued this galaxy from a Heidelberg plate and noted the entry was
identical to NGC 2582, but Dreyer mistakenly recatalogued it as
******************************
08 23 07.9 -05
00 09
V = 13.4; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.9
24"
(2/16/15): fairly faint, small, round, 30" diameter, well concentration
with a very small bright nucleus.
Forms east vertex of a thin, isosceles triangle with two mag 14 stars
1.5' W [20" separation]. MCG
-01-22-007 and -006 lies ~4' NNW.
17.5"
(1/12/02): faint, small, round, 40" diameter, bright core, crisp-edge to
halo. A 20" pair of mag
14.5/15 star is just 1.5' W. First
of three on a SW-NE line with
17.5"
(4/6/91): very faint, very small, round, strong concentration with very small
bright core, stellar nucleus. A
faint mag 14/14 double star with separation 20" oriented N-S lies 1.5'
W. First of three on a line with
NGC 2584 2.5' NE and NGC 2585 7' NE.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2583 = LM II-402 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the
Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 13.5, 0.4' dia, R, sbMN,
1st of 4 [with NGC 2584, 2585, 2586]." There is nothing at his position, but 1.0 min of RA west is
******************************
NGC 2584 = MCG
-01-22-009 = PGC 23523
08 23 15.4 -04
58 13
V = 13.7; Size 1.1'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 0d
24"
(2/16/15): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 N-S, 0.6'x0.3', very weak
concentration. Second in a string
with NGC 2583 2.7' SW and NGC 2585 4.3' NE. Also
17.5"
(1/12/02): very faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, low surface
brightness. Second of three with
NGC 2583 2.7' SW and NGC 2585 4.3' NE.
17.5"
(4/6/91): extremely faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, very low surface
brightness. Collinear with NGC
2583 2.5' SW and NGC 2585 5' NE.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2584 = LM II-403 in 1886 and recorded "mag 14.0, 0.5' dia,
R, 2nd of 4 [with NGC 2583, 2585, 2586]." There is nothing at his position, but 1.0 min of RA west is
******************************
NGC 2585 = MCG
-01-22-010 = PGC 23537
08 23 26.2 -04
54 56
V = 13.7; Size 1.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 14.2; PA = 85d
24"
(2/16/15): fairly faint, fairly small, irregularly round, 0.7'x0.6', weak broad
concentration with no distinct zones but surface appears mottled. In a group with NGC 2585 4.3' SW and
NGC 2583 7.0' SW (on a line) as well as
In addition, a
close pair,
17.5"
(1/12/02): faint, fairly small, irregularly round, weak concentration, 0.9'
diameter. Third of three on a
SW-NE line with NGC 2584 and NGC 2583 to the SW. This is a challenging trio and I missed two nearby MCG galaxies.
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, small, round, very weak concentration. Third of three on a line with NGC 2584
5' SW and NGC 2583 7' SW. Viewed
core only (the arms are very low surface brightness on the DSS).
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2585 = LM II-404 in 1886 and recorded "mag 14.0, 0.5' dia,
R, 3rd of 4 [with NGC 2583, 2584, 2586]." There is nothing at his position, but 1.0 min of RA west
(same offset as NGC 2583 and 2584) is
******************************
NGC 2586 = PGC
3325912
08 23 31.4 -04
57 07
Size
18"/16"/11"
24"
(2/16/15): at 322x; this faint triple star (components all ~mag 16V) appears as
a very faint, very small glow, 0.3' diameter with a mag 16 star often
resolving. It is easy to see how
this object could be assumed to be a nebula (galaxy). At 450x, 2 or all 3 stars sparkle, but could hold them
simultaneously.
The RNGC and PGC
identifies MCG -01-22-012 as NGC 2585.
At 322x, this galaxy appeared faint to fairly faint, fairly small,
slightly elongated N-S, 21"x15", low surface even surface
brightness. Note: my description
applies to the central region and I missed the very low surface brightness
spiral arms.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2586 = LM II-405, along with NGCs 2583, 2584 and 2585, in 1886
with the 26" refractor at the Leander McCormick Observatory. He noted "mag 16.2, 0.8' dia, R,
4th of 4; neb?".
Near his
published position is MCG -01-22-012, but Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2586
with a triple star at 08 23 31.4 -04 57 07 (2000). This triple is 1.0 min of RA west of Muller's position,
agreeing with his offsets for NGC 2583, 2584 and 2585. RNGC and PGC are probably incorrect in
identifying MCG -01-22-012 as NGC 2586, though this still seems a plausible
identification as it is certainly bright enough to be picked up Muller.
******************************
NGC 2587 = Cr
184 = ESO 431-SC007
08 23 24 -29 30
30
Size 9'
13.1"
(3/24/84): 15 faint stars over haze in a 5' diameter extended N-S with mag 9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2587 = h3124 on 22 Jan 1835 and described "a milky way
cluster 7th class; irreg fig; pretty much compressed in middle. Stars 10...13m; one 9 m."
******************************
08 23 10 -32 58
30
Size 2'
17.5"
(3/25/95): small faint cluster consisting of 15 stars in a 2' diameter with a
few additional out to 3' diameter.
The stars are pretty uniform (mag 13/14) and most are arranged in a
perfect "U" asterism open towards the south. Only a few stars are inside this
"U".
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2588 = h3125 on 16 Feb 1836 and recorded "a small F cluster
of st 15m; 3' diam; R; gbM; not very rich. His position and description matches this faint cluster.
******************************
08 24 30 -08 46
=Not found,
Corwin and Dreyer.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2589 = Sw VI-32 on 13 Feb 1887 and logged "pF, pS, lE in
meridian." There is nothing
near his position except faint stars and Howe was not able to visually recover
this object on 3 nights with the 20" refractor at the Chamberlin
Observatory around 1900. Harold
Corwin was also unsuccessful searching for viable candidates - noting NGC 2574
as a possibility - so this number is lost.
******************************
08 25 01.9 -00
35 31
V = 13.1; Size 2.2'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 77d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, edge-on WSW-ENE, weak
concentration. A bright wide
double star lies 15' NE (7.3/10 at 43"). Located 4.3' N of mag 9.6
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2590 = St IX-15 on 26 Feb 1878. His position matches
******************************
08 37 25.9 +78
01 34
V = 12.3; Size 3.0'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 32d
17.5"
(2/1/92): faint, narrow edge-on 6:1 SW-NE, 2.4'x0.4', brighter middle, very
thin faint extensions. A mag 14
star is just off the SW tip 1.4' from center.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2591 on 12 Aug 1866 and noted "F, S, E,
45"-55" dia, lbM."
His position from 2 observations (#80 in his discovery list in AN 1500)
is an exact match with
******************************
08 27 08.1 +25
58 13
V = 12.3; Size 1.7'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 45d
17.5"
(1/1/92): moderately bright, small, round, sharp concentration with an
unusually bright core for a small galaxy, stellar nucleus, small fainter
halo. A mag 15 star is 1.0' W. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2592 = H II-315 = h505 on 11 Mar 1785 (sweep 384) and recorded
"F, S, R, bM, cometic or having a seeming nucleus." JH logged "pB; R; vsbM to a *;
20"." and measured an accurate position. This galaxy was observed 14 times at Birr Castle and LdR (or
assistants) thought it was a tight, unresolved cluster on several occasions!
******************************
08 26 47.8 +17
22 29
V = 14.0; Size 0.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 172d
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, small, elongated 2:1 N-S, 0.8'x0.4', weak concentration. Located in the same field with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2593 on 26 Jan 1865 and noted "eF, vS." His position matches
******************************
NGC 2594 = MCG
+04-20-056 = CGCG 119-106 = PGC 23704
08 27 17.3 +25
52 43
V = 13.8; Size 0.8'x0.7'
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, very small, round, very small bright core, stellar
nucleus. A mag 11 star is just
0.6' S of center. Forms a pair
with NGC 2592 5' NNW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2594 on 29 Mar 1865 and simply noted "eF". His position matches
******************************
08 27 42.0 +21
28 44
V = 12.3; Size 3.2'x2.4'; Surf Br = 14.3; PA = 45d
17.5"
(1/1/92): fairly faint, moderately large, irregularly round. Unusual appearance with a very compact
bright core displaced towards the NE end.
Also a mag 14 star is superimposed close northeast of the core. The halo appears more extensive to the
southwest. Located 2.2' NE of
double star h448 = 8.9/10.7 at 31".
Outlying member of Cancer I galaxy cluster.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2595 = H III-599 = h506 on 11 Jan 1787 (sweep 683) and noted
"eF, pL, resolvable." He
made this observation after he viewed Uranus and discovered the moons Titania
and Oberon! JH called the galaxy
"vF; irreg fig; has a coarse double star 30° s p, 2' dist [HJ
448]." Five observations were
made at Birr Castle as well as a sketch and the note from 14 Feb 1857
"Query: some vF neby reaches to np side" probably refers to the
northern spiral arm.
******************************
NGC 2596 = UGC
4419 = MCG +03-22-013 = CGCG 089-030 = PGC 23714
08 27 26.5 +17
17 02
V = 13.5; Size 1.5'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 65d
17.5"
(1/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WSW-ENE, weak
concentration. A small group of
five stars lies about 2' E including a close unequal double star (11.5/13.5 at
9" in PA 90°). NGC 2593 lies
11' SE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2596 = m 121 on 26 Jan 1865 with Lassell's 48" and noted
"vF, S, lE." His
position is 9 sec of RA east of
******************************
08 29 57.4 +21
30 07
=1 or 2 *'s?, Gottlieb. =2*, Corwin. =NF, Carlson.
=NGC 2598, UGC.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2597 = m 122 on 1 Jan 1864, along with
******************************
NGC 2598 = UGC
4443 = MCG +04-20-065 = CGCG 119-116 = PGC 23855
08 30 02.6 +21
29 18
V = 13.6; Size 1.1'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 3d
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, small, round, broad concentration. Located just west of the vertex of a "V" asterism
consisting of five mag 11-12 stars; the asterism appears to point towards this
galaxy with the vertex being a mag 12 star 1.7' E. Outlying member of Cancer I galaxy cluster.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2598 = m 123 on 1 Jan 1864, along with NGC 2597 = m 122. His position matches UGC 4443. NGC 2597, placed only 5 sec of RA
preceding, may refer to 1 or 2 very faint stars.
******************************
NGC 2599 = UGC
4458 = MCG +04-20-067 = CGCG 119-122 = Mrk 389 = PGC 23941
08 32 11.3 +22
33 37
V = 12.2; Size 1.9'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, small, round, small high surface brightness core,
stellar nucleus embedded, only a small halo visible.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2599 = H III-234 = h507 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and noted
"vF, stellar." His
position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) is 8 sec of RA west and 3.5' N of UGC
4458 (similar offset as NGC 2577, the previous discovery in the sweep). JH measured an accurate position.
******************************
08 34 45.1 +52
42 57
V = 14.2; Size 1.2'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 78d
18"
(3/13/10): first in a group of 5 NGC galaxies. At 280x appeared very faint, small, elongated 2:1 E-W,
30"x15", low even surface brightness. Located 2' ENE of a 50" pair of mag 12 stars. First in a group with
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, small, elongated 3:2 E-W, 25"x15". Brightens slightly to a near stellar
nucleus. Forms the vertex of a
thin isosceles triangle with two mag 12 stars 2' SW. Also forms an equilateral triangle with two mag 14 stars
closer to the north. Located 8.6'
WSW of NGC 2606. In a trio with
NGC 2602 7.5' NE.
Guillaume
Bigourdan discovered NGC 2600 = Big. 37 on 7 Mar 1886. His position is 6 sec of
RA west of
******************************
08 25 30.6 -68
07 03
V = 12.5; Size 1.6'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 120d
25"
(10/16/17 - OzSky): at 244x; moderately bright and large, oval 3:2 ~WNW-ESE,
~1.2'x0.8', small brighter core. A
mag 13 star is at the east edge, 44" from center. Situated in a very starry region
including a mag 11-11.5 stars 4' SE, 3' E and 2' NE, along with a mag 12 star
1.4' NW and other fainter stars.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2601 = h3126 on 4 Mar 1835 and noted "F; R; gbM;
30"." His position is
accurate.
******************************
NGC 2602 = MCG
+09-14-069 = CGCG 263-056 = PGC 24099
08 35 04.2 +52
49 54
V = 14.7; Size 0.4'x0.2'; Surf Br = 11.8; PA = 27d
18"
(3/13/10): extremely faint, very small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE,
20"x14", low even surface brightness. Located 2.5' WSW of a mag 10.7 star and 5.2' NW of NGC 2606
in a group of faint NGC galaxies.
17.5"
(3/12/94): extremely faint and small, 15" diameter, possibly
elongated. Located 2.6' WSW of a
mag 10.5 star. Forms a pair with
brighter NGC 2606 5.2' SE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2602 = h508 on 16 Feb 1831. His mean position from two observations is 08 35 01.4 +52 50
10 (2000), an excellent match with
The field was
observed three times at Birr Castle.
On the first observation (9 Feb 1850), the three brightest galaxies --
NGC 2600, 2602 and 2606 -- were likely observed. On a second observation by R.J. Mitchell on 11 Mar 1858, 4
nebulae were described and sketched.
Harold Corwin suggests the following identifications: "4 neb.
found, alpha [
In compiling the
GC, it appears that JH assumed alpha was h508 = NGC 2602, the preceding nebula
in the sketch. So, he misplaced
the two LdR novae -- NGC 2603 and NGC 2605 -- following, instead of preceding
NGC 2602. In addition, on the
third observation (5 Mar 1867), Sir Robert Ball noted "2 neb seen nearly p
f, p one eeF, f one [NGC 2606]
eF. Measures extremely
difficult. Pos 92°, Dist
118°." The preceding nebula
is
******************************
NGC 2603 = 2MASX
J08343121+5250247 = PGC 3133653
08 34 31.2 +52
50 25
V = 16.2; Size 0.3'x0.3'
24"
(3/13/10): at 320x appeared extremely faint and small, round, 6"
diameter. Required averted vision
to momentarily view, but reaquired several times to confirm. Located 5.0' W of NGC 2602 and 10' WNW
of NGC 2606. Faintest of 5
galaxies in a group with brightest member NGC 2606. At B = 16.9, this is one of the faintest, if not the faint
NGC galaxy.
18"
(3/13/10): not found at 275x.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2603 on 11 Mar 1858 (along with NGC 2605) using Lord Rosse's
72". Although he made a
sketch of 4 galaxies (out of 6 total in the group), the identifications have
been confused (seen notes for NGC 2602).
NGC 2602 (discovered by JH) is labeled Gamma and NGC 2606 is labeled Delta. Of the two remaining galaxies, the
logical assignment is NGC 2603 = Alpha = PGC 3133653 and NGC 2605 = Beta = PGC
2424112. Alpha was noted as "F, S, bM." JH assumed Alpha = NGC 2602 when compiling the GC, so he
placed NGC 2603, as well as NGC 2605, following NGC 2602 instead of preceding.
RNGC
misidentifies
******************************
08 33 22.9 +29
32 17
V = 12.3; Size 2.1'x2.1'; Surf Br = 13.8
24" (4/28/14):
fairly faint, fairly large, round, 1.6' diameter, broad weak concentration but
there was no core or zones. The
halo gradually fades out. A pair
of faint mag 15.5 stars at ~20" separation lies 1.3' NW (outside the
halo). A bright 30" pair of
mag 10.3/10.8 stars lies 5' SSE.
Forms a pair (probably interacting) with
17.5"
(3/28/92): faint, moderately large, 2.0' diameter, low even surface brightness,
slightly elongated but irregular or ill-defined outline. A mag 14 star is 1' off the south edge
and 1.8' from center. A very faint
close mag 15/15.5 double is at or just off the WNW edge. Almost collinear with a double star 5'
SSE with components mag 10/10.5 at 32".
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2604 = H III-292 = h509 on 12 Mar 1785 (sweep 385) and recorded
"vF, pL, R, lbM, resolvable. 2 or 3 pB stars about it." His position is ~10 sec of RA too far
east and 2' too far south. JH
called it "eF; doubtful obs, as at first the neb was hardly seen. Verified, but too late for a good
RA. In field with a double star
which points rather s of it."
The 10 Dec 1866 observation by Robert Ball with LdR's 72" reads
"eF, vL, center not uniformly bright, but the luminous portion lE and
curved, convex preceding (this was little more than a suspicion); vF double
star close north."
******************************
NGC 2605 =
2MASXJ08345328+5248157 = PGC 2424112
08 34 53.4 +52
48 15
Size
0.3'x0.3'; PA = 25d
24"
(3/13/10): at 320x appeared very faint, very small, round, 12"
diameter. Located 2.4' SW of NGC
2602 and 4th brightest of 5 galaxies.
NGC 2606, the brightest member, lies 6.3' E.
18"
(3/13/10): not found at 275x.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2605 on 11 Mar 1858 (along with NGC 2603) using Lord Rosse's
72". It is labeled on the
sketch as Beta (
******************************
NGC 2606 = MCG
+09-14-072 = CGCG 263-059 = PGC 24117
08 35 34.7 +52
47 20
V = 14.3; Size 0.7'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 39d
18"
(3/13/10): faint or fairly faint, small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE ,
35"x25". Located 4' SE
of a mag 10.8 star. NGC 2602, a
much fainter galaxy, lies 5.3' NW and NGC 2600 lies 9' SW. A very faint galaxy (2MASX
J08352151+5247337) which lies 2' W was not seen.
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, small, elongated 2:1 E-W, very small brighter core with a low
surface brightness halo. Located
3.9' SE of a mag 10.5 star. A
small group of stars forming a square with a fifth star near the center lies
about 6' NNE. Forms a pair with
NGC 2602 5.2' NW. This galaxy is
identified as NGC 2603 in the MCG and DSFG to the Uranometria.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2606 = h510 on 16 Feb 1831 and recorded "vF; S; R;
12." The following and
brighter of 2." His mean
position (two sweeps) matches
******************************
08 33 56.6 +26
58 21
V = 13.6; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.2
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, very small, round, very small brighter core. A mag 14 star is close off the west
edge 1.1' from center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2607 = h511 on 24 Dec 1827 and simply wrote "eF; a doubt
remained; windy." His
position matches
******************************
08 35 17.2 +28
28 23
V = 12.3; Size 2.3'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 60d
17.5"
(5/19/01): Supernova 2001 bg (discovered on May 8, 2001) visible as a mag 14
star at the southeast edge of the galaxy [22" E and 19" S of center].
13"
(1/18/85): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, small bright
core. Two mag 11 and 12.5 stars are 5' S with separation 1.3'.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2608 = H II-318 = h512 on 12 Mar 1785 (sweep 385) and noted
"F, pL, lE, mbM, r." His
position is ~14 sec of RA west of
The galaxy was
observed 8 times at Birr Castle and spiral structure was highly suspected
several times. On 14 Feb 1857, the
observing assistant noted "..twist [spiral arms] in the nebulosity p and f
the nucleus, most apparent preceding." and the 1 Feb 1856 observation
reads "E nearly p f, the p half is much the brighter and I think has curve
in it [in a sketch there appears a dark space p the Nucl].
******************************
08 29 30 -61 06
36
14" (4/5/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x): fairly faint and sparcely populated cluster of 12-15
stars in a 6' circle. Most of the
stars are arranged in a 5'x2' region elongated N-S. Contains a nice double HJ 4108 = 9.6/10.6 at 20" with a
wider and fainter pair (10.9/11.6 at 26") about 2' SE. A mag 9.0 star (
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2609 = h3130 on 8 Mar 1836 and observed on 2 sweeps. His discovery description reads "A
double star, chief of a cluster 8th class of scattered stars, 6' diam; not very
rich or compression. His position
matches a bright double star (
******************************
08 33 23.4 -16
08 57
V = 13.0; Size 50"x47"
17.5"
(3/25/00): at 280x using a UHC filter appears moderately bright,
~45"x40", elongated SSW-NNE.
A mag 12 star is embedded on the NE edge of the rim. The planetary appears to taper near the
star although this may be a contrast effect. The rim is sharp-edged and the surface brightness pretty
smooth. Located 3.5' SW of a mag 6.5 star.
13.1"
(1/18/85): moderately bright PN, fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S, about
40" diameter. No annularity
or central star seen. A mag 13
star is at the NE edge. Located
3.5' SW of mag 6.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2610 = H IV-35 = h513 = 3127 on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) and
recorded "a small star with an electrical brush sp; F; S. About 1 1/2' after follows a star of
the 8th magnitude. It resembles
fig 7, Phil. Trans. Vol LXXIV.Tab.17. [Plate VII]". Herschel commented in his 1814 PT paper
that "a small star has a small, faint, fan-shaped nebulosity joining to it
on the north preceding side."
He used this example to (incorrectly) demonstrate the union or mutual
attraction between the objects.
His position (CH's reduction) is accurate. The 1 Feb 1851 observation by Lord Rosse reads "Dark
space foll star, bet neb and star stronlgly suspected like the "snow-drop
nebula" [NGC 2261]. Lord
Rosse suspected a star in it also."
Based on
Crossley photographs at Lick, Curtis (1918) reported "the ring is slightly
irregular, hazy and without structural detail; is 38"x31" in pa
75°. Relatively vacant around the
central. The matter in the ring is
rather faint."
******************************
08 35 29.2 +25
01 39
V = 14.3; Size 0.75'x0.25'; PA = 50d
17.5"
(3/25/95): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. Located 0.9' NW of a mag 14 star. A nice wide pair of mag 10 stars
(35" separation) lies 10' WNW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2611 = m 124 on 29 Mar 1865 and noted "vF, S, pmE,
gbM." His position matches
******************************
08 33 50.1 -13
10 29
V = 12.7; Size 2.7'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 115d
17.5"
(2/1/92): moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE, small
bright core, almost stellar nucleus.
A mag 13 star is 30" N of center and a mag 12 star is 1.2' S. Appears to have a sharper light cutoff
on the north side.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2612 = h3128 on 14 Feb 1836 and recorded "B, S, psbM, E,
between two stars." His position and description matches
******************************
08 33 22.6 -22
58 21
V = 10.3; Size 7.2'x1.8'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 113d
13.1"
(3/24/84): fairly bright, fairly large, very pretty edge-on 4:1 WNW-ESE,
4.0'x1.0', broadly concentrated.
Several stars are nearby as the galaxy is located in a rich star field
including a mag 12 star 1.5' N, a mag 13 star 2.0' S of center and another mag
12 star at the west edge of the halo.
This is the brightest galaxy in Pyxis.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2613 = H II-266 = h3129 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and logged
"F, E, bM, r, pS that is about 1.5' diameter." On 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 663) he noted
"cB, cL, irr F, E nearly in the parallel." JH made 3 observations from the Cape of Good Hope,
describing it on one sweep as "B, L, vmE in position 110.3°, pslbM, 3'
long, 20" broad."
******************************
08 42 48.2 +72
58 35
V = 12.9; Size 2.5'x2.0'; Surf Br = 14.5; PA = 150d
17.5"
(2/1/92): very faint, fairly large, 2.5' diameter, round, very low surface
brightness, very weak concentration but no core. Better view at 140x than 220x due to low surface
brightness. A mag 14.5 star is at
the west edge. First in a group of
four including
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2614 on 1 Dec 1863 while recording NGC 2629. His single position matches
******************************
08 34 33.2 -02
32 48
V = 12.5; Size 1.9'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 40d
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, fairly small, oval 3:2 SW-NE, small bright core, faint
halo. A mag 12.5 lies 1.8' SSW of
center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2615 = St XIII-39 on 6 Feb 1885 and recorded "F; oval; 1'
diam; lbM; seems resolvable; faint star involved." His position and description matches
******************************
08 35 34.0 -01
51 00
V = 12.5; Size 1.6'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 145d
24"
(2/5/13): at 375x appeared fairly faint, small, round, 25" diameter,
fairly high surface brightness. A
larger halo of extremely low surface brightness was not noticed. A mag 15 star
is superimposed just north of center and a mag 13.5 star is off the NE side,
50" from center.
Brightest of 8
in a group (WBL 188) with
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, very small, round.
A mag 13.5 star is 0.8' NE of center.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2616 = Sw III-39 on 9 Mar 1886 and noted "vF; S; R; * nr
north-following; a more distant * in line with both." His position is 6 sec of RA east of UGC
4489 and the description applies.
******************************
08 35 38.7 -04
05 16
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.9
17.5"
(4/6/91): very faint, small, round, low even surface brightness. Unusual appearance as a mag 14 star is
involved on the north edge 22" from center and a second mag 14 star is
30" S of center. Forms a pair
with
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2617 = St XIII-40 on 12 Feb 1885 with the 31" reflector at
the Marseilles Observatory. His
position is a perfect match with
******************************
08 35 53.5 +00
42 26
V = 12.1; Size 2.4'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 140d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, irregularly round, weak
concentration. Located along the
south side of a trapezoid of mag 13-14 stars; closest is a mag 13 star 1' E.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2618 = H III-257 = h515 on 20 Dec 1784 (sweep 346) and noted
"eF, pL, iF, requires long attention; the night remarkably fine."
******************************
NGC 2619 = UGC
4503 = MCG +05-21-002 = CGCG 150-008 = PGC 24235
08 37 32.7 +28
42 18
V = 12.4; Size 2.3'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 35d
24"
(2/16/15): moderately bright and large, oval ~3:2 SW-NE. Sharply concentrated with a bright,
elongated oval core 0.5'x0.3', embedded in a low surface brightness halo
~1.2'x0.7'.
13.1"
(1/18/85): faint version of NGC 2608, slightly elongated SW-NE, weak
concentration, fairly even surface brightness.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2619 = H II-319 = h514 on 12 Mar 1785 (sweep 385) and noted
"F, S, bM, r." JH made 3 observations and 26 were made at Birr Castle
with the 72"!
******************************
08 37 28.3 +24
56 48
V = 13.4; Size 2.0'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 93d
17.5"
(1/1/92): very faint, small, elongated 2:1 E-W, low even surface
brightness. A mag 15 star is
30" N of center. Forms a
close pair with
William Lassell
discovered NGC 2620 = m 124 on 5 May 1863 with his 48" on Malta (about a
month before Marth started his systematic search). It was included in the 1867 Malta catalogue. Lassell's position matches
******************************
NGC 2621 = MCG
+04-21-003 = CGCG 120-007 = PGC 24241
08 37 36.9 +24
59 59
V = 14.5; Size 0.9'x0.8'
17.5"
(1/1/92): extremely faint and small, round. A mag 13.5 star is 1.4' E and a faint mag 15 star is 1.7'
WNW. Forms a pair with NGC 2620
4.0' SW. Verified on the POSS.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2621 = m 126 on 29 Mar 1865 (along with nearby NGC 2622) with
Lassell's 48" and noted "vF, S, R." His position is 1' south of
******************************
NGC 2622 = MCG
+04-21-008 = CGCG 120-013 = Mrk 1218 = PGC 24269
08 38 11.0 +24
53 43
V = 14.0; Size 0.8'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 45d
24"
(4/28/14): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 or 5:3 SW-NE,
30"x18", contains a very small brighter nucleus. Brightest in a small triplet and
interacting with
17.5"
(1/1/92): faint, fairly small, small bright core, very faint halo slightly
elongated SW-NE. Third of three
with NGC 2620 10' WNW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2622 = m 127 on 29 Mar 1865 (along with nearby NGC 2621) with
Lassell's 48" and noted "F, S, R." His position matches
******************************
08 38 24.1 +25
45 15
V = 13.4; Size 2.4'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 60d
13.1"
(1/11/86): faint, small, slightly elongated, weak concentration.
This system is a
late-stage galactic merger and contains two relatively prominent tidal tails
(not seen).
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2623 = St XIII-41 on 19 Jan 1885. His position matches
******************************
08 38 09.6 +19
43 32
V = 13.6; Size 0.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.5
18"
(1/13/07): fairly faint, small, round, 25" diameter, weak
concentration. A mag 15.5 star is
close southwest. Brighter of a
pair with
17.5"
(12/19/87): faint, very small, round, bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2625 3.3' ESE. Located 7.6' E of mag 8.3
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2624 = m 128 on 30 Oct 1864 (along with nearby NGC 2625) with
Lassell's 48" and noted "eF." His position matches
******************************
NGC 2625 = CGCG
089-057 = Mrk 625 = PGC 24285
08 38 23.1 +19
42 59
V = 15.0; Size 0.4'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.9
18"
(1/13/07): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Smaller and fainter of a pair with NGC
2624 3.2' WNW, though the difference in brightness appears less than the 1.4
magnitudes listed in catalogues.
At the west edge of the Beehive cluster.
17.5"
(12/19/87): faint, extremely small, round. Appears similar to NGC 2624 3.3' WNW but slightly smaller
and fainter. Located at the west
edge of M44 = Beehive cluster.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2625 = m 129 on 30 Oct 1864 (along with nearby NGC 2624) with
Lassell's 48" and noted "eF, vS." His position matches
******************************
08 35 31 -40 40
18
Size 5'
17.5"
(3/23/85): faint, small, diffuse circular reflection nebula surrounding a mag
10 central star. The surrouding,
low surface brightness emission nebulosity was not seen, observing at a very
low elevation.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2626 = h3131 on 2 Jan 1835 and recorded "A star 9th mag
involved in nebulosity, 3' diameter. In the milky way with multitudes of equal
stars all round the neighbourhood, none of which are so affected. Sky quite
pure, not the slightest nebulous haze. No doubt. The nebula loses itself
imperceptibly, the star being (though excentric) yet in the most condensed
part." His sketch was
published on Plate VI, figure 12.
******************************
08 37 15 -29 57
00
Size 11'
13.1"
(1/18/85): about 45 stars mag 11-14 in a 10' region elongated E-W. This is a rich and pretty cluster set
over an unresolved background haze.
Located 40' SW of a mag 5 star.
Visible in a 16x80 finder.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2627 = H VII-63 = h516 = h3132 on 3 Mar 1793 (sweep 1032) and
described "a large cluster of scattered small stars, irr F, considerably
rich." JH observed the
cluster at both Slough and at the Cape of Good Hope, where he recorded "a
fine, L, rich, pretty much compressed cluster; irregularly E, 10' l, 7' br;
stars 12 and 13th mag nearly equal."
Both Herschels' positions are near the central part of this cluster.
******************************
08 40 22.7 +23
32 22
V = 13.3; Size 1.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(1/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated N-S, 1.0' diameter,
weak concentration. A mag 13.5
star is 30" off the north edge and 1.2' N of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2628 = H III-235 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and recorded
"eF, S, verified with 240 power." His position is ~15 sec of RA west
and 1' north of
******************************
NGC 2629 = UGC
4569 = MCG +12-09-010 = CGCG 331-062 = CGCG 332-009 = PGC 24682
08 47 15.8 +72
59 08
V = 12.3; Size 1.8'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 105d
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated 4:3 WNW-ESE, small bright
core, faint stellar nucleus, fairly high surface brightness. A mag 12 star is 40" SSE. Brightest of three with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2629 = H III-982, along with NGC 2641, on 30 Sep 1802 on his
last sweep 1112. He recorded
"Two [NGC 2629 & NGC 2641], the place is that of the last [NGC 2641]. That of which the place is taken [NGC
2641] is vF, S. The other [NGC
2629] precedes it RA = 42 seconds and is 6' more north. The preceding one
stellar. It is within 1' of a small star which follows it, and which is free from
the burs which affect the stellar."
This nebula was
not included in WH's third catalogue as it was discovered after his 500
discovery threshold was reached on 26 Sept 1802. It was added as one of the 8 "HON" objects
("William Herschel omitted nebulae") by JH in the Appendix to his
Cape Observations and then included in the GC as III 982. Caroline Herschel's
reduced position (for 1800) is 5' due south of
******************************
NGC 2630
08 47 06 +73 00
=Not found,
Corwin.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2630 and 2631 in July 1883 with the 11" refractor at the
Arcetri Observatory near Florence.
In his discovery paper IX (AN #2660), Tempel refers to "two new
fine nebula very close to NGC 2629" (after the main table) and mentions
that "my two new nebulae are much brighter than those found by D’Arrest
[NGC 2614] and William Herschel [NGC 2629/2641]." Dreyer was only able to provide an
approximate position near NGC 2629 when compiling the NGC, but no pair of
bright nebulae exists near NGC 2629 that might be Tempel's objects. Nevertheless, a confusing array of
identifications have been made by various galaxy catalogues.
RNGC selects UGC
4547 as NGC 2630 and classifies NGC 2631 as nonexistent (Type 7).
I discussed the
identifications in several letters with Harold Corwin. He suggests that Tempel
may have confused
******************************
NGC 2631
08 47 06 +73 00
=Not found,
Gottlieb.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2630 and 2631 in Jul 1883 with the 11" refractor at the
Arcetri Observatory near Florence.
See the story of their identifications under NGC 2630.
******************************
08 40 22 +19 40
12
V = 3.1; Size 95'
16x80:extremely
large, 1.5° diameter, very bright, brightest stars are mag 6-6.5, includes many
double stars, well resolved. Too
large for decent view in 13" or 17.5". Bright naked-eye cluster.
The first
written mention of M44 = Beehive cluster = NGC 2632 = h517 is by Aratos of Soli
(~260 BC) in his work Phainomeina (called a "little mist") and it was
probably noted 100 years earlier by Eudoxis. It was later recorded by
Hipparchus around 130 BC as a "little cloud". Galileo made the first known telescopic
observation that clearly identified M44 as a star cluster. His observation of 1610 in Siderius
Nuncius ("Starry Messenger") reads "The nebula called Praesepe,
which is not one star only, but a mass of more than 40 small stars, I have
noticed 36 stars besides the Aselli."
The earliest
found reference to the nickname "Beehive" is from Admiral Smyth's
Bedford Catalogue of 1844: "The Praesepe, metaphorically rendered
Bee-hive, is an aggregation of small stars which has long borne the name of a
nebula, its components not being separately distinguishable by the naked
eye..."
******************************
NGC 2633 = Arp
80 = VV 519 = UGC 4574 = MCG +12-09-013 = CGCG 331-063 = CGCG 332-010 = CGCG
350-005 = PGC 24723
08 48 04.6 +74
05 55
V = 12.2; Size 2.5'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 175d
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, small bright core with faint extensions slightly
elongated N-S. Forms a pair with
NGC 2634 8.2' S.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2633 = T VI-5 = T IX-6 on 11 Aug 1882, along with NGC 2634. His position (corrected in list IX)
matches
******************************
NGC 2634 = UGC
4581 = MCG +12-09-015 = CGCG 331-066 = CGCG 332-013 = PGC 24749
08 48 24.9 +73
58 01
V = 12.0; Size 1.7'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(3/20/93): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated SW-NE, prominent
small bright core, bright stellar nucleus. Forms a close pair with NGC 2634A 2' SSE. The companion is faint, fairly small,
very elongated 3:1 WSW-ENE. NGC
2633 is in the field 8.2' N. NGC
2636 lies 18' S.
13"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, small bright core, slightly
fainter and smaller than NGC 2633 8' N.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2634 = T VI-4 = T IX-7 on 11 Aug 1882, along with NGC 2633 = T
VI-5. His position (corrected in
list IX) is an excellent match with
******************************
08 38 26 -34 46
18
V = 11.2; Size 3'
13.1"
(2/25/84): small, very mottled cluster at 166x but only a few stars are
resolved on the west side. Located
38' NW of Beta Pyxis (V = 4.0).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2635 = h3133 on 2 Feb 1835 and recorded "a pretty
compressed cluster of st; irregular triangular fig; much more compressed than
milky way around it; stars 13 mag."
His position is north of the most richest section of the cluster.
******************************
08 48 24.5 +73
40 16
V = 13.8; Size 0.6'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8
17.5"
(3/20/93): fairly faint, very small, round, small bright core, well-defined
halo. Located 5' W of a pair of
mag 10/11 with a separation 1.2'.
Also located 12' SW of mag 7.7
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2636 = T IX-8 on 27 Jul 1883, along with NGC 2646, with the
11" refractor at the Arcetri Observatory near Florence. His description reads "small, followed
by two stars 11-12m close to the same parallel." Tempel's position is 1 degree north of
******************************
08 41 13.5 +19
41 28
V = 15.4; Size 0.5'x0.4'; PA = 51d
18"
(1/13/07): extremely faint, small, round, 24" diameter, very low surface
brightness and only visible with averted vision. Located 7' E of mag 6.8 42 Cancri within the Beehive
cluster. Also mag 6.8
17.5"
(2/8/97): extremely faint and small, round. Appears as 10" nebulous star which required averted
vision to glimpse at moments.
Appears fainter than 15.4z.
Located 7' ESE of mag 6.7
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2637 = m 130 on 30 Oct 1864 (along with
******************************
08 42 25.8 +37
13 15
V = 12.8; Size 1.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 72d
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, small, elongated 5:2 WSW-ENE, small bright core, faint
extensions. The major axis is
almost collinear with a mag 12 star 1.6' ENE of center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2638 = St XIII-42 on 21 Jan 1885. His position matches
******************************
08 43 38.0 +50
12 20
V = 11.6; Size 1.8'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 140d
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.6'x0.9',
halo gradually increases to a small brighter core. A mag 13 star is 2.5' SE. There are several fairly bright stars in the field including
two mag 10.5 stars 4.6' E and 5.2' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2639 = H I-204 = h518 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and remarked
"cB, vS, lE, milky." His
position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) is 2' NW of
******************************
08 37 24.6 -55
07 26
V = 11.1; Size 2.2'x1.9'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 104d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): bright, moderately large, round,
1.2' diameter, sharply concentrated with a very bright 40" core. A group of 5 faint stars is snuggled up
against the west side of the galaxy in two N-S parallel rows. Another very faint star is just off the
SE side. Located 4.8' NW mag 9.3
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): this Carina galaxy has an unusual appearance. At 166x, it appeared fairly faint,
fairly small, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 1.2'x0.9'. A trio of mag 14 stars is superimposed on the west side of
the halo (4 total). The galaxy
appears to have a brighter knot or star on the following end. Situated between a mag 10 star 2.2' NW
of center and mag 9.3 HD 73851 4.8' SE.
Starhopped over from mag 1.9 Delta Velorum located 67' ENE. Also, the galaxy is 2.2° SSW of the
naked-eye cluster
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2640 = h3134 on 26 Feb 1835 and recorded "pF; S; R; has 3
or 4 vS stars near it, preceding.
Observation taken by Mr. Maclear." His position and description
matches
******************************
NGC 2641 = UGC
4577 = MCG +12-09-012 = CGCG 331-065 = CGCG 332-012 = PGC 24722
08 47 57.5 +72
53 45
V = 13.6; Size 1.3'x1.1'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 5d
17.5"
(2/1/92): faint, small, round, broad mild concentration, almost stellar
nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC
2629 6.3' NNW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2641 = H III-983, along with NGC 2629, on 30 Sep 1802 (his last
sweep 1112). He recorded "Two
[NGC 2629 & NGC 2641], the place is that of the last [NGC 2641]. That of which the place is taken [NGC
2641] is vF, S. The other [NGC
2629] precedes it RA = 42 seconds and is 6' more north. The preceding one
stellar. It is within 1' of a small star which follows it, and which is free
from the burs which affect the stellar."
This nebula was
not included in WH's third catalogue as it was discovered after his 500
discovery limit was reached on 26 Sept 1802. It was added as one of the 8 "HON" objects
("William Herschel omitted nebulae") by JH in the Appendix to his
Cape Observations and then included in the GC as III 983. Caroline Herschel's
reduced position (for 1800) is 6' due south of
******************************
08 40 44.4 -04
07 18
V = 12.6; Size 2.0'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.9
24"
(2/16/15): fairly bright, fairly large, dominated by an elongated bar oriented
NW-SE with a mag 14 star superimposed at the southeast end of the bar. Two additional stars are superimposed
nearly in a string to the north [mag 15 star 24" N and a mag 14 star
42" N]. Surrounding the bar
is a low surface brightness glow encompassing these stars, perhaps 1.25'
diameter. The spiral arms were not
evident. Located just north of a bright, equilateral triangle of stars (mag
8.3/9.2/9.5) with sides ~4'.
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, moderately large, almost round, diffuse, even surface
brightness. Unusual appearance as
a two mag 13/14 stars are superimposed at the north and SE ends of the halo. Three bright stars form an equilateral
triangle just south; mag 8.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2642 = h519 on 19 Feb 1830 and noted "A vF cl or r
neb". His position is 36 sec
of RA east of
******************************
NGC 2643 = IC
2390: = CGCG 089-067 = PGC 24434
08 41 51.7 +19
42 08
V = 14.9; Size 0.7'x0.4'; PA = 21d
18"
(1/13/07): very faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Forms the western vertex of a small
triangle with a mag 11.5 star 1' SE and a mag 14.5 star 1' NE. Located 10' S of a mag 7 star on the
east side of the Beehive cluster with several bright stars in the field
including a wide pair of mag 8.5/9.5 stars 4' SW.
17.5"
(2/8/97): very faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Located 1.2' NW of a mag 11.5 star on
the eastern side of M44. Several
brighter stars in the 22' field at 220x.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2643 = m 131, along with NGC 2637, on 30 Oct 1864 and simply
noted "eF neb*". There
is nothing at his position, but 11' N and 18 sec of RA west is IC 2359 = CGCG
089-067 = PGC 24434. Although Marth's declination is quite poor, nearby NGC
2637 which was discovered on the same night appears to have a similar
declination error, so this identification seems reasonable.
This galaxy was
independently discovered by E.E. Barnard (discovery communicated directly to
Dreyer) and placed accurately. So,
NGC 2643 is likely a duplicate of
******************************
08 41 31.9 +04
58 50
V = 12.3; Size 2.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 14d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, oval ~N-S, weak concentration. A pretty double star mag 13.5/14 at
17" separation lies 3.0' S of center.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2644 = St IX-16 on 6 Feb 1877 and recorded "eF, pL, irr
oval, several small points [involved]." His position matches
******************************
08 39 03 -46 13
36
V = 7.0; Size 1.5'
14" (4/5/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): bright compact group with a dozen stars packed
into a 2' region. Contains 4 very
bright stars forming a right angle, including a striking pair of mag 9 stars
(HJ 4122) at 11" separation.
A third mag 9 star is 1' W of the pair and another mag 9.5 star is 1'
SSE. The latter star is also a
double with a mag 10.5 companion at 16" separation. This knot of bright stars is situated
15' ENE of mag 6.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2645 = h3136 on 29 Dec 1834 and described a "close group or
small cluster of 12 or 13 large and small stars; place of a double star, the
chief one." This cluster is
equivalent to Pismis 6 (identification from Brian Skiff) with the nearly
central pair
RNGC classifies
NGC 2645 as nonexistent (Type 7) and Lynga labels the cluster Pismis 6 without
reference to NGC 2645.
******************************
NGC 2646 = IC
511 = UGC 4604 = MCG +12-09-019 = CGCG 331-069 = CGCG 332-019 = LGG 162-003 =
08 50 22.0 +73
27 46
V = 12.1; Size 1.3'x1.3'; Surf Br = 12.5
17.5"
(1/12/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 0.8'x0.6'. Weak, even concentration to
center. Located 2.5' NNW of a wide
40" pair of mag 11/12.5 stars.
In a group with IC 2389 11' NW,
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, small, round, faint star close south.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2646 = T IX-9 on 27 Jul 1883, along with NGC 2636, with the
11" refractor at the Arcetri Observatory near Florence. His description reads "small, 2.5'
south-following are two stars 12-13m." There is nothilng at Tempel's position, but 1 degree south
is
******************************
08 42 43.1 +19
39 01
V = 14.3; Size 0.8'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.2
18"
(1/13/07): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, very small brighter
core. Located at the eastern edge
of the Beehive Cluster and 1' NW of a mag 13 star. An elongated 6' string of stars heads to the south and
includes two mag 10 stars 4' S and 6.5' S.
17.5"
(2/8/97): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, even surface
brightness. Located 0.9' NW of a
mag 13 star at the east edge of M44!
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2647 = m 132 on 30 Oct 1864 and simply noted a "neb
*". His position is 1' south of
******************************
08 42 39.9 +14
17 09
V = 11.8; Size 3.2'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 148d
48"
(2/21/12): very bright large spiral, elongated ~5:2 NNW-SSE, ~2.4'x0.9'. Contains a large, very bright core that
increases to a stellar nucleus.
Forms an interacting pair (
24"
(4/28/14): moderately to fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE,
sharply concentrated with a very bright core, 1.5'x0.6'. A mag 11 star lies 1.9' E of center. Forms a pair (Arp 89) with edge-on MCG
+02-22-006 2.4' SE. The companion
appeared very faint, small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, ~25"x10", low even
surface brightness.
17.5"
(2/1/92): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, small very
bright core. Located 1.9' W of a
mag 10.5 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2648 = H III-49 = h521 = h3135 on 19 Mar 1784 (sweep 177) and
recorded "F, S, with a nucleus.
I had some doubts but 240 confirmed the reality." On 18 Mar 1786 (sweep 538) he logged
"F, lE from np to sf, cS. Almost like two joined together." JH made two observations at Slough and
from the Cape of Good Hope noted "pB; lE; psmbM; precedes a star
10m."
R.J. Mitchell,
observing with LdR's 72" on 23 Feb 1857, described NGC 2648 as "E np
sf, mbM." In addition he
noted and sketched a second nebula, "I think Alpha is a very faint ray
though likely to be taken at first for a star." The diagram clearly reveals that Alpha -- drawn as a small
nebula extending WNW-ESE -- is
******************************
08 44 08.3 +34
43 02
V = 12.3; Size 1.6'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, almost even surface
brightness. A mag 14 star is at
the north edge 30" from center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2649 = H II-727 = h522 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and called
"pF, pL, iR, resolvable."
His position is 2' NW of
******************************
08 49 58.4 +70
17 58
V = 13.3; Size 1.6'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 82d
17.5"
(2/2/02): faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 0.6'x0.4', even surface
brightness. A mag 14 star is at
the east end [23" from center] and a fainter mag 14.5 star is just off the
north edge [33" from center].
Located 7.6' W of mag 7.3
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2650 = H II-908 on 30 Sep 1802 (his last sweep 1112) and
recorded "pB, pL, easily resolvable. I believe I see some of the stars.
Irregular figure." His
position (Caroline's reduction) and description matches
******************************
08 43 55.2 +11
46 16
V = 15.2; Size 0.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.7
18"
(3/11/07): extremely faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, very low even
surface brightness and requires averted vision. Located 48' SW of 5.9-magnitude 50 Cancri.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2651 = m 133 on 10 Mar 1864 and noted "eF, S, E." His position is 1' south of CGCG
61-001.
******************************
09 42 33.0 -03
41 59
V = 10.9; Size 3.5'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 42d
See observing
notes for
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2652 = LM II-406 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 12.0, 0.7'x0.3', E 50°, gbM,
stellar ncl, *9 at 0.8' in PA 240°."
There is nothing near his published position. But Harold Corwin uncovered that Stone made a 1 hour
clerical error in RA. Once
corrected, the position is a reasonable math with NGC 2974 and his detailed
description is a perfect match. So, NGC 2652 = NGC 2974 with NGC 2974 the
primary designation (WH discovery).
******************************
08 54 55.6 +78
23 37
Size 17"
=**,
Corwin. =group of stars (north of
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2653 = T VI-7 on 18 Aug 1882 and reported a tiny nebula 12'
north of NGC 2655 = H I-288. At
this position is a 16" pair of mag 13/14 stars that fits Tempel's
description ("together with 2 brighter stars forms an obtuse
triangle").
******************************
08 49 11.9 +60
13 16
V = 11.8; Size 4.3'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 63d
13.1"
(1/11/86): fairly faint, edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, bright elongated core. A mag 11 star is 4.5' N.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2654 = T VI-6 on 18 Aug 1882 and recorded "S, B, II-III
class; stellar ncl; a star 10m is 4'-5' north." His position is 0.9 min of RA west and 3' north of
******************************
NGC 2655 = Arp
225 = UGC 4637 = MCG +13-07-010 = CGCG 349-033 = CGCG 350-007 = PGC 25069
08 55 38.5 +78
13 25
V = 10.1; Size 4.9'x4.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 85d
17.5"
(2/1/92): very bright, moderately large, elongated 3:2 E-W, 3'x2', even
concentration to an unusually bright core and almost stellar nucleus. There appears to be a sharper light
cut-off along the north side.
Forms an equilateral triangle with mag 9.2
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2655 = H I-288 = h520 on 26 Sep 1802 (sweep 1111, his second to
last sweep) and recorded "vB, cL, lE, suddenly mbM. I suspect it to be a cl of star." CH's reduced position is 5' north of
According to
Michael Hoskin's "Unfinished Business: William Herschel’s Sweeps for
Nebulae", NGC 2655 = H I-288,
******************************
08 47 53.1 +53
52 34
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.7
17.5" (1/12/02):
faint, small, round, 35" diameter, even surface brightness. A mag 12 star lies 3.5' W. This is a double system with a compact
companion (not seen) at the west edge.
Forms a pair with much fainter
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2656 = h523 on 10 Feb 1831 and simply noted "eF;
psbM." His position from this
single observation matches
******************************
08 45 15.8 +09
38 43
V = 13.0; Size 1.3'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, weak concentration. Forms the vertex of a right triangle
with a mag 12 star 2' SSW and a mag 13 star 3' SE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2657 = St XIII-43 on 7 Mar 1885. His position matches
******************************
08 43 27 -32 39
24
Size 12'
13.1"
(2/25/84): 10 stars mag 11-14 resolved over haze in a 7' diameter. A knot or double star is at the north
edge. Three mag 11 stars are off
the south, southeast and east side but the remaining stars are mag 13-14. Alpha Pyxidis (V = 3.7) lies 35' SSE.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2658 = D 609 = h4017 on 28 May 1826 and described a "small
round faint nebula. North of L. Pyxidis". His position is just 3.3' southwest of center (relatively
accurate for his positions), so the identication is fairly secure. JH recorded the cluster on 16 Feb
1836 and noted a "Cl class 8; not m comp; not v rich; v irreg fig; 5'
diam; st 12.13m." He added
the cluster in a supplementary list at the end of the Cape catalogue (h4016 to
h4021). Dreyer identified these
objects as "h o n" (John Herschel Omitted Object) in the NGC.
******************************
08 42 39 -44 57
30
V = 8.6; Size 12'
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): bright, compact group with 15-20 stars in a 4' group
including five mag 10-10.5 stars and a distinctive brighter pair. This cluster is in the same field as
the Vela Supernova Remnant, though I didn't search for filaments in this
region.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2659 = h3137 on 3 Feb 1835. His second more detailed description reads "Cluster VII
class; p rich, pL, 12' l, 8' br; fig irreg; rather branching stars 11..14th
mag, not compressed in middle."
Both descriptions give a much larger size than I noted in my
observation.
******************************
08 42 38 -47 12
02
V = 8.8; Size 4'
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): this distant cluster appeared relatively faint, small,
and was only partially resolved.
It appeared ~2' in diameter and comparable to a faint globular
cluster. A few faint stars were
resolved on the west side and an unresolved brighter knot of stars resides on
the south side. The cluster is
wedged between a yellow/orange mag 8.4 star 2.5' S and a mag 10 star to the
north. Located 16' ENE of mag 4.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2660 = h3138 on 29 Dec 1834 and recorded a "Cl VI cluster;
irreg R; gbM; 4'; resolved into distinct stars 14m." His position (measured on 2 sweeps) is
accurate.
******************************
08 45 59.5 +12
37 15
V = 12.8; Size 1.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(3/29/89): fairly faint, small, round, weak concentration. A mag 11 star 1.0' W of center and
30" of the edge of the halo detracts from viewing.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2661 = H III-50 = Big 38 on 19 Mar 1784 (sweep 177) and logged
"eF, near a pB star, I had only a distant suspicion of its existence, but
240 confirmed it beyond a doubt and showed it of some considerable extent. It is circular and without a
nucleus." There is nothing at
his position, but 28 sec of RA west and 1' north is
In the GC, JH
remarked "I find a memorandum to the effect that this neb is lost and was
probably a comet, but I cannot recover my authority for the statement. It is described by H. as "of the
last degree of faintness," and it is therefore no way surprising that it
should not have been again pereceived without some time and trouple bestowed,
and in clear weather."
Biguordan found this galaxy on 8 Mar 1886 and measured an accurate
position. In the remarks section
of his second Comptes Rendus list, Bigourdan noted B. 38 was identical to GC 1696 [NGC 2661], which has an
error of 28 seconds in RA. Dreyer
repeated in the 1912 revision of WH's catalogues that the "RA is 28s too
great (Ann. Harv. Coll., xiii, and Bigourdan.)"
******************************
08 45 32.0 -15
07 17
V = 13.5; Size 1.0'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, very small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, sharp concentration
with a very small high surface brightness core surrounded by a very faint
halo. A mag 14 star is 43"
WNW of center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2662 = h3139 on 16 Mar 1836 and remarked "vF; vS; R; bM;
near a * 15m." His position
is exactly 10' S of M-02-23-002 = NPM1G -14.0271. Herbert Howe recovered the galaxy after 3 failed attempts at
JH's position and finally measured an accurate position in 1898 using the
20" refractor at the Chamberlin Observatory in Denver.
******************************
08 45 08.1 -33
47 41
V = 10.9; Size 3.5'x2.4'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 110d
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, 2.2'x1.5',
contains a prominent core which is evenly concentrated down to a non-stellar
nucleus. Located in rich star
field. Several stars are within 5'
including a mag 14 star 1.2' N of center and a mag 11.5 star 3.8' NW of
center. Located 5.7' NE of a mag
10.5 star.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2663 = Sw III-40 on 8 Feb 1886 with the 16" refractor at
Warner Observatory in New York.
His position is 2.6' south of
******************************
08 47 07 +12 36
24
Size 5'
17.5"
(2/8/97): poor scattered asterism of 10 stars in a 5' region dominated by four
mag 10-11 stars in a "kite" asterism with pairs of sides 2' and
3'. Only noticeable at low power
and does not resemble a cluster, although the fainter stars are nicely spaced
around the bright stars. A fainter
group with 4-5 mag 13 stars lies 5' NW.
Listed as a nonexistent cluster in RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2664 = h524 on 20 Mar 1830 and recorded "A neat cl of stars
9 and 10m regularly arranged about a central one (N.B. This is nearly the place
of III 50, but no neb was noticed.)"
At JH's position are four mag 10/11 stars with several mag 13/14 stars
nearby (his position nearly coincides with a mag 10 star at 08 47 13.8 +12 36
14).
Karl Reinmuth,
in his 1926 photographic survey based on Heidelberg plates, adds "pS Cl of
a few st 10...15." Harold
Corwin notes that Villanova (2004, A&A, 428, 67) concludes this is a random
enhancement of field stars and not a cluster. The position given here corresponds with the center of this
asterism.
******************************
08 46 00.9 -19
18 11
V = 12.2; Size 2.0'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 144d
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SSW-NNE, small bright core
contains a faint stellar nucleus.
A very faint star is superimposed.
Two mag 11 stars lie 3.5' N and 3.7' ESE.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2665 = LM II-407 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the
Leander McCormick Observatory and noted "mag 11.0, 0.6' dia, R,
gbMN." His position matched
******************************
08 49 49 +44 42
12
Size 11'
18"
(2/14/10): The
18"
(2/23/06): the only possible candidate near John Herschel's original position
is a mag 11.7 star and a group of five mag 13.5-14.5 stars close south. Four of the stars are strung along a 5'
gently curving arc. To the
northeast is a much brighter 10' string of a half dozen stars that extends
towards the northeast. Neither of
these asterisms, though, are probably eye-catching enough to be mentioned as a
"course cluster".
Note: Based on more recent
historical investigation, this identification is incorrect.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2666 = h525 on 19 Mar 1828 and simply noted "The chief * of
a coarse cluster." There is
no indication of the size of his cluster, but there is no object matching his
description nearby. Karl Reinmuth
remarked "nothing like a cluster" in his NGC photographic survey
based on Heidelberg plates.
In Jun 2016
Harold Corwin checked JH's sweep record again and found "JH accidentally
copied the reduced NPD of the preceding object in the sweep (a double star)
into the column for the reduced NPD of this cluster. The difference in the NPD index between the two objects is
2d 21' 18", leading to a corrected position for JH's "chief *"
of 08 38 14.8, 44 40 27 (NPD, 1830) or 08 49 49, +44 42.3 (J2000), very close
to the position of the SAO star.
The identity of JH's object with the sparce group is no longer in any
doubt."
******************************
08 48 27.3 +19
01 09
V = 13.9; Size 0.8'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.2; PA = 80d
24"
(2/16/15): at 322x; fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 E-W,
35"x14", low even surface brightness. Forms a pair with
17.5"
(1/28/89): very faint, small, elongated E-W.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2667 on 18 Feb 1862 while observing and measuring NGC
2672. His single position is not
very accurate, but 7 seconds of time east is
Interestingly,
Ralph Copeland, observing NGC 2667 with the 72" on 26 Dec 1873 noted
"cF, pS, lE p f, was thought to have an eF companion about 2'
nf." The companion is clearly
IC 2411. Dreyer later reobserved
the field in 1876 and apparently was not convinced: "eF; I think it is
only a *16 m +/- nf." Due to Dreyer's uncertainty, IC 2411 missed
receiving a NGC designation.
******************************
08 49 22.5 +36
42 37
V = 13.8; Size 1.2'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 155d
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 ~N-S, low even surface
brightness.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2668 = St IX-17 on 7 Feb 1877. His position (Esmiol's reduction) matches
******************************
08 46 22 -52 56
54
V = 6.1; Size 12'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): fairly rich group of ~60 stars in a 6' or 7'
region, elongated N-S. Includes a mix of brighter mag 9.5-11 stars, along with
a number of faint mag 14-15 stars.
A mag 9.5 star and five mag 11-12 in a 1.5' N-S string, is on the
northeast side. The cluster is
bounded by a striking number of very bright stars including mag 7.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2669 = h3140 on 11 Apr 1834 and recorded "Cluster VIII
class. A L, poor, loose cl of
stars, 10...13m." The
position was noted as very uncertain, with the RA to the nearest (+/-) minute.
There is nothing resembling even a poor cluster near his position. Dreyer credited Persian astronomer
Al-Sûfi with the discovery of NGC 2669, but Al-Sûfi mentioned IC 2391 instead.
According to
Archinal and Hynes in "Star Clusters", in 1930 Robert Trumpler found
the most likely candidate for Herschel's missing cluster. He noted "NGC 2669 - Declination
of NGC corrected by +1°.", which corresponds with
******************************
08 45 30 -48 47
30
V = 7.8; Size 7'
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): at 166x, this fairly bright open cluster has an unusual
appearance. Roughly two dozen
stars mag 10-12 are arranged in a "wishbone" arrangement with a
distinctive string of stars running SW-NE with the brightest mag 9 star on the
SW end, with another string running E-W and a third side running N-S. The group is ~6' in diameter.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2670 = h3142 on 18 Feb 1836 and recorded "a cluster 8th
class, not rich, nor much compressed; 8' in diameter, irr round, stars 13
mag." His position is
accurate.
******************************
08 46 12 -41 52
36
Size 4'
17.5"
(12/19/87): faint, small cluster.
Between 15-20 stars mag 11-13 are resolved over haze. This cluster is far south for viewing
from Northern California.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2671 = D 489 = h3141 on 1 May 1826 and recorded "a very
faint nebula, about 6' diameter, with small stars scattered in it - in the
milky way." Dunlop made 2
observations and his position is just 2' SSE of center. JH made a single observation on 2 Mar
1835 and logged "a pretty rich, irregularly round cluster, not mbM, stars
12..13th mag, place that of the general middle." JH noted D 489 and D 490 as possible equivalences, though D
490 appears to describe
******************************
08 49 21.9 +19
04 29
V = 11.7; Size 3.0'x2.8'; Surf Br = 14.0
24"
(2/16/15): bright, fairly large, sharply concentrated with a very bright
core. The large halo (~1.6' dia)
has a low surface brightness and appears to encompass
17.5" (1/28/89):
moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, sharp concentration. Forms a contact pair with NGC 2673 at
the east edge 40" separation between centers. A mag 13.5 star is 1.5' NNE and a fainter mag 14 star is
1.1' SE.
13.1"
(1/18/85): moderately bright, slightly elongated ~E-W, bright core.
13.1"
(1/28/84): fairly faint, small, round.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2672 = H II-48 = H II-80 = h526 on 14 Mar 1784 (sweep 169) and
recorded "a nebula r[esolvable], pL, lbM then towards the extremes and
contains one star following the brightness and very near to it." His position is off by nearly 15' (the
reference star was a large distance away) and the nearby star he mentions is
the close companion NGC 2673.
Dreyer noted in his 1912 publication of WH's catalogues, that
"there was some doubt about the contraction of the rope in Sw. 169, hence
in the error in the P.D. of II.48." One week later he recorded II-80 on sweep 181 as "pB,
pL, E, r. I can see 2 or 3 stars in it." In this sweep his position was accurate to within 2', so the
identification is certain. Another
observation of II-80 was on 13 Feb 1787 (sweep 698): "pB, E from a few
degrees sp to nf. The greatest
brightness lays to the preceding side, it resembles a small one with another
much smaller close to it nf [NGC 2673] with resolvable nebulosity around
it." In this sweep he
mentioned he looked for II-48, but couldn't find it.
Coincidentally,
JH discovered a very faint galaxy (h527 = NGC 2677 = CGCG 090-021) on 17 Mar
1831 near Caroline Herschel's reduced position for H II-48 that he assumed was
his father's II-48. On 19 Dec
1848, George Stoney discovered NGC 2673, a close companion to NGC 2672 -- noted
as a star by both Herschels -- with LdR's 72", but he thought it was
h527. In the GC, JH still listed H
II-48 under the entry for
******************************
NGC 2673 = Arp
167 NED2 = UGC 4620 = MCG +03-23-011 = CGCG 090-019e = Holm 99b = PGC 24792
08 49 24.1 +19
04 27
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x1.2'
24"
(2/16/15): at 322x; fairly faint, small, round, ~18" diameter. Easily
visible glow just 35" E of the center of NGC 2672 and embedded in its low
surface brightness halo. At 450x,
the tiny nucleus occasionally brightens to a stellar point. A mag 14 star is just 50" SE. The pair is generally considered an
interacting pair, resulting in a faint plume (not seen) extending to the
southeast of NGC 2673.
17.5"
(1/28/89): very faint, extremely small, round. NGC 2673 appears as a small "knot" attached at the
east end of NGC 2672 40" between centers. A mag 14 star is 1.0' SE and a mag 13.5 star lies 1.0' NNE.
13"
(1/18/85): very faint, appears as an extremely small "knot" 20"
diameter in the halo of NGC 2672 just 0.6' E of the core. Two stars are near NNE and SE.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2673, the eastern component of the double system with NGC
2672, on 19 Dec 1849 and noted a "close double nebula, small star
preceding." On 9 Feb 1855, R.J. Mitchell gave a more detailed description
but incorrectly assumed NGC 2673 was h527 = NGC 2677: "very close, almost
touching; h526 [NGC 2672] is mbM, h527 is smaller and lbM." Dreyer later added the note "the
latter is not h527, but the close companion to [NGC 2673], viz [GC] 1705." Interestingly, it's possible that both
Herschels noted NGC 2673 in their observations, but thought it was a very faint
star.
******************************
08 49 13.2 -14 17 39
V = 14.9; Size 0.7'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 65d
24"
(1/25/14): very faint, small, slightly elongated, 15"x12", weak
concentration. A number of mag
12-13 stars are in the field including a mag 12.5 star 1.3' NW.
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2674 = LM I-152 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 16.0, 0.4' dia, neb?" There is nothing at or near his rough
position (nearest min of RA) and Herbert Howe was unable to find it on two
nights at Stone's position using the 20" refractor at the Chamberlin
Observatory around 1900.
Harold Corwin
suggests that NGC 2674 probably refers to
******************************
08 52 05.0 +53
37 02
V = 13.3; Size 1.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 80d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 1.0'x0.7', just a
weak broad concentration with no well-defined core. A small trio of mag 14 stars precedes by 2'-3'.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2675 on 2 Dec 1861 with the 11" refractor at the
Copenhagen Observatory. This
object is #81 in AN 1500, but was added to a short appendix of omitted
observations in his Siderum Nebulosorum. His position is poor -- 7 sec of RA
east and 7' south of
******************************
08 51 35.6 +47
33 27
V = 13.1; Size 1.2'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(2/9/02): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, faint stellar
nucleus. A mag 13 star lies 1.5'
NE. A distinctive rectangle of
stars is ~4' NE including mag 8.2
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2676 = Sw VI-33 on 24 Nov 1886 and described "eeF; pS; R;
trapezoid of 4 pB stars near nf."
His position is 7 tsec E and 1' N of
******************************
NGC 2677 = MCG
+03-23-012 = CGCG 090-021 = PGC 24821
08 50 01.3 +19
00 35
V = 14.3; Size 0.6'x0.3'; PA = 175d
17.5"
(1/28/89): extremely faint and small, round, low even surface brightness. In a group with NGC 2667, NGC 2672, NGC
2673.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2677 = h527 on 17 Mar 1831 and noted "The faintest object
imaginable, and discerned with the utmost difficulty. Sky perfectly clear." His position is an excellent match with
******************************
08 50 03 +11 20
18
Size 10'
18"
(3/5/05): this asterism contains two groupings of stars to the south of
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2678 = H VIII-10 = h528 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep 172), noting a
"a cluster of very coarse scattered stars, not rich." JH made four
observations and reported on one sweep "A poor cluster of 4 or 5 large and
a few scattered small stars."
Both of the Herschel's positions point to 4 or 5 mag 9/10 stars with a
few fainter stars -- an unimpressive asterism. RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent.
******************************
08 51 32.8 +30
51 52
V = 13.3; Size 1.8'x1.8'; Surf Br = 14.4
17.5"
(3/25/95): fairly faint, very small, round, compact appearance. Has a fairly high surface brightness
with a very small bright core. A
nice mag 12/13 double star at 12" separation lies 7' W. Forms a double system with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2679 = H III-294 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 386) and recorded
"vF, vS, R, bM, large stellar neb." His position is 1.6' south of
******************************
NGC 2680 = UGC
4632b = MCG +05-21-014b = CGCG 150-041b = PGC 24884
08 51 33.6 +30
51 57
V =
15.1/16.2; Size 5"
17.5"
(3/25/95): appears as a very faint quasi-stellar object attached on the
following side of NGC 2679 within a common halo. This object (a 5" pair of mag 15.1/16.2 stars) is
smaller and fainter than NGC 2679 and appears nearly stellar with just 0.2'
separation between the pair and the center of NGC 2679.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2680 on 26 Feb 1851 using Lord Rosse's 72" and recorded an
"exceeding close double nebula [with NGC 2679]." A total of 9 observations were made at
Birr Castle, generally describing a very close double nebula within a common
envelope or a nebula with a double nucleus. For example, Sir Robert Ball's description on 12 Jan 1867
reads "Double nebula in Pos 85.5°, preceding on cB, R, mbM, following one
F, R, perhaps with a * in the middle."
UGC (4632) calls
this a double system (NGC 2679 + 2680) with a "companion superimposed at
0.2' following center, 0.20'x0.15'."
The DSS reveals two, very close stellar objects (northern component
brighter) at the east edge of NGC 2679.
These are individually catalogued in NED as NGC 2680 NED01
("Southern of two compacts (or stars?) superposed on NGC 2679") and
NGC 2680 NED02 ("Northern of two compacts (or stars?) superposed on NGC
2679"). NED also has a single
entry for NGC 2680 = KPG 176B (from the Karachentsev Isolated Pairs of Galaxies
catalogue) at their mean position.
LEDA has a single entry for NGC 2679 = NGC 2680, but no individual
entry(s) for NGC 2680. On the SDSS
DR8, two stellar objects just east of the nucleus of NGC 2679 are superimposed. The northern "star" is
classified as a galaxy and the southern component as a star.
After a query
from Ivan Maly, I sent an email to Brian Skiff on 3/10/14 asking about the
classification of these two objects and he quickly responded, "These are
both stars. I just examined
numerous available images using the Goddard SkyView utility (GALEX, DSS, SDSS
DR7 and DR8, 2MASS; no UKIDSS coverage unfortunately). Simply doing a
blink-comparison of the POSS-I and -II blue plates (POSS-I red has less-good
resolution), it is obvious that the northern star of the pair has modest proper
motion, while the southern one is essentially fixed. (I used 'SAOimage ds9' for this.) Large-scale cut-outs of the Sloan images show no indication
that they are other than stars, and the relative motion shows they are
unrelated to each other. Using the
SDSS DR7 catalogue, I get V magnitudes 15.1 and 16.2, and separation of
4".66 in pa 192.2 deg for the two stars (epoch 2003.967). At the
epoch of POSS-I the position-angle is close to 180 deg, so presumably in Lord
Rosse's time the fainter star would have been to the southeast."
******************************
08 53 32.8 +51
18 50
V = 10.3; Size 3.6'x3.3'; Surf Br = 12.8
17.5"
(4/6/91): bright, fairly small, slightly elongated E-W, about 2' diameter. Contains a small unusually bright core
and stellar nucleus. A pair of mag
12 stars are 2.1' W with separation 30" oriented NW-SE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2681 = H I-242 = h530 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and recorded
"vB, large bright resolvable nucleus with vF chevelure." JH gave a similar description: "B;
L; vsmbM to a * 10-11m, but sharply defined. It is a nebulous star with a vF extensive nebulosity." Eleven observations were made at Birr
Castle, though no additional details were clearly recorded.
******************************
08 51 24 +11 49
V = 6.9; Size 30'
17.5": at
140x about 200 stars mag 10-14 in a 15' diameter. Includes several rich subgroups including one on the south
edge near three brighter mag 10 stars.
The brightest star mag 7.8
13"
(12/22/84): about 100 stars mag 10-15 in 15' diameter, very rich and impressive
cluster.
13"
(3/24/84): beautiful at 88x with over 75 stars resolved at this magnification.
Johann Gottfried
Koehler (discoverer of M50 and
This is an old
open cluster with age 3-4 billion years (Sue French states 2.6 billion years in
March 2009 S&T while Astronomy mentions 3.2 billion in the Apr 2012 issue.
The position given in Lynga #5, Sky Catalogue 2000, NGC 2000 and Deep Sky Field
Guide (first version) is about 1.0 min of RA too far west.
******************************
08 52 41.4 +33
25 14
V = 9.8; Size 9.3'x2.2'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 44d
18"
(3/13/10): gorgeous view at 280x!
This detailed, edge-on spiral extends 9'x1.5' SW-NE. The central region is well concentrated
with a very bright, elongated core, roughly 3'x1.5' and noticeably mottled or
dusty with brighter knots or spots near the core. The southwest extension is more prominent and is easily traced
to the outer tip. This extensions
grow broadly to the core. In
contrast, the northeast extension fades rapidly after the core, so there is a
sharper concentration to the core on the northeast side of the core. The northeast arm has a low surface
brightness as it extends past a mag 13 star (close double) off the north
flank. The galaxy has an unusual
warped appearance with the southwest and northeast portions not aligned due to
asymmetric extensions from the core.
13.1"
(1/18/85): very bright, very large, nearly edge-on 4:1 SW-NE, 8.0'x2.0', halo
is broadly concentrated. Mottled
or dusty near the core but no distinct nucleus.
16x80 (1/18/85):
visible in finder as a faint, edge-on steak
13.1"
(2/25/84): bright and impressive, brigter core, thin fainter extensions
oriented SW-NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2683 = H I-200 = h532 on 5 Feb 1788 (sweep 807) and
reported "very brilliant, mE
from sp to nf but nearer the meridian, about 7 or 8' l and 2 1/2 or 3' br. The
brightness also much elongated and going off pretty suddently; a beautiful
object." JH made three
observations.
A total of 16
observations were made at Birr Castle and several times it was described as
slightly concave and sharper on the preceding side. On 2 Jan 1868, "vF streaks and lanes on each side
parallel to ray [were suspected]."
******************************
08 54 54.1 +49
09 38
V = 12.9; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 40d
18"
(4/26/08): at 220x, NGC 2684 appeared fairly faint, fairly small, oval 4:3
SW-NE. This is the brightest in a
compact group (similar to a HCG) with four additional nearby NGC galaxies: NGC
2686 (double galaxy) 1.4' SE,
17.5"
(3/8/97): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE, 1.0'x0.7', just a
broad weak concentration. Two mag
12-13 stars lie 2' N and 1.5' ESE.
Brightest of three in a close group. The faintest members NGC 2688 and NGC 2689 were not visible.
17.5"
(3/16/96): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated WSW-ENE, 1.0'x0.8',
weak concetration. A mag 13 star
is 1.5' ESE and a mag 12.5 star lies 1.9' N. Brightest in a group of extremely faint galaxies including
NGC 2687 and
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2684 = H III-712 = h533 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and reported
"eF, cS, resolvable, preceding some faint stars." His position is just 1' too far
northwest. JH made two observations and recorded on 8 Mar 1831, "vF; pL;
R; 30"; a *12 m s f and on 13 m, n p." The two stars are 1.4' ESE and 1.9' N. Three extremely faint companions to NGC
2684 were discovered by LdR.
******************************
08 55 34.6 +58
44 03
V = 11.3; Size 4.5'x2.3'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 38d
48"
(4/6/13): this famous polar-ring galaxy (nearest and brightest) was viewed at
488x. It appeared very bright,
large, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, 1.5'x0.5', slightly bulging center (spindle
shape), high surface brightness and brighter along the central axis. Well concentrated with an intense core
and surrounded by a much larger, low surface brightness halo that increases the
size to 2.5'x1.2'. The polar-ring
was seen on the northwest side as a faint, low surface brightness outer loop
attached to the spindle and bulging out ~20". Periodically the outer edge of the loop popped as a distinct
arc and appeared as a semi-ring. A
mag 11 star lies 2.4' N.
13.1"
(1/18/85): moderately bright, fairly small edge-on 4:1 SW-NE. Contains an elongated bright core. A mag 11 star is 2.4' N of center. The well-known polar ring was not seen.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2685 = T VI-8 on 18 Aug 1882 with the 11" refractor at the
Arcetri Observatory. His position is ~30 sec of RA too far east and 3' too far
north, but the identification is certain.
******************************
NGC 2686 = MCG
+08-16-036/-037 = VV 765 = PGC 25026
08 54 59.8 +49
08 33
V = 14.8; Size 0.8'x0.45'; Surf Br = 12.6
18"
(4/26/08): this member of the compact NGC 2684 group appeared very faint, very
small, either elongated or double oriented E-W. I had a strong impression this was a very close pair, as
sometimes a single round galaxy was visible and at other times it was elongated
E-W or the fainter companion momentarily popped into view. The DSS reveals a double galaxy
(eastern component is fainter) just 16" between centers. Located 1.4' SE of NGC 2684 and 0.9' SW
of a mag 12.5 star. NGC 2687 is
just 1.4' NE
17.5"
(3/8/97): extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Located 1' SW of a mag 12.5 star and
1.5' SE of NGC 2684. Second
brightest of three in NGC 2684 group.
17.5"
(3/16/96): picked up while viewing NGC 2684. Extremely faint, very small,
appears elongated 2:1 E-W. Located
1.3' SE of NGC 2684 and requires concentration to view. The mag 13 star
mentioned in the observation of NGC 2684 is 0.9' NE. This is an (unresolved) double system with the components
oriented E-W. The fainter eastern member is designated
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2686 on 11 Mar 1858 using Lord Rosse's 72" (along with NGC
2687, 2688 and 2689), while observing the field of NGC 2684. He described it as "double or is a
neb with hazy * close f" and labeled it on the sketch as Beta.
******************************
NGC 2687 = NGC
2687B = MCG +08-16-038+039 = VV 765 = PGC 25030+31
08 55 06.0 +49
09 22
V = 14.8; Size 0.6'x0.3'; Surf Br = 11.9; PA = 28d
18"
(4/26/08): this member of the NGC 2684 compact group appeared very faint, very
small, slightly elongated, low surface brightness, 15"x12". Located 1.9' E of NGC 2684 and just
35" E of a mag 12.5 star. NGC
2686 lies 1.4' SW.
17.5"
(3/8/97): faintest of close trio with NGC 2684 and NGC 2686. Appears extremely faint, very small,
slightly elongated E-W with concentration. Requires averted vision to clearly view. Located just 30" following a mag
12.5 star and 2' E of NGC 2684.
Looked for NGC 2688 and NGC 2689 unsuccessfully.
17.5"
(3/16/96): picked up 1.9' E of NGC 2684 and 30" E of a mag 13 star.
Extremely faint, very small, requires averted vision but repeatedly
glimpsed. This unresolved double
system appeared elongated WNW-ESE in the orientation of the members.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2687 on 11 Mar 1858 using Lord Rosse's 72" (along with NGC
2686, 2688 and 2689), while observing the field of NGC 2684. There was no description given (or
approximate offsets from NGC 2684), so JH gave a single position in the GC for
NGC 2686, 2687 and 2688. The
sketch, though, shows NGC 2687 east or slightly ESE of NGC 2684, with a star
just preceding NGC 2687. The SDSS
reveals this a very close pair of galaxies (
******************************
NGC 2688 = MCG
+08-16-040 = PGC 25048
08 55 11.7 +49
07 21
V = 15.8; Size 0.3'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.7
18"
(4/26/08): this very difficult member of the NGC 2684 group appeared extremely
faint and small, ~5" diameter (quasi-stellar). Only popped into view with averted vision and concentration
but sketched in the correct position on a line between a mag 10.7 star 2.8' SSE
and NGC 2687.
17.5"
(3/8/97): not found
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2688 on 11 Mar 1858 using Lord Rosse's 72" (along with NGC
2686, 2687 and 2689), while observing the field of NGC 2684. He simply noted "vvF" but the
sketch can be matched up well with
******************************
NGC 2689 = PGC
2333935
08 55 25.4 +49
06 55
V = 16.3; Size 0.35'x0.25'
18"
(4/26/08): this is the faintest of 6 galaxies viewed in the compact NGC 2684
group. It was a marginal
observation (barely glimpsed several times) with averted vision 2.7' NE of a mag
10.7 star. It was necessary to
keep this distracting star out of the field. Slightly easier NGC 2688 lies 2.3' WNW
17.5"
(3/8/97): not found.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2689 on 11 Mar 1858 at Birr Castle. It was indicated on the
sketch of the NGC 2684 field published in the 1880 Monograph, along with NGC
2686, NGC 2687 and NGC 2688. Dreyer reobserved the field in 1878, but he
noted the "sky is very bad" and the novae were not seen.
JH only included
three of the four novae in the GC (1715/1716/1717), so one was left out but
Dreyer assigned NGC 2689 to the 4th nebula in the NGC. Based on the sketch, NGC
2689 can be matched with
RNGC and PGC
misidentify
******************************
08 52 38.0 -02
36 12
V = 13.1; Size 1.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 19d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, small, very elongated ~N-S, weak concentration.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2690 = Sw III-41 on 10 Mar 1886 with the 16" refractor at
the Warner Observatory. His
position is 20 sec of RA west of
******************************
08 54 46.3 +39
32 19
V = 13.1; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 165d
17.5"
(2/9/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated ~3:2 N-S, 0.7'x0.4', weak
concentration to a very small brighter core. Bracketed by a mag 13 star 0.9' N and a mag 12 star 2.5' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2691 = H II-658 on 20 Mar 1787 (sweep 721) and noted "pF,
vS, mbM." His position
(Caroline Herschel's reduction) is about 2' NW of
******************************
08 56 58.0 +52
03 57
V = 13.3; Size 1.3'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 165d
17.5"
(2/8/86): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated ~N-S. A mag 13 star is 2.1' NW of
center. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2692 = H III-831 = h534 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and simply
noted as "vF, vS." His
position is less than 2' southeast of
******************************
NGC 2693 = UGC
4674 = MCG +09-15-055 = CGCG 264-035 = PGC 25144
08 56 59.3 +51
20 51
V = 11.9; Size 2.6'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 160d
17.5"
(2/8/86): fairly bright, fairly small, bright core encased in much fainter
halo, slightly elongated ~N-S.
Forms a close pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2693 = H II-823 = h535 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and recorded
"pB, S, R, mbM." His position is within the northwest side of the
halo. JH called the galaxy "pB; mE nearly in meridian [north-south];
psbM." This double system was
resolved with the 72" at Birr Castle. The CGCG declination is 30' too far
south.
******************************
NGC 2694 = MCG
+09-15-056 = CGCG 264-034 = PGC 25143
08 56 59.3 +51
19 55
V = 14.5; Size 0.3'x0.3'
17.5"
(2/8/86): faint, very small, almost round. Forms a close double system with brighter and larger NGC
2693 1' N.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2694 (double system with NGC 2693) on 9 Mar 1850 with
LdR's 72". Multiple
observations were made in the next couple of years (13 total) but JH didn't
include this nebula in the GC as no details were given in the 1861 monograph.
So, Dreyer added it in the GC supplement (GC 5435).
The CGCG
declination is 30' too far south (same error with NGC 2693). RC3 gives the dimensions as 1.2x1.2,
but this much too large.
******************************
08 54 27.0 -03
04 01
V = 11.9; Size 1.7'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 175d
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, small, round, bright core. Situated between a mag 13 star 0.8' W
of center and a mag 14 star at the east edge 0.4' from center. Brightest in a group along with NGC
2708 30' SE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2695 = H II-280 = h536 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 353) and logged
"F, vS, lE, just following an obscure star, verified with 240
power." JH gave a more
complete description: "pB; S; E nearly in parallel between 2 st of 12 and
15m, each half the length of the neb from the adjacent extremity."
******************************
08 50 42.0 -05
00 35
Size 1.2'x1.1'
17.5"
(2/1/03): faint, fairly small, round, 0.7' diameter, weak even concentration to
center. Located 6' SSW of mag 8.7
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2696 = LM I-153 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory and recorded as "mag 15.8, 0.2' dia, stellar nucleus." There is nothing near his rough
position (nearest min of RA).
Harold Corwin suggests this may be
******************************
NGC 2697 = MCG
+00-23-011 = CGCG 005-027 = PGC 25029
08 54 59.2 -02
59 14
V = 12.3; Size 1.8'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 120d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, small, irregularly round, weak concentration. Located 9.4' NE of brighter NGC 2695 in
the same field.
Lord Rosse and
Bindon Stoney discovered NGC 2697 on 24 Jan 1851 with the 72", while
observing NGC 2695. They noted
"another neb, S, oval, about 10' following and 4' north." d'Arrest measured an accurate position
on 22 Feb 1865.
******************************
NGC 2698 = MCG
+00-23-012 = CGCG 005-030 = PGC 25067
08 55 36.4 -03
11 02
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 96d
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, small, oval ~E-W, bright core, stellar
nucleus. Located 4.0' SE of mag
7.1
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2698 = h538 on 11 Mar 1826 and recorded "vF; R; resolvable;
30"; stars suspected in it. A
*9 m precedes. This may possibly
be II 281[
******************************
NGC 2699 = MCG
+00-23-014 = CGCG 005-033 = PGC 25075
08 55 48.7 -03
07 39
V = 12.6; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.6
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, very small, round, bright core. A mag 14.5-15.0 star is 0.9' NE of
center (
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2699 on 27 Jan 1852, in one of the 11 observations of the NGC
2695/2708 field. He noted
"about 20' sf [of NGC 2695] are 2 B, S neb, about 5' asunder." At the position of these two nebulae is
NGC 2698 (discovered earlier by JH) and NGC 2699. Heinrich d'Arrest found NGC 2699 on 4 Jan 1862 and his
position (measured on 3 nights) matches
******************************
NGC 2700
08 55 50.6 -03
06 59
17.5"
(2/13/88): this is a mag 14.5-15.0 star situated just 0.9' NE of the center of
NGC 2699 (see observation).
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2700 around 1876 (communicated directly to Dreyer), along with
******************************
08 59 05.4 +53
46 13
V = 12.3; Size 2.2'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 23d
13.1"
(2/23/85): fairly faint, almost even surface brightness. A mag 12 star on the northwest edge
interferes with viewing the halo.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2701 = H IV-66 = h537 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and recorded
"a small star with a fan-shaped nebula. The star is on the preceding side
of the diverging chevelure, and seems to be connected with it." His position (Auwers' reduction) is 4'
S of
******************************
NGC 2702
08 55 54.6 -03
03 55
=*?,
Corwin. Misidentified in the RNGC
with 2MASX J08553714-0303149.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2702 around 1876, along with NGC 2700/2703/2705/2707. All of these numbers probably apply to
faint stars he found while observing the NGC 2695-2698 Group! He placed this object 4' NE of NGC 2699
and a mag ~15.5 star is at this position.
Interestingly, Dreyer, observing with the 72" on 4 Mar 1877,
described this nova as "an eF, vS, neb nf GC 1727 [NGC 2699] in PA 18.0°
and dist. 238.8". But this
offset points exactly to the mag 15.5 star.
RNGC and PGC (as
well as other sources based on these catalogues such as Megastar) misidentify
******************************
08 55 47.1 -03
18 25
=**,
Corwin. NF, Carlson.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2703 around 1876 in the N2695/2698 group and described (in the
NGC) as "eF,lE,doubtful".
There is no nebula near his position, but 2' SW is a double star. Dreyer looked for Tempel's "nova"
on 4 Mar 1877 at Birr Castle and reported "looked carefully for a nova
Tempel [NGC 2703] between [[NGC 2698] and [NGC 2708], saw none, only about
midways vF double star, which I first mistook for a nebula." Ironicallly, this probably was Tempel's
"nova"! Karl Reinmuth,
in his 1926 photographic survey "Die Herschel-Nebel" also found a
"? Neb *14, *14.5 sp vnr."
Harold Corwin also identifies this double star as NGC 2703.
******************************
NGC 2704 = IC
2424 = UGC 4678 = MCG +07-19-005 = CGCG 209-009 = Holm 103a = PGC 25134
08 56 47.7 +39
22 56
V = 13.4; Size 1.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.3
24"
(2/16/15): fairly faint, moderately large, round, 0.9' diameter, broad weak
concentration.
17.5"
(3/20/93): faint, fairly small, round, broad mild concentration. UGC 4699 lies 24' ENE and NGC 2691 is
25' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2704 = H III-625 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and noted "vF,
vS. The same with 300
power." There is nothing at
his position, but 1.0 min of RA west and 2' north is
******************************
08 56 00.0 -03
00 54
=*?,
Corwin. NF, Carlson.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2705 around 1876, along with NGC 2700/2702/2703/2707 with the
11" refractor at the Arcetri observatory. All of these numbers probably apply to faint stars he found
while observing the NGC 2695-2698 Group!
There are no nebulae near his positions, but 1' south is a mag 16
star. Interestingly, Dreyer,
observing with the 72" on 7 Mar 1877, described this nova as "eF, eS,
is nf GC 1727 [NGC 2699] in PA 22.3° and dist. 440.4", it forms a
quadrilateral with 3 st 14m f and nf.
Other eF neb susp here."
Dreyer's offset and description points exactly to this faint star.
******************************
08 56 12.3 -02
33 48
V = 13.0; Size 1.8'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 167d
17.5"
(2/13/88): fairly faint, fairly small, edge-on 4:1 NNW-SSE, 1.0'x0.25'. A mag 12 star is close following the
SSE tip 1.3' from center.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2706 = Sw III-42 on 27 Feb 1886 and wrote, "vF; pS; vE; *
nr following." His position
and description matches
******************************
08 56 05.5 -03
04 00
V = 13.1
=*?,
Corwin. NF, Carlson.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2707 around 1876, along with NGC 2700/2702/2703/2705 with the
11" refractor at the Arcetri observatory. All of these numbers probably apply to faint stars he found
while observing the NGC 2695-2698 Group! A mag 15 star (GSC 4869-855) is close to the NGC
position at 08 56 05.5 -03 04 00 (J2000), though this identification is
uncertain.
******************************
NGC 2708 = NGC
2727 = MCG +00-23-015 = CGCG 005-034 = PGC 25097
08 56 07.9 -03
21 37
V = 12.0; Size 2.6'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 20d
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 SSW-NNE, bright
core. A mag 13.5 star is 0.9' NE
of center. Forms a pair with NGC
2709 7.1' NNE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2708 = H II-281 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 353) and noted "vF,
vS, irr F." His position is
less than 2' south of
******************************
08 56 12.8 -03
14 36
V = 13.7; Size 0.8'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 90d
17.5"
(2/13/88): very faint, very small, round, even surface brightness. Forms a pair with NGC 2708 7.1' SSW.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2709 on 27 Jan 1852 with LdR's 72" and the sketch shows it
11' SE of NGC 2699 (the actual separation is 9'). On 7 Mar 1877, Dreyer made a more detailed micrometric
observation, noting "vF, pL, lE sp nf, north of [NGC 2708]. Pos 9.5°, Dist 434.4"."
******************************
08 59 48.4 +55
42 23
V = 12.9; Size 2.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 125d
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE. A mag 14 star is at the NE edge 1.0'
from center. A bright wide pair
mag 10.5/11 at 37" separation lies 4' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2710 = H III-841 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and called it
"vF, S." His position
(CH's reduction) is 1' south of
******************************
08 57 23.6 +17
17 17
V = 13.6; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 170d
17.5"
(1/28/89): very faint, very small, round.
Located between a mag 12 star 1.5' SSW and a mag 11.5 star 1.1' NNE of
center.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2711 = m 134 on 28 Mar 1864 and noted "vF, S, R." His position matches
******************************
08 59 30.5 +44
54 50
V = 12.1; Size 2.9'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 178d
13.1"
(2/23/85): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 N-S, weak concentration, faint
stellar nucleus.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2712 = h540 on 19 Mar 1828 and remarked "pB; L; E; vgbM; 2'
l; 1.5' br' with attention a central point is seen = a * 18m." His position
matches
******************************
08 57 20.4 +02
55 14
V = 11.8; Size 3.6'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 107d
13.1"
(1/18/85): moderately bright, elongated 3:2 WNW-ESE, fairly small, large
brighter core. Forms a pair with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2713 = m 135, along with NGC 2716, on 3 Mar 1864 and logged
"pB, iR, mbM." Heinrich
d'Arrest independently discovered the pair on 15 Mar 1866. He noted a mag 10 star (SAO 117289)
preceded by 18 sec of time and 46" south and measured an accurate position
(2 nights).
******************************
08 53 29.8 -59
13 02
V = 12.9; Size 1.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.1
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly bright, moderately large,
round, 1' diameter, moderate even concentration to the center, symmetric
appearance. Set in a rich Carina
star field 27' W of mag 4.9
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2714 = h3143 on 4 Feb 1835 and recorded "eF; S; R; pslbM;
difficult, but certain." His
position matches
******************************
09 08 06.4 +78
05 07
V = 11.2; Size 4.9'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 22d
17.5"
(2/1/92): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 4'x2', broad
weak concentration, fairly low but irregular surface brightness. The major axis is collinear with a mag
11 star 4.0' SSW of center.
Alphonse
Borrelly discovered NGC 2715 around 1871 with a 7.2-inch comet-seeker at
Marseille Observatory. He noted "pretty bright, 3' in extent, elliptic; no
nucleus." and his micrometric position (MNRAS, 32, 248) matches
******************************
NGC 2716 = UGC
4692 = MCG +01-23-007 = CGCG 033-029 = Holm 104a = PGC 25172
08 57 35.9 +03
05 25
V = 11.8; Size 1.3'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.0; PA = 30d
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly faint, small, round, brighter core. A mag 12 star lies 1.4' ESE of center. Forms a pair with NGC 2713 11' SSW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2716 = m 136, along with NGC 2713 on 3 Mar 1864 and recorded
"F, S, R, mbM." Heinrich
d'Arrest independently found the pair on 15 Mar 1866 and both measured accurate
positions.
******************************
08 57 01.1 -24
40 26
V = 12.3; Size 2.1'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 10d
17.5"
(3/25/95): moderately bright, fairly small, 50" diameter, oval SSW-NNE,
high surface brightness. Contains
a prominent 30" bright core and a stellar nucleus. Difficult to judge extent of outer halo
as gradually fades into background.
A mag 11 star lies 2.1' ENE of center. Located 13' NW of mag 7.1
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2717 = h3144 on 20 Mar 1835 and noted "F, S, R, gpmbM,
20"." His mean position (two observations) matches
******************************
08 58 50.4 +06
17 35
V = 11.8; Size 2.1'x2.1'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(3/29/89): fairly faint, moderately large, oval NW-SE, bright core, stellar
nucleus. Surrounded by three mag
14.5 stars 1.6' ENE, 1.4' N and 1.9' W of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2718 = H II-557 = h542 on 24 Mar 1786 (sweep 543) and recorded
"F, mE, unequally bright, 3' long, 1' broad." JH gave a very rough NPD and noted
"F; pL; R." In the
GC, included h542 and his father's H II-557 as separate entries with the
comment "The descriptions are irreconcileable, and they must be two
distinct nebulae..." But,
Dreyer "looked carefully for other neb near it, found none." on 18
Mar 1876 with the 72" and combined the two GC entries into NGC 2718.
******************************
09 00 15.7 +35
43 39
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'x0.3'; Surf Br = 11.9; PA = 133d
17.5"
(3/20/93): faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 NW-SE. Forms a double system with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2719 = H III-540 = h541 on 28 Mar 1786 (sweep 549) and recorde
"vF, S, lE, seems to contain 2 vF stars." His position is 11 sec of RA too far west, but the
description is accurate. On a
second sweep he apparently added "E 20 degrees np-sf." and this
implies the south-following star is certainly NGC 2719A.
******************************
08 59 08.0 +11
08 57
V = 12.8; Size 1.2'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.0
17.5"
(3/29/89): faint, very small, slightly elongated ~NW-SE, very small bright
core.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2720 = m 137 on 10 Mar 1864 and noted "F, S, R,
bM." His position matches UGC
4710. Wilhelm Tempel also measured
the position in list I-23 and noted it was certainly equivalent to Marth's
nebula.
******************************
08 58 56.5 -04
54 07
V = 11.7; Size 2.6'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 160d
17.5"
(2/13/88): moderately bright, fairly small, irregularly round, large brighter
core. Located 15' E of mag 6.6 SAO
136450. The RNGC declination is
18' too far north.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2721 = H II-529 = h543 on 1 Feb 1786 (sweep 520) and simply
noted "F, S". His
position is 10 sec of RA west of
The RNGC
declination is off by 18' too far north.
This mistake was noticed while using the Uranometria 2000 Atlas to star
hop to this galaxy and later was verified on the DSS. Coincidentally, the MCG declination is also 9' too far N
(all the M-01-23-XXX galaxies must be shifted 9' south). I included this error in RNGC
Corrections #3 (on the NGC/IC Project site).
******************************
08 58 46.1 -03
42 37
V = 12.6; Size 1.9'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 90d
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, 1.2'x0.8',
brighter along major axis, fairly weak even concentration down to a brighter
core, no well-defined nucleus. A
mag 12 star lies 2.0' WNW. The NGC
position is 10' too far east.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2722 = H III-264 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 353) and noted as
"eF, stellar, 240 verified it. I should have overlooked it, but in gaging
the field perceived it." His
position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) is 36 sec of RA east of MCG
-01-23-014. An accurate position was measured on 1 Feb 1786 (sweep 520). The RNGC position is 0.7 min of RA too
far east. MCG does not label this
galaxy NGC 2722.
See
******************************
09 00 14.3 +03
10 40
V = 13.2; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.9
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, small, round, 20" diameter, very small bright
core, stellar nucleus. A mag 13
star just 0.6' ENE of center is brighter than the core. Also an extremely faint 15th mag star
is just off the NW edge 20" from center.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2723 = m 138 on 3 Mar 1864 with Lassell's 48" and noted
"F, S, R." His position
is 1.6' NE of
******************************
NGC 2724 = UGC
4726 = MCG +06-20-019 = CGCG 180-027 = PGC 25331
09 01 01.8 +35
45 45
V = 13.6; Size 1.8'x1.6'; Surf Br = 14.6; PA = 2d
17.5"
(3/20/93): very faint, moderately large, round, low even surface brightness. Located 2.8' NE of a mag 10 star which
detracts from viewing. At the edge
of the 220x field is mag 7.7
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2724 = h544 on 7 Feb 1832 and noted "eF; S; R." There is nothing at his position, but
0.9 min of RA west and 1' north is
******************************
09 01 03.2 +11
05 51
V = 13.4; Size 0.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.3
17.5"
(3/29/89): faint, small, round, weak concentration. A mag 11 star is 2.5' N of center. Forms a pair with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2725 = m 139 on 10 Mar 1864 (along with NGC 2728) and noted
"F, pL". Marth's
position is at the south edge of
******************************
09 04 56.8 +59
55 58
V = 12.5; Size 1.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.2; PA = 87d
17.5"
(4/5/97): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:1 E-W, 1.2'x0.4', bright
bulging core. A mag 15 star is
just south of the core [23" SSW of center].
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2726 = H II-834 = h545 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and recorded
"pF, pS, iF, easily resolvable." His position is 3' NE of
******************************
08 56 07.9 -03
21 37
See observing
notes for NGC 2708.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2727 = h546 on 12 Mar 1826 and recorded "vF; L; R;
bM." There is nothing at his
position and Bigourdan was unable to find h546. Harold Corwin comments that is JH made a 5 min error in RA
too far east, then NGC 2727 would be a duplicate observation of NGC 2708. His description for h546 is
"round", while NGC 2708 is very elongated, so this identification is
very uncertain, but NGC 2733 = h547 discovered next in the same sweep also has
a large error in RA, making the identification more likely. RNGC classifies NGC 2727 as nonexistent
(Type 7).
******************************
NGC 2728 = UGC
4738 = MCG +02-23-020 = CGCG 061-042 = PGC 25360
09 01 40.9 +11
04 58
V = 13.6; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 60d
17.5"
(3/29/89): very faint, fairly small, round, very small bright core, low surface
brightness. Located along the
south side of a very thin triangle formed by three mag 11-12 stars including a
mag 12 star 2' W and pair of mag 11 stars 2' NE. Located 10' E of NGC 2725.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2728 = m 140 on 10 Mar 1864 (along with NGC 2725) and noted
"vF, L, R, bM".
His position matches
******************************
09 01 28.6 +03
43 14
V = 13.4; Size 0.8'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 0d
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, very small, round, initially appeared elongated E-W due to a
mag 15 star attached at the east end which is not cleanly resolved (16"
ESE of center). Faint halo
30" diameter is weakly concentrated, very small brighter core. A pleasing bright double star mag
9.9/11 at 24" lies 3' S.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2729 = m 141 on 3 Mar 1864 and noted "vF, vS, R". His position is 6 sec of RA west
of
******************************
09 02 15.8 +16
50 18
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 80d
17.5"
(1/28/89): faint, moderately large, almost round, low surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is just off the south
edge 0.7' from center. Two mag
12.5 stars lie 2.0' SSE and 2.5' S.
Forms a wide pair with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2730 = m 142 on 28 Mar 1864 and noted "vF, L, R." His position is 1.8' due north of UGC
4743 of U04743 = PGC 25384.
******************************
09 02 08.4 +08
18 05
V = 13.5; Size 0.8'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 70d
17.5"
(3/29/89): faint, very small, oval WSW-ENE, 0.6'x0.4'. Has an unusual appearance as a mag 13
star is nearly attached at the ENE edge 0.4' from center.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2731 = m 143 on 3 Mar 1864 and noted "F, vS, R." His position is 1.3' NW of
******************************
09 13 24.8 +79
11 14
V = 11.9; Size 2.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 67d
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly bright, small, elongated 5:2 SW-NE, 1.6'x0.7, small bright
core, stellar nucleus. A mag 12
star is at the NE tip 0.8' from center.
Forms a pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2732 = h539 on 2 Sep 1828 and recorded "pB; S; E from nf to
sp. Has a star nf." There is nothing at his position
(marked as uncertain), but ~3 min of RA east is
******************************
NGC 2733 = NGC
2722 = MCG -01-23-014 = PGC 25221
08 58 46.1 -03
42 37
See observing
notes for NGC 2722.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2733 = h547 on 12 Mar 1826 and noted "eF; R. RA between 52m 31s and 54m
41s." There is nothing at his
position, but he gave a wide range for the RA, and Harold Corwin notes that 2.8
min of RA west is NGC 2722. So,
this identification is reasonable.
NGC 2727, the previous object JH found in the sweep, may also have a
large error in RA too far east.
RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent. See Harold Corwin's identification notes for more.
******************************
NGC 2734 = PGC
25413
09 03 01.6 +16
51 48
Size 0.5'x0.4'
17.5"
(1/28/89): extremely faint and small, round, just non-stellar. Three mag 14/15 stars are on a line
about 2' NW. Located 12' E of NGC
2730.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2734 = m 144 on 28 Mar 1864 and noted "eF, vS,
R." His position is 2' north
of
******************************
09 02 38.7 +25
56 05
V = 13.3; Size 1.2'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 94d
24"
(3/22/14): moderately bright and large, very elongated 3:1 E-W, 0.9'x0.3',
contains a bright elongated core.
Forms a close pair (
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 E-W. There are four bright stars to the south. Three of these stars oriented WSW-ENE
form a shallow arc; mag 10 star 1.6' S, mag 9.1
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2735 = St IX-18 on 26 Feb 1878 using the 31" reflector at
the Marseille Observatory and recorded as "small star enveloped in a vF,
vS neby, lE E-W." His
position is exactly 1.0 tmin of RA east of
******************************
09 00 17 -45 56
54
Size
30'x7'; PA = 20d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): Herschel's Ray was a striking,
bright filament at 130x and a UHC or OIII filter, extending SSW-NNE for at
least 20' in length. Herschel's
Ray is brightest along a 5' stretch at the NNE end as it passes to the west of
mag 8.3
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): Herschel's Ray was easily picked up at 105x using a UHC
filter. It extended well over 1/2
of the 38' field, at least 20'x2', oriented SSW-NNE. This prominent Vela Supernova filament is brightest towards
the NNE end near a mag 8.3 star which is just following the NNE edge. It appears like a thin splinter of
light through the field with a weak filamentary structure and variations in
brightness, similar to one of the fainter filaments in the Veil nebula. Several stars are very close to the
edge including a mag 11 star near the middle. I was impressed the appearance was very comparable to the
view I had through the 18-inch in Australia.
18" (7/7/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this is an isolated bright eastern filament
in the Vela Supernova remnant which is centered over 4° to the west. At 128x and UHC filter (38 arcmin
field), it appears as a fairly faint, thin, nebulous streak extending SSW-NNE
over half the field, ~20'x1'! The
surface brightness is roughly uniform, though the northern portion is brighter
near a mag 8.3 star off the NE end.
The nebulosity continues past this star and ends with a mag 9.5 star due
east of the NNE tip. On the SSW
end the nebulosity gradually dims out.
A few mag 11 stars border the filament, one just off the west edge near
the center and a couple further south.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2736 = h3145 on 1 Mar 1835 and recorded "eeF, L, vvmE; an
extraordinary long narrow ray of excessively feeble light; position 19
deg±. At least 20' long, extending
much beyond the limits of the field...". It was sketched in Plate V, figure 12. His position and sketch agrees
perfectly with
Joseph Turner
also sketched NGC 2736 in Jan. 1876 using the Great Melbourne Telescope (see
http://www.docdb.net/history/texts/1885osngmt________e/lithograph_m_4_34.php). In Jan 1885, Barachi commented,
"Extremely faint, a long streak across the field, straight, very narrow,
with a peculiar group of stars in the n.f. quadrant, forming almost a
semicircle, of which the north portion of the streak is the diameter. Streak
spreads out at its s.p. end, and becomes a large irregular-shaped whitishness,
without distinct contour, which the eye cannot see except by moving the
telescope up and down, and only when the back ground is perfectly black and
free from haze; even then it requires a little time before it can be
seen."
RNGC and NGC
2000.0 misclassify this filament
as a galaxy and I mentioned this error in RNGC Corrections #5. The first reported connection of NGC
2736 with the Vela SNR was in 2000:
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/ApJ/journal/issues/ApJL/v543n2/005648/005648.html,
two years after the discovery of the SNR itself in 1998. Estimated age of the supernova is
9-11,000 years.
******************************
09 03 59.7 +21
54 23
V = 14.1; Size 0.9'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 61d
17.5"
(1/28/89): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated WSW-ENE, small bright
core. Forms a close pair with NGC
2738 3.7' N.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2737, along with
******************************
NGC 2738 = UGC
4752 = VV 481 = MCG +04-22-006 = CGCG 121-010 = PGC 25454
09 04 00.5 +21
58 04
V = 13.0; Size 1.4'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 55d
17.5"
(1/28/89): fairly faint, small, elongated SW-NE, small bright core. Forms a close pair with NGC 2737 3.7'
S.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2738, along with NGC 2737, on 23 Feb 1863. His micrometric position (measured on 3
nights) matches
******************************
09 06 02.8 +51
44 41
V = 14.8; Size 0.8'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 95d
17.5"
(4/5/97): very faint, small, round, 20" diameter. Forms a close double system with NGC
2740 40" SE. This galaxy is
the smaller of the pair but is slightly more noticeable due to a small brighter
core and stellar nucleus with direct vision. A mag 12 star lies 51" NNE of center.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2739 on 18 Feb 1855 while observing h549 = NGC 2740 with Lord
Rosse's 72". He noted a
"Double nebula, vF, south one the larger, both S, R." A sketch clearly shows both galaxies as
well as two nearby stars (JH logged "four small stars with a strong
suspicion of nebula among them").
******************************
09 06 05.0 +51
44 07
V = 14.0; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(4/5/97): very faint, small, round, 30" diameter. A mag 14 star is 35" SE of
center. Forms a double system with
NGC 2739 40" NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2740 = h549 on 17 Feb 1831 and recorded "four small stars
with a strong suspician of nebula among them." This observation probably refers to both NGC 2739 and NGC
2740 (one or two of Herschel's "stars" are probably the nuclei or
cores of these galaxies), but LdR is credited with the discovery of one of the
galaxies (NGC 2740) in the GC and NGC. His position is 1.3' north of CGCG
264-060 = PGC 25531, and falls very close to a nearby star.
******************************
09 03 16.5 +18
15 40
Size
0.5'x0.2'; PA = 80d
17.5"
(4/6/02): very faint, small, slightly elongated 0.5'x0.3', ver weak
concentration. Located 3' N of a
mag 10 star. A mag 13 star follows
by 1'. This galaxy is the
westernmost in the
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2741 = m145 on 28 Mar 1864 and simply noted "vF". There is nothing at his position and
Bigourdan, Carlson and RNGC all concluded this object doesn't exist. But Harold Corwin notes that 1.0 min of
RA west of Marth's position (and matching in declination) is
******************************
09 07 33.2 +60
28 46
V = 11.4; Size 3.0'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 87d
13.1"
(12/22/84): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated ~E-W, even moderate
surface brightness. Located 4.6'
SE of mag 7.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2742 = H I-249 = h550 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and described
"a considerably bright extended nebula about 4' long and 2' broad; it is
easily resolvable, and I suppose with a higher power and longer attention the
stars would become visible. It is
brighter about the middle."
His position is 2.3' northeast of the center of
******************************
09 04 54.3 +25
00 14
V = 13.7; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 105d
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, moderately large, slightly elongated WNW-ESE,
1.0'x0.8', low surface brightness halo, sharp concentration with prominent
15" core and stellar nucleus.
Forms the east vertex of an isosceles triangle with a mag 10.5 star 4.1'
NW, a mag 12 star 4.1' WSW and mag 9.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2743 = H III-608 on 22 Feb 1787 (sweep 703) and noted "eF,
S, R, vlbM." His position
(Auwers' reduction) is within 1' of
******************************
NGC 2744 = UGC
4757 = MCG +03-23-031 = CGCG 090-065 = VV 612 = LGG 166-001 = PGC 25480
09 04 39.1 +18
27 53
V = 13.5; Size 1.7'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 120d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, fairly small.
Elongated 4:3 ~WNW-ESE, although the appearance is asymmetric with an
irregular outline and faint extensions visible with averted vision only. Weak concentration to an ill-defined
core. A mag 13.5-14 star is at the
east edge, 53" from center.
Located 13' NW of
The DSS image
reveals a distorted, (possibly) interacting system with a very faint tidal
plume to the north.
13"
(12/22/84): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, diffuse, low even
surface brightness. A mag 14 star
is just 0.9' E of center. NGC 2749
lies 14' SE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2744 = H III-60 = h551 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 181) and noted
"vF, S, r. I saw it better
with 240 than 157, very near it is a small star." His position is 8 sec of RA east and 1'
north of
JH made two
observations and noted "vF; R; is south of a coarse double
star." R.J. Mitchell,
observing with LdR's 72" on 9 Feb 1855, recorded "Neb is vlbM,
perhaps lE np sf. It is closely
followed by a small star; a few minutes north are 4 stars."
******************************
NGC 2745 = CGCG
090-064 = PGC 25478
09 04 39.3 +18
15 26
V = 14.6; Size 0.4'x0.2'; PA = 0d
17.5"
(4/6/02): extremely faint and small, round, 15" diameter. A similar (in brightness) mag 15 star
lies ~30" S and initially drew my attention. Located 4.3' ESE of mag 9.2
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2745 = m 146 on 28 Mar 1864 and noted "eF, vS,
stellar." His position
matches
******************************
09 05 59.5 +35
22 38
V = 13.1; Size 1.6'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.9
17.5"
(4/5/97): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, very weak even
concentration to a slightly brighter core. A mag 12 star is close north [52" from center].
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2746 = H III-825 = h552 on 10 Mar 1790 (sweep 938) and recorded
"vF, S, R, bM, south of a small star." His position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) matches UGC
4770.
******************************
09 05 18.3 +18
26 32
V = 14.5; Size 0.4'x0.2'; PA = 170d
17.5"
(4/6/02): very faint, small, round, 0.4' diameter. Low, even surface brightness and even with concentration
could not hold steadily. Collinear
with a trio of mag 11 stars which trail to the east. Just beyond the south-eastern star in the chain lies NGC
2752 8.5' SE. Located 8' N of NGC
2749 in a small group of a half-dozen galaxies.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2747 = m 147 on 29 Mar 1865 and recorded "vF, vS,
stellar." His position
matches
******************************
09 13 42.9 +76
28 33
V = 11.7; Size 3.0'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 38d
17.5"
(4/6/91): moderately bright, fairly small, very elongated 3.0'x1.0' SW-NE,
broad concentration but no nucleus.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2748 = h548 on 2 Sep 1828 and recorded "pB; pL; E; vglbM;
90" l; 40" br." The
position is marked as approximate, but is less than 2' northwest of the center
of
******************************
NGC 2749 = UGC
4763 = MCG +03-23-036 = CGCG 090-069 = LGG 166-005 = PGC 25508
09 05 21.4 +18
18 49
V = 11.8; Size 1.7'x1.4'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 69d
17.5"
(4/6/02): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 0.9'x0.7',
small bright core. Brightest in a
group with NGC 2741 30' W, NGC 2744 13' NW, NGC 2745 10' WSW,
13"
(12/22/84): fairly faint, small, almost round, bright core, small faint
nucleus. Brightest in a group with
NGC 2751 4' SE and NGC 2752 5' NE.
Also NGC 2744 lies 14' NW.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2749 on 5 Mar 1862 with the 11" refractor at
Copenhagen observatory. His
position (measured on 6 nights!) matches
******************************
09 05 48.0 +25
26 13
V = 11.9; Size 2.2'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.3
24"
(3/22/14): fairly faint to moderately bright, moderately large, strong
concentration with a very small bright core and quasi-stellar nucleus, fairly
large slightly elongated halo 1.2'x1.0'.
A very faint, elongated brightening was visible at the west edge. This object is catalogued as
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter. Moderately concentrated to a small
bright core and a stellar nucleus.
Forms the NE vertex of a right triangle with mag 9.7
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, fairly small, round, even concentration to a small
bright core, halo gradually fades into background. Located 3.9' NE of mag 9.3 SAO 80618.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2750 = H III-291 on 11 Mar 1785 (sweep 384) and remarked
"vF, pL, R, bM." Auwer's reduction placed this object 1° too far
north, but this error was caught by JH, when he compiled the GC. Heinrich d'Arrest independently
discovered the nebula and measured an accurate position.
******************************
NGC 2751 = MCG
+03-23-037 = CGCG 090-071 = PGC 25517
09 05 32.4 +18
15 44
V = 14.2; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 141d
17.5"
(4/6/02): very faint, very small, round, 20" diameter (viewed core
only). Located 40" S of a mag
13 star and 4' SE of NGC 2749 in a group of a half-dozen galaxies. Brighter NGC 2752 lies 5' NE.
13"
(12/22/84): extremely faint, small, almost round. In a group with brightest member NGC 2749 4.0' NW, also NGC
2752 lies 5.7' NNE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2751 = m 148, along with NGC 2752, on 28 Mar 1864 and noted
"eF, eS, stellar." His
position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2752 = UGC
4772 = MCG +03-23-038 = CGCG 090-072 = PGC 25523
09 05 43.0 +18
20 23
V = 13.7; Size 1.9'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 58d
17.5"
(4/6/02): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 SW-NE, 0.8'x0.3', low surface
brightness with no noticeable central brightening. A mag 11 star is 1.0' NW and a close double star (brighter
component is 10.5 mag) with a wider third component is 1.9' NE. Located 5.3' ENE of NGC 2749 at the
eastern end of a group of 6 galaxies.
13"
(12/22/84): extremely faint, small.
Three stars are close NE including a fairly bright mag 10/13 double at
20" separation located 2' NE and a mag 10.5 star lies 1.0' NW. Located at the east edge of a galaxy
group and 5.3' ENE of NGC 2749.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2752 = m 149, along with NGC 2751, on 28 Mar 1864 and remarked
"pF, pL, vmE, gbM." His
position matches
******************************
09 07 08.3 +25
20 32
V = 14.4; Size 0.5'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 15d
17.5"
(4/6/02): faint, small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, 0.5'x0.4', weak
concentration. A mag 13.5 star is
1.0' NW. NGC 2750 lies 19' WNW.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2753 on 21 Feb 1863 with the 11-inch Merz-refractor at
the Copenhagen observatory. There
is nothing at his position (#87 in AN 1500), though he noted a mag 13-14 star
was 40" northwest. Exactly 1
min of time east of his position is
******************************
09 05 11.2 -19
05 05
V = 14.2; Size 0.8'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 130d
17.5"
(2/8/97): very faint, small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, low even surface
brightness. Faintest of three in
field and located 5.3' SW of
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2754 = LM II-408 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory and noted as "mag 15.0, 0.4' dia, R; 1st of 3 [with
******************************
09 07 58.3 +41
42 32
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 130d
17.5"
(4/5/97): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.8'. Even surface brightness with no
discernable core. Collinear with a
nice well-matched double 12' ENE [mag 11-12 stars at 21" separation].
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2755 = H III-626 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and recorded
"vF, S, iF, lbM, resolvable."
CH's reduced position is within 1' of
******************************
09 09 01.1 +53
50 58
V = 12.4; Size 1.7'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 0d
17.5"
(2/9/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated nearly 2:1 N-S, 1.0'x0.6'. Contains a brighter, roundish
core. There is an extremely faint
clump of stars (triple on the DSS) about 1' SW which was near the limit of
visibility and appeared nebulous.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2756 = H II-828 = h553 on 18 Mar 1790 (sweep 949) and noted
"pB, S, vgmbM." His
position (Auwers' reduction) is 1.5' south of
******************************
NGC 2757
09 05 25.7 -19
02 52
17.5"
(2/8/97): this is a faint, close triple star (components mag 15) located 1.3' W
of NGC 2758. In my observation of
NGC 2758, this triple appeared nebulous and I sketched it as a probably
nonstellar companion (slightly elongated with a nearly stellar core)! Howe identifies a wider pair close NW
as NGC 2757.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2757 = LM II-409 in 1886 with the 26" and recorded
"mag 15.0, 2nd of 3 [with NGC 2754 and 2758]; *?". His position is just 0.1 min of RA west
of NGC 2758. There is no galaxy
near this off and Herbert Howe, observing with the 20" refractor at
Chamberlin Observatory in Denver, found only an extremely faint double star,
dist 12". Harold Corwin
proposes a closer triple star (Muller would have easily resolved the coarser double)
at 09 05 25.7 -19 02 52. I also
thought this triple was a nonstellar object in my observation of NGC 2758! See Corwin's identifications notes for
more.
******************************
NGC 2758 = ESO
564-020 = MCG -03-23-019 = PGC 25515
09 05 31.2 -19
02 33
V = 13.2; Size 1.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 19d
17.5"
(2/8/97): very faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 0.8'x0.4', weak
concentration (viewed core only).
A very close trio of mag 15 stars is 1.3' W. This triple is probably NGC 2757, and I mistakenly took it
for a small nebulous object also. Situated between two mag 13 stars 2' N and 3'
S. Second brightest of three in field with NGC 2754 5.3' SW. On 3/25/95, I
picked up brighter IC 2437 10' N but missed the pair of NGC galaxies.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2758 = LM II-410 in 1886 and recorded "mag 15.2, 0.5'x0.4',
E 180° [N-S], 3d of 3 [with NGC 2754 and 2757]. His position is just 9 sec of RA east of
******************************
09 08 37.3 +37
37 17
V = 13.0; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 50d
17.5"
(4/5/97): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, moderately high
surface brightness, broad concentration.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2759 = H III-647 = h554 on 20 Mar 1787 (sweep 721) and noted
"vF, vS, verified 300 power."
His position (CH's reduction) is less than 2' northeast of
******************************
09 15 42 +76 23
=Not found,
Gottlieb. =Not found, RNGC.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2760 = Sw VI-34 on 26 Mar 1887. There is nothing at his position and Bigourdan came up empty
. His description mentions "nearly between an 8 and 9 mag star".
About 10' NW of his position is a wide pair of mag 13.6/15.5 stars at 35"
separation which are at the midpoint of two mag 9/10 stars matching Swift's
description - but the pair seems too wide to be confused as nebulous.
Harold Corwin
suggests
******************************
09 07 30.9 +18
26 04
V = 13.9; Size 0.6'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.2
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, small, round, 0.5' diameter, weak even concentration but no
distinct nucleus. Forms the vertex
of an obtuse angle with two mag 13 stars 2.3' WNW and 1.9' S. Located at the east end of a group
including NGC 2744, NGC 2745, NGC 2747, NGC 2749, NGC 2751 and NGC 2752 viewed
previously with the 13".
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2761 = m 150 on 29 Mar 1865 and simply noted as "vF,
S". Marth's position matches
******************************
NGC 2762 = MCG
+08-17-045 = CGCG 264-072 = PGC 25828
09 09 54.5 +50
25 06
V = 15.1; Size 0.5'x0.35'; PA = 0d
18"
(2/14/10): at 280x this difficult galaxy appeared extremely faint, very small,
possibly elongated though too faint to determine an orientation, 20"
diameter. Required averted and
concentration to just briefly glimpse (repeated a few times) this object 2.9'
WNW of
17.5"
(4/5/97): not found but I appeared to be observing partially in a tree and 5
hrs past the meridian! Located
2.9' NW of NGC 2767.
Bindon Stoney
discovered NGC 2762 on 26 Feb 1851 with LdR's 72" and noted as 3' NW of
Gamma [NGC 2767] on the sketch.
The sketch is accurate enough to clearly identify NGC 2767, 2769, 2771
(all discovered by JH), as well as NGC 2762 = MCG +08-17-045. The first edition of the Deep Sky Field
Guide lists V = 16.9 and the second edition lists V = 14.0 (should refer to NGC
2767). The SDSS derived mag is V =
15.1.
******************************
09 06 49.1 -15
30 00
V = 12.0; Size 2.3'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 120d
17.5"
(3/28/87): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, weak
concentration, diffuse outer halo.
A mag 12.5 star is close off the north edge 1.2' from the center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2763 = H III-275 = h560 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 371) and reported
"vF, vS, bM, about 1/2' south of a small star." His position is 3' north of MCG
-02-23-010 = PGC 25570. JH called
this galaxy "eF; pL; has a small star just north, and four more
preceding." His position and
description is accurate.
******************************
09 08 17.5 +21
26 37
V = 12.9; Size 1.5'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 15d
17.5" (1/28/89):
fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 ~N-S, weak concentration. Located between a mag 11.5 star 2.2' N
and a mag 10.5 star 2.3' SSE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2764 = H III-236 = h557 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and logged
"eF, lE, between 2 pretty bright stars, verified with 240
power." His position is just
off the southwest edge of
******************************
09 07 36.6 +03
23 34
V = 12.1; Size 2.1'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 107d
17.5"
(2/1/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, gradually brighter
core but no sharp nucleus.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2765 = H II-520 = h558 on 27 Jan 1786 (sweep 512) and recorded
"vF, mE, easily resolvable.
May be a patch of stars; the weather being too hazy to observe it
well." His position (Auwers'
reduction) is 1.7' north of
******************************
09 08 47.6 +29
51 53
V = 13.6; Size 1.3'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 132d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.4', slightly
brighter roundish core. A wide
pair of mag 13 stars follows (closer one is 1.6' E of center). Located 16' NE of mag 5.4 Tau Cancri.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2766 = St XIII-44 on 22 Mar 1884. His position matches
******************************
NGC 2767 = UGC
4813 = MCG +08-17-048 = CGCG 264-075 = PGC 25852
09 10 11.9 +50
24 05
V = 13.8; Size 0.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 11.6; PA = 0d
18"
(2/14/10): this galaxy forms the west vertex of a near equilateral triangle
with NGC 2769 3.8' NE and NGC 2771 4.6' ESE. At 280x it appeared moderately bright, fairly small, round,
0.6' diameter, well concentrated with a very small bright core. NGC 2762 lies 2.9' WNW.
17.5"
(4/5/97): first and smallest of trio with NGC 2769 and NGC 2771. Faint, very small, round, 15"
diameter, even surface brightness.
NGC 2762 3' NW not seen.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2767 = h556 on 8 Mar 1831 and recorded "eF; sbM to a * 15m;
the first of 3 [with NGC 2769 and NGC 2771]." His position is 6 sec of RA east of
******************************
NGC 2768 = UGC
4821 = MCG +10-13-065 = CGCG 288-026 = PGC 25915
09 11 37.6 +60
02 15
V = 9.9; Size 8.1'x4.3'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 95d
17.5"
(3/28/92): very bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 E-W, faint halo extends
to 3.0'x1.5' with averted. The
halo increases to a very bright core with a high surface brightness and a
stellar nucleus. Several bright
stars are in the field including two mag 10 stars 3.5' WNW and 4.7' N of
center.
8": fairly
bright, elongated, bright core.
Located 15' SE of a wide mag 8/9 pair.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2768 = H I-250 = h555 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and logged
"vB, cL, lE, large bright nucleus in the middle." His position (Caroline Herschel's
reduction) is on the eastern side of the halo of
******************************
NGC 2769 = UGC
4816 = MCG +08-17-050 = CGCG 264-076 = PGC 25870
09 10 32.2 +50
26 01
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 146d
18"
(2/14/10): at 280x, the northern member of a small group with NGC 2771, NGC
2767 and NGC 2762 appeared moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 5:2
NW-SE, 1.3'x0.5'. Gradually
increases to a bright core and small, brighter nucleus though there are no well
defined zones.
17.5"
(4/5/97): brightest of small trio with NGC 2771 3.4' SSE and NGC 2767 3.8'
SW. Fairly faint, fairly small,
elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.5', brighter core.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2769 = h559 on 7 Mar 1831 (along with NGC 2771) and noted
"not vF; lE; S; pslbM; 15"." The next night he added nearby NGC 2767. His mean position
from two sweeps is 8 sec of RA east of
******************************
09 09 33.6 +33
07 26
V = 12.2; Size 3.8'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 148d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint but surprisingly large, nearly edge-on 7:2 NW-SE,
3.0'x0.9', weak broad concentration.
Fairly low but uneven surface brightness with an impression of
mottling. A mag 12 star is 2' N
and a mag 13 star 1.7' NE of center.
NGC 2770 hosted
three Type 1b supernovae in a 10-year period: SN 1999eh, SN 2007uy and SN 2008D
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2770 = H II-490 = h562 on 7 Dec 1785 (sweep 487) and logged
"pF, pmE, resolvable, 3' long, 1.5' broad. South of 2 equals stars nearly
in the meridian, and about 2' from each other." His position matches UGC 4801.
Bindon Stoney,
observing on 20 Jan 1852 with LdR's 72", noted "F, L ray, 2 stars
nearly parallel to it on n f side; suspect a bright streak down the
middle." This galaxy has
hosted 3 Type Ib supernovae over a 10 year period: SN 1999eh, SN 2007uy and SN
2008D.
******************************
NGC 2771 = UGC
4817 = MCG +08-17-051 = CGCG 264-077 = PGC 25875
09 10 39.8 +50
22 47
V = 12.7; Size 2.2'x1.9'; Surf Br = 14.1
18"
(2/14/10): moderately bright, elonated 2:1 SW-NE, 1.2'x0.6' (this is the
brighter bar and I missed the lower surface brightness halo). Contains a well defined, small bright
nucleus. This galaxy is slightly
fainter than NGC 2769 3.4' NNW with a roughly perpendiclar orientation.
17.5"
(4/5/97): the largest member of a small trio with NGC 2767 4.6' WNW and NGC
2769 3.4' NNW appears faint, round, 1.5' diameter with a fairly low surface
brightness. Broad concentration
with a very faint stellar nucleus with direct vision. Located 13' SW of mag 6.6
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2771 = h561 on 7 Mar 1831 (along with NGC 2769) and logged
"vF; S; lE; 10"."
The next night he also recorded NGC 2767. His mean position (2 sweeps) is 8 sec of RA east and 1'
south of
******************************
09 07 41.9 -23
37 15
V = 13.4; Size 1.5'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 163d
17.5"
(2/8/97): fairly faint, moderately bright, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, broad
concentration with a bulging core and much fainter extensions. A mag 11.5 star lies 2.1' NNE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2772 = h3146 on 23 Jan 1835 and reported "eF, lE, lbM,
rather a doubtful object."
His position is 1.8' south of
******************************
09 09 44.2 +07
10 25
V = 14.0; Size 0.7'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 83d
17.5"
(3/29/89): very faint, very small, elongated E-W. Located just 1.2' W of a shallow arc of three stars mag
12.5/14/14 with 30" separation between the pairs.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2773 = m 151 and noted "vF, S, lE." His position matches
******************************
09 10 40.0 +18
41 47
V = 13.8; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, fairly small, appears elongated E-W but probably due to mag
15 star just off the west edge 24" from center, very weak
concentration. Collinear with a
mag 14 star 2.1' S and a mag 13.5 star 3.8' S.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2774 = H III-61 = h565 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 181) and recorded
"suspected a nebula with 157; 240 shewed 5 small stars with a little
seeming nebulosity, of which however I still have some doubts; most probably a
higher power would have shown them free from it." There is nothing at his position but JH
found the nebula (
******************************
NGC 2775 = UGC
4820 = MCG +01-24-005 = CGCG 034-006 = LGG 169-002 = PGC 25861
09 10 20.2 +07
02 16
V = 10.1; Size 4.3'x3.3'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 155d
17.5"
(3/29/89): bright, very large, elongated 4:3 NNW-SSE, small very bright core,
stellar nucleus, large faint halo.
Near the edge of the field is
13"
(2/23/85): bright, fairly large, elongated NNW-SSE, bright core, stellar
nucleus.
8": fairly
bright, bright core, elongated.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2775 = H I-2 = h564 on 19 Dec 1783 (internal discovery #16 in
sweep 57). His summary description
from 5 sweeps reads "cB, cL, R, vgbM, with nucleus." JH recorded "vB; R; psbM; 2' diam;
the hazy border perhaps extends further; resolvable??" Samuel Hunter, observing on LdR's
72" on 28 Mar 1861 also thought he could resolve this galaxy, reporting
"R, vgbM like a glob. Cl, I see stars plainly at times."
******************************
09 12 14.5 +44
57 19
V = 11.6; Size 3.0'x2.7'; Surf Br = 13.8
17.5"
(3/16/96): moderately bright, moderately large, 1.5' diameter, round. Fairly even concentration with a large
1' core increasing to a 20" nucleus.
A mag 11 star is 4' SSE.
Located 9' NE of mag 7.6
8": faint,
moderately large, 1.5' diameter, slightly elongated ~N-S, weak
concentration. Located 8' NE of
mag 7.5 SAO 42735.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2776 = h563 on 19 Mar 1828 and described "pB; vL; R; vgbM;
resolvable; 3' diam." His
position is accurate.
R.J. Mitchell,
observing with LdR's 72" on 16 Feb 1858, noted "pL, mottled and
suspect spiral.".
******************************
NGC 2777 = UGC
4823 = MCG +01-24-006 = CGCG 034-008 = LGG 169-003 = PGC 25876
09 10 41.8 +07
12 23
V = 13.3; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.4
17.5"
(3/29/89): faint, small, slightly elongated, small bright core, faint stellar
nucleus suspected. A mag 12 star
is 2.0' NNE. NGC 2775, a physical
companion, lies 11.4' SSW.
13"
(2/23/85): faint, small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, bright core, 11' NNE of
NGC 2775.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2777 = m 152 on 6 Mar 1864 and noted "F, S". His position matches
******************************
09 12 24.3 +35
01 39
V = 12.4; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 40d
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, small, irregularly round, very small bright core,
stellar nucleus with direct vision.
Forms a close pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2778 = H II-564 = h566 on 28 Mar 1786 (sweep 549) and noted
"pB, S, R, mbM." His
position is 6 sec of RA west of
******************************
NGC 2779 = MCG
+06-20-044 = CGCG 180-055 = Holm 112b = PGC 25958
09 12 28.2 +35
03 12
V = 14.6; Size 0.7'x0.7'
17.5"
(3/28/92): extremely faint, very small, round, can almost hold steadily with
averted. Forms a close pair with
NGC 2778 1.7' SSW. Faintest of
three including NGC 2780. A wide evenly matched mag 10 pair at 38"
separation is just 3.5' NE.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2779 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" and noted "a
third neb [with NGC 2778 and NGC 2780], eF, found." The sketch clearly shows the three
galaxies correctly positioned and a micrometric offset from NGC 2778 was
measured in 1867.
******************************
NGC 2780 = UGC
4843 = MCG +06-20-047 = CGCG 180-057 = PGC 25967
09 12 44.3 +34
55 32
V = 13.3; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 150d
17.5"
(3/28/92): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 ~E-W, even surface
brightness. A mag 12/13.5 double
star at 15" separation in PA 90° is 1.8' WNW. Appears slightly larger than NGC 2778 7.3' NNW but has an
lower surface brightness. This
galaxy is the second brightest of three with NGC 2778 and NGC 2779.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2780 = H III-826 = h567 on 10 Mar 1790 (sweep 938) and called
"vF, S, resolvable." His position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) is
2' south of
******************************
09 11 27.4 -14
49 01
V = 11.6; Size 3.0'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 75d
17.5"
(2/8/97): fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 E-W, 2.5'x1.4', sharp
concentration with a prominent 40"x20" core. A mag 13 star lies 2'
N. Located 8' NNE of mag 8.7 SAO
154982.
8": very
faint, small, 1.0' diameter, weak concentration. Located within a group of stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2781 = H I-66 = h569 = h3147 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 371) and
recorded "B, vS, iF, mbM."
JH called it "pB; E in parallel; psbM; 60" length." and
measured an accurate position.
From the Cape of Good Hope, he recorded "B, E, psmbM, 40" l,
30" br."
******************************
09 14 05.2 +40
06 48
V = 11.6; Size 3.5'x2.6'; Surf Br = 13.9
18"
(2/14/10): at 280x, appears fairly bright and sharply concentrated with a very
bright round core, 40" diameter.
The core is surrounded by a fairly large 2'-2.5' diameter halo. A faint star is situated 1.6' ENE of
the core and an extremely low surface brightness hazy patch is just
following. This patch is likely a
detached outer section of a spiral arm or plume, caused by a earlier merger
event.
17.5":
moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, sharp concentration,
stellar nucleus, slightly elongated fainter halo. A pair of mag 13 stars are 3' S and mag 9
8": faint,
bright core, two mag 13 stars to the S, mag 9 star 5' N.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2782 = H I-167 = h568 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and recorded
"cB, R, BN, about 1.5' dia."
His position is 1.5' south of
******************************
09 13 39.5 +29
59 34
V = 12.6; Size 2.1'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 168d
24"
(2/9/13): dominant member of the
17.5"
(2/8/97): brightest of three galaxies visible in HCG 37. Fairly faint, fairly small, elongated
3:2 NNW-SSE, bright core. Two mag
9.5-10 stars lie 1.4' SW and 2.2' SSW. IC 2449 = UGC 4856 = HCG 37B is 1.5' WNW
and just off the NW side is a marginal member HCG 37C, 36" from center.
17.5"
(3/28/92): this is the brightest galaxy in the HCG 37 group. Moderately bright, fairly small,
elongated 2:1 N-S, bright core.
Two bright stars are close south; a mag 9.5 star is 1.5' SW and a mag 10
star 2.3' SSW. The multiple system
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2783 = H III-295 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 386) and reported
"vF, vS, R, just N.f. 2 pB stars." CH's reduced position is 3' north-northeast of
******************************
09 12 19.2 -24
10 18
V = 10.2; Size 5.5'x2.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 73d
17.5"
(2/28/87): very bright, moderately large, very bright core with much fainter
extensions, elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, possibly a sharper edge along the north
side. A mag 10.5 star is 3.7' E of
center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2784 = H I-59 = h571 = h3148 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and
noted "S, cBM but vF at the side, a very little E; the chevelure of the
milky kind." JH recorded the galaxy as "pB; R; gbM;
25"." From the Cape of
Good Hope he logged "B, L, mE, pgmbM, 4' l, 90" br, position =
63.7°."
******************************
09 15 15.2 +40
55 04
V = 14.2; Size 1.5'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 120d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE,
1.3'x0.5'. Exhibits a weak, broad
concentration and fades at the tips.
A mag 14.5 star is close NNE [0.8' from center].
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2785 = St XIII-45 on 16 Mar 1884 and described "quite
small, irregularly oval; elongated ESE-WNW; two very distinct points of
condensation." His position matches
******************************
09 13 35.6 +12
26 27
V = 13.3; Size 0.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 77d
17.5"
(1/12/02): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated nearly 2:1 WSW-ENE, 0.7'x0.4',
very small brighter core. There
are a group of mag 11/12 stars at the NW edge of the 220x field.
Albert Marth discovered
NGC 2786 = m 153 on 5 Apr 1864 and noted "vF, vS, mbM". There is nothing near his
position. Karl Reinmuth, in his
1926 photographic survey "Die Herschel Nebel" states "in
Dreyer's place not found" but he proposes NGC 2786 = UGC 4861, which is located
18' north and 20 sec of RA west of Marth's position. There are no other nearby candidates, but with the large
positional discrepancy, this identification is uncertain. Dorothy Carlson simply states "not
found" based on Reinmuth's comment and RNGC classifies the number as
nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
09 19 18.5 +69
12 11
V = 10.8; Size 3.2'x2.0'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 117d
17.5"
(4/6/91): bright, fairly small, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE, 2.0'x1.5', even
concentration to a small very bright core. A mag 14 star is at the SE edge of the halo 0.9' from the
center.
8": fairly
faint, small, bright core. A mag 7
star is 25' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2787 = H I-216 = h570 on 3 Dec 1788 (sweep 890) and recorded
"p or cB, pL, iF."
On 8 Nov 1801 (sweep 1100)
he noted "vB, R, mbB, seems to be resolvable. Towards the sf, within the
nebulosity, is a vS star."
His position is ~10' southeast of
******************************
09 09 03.5 -67
55 57
V = 12.3; Size 1.8'x0.4'; Surf Br = 11.8; PA = 114d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): excellent fairly bright edge-on,
fairly large, elongated 4:1 WNW-ESE, 1.4'x0.35', very weak cocnentration. A faint star is just off the south
side, 19" from the center. I
had the impression there was a sharper light cut-off on the south side, but was
not convinced.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2788 = h3150 on 29 Jan 1835 and recorded "vF; vS; mE in pos
105°." His position is 30 sec west of
******************************
NGC 2789 = NGC
3167 = UGC 4875 = MCG +05-22-026 = CGCG 151-035 = PGC 26089
09 14 59.7 +29
43 48
V = 13.1; Size 1.9'x1.9'
17.5"
(3/28/92): fairly faint, small, round, weak concentration, fairly faint stellar
nucleus. Slightly fainter than NGC
2783 22' NW, although the listed magnitude is brighter.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2789 = St XIII-45 on 13 Mar 1883. His position matches
******************************
09 15 02.8 +19
41 49
V = 14.4; Size 0.4'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.2
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, very small, round, only 15"-20" diameter,
weakly concentrated to a very small brighter core. Located 1.3' SE of a mag 10.5 star which forms a wide
unequal double with a 14th magnitude companion 24" N.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2790 on 17 Feb 1865 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and noted
"vF, S, R, lbM." His position matches
******************************
09 15 02.0 +17
35 32
V = 14.7; Size 0.8'x0.3'; PA = 160d
17.5"
(1/28/89): extremely faint and small, round. Forms a close "double" with a mag 15 star just
21" E of center. First in a
group with the
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2791 on 21 Dec 1863 and noted "F, R". His position matches
******************************
09 12 26.6 -42
25 41
V = 11.8; Size 18"
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 350x this high surface brightness
planetary appeared very bright, small, round, 15"-20" in
diameter. It appeared annular with
a brighter rim, although the the inner edge of the annulus was not well
defined. A wide pair of mag 11
stars lies 4' SE.
13.1"
(4/10/86): moderately bright planetary, small, round, no central star. A pair of mag 11 stars at 36"
separation is located 4' SE. Very
far southern object for observation from Northern California.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2792 = h3149 on 2 Mar 1835
and recorded "pF, exactly round, equal to a star 9th mag, but of a
dull light. At first I was inclined to think it double, but with 320 it
exhibited a uniform round disc; nor did a friend to whom I showed it see any
division. Stars to-night perfectly well defined. In a field with leading stars,
or which a diagram was made." On a later sweep he noted "Viewed past
meridian. It occurs in a field with about 40 stars. Diameter 4" or 5"
at the utmost; 10" is too large certainly. Very like that of sweep 771
[NGC 2452]. But now the night is
good and it bears magnifying. With 320 power the disc is dilated into a dim
hazy round nebula; yet there is a peculiarity in its appearance which
completely separates it from all nebulae of the same size. A very remarkable
object."
******************************
09 16 47.2 +34
25 47
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.3
48"
(4/4/11): 375x and 488x provided a fascinating view of NGC 2793, a collisional
ring galaxy. It appeared as a
fairly faint, moderately large roundish glow, ~0.8' diameter, with a well
defined edge. The rim was slightly
brighter along the north side, giving a partial annular or ring-like appearance
[the SDSS image resolves this brighter rim into a series of small HII knots or
star-forming regions. The likely
companion galaxy or intruder is visible along the east side of the rim as a
fairly bright small glow of high surface brightness, elongated 2:1 N-S,
~15"x8", mottled appearance.
The actual nucleus of the ring galaxy is perhaps situated at the north
end of the disrupting galaxy. A
15" pair of mag 10 stars (h2491) lies 5' N. NGC 2793 is located 8' WNW of mag 9.7 PPM 74387.
13.1"
(1/28/84): very faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter, low even surface
brightness. Located 53' W of Alpha
Lyncis (V = 3.1).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2793 = h572 on 6 Mar 1828 and reported "vF; R; has a double
star 5' north; 1 sec preceding."
His position and description matches the ring galaxy
******************************
NGC 2794 = UGC
4885 = MCG +03-24-018 = CGCG 091-037 = PGC 26140
09 16 01.8 +17
35 23
V = 13.2; Size 1.2'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(1/28/89): fairly faint, small, round, weak concentration. Forms a close pair with NGC 2795 2.4'
NNE. NGC 2791 lies 14' W.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2794, along with
******************************
NGC 2795 = UGC
4887 = MCG +03-24-020 = CGCG 091-039 = PGC 26143
09 16 03.9 +17
37 42
V = 12.8; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 170d
17.5"
(1/28/89): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2794 2.4' SSW and
NGC 2797 lies 6' NNE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2795 = m 156 on 21 Dec 1863 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
noted "F, R". d'Arrest
independently found it again on 15 Mar 1866, along with nearby NGC 2794 and
2797.
******************************
09 16 41.8 +30
54 57
V = 13.8; Size 1.3'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 80d
17.5"
(4/6/02): fairly faint, slightly elongated, 0.8'x0.6', slightly brighter core,
occasional stellar nucleus. A
close pair of mag 15 "stars" are 1' WSW of center - one of these is
actually the compact galaxy
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2796 = H III-296 = h573 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 386) and noted
"vF, S, R, lbM." His
position is 1' south of UGC 4893. JH commented this nebula was "the
faintest conceivable."
******************************
NGC 2797 = UGC
4891 = MCG +03-24-023 = CGCG 091-042 = PGC 26160
09 16 21.7 +17
43 38
V = 14.3; Size 0.5'x0.4'
17.5"
(1/28/89): faint, very small, round, even surface brightness. Forms the east vertex of an isosceles
triangle with a pair of mag 12 stars 3' WSW and 3' WNW. Forms a pair with NGC 2795 6' SSW in a
group.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2797, along with NGC 2794 and an independent discovery
of NGC 2795, on 15 Mar 1866. His
single position is 5 seconds of time west of
******************************
09 17 22.8 +42
00 00
V = 12.3; Size 2.6'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 160d
48"
(4/6/13): very bright, large, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 2.0'x1.0'. Sharply
concentrated with a very bright, large core increasing to a small, intense
nucleus. A very large spiral arm
extends to the NNW from the core and curves back sharply at the end
counterclockwise to the SSE, fading rapidly to a very low surface brightness
and dimmng out before reaching the core.
The SSE extension has an extremely low surface brightness and no arm
structure was visible. Forms an
interacting pair with
24"
(3/9/13): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 1.7'x0.7', fairly
sharply concentrated with a very bright core that increases to a small, intense
nucleus. The extension (spiral
arm) to the northwest is brighter.
Forms a striking double system (
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, very small bright core,
stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star is
1.6' NNE of center. Forms a double
system (interacting) with NGC 2799 1.5' ESE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2798 = H II-708 on 14 Jan 1788 (sweep 797) and noted "pB,
S, stellar." His position is
3.5' too far southeast. Nearby NGC
2799 was first seen at Birr Castle.
******************************
NGC 2799 = Arp
283 NED2 = VV 50b = UGC 4909 = MCG +07-19-056 = CGCG 209-046 = Holm 117b = PGC
26238
09 17 31.0 +41
59 38
V = 13.8; Size 1.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 125d
48"
(4/6/13): fairly bright, very thin edge-on, 6:1 NW-SE, 1.4'x0.25'. The disc is slightly warped, bending
south slightly near the tips of both extensions. The galaxy is also asymmetric, with the NW end stretched out
towards the core of NGC 2798. With
careful viewing, an extremely faint tidal tail appears pulled out in the
direction of the companion and it fades out just east of the core.
24"
(3/9/13): moderately bright and large, very elongated 4:1 NW-SE, 1.0'x0.25',
brighter along a very thin streak of the major axis. Forms a 1.5' interacting pair (Arp 283) with brighter and
larger NGC 2798.
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, small, elongated 3:1 NW-SE, low even surface brightness. Forms a very close (interacting) pair
with NGC 2798 1.5' WNW.
Ralph Copeland
discovered NGC 2799 on 9 Mar 1874 using LdR's 72", while observing NGC
2798. He recorded "F, cL, vmE
125.9°, pos 102.7°, dist 97.9" from [NGC 2798] or 8.7s f, 21.5" s. The offsets and description are a
perfect match with
******************************
09 18 35.2 +52
30 52
V = 12.8; Size 1.4'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 15d
17.5"
(3/8/97): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, 40"x30". Contains a very small, slightly
brighter core. Unusual appearance as a mag 12 star is attached on the NW flank
15" from the center. Located
3.7' NW of mag 9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2800 = H III-832 = h574 on 17 Mar 1790 (sweep 945) and noted
"vF, S, lE." His
position is just 1' NW of
******************************
09 16 44.1 +19
56 00
V = 14.0; Size 1.1'x1.0'; Surf Br = 14.0
18"
(3/4/08): very faint, fairly small, round, 25" diameter, very low surface
brightness glow with little or no concentration. Located 4' SW of a mag 9.9 star in the
18"
(2/9/08): extremely faint, small, round, 25" diameter, low surface
brightness and required averted.
Located 4.4' SW of a mag 10 star in the NGC 2804 group.
18"
(3/11/07): extremely faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 0.6'x0.45',
low even surface brightness, requires averted to glimpse. Member of the
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2801 = m 157 on 17 Feb 1865 and noted "eF, pL". His position is 1' south of
******************************
09 16 41.4 +18
57 48
V = 14.5; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 14.1
17.5"
(1/28/89): very faint, very small, round, weak concentration. Almost in contact with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2802 = H III-62 = h575 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 181) and recorded
"Two [with NGC 2803]; vF, pS, R, r, both rather bright middle. 240 shewed them of a considerable
diameter; both are nearly in the same meridian." His position is ~30 sec of RA west of this pair. Henrich d'Arrest measured an accurate
position that was used in the NGC position.
******************************
NGC 2803 = UGC
4898 = MCG +03-24-027 = CGCG 091-044se = PGC 26181
09 16 43.9 +18
57 16
V = 14.3; Size 1.3'x1.3'; Surf Br = 14.7
17.5"
(1/28/89): very faint, small, round, weak concentration. Slightly larger than NGC 2802 which
forms a double system just 30" WNW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2803 = H III-63 = h575 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 181) and recorded
"Two [with NGC 2802]; vF, pS, R, r, both rather bright middle. 240 shewed them of a considerable
diameter; both are nearly in the same meridian."
******************************
NGC 2804 = UGC
4901 = MCG +03-24-028 = CGCG 091-047 = IC 2455: = PGC 26196
09 16 50.0 +20
11 55
V = 12.9; Size 2.2'x2.0'; Surf Br = 14.4; PA = 60d
18"
(3/4/08): moderately bright and large, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, 1.2'x0.9', weak
concentration with a very small brighter core. This galaxy and NGC 2809 are the brightest in a group of 6
NGC galaxies and several fainter members (AWM 1).
18"
(2/9/08): fairly faint to moderately bright, moderately large, oval 4:3
WSW-ENE, bright core, very faint ill-defined halo, 1.2'x0.9'. Brightest in a poor group along with
NGC 2804 located 8.7' SE. The
additional NGC members are NGC 2790, 2801, 2807, 2809, 2812 and 2813.
17.5"
(3/12/94): moderately bright, fairly small, round, halo is weakly concentrated,
very small bright core, stellar nucleus.
Located between two mag 13 stars 1.6' N and 2.4' S. Brightest in a group with NGC 2809 8.6'
SSE.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2804 = h577 on 24 Feb 1827 and recorded "vF; S; R; the np
of two [with NGC 2809]. His
position matches
Stephane Javelle
catalogued 3-1087 (later
******************************
09 20 20.4 +64
06 10
V = 11.0; Size 6.3'x4.8'; Surf Br = 14.6; PA = 125d
24"
(2/22/14): moderately bright, very large, contains a 30" brighter core and
a huge halo extending up to 4'x3' NW-SE.
The halo has a fairly low surface brightness but is slightly mottled,
hinting of HII regions [SDSS shows a string of HII knots along the outer southern
arm]. A mag 12.5 star is just off
the NW edge of the halo and a mag 14 star is on the NE side. Largest in a group (LGG 173) including
the trio
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, large, irregularly round, very low surface brightness, weak
concentration but no nucleus.
Located at the west end of a string of 7 mag 13-14 stars. Several brighter stars are in the field
including mag 9
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2805 = H III-878 on 2 Apr 1791 (sweep 1000) and recorded
"vF, cL, R, vF, mbM. I
suppose it to be near 5' in diam but is so faint on the outside that it is
difficult to determine its extent."
His position and description matches
******************************
09 16 56.7 +20
04 14
18"
(3/4/08): this number refers to a single mag 14.5 star 2.4' W of NGC 2809.
18"
(2/9/08): this mag 14.5 star was mistakenly thought to be possibly nebulous by
Dreyer. At 225x it appeared
clearly as a faint star. Located
2.4' W of NGC 2809 and a similar distance NNW of
Dreyer
discovered NGC 2806 using Lord Rosse's 72" on 22 March 1876 and recorded
"A vF * or cS, eF neb p [NGC 2809] (sky bad), forming an equilateral
triangle with [2807] and [2809] (susp as neb by d'A, = [NGC 2806])." At his position is a mag 14.5 star at
09 16 56.7 +20 04 14 (2000). This star forms an equilateral triangle
with NGC 2807 and NGC 2809 and lies due west of NGC 2809. Since his descriptions and offsets for
other objects in the field are exact, there is no mistaking the identity of NGC
2806 as a single star. Dreyer
noted that d'Arrest also suspected this star to be nebulous on 17 Feb 1862.
RNGC, MCG, Deep
Sky Field Guide and Uranometria 2000 Atlas misidentify MCG +03-24-030 as NGC
2806. MCG +03-24-030 is situated
just preceding the south edge of NGC 2806. It was visible in my 18-inch although it was not recorded by
Dreyer (he noted the sky was bad).
Discussed in my RNGC Corrections #7 and Harold Corwin's identification
notes.
******************************
NGC 2807 = MCG
+03-24-031 = CGCG 091-051ne = PGC 26213
09 17 00.6 +20
02 10
V = 14.3; Size 0.8'x0.55'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 165d
18"
(3/4/08): faint, small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, 24"x20", weak
concentration. Located 2.4' SW of
NGC 2809 in a group. Forms a close
pair with
18"
(2/9/08): faint, small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, 25"x18", weak
concentration. Second faintest of
a close trio with brighter NGC 2809 2.4' NNE and fainter NGC 2807A 50" SW. Member of the NGC 2804 group.
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, very small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, weakly
concentrated. Located 2.5' SSW of
NGC 2809 in a group with a mag 10 star 3.3' S. At moments, an extremely faint companion possibly elongated
E-W is barely visible just west of the south edge (separation 49"). This fainter component of the double
system NGC 2807 is incorrectly identified as NGC 2806 in the RNGC, MCG, U2000.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2807 on 17 Feb 1863 while observing NGC 2809. He noted h578 [NGC 2809] follows by 7
seconds in time and 115" north.
His position (measured on 4 nights) and description matches MCG
+03-24-031 = PGC 26213. Several
sources such as RNGC, MCG, Uranometria 2000.0 and Deep Sky Field Guide
misidentify MCG +03-24-030 (just 50" WSW) as NGC 2807. d'Arrest did not mention this
galaxy. UGC and CGCG have the
correct identification (noted as a double system). Megastar mislabels NGC 2807 as NGC 2806.
******************************
09 12 02.6 -64
51 46
V = 6.1; Size 13.8'; Surf Br = 0.7
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x, this was a stunning
showpiece globular in the 24"!
The central region displays an unusually strong concentration with a
super-intense 2' core that was unresolved. A very bright, small halo surrounds the core that is mottled
but mostly unresolved. The outer
halo resolved into perhaps 150-200 stars mag 14.5 and fainter. The halo gradually thins out in
resolved stars out to 10' diameter. The core was smaller but still unresolved
at 350x. The overall appearance of
the three brightness levels mentioned above is unusually symmetrical.
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 171x, this bright globular (ranked 10th
brightest at V = 6.1) is fairly large, ~10' diameter and very compressed with a
blazing 2' core. The halo is
noticeably elongated, nearly 3:2.
A dense swarm of mag 14 and fainter stars are resolved in the halo and
around the edges of the core but the inner central core was unresolved. At 228x, there appeared to be some very
faint stars lanes streaming into the halo, which were barely unresolved but
looked like small tentacles. A mag
10/10.6 double at 16" is outside the cluster ~10' ESE. This is by far the brightest
concentration class I globular and the only one easily resolved.
13.1"
(2/20/04 - Costa Rica): this very bright globular is large and elongated,
~8'x6' SW-NE increasing to 2' bright core and a blazing 40" nucleus. At 144x, this cluster is mottled but
with no obvious resolution. At
166x a large number of extremely faint stars (mag 14-15) pop in and out of view
over the entire disc, though the resolved stars could not be held
steadily. Located 1.8° NNE of mag
4.0 Alpha Volantis.
Naked-eye
(7/8/02 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): faintly visible naked-eye.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2808 = D265 = h3152on 7 May 1826 and recorded "a very
bright round nebula, about 3' or 4' diameter, very gradually bright to the
centre. This has a fine globular
appearance." His position is
20' too far northwest, but the identity is certain.
JH recorded 4
detailed observations from the Cape of Good Hope: On the first sweep (8 Mar
1834) he logged it as a "globular cluster, extremely compressed pretty
gradually very much brighter to the middle; up to a perfect blaze; diam. in RA
= 26.8 seconds; stars of 16th magnitude." His final observation (9 Feb 1837) notes "a truly
beautiful and delicate globular cluster; diameter in RA = 45 seconds, that of
the most compressed part 15 seconds; gradually very bright in the middle; all
finely resolved into perfectly equal stars like the finest dust, which are seen
with the left eye without effort, but the right requires to be somewhat
strained to discern them. Runs up to a blaze in the centre."
******************************
NGC 2809 = UGC
4910 = MCG +03-24-033 = CGCG 091-054 = PGC 26220
09 17 06.9 +20
04 11
V = 13.0; Size 1.3'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.3
18"
(3/4/08): moderately bright and large, slightly elongated ~N-S, 0.9'x0.7',
gradually increases to a small bright core and faint stellar nucleus. Brightest in a group (AWM 1) containing
NGC 2801, NGC 2804, NGC 2807,
18"
(2/9/08): fairly faint to moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated
~N-S, 0.8'x0.65', weak even concentration to a small brighter core and faint
stellar nucleus. NGC 2807 lies
2.4' SW and NGC 2807A is 3.2' SW.
Located 4.5' W of a 26" pair of mag 11 stars and 3' SSE of a mag
10.5 star. Brightest in a poor
cluster along with NGC 2804.
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1' diameter, even moderate
concentration down to very small bright core, faint stellar nucleus at
moments. Located 2.9' SSE of a mag
10 star. A wide double star lies
4.5' W (mag 11/12 at 26").
Brightest in a group with NGC 2807 2.5' SSW and NGC 2804 8.6' NNW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2809 = h578 on 24 Feb 1827, along with NGC 2804, and noted
"vF; S; R; the s f of two, distant 8'." His position was marked as uncertain, but is is a good match
with
******************************
09 22 04.5 +71
50 38
V = 12.2; Size 1.7'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, small, round, bright core, stellar nucleus.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2810 = H III-749 on 3 Dec 1788 (sweep 890) and noted as
"cF, vS." His
position is 2.7' S of
******************************
09 16 11.1 -16
18 46
V = 11.3; Size 2.5'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.0; PA = 20d
18"
(3/30/05): the first object I took a look at was SN 2005am in NGC 2811
discovered on February 22, 2005.
The SN peaked near mag 13.5, but now appears significantly fainter. Coincidentally, the SN makes a very
close pair with a brighter mag 14.5 star (less than 10"). Generally only this star was visible,
but occasionally I could see a fainter companion close NE.
13.1"
(12/22/84): moderately bright, edge-on streak 4:1 SSW-NNE, brighter core,
stellar nucleus. A faint mag 14.5
star is embedded in the NE tip 0.6' from center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2811 = H II-505 = h580 = h3151 on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) and
recorded "pB, S, lE from sp to nf, suddenly mbM." JH called it (from Slough) "pB; E
to n f; psbM; 60"."
Observing at the Cape, JH wrote "pB; mE; psvmbM; 40"
l." In the LdR observations,
the star at the northeast edge was mentioned twice.
******************************
NGC 2812 = CGCG
091-060 = PGC 26242
09 17 40.8 +19
55 08
V = 14.9; Size 0.55'x0.15'; Surf Br = 11.5; PA = 154d
18"
(3/4/08): extremely faint, very small, slightly elongated, 0.3'x0.2'. This difficult galaxy is located just
1.3' NW of NGC 2813 in the NGC 2804/2809 group.
18"
(2/9/08): very faint, small, very elongated 3:1 NNW-SSE, 0.5'x0.15'. Located 2' NNE of mag 9
18"
(3/11/07): extremely faint, very small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 0.4x0.2. Forms a close pair with brighter NGC
2813 and situated just 1.3' NW. A
mag 9 star lies 2' SSW and greatly detracts from viewing.
17.5"
(3/12/94): not seen.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2812 = m 158 on 17 Feb 1865, along with NGC 2813, and simply
noted "eF". His position
is 1' north of
******************************
NGC 2813 = UGC
4916 = MCG +03-24-037 = CGCG 091-061 = PGC 26252
09 17 45.4 +19
54 24
V = 14.0; Size 1.3'x1.1'; PA = 145d
18"
(3/4/08): faint, fairly small, round, 25" diameter, weak concentration,
very small brighter core, faint stellar nucleus with direct vision. Located 2' NE mag 9.2 star that
detracts from viewing. Close pair
with fainter NGC 2812.
18"
(2/9/08): faint, small, round, 0.4' diameter, very weak concentration to a
small brighter core. Located 2' NE
of mag 9 SAO 80743 and brighter of a close pair with NGC 2812 1.3' NW. Member of the NGC 2809 Group.
18"
(3/11/07): faint, fairly small, round, small bright core, 0.6' diameter. Forms a pair with NGC 2812 just 1.3' NW
(see observing notes). Located 2'
NE of mag 9.2 that detracts from the observations.
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, round, very low surface brightness halo difficult to
view. At first glance, only the
core was noticed with a tiny quasi-stellar nucleus. Overpowered by mag 9.0 SAO 80743 2.0' SW. Forms a pair with NGC 2812 at 1.3' NW
(not seen). Located 13' SE of NGC
2809 in a group.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2813 = m 159 on 17 Feb 1865, along with NGC 2812, and simply
noted "F". His position
is 1.5' north of CGCG 091-060.
******************************
NGC 2814 = UGC
4952 = MCG +11-12-004 = CGCG 312-003 = KTG 23A = Holm 124c = LGG 173-2 = PGC
26469
09 21 11.5 +64
15 06
V = 13.7; Size 1.2'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 179d
24"
(2/22/14): fairly faint to moderately bright, moderately large, thin edge-on
3:1 or 4:1 N-S, 1.0'x0.25', bright core bulges slightly, tapers at the tips
(spindle-shaped). A mag 11.4 star
is 1.1' SSW of center, just off the southern tip. Forms a striking pair with edge-on NGC 2820 4' E, along with
IC 2458. NGC 2805 lies 10' SW.
17.5"
(4/6/91): faint, small, very elongated 3:1 N-S, almost even surface
brightness. A mag 11 star is
20" off the south tip and 1.1' SSW of center. This galaxy is smaller but has a higher surface brightness
than NGC 2820 4' E. Located 11' NE
of NGC 2805 in a group.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2814 = H II-868 = h576 on 3 Apr 1791 (sweep 1004) and recorded
both as "Two nebulae. The first [NGC 2814] F, S, iF, the second [NGC 2820]
F, pL, E. The place is that of the second [NGC 2820], the other precedes it
about 30 seconds and is nearly in the same parallel." Dreyer commented in the notes section
"Not seen by d'Arrest, and [John Herschel] only observed the following one
(II.869)." Dreyer assigned
h576 to NGC 2820 but John Herschel's position corresponds with NGC 2814, and
h579 = NGC 2816 is identical to H II-869 = NGC 2820 (see notes on NGC 2816).
******************************
09 16 19.6 -23
38 00
V = 11.9; Size 3.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 10d
17.5"
(2/28/87): fairly faint, fairly large, broadly concentrated halo, faint
extensions SSW-NNE, fairly low surface brightness.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2815 = H III-242 = h3153 on 20 Nov 1784 (sweep 326) and recorded
"vF, lE, S, that is about 1' diameter." From the Cape of Good Hope, JH called it "F, R, or vlE,
glbM, 25"." and measured an accurate position.
******************************
NGC 2816 = NGC
2820 = UGC 4961 = MCG +11-12-006 = CGCG 312-005 = KTG 23C = FGC 877 = Holm 124A
= LGG 173-3 = PGC 26498
09 21 45.6 +64
15 29
V = 12.8; Size 4.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 59d
See observing
notes for NGC 2820.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2816 = h579 on 30 Mar 1832 and noted, "F, pmE". There is nothing at his position and
Bigourdan was unable to find a suitable candidate. Karl Reinmuth reported "not found at Dreyer's
place" based on Heidelberg plates and this is repeated by Dorothy Carlson
in her 1940 paper on NGC corrections.
Harold Corwin
originally suggested this number might be a duplicate observation of NGC 2742
with a 13 min error in RA (identical declination). But Wolfgang Steinicke found (based on my questioning of
h576) that JH made a large error (of 3 3/4 degrees) in reducing his declination
for h579, and once corrected, h579 = NGC 2816 is a duplicate observation of NGC
2820 (discovered earlier by WH).
In addition, h576 refers to nearby NGC 2814 = UGC 4952 (also discovered
by WH). See Corwin's note for the
full story.
******************************
09 17 10.5 -04
45 09
V = 12.6; Size 2.0'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.8
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, moderately large, 1.4' diameter. Low surface brightness with a very weak concentration.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2817 = Sw VI-35 on 26 Mar 1887. His position is 10 tsec of RA east and 1' north of MCG
-01-24-006 = PGC 26223.
******************************
09 16 01.5 -36
37 37
V = 11.5; Size 85"x47"
17.5"
(3/25/00): NGC 2818 refers to both an open cluster and a superimposed planetary
nebula (identified as
13.1"
(4/10/86): the cluster appears as a faint group of 25-30 stars mag 12 to 15,
over unresolved haze, though good seeing might resolve more. Includes a fairly faint planetary (NGC
2818A) on the west side. At 166x
using a Daystar 300 filter, the planetary appeared moderately bright and large,
elongated ~N-S. Also responds well
to an OIII filter at 79x.
13.1 (1/28/84):
the cluster is a faint group of two dozen stars mag 12 and fainter. The planetary on the west side of the
cluster is a pretty sight using a UHC filiter at 79x. It appeared fairly faint, moderately large, 1.0'x0.8',
elongated N-S or SSW-NNE.
The planetary
had been assumed to be the only one to be physically associated with an open
cluster, although recent research firmly places the planetary in the
foreground.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2818 = D 564 = h3154 on May 28 1826 and recorded a "pretty
large faint nebula [star cluster] of a round figure, 6' or 8' diameter; the
nebulosity is faintly diffused to a considerable extent. There is a small
nebula [PN] in the north preceding edge, which is probably a condensation of
the faint diffused nebulous matter; The large nebula is resolvable into stars
with small nebula remaining."
His position is 15' southwest of the planetary.
JH recorded on 7
Aug 1837 (sweep 787): "A very curious object which reminds me strongly of
M46 and IV. 39 [NGC 2438]. It is a
rich cluster of the VI class, stars 12..14m; about 8' dia, gpmbM; all but a
sort of vacuity, in which is situated a pB, R, neb; 40" diam; of a
character approaching to planetary, having its edges shading off very rapidly,
and being but very little brighter in the middle." His sketch is on plate V, figure 8 on
the CGH Observations. A second observation on 22 Jan 1838 (sweep 809) describes
the planetary first and the NGC summary refers to the planetary (in a large
cluster). So the number NGC 2818
could apply to the planetary or the cluster. RNGC refers to the cluster as NGC 2818 and the planetary as
NGC 2818A.
******************************
09 18 09.3 +16
11 53
V = 12.8; Size 1.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.4
17.5"
(3/29/89): very faint, very small, round, small bright core, fairly faint
stellar nucleus.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2819 = m160 on 21 Dec 1863 and noted "pB, vS, R." Johann Palisa independently found this
galaxy on 2 Apr 1886 with the 27-inch Grubb refractor at the Vienna University
Observatory. Palisa's micrometric position in AN 2783 is accurate. Both Marth and Palisa are credited in the
NGC.
******************************
NGC 2820 = NGC
2816 = UGC 4961 = MCG +11-12-006 = CGCG 312-005 = KTG 23C = FGC 877 = Holm 124a
= LGG 173-003 = PGC 26498
09 21 45.6 +64
15 29
V = 12.8; Size 4.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 59d
24"
(2/22/14): fairly bright, very large, very thin edge-on 7:1 WSW-ENE,
~2.8'x0.4', very weak concentration, mottled appearance though the surface
brightness is not high.
17.5"
(4/6/91): fairly faint, very thin edge-on 6:1 SW-NE with tapered ends, fairly
low surface brightness, no noticeable core. Forms a contact pair with NGC
2820A 20" off the southwest tip. The companion is very faint, very
small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, very small brighter core. NGC 2820 is in a
group with NGC 2814 4' W and NGC 2805 13' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2820 = H II-869 on 3 Apr 1791 (sweep 1004) and recorded both as
"Two nebulae. The first [NGC 2814] F, S, iF, the second [NGC 2820] F, pL,
E. The place is that of the second, the other precedes it about 30 seconds and
is nearly in the same parallel."
Dreyer equated John Herschel's observation of h576 with H II-869 = NGC
2820, but his sweep data (checked by Wolfgang Steinicke) reveals h 576 = H
II-868 = NGC 2814. In addition,
h579 = NGC 2816 is identical to NGC 2820, with JH making a 3 3/4 error in
reducing the position for h579. IC
2458, found by Guillaume Bigourdan on 14 Mar 1899, refers to the northeastern
end of this galaxy and not the close companion NGC 2820A off the southwest end
that is generally identified as IC 2458.
******************************
09 16 48 -26 49
00
V = 13.0; Size 2.0'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 100d
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 E-W, broad weak
concentration. A mag 13 star is
attached just NW of the center. A
faint very close double star lies 1.8' W and a brighter mag 12 star is 2.0' N.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2821 = h3155 on 26 Mar 1835 and recorded "eF, attached to a
star 11th mag; somewhat doubtful."
His position and description matches
******************************
09 13 50 -69 38
42
V = 10.7; Size 3.3'x2.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 90d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): this galaxy is located just 5.4' NE of mag
1.7 Beta Carinae (Miaplacidus)!
The view is significantly hampered by the overwhelming glare of the
bright star in the 24". At
260x it appeared moderately bright and large, elongated 5:3 WSW-ENE,
~1.0'x0.6', with a fairly high surface brightness. Planetary Nebula
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2822 = h3156 on 29 Jan 1835 and called "pF, vS, R,
glbM." His RA is marked as
approximate and is 1.5 min too far west.
He may have reversed the offset from nearby Beta as the galaxy is east.
******************************
09 19 17.4 +34
00 29
V = 14.4; Size 0.9'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 30d
24"
(3/9/13): faint to fairly faint, small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE,
24"x12", weak concentration.
Elongated in the direction of a mag 10.4 star 1.2' SSW. Member of
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2823 on 13 Mar 1850, though a sketch of the cluster was
constructed the following year.
NGC 2823 was unlabeled but placed at the north end of the cluster with a
star close west, so the identification is certain. The NGC declination is 5'
too far north (
******************************
09 19 02.3 +26
16 11
V = 13.3; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 160d
17.5"
(3/28/92): faint, small, round, very small bright core. Overpowered by mag 6.5
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2824 on 30 Apr 1864 with the 11" refractor at
Copenhagen. His position matches
******************************
09 19 22.4 +33
44 34
V = 14.4; Size 1.0'x0.3'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 88d
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, small, weak concentration. Located in the core of AGC 779 and preceding the triple
system;
17.5"
(1/31/87): very faint, small, slightly brighter core, slightly elongated. Located 5' WSW of NGC 2832
13"
(1/28/84): very faint, very small.
Located 5' W of NGC 2832 in AGC 779.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2825 = h581 on 3 Apr 1831 and noted "vF: it is the s p of
two. The other is I. 113 [NGC
2832]." His mean position
(measured on sweep 337) matches
******************************
09 19 24.2 +33
37 26
V = 13.7; Size 1.5'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 143d
17.5"
(1/31/87): second brightest in the core of AGC 779 rich cluster. Fairly faint, fairly small, slightly
elongated NW-SE, brighter core.
Located 8.9' SW of NGC 2832.
13"
(1/28/84): faint, fairly small, very diffuse. Located 9' SW of NGC 2832 in AGC 779.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2826 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72". On a diagram of 12 nebulae in the
cluster constructed the following year, NGC 2826 is shown 9' southwest of Alpha
= NGC 2832. Heinrich d'Arrest
independently discovered the galaxy (#89 in AN 1500) and measured an accurate
position (given in the NGC), though he noted it was probably one of LdR's. JH listed separate entries in the GC
(1807 and 1809) for LdR and d'Arrest, but Dreyer combined them in the NGC.
******************************
NGC 2827 = IC
2460 = MCG +06-21-009 = CGCG 181-015 = PGC 26342
09 19 19.0 +33
52 51
V = 14.6; Size 0.8'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.9
17.5" (3/12/94):
extremely faint, small, elongated 3:2 N-S, low surface brightness, no central
concentration. A mag 14 star is
1.3' NNW. Forms a pair with NGC
2828 3.3' ENE. Located at the
north side of the core of AGC 779.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2827 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72". It was included on a sketch from 8 Jan
1851 showing 12 nebulae, on a line with
******************************
NGC 2828 = CGCG
181-021 = PGC 26365
09 19 34.8 +33
53 17
V = 14.7; Size 0.4'x0.2'; PA = 45d
17.5"
(3/12/94): extremely faint, requires averted vision, very small, round. A mag 14.5 star is 1.4' N. Forms a pair with NGC 2827 3.3' WSW. Located at the north edge of AGC 779.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2828 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72". It was included on the sketch of 8 Jan
1851 on a line between NGC 2827 and
******************************
09 19 52.3 +33
38 58
V = 15.3; Size 0.5'x0.5'
24"
(1/31/14): at 375x appeared very faint to faint (could hold steadily with
averted), extremely small, round, 8" diameter.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2828 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" and one of the
"15 knots in all". It
was included on the sketch of 8 Jan 1851, which showed only a dozen nebulae, east
of line connecting NGC 2832 and NGC 2826.
The nearest galaxy to the NGC position is PGC 26356, an extremely faint,
double galaxy (brighter western component) situated 2' NE of NGC 2826. Karl Reinmuth described this galaxy
(based on Heidelberg plates) as "identification doubtful, vF, vS, R,
vgvlbM, triangle with 2 st nf and f, NGC 2826 sp 2.1'." RNGC and PGC also identify this galaxy
as NGC 2829 (as well as secondary sources based on the PGC). But, PGC 26356 is directly on a line
with NGC 2832 and 2826, contradicting Stoney's sketch.
Harold Corwin
notes this number more likely applies to
******************************
NGC 2830 = Arp
315 "Group" = UGC 4941 = MCG +06-21-014 = CGCG 181-023 = Holm 123b =
09 19 41.4 +33
44 17
V = 14.3; Size 1.3'x0.3'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 112d
17.5"
(1/31/87): very faint, low surface brightness, edge-on WNW-ESE. First of three in a triple system with
NGC 2831 0.9' ENE and NGC 2832 1.4' NE of center in the core of AGC 779. Also nearby is NGC 2825 3.9' W.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2830 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" as one of
"15 knots in all". A
sketch made in March 1851 shows NGC 2831 labeled Gamma and measured at 1.2'
southwest (PA = 237°) of NGC 2832.
JH incorrectly equated this galaxy with H I-113 = h582 in the GC, and
Dreyer repeated the error in the NGC.
But the Herschel numbers apply to brighter NGC 2832. The NGC RA is 6 seconds too large.
MCG reverses the
identifications of NGC 2830 and NGC 2831.
According to the "New Description", RNGC has also reversed
these identifications. This error
was included in my RNGC Corrections #1 and was discussed in detail by Malcolm
Thomson in the Webb Society Quarterly Journal for Jan 1978.
******************************
NGC 2831 = Arp
315 NED1 = UGC 4942sw = Holm 123c = MCG +06-21-013 = CGCG 181-024sw = PGC 26376
09 19 45.5 +33
44 42
V = 13.6; Size 0.5'x0.5'
17.5"
(1/31/87): very faint, extremely small.
Appears as a round knot at the southwest edge of halo of NGC 2832 just
0.4' from center in the core of AGC 779.
Forms a trio with NGC 2830 0.9' WSW.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2831 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" as one of
"15 knots in all". A
sketch made in March 1851 shows NGC 2831 labeled Beta and measured as 25"
southwest (PA = 226°) of NGC 2832.
The NGC dec is 1' too large.
The
identifications of NGC 2830 and NGC 2831 are reversed in MCG and RNGC. This was caused by a mixup in the
descriptions in the NGC. See notes
for NGC 2830.
******************************
NGC 2832 = Arp 315
NED2 = UGC 4942ne = Holm 123a = MCG +06-21-015 = CGCG 181-024ne = PGC 26377
09 19 46.8 +33
44 59
V = 11.9; Size 2.3'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 160d
17.5"
(1/31/87): moderately bright, fairly small, round bright core, slightly
elongated halo. This is the
brightest galaxy in AGC 779 and forms a double system with NGC 2831 at the SW
edge of halo 22" between centers.
Also nearby is NGC 2830 1.3' SW.
A double star h2493 = 10.1/11.7 is 2.5' SSE and a wide mag 11/12.5 pair
is 3.0' ESE.
13"
(1/28/84): fairly faint, fairly small, round. This object is the central galaxy in AGC 779.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2832 = H I-113 = h582 on 7 Dec 1785 (sweep 487) and recorded
"cB, much brighter following the middle, pL. North of 3 stars in a row at very unequal distances,
iF." His position (Caroline
Herschel's reduction) is accurate.
JH called the galaxy "B; R; bM." Due to a confusion with the sketch of the cluster made in
1851 at Birr Castle, Dreyer assigned H I-113 to nearby NGC 2830, a much fainter
galaxy. See Corwin's notes for
full story.
******************************
NGC 2833 = CGCG
181-027 = PGC 26389
09 19 57.9 +33
55 38
V = 14.6; Size 0.7'x0.3'; PA = 165d
17.5"
(1/31/87): very faint, small, elongated N-S. A mag 13.5 star is 1.1' E. Located at the north edge of AGC 779 10.9' NNE of NGC 2832.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2831 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" as one of the
"15 knots in all". A
sketch made the following year only showed a dozen nebulae and NGC 2833 is
placed 12' north of NGC 2832 (actual separation is 11'). The NGC position is 6 sec of RA west
and 1.5' north of
******************************
09 20 02.5 +33
42 37
V = 14.5; Size 0.3'x0.3'
17.5"
(1/31/87): extremely faint and small, round. Located 4.1' SE of NGC 2832 in the core of AGC 779. A double
star h2493 = 10.1/11.7 is 2.3' W and a mag 11 star is 1.4' N.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2834 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" as one of
"15 knots in all". A
sketch made in March 1851 shows NGC 2834 labeled Epsilon and measured as 4.2'
southeast (PA = 125°) of NGC 2832.
The NGC position is 4 sec of RA too large.
******************************
09 17 52.8 -22
21 17
V = 10.5; Size 6.6'x4.4'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 8d
17.5"
(2/28/87): very large, low surface brightness, slightly elongated, weak
concentration. Bracketed by two
mag 10 stars 2.8' W and 3.4' SE of center.
E.E. Barnard
discovered NGC 2835 in early 1885 with the 6-inch refractor at Nashville. After the discovery was announced in
The Observatory, Wilhelm Tempel claimed an earlier discovery on 13 Apr 1884 in
a note to his "New Nebulae" in AN 2660. Barnard is credited with the discovery in the NGC.
******************************
09 13 45.0 -69
20 00
V = 11.8; Size 2.6'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 118d
24" (4/4/08
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly faint, moderately large,
~1.0'x0.7'. Located 23' N of mag
1.7 Beta Carinae (Miaplacidus) and 18' N of NGC 2822 in a rich Milky Way star
field. Unusual appearance with
many nearby stars including at least one superimposed mag 16 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2836 = h3157 on 29 Jan 1835 and recorded "F, R, glbM,
40". Nearly on meridian with Beta Argus [Carinae]." His position is 2' southwest of
******************************
09 18 23.3 -16
28 53
Size 14"
=**,
Corwin. NF, Carlson.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2837 = h585 on 16 Dec 1827 and recorded "eF, R, bM,
precedes a star [by] 8.5 sec".
Exactly at this offset from a mag 12 star is a pair of mag 14.7/14.8
stars at 14" separation with a mean position of 09 18 23.3 -16 28 53
(2000). Harold Corwin also
identifies this double star as NGC 2837.
******************************
09 20 43.0 +39
18 56
V = 13.6; Size 0.6'x0.6'
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, very small, round, 30" diameter, even
concentration down to small bright core and occasional stellar nucleus. Forms the southern vertex of an acute
triangle with two mag 14 stars 50" N and 63" NNE. Also located almost at midpoint of a
mag 10.5 star 3.2' NE and a mag 11.5 star 2.8' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2838 = H III-627 = h583 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and logged
"vF, vS, stellar, 300 power." CH's reduced position is 2' SSW of
******************************
NGC 2839 = MCG
+06-21-023 = CGCG 181-031 = PGC 26425
09 20 36.3 +33
39 02
V = 14.2; Size 0.5'x0.5'
17.5"
(1/31/87): faint, small, round, diffuse.
Located in the core of AGC 779 12' SE of NGC 2832. NGC 2834 lies 8' WNW.
George Johnstone
Stoney discovered NGC 2839 on 13 Mar 1850 with LdR's 72" as one of
"15 knots in all". A
sketch made in March 1851 shows NGC 2839 labeled Zeta and measured as 8'
8" southeast (PA = 120°) of NGC 2834. The NGC position is 1' too far south.
******************************
09 20 52.7 +35
22 06
V = 13.8; Size 1.0'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.6
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, small, appears elongated in direction of a mag 11 star 1.0'
NW although the catalogued dimensions are nearly circular, almost even surface
brightness. Located 1° north of
Alpha Lyncis.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2840 = H III-827 = h586 on 10 Mar 1790 (sweep 938) and noted
"eF, vS, south-following a vS star." His position (CH's reduction) is 3' south of
******************************
09 22 02.3 +50
58 35
V = 9.2; Size 8.1'x3.5'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 147d
13.1"
(1/18/85): bright, large, very small very bright nucleus, elongated 2:1 NW-SE,
6'x3'. There is a sharp light
cut-off on the east side due to dust.
A mag 10 star is at the NW edge 2.8' from center and mag 8.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2841 = H I-205 = h584 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815) and recorded
"a very brilliant nebula, 5' or 6' long and 3 or 4' broad; it has a small
bright nucleus with a faint chevelure about it, and two opposite very extensive
branches." He published a
sketch in his 1811 paper (Fig. 23) as an illlustration of "extended
nebulae that show the progress of condensation [core and nucleus]." JH
described it as "vB; vmE; vsmbM; pos 150.8°; comes up to a nucleus, a star
10-11m; has 2 st not involved 11 & 12 m, and a 3rd 10 m perp to axis of
neb."
******************************
09 15 36.3 -63
04 09
V = 12.5; Size 1.5'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 120d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fairly bright, moderately large,
elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.8', sharply concentrated with a small, very bright
core. A mag 12 star is at the west
edge of the halo and a mag 14 star is at the SE edge. Located 3.7' SSW of a mag 9.7 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2842 = h3158 on 8 Mar 1836 and reported "F, vS, between two
stars, in a field full of milky way stars. No doubt of the nature of the
object." His position and
description matches
******************************
09 20 28.7 +18
55 34
V = 15.5; Size 0.4'x0.2'; Surf Br = 57; PA = 57d
18"
(3/17/07): this marginal galaxy was just glimpsed for moments at 323x as an
extremely small, hazy spot perhaps 8" diameter situated close south of a
mag 12.5 star. Located 2.6' NNW of
a mag 10.3 star and 10' SSW of mag 7.2
18"
(3/11/07): not found at 220x.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2843 = H III-64 on 21 Mar 1784 (sweep 181) and recorded a
"suspected neb, but 240 shewed some small stars with suspected nebulosity,
probably a deception from want of light and power." CH's reduced position is just 6 sec of
RA east of
******************************
09 21 48.0 +40
09 05
V = 13.0; Size 1.5'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 13d
13.1"
(1/18/85): faint, very small, slightly elongated ~N-S, small brighter
core. Located 9' SSW of mag 7.0
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2844 = H III-628 on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep 716) and called "cF,
cS." His position is within
1' of
******************************
09 18 36.7 -38
00 36
V = 11.7; Size 2.0'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 67d
18" (12/30/08):
faint, small, slightly elongated WSW-ENE, 0.4'x0.25', even surface
brightness. The galaxy is nestled
right against a mag 13 star that is attached on the east side, 20" from
the center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2845 = h3159 on 1 Feb 1835 and recorded "vF, S, R, attached
to a star 12th mag, south following." His position and description matches
******************************
09 19 40.4 -14
40 35
=**,
Corwin. NF, RNGC.
Lawrence
Parsons, the 4th Earl of Rosse, discovered NGC 2846 on 4 Apr 1874 and described
as a "*11 in a vS, pB, R neby."
Several micrometric offsets were also made to nearby stars. At his position is a pair of mag 14
stars at ~10" separation -- in fact, one of the measured stars is the
fainter companion. Dreyer
reobserved the star(s) on 25 Mar 1878 and noted "I think it only a vS
cluster. I do not see any star as
bright as 11m in it." So,
this is either a single or double star at this position. Listed as nonexistent in RNGC.
******************************
09 20 08.6 -16
31 06
Size 0.3'
48"
(2/20/12): at 375x, a mag 16.5 star is superimposed on the northwest side (0.6'
from center) of spiral
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2847 one 15 Mar 1855 with LdR's 72", and noted a "F
knot np [NGC 2848]". Harold Corwin identifies NGC 2847 as a star and HII
region 0.6' NW of the nucleus of NGC 2848. This is the most southerly deep sky object discovered at
Birr Castle.
******************************
NGC 2848 = MCG
-03-24-007 = UGCA 160 = Holm 128a = PGC 26404
09 20 09.8 -16
31 34
V = 11.8; Size 2.7'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 30d
48"
(2/20/12): bright, large, oval 3:2 SW-NE, contains a relatively large, bright
core that increases to the center.
A spiral arm is attached on the west side of the core and it sweeps
around the galaxy clockwise, heading south and then sharply bending east before
dimming out on the southeast side of the halo. But an apparently detached section of the arm reappears on
the east side heading north towards two mag 14/15 star at the NE edge. A mag 16.5 star is superimposed on the
NW side (0.6' from center) and attached to this star is an extremely faint HII
knot. The combination of star + knot was likely recorded by Mitchell using
Rosse's 72" as a "faint knot north-preceding" and it received
the designation NGC 2847. A mag 12
star lies 2.7' NE and
17.5"
(3/28/87): fairly bright, moderately large, bright core, faint halo 3:2
SW-NE. A mag 12 star lies 2.8' NE
of center. Forms a pair with NGC
2851 5.5' ENE.
13.1"
(12/22/84): fairly faint, moderately large, very diffuse, slightly elongated
SW-NE, very weak concentration.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2848 = H III-488 = h587 on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) and logged
"vF, cL, gvlbM, near 3' long and above 2' broad, preceding a pB
star." His position (CH's
reduction) is 16 tsec too far west and 1' north. JH called it "vF; L; E nf to sp; lbM. It is 9.5 sec preceding a * 11m and
south of the star."
******************************
09 19 23 -40 31
12
Size 2'
24"
(2/22/14): at 200x appeared as a mottled 2' glow with only a few stars
resolved. At 260x, roughly 20
stars pop in and out of view, some in small knots, in only a 2.5' region. Several resolved stars are along an E-W
string on the north side. A number
of bright stars are in the field including mag 9.3
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2849 = h3160 on 22 Jan 1838 (his last sweep at the Cape of Good
Hope) and noted a "globular cluster, eF, R, vglbM; resolved into vS, but
not very numerous stars; 2.5' diameter. It is rather a cluster of the 6th class
than a globular cluster." His position is just off the southwest
side of the small cluster. NGC 2849 and
******************************
09 20 57.0 -04
56 24
V = 14.2; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 30d
17.5"
(2/1/03): faint, small, slightly elongated, 20" diameter, nearly even
surface brightness with a well-defined halo.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2850 = St XII-36 on 22 Mar 1882. His position matches
******************************
NGC 2851 = MCG
-03-24-008 = PGC 26422
09 20 30.2 -16
29 43
V = 13.6; Size 1.4'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 5d
17.5"
(3/28/87): fairly faint, small, elongated SSW-NNE. Forms a pair with NGC 2848 5.5' WSW.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2851 =Sw III-43 on 27 Feb 1886 and recorded "eF; pS; vE;
1829 [NGC 2848], R. nova [NGC 2846] and 1828 [NGC 2847] in field west. Did not see 1819 [NGC 2837] east of
1829." His position is
1' south of
******************************
NGC 2852 = UGC
4986 = MCG +07-19-065 = CGCG 209-059 = PGC 26571
09 23 14.6 +40
09 49
V = 13.2; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.6
13.1"
(1/18/85): extremely small, appears as a barely non-stellar "knot"
forming a close pair with NGC 2853 2.5' NNE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2852 = H III-629 = h588, along with NGC 2853, on 18 Mar 1787 (sweep
716), and described both as "Two, both vF, vS, 300 shewed them both very
well, nearly in the same meridian, and about 3' distance." His position is between the two
galaxies, but close to NGC 2852.
JH recorded "vF; S; R: has a * 10m 2' dist preceding. The first of 2."
******************************
NGC 2853 = UGC
4987 = MCG +07-19-066 = CGCG 209-060 = PGC 26580
09 23 17.3 +40
12 00
V = 13.3; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 25d
13.1"
(1/18/85: faint, elongated ~N-S, fairly small. Forms a close pair with NGC 2852 2' SSW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2853 = H III-630 = h590, along with NGC 2852, on 18 Mar 1787
(sweep 716) and described both as "Two, both vF, vS, 300 shewed them both
very well, nearly in the same meridian, and about 3' distance." His position is between the two
galaxies, but closer to NGC 2852.
JH recorded "eF; pL; vgbM; the following of 2."
******************************
09 24 03.1 +49
12 15
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 50d
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, weak broad
concentration. Located 2.1' SSE of
a mag 10 star. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2854 = H III-714 = h589 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815), along with
NGC 2856, and recorded "cF, cS, lE." His position is 1.4' NE of
******************************
09 21 27.5 -11
54 37
V = 11.6; Size 2.5'x2.2'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 130d
13.1"
(4/10/86): moderately large, diffuse halo rising to a sharp, bright core with a
brighter nucleus.
13.1"
(12/22/84): fairly bright, fairly small, slightly elongated NW-SE, small bright
core. Located 4' S of mag 8.8 SAO
155121.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2855 = H I-132 = h592 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 541) and logged
"F, S, vgbM, R, 1.5' dia."
On 23 Feb 1791 (sweep 995), he noted "pB, R, mbM like a nucleus,
about 1' dia." JH recorded
"pB; R; 45"; pgmbM; almost to nucleus."
******************************
NGC 2856 = Arp
285 NED2 = UGC 4997 = MCG +08-17-093 = CGCG 238-047 = WBL 221-002 = PGC 26648
09 24 16.0 +49
14 57
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 134d
17.5"
(3/12/94): forms an interesting similar pair of elongated systems with NGC 2854
3.5' SW. Fairly faint, moderately
large, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.6', broadly concentrated. Located 3.5' E of a mag 10 star. NGC 2857 lies 7.3' NNE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2856 = H III-713 = h591 on 9 Mar 1788 (sweep 815), along with
NGC 2854, and recorded "cF, cS, lE." His position is 2' NNE of
******************************
NGC 2857 = Arp 1
= UGC 5000 = MCG +08-17-095 = CGCG 238-049 = PGC 26666
09 24 37.8 +49
21 25
V = 12.3; Size 2.2'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.7
17.5"
(3/12/94): very faint, round, very diffuse, 2.0' diameter. This face-on spiral appears as a low
surface brightness glow with no concentration. The appearance is unusual, though, as four stars cradle the
galaxy on the west side including a mag 13 star 1.6' NW, a mag 12 star 1.8' W
and two mag 14 stars close SW. In
the same field with NGC 2856 7.3' SSW and NGC 2854 10.8' SSW (
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2857 on 9 Jan 1856 with LdR's 72" and recorded "Both
oval [NGC 2854 and 2856], their larger axes at right angles to one another, p
one [NGC 2854] susp patchy."
About 7' nf the n one is another, pL, slightly oval, follows 4 small
stars, mottled, * susp in centre.
Is there about 5' f this latter another vS knot with 2 st p and n?"
The last object noted is CGCG 238-051, which Dreyer failed to assign an NGC
designation. Although Mitchell's offset from NGC 2856 is accurate, the NGC
position is off a bit.
******************************
09 22 55.0 +03
09 25
V = 12.6; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 117d
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, small, slightly elongated NW-SE, 0.5' diameter. Sharp concentration with a fairly
bright stellar nucleus surrounded by a small faint halo.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2858 = m 161 on 3 Mar 1864 and noted "vF, S,
mbM." His position matches
******************************
09 24 18.6 +34
30 48
V = 10.9; Size 4.3'x3.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 85d
13.1"
(1/28/84): moderately bright, moderately large, strong concentration to a
bright core, elongated 4:3 ~N-S, fainter halo. Located 40' ENE of Alpha Lyncis (V = 3.1).
8"
(12/6/80): faint, fairly small, round, bright core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2859 = H I-137 = h593 on 28 Mar 1786 (sweep 549) and logged
"vB, R, vsmbM, chevelure extending to about 3' diameter". JH made 3 observations, recording on
sweep 336 "vB; R; vsmbM to a star; follows a * 7m and is 3' S of
it." A total of 11 observations
were made by LdR and assistants and a couple of superimposed stars were noted
in the outer halo [on the north side].
On 28 Mar 1861, Sir Robert Ball wrote, "Dull Nucl, I susp a dark
ring around it [there is!]. A vF
neb nf. I strongly suspect st in
h593 [=NGC 2859]." The
"vF neb nf" is probably
Originally
classified as a SBa by Hubble. de
Vaucouleurs (1975) lists it as one of the 5 brightest galaxies in the
******************************
09 24 53.2 +41
03 36
V = 13.7; Size 1.4'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 108d
17.5"
(4/5/97): fairly faint, small, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 0.8'x0.6'. Exhibits just a weak concentration and
brightens gently to center but no noticeable core. Located 5.9' SSW of mag 8.5
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2860 = St XIII-47 on 17 Mar 1884. His position matches
******************************
09 23 36.5 +02
08 12
V = 13.0; Size 1.5'x1.4'
24"
(2/22/14): moderately bright, moderately large, small bright core, irregular
surface brightness, ~1' diameter.
Seems to have a brighter knot of region just SSE of the core. [On the
DSS, this is the brightest portion of the southern spiral arm]. Increases in size as well as
orientation with averted vision, as my eye catches faint portions of the
halo. Strong impression of viewing
a face-on spiral. A mag 13.6 star
is 1' E of center. Brightest in a
trio (
17.5"
(3/7/92): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, halo brightens
gradually. A mag 13.5 star is at
the east edge 1.1' from center and several other faint stars are near. Forms the east vertex of a right
triangle with a wide mag 10/12 double star at 28" separation located 4' W
and a wide mag 10/11 double star at 43" separation which lies 6' NW.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2861 = m 162 on 28 Mar 1864 using Lassell's 48" on Malta
and noted "pB, R." His
position is 1' north of
******************************
09 24 55.0 +26
46 30
V = 12.8; Size 2.5'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 114d
17.5"
(4/13/91): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 5:1 WNW-ESE,
2.0'x0.4', brighter core, faint stellar nucleus. Located 6' NNE of mag 8.4
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2862 on 21 Feb 1863 with the 11" refractor at
Copenhagen. His position (measured
on 2 nights) matches
******************************
09 23 36.5 -10
26 00
V = 12.7; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.4
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 N-S (appears roundish on the
POSS). A mag 12 star is at the NW
tip and a very faint mag 15 star is just beyond the south edge. Contains an offset very small brighter
core or a bright knot is on the north side just south of the mag 12 star. Forms a close pair with difficult NGC
2868 2.3' W.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2863 = H III-520 = h594 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 544) and logged
"vF, S, E." JH called it
"F; extended between 2 stars 12 and 16 m."
Frank Muller
independently found this galaxy (and discovered nearby
******************************
09 24 15.4 +05
56 28
V = 14.6; Size 0.8'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 12d
17.5"
(2/1/03): very faint, small, slightly elongated 0.6'x0.5'. Low, even surface brightness and
requires averted vision for a positive identification. Situated near the Hydra-Leo-Cancer
border.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2864 = m 163 on 6 Mar 1864 and recorded "vF, pL,
lE." His position matches
******************************
09 23 30.2 -23
09 40
V = 11.7; Size 2.5'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 146d
17.5"
(2/28/87): moderately bright, small, very bright core, stellar nucleus,
slightly elongated halo.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2865 = h3161 on 23 Jan 1835 and logged "pB; S; R; vlbM;
15"." His position (2 sweeps) matches JH's position (h3161) matches
******************************
09 22 06 -51 06
12
V = 10.2; Size 1.5'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x):
the central region (Pismis 13) contains a dozen stars mag 12-15 over a
glowing 1.5' circular patch.
Includes a close double at the east side. The brightest mag 12 star (also a double) is at the north
end of the cluster. The
surrounding field is rich and includes several mag 10 stars. Specifically, a bright scattered 10'
field centered 10' SSW stands out at low power.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2866 = h3162 on 31 Mar 1835 and noted a "Cluster class
VIII. Place of a small compact
knot of st". His position is
an exact match with the small group of stars
The RNGC
description incorrectly states "NOCL" and Lynga 5 and Sky Catalogue
2000 identify the cluster as Pismis 13 only. ESO gives the correct identification with a question mark.
******************************
09 21 25.4 -58
18 41
V = 9.7; Size 18"x16"
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): beautiful, very high surface
brightness blue planetary at 200x, set in a rich star field. Stunning view at 520x. The thick, oval rim is clearly brighter
with a relatively small darker hole in the center! I didn't notice this structure in the 18" several years
back from Australia.
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 171x (unfiltered) this striking
planetary is bright (V = 9.7), small, very high surface brightness oval with a
pale blue color. With a UHC
filter, it appeared ~15"x10" and appeared like a cosmic easter egg
set in a beautiful star field!
Located 1.1° NE of mag 2.3 Iota Carinae (southeast star of the
"False Cross").
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2867 = h3163 on 1 Apr 1834 and called it "The finest
planetary nebula I ever remember to have seen for sharpness of termination;
3" diameter; exactly R; no more haziness about them than would be about a
star of the same magnitude to-night (which is a favourable one) Light, a pale
white = * of 9th +/- mag. Position of companion star = 58.6° (mean) ; * = 15th
mag. A very remarkable object. Showed to [assistant] Stone, who distinctly
perceived the total difference of appearance between it and a star 9th mag very
near it. A second companion * suspected (at about half the distance of the 1st
by diagram, and at an estimated position of 330°) among multitude of large and
small stars." The next night
he observed it again with Mr. Maclear, out of the meridian, to check if it might
be a planet. But he noted it had
"not moved perceptibly, and is therefore not a planet."
******************************
NGC 2868 = PGC
26598
09 23 27.2 -10
25 46
V = 14.3; Size 0.8'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 65d
17.5"
(2/1/03): extremely faint, very small, elongated 3:2 WSW-ENE, 0.4'x0.25, low
even surface brightness. Located
just 2.3' W of much brighter NGC 2863!
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2868 = LM II-411 = Big. 39 in 1886 with the 26" refractor
at the Leander McCormick Observatory.
He recorded "mag 15.3, 0.4' dia, R, 10s preceding [NGC 2869 = NGC
2863]." According to Harold
Corwin, Guillaume Bigourdan independently discovered NGC 2868 on 15 Jan 1887,
but was not credited in the NGC.
Herbert Howe measured an accurate RA with the 20" refractor at the
Chamberlin Observatory in 1899-00 and the correction was repeated by Dreyer in
the IC 2. RNGC misclassifies this
number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
NGC 2869 = NGC
2863 = MCG -02-24-018 = PGC 26609
09 23 36.5 -10
26 00
See observing
notes for NGC 2863.
Frank Muller
found NGC 2869 = LM II-412 in 1886 and recorded ""mag 14.5,
1.2'x0.6', E 170°, gbM, bet 2 st 12 and 14." His rough position (nearest min of RA) is about 1 min too
far east, but the note on the nearby stars clinches the identification. Dreyer assumed this was new object and
catalogued it again as NGC 2869.
The equivalence was first noted by Howe in his list of NGC observations
and corrections in 1900. So, NGC
2863 = NGC 2869, with NGC 2863 the primary designation.
******************************
09 27 53.5 +57
22 33
V = 13.0; Size 2.5'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 123d
17.5"
(4/4/92): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 4:1 WNW-ESE,
2.0'x0.5', brighter core. Located
4.5' NE of a mag 10 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2870 = H III-846 = h595 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and logged
"cF, S, mE, very narrow."
His position matches
******************************
09 25 39.5 +11
26 40
V = 15.9
48"
(2/21/12): mag 15.9 star situated 1.1' NW of
Lawrence
Parsons, the 4th Earl of Rosse, discovered NGC 2871 on 7 Mar 1874 with the
72" and labeled Epsilon on the field sketch. The micrometric offset of 65.3" in PA 315.7° from NGC
2872 = Delta points directly to a mag 16 star 1' NW of NGC 2872. Spitaler reported "not seen"
with the 27" refractor at Vienna (mentioned in the IC 1 notes).
******************************
NGC 2872 = Arp
307 NED1 = UGC 5018 = MCG +02-24-008 = CGCG 062-033 = Holm 130a = PGC 26733
09 25 42.5 +11
25 55
V = 11.9; Size 2.1'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 22d
48"
(2/21/12): very bright, moderately large, irregularly round, 1.2'x1.0', sharply
concentrated with an intensely bright 20" core. A mag 15.8 star = NGC 2871 is 1.1' NW. Forms a striking trio with
17.5" (2/20/88):
moderately bright, small, round, sharp concentration with a very bright
core. Brightest of three with NGC
2874 1.3' ESE and
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2872 = H II-57 = H II-546 = h597 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep 172) and
recorded "Two neb. [with NGC 2874 = H II-58] about 3/4' or a little more
from each other; Of the resolvable kind. The position of the first [NGC 2872]
is about 15° or 20° np the second; they are pS and rather brighter towards the
middle, but not much. The neby of the f one is rather more diluted than than of
the p one, and it also somewhat larger." His position is exactly 1.0 min of RA too far west and 11'
too far north. WH recorded the
pair again two years later (II-546 and II-547) on sweep 534, this time at the
correct position, but assumed they were new. JH included separate H-designations in the GC, but Dreyer
realized the equivalence and combined them in the NGC.
******************************
NGC 2873 = Arp
307 "Companion" = MCG +02-24-009 = Holm 130d = PGC 26742
09 25 48.5 +11
27 15
V = 15.8; Size 0.7'x0.2'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 125d
48"
(2/21/12): fairly faint, fairly small, very elongated 5:2 or 3:1 NW-SE,
0.6'x0.2', very small slightly brighter nucleus. Faintest member of a striking trio with NGC 2874 and NGC
2872 (
17.5"
(2/20/88): extremely faint, very small, round. Faintest in a tight trio situated 2.0' NE of NGC 2872 and
1.8' N of NGC 2874.
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2873 on 22 Feb 1857 with LdR's 72", while observing NGC
2872 and 2874. He sketched a trio
and noted "Is Beta a vF neb?"
A month later, NGC 2873 = Beta was confirmed. In the 1874 observation, Copeland measured an exact micrometric
offset from NGC 2872. This galaxy
is not included in CGCG, UGC or RC3 but appears to be mentioned as an anonymous
galaxy in the UGC notes.
******************************
NGC 2874 = Arp
307 NED2 = UGC 5021 = MCG +02-24-010 = CGCG 062-034 = Holm 130b = PGC 26740
09 25 47.3 +11
25 28
V = 12.5; Size 2.4'x0.7'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 43d
48"
(2/21/12): at 375x, the largest member of this striking trio appeared very
bright, large, very elongated 7:2 SW-NE, 1.8'x0.5', sharply concentrated with
an intense core. The northeast
extension is slightly brighter, particularly along the eastern side (knotty
spiral arm = NGC 2875). NGC 2872
is 1.3' WNW and NGC 2873 is 1.7' NNE.
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, halo gradually
increases to a bright core. A mag
15 star is 1.3' S of center. In a
close trio with NGC 2872 1.3' WNW and NGC 2873 1.8' N.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2874 = H II-58 = H II-547 = h598 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep
172). See NGC 2872 for the story
on the duplicate entries.
******************************
09 25 48.8 +11
25 54
48"
(2/21/12): at 375x, the northeast extension (arm) of NGC 2874 is slightly
brighter, particularly along the eastern side.
Lawrence
Parsons, the 4th Earl of Rosse, discovered NGC 2875 on 7 Mar 1874 and labeled
it as Gamma on the same sketch with NGC 2871, 2872, and 2873. His offset from NGC 2874 (42" in
PA 37°) falls on a slightly brighter section of the northeastern spiral arm of
NGC 2874. RNGC equates the number
with NGC 2874, though a more appropriate classification would be part of NGC
2874.
******************************
09 25 13.8 -06
43 00
V = 13.7; Size 1.8'x1.3'; Surf Br = 14.5; PA = 95d
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, very small, slightly elongated, small bright core. Pair with
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2876 = St X-20 on 5 Mar 1880 with the 31" reflector at
Marseille and recorded "F, S, halo contains sev vF *." His position matches
******************************
09 25 47.0 +02
13 45
V = 14.3; Size 0.5'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.5
17.5"
(3/8/97): faint, small, round, 25" diameter, very weak concentration. Located 6' following a group of four
mag 13 stars in a small "kite" asterism. Forms a pair with
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2877 = m 164 on 28 Mar 1864 (along with NGC 2878 = m 165) and
recorded "vF, S, vlE."
His position is accurate.
******************************
NGC 2878 = UGC
5022 = MCG +00-24-014 = CGCG 006-042 = PGC 26739
09 25 47.4 +02
05 22
V = 14.2; Size 0.8'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 174d
17.5"
(3/8/97): very faint, small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, unconcentrated. Slightly lower surface brightness than
NGC 2877 located 8.5' N.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2878 = m 165 on 28 Mar 1864 (along with NGC 2877 = m 164) and
recorded "vF, S, vlE."
His position is accurate.
******************************
09 25 22.2 -11
39 03
=***,
Corwin. =NF, Carlson.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2879 on 27 Feb 1865. He noted "neb with some vF *" and measured a mag
14-15 star as preceding by 11 seconds of time. At his position is a triple star with the mag 14 star at
this exact offset. The two
brighter components are mag 14.4/14.5 at 10" separation.
******************************
09 29 34.5 +62
29 27
V = 11.5; Size 2.0'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 140d
17.5"
(4/6/91): moderately bright, round, 1' diameter, strong concentration, very
small bright core. A mag 11.5 star
is 1.9' ENE. Nearby to the north
is a string of mag 13-14 stars including a mag 13 star 2.1' N. Forms a pair with
8": faint,
small, bright core. Located 40' SW
of a mag 4 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2880 = H I-260 = h596 on 2 Apr 1791 (sweep 1000) and logged
"vB, vL, mbM; iR." His
position matches
******************************
09 25 54.4 -11
59 40
V = 13.3; Size 1.1'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1
17.5"
(4/4/92): very faint, small, round, very low even surface brightness. A mag 14.5 star is at the northeast
edge 0.7' from center. An easy mag
10/11 double star at 26" separation lies 4.5' ESE. This is a double system (not resolved).
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2881 = Sw III-44 on 9 Feb 1886 and recorded "eF; pS;
preceding a coarse double star 17 sec; in field with 1854 [NGC
2889]." His position is just
5 sec of RA west of
******************************
09 26 36.2 +07
57 15
V = 12.6; Size 1.5'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 80d
17.5"
(4/13/91): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 E-W, almost even surface
brightness. A mag 13.5 star is
2.0' SE. Located 16' N of mag 8.4
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2882 = m 166 on 6 Mar 1864 and noted "F, pL, E." His position and description matches
******************************
09 25 17.5 -34
06 12
V = 13.1; Size 2.8'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 176d
18"
(3/11/07): faint, moderately large, elongated at least 2:1 ~N-S,
1.1'x0.5'. Unusual appearance as
the galaxy has an irregular, mottled appearance and perhaps three faint stars
are superimposed (with several others nearby).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2883 = h3164 on 7 Apr 1837 and recorded "a vF, S, cluster,
class VI; vglbM; resolved so as to see the stars which are 15th mag; almost to
be called a vF, large nebula."
His position matches
******************************
09 26 24.4 -11
33 20
V = 12.4; Size 1.9'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 175d
13.1"
(4/10/86): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated N-S, possible faint stellar
nucleus. A mag 13.5 star is 1.3' W
of center.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2884 on 27 Feb 1865. His position (measured on 5 nights) matches
******************************
09 27 18.5 +23
01 12
V = 14.0; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 80d
17.5"
(4/13/91): faint, very small, round, stellar nucleus. A mag 15 star is 40" E of center and a mag 14 star is
2' NW. Located 8' NW of mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2885 = h599 on 24 Feb 1827 and recorded "eF; vS; E in
parallel; RA very uncertain."
There is nothing at his position (1.7' NNW of a mag 8 star not mentioned
in his description), but 25 sec of RA west is
Sir Robert Ball,
an observing assistant on LdR's 72", recorded on 10 Jan 1867, "3
objects seen close together, of which one is probably a nebula, the other
possibly also, and third a star?
All these are eF, and would perhaps not be seen unless on so good a
night as this is." From the
description, Ball picked up NGC 2885 and probably nearby IC 2474 and CGCG
121-99.
RNGC
misidentifies
******************************
09 26 38.7 -21
44 16
=***,
Corwin. =NF, RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2886 = h3165 on 1 Feb 1837 and simply noted "eeF;
50"." There is nothing
at his position, but four faint stars about 1.5' ENE of his position are likely
Herschel's object (the separation is ~25"). Corwin also identifies this multiple star as NGC 2886.
******************************
NGC 2887 = ESO
091-009 = PGC 26592
09 23 24.2 -63
48 45
V = 11.7; Size 2.1'x1.5'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 78d
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): bright, slightly elongated
WSW-ENE, 1.2'x1.0', sharply concentrated with a very bright 25" core. Forms the SE vertex of an isosceles
triangle with two mag 12/12.5 stars 1.3' WNW and 1.4' NNW. A couple of arc minutes SE is a short
string of very faint stars. NGC
2842 lies 1.1° NW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2887 = h3168 on 8 Mar 1834 and logged "F; S; R; gbM; near a
bright star." This is the
first deep sky object he discovered at the Cape. His position from 3 sweeps matches
******************************
09 26 19.5 -28
02 08
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 158d
17.5"
(2/28/87): faint, small, slightly elongated NNW-SSE, brighter core.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2888 = h3166 on 30 Mar 1835 and logged "pF R; smbM; very
dilute at edges; 30"."
His position (on 2 sweeps) matches
******************************
NGC 2889 = MCG
-02-24-026 = PGC 26806
09 27 12.5 -11 38
37
V = 11.7; Size 2.2'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 65d
13.1"
(4/10/86): fairly small, slightly elongated ~N-S, diffuse halo, irregular
bright core. A mag 11.5 star is
off the south edge 1.4' from the center.
NGC 2884 lies 13' WNW and NGC 2881 is 28' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2889 = H II-555 = h600 on 19 Mar 1786 (sweep 541) and recorded
"vF; pL; R; bM." JH
called it "pB; pL; R; vglbM; 80"." Both measured fairly accurate positions. On 30 Jan 1856, R.J. Mitchell using
LdR's 72", noted a very faint star at the east edge and "darkness all
round the nucleus."
******************************
09 26 29.8 -14
31 44
V = 14.3; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 55d
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Overpowered by mag 7.8
Francis
Leavenworth discovered NGC 2890 = LM I-154 on 11 Jan 1886 and recorded
"mag 15.0, 0.3' dia, R, bMN, envelope 15.5." His rough position
(nearest min of RA) is 45 sec of RA east of
******************************
09 26 56.6 -24
46 59
V = 12.6; Size 1.5'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(3/7/92): fairly faint, small, round, sharp concentration with very small
prominent core, stellar nucleus.
Located in rich Milky Way field close to the Antlia and Hydra border.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2891 = h3167 on 23 Jan 1835 and recorded "F; S; R; bM;
15"." His position is 1' south of
******************************
09 32 53.0 +67
37 02
V = 13.1; Size 1.4'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.7
17.5"
(4/4/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, gradually brighter halo, faint
stellar nucleus. A wide bright
double star ∑1349 = 7.5/8.7 at 24" is 11' WSW at the edge of the 220x
field. Brightest in a group with
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2892 = Sw I-8 on 11 May 1885 and recorded "pF, pS, R,
lbM." His position is 0.2 min
of RA east of
******************************
09 30 17.0 +29
32 24
V = 13.2; Size 1.1'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2
17.5"
(4/13/91): fairly faint, very small, round, very small bright core, stellar
nucleus. Located 3.2' SW of a mag
9 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2893 = H III-297 = h602 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 386) and logged
"Suspected eF, eS. 240x
showed the same appearance but left a doubt." There is nothing at his position, but 8.5' north is
******************************
09 29 30.4 +07
43 06
V = 12.4; Size 1.9'x1.0'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 27d
17.5"
(4/13/91): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, prominent core
with faint extensions. Unusual
appearance as a mag 13.5 star is at the east end and a mag 14.5 star (Holmberg
133b) at the west end. Located
3.0' NNE of mag 8.6
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2894 = H III-8 = h603 on 23 Jan 1784 (sweep 101) and recorded
"Nebula. I see 3 stars in it,
& I believe it may all be resolved; yet my 240 power does not clear it
quite of nebulosity. [Higher]
power gives me 3 very obscure nebulous stars, but leaves it undetermined
whether there are more stars in it or whether these are only nebulous for want
of light." JH simply noted
"2 or 3 st and nebulosity" and measured a pretty accurate position.
******************************
09 32 25.1 +57
28 58
V = 13.7; Size 0.9'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.2
17.5"
(4/4/92): faint, small, elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, broad concentration in halo to
brighter core. Collinear with a
wide double star 6' SSW (10.5/12.5 at 50" oriented SSW-NNE).
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2895 = h601 on 9 Feb 1831 and logged "vF; R; vgbM;
15"; has a coarse double star 7' south." His position and description matches
******************************
09 30 16.9 +23
39 47
V = 13.7; Size 0.9'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.3
17.5"
(4/13/91): very faint, extremely small, round, small bright core. A mag 15 star is attached at the west
end.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2896 on 1 May 1864 with the 11-inch refractor at
Copenhagen and recorded "F, S, R, *17m very near, *13 follows by 24.3
seconds of time and 30" north."
His position and description matches
******************************
09 29 45.7 +02
12 25
V = 15.1; Size 0.7'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 170d
17.5"
(3/7/92): very faint, very small, round, 15" diameter, low surface
brightness. Located just 1.8' WNW
of mag 8.0
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2897 = m 167 on 6 Feb 1864 (along with NGC 2898) and simply
noted "eF, S." His
position matches
******************************
NGC 2898 = MCG
+00-24-018 = CGCG 006-048 = PGC 26950
09 29 46.3 +02
03 51
V = 13.4; Size 1.0'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 125d
17.5"
(3/7/92): faint, very small, round, faint substellar nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 2897 8' N.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2898 = m 168 on 6 Feb 1864 and noted "vF, vS, lE." His position is 6 sec of RA east of
******************************
09 27 03.0 -56
06 22
V = 12.2; Size 120"x68"
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): fascinating bipolar planetary at
260x using a UHC filter. A very
bright knot is situated on the SW end with fainter extensions along the rim to
the SE. A matching knot with a
lower surface brightness is on the north side. This knot is also elongated, making another short arc. Overall, NGC 2899 is noticeably
elongated with dimensions of ~1.6'x1.0', oriented NW-SE. At 520x both knots or arcs gradually
increase in brightness to their centers and occasionally show very faint
stellar nuclei. The overall
surface is noticeably mottled at this power, though darker in the center. The open cluster,
13.1"
(2/18/04 - Costa Rica): at 105x this interesting Vela planetary appeared fairly
faint, moderately large, slightly elongated ~E-W, 1.3'x1.0'. Good contrast gain with a UHC filter.
The surface brightness appears very irregular or mottled with a brighter knot
on the SW end that is nearly detached and an irregular darker center. Also a less-defined knot appears to be
situated on the north end. Four
mag 7.5-9 stars are in the field to the west and north and the PN is situated
9' E of mag 7.3
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 171x, this moderately bright planetary
is fairly large, ~1.5'x1.0', with an irregular shape and surface
brightness. Adding a UHC filter
improved the contrast and the PN is clearly elongated with an annular or
bi-polar appearance with a darker, irregular center. There are two brighter knots or arcs on on the SW and NE
sides of the central section (minor axis?) with the SW knot more obvious. Situated in a fairly rich star field
with four mag 7-9 stars including a mag 7.3 star 9' W.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2899 = h3169 on 27 Feb 1835 and recorded "F; pL; R; glbM;
80". At least 80 stars in
field." His position is
accurate.
******************************
09 30 15.1 +04
08 39
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x1.4'; Surf Br = 13.8
17.5"
(3/25/95): very faint, moderately large, 1.5' diameter, very low surface
brightness, very weak concentration, ill-defined halo. A mag 14.5 star is 1.0' SW of center.
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2900 = Sw III-45 on 10 Mar 1886 and logged "eeF, pL, R, in
vacancy." His position is 5
sec of RA east and 1' south of
******************************
09 32 24 +31 07
=Not found,
RNGC.
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2901 = LM I-155 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander
McCormick Observatory "while looking for Winnecke's comet
[7P/Pons-Winnecke]." No
additional notes are given and the position is marked as very rough
(approximate even to the nearest min of RA).
This number is
not listed in any modern catalogue (even the RNGC didn't pick a
candidate). Brian Skiff identifies
this object as a double star with brightest component GSC 2494-0616 at 09 32 19
+31 07.1 (2000). Harold Corwin
suggest this number may refer to one of the galaxies (
******************************
09 30 52.8 -14
44 07
V = 12.2; Size 1.4'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 35d
13.1"
(4/10/86): fairly faint, very small, 30" diameter, stellar nucleus. A faint star is off the NW edge.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2902 = H III-276 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 371) and logged "vF;
vS; stellar; with 240 the same."
CH's reduction is less than 2' northwest of
******************************
09 32 10.0 +21
30 02
V = 9.0; Size 12.6'x6.0'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 17d
48"
(4/18/15): this superb spiral was observed at 375x. Several luminous patches are along the central bar, which
trends SSW-NNE, including a patch (
24"
(2/22/14): excellent view at 200x and 375x. This beautiful barred spiral is sharply concentrated with an
extremely bright, mottled core. A
prominent central bar runs along the major axis, extending ~2'x0.4'
SSW-NNE. The central bar is the brightest
portion of an more oval, brighter central region, ~2.0'x1.0'. Just beyond the northeast end of the
central bar is a bright, irregular "knot" (NGC 2905) where the
northern spiral arm attaches. This
arm bends sharply to the west (clockwise), but only curves for ~1' and quickly
fades, as if it was angled towards us.
A prominent arm (more cleanly separated from the central region) is
attached at the south-southwest end of the bar where there is another brighter,
irregular "knot". The
southern arm bends east and then north, paralleling the orientation of the bar
and extending as far north as the core, perhaps just beyond a mag 13.7 star 2'
ESE of center. A darker dust lane separates this arm from the central region.
18"
(2/14/10): beautiful view of this barred spiral at 175x. The galaxy extends 2:1 SSW-NNE, roughly
8'x4', with a slightly brighter bar running through the major axis. The center is sharply concentrated with
a very bright clumpy core. At the
SSW end of the main body a faint arm emerges and sweeps around to the
east. Near the NNE end of the
central bar is a brighter knot (NGC 2905) and beyond the knot is a fainter and
less defined arm that curves around a short distance to the west.
17.5"
(1/31/87): this is one of the brightest non-Messier galaxies. Very bright and large, elongated 5:2
SSW-NNE, 10'x4'. A very faint knot
is involved on the NNE side 1.2' from center = NGC 2905. An extremely faint knot is also
symmetrically placed opposite the core on the SW end 1.2' from center. The galaxy has a dusty, mottled
appearance with knots and arcs easily visible with averted vision.
17.5"
(3/23/85): a second knotty region is definitely visible on the SW edge. Lord Rosse mentions these two knots as
"thickened regions".
13.1"
(12/22/84): very bright, elongated bright core. Contains a very faint knot at the north end = NGC 2905.
8": bright,
large, elongated, bright mottled core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2903 = H I-56 = h604.I on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and recorded
"cB, cL, a small bright spot in the middle; at first sight appears very
much elongated, but by careful attention it appears to consist of two; the nf
of which less bright than the sp, though nearly of the same size and shape with
the former, it has also a brightish spot in the middle but not nearly so
brilliant as the other; dist of the center about a minute." JH recorded on sweep 244, "I. 56
is vB; E; gbM; r[esolvable]. Long
attentions shows a vF, L, R, neb attached n f." NGC 2905 = h604.II is the "neb attached n f" and
refers to the northeast spiral arm (or a brighter region in the spiral
arm).
LdR first
observed this galaxy on 24 Mar 1846 and noted "a tendency to an annular or
spiral arrangement discovered."
On 9 Mar 1848 Romney Robinson, director of Armagh Observatory and a
regular observer at Rosse's Birr Castle, commented "Night excellent, a
spiral seen in an oblique direction, resolved well, particularly towards the vB
centre." LdR was a bit more
conservative in his assessment of spiral structure and didn't include this
galaxy in his table of 16 spirals in the 1850 Philosophical Transactions
paper. A published sketch from 5
Mar 1848 shows multiple spiral arms with a knot embedded (NGC 2905), though a
note was added later by Dreyer that "the engraving does not agree with the
numerous sketches taken later..."
******************************
09 30 17.0 -30
23 05
V = 12.4; Size 1.2'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.2; PA = 90d
17.5"
(2/1/03): fairly faint, fairly small, 3:2 oval E-W, 0.8'x0.5'. Contains a brighter core with a very
thin outer envelope. Located 4' W
of mag 8.8
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2904 = h3170 on 11 Apr 1834 and logged "F; S; vlE; psbM;
15". Very dilute at the
edges." His position matches
******************************
NGC 2905 = NGC
2903
09 32 11.9 +21
31 10
48"
(4/18/15): NGC 2905 is the brightest of several luminous patches along the
central bar. This irregular knot
is located very near the north-northeast end of the central bar at the point
where two spiral arms (extending west) emerge from the arm.
24"
(2/22/14): just beyond the northeast end of the central bar is a fairly bright,
irregular "knot" (NGC 2905) where the northern spiral arm attaches to
the bar. This arm bends sharply to
the west (clockwise), but only curves for ~1' and quickly fades.
17.5"
(5/10/86): very large knot or arc at the NNE edge of a spiral arm in NGC
2903. Easily visible with averted
vision.
13.1"
(12/22/84): very faint knot or arc at NE edge of arm of NGC 2903.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2905 = H I-57 = h604.II on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and recorded
(together with NGC 2903) "cB, cL, a small bright spot in the middle; at
first sight appears very much elongated, but by careful attention it appears to
consist of two; the nf of which less bright than the sp, though nearly of the
same size and shape with the former, it has also a brightish spot in the middle
but not nearly so brilliant as the other; dist of the center about a
minute."
JH recorded on
sweep 244, "I. 56 is vB; E; gbM; r[esolvable]. Long attentions shows a vF, L, R, neb attached n
f." NGC 2905 is the "neb
attached n f" and refers to the northeast spiral arm (with a brighter
starcloud or HII region). George
Stoney's sketch at Birr Castle on 5 Mar 1848 shows multiple spiral arms, along
with an embedded knot on the northeast side. RNGC classifies this number as nonexistent (Type 7),
although Type 35 = nebulous region in a galaxy, would probably be more
appropriate.
******************************
09 32 06.3 +08
26 30
V = 12.7; Size 1.4'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 75d
17.5"
(4/13/91): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 2:1 WSW-ENE, broadly
concentrated halo, brighter along the major axis. A mag 12 star is 2.9' SW and a mag 11 star 3.6' SSW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2906 = H II-495 = h606 on 28 Dec 1785 (sweep 497) and logged
"F, pL, E, iF."
His position is 1' northwest of
******************************
09 31 36.6 -16
44 07
V = 11.6; Size 1.8'x1.1'; Surf Br = 12.3; PA = 115d
13.1"
(4/10/86): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 ~E-W, 1.4'x0.7, bright
core, stellar nucleus. A small
group of four mag 11-13 stars lies roughly 4' SW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2907 = H II-506 = h607 on 31 Dec 1785 (sweep 503) and logged
"pB, S, lE, mb towards the sf side." JH recorded "F; bM; lE s f; 30" and measured an
accurate position.
******************************
NGC 2908 = UGC
5152 = MCG +13-07-034 = CGCG 350-029 = PGC 27831
09 43 31.6 +79
42 05
V = 14.1; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.5
17.5"
(4/6/02): faint, fairly small, round, 0.8' diameter, low but uneven surface
brightness. A mag 10 star is 6'
ENE. Located 35' NNW of a mag 6.1
star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2908 = H III-977 on 26 Sep 1802 (sweep 1111, his second to last
sweep) and logged "eF, vS, iF.
I also saw it with 300x."
Caroline Herschel's reduced position is 3' north of UGC 5152. This was one of 6 galaxies found by
Herschel that evening after Caroline discovered that the third list of nebulae
submitted to the Royal Society included only 497 nebulae, instead of the
intended 500. A few nights later
(30 Sep 1802) he made his last sweep for new nebulae and the last three nebulae
were found. Not observed by JH or
LdR.
******************************
09 36 59.9 +65
56 26
=**?,
Gottlieb. =NF, Thomson.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2909 = h605 on 12 Mar 1828 and logged "eF; S; psbM;
12"." There is nothing near his position and this object was not
recorded on any other sweeps to verify the position. RNGC and CGCG misidentify
******************************
09 30 29 -52 54
48
V = 7.2; Size 5'
18" (7/8/02
- Magellan Observatory, Australia): ~50 stars are resolved in an oval or
"racetrack" outline oriented NW-SE, perhaps 6'x4', with outliers making
the group rounder. Includes a
half-dozen stars brighter than mag 11.
The SE end of the oval has a rich subgroup over unresolved haze. No concentration, in fact the center of
the "racetrack" is nearly devoid of stars!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2910 = h3171 on 10 Apr 1834 and recorded "Cluster of loose
stars; p rich; stars 11...15m; has rather a vacancy in the middle; fills about
2/3 of field." On a later
sweep (763) he measured an accurate position on a bright star at the southeast
side of the cluster.
******************************
09 33 46.1 +10
09 09
V = 11.5; Size 4.1'x3.2'; Surf Br = 14.2; PA = 140d
17.5"
(2/20/88): moderately bright, fairly small, slightly elongated, bright core,
faint stellar nucleus. Brightest
in a group with
13.1"
(4/29/84): fairly bright, fairly small, round, distinctive small bright
nucleus.
8"
(4/24/82) : faint, small, diffuse.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2911 = H II-40 = h608 on 11 Mar 178 (sweep 163) and recorded
"A nebula between two pretty considerable stars. Brightest in the middle, but not cometic. Faint and perhaps 30" dia, almost
R and the extremities of it lose themselves gradually." He swept the field again on 3 Mar 1786
and discovered nearby NGC 2914.
******************************
NGC 2912
09 33 56.9 +10
11 33
V = 16.1
17.5"
(2/20/88): mag 14.3 star situated 3.6' NE of NGC 2911. Misidentified as a "nova" by
Schultz.
Herman Schultz
discovered NGC 2912 on 3 Apr 1870 with the 9.6-inch refractor at Uppsala
Observatory and recorded "eF; follows h608 [NGC 2911] some seconds about
2' N; but not observable".
I'm not sure of the meaning of his last comment but 1.3' ENE of NGC 2911
is PGC 27167, an extremely faint and small, low surface brightness galaxy,
which the RNGC identifies as NGC 2912.
But this galaxy
is too faint to be included in the CGCG and MCG and is extremely unlikely to
have been seen by Schultz with a 9.6" scope. I missed detecting this galaxy in my 17.5" and it was
not found by Bigourdan, though of course it was not difficult in Lowrey's
48". Instead, Corwin suggests
NGC 2912 more likely refers to a mag 14.3 star 3.6' NE of NGC 2911.
******************************
09 34 02.7 +09
28 45
V = 13.1; Size 1.1'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 140d
17.5"
(2/20/88): extremely faint, fairly small, even surface brightness.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2913 on 10 Mar 1864 with Lassell's 48" and recorded
"vF, pL, iR." His
position matches
******************************
NGC 2914 = Arp
137 = UGC 5096 = MCG +02-25-006= CGCG 063-010 = PGC 27185
09 34 02.8 +10
06 31
V = 13.2; Size 1.0'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 15d
17.5"
(2/20/88): faint, very small, slightly elongated. A mag 15 star is off the east edge 36" from the
center. A mag 11 star lies 1.6'
NW. Forms a trio with NGC 2911 4.8' NW and UGC 5093 4.8' S.
13.1"
(4/29/84): faint, very small, faint stellar nucleus.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2914 = H III-513 = h609 on 3 Mar 1786 (sweep 534) and recorded
"eF; vS; stellar; 240 verified it." His position is 1.4' NW of
******************************
09 26 13.0 -76
37 37
V = 12.7; Size 1.9'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 129d
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 260x appears moderately bright
and large, elongated 5:3 NW-SE, ~1.0'x0.6'. Appears slightly brighter at the NW end. An easy pair of mag 12-13 stars (25"
separation) lies 4.5' NW. Located
8.4' NE of a mag 8 star.
NGC 2915 is
classified as an unusual Blue Compact Dwarf. A significant percentage of its mass is within an extended
neutral hydrogen halo that extends to nearly 20'x12' and within a massive halo
of dark matter.
A very faint
globular, E3, lies 43' SSW. At
200x, three faint stars were resolved over a 1' low surface brightness hazy
glow with no concentration. In
addition two brighter field stars are situated at the outside edge of the
glow. At 260x, a fourth
superimposed star was glimpsed, though these are possibly line of sight stars
and perhaps the cluster, itself, was unresolved. Although situated 43' SSW of NGC 2915 the precise position
was pinned down moving 13' W of a mag 7.7 star using a 16" pair of mag
12/14 stars (situated at the midpoint of this line) as a reference.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2915 = h3174 on 31 Mar 1837 and logged "pF; pL; R; gbM;
45"." His position
matches
******************************
09 34 57.7 +21
42 19
V = 12.1; Size 2.5'x1.7'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 20d
17.5"
(1/31/87): fairly bright, moderately large, bright core, elongated
SSW-NNE. A mag 12.5 star is 1.7'
SSW of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2916 = H II-260 = h610 on 16 Nov 1784 (sweep 318) and recorded
"F, pS, lE." His
position (Caroline Herschel's reduction) is just off the south side of UGC
5103. George Stoney, using LdR's
72" on 9 Mar 1850, logged "D Nucl or D * in it, light unequal,
another * susp. preceding the brighter of the D one." His description matches a (single) star
superimposed just north of the nucleus.
******************************
09 34 26.9 -02
30 16
V = 13.6; Size 1.3'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 169d
17.5"
(2/13/88): faint, small, elongated NNW-SSE, brighter core. A mag 10 star (
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2917 = m 170 on 6 Feb 1864 and logged "pF, S,
mbM." His position matches
******************************
09 35 44.1 +31
42 20
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 65d
17.5"
(3/12/94): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 SW-NE, 1.0'x0.8', bright
core has a slight even concentration down to an occasional faint stellar
nucleus. Located at midpoint of
two mag 13.5 stars 2.5' S and 2.5' N.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2918 = H III-298 = h611 on 13 Mar 1785 (sweep 386) and logged
"vF, vS, iR, lbM." JH
recorded "F; R; vsbM almost to a *." and measured an accurate
position.
******************************
09 34 47.5 +10
17 01
V = 12.9; Size 1.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 159d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated NNW-SSE, halo gradually brightens. Flanked by two mag 13.5 stars 2.0' E
and 2.0' N of center. Two mag 9.5
stars are about 5' SE. NGC 2911
lies 18' WSW.
13.1"
(4/29/84): faint, very elongated NNW-SSE.
Located 17' ENE of NGC 2911.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2919 = T I-24 on 1 Feb 1877 and a micrometric position, matching
******************************
09 34 12.1 -20
51 33
V = 13.0; Size 0.9'x0.6'; Surf Br = 12.1; PA = 129d
17.5"
(3/8/97): faint, small, slightly elongated, 30"x25" (NW-SE?). A mag 15 star is just off the following
end about 20" from the center.
Forms a pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2920 = h3172 on 1 Feb 1837 and logged "eF; S; R: the
preceding of two [with NGC 2921]."
His position is ~1' E of
******************************
NGC 2921 = ESO
565-017 = MCG -03-25-006 = PGC 27214
09 34 31.3 -20
55 13
V = 12.0; Size 2.8'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 83d
17.5"
(3/8/97): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 ~E-W, 1.4'x0.8', broad
concentration to a 15" core.
A mag 14 star is just off the NW side [53" from the center]. Forms a pair with NGC 2920 5.8'
NW. Located 33' NW of
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2921 = H III-597 = h3173 on 24 Dec 1786 (sweep 663) and logged
"vF, S, R, vglbM. His
position is within 1' of
******************************
09 36 52.4 +37
41 41
V = 14.1; Size 1.1'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 103d
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 WNW-ESE, 1.0'x0.4', appears
brighter on the western half. A
string of mag 11.5-13.5 stars runs E-W through the 20' field including a mag
13.5 star 39" SW of center.
The western end of this unusual string begins at a mag 11.5 star which
is 2.7' W of NGC 2922 and ends at an 11th magnitude star which is 18' E of NGC
2922.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2922 = St XIII-48 on 18 Mar 1884. His position matches
******************************
09 36 03.8 +16
45 37
V = 14.2; Size 0.3'x0.3'
17.5"
(4/6/02): extremely faint, very small, round, 20" diameter. Required averted to glimpse
intermittently once exact position identified. Surprisingly faint and small for a mag 15.2z galaxy. Located at the western edge of a faint
group of galaxies (brightest member
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2923 = m 171 on 1 Apr 1864 and simply noted "vF". His position is 2' north of Marth's
position is 2' N of
******************************
09 35 10.8 -16
23 54
V = 12.0; Size 1.4'x1.3'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 150d
13.1"
(4/10/86): fairly faint, very small, round, faint stellar nucleus. A faint mag 14 star (similar in
brightness to the nucleus) is off the SE edge, 1.0' from center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2924 = h3175 on 12 Feb 1836 and logged "pB; R;
20"." His position
matches
******************************
09 33 11 -53 23
48
V = 8.3; Size 12'
14" (4/3/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): scattered cluster with 60+ stars mag 8.5 and
fainter in a 10' region. The
brightest stars roughly define the outline, including mag 8.5
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2925 = h3177 on 5 Jan 1837 and recorded "a pretty rich
cluster, 8th class; a double star (one of the chief) taken." His position is at the southeast edge
of the cluster and the double is HJ 4221.
******************************
09 37 31.0 +32
50 30
V = 13.4; Size 0.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 120d
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, fairly small, round, 45" diameter, unconcentrated. A mag 14.7 star is 1.5' SW. Located 4.3' S of mag 9.2
Johann Palisa
discovered NGC 2926 on 27 Mar 1886 with the 12-inch refractor at the Vienna
University Observatory. His
micrometric position in AN 2782 matches
******************************
09 37 15.2 +23
35 26
V = 12.9; Size 1.9'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 155d
17.5"
(4/15/93): faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, 1.2'x0.8', even
concentration in halo down to a very small brighter core, halo fades into
background. Located 14' WNW of mag
8.0
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2927, along with
******************************
09 37 10.1 +16
58 38
V = 14.2; Size 1.1'x0.6'; PA = 40d
24"
(2/22/14): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 0.6'x0.4', weak
concentration. Located 3.7' NW of
a mag 10.4 star. On a line with
17.5"
(2/1/03): very faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, 0.9'x0.5', low surface
brightness, weak concentration.
Located 3.7' NW of a mag 10.4 star. First in the NGC 2943 group which extends about 40' to the
east.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2928 = m 172 on 1 Apr 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
reported "vF, S, R, bM."
His position is 1' NW of
******************************
NGC 2929 = UGC
5126 = MCG +04-23-017 = CGCG 122-034 = Holm 134b = PGC 27398
09 37 29.9 +23
09 39
V = 13.7; Size 1.2'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 144d
17.5"
(4/15/93): first and largest of a close trio in a line. Faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1
NW-SE, 1.0'x0.3'. A mag 13 star is
1.7' NW. Located 10' NE of mag 7.1
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2929, along with NGC 2930 and 2931, on 21 Feb
1863. His position, measured on 3
nights, matches
******************************
NGC 2930 = MCG
+04-23-018 = CGCG 122-035 = Holm 134a = PGC 27404
09 37 32.7 +23
12 12
V = 14.1; Size 0.7'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.6; PA = 135d
17.5"
(4/15/93): second and faintest of three.
Very faint, small, elongated 4:3 NW-SE. A mag 13 star is 1.7' SW. In a tight trio with NGC 2929 2.8' SSW and NGC 2931 2.5'
NNE.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2930, along with NGC 2929 and 2931, on 21 Feb
1863. His position, measured on 3
nights, matches
******************************
NGC 2931 = MCG
+04-23-019 = CGCG 122-036 = Holm 134c = PGC 27415
09 37 37.7 +23
14 26
V = 13.9; Size 0.8'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 70d
17.5"
(4/15/93): third of three with NGC 2930 2.5' SSW and NGC 2929 5' SSW. Faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2
WSW-ENE, weak concentration. A mag
12 star is 2.6' E.
Heinrich
d'Arrest discovered NGC 2931, along with NGC 2929 and 2930 on 21 Feb 1863. His position, measured on 3 nights,
matches
******************************
09 35 54 -46 55
Size 60'
18"
(10/17/17 - OzSky): at 91x; it took a few minutes to identify the field with
certainty as the general region is fairly uniformly rich and no detached Milky
Way patches stood out. Using a printed finder chart, I identiied a few distinct
astermism within this Milky Way staar field. John Herschel referred to a very large field, 1 to 1.5
degrees, but my eye caught a brighter, more condensed region centered about 09
35 15 -46 52 that was noticeably elongated SW-NE and extended ~15'x6'. At the southwest end was mag 8.6 HD
83152 and at the northeast was mag 9.4
To the east of
this grouping is a much smaller 6' string oriented WSW-ENE (centered about 09
36.4 -46 58) with a mag 9.9 star
at the WSW tip. Close east is mag 8.6
This
observation, made at 2:30 AM with the object at an elevation of ~20°, completed
the entire NGC!
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2932 = h3179 on 3 Mar 1837 and recorded "This is about the
middle of an enormous cluster of 1 deg or 1.5 deg, very rich in stars of all
magnitudes, from 8m downwards, which merits registry as a sort of telescope
Praesape. It may be regarded as a
detached portion of the milky way."
RNGC classifies the number as nonexistent (Type 7).
******************************
NGC 2933 = UGC
5132 = MCG +03-25-008 = CGCG 092-015 = VV 808 = WBL 229-001 = PGC 27436
09 37 55.0 +17
00 52
V = 14.5; Size 0.9'x0.3'; PA = 30d
24"
(2/22/14): at 375x appeared faint, fairly small, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE,
24"x8", even surface brightness. Situated 1.6' NNE of a mag 10 star and 9' W of NGC 2943, the
brightest member of the group (WBL 229).
17.5"
(3/29/89): extremely faint, small, round, very diffuse. A mag 11 star is 1.5' SSW. Located 11' N of mag 7.9
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2933 = m 173 on 1 Apr 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
reported "F, vS, lE, sp of 2 [with NGC 2943]." His position is 1' N of
******************************
NGC 2934 = PGC
1523531
09 37 55.2 +17
03 16
V = 15.8; Size 0.4'x0.3'
24"
(2/22/14): at 375x appeared extremely to very faint, extremely small, round,
just 6" diameter. It took
some effort to initially identify and is comparable to a mag 15.9 star just
0.8' E. Situated 2.4' N of NGC
2933. This is the faintest of 7
NGC galaxies in the NGC 2943 group (WBL 229).
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2934 = m 174 on 2 Apr 1865 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
only noted "eF". Dreyer
added "nf of 2 [with m173 = NGC 2933], but NGC 2933 was discovered a year
earlier. His position is 3 tsec of
RA east and 2' N of NGC 2933. An extremely
faint edge-on is at the NE tip of NGC 2933 and UGC misidentifies this galaxy as
NGC 2934. Assuming Marth went back
to verify the group in 1865 and picked a nebula near NGC 2933, the most likely
candidate is
******************************
NGC 2935 = ESO
565-023 = MCG -03-25-011 = UGCA 169 = PGC 27351
09 36 44.8 -21
07 41
V = 11.4; Size 3.6'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 165d
17.5"
(2/28/87): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated NW-SE, high surface
brightness. A couple of mag 14
stars are superimposed and a mag 12.5 star is just off the SE end 2.1' from
center. Appears brighter at the SW
end. NGC 2921 lies 33' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2935 = H II-556 = h3178 on 20 Mar 1786 (sweep 542) and logged
"pB; cL; iR; vgbM." On
24 Dec 1786 (sweep 663) he noted "pB; vS; R; mbM." JH made two observations, recording on
sweep 561: "pB; vS; gmbM; lE; 25" l, 20" br."
******************************
09 37 44.2 +02
45 39
V = 13.1; Size 1.6'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 35d
48"
(2/20/12): bright disrupted galaxy with a highly irregular surface brightness
and a curving shape with a faint tail. At 375x and 488x, the central region is
extended E-W, roughly 30"x20", with a very small bright nucleus. A low surface brightness
"tail" is attached on the west side of the bright central region. The
relatively broad tail sweeps south-southwest for ~45", gradually dimming
out due west of the center of
Forms a close
pair with NGC 2937 to the south with the cores of the galaxies separated by
less than 1'. A mag 13 star is 1'
NW and just beyond is
17.5"
(3/25/95): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 4:3 E-W, 0.8'x0.6'. A mag 13/14 double star at 18"
separation is 1' NNW and two mag 13.5/14 stars at 36" separation are 2'
NNE. Forms a very close pair with
NGC 2937 0.8' S.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2936 = m 175 on 3 Mar 1864, along with NGC 2927, and simply noted
"vF, iR." His position
is 1' S of
******************************
NGC 2937 = Arp
142 NED3 = Arp 142:C1 = VV 316b = Holm 135b = UGC 5131 = MCG +01-25-007 = CGCG
035-015s =
09 37 45.0 +02
44 50
V = 13.7; Size 0.8'x0.4'; PA = 15d
48"
(2/20/12): bright, fairly small, oval 3:2 SSW-NNE, 0.5'x0.25', high surface
brightness, very small intense nucleus.
Forms a close pair with highly disrupted NGC 2936 with the cores of the
galaxies separated by less than 1'.
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, very small, round.
Appears as a fairly high surface brightness "knot" located
just off the south edge of NGC 2936.
No outer halo visible.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2937 = m 176 on 3 Mar 1864, along with NGC 2926, and noted
"F, S, like a neb*." His
position matches
******************************
09 38 24.0 +76
19 10
V = 13.5; Size 1.7'x1.0'; Surf Br = 14.0; PA = 105d
17.5"
(1/28/89): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, even surface brightness.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2938 = H III-963 on 2 Apr 1801 (sweep 1096) and logged "eF,
S, iF." This is one of 15 far
northern galaxies with large systematic errors. The corrected position using Greenwich plates (MN, 71, 509,
1911), matches
By examining the
original sweep records, Wolfgang Steinicke found that the irregular errors were
a result of the northern sweep not being aligned with the meridian (off in
azimuth by 7°). The reduced
positions found by Caroline Herschel, were made of course, assuming a meridian
sweep. Once corrected the
identifications of these 15 galaxies is revealed.
JH observed what
he assumed was his father's III-963, and recorded h612 as "eF; has a
coarse double star 3' following."
His position and description is very close to a mag 15 star. He used his father's description and
added "D * f 3'." in the GC description. The MN article equates h612 with a faint star preceding the
double star. So, NGC 2938 = UGC
5115 is only equated with III-963, and not h612.
******************************
09 38 08.1 +09
31 23
V = 12.5; Size 2.5'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 154d
17.5"
(2/20/88): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, bright core. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2939 = H III-4 = h614 on 18 Jan 1784 (sweep 82) and recorded
(full text) "A nebula. About
2/3 degree prec. & about 10' foll of 14 Leonis, a very faint nebula or cl
of suspected stars. A triangle is
situated just north of it, but the nebula is so faint that is best to be seen
when the stars are drawn out of the field. These 3 or 4 stars are visible in the finder in the shape of
a small nebula." His position
(from sweep 534 on 3 Mar 1786) is 3' northwest of
******************************
NGC 2940 = MCG
+02-25-012 = CGCG 063-023 = PGC 27448
09 38 05.2 +09
37 00
V = 13.5; Size 0.9'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9
17.5"
(2/20/88): faint, small, irregularly round, small bright core. Forms a pair with NGC 2939 5' S.
Wilhelm Tempel
discovered NGC 2940 = T 1-25 in
1877 with the 11" refractor at Arcetri and placed 5' N of NGC 2939 (the
actual separation is 5.6'). He
mentioned that d'Arrest missed this object.
******************************
09 38 24.2 +17
02 40
V = 14.4; Size 0.7'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 167d
24"
(2/22/14): fairly faint, small, elongated ~2:1 N-S, 20"x12", a mag 15
star is 1' NW. NGC 2943 (brightest
in the group WBL 229) is 2.2' ESE.
17.5"
(3/29/89): very faint, very small, slightly elongated. A mag 14 star is 1.2' NW. Located 2.2' WNW of NGC 2943 in a
group.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2941 = m 177 on 1 Apr 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
reported "eF, vS, lE."
Dreyer added "p of 2 [with NGC 2943]" in the NGC
description. His position is close
north of
******************************
09 39 08.0 +34
00 23
V = 12.6; Size 2.2'x1.8'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 165d
17.5"
(3/12/94): faint, round, moderately large, 2.0' diameter, very weakly
concentrated, halo reaches 2/3 of the way to a mag 14 star just 1.4' W of
center. A mag 11.5 star is 3.0'
ESE and a mag 12 star lies 4.6' WNW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2942 = h613 on 6 Mar 1828 and logged "vF; vL; lE parallel
to meridian; vgbM; has a * 10m following." His position and description matches
******************************
NGC 2943 = UGC
5136 = MCG +03-25-011 = CGCG 092-019 = Holm 136a = WBL 229-003 = PGC 27482
09 38 32.9 +17
01 52
V = 12.5; Size 2.2'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 130d
24"
(2/22/14): at 375x appeared moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2
NW-SE, ~40"x27", very weak concentration in then halo the increases
suddenly to a small bright core. A
mag 15 star is 0.9' SE of center and a mag 15.5 star is 0.7' SW of center.
Brightest in a group (WBL 229) with NGC 2941 2.2' WNW.
17.5"
(3/29/89): brightest in a group with NGC 2941 2.2' WNW and a faint companion
(
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2943 = m 178 on 1 Apr 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
reported "F, S ,iR, bM."
Dreyer added "f of 2 [with NGC 2941]" in the NGC
description. His position is
accurate. This is the 4th of 6
galaxies discovered in the cluster on this night (NGC 2944 was picked up a year
later).
******************************
NGC 2944 = Arp
63 = VV 82a = UGC 5144 = MCG +06-21-067 = CGCG 181-078 = PGC 27533
09 39 18.0 +32
18 38
V = 14.0; Size 1.1'x0.4'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 95d
48"
(4/18/15): At 697x, this double (or possibly triple) system appeared moderately
bright, very elongated 3:1 E-W, ~36"x12", weak concentration. A small roundish knot (SDSS
J093916.79+321837.7 ) attached at the west end has a moderately high surface
brightness and a diameter of 8"-10". On the SDSS this "knot" appears to be the core of
a merged interacting companion! VV
82b is another interacting companion, just 27" SE of center. It appeared extremely faint, very
small, round, 10" diameter.
It was only visible with averted for short periods. PGC lists a photographic mag of 18.6.
The double
system
18"
(4/14/12): faint to fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:3 E-W,
~30"x18", slightly brighter core.
The double
system Arp 129 lies just 3.8' NE.
The eastern component (
17.5"
(4/25/98): extremely faint, very small, elongated 2:1 ~E-W, slightly brighter
core but overall low surface brightness.
Collinear with two mag 13 stars 3.4' and 4.4' NE. This double system was not resolved
under noticeably hazy sky conditions and soft seeing.
Johann Palisa
discovered NGC 2944 on 27 Mar 1886 with the 12-inch refractor at the Vienna
University Observatory. His
micrometric position in AN 2782 matches
NGC 2944 is in
the Arp category of Spiral Galaxies with small, high surface-brightness
companions on arms.
Vorontsov-Velyaminov also considered this a pair of galaxies, although
******************************
09 37 41.1 -22
02 06
V = 12.2; Size 1.6'x1.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 168d
17.5"
(3/8/97): fairly faint, fairly small, slightly elongated, broad concentration
with no nucleus. A mag 14 star
follows 1.1' E of center and a mag 15 star is off the west end 0.8' from
center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2945 = h3180 on 23 Jan 1835 and recorded "F, S; R; glbM; 2
or 3 small stars near." His
position and description (two observations) matches
******************************
NGC 2946 = UGC
5143 = MCG +03-25-013 = CGCG 092-020 = WBL 229-004 = PGC 27521
09 39 01.6 +17
01 31
V = 14.0; Size 1.2'x0.4'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 13d
24"
(2/22/14): at 375x appeared fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 5:2 SSW-NNE,
25"x10", weak concentration.
Located 6.9' due east of NGC 2943 (brightest in the group WBL 229-004).
17.5"
(3/29/89): extremely faint, very small, elongated N-S. Located 6.7' E of NGC 2943 in a
group. On a line with three mag 14
stars just SE oriented NNW-SSE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2946 = m 179 on 1 Apr 1864 with Lassell's 48" on Malta and
reported "vF, S, E." His
position matches
******************************
09 36 05.8 -12
26 13
V = 12.4; Size 1.6'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 25d
17.5"
(3/25/95): fairly faint, round, 1.2' diameter, almost even surface brightness,
well-defined outer edge to halo.
Two mag 11 stars are off the SE edge 1.6' and 2.1' from the center. Incorrectly listed as nonexistent in
the RNGC.
Francis
Leavenworth discovered NGC 2947 = LM I-156 on 6 May 1886 and reported "mag
15.0, 1.1' dia, iR, gbM."
There is nothing at his rough position (nearest min of RA), but 2.2 tmin
west is
Stephane Javelle
independently discovered NGC 2947 on 20 Apr 1892 with the 30-inch refractor at
Nice and measured an accurate micrometric position. Dreyer assumed J. 1-165 was new and he recatalogued it as IC
547. Finally, NGC 2947 was
independently found by Lewis Swift on 20 Feb 1898, listed as XI-95, and
catalogued a third time as
******************************
09 38 59.2 +06
57 19
V = 12.9; Size 1.4'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 7d
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE, 1.2'x0.7', weak
concentration. A mag 14.5 star is
just off the east edge of the south extension 0.9' from center. Located between a mag 9.5 star 4.0' SW
and wide pair of mag 11/13 stars 3' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2948 = H III-519 = h615 on 24 Mar 1786 (sweep 543) and logged
"vF, pL, vgvlbM; between two groups of stars in a directions from np to
sf." His position matches UGC
5141.
******************************
NGC 2949 = CGCG
092-025 = PGC 27579
09 39 56.2 +16
47 15
V = 14.7; Size 0.8'x0.45'
17.5"
(3/29/89): extremely faint, very small, very low surface brightness, visible
with averted only. Located at the
east end of the NGC 2943 group.
This observation may refer to
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2949 = m 180 on 1 Apr 1864 and recorded "vF, query:
double?" His position maches
the double system
******************************
09 42 35.1 +58
51 04
V = 10.9; Size 2.7'x1.8'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 145d
17.5"
(3/12/88): bright, very small, almost round, sharp concentration with a very
small and very bright core surrounded by a small faint halo. A mag 14.5 star is 0.8' WSW of center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2950 = H IV-68 = h616 on 19 Mar 1790 (sweep 952) and recorded
"vB, S, exactly R, BMN, vF cheveulure very gradually joining to the
north. Possibly in a lower
situation the chevelure might be invisible, and this nebula put on the
appearance of a a very ill defined planetary, one of 6-8 or 10"
diam." CH's reduced position
is 2' south of
******************************
09 39 40.4 -00
14 07
V = 14.1; Size 0.6'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.1
17.5"
(2/13/88): very faint, very small, round.
Located 2' S of the line joining two mag 9.5 stars 3.1' NE (
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2951 = m 181 on 6 Feb 1864 and recorded "pF, S,
E." His position matches CGCG
007-017 = PGC 27562. This is a merged double system (the dimensions refer to
the combined system) oriented east-west.
******************************
09 37 37.0 -10
11 00
V = 14.5; Size 0.7'x0.5'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 9d
18"
(4/14/12): very faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Just visible continuously with averted
at 283x. Located 40' NW of mag 6.3
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2952 = LM II-414 in 1886 with the 26-inch refractor at the
Leander McCormick observatory and recorded "mag 15.5, 0.6' dia, iR, sbM,
*9.5 f 30s." There is nothing
at his position but 2.0 tmin west and 3' south is
******************************
09 40 27.7 +14
50 37
=*? Corwin, =NF,
RNGC.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2953 = h3182 on 18 Mar 1836 (along with
******************************
NGC 2954 = UGC
5155 = MCG +03-25-019 = CGCG 092-026 = PGC 27600
09 40 24.1 +14
55 22
V = 12.4; Size 1.7'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 160d
17.5"
(4/15/93): moderately bright, small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, bright core, fairly
high surface brightness. Located
on a line with two mag 12 stars 1.8' NNW and 2.5' NNW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2954 = h3181 on 18 Mar 1836 and recorded "vF; R; 20". Another suspected [NGC 2953] 6' south,
nearly on the same parallel. His
position is at the north edge of
******************************
09 41 16.6 +35
52 56
V = 12.9; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 162d
17.5"
(4/18/98): fairly faint, elongated 5:3 NNW-SSE, broad concentration to a
slightly brighter core. The core
contains a slightly brighter nucleus with direct vision. A mag 15 star is at the west edge
32" from the center. Located 2.2' N of a mag 12 star. There is a faint "star" 2' N
which seemed slightly nebulous in appearance, but the DSS reveals this to be a
close pair of mag 15 stars.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2955 = H III-541 = h620 on 28 Mar 1786 (sweep 549) and recorded
"cF; S; iF; resolvable." CH's reduced position is 2' north of UGC
5166. JH described h620 as
"F; pL' R' vglbM; 30"; has a *18 mag 30" p." The star is just where he placed
it, though close to 15th-magnitude.
******************************
09 39 17.0 -19
06 04
V = 14.4; Size 0.9'x0.3'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 55d
18"
(2/23/06): extremely faint, very small, round, 15" diameter. Forms the western vertex of an
equilateral triangle with sides of length 3' with a mag 10 star to the ENE and
a mag 11 star to the SE. I
couldn't hold this galaxy steadily using averted vision. The DSS reveals faint extensions to the
SW and NE that were not visible.
Frank Muller
discovered NGC 2956 = LM II-415 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at the
Leander McCormick Observatory and recorded "mag 12.0, 0.4' dia, R, *9.5 at
3.8' in PA 130° [SE]." His
position is 3.8' south of
******************************
09 47 18.2 +72
59 02
V = 14.5; Size 1.0'x0.4'
17.5"
(4/4/92): faint, very small, round, broad concentration. A mag 14 star is 25" off the SW
edge and 40" from the center.
Forms a pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2957 = h617 on 4 Nov 1831 and simply recorded "eF; has a
*13m near." There is nothing
at his position, but exactly 1 min of RA east is
Looking over the
RNGC data, it is clear that the entry for NGC 2957 is simply a duplicate of NGC
2963. This error was included in
my RNGC Corrections #4.
******************************
09 40 41.7 +11
53 18
V = 13.2; Size 1.0'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 10d
17.5"
(4/13/96): faint, fairly small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE. Broad and weak concentration with a
fairly low surface brightness. A
mag 12.5 star lies 4' WSW.
"Frosty Leo" nebula lies 13' NW. Observation made through thin clouds.
17.5"
(3/25/95): fairly faint, fairly small, 40" diameter, round, very weak
concentration. A mag 12 star lies
4.3' WSW.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2958 = St IX-20 on 7 Mar 1877 with the 31" reflector at the
Marseille Observatory. His
position matches
******************************
09 45 08.9 +68
35 41
V = 12.8; Size 1.3'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2
17.5"
(4/4/92): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 1.0' diameter, halo brightens to a
small bright core. A mag 14 star
is 1.3' W of center. Forms a close
pair with
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2959 = h618 on 28 Oct 1831 and logged "F; R; pL; vglbM;
40"; is south of a small group of stars." His position matches
******************************
09 40 36.4 +03
34 37
V = 12.4; Size 1.8'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 40d
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, fairly small, round, bright core, stellar
nucleus. Located 2.7' WNW of a mag
10.5 star.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2960 = h621 on 4 Mar 1826 and logged "vF; R;
gbM." His position is 6 sec
of RA east and 1.4' north of
******************************
NGC 2961 =
(R)
09 45 22.4 +68
36 30
V = 14.7; Size 1.1'x0.3'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 136d
17.5"
(4/4/92): extremely faint, very small, round, brighter core, averted only. Forms a close pair with NGC 2959 1.5'
WSW.
Lawrence
Parsons, the 4th Earl of Rosse, discovered NGC 2961 on 26 Dec 1873 during the
observation of GC 1893 = NGC 2959.
He noted it as "cF, S, lE 152.6°, gbM. Several stars near." His micrometric offset is 77.3" in PA 57.4° from NGC
2959. This is a good match with
******************************
09 40 53.9 +05
09 57
V = 11.9; Size 2.6'x1.9'; Surf Br = 13.6; PA = 3d
17.5"
(1/31/87): fairly faint, small, oval N-S, small bright core. Collinear with a mag 11.5/14 double
star at 24" separation just 1.5' NNE. A line of three mag 11/12 stars of 1.0' length lies 5' SSE.
Albert Marth
discovered NGC 2962 = m 182 on 10 Dec 1864 and noted "F, vS, vlE,
psbM." His position matches
******************************
NGC 2963 = UGC
5222 = MCG +12-10-003 = CGCG 332-065 = CGCG 333-003 = Mrk 122 = PGC 28155
09 47 50.4 +72
57 52
V = 13.5; Size 1.2'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 165d
17.5"
(4/4/92): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NNW-SSE, broadly
concentrated halo, faint extensions.
A wide double star mag 11/13 is 1.8' S of center (30" separation in
PA 45°). Forms a pair with NGC
2957 3' WNW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2963 = H III-315 = h619 on 3 Apr 1785 (sweep 390) and noted
"eF, vS, 240x confirmed it."
CH's reduced position is 2.4' northwest of
******************************
NGC 2964 = UGC
5183 = MCG +05-23-027 = CGCG 152-056 = Mrk 404 = KTG 25A = PGC 27777
09 42 54.2 +31
50 50
V = 11.3; Size 2.9'x1.6'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 97d
24"
(2/22/14): at 260x appeared bright, fairly large, oval 5:3 E-W, 1.8'x1.1'. Sharply concentrated with a very
bright, very small nucleus.
Slightly brighter through the major axis like a bar. Outside the nucleus the surface
brightness is irregular, with a slight dip in brightness just north and south
of the nucleus [dust or dust lanes].
A brighter arm extends E-W along the south side of the halo and a weak
arm runs parallel along the north side.
Brightest in a linear trio (
13.1"
(2/23/85): fairly bright, fairly large, elongated 4:3 E-W, brighter core. Brightest in a group with NGC 2968 5.8'
NE and NGC 2970 11' NE.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2964 = H I-114 = h622, along with NGC 2968, on 7 Dec 1785 (sweep
487) and recorded "cB, cL, iF, mbM."
This galaxy was
observed 14 times at Birr Castle and interesting structure was noted. On 1 Feb 1856, R.J. Mitchell described
"h622 [NGC 2968] has nucleus and is mE, its light is very unequal, and I
suspect one dark lane running throughout its length south of nucleus; * in
preceding edge?" The dark
lane probably refers to a dip in brightness between the nucleus and the
southern spiral arm.
******************************
09 43 19.1 +36
14 52
V = 13.4; Size 1.2'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 85d
17.5" (4/18/98):
fairly faint, elongated 4:3 ~E-W, 1.2'x0.8', gradually increases to a brighter
and nucleus with direct vision.
Located 3.5' NNE of a mag 11.5 star. Brightest in a group including
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2965 = H III-751 = h623 on 31 Dec 1788 (sweep 902) and logged
"eF, S, doubtful, not having been out long enough." On a second sweep in Feb 1789 he
recorded "eF, vS, 300x confirmed it." JH has an unusual description, "vF, R, bM, filamentous
(i.e. as if filaments hung round it; an effect probably of diverging lines of
small stars, as in
******************************
09 42 11.5 +04
40 23
V = 12.6; Size 2.2'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 72d
17.5"
1/31/87): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated WSW-ENE, unusual
appearance. A mag 13 star is
attached at the NW end 30" from center and a faint star is west of the
core.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2966 = St XIII-49 on 16 Mar 1884 and recorded "vF* in vF,
lE neby east-west, F* precedes 2 sec of RA" His position and description matches
******************************
09 42 03.3 +00
20 11
V = 11.6; Size 3.0'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.8; PA = 65d
17.5"
(1/31/87): fairly faint, moderately large, almost round, very gradual central
brightening.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2967 = H II-275 = h626 on 20 Dec 1784 (sweep 348) and recorded
"pF, S, R, bM, near 1' dia."
On a later sweep he logged "pB, cL, iR." His position (2nd sweep) is ~2.5' west
of
******************************
NGC 2968 = UGC
5190 = MCG +05-23-029 = CGCG 152-058 = KTG 25B = PGC 27800
09 43 12.0 +31
55 43
V = 11.7; Size 2.3'x1.6'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 45d
24"
(2/22/14): at 260x appeared fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 5:3
SW-NE, 1.2'x0.7', sharply concentrated with a very bright, small elongated
core. There appears to be a
mottled or knotty section just northeast of the core.
13.1"
(2/23/85): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, weak
concentration. Second of three on
a line with NGC 2970 5.1' NE and NGC 2964 5.8' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2968 = H II-491 = h624, along with NGC 2964, on 7 Dec 1785
(sweep 487) and logged "pB, pL, iF, lbM." JH observed this galaxy on 4 sweeps and 14 observations were
made at Birr Castle.
******************************
09 41 54.5 -08
36 11
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'x1.2'; Surf Br = 13.4
18"
(3/11/07): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 40" diameter, very weak
concentration.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2969 = H III-527 = h628 on 27 Mar 1786 (sweep 547) and logged
"cF, pL, iR, vgbM." His
position (CH's reduction) is 1.2' NW of
******************************
NGC 2970 = MCG
+05-23-030 = CGCG 152-059 = Mrk 405 = KTG 25C = PGC 27827
09 43 31.0 +31
58 37
V = 13.6; Size 0.6'x0.5'; Surf Br = 12.4
24"
(2/22/14): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, ~24"x20", sharp
concentration with a very small bright nucleus. Faintest in a nearly collinear triplet with NGC 2968 5' SW
and NGC 2964 11' SW.
13.1"
(2/23/85): very faint, very small, even surface brightness. Third and faintest of three on a line
with NGC 2968 5.1' SW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2970 = h627 on 6 Mar 1828 and reported "F; the foll and
most northern of 3 [with NGC 2964 and 2968]." His position is 2.4' NNW of
******************************
NGC 2971 = UGC
5197 = MCG +06-22-005 = CGCG 181-087 = CGCG 182-005 = PGC 27843
09 43 46.1 +36
10 46
V = 14.0; Size 1.1'x0.8'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 135d
17.5"
(4/18/98): very faint, small, irregularly round, 30" diameter, weakly
concentrated. A mag 11 star lies
7' W. Located 6.8' SE of NGC 2965
in a group.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2971 = St XIII-50 on 26 Mar 1884. His position matches
******************************
09 40 13 -50 19
18
V = 9.9; Size 4'
24"
(4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 200x, three dozen stars are
resolved in a 4' group. Most of
the stars are arranged in two intersecting rows forming an "X" shape.
One part of the "X" is a 2' E-W string through the center of the
group. A few brighter stars are
south of this string and these form another string that intersects and
continues to the NW. Also a
15" pair is less than 2' N of the E-W string. Located about 2.5' W of a brighter mag 9.4 star.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2972 = D 397 = h3183 on 9 May 1826 and recorded "a very
small faint round nebula, about 15 arcseconds diameter, with two or three
exceedingly small stars slightly involved in it, and another small star about
1' south of it." His position
is 6.6' too far ESE, within his usual errors. On the sweep of 18 Feb 1836, JH measured an accurate
position and described "a small pretty compressed cluster; irregular
figure; 4' in extent. Not rich stars, 13th mag."
******************************
09 41 32.4 -30
05 22
=** or ***,
Corwin
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2973 = h4018 on 5 Feb 1837 and recorded "eF, pS, *8
f"." It was included in
a "supplementary nebulae" list at the end of the Cape catalogue
(h4016 to h4021) which Dreyer identified as "h o n" (John Herschel
Omitted Object) in the NGC. There
is no nebula at his position, but nearby is a double star at 09 41 32.4 -30 05
22 (J2000). In addition, an 8th
magnitude star is 4' due east, matching JH's description. There is also a wider triple star at 09
41 34.7 -30 02 54, which is another candidate.
RNGC and ESO
misidentify
******************************
NGC 2974 = NGC
2652 = MCG +00-25-008 = CGCG 007-022 = UGCA 172 = PGC 27762
09 42 33.0 -03
41 59
V = 10.9; Size 3.5'x2.0'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 42d
13.1"
(4/29/84): moderately bright, fairly small, elongated 3:2 SW-NE, 1.4'x0.7',
diffuse, even surface brightness.
A mag 10 star is superimposed at the southwest end 0.7' from the center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2974 = H I-61 on 6 Jan 1785 (sweep 353) and logged "pB, vS,
just following a star of about 9m."
His position (5 sec of RA too large) and description matches
Ormond Stone
found the galaxy in 1886 at Leander McCormick Observatory (LM II-406) but made
a 1 hour mistake in RA and Dreyer recatalogued it as NGC 2652.
******************************
09 41 16.1 -16
40 28
V = 14.6; Size 0.7'x0.6'; Surf Br = 13.5
18"
(4/14/12): extremely faint and small, round, 10" diameter. Required averted vision and could only
hold for brief periods. There is a
mag 15.5 star 35" NE that also occasionally popped and it was a bit
confusing to disguish the two objects at 250x as they were about the same
magnitude. A couple of times the
galaxy and star both popped simultaneously.
Ormond Stone
discovered NGC 2975 = LM I-157 in 1886 with the 26" refractor at Leander McCormick
Observatory. His rough position
(nearest min of RA) is 1.0 tmin following and 1' north of
******************************
09 47 15.3 +67
55 00
V = 10.2; Size 5.9'x2.7'; Surf Br = 13.0; PA = 143d
17.5"
(2/8/91): bright, large, elongated 5:2 NW-SE, 4.5'x2.0', large brighter center
but no core, mottled with an irregular patchy surface brightness. A mag 13 star is at the west edge 1.0'
from the center and a mag 14 star is just off the NW edge 2.6' from
center.
8":
moderately bright, fairly large, elongated, even surface brightness.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2976 = H I-285 = h625 on 8 Nov 1801 (sweep 1100) and recorded
"vB, vL, E from np to sf, about 6' l and 2' br." JH made a single observation (sweep
411) and noted "B; vL; mE in pos = 332.4°; vgvlbM, 3' l, 1' br; has
several S stars in in, and one 12m nearly at right angles to the axis of
extension." Several involved
stars or nearby stars were micrometrically measured at Birr Castle.
******************************
09 43 46.7 +74
51 35
V = 12.5; Size 1.8'x0.8'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 145d
17.5"
(1/28/89): moderately bright, fairly small, oval NW-SE, large bright core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2977 = H I-282 on 2 Apr 1801 (sweep 1096) and logged "cB,
pL, iF." This is one of 15
far northern galaxies with large systematic errors. The corrected position using Greenwich plates (MN, 71, 509,
1911) matches
******************************
09 43 16.8 -09
44 45
V = 12.7; Size 1.1'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.5; PA = 85d
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, fairly small, round, even surface brightness. Situated among a group of 10 mag 13-14
stars and just west of a line connecting a mag 12.5 star 1.2' SSE and a mag 13
star 1.4' NE which have a separation of 2.1' N-S. Forms a pair with
Lewis Swift
discovered NGC 2978 = Sw III-46 on 10 Mar 1886 to the south of NGC 2980. His position is 16 sec of RA west and
1' south of
******************************
09 43 08.6 -10
23 01
V = 12.8; Size 1.7'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 30d
17.5"
(4/15/93): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 SSW-NNE,
1.5'x0.8', weak concentration.
Located 5.5' SSW of a mag 10.5 star.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2979 = H III-521 = h631 on 25 Mar 1786 (sweep 544) and recorded
"cF, pS, lE." His
position (CH's reductin) is just off the northwest edge of
Frank Muller
independently found this galaxy in 1886 and recorded in list II-418, "mag
14.0, 0.6' dia, vlE 200°, gbMN."
Dreyer assumed this was a new object and catalogued it again as NGC
3050. His position is 9 min of RA too large, but the description (specifically
the position angle) matches. So,
NGC 2979 = NGC 3050.
******************************
NGC 2980 = MCG
-01-25-028 = PGC 27799
09 43 12.0 -09
36 47
V = 13.0; Size 1.6'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 160d
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, broad weak
concentration. Pair with NGC 2978
8' S.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2980 = H III-528 = h632 on 27 Mar 1786 (sweep 547) and logged
"vF; L; E nearly in the meridian." His position is 6 sec of RA east of
******************************
NGC 2981 = UGC
5208 = MCG +05-23-032 = CGCG 152-062 = PGC 27925
09 44 56.6 +31
05 52
V = 13.6; Size 1.2'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 95d
17.5"
(4/18/98): very faint, small, round, 30" diameter, weak
concentration. A mag 12 star lies
1.0' SE of center. Observation
through thin clouds.
Samuel Oppenheim
discovered NGC 2981 on 27 Mar 1886 with the 12" refractor at Wien
University Observatory. His
micrometric position is 1.3' north of
******************************
09 42 00 -44 00
30
Size 12'x6'
14" (4/4/16
- Coonabarabran, 142x and 184x): bright, distinctive group of stars, roughly
10' x 6' E-W. About three dozen
stars are resolved with many of the brighter mag 10.5-11.5 stars in a zig-zag
pattern extending west to east.
The brightest mag 10 star on the southeast end forms a wide 30"
pair with an 11th mag companion.
Another mag 12.5/13.5 pair at 15" is less than 2' NE. A 4' line of four mag 11-11.5 stars oriented
NW-SE passes through the center and the remaining brighter stars are scattered
within the outline.
James Dunlop
discovered NGC 2982 = D 468 = h3184 on 24 Jun 1826 and recorded "a very
faint easily resolvable nebula, extended about 10' long, and 4' or 5' broad: no
central condensation." His
position is 8.5' west of the center of the cluster.
JH probably
found the cluster on 28 Feb 1837 and logged "a cluster of about 20* 11m,
and 2 of 10m, forming an oblong nearly in parallel; place of preceding *10m". But no bright star is near his
position. He modified the
declination 30' further north when he recorded this object as GC 1910 (repeated
by Dreyer in NGC) but this position does not correspond with a cluster
either. But an additional 10'
north of the GC/NGC position is this group of brighter stars and his RA matches
the southwest member of a wide pair of mag 10 stars at the southeast side of
the group. JH did not list an
equivalence with D 468, so he may have felt it was a different object due to the
discrepancy in position.
Lynga does not
list NGC 2982. MCG misidentifies
******************************
09 43 41.1 -20
28 38
V = 11.8; Size 2.5'x1.5'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 95d
17.5"
(2/28/87): fairly faint, bright substellar nucleus, faint halo 3:2
WSW-ENE. A very faint anonymous
galaxy is 5.0' SSW. Located 7.1
SSE of mag 6.7
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2983 = H III-289 = h3185 on 10 Mar 1785 (sweep 382) and logged
"vF; S; lbM. The (offset)
star being at such a distance the PD is marked uncertain." Still, his
position on this sweep was just 2' southeast of
******************************
09 43 40.4 +11
03 39
V = 13.4; Size 0.7'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.6
17.5"
(4/1/00): faint, small, round, 25" diameter, weak concentration. The halo, which fades at the edges,
increases to ~0.6' with averted vision.
A mag 14.5 star is close SSW (33" from center) and a slightly brighter
star lies 0.9' NE.
NGC 2984 forms a
pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2984 = H III-34 = h633 on 15 Mar 1784 (sweep 172) and recorded
"vS, the faintest imaginable.
I was a great while before I could verify its being a nebula; however
after having convinced myself with 240x, I saw it also very well with 157. The evening is uncommonly
beautiful." There is nothing
at his position (except stars), but 1 min 19 sec of RA west and 3.5' south is
Stephane Javelle
independently found the galaxy on 22 Apr 1892 and placed J. 1-168 (later IC
556) accurately. Karl Reinmuth
mentioned he couldn't find NGC 2984 in Dreyer's place using Heidelberg plates
and questioned if it was equal to
******************************
09 50 22.1 +72
16 44
V = 10.4; Size 4.6'x3.6'; Surf Br = 13.3; PA = 0d
17.5"
(4/4/92): bright, moderately large, irregularly round, gradually increases to a
very bright well-defined core, stellar nucleus. The faint outer halo extends to 2.0' diameter reaching a mag
12.5 star at the east edge of the halo 1.0' from center.
8":
moderately bright, bright core, fairly large.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2985 = H I-78 = h629 on 3 Apr 1785 (sweep 390) and recorded
"vB, cL, mbM and the brightness confined to a pretty small
space." His position is 35
sec of RA too far east (equivalent to 2.7'). JH logged "vB; R; pgmbM; 50"; has a *13 m
following 1' distant, exactly in the parallel." His position is 50 sec of RA too far west (only 4' at this
declination).
******************************
09 44 15.9 -21
16 41
V = 10.8; Size 3.2'x2.8'; Surf Br = 13.1; PA = 105d
17.5"
(2/28/87): bright, small, round, bright core, faint halo. A mag 14 star is 2.0' WSW. Forms a pair with
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2986 = H II-311 on 10 Mar 1785 (sweep 382) and logged "F,
pL, mbM. I partly suspect a very
small, faint one preceding it about a minute or two, but it may be only a few
close very small stars." The
comment about a "faint one preceding it about a minute or two"
appears to refer to ESO 566-004 (Steinicke concurs), which was also picked up
in my 17.5". WH observed NGC
2986 again during sweeps 542 ("cB; S; mbM; irr R") and 660, but did
not mention the companion, so it did not receive a H-designation of NGC number. Engelhardt measured an accurate
micrometric position.
******************************
09 45 41.4 +04
56 30
V = 13.0; Size 1.5'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.9; PA = 160d
17.5"
(3/25/95): faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 NW-SE, weak even concentration to
a small brighter core and a faint stellar nucleus. A mag 15 star is 1.4' SE.
Édouard Stephan
discovered NGC 2987 = St XIII-51 on 25 Mar 1884. His position matches
******************************
09 46 47.8 +22
00 42
V = 14.8; Size 0.9'x0.2'; Surf Br = 12.8; PA = 35d
17.5"
(4/15/93): extremely faint, very small, round, cannot hold with averted but
definitely seen, possibly elongated ~N-S.
Located just off the west side of
R.J. Mitchell
discovered NGC 2988 on 19 Feb 1855 with LdR's 72" and recorded "The
preceding one [NGC 2991] is double, its companion [NGC 2988] being close
preceding; lE sp nf?"
******************************
09 45 25.3 -18
22 27
V = 13.0; Size 1.7'x0.9'; Surf Br = 13.4; PA = 38d
13.1"
(4/10/86): faint, small, round, weak concentration. Collinear with a wide pair of mag 10/11 stars 3' SE with a separation
of 56".
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2989 = h3186 on 12 Feb 1836 and logged "F; R; gbM; precedes
a coarse D star." His
position is just off the southeast side of
******************************
09 46 17.2 +05
42 31
V = 12.7; Size 1.3'x0.7'; Surf Br = 12.4; PA = 85d
17.5"
(1/31/87): fairly faint, oval 3:2 ~E-W, 1.0'x0.7', weak concentration to a brighter
core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2990 = H II-624 on 29 Dec 1786 (sweep 672) and recorded "F,
lE, about 1.5' l, not far from the parallel." His position is 15 sec of RA too far west and 2.5' too far
south. Heinrich d'Arrest measured
an accurate position on 3 nights and noted the difference with WH's position.
******************************
NGC 2991 = UGC
5233 = MCG +04-23-033 = CGCG 122-078 = PGC 28079
09 46 50.1 +22
00 50
V = 12.6; Size 1.4'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.0
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated 4:3 NW-SE, even
concentration to a small bright core.
A mag 12.5 star is 1.1' SSE.
Forms a contact pair with NGC 2988 (discovered by Rosse) just off the
west edge.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2991 = h634 on 24 Feb 1827 and recorded "F; vS; bM. The s p of two [with NGC
2994]." His position is less
than 30" north of the center of
******************************
09 45 41.9 -14
19 37
V = 12.2; Size 3.5'x1.1'; Surf Br = 13.5; PA = 15d
48"
(2/19/12): this disrupted galaxy is sharply concentrated with a very bright
central region that is elongated ~5:2 SSW-NNE, ~1.0'x0.4'. The central region is well concentrated
with an intense core that brightens to a brilliant nucleus.
I initially
noted a faint arm extending 30" SSW of the central region but on a second
eyepiece look I noticed this arm is twice that length, though the surface
brightness is quite low in the outer portion. A long, brighter tidal arm stretches 2' NNE, placing the
central region off-center along the 3.5' major axis. This arm or tail has a low surface brightness though
brightens in a patch at the NNE end (2.2' NNE of center). A 2000 multi-wavelength study in
AJ,120, 1238 concludes this patch (identified as Arp 245N in NED) is a tidal
dwarf galaxy still in the process of formation. The western edge of the arm has
a subtle curvature. With averted
vision, extremely low surface brightness haze forms a bridge extending
southeast from the core of NGC 2992 towards
13.1"
(3/24/84): moderately bright, small, slightly elongated SSW-NNE, bright
core. Forms an interacting pair
with NGC 2993 2.9' SE.
13.1"
(3/3/84): fairly faint, small, roundish, small brighter core.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2992 = H III-277 = h635 on 8 Feb 1785 (sweep 371) and recorded
"Two [along with NGC 2993], vF, stellar, the most north and preceding [NGC
2992] is the largest. 240x showed
the same. Distance 3 or 4'. The place is that of the
preceding." His position is
~45 sec of RA too large (perhaps only recorded to the nearest min). JH measured an accurate position and
noted NGC 2992 as "Not vF; R; bM; 30"." Bindon Stoney noted a mottled
appearance with LdR's 72" in 1852.
******************************
NGC 2993 = Arp
245 NED 2 = MCG -02-25-015 = PGC 27991
09 45 48.3 -14
22 07
V = 12.6; Size 1.3'x0.9'; Surf Br = 12.7; PA = 95d
48"
(2/19/12): this is the smaller member of an excellent interacting pair (Arp
245) with NGC 2992 3' NW. At 488x
it appeared very bright, moderately large, sharply concentrated with an intense
central core that brightens to a very small brilliant nucleus. A single spiral arm is attached on the
north side of the core and just begins to sweep east, but fades out after a
length of ~0.6'. There is no
counterpart on the south side, but extremely faint haze or a bridge can be seen
with averted to the northwest of the core, extending towards NGC 2992. FGC 938, an extremely faint superthin,
was glimpsed 3.9' SW.
13.1"
(3/3/84): moderately bright, very small, round, weak concentration. A mag 13.5 star is 2' SSE. Forms an interacting pair with NGC 2993
2.9' NW.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2993 = H III-278 = h637, along with NGC 2992, on 8 Feb 1785
(sweep 371) and recorded both as "Two, vF, stellar, the most north and
preceding [NGC 2992] is the largest..." His position is poor in RA, but JH measured a very accurate
one.
******************************
NGC 2994 = UGC
5239 = MCG +04-23-035 = CGCG 122-082 = PGC 28122
09 47 16.1 +22
05 23
V = 13.1; Size 1.3'x1.0'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 125d
17.5"
(4/15/93): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 3:2 NW-SE, weak
concentration. Forms the western
vertex of an isosceles triangle with a mag 12.5 star 2.9' ENE and a mag 12 star
3.1' SE. In a trio with NGC 2991
and NGC 2988 7.5' SW.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2994 = h636 on 24 Feb 1827 and recorded "F; vS; R; bM. The n f of two [with NGC 2991]; pos 40°
n f." His position is 1'
southwest of
******************************
09 44 03 -54 36
18
=Not found, ESO.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2995 = h3189 on 5 Apr 1837 and noted a "Cluster VIII class;
at least 20* 11m and upwards, and many smaller." There is no clustering at his position and the ESO and RNGC
list the number as "not found" and "nonexistent",
respectively. Harold Corwin
suggests NGC 2995 may refer to a "clump of stars roughly 20-25 min across
centered about 10' north of JH's position." This scattered group (likely not a cluster) seems to fit
JH's description, though its been low on my priority to confirm from the
southern hemisphere.
******************************
09 46 30.1 -21
34 17
V = 12.5; Size 1.5'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.2; PA = 115d
17.5"
(4/1/00): fairly faint, fairly small, round, 40" diameter. Gradually increases to a brighter core
and occasional faint stellar nucleus.
View hampered somewhat by a mag 10.5 star just 1.1' NE of center.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2996 = h3187 on 23 Mar 1835 and logged "vF; S; has a * 20 m
1' following. There is nothing at
his position but 33 sec of RA east is
******************************
09 45 38.6 -31
11 25
V = 9.4; Size 8.9'x6.8'; Surf Br = 13.7; PA = 110d
48"
(4/22/17): Gorgeous grand-design spiral at 375x! Appeared very bright and large, with the arms stretching
roughly 7' E-W. The galaxy is
sharply concentrated with a round, intensely bright nucleus ~30"
diameter. The spiral arms were
sharply etched by intra-arm dust and appeared similar to a photograph of the
galaxy. One thick arm is attached
to the core on the west or southwest side. It curls counterclockwise on the north side towards the east
(fairly flat curvature) and includes a slightly bright patch on the northeast
portion [1.6' from center]. This
arm continues and bends south, passing just inside a mag 14.5 star [2.5' E of
center], and then quickly fading out to the south of this star. The second prominent arm is attached to
the core on its northeast side. It
curls counterclockwise to the east on the south and contains a brighter knotty
section (numerous HII regions are embedded) nearly 1' in length that's just
inside a mag 12 star 2.2' SW of center.
This arm turns abruptly to the north as it curls around the west side
and ends on the northwest side of the halo.
24"
(4/10/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): at 215x, this beautiful,
asymmetric face-on spiral extended ~7'x4.5' and was sharply concentrated with a
very bright 40" core. The
spiral structure is unusual with a very long, relatively thick arm that curves
from west to east on the north side of the core. This arm then bends south on the east side and contains a
very faint 20" HII knot situated northeast of the core [1.6' from center]
and symmetrically placed opposite a mag 12 star in the outer halo on the
southwest side. This HII region is
identified in NED as NGC 2997:[MM 81] 306, from the 1981 paper "Morphology
and Kinematics of the Ionized Gas in NGC 2997" by Milliard and Marcelin in
A&A, 95, 59. A mag 14.5 star
is near the end of this arm and due east of the core. To the west of the end of this arm the light level noticeably
dips (this is a gap between the arms) as well as on the southeast side of the
halo, giving an asymmetric appearance.
A second fainter
outer arm running roughly SW to NE also wraps around the galaxy on the west and
north side but at further distance from the core. This outer arm nearly reaches a mag 12 star on the southwest
side (the one opposite the knot mentioned above) and then can be followed with
more difficulty to the east where it attaches on the south side of the core.
13.1"
(1/18/85): fairly bright, very large, elongated 3:2 ~E-W, 4.5'x3.0', sharply
concentrated with a bright core, no nucleus. A mag 13 star is at the SW edge of the halo 2.0' from
center.
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2997 = H V-50 = h3188 on 4 Mar 1793 (sweep 1033) and recorded
"vF, vS, lbM, lE about 8' long and 5 or 6' broad, a little from sp to nf
about 10 or 15°." This galaxy
is the 5th most southerly object WH discovered.
James Dunlop
observed the galaxy on 7 May 1826 and recorded D 622 as "a faint
elliptical nebula, 2.5' long and 1.5' broad, with a small star involved in the
western margin. His position is
15' too far NE, but the star involved on the southwest side seems to confirm
the equivalence.
JH made two
detailed observations (h3188): on 28 Jan 1835 he logged "pB, vL, R, very
suddenly a little brighter in the middle, to a pretty distinct round nucleus
4" in diameter. Diameter of nebula = 15 sec of time. The nebulous
atmosphere extremely dilute. A very remarkable object." On a later sweep he recorded "F,
vL, first very gradually then very suddenly much brighter in the middle, to a
nucleus (exactly like Halley's comet) as now (Feb. 16, 1836) seen in the
equatorial; round; diam. in RA = 24 seconds. Has a 11th mag star S.p. just at
the edge."
******************************
09 48 43.6 +44
04 52
V = 12.5; Size 2.9'x1.3'; Surf Br = 13.9; PA = 53d
48"
(5/14/12): at 488x appeared bright, fairly large, elongated 2:1 SW-NE,
~2.4'x1.2', well concentrated with a large bright core that gradually increases
to the center. Weak spiral
structure is evident at the SW and NE ends. Brightest in a quartet with NGCs 3005, 3006 and 3008. In addition,
17.5"
(2/8/91): fairly faint, fairly small, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, weak even
concentration. A mag 11 star is
3.0' SW and a mag 13 star 1.9' NNW of center. Brightest in a group including
William Herschel
discovered NGC 2998 = H II-717 = h638 on 15 Jan 1788 (sweep 800) and logged
"F, pL, iF, lbM." JH
recorded "pB; irreg R; bM; resolvable." His position is 12 sec of RA too far east and 1' north of
******************************
NGC 2999 = NGC
2972 = ESO 212-SC15
09 40 13 -50 19
18
V = 9.9; Size 4'
See observing notes
for NGC 2972.
John Herschel
discovered NGC 2999 = h3192 on 13 Apr 1834 and described "a small irreg cl
of a long triangular diverging figure; contains perhaps 50 stars 12...15m. Observed for Δ397, and place only
rough. Possibly the same object
with sweep 680, No. 27, which see above (No. 3183 [= NGC 2972])." There is nothing near his position.
Brent Archinal suggests NGC 2972 = NGC 2999 (the description applies), although
JH's "rough" position is 5 tmin too large and Harold Corwin
concurs.
******************************