NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 891 48" (10/25/11): at 375x, the stunning edge-on NGC 891 was one of the top highlights of the observing week with the 48". The galaxy nearly filled the 16' field, stretching nearly 12' by 2' SSW-NNE. A 17th magnitude star is superimposed close to the NNE tip and a mag 16.5 star is near the SSW end. The brighter, bulging central region extends 2.5' with a mag 12 star just north of the core on the west side. A similar star is superimposed on the southern extension along with a few fainter stars. A very high contrast dust lane slices through most of the galaxy except at the tips, where the galaxy fades out. I was surprised how broad the dust lane appeared, particularly through the central section. Although the dust lane perfectly bisects the galaxy into two symmetric halves, the edge of the lane was ragged and uneven. MAC 0222+4222 = ZOAG G140.39-17.38 was visible just off the east edge, 2.3' NNE of center and collinear with two mag 12 and 13.3 stars off the west edge of the galaxy. It appeared as a very faint, elongated glow, ~15"x6". Once identified I could hold this galaxy nearly continuously with averted vision. In addition, an extremely compact anonymous galaxy is just 50" NW the center of NGC 891 and 40" SE of the mag 13.3 star. It was visible continuously at 375x and 488x as a faint glow, roughly 6" diameter. Surprisingly this object is not listed in NED, HyperLeda or SIMBAD, though it's probably no fainter than mag 16.5. 18" (8/26/06): the long, remarkable dust lane that bisects this galaxy was quite contrasty with a scalloped appearance along the edges. Member of the NGC 1023 Group. 17.5" (8/31/86): bright, extremely large, edge-on 5:1 SSW-NNE, 10'x2'. A striking dust lane bisects the galaxy and is most prominent through the bulging central region. 13" (9/11/82): dust lane visible with averted. 8" (11/28/81): fairly bright, large, edge-on, central bulge. 80mm (11/13/07): I was surprised how evident the galaxy appeared at 25x in the 80mm finder.