NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 1961 = IC 2133 is another of the identifications that Dreyer himself made. He has the long explanation in a note in his 1912 edition the Scientific Papers; briefly, WH's comparison star had incorrect coordinates in one of the catalogues that CH was using during the reduction. When the right coordinates are used, WH's position is still 22 seconds out, but the identity with Bigourdan's object (Big. 385 = IC 2133, which see) is certain. There is nothing else nearby that WH could have mistaken for the galaxy.

===== NGC 1961 48" (10/23/11): at 375x, this distorted spiral appeared very bright, very large oval nearly 2:1 E-W, ~3.6'x2.0', highly asymmetric appearance. Contains a very bright, large oval core that is clearly offset to the north side of the galaxy! A large arm sweeps E-W along the south side of the halo. A broad dust lane runs parallel to the arm on the inside. Surrounding the core are shorter inner spiral arms including an arm just north of the core that sweeps west and bends south. A mag 13.5 star is superimposed just inside the dust lane, 30" SSE of center. 17.5" (12/8/90): moderately bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 E-W, weak concentration, small bright core. A mag 13 star is 30" SSE of center and a mag 12 star is just off the west edge, 2.4' from center. There appears to be a dark patch between this star and the core. Forms a pair with CGCG 329-011 7.6' NE (not seen). 8" (10/13/81): faint, moderately large, bright core, diffuse, elongated, star involved.