NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 3034 = M 82. The position for this large, bright irregular galaxy depends strongly on wavelength. The brightest optical knot is not coincident with the radio "nucleus" nor with the brightest infrared knot. And there are several bright X-ray sources scattered throughout the galaxy. The position I've finally chosen is the brightest 2MASS point source in the H and K bands. It looks like a good compromise position and represents the galaxy well enough. All the positions I've listed, though, fall within the boundaries of the galaxy, and there is of course no identification problem. But note that this is one of the few Messier objects which also received a number -- IV 79 -- in WH's catalogue. I've found it curious that WH put it in with his "planetary" nebulae, but it is the last of that class that he found. It was actually published, along with seven other of WH's unpublished nebulae, by JH as an appendix to his (JH's) list of nebulae and clusters in the CGH observations.

===== NGC 3034 48" (4/15/10): stunning view at 330x with numerous irregular dark rifts slicing up the mottled, clumpy surface. Several very small, bright knots or condensations (Super Star Clusters - SSCs) are just west of a dark wedge that pierces the galaxy on the south side and tapers as it cuts across the center at an oblique angle. The very bright section of the galaxy to the northeast of the dark absorption wedge also displays mottled structure. Another prominent dark inclusion cuts into the galaxy from the north on the northeast side of the galaxy. A very faint extension of low surface brightness haze (the superwind outflow) bulges out from the main portion of the galaxy on the south side. This glow is west of the dark wedge and east of a mag 10.5 star located 5.8' SW of center. On images this large bulge appears to explode out from the galaxy with filamentary structure. Overall, there was too much visible structure to describe from a couple of minutes at the eyepiece. 17.5" (10/12/85): very bright, large, edge-on 4:1 WSW-ENE, 10' x 2.5', large bright irregular core. Very mottled with an unusually high surface brightness. Unique appearance with several dark cuts oblique to the major axis including a prominent wedge or cut nearly through the center. A mag 10 star is just south of the SW end 5.8' from the center 13" (11/5/83): two obvious dark lanes. 8": bright, spindle, mottled. A dark wedge cuts into the galaxy near the center from the south side. 10x50 binoculars: faintly visible though easier in 15x50's.