NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 3172 48" (10/26/16): at 375x and 488x; fairly bright, moderately large, round. Sharply concentrated with a very bright round core that increases to the center and a low surface brightness 45" halo. A mag 12.5 star is 1.5' separation (NW) and a mag 16-16.5 star is within 1' (50" S). MCG +15-01-010, at 1.6' separation (WSW), appeared fairly faint, fairly small, ~35" diameter, slightly elongated, weak concentration. Visible continuously with direct vision though fairly low surface brightness. A mag 16.7 star is 16" W at the edge of the halo. 2MASX J11503836+8907109, at 1.8' separation (NNE), appeared extremely faint and small, ~6" diameter. A mag 15.7 is 25" away. At 610x, the galaxy popped as a thin, low surface brightness edge-on, ~20"x6". 24" (9/15/12): fairly faint, small, round, 25" diameter, well defined halo, broad weak concentration with a very small brighter nucleus. A mag 13 star is 1.5' distant (NW) and a very faint mag 16.5 star is 50" S. 18" (8/1/11): faint, very small, round, 20" diameter, brighter core. A mag 13 star lies 1.5' NW. MCG +15-01-010, an extremely faint companion just 1.6' W, was marginally glimpsed though difficult to confirm. 17.5" (7/16/93) : faint, very small, round, 0.5' diameter, very small brighter core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 13 star is 1.5' NW. This is the closest NGC galaxy to the North Celestial Pole and is known as "Polarissima Borealis". 17.5" (11/14/87): very faint, small, round, brighter core, faint stellar nucleus, can hold steadily with averted. A mag 12.5 star is 1.5' distant. 17.5" (8/1/86): faint, brighter core, fairly small, round. A mag 13 star is within 2'.