NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

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NGC3271

 

Basic Information


Location and Magnitude


Right Ascension: 10:30:26.5
Declination: -35:21:36
Constellation: ANT
Visual Magnitude: 11.8

Historic Information


Discoverer: Herschel J.
Year of discovery: 1834
Discovery aperture: 18.3

Observational


Summary description: pF, S, E, pmbM, 4th of 4
Sub-type: SB0

Corwin's Notes

===== NGC 3271 = IC 2585 has an error of 20 seconds in its NGC RA. The NGC identity is not in doubt as it is one of the four bright galaxies in the area, and JH has four nebulae in a group listed in his CGH Observations. However, his observations are a bit confused since he mentions a fifth nebula "... more remote and brighter ..." in his description for NGC 3268. Since there are only the four entries (corresponding to N3267, N3268, N3269, as well as N3271) in his CGH list, and since he mentions only four nebulae appearing in the diagram (not published) made during Sweep 571, we now have no way of knowing where he saw his fifth nebula. Aside from the 20 second RA error, the positions he adopted from the diagram for the CGH list and the GC (copied into the NGC, of course) are good enough to unambiguously identify his four listed objects, so it is unlikely that any of them are the fifth object. It's also clear that Stewart picked up the galaxy (on a Bruce plate taken at Arequipa) because of the RA error. Thus, it also carries the IC number. However, Stewart makes no mention of any of the NGC objects in the group. This is particularly puzzling since he obviously thought that N3271 was missing. Still, his position for it is good, and the identity with IC 2585 is secure.

Steve's Notes

===== NGC 3271 17.5" (3/28/87): fairly faint, moderately large, oval NW-SE, small bright core. Appears similar to NGC 3268 5.7' WNW which is the brightest in the group. Fifth of five in the field in the Antlia Cluster (NGC 3257-3281).