NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 3627 48" (4/13/10): this showpiece galaxy stretches 7'x3' N-S. The central region is dominated by a prominent, 3'x1.2' central bar that is elongated NNW-SSE. The central region has a mottled, irregular surface brightness and increases gradually towards the center and then suddenly to a very bright, stellar nucleus. A very faint star or HII knot was seen at the very north tip of the bar [confirmed as #44 in Hodge's "Second Survey of HII regions in Galaxies", ApJS, 27, 113 (1974)]. The longer, better defined arm is attached at the north end and sweeps directly south along the western flank of the galaxy for a total length of ~5'. The western edge of this arm is very well defined as it fades to the southern tip, though the inner edge merges with the glow within the central region. The arm and bar are brightest where they join at the north end of the central region. The second spiral arm is attached at the south end of the bar and shoots north on the eastern side of the galaxy. This arm fades after a shorter distance, so is not as prominent, but is brightest at the root, as it emerges from the bar. A mag 9.8 star lies 3' NW of center at the outer edge of the halo. 17.5" (1/31/87): very bright, large, elongated N-S, 5'x3', bright elongated core contains a stellar nucleus. Two spiral arms are visible although the western arm is more prominent. 13.1" (4/24/82): bright elongated core, stellar nucleus. A diffuse spiral arm extends south and a second short arm extends to the east. A dark patch is visible just east of the nucleus.