NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 3997 is the second brightest galaxy in a group of three found by WH in 1785. JH found it again 40 years later during his northern sweeps from Slough, and LdR and his observers noted over a dozen companions in the area. All these are in NGC, and Dreyer has the numbers pretty well sorted out (though NGC 4009, which see, is a star; and NGC 4007, which also see -- due to a 2 deg error in GC or in CH's reduction -- is identical to NGC 4005 also seen by Otto Struve at St. Petersberg). However, Dreyer, in his 1912 Scientific Papers of WH, has put the number H III 324 on NGC 3993, presumably because it is the closest galaxy northeast of H III 323 (= N3987). WH says only, "Suspected another nf, eF, 5 or 6 arcmin dist, pretty sure." Though his estimated distance falls directly between N3993 and N3997, the latter galaxy is brighter, larger, and (in the central regions at least) has a higher surface brightness. So, I'm pretty sure that it is the one seen by WH. As I noted above, it was also seen by JH -- it is, in fact, the only one of the group seen by him. He rather confused the issue a bit by listing it as "III 323" in his 1833 catalogue.

===== NGC 3997 24" (3/22/14): moderately bright to fairly bright, moderately large, irregular, ~1.0'x0.7'. Contains a small brighter core embedded in a curving bar oriented ~E-W. There was an impression of weak spiral arms in the halo. Bracketed by two mag 12.5-13 stars just off the east and southwest side. Brightest and fourth in a string with NGC 3993 3' SW and NGC 3987 7.7' SW. 17.5" (3/19/88): faint, small, elongated ~E-W (central bar), small bright core. Bracketed by two mag 12 stars 0.9' E and 0.9' SW of center. Member of the NGC 4007 group.