NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort
(This is a very very beta version)
NGC4512
Basic Information
Location and Magnitude
Right Ascension: 12:32:47.6
Declination: +63:56:22
Constellation: DRA
Visual Magnitude: 12.2
Historic Information
Discoverer: Herschel J.
Year of discovery: 1832
Discovery aperture: 18.3
Observational
Summary description: pB, S, R, psbM
Sub-type: S0-a
Corwin's Notes
=====
NGC 4512 is probably NGC 4521. Steve Gottlieb has questioned the identity of
NGC 4512 as given in the modern catalogues. CGCG, UGC, and MCG all point to
UGC 7700 at 12 32 32.9 +63 52 47 (J2000) as N4512. However, this object is
a pretty faint, low surface brightness spiral, and does not at all match JH's
description, "pB, R, psbM; 20[arcsec]".
Reinmuth (1926) suggested that this may be the same as NGC 4521. I looked at
the field, and at all the objects which John Herschel found in Sweep 412
(N2909, 3231, 3392, 3394, 3622, 3682, 4108, 4210, 4221, 4332, and 4441, as
well as 4512; there are no significant systematic offsets in Sir John's
positions from the true positions), and only see one other possible candidate
for N4512: N4510 (curiously, d'Arrest calls this a very small cluster; his
position is accurately on the galaxy, though). This is just 30 arcmin north
of JH's position, and a bit preceding. However, JH calls the object "pB", the
same as N4521 which is 1.2 mag brighter than N4510. Aside from that, though,
JH's description fits N4510 pretty well. But the magnitude difference makes
me cautious about accepting the identity. In addition, N4521 is closer to
JH's position for N4512. Everything considered, N4521 is the better match, so
is the object that I've adopted as N4512.
Steve's Notes
=====
NGC 4512
See observing notes for NGC 4521. Identification uncertain; this number may be identical to NGC 4510.