NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 4731 48" (4/2/11): this is an amazing stretched barred spiral with a long, thin central bar oriented NW-SE and long extensions (spiral arms) at the northwest end gently curving west, along with one at the southeast end of the bar extending east. The entire galaxy forms a very distinctive integral sign outline, stretching 5' E-W! The bar is very bright and very elongated, ~4:1 NW-SE, 1.6'x0.4'. The arm on the east side is slightly brighter and longer. It seems to fan out and become patchy near the end. A 15th magnitude star is at or just beyond the tip. The western arm curves gradually to the south and faint haze extends from the arm to the south increasing the total size. A mag 14 star is just south of the bar and a small triangle of fainter stars is north of the bar. A faint, very small HII knot (NGC 4731:[HK83] 21/22) is squeezed between the triangle of stars and the bar. NGC 4731A was picked up 10' SSE and appeared moderately bright and large, irregularly round, ~0.6' diameter, broad concentration, brightens gradually to the center. A faint star or knot at the SW edge was not noticed in a quick observation at 375x. 17.5" (5/17/90): faint, fairly small, round, weak concentration, diffuse. A mag 10.5 star is 4' N. Pair with NGC 4731A 10' NNW. 17.5" (5/17/90): fairly faint, large, very elongated 3:1 WNW-ESE, low even surface brightness. A mag 14 star is just south of the nucleus. Forms a pair with NGC 4731A = MCG -01-33-027 10.5' SSE.