NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 4747 is the distorted companion of NGC 4725, one of the largest ringed galaxies in the northern sky. The center of NGC 4747 is dominated by a bright, bar-like structure defined by a row of several knots. I've taken the position of the galaxy to be that of the brightest of these knots as seen on the DSS2 infrared image. However, the SDSS position is centered on a compact red knot (perhaps a superposed star?) that the 2MASS PSC also picked up in addition to the brighter knot to the southwest. Perhaps coincidentally, the 2MASS XSC also uses this knot to define the position of the galaxy. This red knot may be the nucleus of the galaxy, so I have given it a separate entry "N4747 nuc?" in the position table. Unfortunately, I could not find a spectrum of this particular object, so do not yet know if it is indeed the nucleus, a superposed star, or just another knot in the galaxy's bar.

===== NGC 4747 13.1" (5/26/84): fairly faint, moderately large, very elongated 3:1 SW-NE, 3'x1', diffuse, low even surface brightness. Located 22' NE of NGC 4725.