NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 5128 48" (4/13/10): at 330x there was a fascinating amount of structure in the wide, equatorial dark lane that bisects the galaxy. The dust lane varied in width with fine structure along its ragged, crenated edge. The interior of the dust lane also varied in brightness with a bright patch close to the center, just following a bright, mag 12 star near the south edge of the lane. This patch is elongated with some structure and may be the visible portion of the obscured core. Clouds interrupted this brief observation. 24" (4/11/08 - Magellan Observatory, Australia): I didn't take detailed notes with the 24", but the appearance was mesmerizing at 200x. The equatorial dust lane was more full of contrast and exhibited finer texture and scalloped detail at the edges than I've observed previously in smaller scopes from Australia. 20" (6/29/02 - Bargo, Australia): at 230x, Cen A nearly fills the 15' field. The 15'x1' dark rift is fascinating with a scalloped, wavy edge and a thin streak is easily visible near the center within the rift. This was easily the most detailed view I've ever had of Centaurus A. 12" (6/29/02 - Bargo, Australia): at 186x, Centaurus A appeared very bright with a large, prominent dust lane cutting a dark swath through the center from NW-SE. The SW hemisphere is a bit larger and more prominent and contains a bright star. There is a mag 12 star within the dust lane (west of center) with two very faint stars at both NW and SW borders of the lane. Some faint haze is superimposed near the center of the dark rift, following the star superimposed on the lane. 17.5" (3/12/88): bright, large, very large prominent dust lane oriented NW-SE. The SW hemisphere is larger and brighter. A star is superimposed at the south edge of the dust lane (west of center) and a bright star is superimposed on the SW hemisphere (south of center). 13" (4/24/82): wide dust lane bisects galaxy with the southwest hemisphere dominating in terms of size and brightness. A very faint star is at the SW edge of the dust lane.