NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 5312. Steve Gottlieb has suggested that WH never saw this galaxy, and that his observation (H III 422) applies to NGC 5321 instead. Here is his email note from July 2014 in full. Take a look at H's observation of internal numbers 1074 and 1075 on 2 May 1785 (sweep 406), which became III-422 and III-423 and eventually NGC 5312 and NGC 5318. He recorded "Two, eF, stellar, the time and number taken between them. The northern one is the faintest; distance about 4 or 5' not far from the meridian." His position is 5' south of NGC 5318 = UGC 8751, the brightest galaxy in the group, and 2' southwest of NGC 5321 = CGCG 190-065. The separation of these two galaxies is 4.6' with a position angle of 160°, an excellent match with H's description, except the northern galaxy (NGC 5318) is brighter. This strongly suggest III-422 = NGC 5318 and III-423 = NGC 5321. JH observed all three of the brightest galaxies here -- NGC 5312, 5318 and 5321. He assumed his father's III-422 applied to NGC 5312 = h1676 and declared NGC 5321 = h1680 a "Nova". As a result, JH is credited with the discovery of NGC 5321 in the GC and NGC and WH is credited with NGC 5312. But NGC 5312 is over 10' separation from NGC 5318 (double H's estimate) and furthermore the orientation (PA 240°) doesn't match his description ("not far from the meridian"). So, I'm suggesting WH never observed NGC 5312 and the catalogue equivalences should be III-422 = GC 3670 = NGC 5321 [and] h1676 = GC 3664 = NGC 5212. This strikes me as a reasonable suggestion, and involves only moving III 422 off NGC 5312 and on to NGC 5321. However, in response, Wolfgang suggested putting WH's numbers on the two galaxies in RA order. This would give us III 422 = NGC 5318 and III 423 = NGC 5321. I must admit that, on reflection, I favor this assignment, too. No other identification changes are needed, and the NGC positions are pretty good, so the NGC identifications are not affected. Also see NGC 5318 and NGC 5319 for more on the group.

===== NGC 5312 18" (5/16/09): fairly faint, small, slightly elongated, 25"x20", small bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 15 star is less than 1' S. Located 11' SW of NGC 5318. 17.5" (5/22/93): faint, small, slightly elongated, very small bright core, stellar nucleus. A mag 15-15.5 star is 0.9' S. First in the NGC 5318 group with NGC 5318 10' NE and NGC 5321 11' E.