NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 5996 48" (5/15/12): NGC 5996 is the brighter member of an interacting pair (Arp 72) with NGC 5994. At 488x it appeared quite bright, elongated over 2:1 SSW-NNE, though the brightest central section (bar) is elongated ~E-W. The galaxy is well concentrated with a very bright, elongated core or bar. It has an asymmetric appearance with a long, bright arm attached on the east side. This arm hooks southwest towards NGC 5994 and appears slightly clumpy (a knot in the arm is 24" S of the center). On the west end of the bar a shorter arm shoots straight north and fades quickly as it starts to hook east, with the brightest portion near the connection with the bar. 17.5" (5/14/88): moderately bright, fairly large, elongated ~N-S, bright core, faint stellar nucleus. A mag 14 star lies 1.5' S. Forms a close interacting pair (Arp 72) with NGC 5994 1.5' SW.