NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 6745 is the southern component of a double interacting system. Until the SDSS image appeared, the interpretation of this interesting star-forming galaxy was dependent on the wavelength of the detectors used to examine it; I had taken it to be a triple system. The SDSS, however, shows two galaxies, a brighter distorted spiral to the south, and a low-surface-brightness barred dwarf irregular to the north, apparently joined by a distorted, knotty arm from the spiral. The DSS2 infrared image shows this configuration almost as clearly as the SDSS. I've given positions for these objects, and have renamed them from my earlier lists, following the SDSS images and my usual conventions.

===== NGC 6745 48" (10/24/11): we observed the "Bird's Head" galaxy at 488x and 610x and the same detail visible in the April observation was seen. In addition, I took notes on the detached companion (PGC 200361), which was immediately noticed just off the north edge of NGC 6745 and appeared very faint, small, elongated 3:2 N-S, ~12"x8". With averted vision it was visible most of the time. 48" (4/1/11): this interacting galaxy pair or triple was a fascinating sight at 488x. The main body is bright, very asymmetric, extending 2:1 N-S, ~1.1'x0.5'. The brighter east side is noticeable curved or bulging to the east and bends on the north end towards the west. A thin strip along the eastern edge glows brighter. The western edge of the main galaxy is relatively straight and dimmer. The south end has a fairly blunt or rectangular appearance. At the north end, a very unusual bright spike or "bird's beak" with a high surface brightness juts out of the main body, perhaps 12"x4" (catalogued as NGC 6745 NED03 = PGC 200362 = KTG 69B). A very faint, very small detached glow, ~5" diameter, is just north of the "beak" (catalogued as NGC 6745 NED02 = PGC 200361 = KTG 69C). 13.1" (7/20/85): fairly faint, edge-on SSW-NNE. At 220x appears to bend on the NNE end to the west. This is a disrupted interacting system on the POSS and the extension seen at the NNE end may be the contact pair.