NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 6961. The identification is not sure. Since it is credited to Lord Rosse in the NGC, Dreyer apparently intended that the number apply to one of the five brightest objects in the N6962 group. However, Dreyer's own measurement (with Lord Rosse's telescope) on 23 August 1876 points at one of the fainter galaxies in the area. In addition, he claims that this object was found by d'Arrest, though he gives d'Arrest credit for NGC 6966 in the NGC. Micrometric positions by Bigourdan and Kobold agree with the one by Dreyer, so I've taken the measured galaxy -- located between those labeled "a" (N6959) and "d" (N6962) in Lord Rosse's diagram -- as N6961, rather than any of the brighter galaxies to the north. The evidence is contradictory, however, so I can't insist that this interpretation is correct.

===== NGC 6961 18" (8/1/05): very faint, very small, round. Contains a faint stellar nucleus with direct vision surrounded by a very low surface brightness halo perhaps 15" diameter. A very faint star is off the north end. Located 3.3' NW of NGC 6962 and collinear with NGC 6964. 17.5" (7/16/88): very faint, round, very small. A mag 15 star is off the NE edge. Located 3.3' NW of NGC 6962 in a group and the fifth brightest of six. NGC 6959 lies 4.1' NNW. 17.5" (8/31/86): very faint, very small, round, a mag 15 star is less than 30" NE but cleanly resolved. 13.1" (8/23/84): faint star very close highly suspected. 13.1" (7/27/84): extremely faint, very small. A very faint star appears to be very close.