| Description | This was captured almost due north early in what is nearly the shortest evening of the year, with a 35% crescent moon in the west. This is a lovely, seemingly "normal" spiral galaxy with a slight bar. Arp categorized it as having a "low surface brightness companion on arms" which, frankly, I found challenging. Note Arp designates "companion", singular. Is Arp suggesting the glowing, slightly nebulous spot at the top (N) end of the disk is a dwarf "companion" galaxy? His remarks call out, "Small ring in arm on N side," so it seems likely. Like many "nebulae" in this part of the sky, this was discovered by William Herschel in 1797. I find the Herschel family's story inspiring and like to comment in these notes when I discover it's the case. What an amazing brother/sister/son combo they were! |
