U 355
03:00 to 03:40
-28° to -39°
Eri, For

THE RICH FORNAX GALAXY CLUSTER dominates this map.

FEATURED OBJECTS: NGC 1288, NGC 1310, NGC 1316, NGC 1317, NGC 1326, NGC 1336, NGC 1339, NGC 1340, NGC 1350, NGC 1351, NGC 1365, NGC 1366, NGC 1374, NGC 1379, NGC 1380, NGC 1380A, NGC 1381, NGC 1386, NGC 1387, NGC 1389, NGC 1399, NGC 1404, NGC 1406.

NGC 1288
ESO357-G013
RA 03:17:13
Dec -32°34.5'
Galaxy

h: vF, L, R, vglbM, 2.5' diameter

NGC 1310
MCG-06-08-004
RA 03:20:54
Dec -37°07.2'
Galaxy

h: vF, R, pL, vlbM, 90"; a globular cluster, vF, R, pL, vgvlbM, resolvable, 2' diameter; F, L, R, glbM, 2' across."

A supernova erupted in this galaxy in 1965 (18.0p).

NGC 1316
Fornax A
MCG-06-08-005
RA 03:22:36
Dec -37°13.4'
Galaxy

Dunlop 548: "a rather bright, round nebula, about 1.5' diamater, gradually condensed to the centre."

h: vB, pL, lE, vsvmbM to a nucleus 2" in diameter; vB, vL, 4' diameter; first gradually then very suddenly very much brighter towards the middle to a stellar nucleus.

Tom Lorenzin: "10.1M; 3.5'x 2.5' extent; bright ellipse with very much brighter center and stellar core"

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty bright, large, elongated 1.2 X 1 in PA 75, very suddenly very much brighter in the middle with an almost stellar nucleus. There are three levels of brightening at 135X."

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "It is 5'x4' 10m, has a little brighter middle, NGC 1317 is 5' north and no other objects seen in field, at 100X."

Steve Gottlieb, 17.5-inch: "vB, mL, E 3:2 SW-NE, about 2.5'x1.5'. Dominated by an intense 40"x30" core which brightens to a non-stellar nucleus. Forms a pair with N1317 6.3' N."; 8-inch: "B, R, lE, small bright core. Forms a pair with N1317 7' N."

G. de Vaucouleurs ("Galaxies and the Universe", Chapter 14 - Nearby Groups of Galaxies) notes that the five brightest members of the Fornax I Group are NGC 1399, NGC 1380, NGC 1404, NGC 1326 & NGC 1350. He notes that NGC 1316 and NGC 1365 are possibly in the foreground.

De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. On photos taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm: bright inner part 4.8' x 3', faint outer regions 6' x 4.2'. Remarks: Pair with NGC 1317 at 6.3'

Two supernovae erupted in this galaxy; 1980 (12.6v), 1981 (12.7v).

Sidney van den Bergh (1961, Astronomical Journal, Vol 66) notes that this galaxy could be a radio source. He remarks: "Dark patches and bright knots. Similar to NGC 1275 and NGC 5128?"

10x50: "quite bright . . . easy to find - in nice little asterism of stars. Faint but can be seen directly. Looks like a slightly fuzzy star when viewed directly. With averted: glow expands with brighter core. Elongated?" (suburban skies) [DC]

11x80: Observing from the 1500 metre plateau of the SAAO observing site in Sutherland, this galaxy is easily visible in 11x80's. It is seen in a field sprinkled with many stars as a reasonably bright nebulous patch.
Suburban skies, seeing average-good. "Like an extended 9th mag star, smaller than 1 arc min. Rating: difficult."
Exurban skies, seeing 3, transparency 3, sky darkness 4, lim.mag. at south pole 6.0 (naked eye), 10.7 (binoculars at pole) Strong SE wind. "Readily seen as a round, 30 arcsec, non-stellar glow."[AS]

NGC 1317
MCG-06-08-006
RA 03:22:39
Dec -37°07.3'
Galaxy

Dunlop 547: "S, F, R nebula about 15 arcseconds in diameter."

h: pB, S, R, psbM; pB, pL, 1' diameter; a miniature of the last neb. of this sweep.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty bright, pretty large, little elongated 1.2 X 1 in PA 0, pretty suddenly brighter middle at 135X."

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "is barred spiral galaxy. At 100x it is 3'x2' 12m, in northeasterly position angle, with NGC 1316 5' south and no other galaxies in field."

De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. On photos taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm: bright inner part 1.4' x 1.4', faint outer regions 2.3' x 2.2'. Remarks: vSBN: 0.6' x 0.5', very faint bar

Sandage (1975, Astrophysical Journal, 202, 563-582) notes that this galaxy is a member of the Fornax Cluster. Members include NGC 1316, NGC 1317, NGC 1326 & NGC 1399.

Steve Gottlieb, 17.5-inch: "moderately bright, fairly small, 1.2' diameter, even concentration to a small bright core and stellar nucleus. Forms a bright pair with N1316 6.3' S."; 8-inch: "faint, small, bright core, N1316 7' S."

NGC 1326
MCG-06-08-011
RA 03:23:54
Dec -36°29.4'
Galaxy

h: 60" diameter, vsvmbM to a nucleus, ? a disc."

De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. On photos taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm: bright inner part 1.3' x 1', faint outer regions 4.3' x 3.2'. Remarks: very remarkable, very bright nucleus 0.3' x 0.25'; outer ring 2.6' x 2.0'

This galaxy is listed in the "Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies" as having an outer ring of 2.74 arcminute diameter.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty faint, pretty small, round, pretty suddenly very much brighter in the middle with an approximately stellar nucleus at 135X."

Steve Gottlieb, 17.5-inch: "bright, fairly small, round, 1.3' diameter, well concentrated with a small bright core and bright stellar nucleus. On a line with three mag 13 stars 2.7' and 4.2' WSW and 3.6' to the ENE. A brighter mag 11 star lies 4.3' NNW."; 8-inch: "faint, fairly small, round, bright core."

NGC 1336
MCG-06-08-016
RA 03:26:26
Dec -35°43.6'
Galaxy

h: vF, R (clouding over rapidly.); F, S, R, gpmbM, 15"; vF, lE, 40"

NGC 1339
ESO418-G004
RA 03:28:06
Dec -32°17.1'
Galaxy

h: B, R, psmbM; a double star precedes.; pB, R, pslbM, 40"

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty bright, pretty small, round, somewhat brighter in the middle, nice white and blue double star on the eastern end at 135X."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "moderately bright, very compact, round, bright core. An uneven mag 10.5/13 double star at 30" separation lies 6' NW."

NGC 1340
NGC 1344, ESO418-G005
RA 03:28:18
Dec -31°04.1'
Galaxy

NGC 1340: John Herschel recorded it as h 2539 and described it as "vB, lE, psbM, 45 arcseconds." The Notes to the NGC read "To be struck out - Swift." The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that this is a nonexistent object. Their coded description reads =1344 DC.

H I-257: cB, iR, vgmbM, 1.5' diameter.

NGC 1344 was recorded as h 2542 by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He wrote: "RA by working list; P.D. roughly taken; Transit missed while observing another nebula."

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty bright, pretty large, much brighter middle, elongated 2 X 1 in PA 0, there are three layers to the core brightening at 135X."

Tom Lorenzin "11.6M; 2'x 1' extent; bright oblong with little brighter center"

Steve Gottlieb, 17.5-inch: "bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 NNW-SSE, 2.3'x1.0', well concentrated with a very bright 30" round core and a bright stellar nucleus. Forms an isosceles right triangle with mag 9.7 SAO 194325 6' E and mag 10.4 SAO 194317 5.5' N of center."; 8-inch: "fairly faint, slightly elongated N-S."

NGC 1351
MCG-06-08-022
RA 03:30:31
Dec -34°51.8'
Galaxy

h: pB, R, psbM, 30"

De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. On photos taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm: bright inner part 0.8' x 0.4', faint outer regions 1.2' x 0.7'. Remarks: vBN

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty faint, pretty small, round, pretty suddenly brighter in the middle at 135X."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "fairly faint, fairly small, oval NW-SE, bright core. Fornax cluster member."

NGC 1350
MCG-06-08-023
RA 03:31:03
Dec -33°37.8'
Galaxy

Dunlop 591: "a very faint small ill-defined nebula."

h: B, L, mE, but with a round nucleus much brighter than the environing faint atmosphere. PD roughly taken. Transit missed, the observation having been lost by relying on the RA given by Mr. Dunlop's Catalog (3h 25m) which is too great. That here set down is assumed at random as probably nearer the truth.

Tom Lorenzin: "11.8M; 3'x 1.5' extent; bright, broad slash with much brighter center and stellar core; 7M SAO 194353 is the bright star a few minutes to the SE"

A supernova erupted in this galaxy in 1959 (16.0p).

Steve Gottlieb, 17.5-inch: "bright, fairly large, elongated 3:2 N-S, halo about 3'x2' although difficult determine exact dimensions as fades into background. Sharply concentrated with a very bright 20" round core and stellar nucleus. A very faint star is just W of the S extension and two mag 12 stars are 2.7' SE and 3.0' E of center. Located 6' SW of mag 7.2 SAO 194353. Fornax I cluster member."; 8-inch: "fairly bright, moderately large, elongated 2:1 N-S, bright core."

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Bright, pretty large, elongated 2 X 1 in PA 30, much brighter in the middle at 135X."

NGC 1365
MCG-06-08-026
RA 03:33:35
Dec -36°10.0'
Galaxy

h: This 11th magnitude spiral galaxy was discovered by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He sketched it and recorded it as "A very remarkable nebula. A decided link between the nebula M 51 and M 27. Centre very bright; somewhat extended; gradually very much brighter to the middle; a 13th magnitude star near the edge of the halo involved. The area of the halo very faint; general position of the longer axis 20.8 whole breadth = 3'." His second record reads: "very bright, extended, resolvable nucleus; or has 2 or 3 stars involved; the preceding Arc is the brighter. I think the oval is in some degree filled up to the south."

Houston calls this galaxy the "highlight of . . a delightful group of more than a dozen galaxies . . this galaxy is a 9th magnitude barred spiral that spans 8'x3'. It was very conspicuous on my 4-inch."

Hartung notes that "this barred spiral is the best object of its type for the southern observer. Photos disclose very well-marked bar features in an elliptical system 6.8' x 3.2' which 30cm shows as a bright round diffuse centre across which is a broad faint bar about 3' long in pa 70 deg. From the ends of this come streams of faint nebulosity, from the preceding end in pa 20 deg and from the following end in pa 200 deg, so that the general shape is that of a large open imperfect ellipse with dark areas on either side of the bar. Smaller apertures show correspondingly less but 15cm indicates the bright central region clearly."

William P. Clarke (San Diego, California, USA) writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 11, January 1993: "Excellent barred spiral. Bright nucleus and bar with fainter spiral arms attached. Bar extended E-W with one arm extending north from the west end of the bar and the other arm extending south from the east end of the bar. Faint star involved N.p. the nucleus. (17.5-inch Newtonian, x83)"

Tom Lorenzin: "11.2M; 8'x 3.5' extent; elongated with bright nucleus; barred spiral with trailing arms to NW and SE; 13M star 2' NW of core; about 1 degree to NE is a crowd of faint GALs including N1404, N1399 and N1380."

See also "Visual Astronomy of the Deep Sky" by Roger N. Clark (1990, Sky Publishing Corporation) page 87.

De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. On photos taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm: bright inner part 10.8' x 4', faint outer regions 11.4' x 6.6'. Remarks: very remarkable BN with dark lane, knots in arms

Two supernovae erupted in this galaxy; 1957 (16.5p), 1983 (13.5v).

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "is a another barred spiral galaxy. At 100x is 5'x2' 11m has a suddenly much brighter large middle of 2'x1' which is south of center and has three 13m stars nearby."

Steve Coe: "Pretty bright, pretty large, bright nucleus at 165X. There is bar structure seen with averted vision. Two spiral arms are dim but visible in good seeing on a fair night with the 17.5". Going to the 13" on a night I rated 7/10 for seeing and transparency there is more detail visible. The galaxy is bright, large, elongated in PA 0, much brighter middle at 135X. The barred spiral structure is obvious and there is a 12th mag star involved in the northern arm about 1' north of the nucleus."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "bright, elongated core, large, 3' diameter, very diffuse outer halo."; 8-inch: "fairly bright, fairly large, bright core, diffuse halo, broad concentration."

11x80: "Observing from the 1500 metre plateau of the SAAO observing site in Sutherland, this galaxy is readily seen in 11x80's, requiring some attention at first. It is not clear in which direction it is elongated, appearing as a diffuse patch of starlight. Easy to see once located."
Suburban skies, seeing average-good. "Not found after careful study. Nearby 1316 and 1291 spotted."
Exurban skies, seeing 3, transparency 3, sky darkness 4, lim.mag. at south pole 6.0 (naked eye), 10.7 (binoculars at pole) Strong SE wind. "A delicate round glow, more difficult than NGC 1316, but about the same size with averted vision. Quite low surface brightness, and quite difficult to hold directly." [AS]

NGC 1366
ESO418-G010
RA 03:33:52
Dec -31°11.6'
Galaxy

H III-857: vF, S, iF, lbM

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: fairly faint, small, bright core, thin faint extensions 2:1 N-S, 1.0'x0.5'. Located 6.8' S of mag 6.2 SAO 194375.

NGC 1374
MCG-06-08-029
RA 03:35:13
Dec -35°14.1'
Galaxy

h: vB, pL, lE, gmbM, the 2nd of three. [NGC 1373, NGC 1374, NGC 1375]

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: fairly bright, round, bright core. In a close trio with N1375 2' S and N1373 4.8' NW. Member of the Fornax cluster.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty faint, pretty small, round, gradually brighter middle at 100X."

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "12m in a northerly position angle at 60X"

NGC 1379
MCG-06-09-001
RA 03:36:00
Dec -35°27.1'
Galaxy

h: pB, R, gpmbM, 70"; vB, Seen but no place or description further.

Hartung notes that "this interesting field sprinkled with stars contains three nebulae, all fairly bright . . . NGC 1379 is the most preceding, and is round with a bright centre, and about 1.5' across"

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "bright, almost round, bright core, almost stellar nucleus. Forms a right angle with N1387 11.5' SE and N1381 10' NE. Member of the Fornax cluster."; 8-inch: "faint, small, round, bright core."

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "round, 12m and has a large little brighter middle at 60X."

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: "At 220x, large with a small nucleus compared to the rest of the body. Lies in the same field as NGC 1381 and NGC 1387." (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1380
MCG-06-09-002
RA 03:36:24
Dec -34°59.1'
Galaxy

Dunlop 574: "a rather faint pretty well-defined elliptical nebula, about 1' long, and 50 arcseconds broad, a little brighter to the centre."

h: "very bright; large; round; pretty suddenly brighter towards the middle; A fine nebula." He added: "The obs. of the place like that of Dunlop 591 above was lost by setting the instrument on the place given in Mr Dunlop's Catalogue, and relying on his RA (3h 31m) which is too great, instead of sweeping over them, when they could not have escape being regularly taken."

Hartung notes that "this object is not difficult for small apertures; it is an ellipse 3' x 1.5' in pa zero degrees, rising much to the centre."

William P. Clarke (San Diego, California, USA) writes in the The Webb Society Nebulae and Clusters Section Report No. 11, January 1993: "Nearly edge-on spiral with large bright nucleus. Extended N-S. Mag 14 star S.p. nucleus. (20.8-inch, x140)"

Tom Lorenzin: "11.4M; 3'x 1' extent; lenticular with much brighter center; N-most of a crowd of GALs requiring larger aperture"

Steve Gottlieb 13-inch: "very bright, elongated 2:1 N-S, bright core, faint elongated halo. A very faint mag 14 star is SW of the core 1.2' from the center. Member of Fornax cluster."; 8-inch: "fairly bright, moderately large, elongated, bright core.:

2-inch f/9 refractor: Observing from the 1500 metre plateau of the SAAO observing site in Sutherland, this galaxy is readily seen in a 2-inch refractor at 30x, appearing as a faint cometary patch of diffuse light, midway between two 8th mag stars. [AS]

NGC 1381
MCG-06-09-003
RA 03:36:30
Dec -35°18.1'
Galaxy

This spiral galaxy was observed by J. Schmidt, who described it only as "faint".

Hartung calls it a "narrow spindle, at least 2' x 0.4' in PA 135 , with a small concentrated centre"

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Faint, pretty small, much elongated 3 X 1 in PA 165, brighter in the middle at 135X."

AJ Crayon, 8-inch f/6 Newtonain: "Has a much brighter elongated middle in a southeasterly position angle, at 60x."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "fairly bright, edge-on 3:1 NW-SE, bright core, faint elongated halo. A mag 14 star is 1.8' SE of center. Member of the Fornax cluster with N1379 10' SW and N1387 14' SSE."; 8-inch: "faint, small, elongated."

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x, this galaxy exhibits a small, bright nucleus that appears elongated. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1386
MCG-06-09-005
RA 03:36:47
Dec -36°00.2'
Galaxy

This spiral galaxy was observed by J. Schmidt, who described it only as "faint".

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty faint, pretty large, much elongated 2.5 X 1 in PA 0, there is a bright middle to this nice edge-on at 150X."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "moderately bright, elongated 2:1 SW-NE, bright core. N1389 lies 16' NNE and N1392 15' S. Located 5.2' NNW of mag 9.5 SAO 194401. Member of the Fornax cluster."; 8-inch: "fairly faint, bright core, almost round."

AJ Crayon, 8-inch f/6 Newtonain: "It is 3'x5' 12m, in position angle north,"

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x it shows as large and diffuse, but still easy to see. The nucleus seems to be elongated. Located within a triangle of stars. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1380A
MCG-06-09-006
RA 03:36:50
Dec -34°44.2'
Galaxy

First described in De Vaucouleurs (1956) "Survey of bright galaxies south of -35° declination", Mem. Mount Stromlo, No. 13. (photographic study, plates taken with the 30-inch Reynolds reflector, 20-inch diaphragm). Measures 1.5x0.3. = Helwan 51, SBN.

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: "faint, small, very thin streak 4:1 N-S. Located 15' NNE of N1380."

AJ Crayon, 8" f6 Newtonain: "at 60x was not seen, also NGC 1380B not seen."

NGC 1387
MCG-06-09-007
RA 03:36:54
Dec -35°30.2'
Galaxy

h: "globular cluster, vB, R, gmbM, 90 arcseconds, A globular cluster in all probability identical with this, was also seen in Sweep 636, while searching beyond the meridian for Dunlop 562." On a second occassion he called it "vB: the 1st of three, seen but no place or further description."

Hartung notes that "this interesting field sprinkled with stars contains three nebulae... NGC 1387 is round with a small bright centre and about 1.5' across."

Green, M. R. & Dixon, K. L. (1978) "Photoelectric photometry of bright southern galaxies", Vol 98, August, p 167-169. They find the V magnitude through a 28'' aperture = 11.79, and through a 80'' aperture = 11.24.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty bright, pretty small, round, much brighter in the middle at 150X."

AJ Crayon, using an 8" f6 Newtonain, notes: "is a spiral galaxy. It is round 11m has a large, suddenly much brighter middle with an apparent star involved to the west, at 60x."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: moderately bright, small, round, possible faint stellar nucleus. Member of Fornax cluster. N1381 lies 14' NNW and N1379 11.5' WNW. 8-inch: faint, small, round, broad concentration.

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x this galaxy is seen as part of a triangle of galaxies. It is small, has a bright nucleus, and appears like a star seen through clouds. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1389
MCG-06-09-010
RA 03:37:12
Dec -35°44.2'
Galaxy

This spiral galaxy was observed by J. Schmidt, who described it only as "faint".

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Pretty faint, small, round, much brighter middle at 150X."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: moderately bright, small, almost round, weak concentration. 8-inch: faint, small, round.

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x, appears small, round and featureless, somewhat like a globular cluster. Although it is bright there is no detail visible. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1399
MCG-06-09-012
RA 03:38:30
Dec -35°27.3'
Galaxy

h: globular cluster, vB, pL, psbM, resolvable or resolved, 2'; vB, second of three.

Hartung notes: "This object, and the somewhat smaller NGC 1404 about 10' sf, lies in a beautiful field with several stars in fine contrast; it is about 1.5' across. Both nebulae are round with much brighter centres . . and can be made out with 10.5cm easily."

Tom Lorenzin: "10.9M; 1.4' diameter; bright and round with much brighter center"

Steve Coe, observing with a 13" f/5.6, notes: "Bright, pretty large, round, suddenly much brighter in the middle with an almost stellar core at 150X. There is a 13th mag star about 30" to the north of the core."

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: bright,large faint halo is broadly concentrated, brighter core. A star is superimposed 0.3' N of the center. This galaxy is the second brightest and second largest in the core of the Fornax cluster. N1404 is 10' SE. 8-inch: fairly bright, round, bright core.

11x80: "Observing from the 1500 metre plateau of the SAAO observing site in Sutherland, this galaxy is reasonably obvious in 11x80's, appearing as a faint, blurred star. It lies in a field richly scattered with stars, making location easy." [AS]

2-inch f/9 refractor: Suburban skies: at 30x, NGC 1399 is somewhat easier to see than nearby NGC 1404, appearing slightly larger and brighter. [AS]

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x the galaxy lies in the same field as NGC 1404. It is both larger and brighter than NGC 1404, looking like a globular cluster since it is a roughly circular haze. The nucleus appears to be angular. There is a diamond of stars to the east of the galaxy. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1404
MCG-06-09-013
RA 03:38:47
Dec -35°35.3'
Galaxy

h: vB, R, psmbM, 40", has a star N.f.; vB; the 3rd of three, seen but no place taken or further description.

RNGC: BE,R,BM,*CLOSE SFO.

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: “bright, fairly small, round, bright core. Located just 2.8' NNW of mag 8.1 SAO 194428. N1399 lies 10' NW. Member of Fornax cluster.”; 8-inch: “fairly bright, small, round, bright core. A mag 8 star is close SSE.”

AJ Crayon, using an 8” f6 Newtonain, notes: “It is round 11m and has a little brighter middle with a star involved to east, at 60x.”

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Bright, pretty small, round, very much brighter middle at 150X. There is a 12th mag star involved. This compact galaxy grows with averted vision.”

2-inch f/9 refractor: Observing from the 1500 metre plateau of the SAAO observing site in Sutherland, this galaxy is clearly seen at 30x. It lies north and just west of an 8th mag star. It appears to be elongated NW-SE, although this is not at all obvous. Nearby NGC 1399 is somewhat easier to see, appearing slightly larger and brighter than NGC 1404. [AS]

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x, this galaxy is seen in the field with NGC 1399. NGC 1404 is bright and small, appearing similar to a globular cluster. The major part of the galaxy is the "core". It lies near a bright star to the southeast, and a fainter star lies due east. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1406
ESO418-G015
RA 03:39:22
Dec -31°19.3'
Galaxy

h: F, vmE, vglbM, 2' long, 20" broad; a star 7th mag precedes in parallel.

Steve Coe, observing with a 13” f/5.6, notes: “Faint, pretty large, very much elongated 4 X 1 in PA 45, pretty much brighter in the middle at 135X.”

Steve Gottlieb, 13-inch: “fairly faint, edge-on 5:1 SSW-NNE, moderately large, 3.0'x0.6, brighter core, dims at ends of extensions. Located 16' ESE of mag 7.4 SAO 194416.”