U 420
03:30 to 04:30
-39° to -50°
Ret, Dor, Hor
Oct-Feb

FEATURED OBJECTS: NGC 1500, NGC 1566, NGC 1553, NGC 1549, NGC 1574, NGC 1543, NGC 1515, NGC 1533, NGC 1596, IC 1954, IC 2056, NGC 1536, NGC 1546, NGC 1523.

IC 1954
ESO200-G036
RA 03:31:30
Dec -51°54.3'
Galaxy

NGC 1500
ESO201-G013
RA 03:58:14
Dec -52°19.7'
Galaxy

Discovered by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He recorded it as "F, vS, R, pmbM, 12 arcseconds; has a star 8th mag 15.5 seconds preceding in RA, to northward." Herschel notes that it might be equivalent to Dunlop 369, which is described as "a faint nebula, elliptical in the parallel of the equator, about 30 arcseconds long and 12 arcseconds broad."

NGC 1515
ESO156-G036
RA 04:04:02
Dec -54°06.2'
Galaxy

Dunlop 348 "a very faint nebula, about 35 arcseconds diameter. This precedes a group of small stars."

h: B, L, vmE, gbM, 3' long, 40" broad; B, L, vmE, sbM (by diagram); pos 10.0 degrees.

Sandage (1975, Astrophysical Journal, 202, 563-582) notes that this galaxy is a member of the Dorado Group. Members include NGC 1515, NGC 1533, NGC 1536, NGC 1543, NGC 1546, NGC 1553, NGC 1566, NGC 1574, NGC 1596, NGC 1617 and IC 2056. Possible additional members include NGC 1559, NGC 1602, NGC 1672, NGC 1688, NGC 1703 & NGC 1705

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 11.51, B-V = 0.85 and U-B = 0.22. It measures 4.4 x 0.9.

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "faint in 5-inch 64x."

NGC 1523

RA 04:06:11
Dec -54°06.0'

Discovered by Sir John Herschel at the Cape of Good Hope with an 18-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He recorded it only as "vF, R."

The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that this is a nonexistent object.

The NGC 2000.0 notes: "only 3 vF st (not a neb)."

NGC 1533
ESO157-G003
RA 04:09:51
Dec -56°07.2'
Galaxy

h: "vB, pL, R, smbM to a stellar nucleus. Has two stars 10th mag N.f." During the next sweep he saw it as "very bright, round; has 2 stars N.f."

Described in Union Obs. Circulars, 45-76, p 50. “Nebulae, clusters, etc. on Sydney Plates” as Light grey stellar image; a remarkable object. Cor D.M. -56° 857; nebulous. Is 1’ S.p. a 10.”

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "perceptible in 4-inch 64x."

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 = 11.96, and through a 80’’ aperture = 11.3.

Other data: Inclination: (face-on, in degrees) 30 Total photoelectric blue mag 11.70 Total colour index .98 Logarithm of the angular diameter D25 (arcminutes) 1.44 Blue photographic magnitude 11.83 This galaxy is included in a sample of galaxies with velocity less than 500km/s with respect to the centroid of the Local Group. [Nearby Galaxies. Schmidt K.-H., Priebe A., Boller T. (Astron. Nachr. 314, 371 (1993))]

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 11.12, B-V = 0.93 and U-B = 0.63. It measures 1.7 x 1.6.

NGC 1536
ESO157-IG005
RA 04:11:00
Dec -56°29.2'
Galaxy

h: vF, R, pL, vlbM, 60"

Shapley (1935, "A catalogue of 7889 external galaxies in the Horologium and surrounding regions" Ann.Harv.Coll.Obs. 88, No. 5, 107) notes that "earlier descriptions differ appreciably from the probably more dependable descriptions from the Bruce photographic plates . . . NGC 1536: Somewhat elongated, nucleus at one end, most peculiar."

NGC 1543
ESO118-G010
RA 04:12:42
Dec -57°44.2'
Galaxy

h: B, pL, pmE, smbM to a round nucleus = star 11th mag.

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 10.94, B-V = 0.96 and U-B = 0.50. It measures 5.7 x 3.4.

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 = 11.9, and through a 80’’ aperture = 11.14.

ASV Journal, Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "visible in 3-inch 64x."

NGC 1546
ESO157-G012
RA 04:14:36
Dec -56°03.6'
Galaxy

h: "pB, R or lE, bM to an elongated nucleus." His second observation was recorded as "pB, lE, gbM to an extended nucleus. A double star precedes."

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 11.72, B-V = 0.87 and U-B = 0.27. It measures 1.3 by 0.4.

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x the galaxy is shown to lie near a triangle of stars. Averted vision is needed to see it easily. There is no nuclear brightening, and no detail is visible. It appears as a diffuse elongated glow. When stars are included in the field, it is more difficult to see the galaxy than when the stars are moved out. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1549
ESO157-G016
RA 04:15:44
Dec -55°35.5'
Galaxy

h: B, R, 40"

Hartung notes: “In this field are two bright nebulae [NGC 1549 and NGC 1553] about 13’ apart . . one is round, about 1.5’ across with very bright nucleus; the other is elliptical, about 2’ x 0.8’ in pa 150 deg, strongly concentrated and even brighter. 7.5cm shows these nebulae plainly.”

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "visible at limit in 3-inch 64x."

G. de Vaucouleurs ("Galaxies and the Universe", Chapter 14 - Nearby Groups of Galaxies) notes that the five brightest members of the NGC 1566 group, a part of the Dorado Cloud complex, are NGC 1566, NGC 1553, NGC 1549, NGC 1617 & NGC 1574.

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 10.31, B-V = 0.88 and U-B = 0.5. It measures by 1.8 x 1.8.

11x80: exurban skies: “Fainter of two, the other being NGC 1553. Lies just outside a half-degree triangle. Round glow; seems to be one or more small stars involved close to the galaxy.”; “Two [1549 & 1553] beautiful smudges of nebulous haloes, clearly seen as fuzzy patches while sweeping.” (suburban skies) [AS]

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x the galaxy looks like a globular cluster, round and diffuse. The galaxies central condensation is slightly off-centre. It lies near some bright stars. The galaxy NGC 1553 lies in the same low-power field. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1553
ESO157-G017
RA 04:16:10
Dec -55°46.9'
Galaxy

h: vB, R, gmbM, 60", between three stars; B, R, in a triangle formed by three stars

Hartung notes: “In this field are two bright nebulae [NGC 1549 and NGC 1553] about 13’ apart . . one is round, about 1.5’ across with very bright nucleus; the other is elliptical, about 2’ x 0.8’ in pa 150 deg, strongly concentrated and even brighter. 7.5cm shows these nebulae plainly.”

Shapley (1935, "A catalogue of 7889 external galaxies in the Horologium and surrounding regions" Ann.Harv.Coll.Obs. 88, No. 5, 107) notes that "earlier descriptions differ appreciably from the probably more dependable descriptions from the Bruce photographic plates . . . NGC 1553: Considerably elongated, surrounded by much nebulosity."

G. de Vaucouleurs ("Galaxies and the Universe", Chapter 14 - Nearby Groups of Galaxies) notes that the five brightest members of the NGC 1566 group, a part of the Dorado Cloud complex, are NGC 1566, NGC 1553, NGC 1549, NGC 1617 & NGC 1574.

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 9.84, B-V = 0.90 and U-B = 0.53. It measures 2.7 by 1.8.

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "seen with 2-inch 64x."

11x80: “Brighter of two, the other being NGC 1549. Small, round, pretty bright glow, lies on one leg of a half-degree triangle.”; “Two [1549 & 1553] beautiful smudges of nebulous haloes, clearly seen as fuzzy patches while sweeping.” (suburban skies) [AS]

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x the galaxy appears bright, large and clearly elongated. It's northern tip ends in a star, while the southern tip appears to fade more gradually. It has a clear, small centre. The galaxy NGC 1549 lies in the same low-power field. (suburban skies) [AS]

IC 2056
ESO118-G016
RA 04:16:23
Dec -60°12.4'
Galaxy

NGC 1566
ESO157-G020
RA 04:20:00
Dec -54°56.3'
Galaxy

h: "B, vL, first very gradually then suddenly much brighter to the middle, to a stellar nucleus. Diameter in RA = 15 seconds. A star 11th mag involved, N.p. gives it a distorted appearance. A curious object." On a second occassion he called it ".pB, L, R, very gradually then pretty suddenly brighter in the middle." He noted that it could be Dunlop 338, which was observed by James Dunlop from Paramatta, New South Wales, with a 9-inch f/12 telescope. He described it as "a pretty large round nebula, about 4' diameter, moderately and gradually condensed to the centre. A very small star near the following edge, not involved."

Hartung notes that in a 12-inch telescope the galaxy shows as "a conspicuous ellipse about 3' x 2', rising greatly in brightness to a central nucleus; there is however no sign of the spiral arms. A four-inch shows the nebula clearly in the dark field."

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "visible in 3-inch 64x."

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 10.4, B-V = 0.87 and U-B = 0.03. It measures 7.1 by 6.2. He remarks: "The very blue U-B colour is due to an ultraviolet excess in the nucleus."

This galaxy is listed in the "Third Reference Catalogue of Bright Galaxies" as being a bright Seyfert galaxy. The integrated B magnitude of the stellar system (excluding the nucleus) = 10.35, and the B magnitude of the quasi-stellar nucleus = 13.5-14.5.

11x80: “Seen with some attention, to the south-east of a small star. Like a tiny globular cluster.”; “East-southeast of a star lies this obvious small, globular-cluster like galaxy.” (suburban skies) [AS]

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian: At 220x the galaxy shows as a bright, diffuse glow, circular, with a definite nucleus. Using averted vision, the galaxy looses its circular shape, and takes on the appearance of an extended oval. There is a small star near the southern tip of the galaxy. The western edge seems clearly marked with a straight-edge. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1574
ESO157-G022
RA 04:21:59
Dec -56°58.4'
Galaxy

h: "pB, S, R, pgbM, has a star 10th mag 1' distant and one 14th mag distant one radius of the nebula from its edge, both S.f."

ASV Journal, Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "faint in 3-inch 64x."

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 10.57, B-V = 0.78 and U-B = 0.34. It measures 1.65 by 1.53. He remarks: "This galaxy was offset about 2 arcseconds to exclude a star from the small diaphragm. The star was measured separately and its effect subtracted from the large diaphragm measures."

15.5-inch f/9 Newtonian, 32mm Plossl: Sky conditions bad. The galaxy is faint, round and non-descript. Observed with all powers, no improvement. Has a bright star following. Galaxy undefined. (suburban skies) [AS]

NGC 1596
ESO157-G031
RA 04:27:36
Dec -55°01.6'
Galaxy

h: B, mE, pL, psmbM, 60" long. The preceding of two; B, mE, smbM, 60", pos = 15 degrees." The second object is NGC 1602.

Shobbrook (1966, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc., Vol 131, p351-363) notes that this member of the Dorado Cluster has V = 11.28, B-V = 0.92 and U-B = 0.42. It measures 1.75 by 0.4.

ASV Journal Vol 24 No 3 June 1971: "seen at limit in 4-inch 64x."