Object of the Week March 5th, 2017--NGC 3414 (ARP162)

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NGC 3414 AKA ARP 162

Leo Minor

RA
10 51 16
DEC
+27 58 33

MAG 11.9

Type S0 Pec

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NGC 3414 was found on the night of April 4th, 1785 by William Herschel and he noted it "B,pL,R,mbm". Arp Added it to his Peculiar Galaxies catalog as #162 under his category of galaxies with diffuse filaments. There is some confusion as to what type of galaxy NGC 3414 is. Some think it might be barred SP and other astronomers think it is a rare type of polar ring galaxy seen edge on. What ever it is, it makes an interesting and unusual galaxy to observe visually.

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I recently revisited NGC 3414 on a night of great transparency and sub par seeing. NGC 3414 is in the middle of a triplet of galaxies in a North South line. To the top is the 13.7G mag SB NGC 3418 and to the South is the 15.0 G mag edge on UGC 5958. NGC 3418 appeared bright face on with no details. UGC 5950 is a fine example of a galaxy on edge. With AV the silver streak extended much to my surprise and also in moments of better seeing I was able to glimpse a faint dust lane @488X and @610X. NGC 3414 had a really bright core and extended halo that was much bigger and extended than the images show. The faint bars or rings appeared as brightening in the glow and ran North and South in the eyepiece @ 610X. 1.9' NNE of NGC 3414 is the 15.7 mag small galaxy 2MASX j1051+2800. It appeared as a small direct vision smutz with no details.

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If you are looking for a challenge object, 1.9 due East of NGC 3414 is a small super faint SDSS dwarf galaxy. I did not know about this galaxy till I started doing research for this OOTW. It is on my list now and I am anxious to GIVE IT A GO. I will report back what I see.

I look forward to reading your observations of this unusual galaxy. Bar or ring what do you think?

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Ring Jimi, bar like ring :D

The bar structure rises over the halo impression in the 27" with 293x. To my surprise it was visible without any problems. PGC 93597 (2' NE) was visible with direct vision, PGC 1823017 (1,8' E) was steadily visible with averted vision.

27", 293x, NELM 6m5+, Seeing IV
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Uwe I see from your drawing that you were able to catch the small faint SDSS dwarf due east of 3414.

Jimi, I refer this dwarf as PGC 1823017 description above.

ALADIN match this galaxy with this PGC number after the HyperLEDA. The magnitude is listed with 19,1bmag, but with a large error of +/-1,1bmag. The 19,1bmag must also be an error, because it is far beyond the reach of the 27". After my observation notes I estimate the magnitude around 18bmag. Must be an easy game for your 48".