NGC3504
UGC 6118
PGC 33371

Galaxy

Constellation: Leo Minor

RA: 11 30 11.2
DEC: +27 58 20

Type (R)SAB(s)ab
Mag: 12.93
Size: 2.4’ x 2.4’


(I must apologize for the brevity of my post. It’s finals week and this is the first free moment I’ve had all weekend)

Located approximately 85Mly away in the constellation Leo Minor, NGC3504 is a beautiful barred spiral with apparent arms, or halos as it looks like in many images and readily available under the right conditions, that nicely wrap around the entire galaxy. Discovered on April 11th, 1785 by William Herschel, NGC3504 is a bright, NW-SE elongated barred spiral that offers up a bright concentrated core. Approximately 12’ to the east lies NGC3512, a wonderful face on spiral worthy of its own OOTW post that actually sits closer to us at 79Mly distant.

On March 12th 2001, Lick Observatory reported a type IIn supernova in the northwestern arm, thought the supernova never got very bright peaking around 18th magnitude.

Give this galaxy a go next time you’re out. It provides a beautiful view in all apertures. If you have access to a large scope under dark skies, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised in just what you’ll see.

And as always, give it a go and let us know!

ngc3504_AdamBlock.jpg

800px-NGC_3504_and_NGC_3512.jpg

N3504s_AdamBlock.jpg

n3504hst.jpg

SN2001ac.jpg