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.

NGC 3414.jpg

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.

3414 group.jpg

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?