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NGC 278 (573 of 18,816)

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NGC 278

NGC 278, LEDA 3051, MCG+08-02-016, UGC 528, I 159, h 71, GC 158

RA: 00h 52m 4.42s
Dec: +47° 33′ 1.4″

Con: Cassiopeia
Ch: MSA:84, U2:60, SA:4

Ref: SIMBAD

(reference key)

Type: galaxy, S

Mag: B=10.5, V=?

Size: 2.398′ x 2.398′
PA: 30°

Historical observations

William Herschel (c.1784)

Synonyms: H I-159

Discovered in 1786 by William Herschel with an 18.7-inch f/13 speculum telescope. He called it "vB, R, vgbM, 1.5' diameter."

Birr Castle/Lord Rosse

Observations with the 72-inch f/8.8 speculum telescope at Birr Castle noted "suspect spirality; light unequal."

Published comments

Burnham's Celestial Handbook

Burnham calls this a 11.6 spiral galaxy in Cassiopeia, measuring 1.2' across which is "considerably bright, pretty large, round, very compact spiral."

Sulentic & Tifft (1973)

The RNGC (Sulentic and Tifft 1973) notes that this is a 12.5 mag galaxy. Their coded description reads BE,R,BM,HISB.

Modern observations

Bortle, John

John Bortle (Webb Society Quarterly Journal, January 1976) using 10x50 binoculars, estimates the visual magnitude as 11.3.

Ancient City Astron.Club (1980)

Listed by the Herschel Club, described as "a round, bright nucleus, nebulosity made out well through the eyepiece. Situated near a couple of bright field stars. 8-inch, 70x."

Tom Lorenzin

Tom Lorenzin, in the electronic version of "1000+ The Amateur Astronomers' Field Guide to Deep Sky Observing", notes "11.6M; 1.2' diameter; small, round and bright; very compact spiral; see Burnhams Celestial Handbook-I-534 for photo; good supernova prospect."

Photo index

Photo Index by Jim Lucyk: Field Guide to Stars & Planets (Menzel, 1964) p133.

Gross, Todd (IAAC)

Observer: Todd Gross; Your skill: Intermediate ; Date and UT of observation: 07/30/97 0800 GMT; Location & latitude: 22 miles west of Boston, Ma. 42.3N; Site classification: Suburban; Limiting magnitude (visual): 5.0 (estimated) 5.0(est) in vicinity of object; Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best): 4; Moon up (phase?): Yes, crescent; Instrument: 16" Dob, 96%, 99% coatings, Televue binoviewer; Magnifications: 233; Filters used: none

Immediately stood out as a small, bright object, suddenly bright towards the center. Seemed very similar to an unresolved globular cluster. It's brightest part of the core was perhaps slightly off center.

Observer: Todd Gross; Your skill: Intermediate ; Date and UT of observation: 08/09/97 0630 GMT; Location & latitude: 22 miles west of Boston, Ma. 42.3N; Site classification: Suburban; Limiting magnitude (visual): 4.9 (estimated) 4.9(est) in vicinity of object; Seeing (1 to 10 - worst-best): 6; Moon up (phase?): No; Instrument: 16" Dob, 96%, 99% coatings; Magnifications: 97,123,233; Filters used:

This is a subsequent observation to one made very recently.. Small, fairly bright and round..similar to NGC 7217 that was observed on the same night in size, and globular-like appearance. However, even though there is sudden brightening near the center, it is clearly NOT as stellar looking as NGC 7217.

Birkmann, Mark G. (IAAC)

Observer: Mark G.Birkmann Your skills: Intermediate (some years) Date/time of observation: 11-11-99, 7:53 UT (1:53 am CST) Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700') Site classification: Rural Sky darkness: 6 1-10 Scale (10 best) Seeing: 5 1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best) Moon presence: None - moon not in sky Instrument: 40" f/5 dob Magnification: lowest power 125x Filter(s): OIII, H-beta, Orion Ultrablock Object(s): NGC 278 Category: External galaxy. Class: S Constellation: Cassiopeia Data: mag 11.5(B) size 2.2 x 2.2 Position: RA 00:52m 4.6s DEC +47:33'

Description: This little galaxy is very bright and withstands magnification very well. The best view came at 821x. The galaxy was brighter in the middle and the core was non-stellar. A small condensation was seen near the bottom edge. A prominent dust lane was apparent on the left side. Some possible mottling was seen on the right side, but nothing definite. A drawing can be seen at http://www.fortunecity.com/greenfield/twyford/637/drawings.htm

Brian Skiff

POSS: 2'.6 S/sl E of SAO 36725 (mv8.2). halo damn nr circ, but core poss sl

elong NE-SW.

6cm - 44x/88x: just vis w/averted vis S of m10 *. sm, not *ar.

15cm - mod br, best @ 84x. 1' diam, irreg round. brtr *ar nuc.

- consp @ 50x 3' S of m9 *. 140x/165x: oval elong NE-SW. halo extends to

2'x2x1'.5. mod even concen to ill-def core and consp *ar nuc. BS,

13Nov1988,Anderson Mesa.

25cm - vbr and concen. S of m8.5 *. 1'.5 diam w/smooth edges. *ar nuc in br

well-def 20" core. effective @ 180x.

30cm - br, broadly concen @ 140x, 3' S of m10 *. 1'.2 diam @ 220x, w/f *ar nuc,

broad br core, and def edges.

Contemporary observations

Tom Bryant

2010 10 9 23:3:15

Observing site: Little Bennett Regional Park

Telescope: C-11

[0h 52m 6s, 47° 33m 0s] A bright galaxy, for a face on Sc. Slightly elongated and mottled. Large, somewhat bright nucleus. Lovely.

Favourite lists

Lacaille's catalogue

The Messier objects

Dunlop's catalogue

The Bennett objects

The Caldwell list

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