NGC404 in Andromeda

(RA 1h 09.4m , Dec. +35°43', 10.3 mag., 6.1 x 6.1 arcmin.)

This lenticular galaxy is so easy to find and at the same time usually missed by observers! The reason for both is its close vicinity to 2nd magnitude b Anromedae - lying just 6.7' SE of the galaxy it blinds the obsever (see finder chart below).

The above image was taken on October 7, 2001 from Harrowsmith, Ontario. Cookbook 245 LDC CCD camera was used on Celestron Ultima 8 f10 telescope. Short 30 sec. exposures of the galaxy were acquired with shifting the telescope between integrations, so the image of the galaxy as well as reflections caused by b Andromedae (kept outside of the field of view) occupied various positions on the detector. Twenty four such images were then registered and median-combined using AIP4WIN - that procedure succesfully removed majority of distracting internal reflections and reduced the effect of light-flooding caused by b Andromedae.

Only part of Cookbook 245 field of view is shown. North is to the right.

Map created in Guide 7.0 - 9° x 10°. North is up.

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© Jan Wisniewski