The RASC's Finest N.G.C. Objects List

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) has published this list in their yearly Observer's Handbook which is edited by Roy L. Bishop. The Finest N.G.C. Objects List was compiled by Alan Dyer; it is arranged sorted by seasons and constellations. Also note the RASC webpage.

Autumn


No.   NGC     Con  Type   R.A.     Dec     m_v   Size      Remarks

  1   7009    Aqr  PN     21:04.2  -11:02   8.3     25"    !! Saturn Nebula; small bright oval
  2   7293    Aqr  PN     22:29.6  -20:48   6.5  12'50"    !! Helix Nebula; large, diffuse; use filter

  3   7331    Peg  G-Sb   22:37.1  +34:25   9.5  10.7x4.0  !! large, bright spiral galaxy

  4   7635    Cas  EN     23:20.7  +61:12   -      15x8    Bubble Neb.; very faint; 1/2 deg SW of M52
  5   7789    Cas  OC     23:57.0  +56:44   6.7     16     !! 300*; faint but very rich cluster
  6    185    Cas  G-E0   00:39.0  +48:20  11.7     2x2    companion to M31; paired with NGC 147
  7    281    Cas  EN     00:52.8  +56:36   -      35x30   !! large faint nebulosity near eta Cas
  8    457    Cas  OC     01:19.1  +58:20   6.4     13     80*; rich; one of the best Cas clusters
  9    663    Cas  OC     01:46.0  +61:15   7.1     16     80*; look for NGC's 654 and 659 nearby
 10  I 289    Cas  PN     03:10.3  +61:19  12.3     34"    dim oval smudge; use nebula filter

 11   7662    And  PN     23:25.9  +42:33   9.2     20"    !! Blue Snowball; annular at high power
 12    891    And  G-Sb   02:22.6  +42:21  10    13.5x2.8  !! faint, classic edge-on with dust lane

 13    253    Scl  G-Scp  00:47.6  -25:17   7.1  25.1x7.4  !! very large and bright but at low altitude

 14    772    Ari  G-Sb   01:59.3  +19:01  10.3   7.1x4.5  diffuse spiral galaxy

 15    246    Cet  PN     00:47.0  -11:53   8.0   3'45"    faint (closer to 11 m); dark mottling
 16    936    Cet  G-SBa  02:27.6  -01:09  10.1   5.2x4.4  near M77; NGC 941 in the same field

 17    869/84 Per  OC     02:20.0  +57:08  ~4.4    30/30   !! Double Cluster; 350*; use low mag.
 18   1023    Per  G-E7p  02:40.4  +39:04   9.5   8.7x4.3  bright lens-shaped galaxy near M34
 19   1491    Per  EN     04:03.4  +51:19   -     3.0x3.0  small fairly faint emission nebula

 20   1501    Cam  PN     04:07.0  +60:55  12.0     52"    faint; dark center; look for NGC 1502

 21   1232    Eri  G-Sc   03:09.8  -20:35   9.9   7.8x6.9  face-on spiral; look for NGC 1300 nearby
 22   1535    Eri  PN     04:14.2  -12:44  10.4     18"    bright planetary with blue-grey disk

Winter


No.   NGC     Con  Type   R.A.     Dec     m_v   Size      Remarks

 23   1514    Tau  PN     04:09.2  +30:47  10.8    1'54"   faint glow around 9.4 mag central star

 24   1931    Aur  E/RN   05:31.4  +34:15         3.0x3.0  haze surrounding 4 close stars
                                                  
 25   1788    Ori  RN     05:06.9  -03:21         8.0x5.0  fairly bright but diffuse reflection nebula
 26   1973+   Ori  E/RN   05:35.1  -04:44          40x25   near M42 and M43; often neglected
 27   2022    Ori  PN     05:42.1  +09:05  12.4     18"    small, faint & distinct with annular form
 28   2024    Ori  EN     05:40.7  -02:27          30x30   bright but masked by glow from Zeta Ori
 29   2194    Ori  OC     06:13.8  +12:48   8.5     10     80*, fairly rich; look for 2169 nearby
                                                  
 30   2371/2  Gem  PN     07:25.6  +29:29  13.0     55"    faint double-lobed planetary; use filter
 31   2392    Gem  PN     07:29.2  +20:55   8.3     13"    !! Clown Face or Eskimo Nebula

 32   2237+   Mon  EN     06:32.3  +05:03          80x60   !! Rosette Neb.; very large; use neb. filter
 33   2261    Mon  E/RN   06:39.2  +08:44  var      2x1    Hubble's Variable Nebula; comet-shaped

 34   2359    CMa  EN     07:18.6  -13:12         8.0x6.0  bright; look for NGC 2360 & 2362 nearby

 35   2440    Pup  PN     07:41.9  -18:13  10.3     14"    almost starlike; irregular at high power
 36   2539    Pup  OC     08:10.7  -12:50   6.5     22     50*; rich cluster; near M46 and M47

 37   2403    Cam  G-Sc   07:36.9  +65:36   8.4 17.8x11.0  !! very large & bright; visible in binocs.
 38   2655    Cam  G-Sa   08:55.6  +78:13  10.1   5.1x4.4  bright ellipse with starlike nucleus

Spring


No.   NGC     Con  Type   R.A.     Dec     m_v   Size      Remarks

 39   2683    Lyn  G-Sb   08:52.7  +33:25   9.7   9.3x2.5  nearly edge-on spiral; very bright
                                                  
 40   2841    UMa  G-Sb   09:22.0  +50:58   9.3   8.1x3.8  !! classic elongated spiral; very bright
 41   3079    UMa  G-Sb   10:02.2  +55:41  10.6   7.6x1.7  edge-on spiral; NGC 2950 nearby
 42   3184    UMa  G-Sc   10:18.3  +41:25   9.7   6.9x6.8  large, diffuse face-on spiral
 43   3877    UMa  G-Sb   11:46.1  +47:30  10.9   5.4x1.5  edge-on; same field as chi UMa
 44   3941    UMa  G-E3   11:52.9  +36:59   9.8   3.8x2.5  small bright elliptical
 45   4026    UMa  G-S0   11:59.4  +50:58  10.7   5.1x1.4  lense-shaped edge-on near gamma UMa
 46   4088    UMa  G-Sc   12:05.6  +50:33  10.5   5.8x2.5  nearly edge-on; NGC 4085 in same field
 47   4157    UMa  G-Sb   12:11.1  +50:29  11.9   6.9x1.7  a thin sliver; NGCs 4026 & 4088 nearby
 48   4605    UMa  G-SBcp 12:40.0  +61:37   9.6   5.5x2.3  bright distinct edge-on spiral

 49   3115    Sex  G-E6   10:05.2  -07:43   9.2  8.3x3.2   Spindle Galaxy; bright and elongated

 50   3242    Hya  PN     10:24.8  -18:38   8.6     16"    !! Ghost of Jupiter; small but bright
                                                 
 51   3003    LMi  G-Sc   09:48.6  +33:25  11.7   5.9x1.7  faint elongated streak
 52   3344    LMi  G-Sc   10:43.5  +24:55   9.9   6.9x6.5  diffuse face-on spiral
 53   3432    LMi  G-SBm  10:52.5  +36:37  11.3   6.2x1.5  nearly edge-on; faint flat streak

 54   2903    Leo  G-Sb   09:32.2  +21:30   8.9  12.6x6.6 !! verly large, bright elongated spiral
 55   3384    Leo  G-E7   10:48.3  +12:38   9.9   5.9x2.6  same field as M105 and NGC 3389
 56   3521    Leo  G-Sb   11:05.8  -00:02   8.7   9.5x5.0  very large, bright spiral
 57   3607    Leo  G-E1   11:16.9  +18:03  10.0   3.7x3.2  NGCs 3605 & 3608 in same field
 58   3628    Leo  G-Sb   11:20.3  +13:36   9.5  14.8x3.6  large edge-on; same field as M65 and M66

 59   4111    CVn  G-S0   12:07.1  +43:04  10.8   4.8x1.1  bright lens-shaped edge-on spiral
 60   4214    CVn  G-Irr  12:15.6  +36:20   9.7   7.9x6.3  large irregular galaxy
 61   4244    CVn  G-S    12:17.5  +37:49  10.2  16.2x2.5  !! large distinct edge-on spiral 
 62   4449    CVn  G-Irr  12:28.2  +44:06   9.4   5.1x3.7  bright rectangular shape
 63   4490    CVn  G-Sc   12:30.6  +41:38   9.8   5.9x3.1  bright spiral; 4485 (Cocoon gal.) in field
 64   4631    CVn  G-Sc   12:42.1  +32:32   9.3  15.1x3.3  !! large edge-on; look for companion 4627
 65   4656/7  CVn  G-Sc   12:44.0  +32:10  10.4  13.8x3.3  in field with 4631; NE end curves up
 66   5005    CVn  G-Sb   13:10.9  +37:03   9.8   5.4x2.7  bright elongated spiral near alpha CVn
 67   5033    CVn  G-Sb   13:13.4  +36:36  10.1  10.5x5.6  large bright spiral near NGC 5005

 68   4274    Com  G-Sb   12:19.8  +29:37  10.4   6.9x2.8  NGCs 4278/83/86 in same field
 69   4414    Com  G-Sc   12:26.4  +31:13  10.2   3.6x2.2  bright spiral with starlike nucleus
 70   4494    Com  G-E1   12:31.4  +25:47   9.8   4.8x3.8  small bright elliptical
 71   4559    Com  G-Sc   12:36.0  +27:58   9.8  10.5x4.9  large spiral with coarse structure
 72   4565    Com  G-Sb   12:36.3  +25:59   9.6  16.2x2.8  !! superb edge-on spiral with dust lane
 73   4725    Com  G-Sb   12:50.4  +25:30   9.2  11.0x7.9  very bright, large spiral

 74   4038/9  Crv  G-Sc   12:01.9  -18:52  10.7    ~3x2    `Antennae' or `Rattail' interacting galaxies
 75   4361    Crv  PN     12:24.5  -18:48  10.3    45"     small and bright; with 13-mag central star

 76   4216    Vir  G-Sb   12:15.9  +13:09   9.9   8.3x2.2  nearly edge-on; with NGCs 4206 & 4222
 77   4388    Vir  G-Sb   12:25.8  +12:40  11.0   5.1x1.4  with M84 and M86 in Markarian's Chain
 78   4438    Vir  G-Sap  12:27.8  +13:01  10.1   9.3x3.9  paired with NGC 4435 to form the "Eyes"
 79   4517    Vir  G-Sc   12:32.8  +00:07  10.5  10.2x1.9  faint edge-on spiral
 80   4526    Vir  G-E7   12:34.0  +07:42   9.6   7.6x2.3  between two 7-mag stars; the "Lost Galaxy"
 81   4535    Vir  G-Sc   12:34.3  +08:12   9.8   6.8x5.0  near M49 and 3/4 deg N of NGC 4526
 82   4567/8  Vir  G-Sc   12:36.5  +11:15 ~11     4.6x2.1  "Siamese Twins" interacting galaxies
 83   4699    Vir  G-Sa   12:49.0  -08:40   9.6   3.5x2.7  small & bright; look for NGC 4697 3 deg N
 84   4762    Vir  G-SB0  12:52.9  +11:14  10.2   8.7x1.6  flattest galaxy known; 4754 in same field
 85   5746    Vir  G-Sb   14:44.9  +01:57  10.6   7.9x1.7  fine edge-on near 109 Virginis

 86   5466    Boo  GC     14:05.5  +28:32   9.1    11.0    loose class XII; like rich open cl.; faint

 87   5907    Dra  G-Sb   15:15.9  +56:19  10.4  12.3x1.8  !! fine edge-on with dust lane; near 5866
 88   6503    Dra  G-Sb   17:49.4  +70:09  10.2   6.2x2.3  bright elongated spiral
 89   6543    Dra  PN     17:58.6  +66:38   8.8    18"     Cat's Eye Nebula; with 11 mag central star

Summer


No.   NGC     Con  Type   R.A.     Dec     m_v   Size      Remarks

 90   6210    Her  PN     16:44.5  +23:49   9.3    14"     very starlike blue planetary

 91   6369    Oph  PN     17:29.3  -23:46  10.4    30"     Little Ghost; look for NGC 6309 nearby
 92   6572    Oph  PN     18:12.1  +06:51   9.0     8"     tiny bright blue oval
 93   6633    Oph  OC     18:27.7  +06:34   4.6    27      sparse wide field cluster; IC 4756 nearby

 94   6712    Sct  GC     18:53.1  -08:42   8.2     7.2    small globular; look for IC 1295 in field

 95   6781    Aql  PN     19:18.4  +06:33  11.8  1'49"     pale version of M97

 96   6819    Cyg  OC     19:41.3  +40:11   7.3     5      150*; faint but rich cluster in Milky Way
 97   6826    Cyg  PN     19:44.8  +50:31   9.8    30"     !! Blinking Planetary; 10.4-mag central star
 98   6888    Cyg  SNR?   20:12.0  +38:21          20x10   Crescent Nebula; faint; use nebula filter
 99a  6960    Cyg  SNR    20:45.7  +30:43          70x6    !! Veil Nebula: west half; use filter !
 99b  6992/5  Cyg  SNR    20:56.4  +31:43          78x8    !! Veil Nebula: east half; use filter !
100   7000    Cyg  EN     20:58.8  +44:20         120x100  !! North America N; use filter & low mag.
101   7027    Cyg  PN?    21:07.1  +42:14  10.4    15"     unusual protoplanetary nebula

102   6445    Sgr  PN     17:49.2  -20:01  11.8    34"     small, bright and annular; near M23
103   6520    Sgr  OC     18:03.4  -27:54   8.1     6      60*; small; dark neb. B86 in same field
104   6818    Sgr  PN     19:44.0  -14:09   9.9    17"     Little Gem; annular; NGC 6822 0.75 deg S

105   6802    Vul  OC     19:30.6  +20:16   8.8     3.2    at east end of Brocchi's cluster Cr 399
106   6940    Vul  OC     20:34.6  +28:18   6.3    31      60*; fairly rich cluster in Milky Way

107   6939    Cep  OC     20:31.4  +60:38   7.8     8      80*; very rich;
108   6946    Cep  G-Sc   20:34.8  +60:09   8.9  11.0x9.8  faint, diffuse face-on spiral near 6939
109   7129    Cep  RN     21:44.4  +66:10           8x7    faint reflection neb. around several stars
110     40    Cep  PN     00:13.0  +72:32  10.2    37"     unusual red planetary; 11.6 mag central star

Key:

No., NGC: RASC and NGC Catalogue number
Con: Constellation
Type: Object type. PN: Planetary Nebula, SNR: Supernova Remnant, EN: (diffuse) Emission Nebula, RN: (diffuse) Reflection Nebula, E/RN: Diffuse emission and reflection Nebula, OC: Open Cluster, GC: Globular Cluster, G-: Galaxy, with Hubble type given
R.A., Dec: Coordinates for epoch J2000.0
m_v, size: Visual magnitude and apparent dimension (arc min unless indicated as arc sec)
Remarks: Descriptive remarks

RASC's Deep Sky Challenge Objects list

More Deepsky observing lists

Hartmut Frommert (spider@seds.org).
Christine Kronberg (smil@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)

Last Modification: 5 Jan 2001, 11:00 MET