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Roger,<BR>
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I have 8 recorded observations since 1992, the latest in 2007. Your description pretty much mirrors mine except you have a little more detail. Most of the time I describe it as a ball, but a couple of times I saw it as an oval. It wasn't particulary bright in any of them, even in my 16". Since it's neither a Herschel 1 or 2, I never drew it. I just recently started drawing them in my regular log book, which is something I never did before. I saved my "artistic" abilities just for the specific Messier, Herschel 1 or Herschel 2 books. However, I decided to add a quick sketch to each observation just in case I missed one of my catalogue objects and wouldn't have to try and remember it later.<BR>
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Since this weekend the weather was bad, I'll have to skip two more weekends before the next moonless night. Wish I could do more but weather, work, and time off just don't permit.<BR>
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By the way, excellent sketch!<BR>
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Fred<BR>
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From: drivester@hotmail.com<BR>To: lvas@lvlug.org<BR>Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2009 03:49:42 +0000<BR>Subject: [Lvas] NGC 404 Sketch<BR><BR>
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NGC 404 in Andromeda has always been a favorite galaxy of mine and I have sketched it on many occasions. The following sketch was made this past Sunday night (18-January-09) using a 4-inch Vixen F/9.8 refractor @ 125x. <BR> <BR>This galaxy is located only 6 arc minutes NW of bright 2.1 magnitude Beta Andromeda. Due to the extreme glare, close proximity and relative brightness of Beta this galaxy can be difficult to observe. I have discovered that my 4-inch does an extremely good job as it somewhat "diminishes" the glare of Beta. The refractor also has a darker background with improved contrast (as expected) when compared to my 10-inch F/4.5 reflector. I find the overall view of this galaxy much more pleasing in the smaller refractor. <BR> <BR>It presents itself as a mostly round featureless soft blur with a "subtle" brighter middle. Brian Skiff notes a stellar nucleus. The edges fade very gradually outwards. This galaxy has been confused as a comet by many observers and has been nicknamed "Comet Komorowski". Ted Komorowski was a local observer from Charlotte NC in the late 60's and one night thought that he had discovered a new comet...only to be disappointed a week later. Norton's and other's did not list nor show NGC 404 during that period. I have a 1959 edition Norton's star atlas that shows only Beta. <BR> <BR>Best regards, Roger Ivester <BR><BR><BR><BR>
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