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<BR><STRONG>The following is information from our reference sources for this month's object</STRONG><BR>
<STRONG><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt" size=3>NGC-2403</FONT>.</STRONG><BR>
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<EM>"Observing Handbook & Catalogue of Deep-Sky Objects"</EM> by Christian B. Luginbuhl & <BR>
Brian A. Skiff<STRONG> </STRONG><BR>
<STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG>eg</STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG> 2403 dimen. 18' x 11' v mag = 8.4</STRONG><BR>
This bright galaxy is a good sight even in small apertures. In 6 cm it is about 15' x 5', elongated SE-NW, with a mag. 11 star on either side of the core. In 25 cm at least three stars can be seen in the 10' x 3' nebula. The edges are uneven, and there is no marked central condensation. Five fainter stars are associated with the core in 30 cm, the brightest of which lies just S of center. More faint stars can be seen in the low surface brightness halo. Some tenuous spiral structure is suspected: a dark area appears between the center and the mag. 11 star on the ESE, and a 2'.5 x 0.'75 dark lane runs across the N side of the core. The overall size is at least 15' x 4' in pa 115°.<BR><BR><EM> <BR><FONT face=Verdana size=4></FONT> "The Universe from Your Backyard"</EM> by David J. Eicher<BR>
Placed near two 6th-magnitude stars in the southeastern corner of Camelopardalis is the magnitude 8.4 galaxy <STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG><STRONG>NCG</STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG></STRONG>-2403</STRONG>. This magnificent spiral lies only 3.5 mega-parsecs away and is a member of the same group of galaxies that includes M-81 and M-82 in Ursa Major.<BR>
Because it is relatively near and appears more or less face-on to our line of sight, NGC-2403 presents intricate detail in its spiral arms. The structure of this galaxy resembles that of M-33 in Triangulum, the "Pinwheel Galaxy." Both show loose mottled patches of bright and dark nebulosity in their arms and bright, small nuclei. <BR>
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"<EM>The Amateur Astronomer's Field Guide to Deep Sky Observing</EM>" by Tom Lorenzin with Tim Sechler Tom is a North Carolina native, known throughout the country and is a personal friend to many amateurs. Tom has been a speaker at the Regional Gathering of Amateur Astronomers at Gardner Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC and has also been to the Williams Observatory on numerous occasions. He is an honorary member of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society.<BR>
8.8M; 16' x 10' extent; E-W oriented oblong blur; 2 small stars superimposed; nucleus bright between 'em; bright star 1° to W is 6M 51 CAM good supernova prospect.<BR>
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<EM>"Observe The Herschel Objects"</EM> Ancient City Astronomy Club Published by the Astronomical League It started in 1976, when several members of the Ancient City Astronomy Club in St. Augustine, Florida, who had recently completed the Messier Club noticed a letter in SKY & TELESCOPE magazine from James Mullaney of Pittsburgh, PA. Mr. Mullaney alerted amateurs to the William Herschel Catalog of deep-sky objects, and suggested this would be a good project to get into after completion of the Messier Lists. <BR>
Like Tom Lorenzin, James Mullaney is also an Honorary member of the Cleveland County Astronomical Society. I first began communicating with James (Jim) almost two decades ago with handwritten letters and am honored to call Jim a personal friend. <BR>
Information from the Ancient City Astronomy Club<BR>
Magnitude 8.9, spiral galaxy in Camelopardis, 16.8' x 10.0' in size, very large, slightly elongated, faint star seen inside the galaxy, seen face on, located about 2° west of 51 Camelopardis. (8-inch Refl.)<BR>
<STRONG>NOTE:</STRONG> James Mullaney has written a new book "<EM><STRONG>The Cambridge Double Star Atlas</STRONG></EM>" with Will Tirion which should be available in early April.<BR>
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Next week will be the presentation of information from our observational contributors.<BR>
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I hope that you will find this information of significant value and will help prepare you for the actual observations as reported by the contributing observers.<BR>
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Best regards, Observer:Roger Ivester from North Carolina<BR>
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