NGC 3623

Primary identifier: NGC 3623
Other identifiers: Messier 65, UGC 6328, MCG +02-29-018, PGC 34612, VV 308, Arp 317,
Type: Galaxy
Magnitude: 9.3 V, 9.6 B
Diameter: 10' x 3.3'

RA: 11h 18m 56s
Dec: +13° 05' 32''
Constellation: Leo
Charts: U2000 191, MSA 2:729, SA 13

Observer: Richard Ford

Date: 2007 April 14/15 (Sat/Sun)
Location: Cape Town (Fairview Dairy Farm, Conterman's Kloof)
Instrument: 8-inch f/7 (Dobsonian)

Sky conditions: The sky overhead is still dark but with a brightened horizon. Atmosphere is stable and temporary turbulence might be observed. Naked-eye limiting magnitude = 4.5

Description: It is seen as a faint smudge of light as an out of focus spiral galaxy. Low surface brightness. It is very difficult to observe in light polluted skies. Best seen in dark country skies. In my 8-inch Newtonian (56x) it appears as a faint smudge of light. By using averted vision, by staring at a nearby star, the brighter the central region of the galaxy appears. Both sides of this galaxy appear brighter in the concentrated regions of stars. (Recorded 2007 April 14, 21:00)

Other notes by Richard Ford: An edgewise spiral (Sb) galaxy that lies at a distance of 35 million light years. The galactic nucleus is composed of over 150 million stars which make it centrally condensed in the centre.