The bowl of the Big Dipper cradles several fine galaxies. NGC 3610 resides here, about 3.5 degrees southeast of 1.8 magnitude Dubhe. This 10.8 magnitude SO-type galaxy is presented in the sketch at left. At 82X in my 10-inch Newtonian, the galaxy features a stellar core embedded within a 1' diameter nebulosity. The closest bright star is 7.9 magnitude HD 98315, 7' to the northeast. While you're in the area, look for NGC 3613 and NGC 3619 about 54' to the south.