NGC 3640: Elliptical Galaxy (Leo) RA: 11h 21.1m / DEC: +03° 14'.1 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
Despite not being as well-known as, oh say, M95 and M96, NGC 3640 is worth the detour. Begin your star hop to NGC 3640 at 5.2 magnitude 75 Leonis. Slew 1.6 degrees northeast and you're there. This is a bright little guy and its appearance in my 10-inch is recorded in the sketch at left. This 10.5 magnitude elliptical galaxy presents a 90"x60" profile stretched across an east-west axis. The galaxy features a very bright stellar core region. 8.1 magnitude HD 98603 is visible just inside the southern edge of the field. It's the brighter of the closest pair. Another twelve field stars complete the drawing. |
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