NGC 4261: Elliptical Galaxy (Virgo) RA: 12h 19.4m / DEC: +05° 59'.5 Instrument: 10-inch Starfinder |
NGC 4261 resides 1 degree northwest of M61 in central Virgo. My drawing records it, NGC 4260 and NGC 4264 as they appear in the 10-inch Starfinder at 129X. NGC 4260, northernmost of the trio, shines with an integrated brightness of 10.4 magnitude. This elliptical galaxy covers a 3'x1'.5 area elongated roughly east-west. The core region running the length of the axis appears noticeably brighter. 7.7 magnitude HD 107238 simmers 7' to the southwest, the brightest star in the field. NGC 4261 is seen 16' south of NGC 4260. It features a stellar core region enmeshed within a 3'x2' oval nebulosity. This 10.4 magnitude elliptical stands 3'.5 west of 12.8 magnitude NGC 4264, also pictured in the sketch. Diminutive NGC 4264 is angled northwest-to-southeast. Seventeen field stars frame the view. |
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