This duo calls the remote reaches of Aquarius, home. NGC 7724 and NGC 7727 are stationed near the border with Cetus, 2 degrees due north of 5.0 magnitude Omega1 (102) Aquarii. The sketch at left captures the pair at 129X in my 10-inch Meade Newtonian. NGC 7727, the brighter of the pair, is postioned east of center. The 10.6 magnitude SAB-type galaxy features a stellar core region, which is embedded within a 4'x3' diffuse glow. This galactic disk gradually fades into the background sky. NGC 7727 is aligned roughly northeast to southwest and is surrounded by a handfull of 12th and 13th magnitude stars. NGC 7724 is visible 12' to the east-northeast. This is a faint wisp of thing, mid-13th magnitude and something like 60"x45" in size. It's difficult to make size esitmates on objects like this, visible only with averted vision and already almost lost against the background sky. 10.1 magnitude SAO 165813, the brightest star in the field, shines 5'.5 south-southeast of NGC 7724. While you're in the area, don't forget to check out NGC 7723 just 43' to the south-southwest.