NGC 2903 (UGC 5079) Galaxy in Leo

Located at: RA 09 hours 32 minutes 10 seconds, Dec +21 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds

Size: 12.6' x 6.0'; Magnitude: 9.7 blue; Class: SAB(rs)bc

North is up

West to the right

Telescope:

 8" f5 Newtonian reflector
Camera:

 ST-8XME, self-guided, binned 1x1, temp -20 & -25c, camera control MaxIm DL 4.56
 Image:

Red (Hoya 25A) filter, 290 minutes (29 x 10 minute subs), 04/18 & 05/5/2007
Processing:

CCDStack 1.2, Photoshop 7.0
Location:

 Rolling Roof Observatory, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 (+34d 13m 29s -118h 52m 20s)
Notes: This image combines 2.9 (FWHM) second seeing (4/18) with my last set that tracked low into the West, with up to ~5 second seeing ... as the moon crept closer to NGC 2903 in April, I started imaging M 109 and NGC 5585, as they were farther from the brightening moon.

From the NGC / IC Project:

Contemporary Visual Observation(s) for NGC 2903
NGC 2903 = UGC 05079 = MCG +04-23-009 = CGCG 122-014 = PGC 27077
09 32 10.0 +21 30 02
V = 09.0;  Size 12.6x6.0;  SB = 13.6;  PA = 17d

17.5": this is one of the brightest non-Messier galaxies.  Very bright and 
large, elongated 5:2 SSW-NNE, 10'x4'.  A very faint knot is involved on the NNE 
side 1.2' from center = N2905.  An extremely faint knot is also symmetrically 
placed opposite the core on the SW end 1.2' from center.  The galaxy has a 
dusty, mottled appearance with knots and arcs easily visible with averted 
vision.

13": very bright, elongated bright core.  Contains a very faint knot at the N 
end = N2905.

8": bright, large, elongated, bright mottled core.

- by Steve Gottlieb

NGC 2905 = N2903
09 32 11.9 +21 31 05

17.5": very large knot or arc at the NNE edge of a spiral arm in N2903.  Easily 
visible with averted vision.

13": very faint knot or arc at NE edge of arm of N2903.

Discovered by WH (I 57).  His description for N2903 is "Two, at 1' distance.  
Both cB, cL, appear like one mE."  I'd be surprised if the faint starcloud in 
the spiral arm would be described as "cB".  In sweep 244, John Herschel's 
description reads: "I 56 is vB, E, gbM, r.  Long attention shows a vF, L, R, neb 
attached nf."  This decription clearly refers to the large starcloud or HII 
region in a spiral arm of N2903.  Listed as nonexistent in the RNGC.

- by Steve Gottlieb
Historical Research Notes / Correction for NGC 2903
NGC 2905 is the northeast arm of NGC 2903.  JH has several observations of it
in that position, as well as a sketch.  The only slight mystery here is why WH
made it one of his first class nebulae, ranking it in brightness with the
central portion of NGC 2903 itself. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.

NGC 2903.  See NGC 2905. - Dr. Harold G. Corwin, Jr.