NGC 4449

NGC 4449 = UGC 07592 = MCG +07-26-009 = CGCG 216-005 = LGG 290-017 = PGC 40973
12 28 11.2 +44 05 36
V = 09.6;  Size 6.2x4.4;  SB = 13.0;  PA = 45d

18" (5/8/04): fascinating view of this "Magellanic" system at 323x!  The galaxy 
is very irregular in appearance and surface brightness with a large, bright, 
elongated core oriented SW-NE.  The core appears offset to the south side of the 
galaxy.

Several knots (giant HII regions) are visible outside the core.  The brightest 
is a well-defined obvious patch on the north edge of the galaxy, 1.5' from the 
center.  This object is #15 in Hodge-Kennicutt's 1983 "Atlas of HII regions in 
125 galaxies" and it is nearly comparable in surface brightness to the core.  
Roughly 1' SE is a smaller, faint knot which is collinear with [HK83] 15 and a 
mag 13.5 star 2.4' east of the core.  A third difficult knot can be sometimes 
glimpsed about 40" SW of [HK83] 15.  Finally, attached on the south end of the 
core there is a larger, bright knot, although initially I though this was just 
part of the core.

13.1" (4/12/86): very bright, very large, elongated SW-NE, bright core, stellar 
nucleus.  A knot is involved at the north end and the galaxy generally appears 
brighter to the north of the core.  A star is superimposed close E of the core.

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

- by Steve Gottlieb