NGC 1538
DSS image of NGC 1538
Overlaid DSS image of NGC 1538, 60' x 60' with north at top and west to the right

Aladin viewer for the region around NGC 1538

Type  Unknown
Magnitude  
Right Ascension  4h 15' 5.5"  (2000)
Declination  13° 14' 20" S
Constellation  Eridanus
Observing Notes

Harold Corwin

NGC 1538 is possibly IC 2045, or perhaps -- a bit more likely -- IC 2047. IC 2045 (no identity problem) is the brightest galaxy in a group. Stone's sketch (at least my copy of the sketch), however, seems to point to IC 2047, the second brightest.

Unfortunately, his position, as poor as usual, falls near yet another galaxy in the group. It was this object that was probably taken to be NGC 1538 by Howe in 1900 (Howe only mentions that his two new nebulae, IC 2045 and 2047, are near NGC 1538), and certainly by Reinmuth in 1928.

So, the NGC identification is not at all certain. Observing logic suggests IC 2045, the sketch suggests IC 2047, and Stone's crude position has led to the third galaxy. All three are in the table of positions.
NGC Notes by Harold Corwin
Other Data Sources for NGC 1538
Associated objects for NGC 1538
Nearby objects for NGC 1538
7 objects found within 120'
HCG 27 IC 2045 IC 2047
IC 362 IC 367
NGC 1535
Credits...

Drawings, descriptions, and CCD photos are copyright Andrew Cooper unless otherwise noted, no usage without permission.

A complete list of credits and sources can be found on the about page

NGC 1538