NGC 7091
DSS image of NGC 7091
Overlaid DSS image of NGC 7091, 30' x 30' with north at top and west to the right

Aladin viewer for the region around NGC 7091
IC 5114, MCG-06-47-007, ESO 403-8, PGC 66972, GSC 07486-00711

Type  Galaxy
Magnitude  12.9
Size  2.1' x 1.7' @ 50°
Right Ascension  21h 34' 7.7"  (2000)
Declination  36° 39' 22" S
Constellation  Grus
Description  eF, pL, vgbM, *6f40"
Classification  SBd
Observing Notes

Harold Corwin

IC 5114 = NGC 7091. Swift's RA is 2 minutes too small, and his declination 3.5 arcmin too far south. But his description "eF, pS, R; e wide D* f 30 sec" fits the galaxy provided one takes some liberty with his note "e wide D* f 30 sec". The "e wide" means 20 seconds of time, and "f 30 sec" is more like 50 sec (on average; the first star is actually about 40 seconds following). If we're willing to accept this, as I am, then the identity is pretty sure.

Also see NGC 7091 for a story of its own. JH didn't get the galaxy right, either.
IC Notes by Harold Corwin

Harold Corwin

John Herschel found this on 1 September 1834, about 6 months after he began observing from the Cape of Good Hope. He says of it "... place considerably uncertain having been found when much past the meridian in searching in vain for Dunlop 561." The RA and NPD are both given only to full minutes of time in his CGH Observations.

Unfortunately, he precesses this imprecise (and inaccurate) position to 1860 and gives it to 0.1 seconds of time and NPD in GC. The only indication that it is an approximate position is on the "Number of times observed by H and h" -- that is given as "1::". Dreyer either ignored or missed that, so the object came into the NGC with its position given nominal accuracy (1 second of time and 0.1 arcmin of NPD) and with no note.

The galaxy is a good ways off John Herschel's position (1m 20s preceding, 7.5 arcmin north), but can be positively identified by JH's note "It precedes a * 6m nearly in the parallel, about 40 seconds of time."

Swift's position is even further off -- see the IC 5114 entry for that story.
NGC Notes by Harold Corwin
Other Data Sources for NGC 7091
Nearby objects for NGC 7091
3 objects found within 120'
HD 203949 NGC 7075 PGC 66812
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 7091