NGC 165
DSS image of NGC 165
Overlaid DSS image of NGC 165, 30' x 30' with north at top and west to the right

Aladin viewer for the region around NGC 165
H III 954, GC 81, MCG-02-02-069, PGC 2182, SDSS J003628.92-100622.1, Gaia DR3 2426034546551102720

Type  Galaxy
Magnitude  13.08
Size  0.75' x 0.54' @ 90°
Right Ascension  0h 36' 28.9"  (2000)
Declination  10° 6' 22" S
Constellation  Cetus
Description  F, L, st in centre, f of 2
Classification  SA_B
Observing Notes

Harold Corwin

Steve Gottlieb, re-reducing William Herschel's observation, has found that H III 954 is probably not NGC 163 as Dreyer supposed, but could well be this galaxy, the following of a pair. William Herschel's reduced position falls much closer to this than to NGC 163, though a little doubt remains as William Herschel's description is sparse: "eF, S, excessively F". William Herschel has another galaxy (NGC 153) in the same sweep, with offsets from the same star (8 Ceti). William Herschel's position for that galaxy is good, so we can presume that -- barring a blunder -- his position for III 954 is also good.

NGC 163 was found by d'A and measured by him on two nights in Sept 1865; his position is accurate. He assumed that he saw the same galaxy as William Herschel, and notes the 32 second difference in the RAs.

Both galaxies were seen by Tempel. In his paper (in AN 102, 225, 1882 = AN 2439) he says, "Following III 954 -- observed by [William Herschel] and d'A -- by 30 [seconds of time] is a larger though fainter nebula with a star in the middle; a small star follows the nebula close to the north." Tempel clearly thought that William Herschel and d'A had seen the same galaxy, and that his second object was a "nova". Dreyer adopted this interpretation for the NGC.

Finally, Swift has an observation of one nebula here on 9 August 1886. His position, 00 36 14, -10 07.3 (precessed to J2000), is a almost exactly midway between the two galaxies. Note, however, that the RA's of the galaxies found on this night are 10-15 seconds of time too large, so this is almost certainly an observation of NGC 163, as assumed by Dreyer. Swift's description "eF, vS, R; v diff; only 1 * v near" could apply to either object, but fits NGC 163 well enough.

So, to summarize, William Herschel and Tempel saw NGC 165; while d'A, Tempel, and Swift saw NGC 163.
NGC Notes by Harold Corwin
Other Data Sources for NGC 165
Nearby objects for NGC 165
5 objects found within 60'
IC 1556 NGC 151 NGC 155
NGC 163 NGC 195
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 165