Harold Corwin

IC 2982 was rediscovered by Holmberg, hence its secondary designation as "NGC 4004B". I had some doubts about the identification as IC 2982 since the galaxy is about three arcmin north of the IC position.

Reducing Bigourdan's observation (he simply estimated the position with respect to the comparison star because the star prevented him from seeing the galaxy well), I found that his approximate position is about 15 arcsec from the galaxy.

Combined with his description, "Probably nebulous object; the proximity of the comparison star prevents it from being seen well." The galaxy is indeed close to the star and in the direction which Bigourdan notes (2 seconds east at the same declination), so I now have no reason to doubt that he did indeed see the galaxy.

― IC Notes by Harold Corwin

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