NGC 3998 & NGC 3982 -- Spiral Galaxies in Ursa Major
Two Big Dipper Galaxies near the Leading Edge of the Bowl
The two Spiral Galaxies NGC 3998 and NGC 3982 are only separated by a third of a degree in
the night sky. However, the two have very different appearances through my 155mm refractor
from my backyard. NGC 3998 oval shape is easy to spot and shows a bright central core. NGC
3982 on the other hand is an amorphous circular glow that is right on the edge of visibility. I can
see why William Herschel when “discovering” NGC 3982, in 1789, misidentified it as a planetary
nebula.
the night sky. However, the two have very different appearances through my 155mm refractor
from my backyard. NGC 3998 oval shape is easy to spot and shows a bright central core. NGC
3982 on the other hand is an amorphous circular glow that is right on the edge of visibility. I can
see why William Herschel when “discovering” NGC 3982, in 1789, misidentified it as a planetary
nebula.