It’s not typically that one can assert {that a} deep-sky object inside a given constellation that’s with no Messier tag can, on the very least, rival one which does. Many observers suggest that NGC 2903, an outstanding spiral galaxy in Leo that’s a serious spotlight of the spring sky, matches the invoice, matching up nicely to marvellous Messier 66 (NGC 3627) or certainly any of the opposite galaxies, Messier-designated or in any other case, present in Leo.
NGC 2903 requires a merely modest aperture to snare it at its simply to seek out location. As soon as discovered, it yields a good diploma of element by way of a moderate-aperture telescope and makes for a implausible imaging goal. NGC 2903 is probably essentially the most notable and perplexing omission from the Frenchman’s ubiquitous catalogue and, as such, is to not be missed.
![](https://astronomynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/FINDER_NGC_2903.jpg)
How you can observe
The implausible constellation of Leo, the Lion, led by first-magnitude Regulus (alpha [α] Leonis), is on the vanguard of the foremost constellations of the spring sky.
The celebs that kind the Lion’s head, principally magnitude +3 epsilon (ε) Leonis, Rasalas (mu [μ], magazine. +3.9) and Alterf (lambda [λ], magazine. +4.3) hit the southern meridian at 10pm GMT, mid-March. Epsilon and Rasalas additionally kind the northernmost part of the curving portion of Leo’s well-known ‘Sickle’ asterism of six stars, together with Regulus and Algieba, which collectively are popularly likened to a backwards query mark.
NGC 2903 is situated simply 1.5°south of Alterf and culminates at a really wholesome altitude of round 60°. It may be noticed till about 3am GMT, giving it an total mid-month observing window lasting round seven hours.
NGC 2903 shines at magnitude +8.9, making it marginally brighter than Messier 65 and 66, and spans a beneficiant 13’ x 6.6’. It needs to be obvious as a tiny smudge in 10 x 50 binoculars and thru a 80mm (~three-inch) telescope on a clear and moonless evening within the countryside. A 100–150mm (four- to six-inch) telescope underneath excessive magnification can reveal a vibrant nucleus and a surrounding mottled halo, which is the galaxy’s largely unresolved spiral arms, fantastically seen traced by younger, blue star clusters and pinkish star-forming areas in deep novice pictures.
![](https://astronomynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/NGC-2903-Hubble-potw2143a.jpeg)