Monograph No. 1 - The "Non-Existent" Star Clusters of the RNGC
Written by Brent A. Archinal
Abstract
A number of objects cataloged in the NGC [Dreyer,
1888] and RNGC [Sulentic and Tifft, 1973] have been misidentified
or have not been located since their discovery in the 18th and 19th
centuries. The RNGC in particular lists a relatively large number
of the star clusters listed in the NGC as nonexistent (or "type
7") objects and contains errors related to several other clusters
or asterisms. Here is given a catalog of all of these objects,
including extensive notes. The catalog contains corrected and
expanded information from the RNGC, while the notes include all
known modern observations (except in the case of now well known
objects), and many historical observations. All relevant
observations by William and John Herschel are included in the
notes.
The catalog contains entries for 229 objects (including 228
NGC/RNGC entries). One object was found to probably not exist, 5
were found to be duplicate entries for other NGC objects, and 99
were confirmed to exist in some form. For 124 objects, sufficient
information does not exist to confirm existence either way and
modern observations are encouraged. Notes of some type are
provided for all but 21 of these objects, and 32 drawings or
sketches of these objects are also included. Readers are
encouraged to make and report additional observations.