Per Dreyer, NGC 6008 (= Stephan list XI (#19), 1860 RA 15 56 48, NPD 68 28.8) is "very faint, round, pretty large, brighter middle". The position precesses to RA 15 52 56.8, Dec +21 06 03, within the outline of the galaxy, so the identification is certain. Based on a recessional velocity of 4870 km/sec, NGC 6008 is about 225 million light years away. Given that and its 1.4 by 1.3 arcmin apparent size, it is about 90 thousand light years across. Based on their similar distance and direction, NGC 6008 and PGC 56301 (often referred to as "NGC 6008B") may be a physical pair (their difference in radial velocity is less than normal peculiar (non-Hubble expansion) velocities, so the difference in their estimated distances may be real, or illusory).

Based on a recessional velocity of 5120 km/sec, PGC 56301 is about 240 million light years away. Given that and its 0.7 by 0.5 arcmin apparent size, it is about 50 thousand light years across. Based on their similar distance and direction, PGC 56301 and NGC 6008 may be a physical pair (their difference in radial velocity is less than normal peculiar (non-Hubble expansion) velocities, so the apparent difference in distance may be real, or illusory).

Apparent size 2.0 by 0.7 arcmin

Apparent size 2.1 by 1.5 arcmin

Apparent size 1.4 by 0.8 arcmin

Based on a recessional velocity of 2490 km/sec, NGC 6014 is about 115 million light years distant. Given that and its apparent size of 1.7 by 1.6 arcmins, it is about 55 thousand light years across.

Apparent size 0.4 by 0.4 arcmin

A double "discovery" on the same evening led to a double listing; unfortunately this was not as unusual as might be hoped. Apparent size 1.4 by 1.0 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.4 by 0.8 arcmin

Apparent size 0.7 by 0.5 arcmin

Apparent size 1.4 by 1.0 arcmin

Apparent size 0.7 by 0.6 arcmin

Apparent size 15 arcmin

As is usual for such nebulae, the central star is a white dwarf; but in this case it is also a close binary, with a red giant companion. As a result of the orbital motion of the pair, the system varies in brightness over a period of 0.528 days, which would normally correspond to an identical orbital period; but spectroscopic studies show that the actual orbital period is twice as long. The difference is interpreted as being due to the larger star having expanded until it fills its Roche lobe (the point at which any further expansion would result in material being torn away by the other star), and as a result, having an ellipsoidal shape which alters the brightness of the system according to how the ellipsoid is turned relative to our line of sight. The apparent size of the nebula is 0.9 by 0.6 arcmin; apparently nothing else is available.

NGC 6027, or "Seyfert's Sextet", is a compact group of four galaxies, a part torn from one of them as a result of their gravitational interaction, and a background galaxy. When noted by Carl Seyfert in 1951, it was the most compact group of galaxies discovered to date. The individual galaxies range from 25 to 50 thousand light years across, and the whole group occupies a region only about the size of our Milky Way galaxy. The four interacting galaxies and their distorted extensions have recessional velocities ranging from 4015 to 4480 km/sec, which corresponds to a distance of about 200 million light years. The background galaxy (NGC 6027d in the listing below) has a recessional velocity of 19815 km/sec, which corresponds to a distance of 850 million light years (see its separate listing for more about that). In the labeled image below and the discussion of individual galaxies which follow this listing, the labels correspond to those used by Seyfert; but various references use different listings, so "A" in one list may not correspond to "A" in another, and in fact normally does not. As a result, alternative listings such as their PGC designations are the only way to be sure which galaxy is being discussed, and it is quite possible that the confusion in identification with even those listings (as noted in the individual entries below) may mean that data stated as corresonding to one member of the Sextet may actually be those for another member. It is believed that over a period of several billion years, the interacting members of NGC 6027 will collide with each other over and over, until they finally merge into a single galaxy.

Listed in NED as NED01 (but mis-listed as PGC 56575). NGC 6027 has a recessional velocity of 4445 km/sec, which corresponds to 205 million light years. However, based on its obvious interaction with its companions, it must share their common distance of about 200 million light years. Given that and its 0.4 by 0.2 arcmin apparent size, it is about 25 thousand light years across.

Listed in NED as NED02. NGC 6027a has a recessional velocity of 4560 km/sec, which corresponds to 210 million light years. However, based on its obvious interaction with its companions, it must share their common distance of about 200 million light years. Given that and its 0.5 by 0.4 arcmin apparent size, it is about 30 thousand light years across.

Listed in NED as NED03 (but mis-listed as PGC 56584). NGC 6027b has a recessional velocity of 4055 km/sec, which corresponds to 190 million light years. However, based on its obvious interaction with its companions, it must share their common distance of about 200 million light years. Given that and its 0.4 by 0.2 arcmin apparent size, it is about 25 thousand light years across.

Listed in NED as NED04. NGC 6027c has a recessional velocity of 4620 km/sec, which corresponds to 215 million light years. However, based on its obvious interaction with its companions, it must share their common distance of about 200 million light years. Given that and its 0.9 by 0.2 arcmin apparent size, it is about 50 thousand light years across.

Listed in NED as NED05. Based on a recessional velocity of 19810 km/sec, a straightforward calculation indicates a distance for NGC 6027d of about 925 million light years. However, for objects at that distance, we must take into account the expansion of the Universe during the time it took the galaxy's light to reach us. Doing that shows that NGC 6027d was about 850 million light years away when the light by which we see it was emitted, about 880 million years ago (the difference between the two numbers being due to the expansion of the intervening space during that interval). Given that and its 0.2 by 0.2 arcmin apparent size, NGC 6027d is about 50 thousand light years across. Unlike the other members of Seyfert's Sextet, NGC 6027d is not a member of the compact group of interacting galaxies; instead, as indicated by its estimated distance, it is a background galaxy over four times more distant than its apparent companions.

Listed in NED as NED06 (but mis-listed as PGC 56579). Based on a recessional velocity of 4095 km/sec, which corresponds to about 190 million light years. However, based on its obvious interaction with its companions, it must share their common distance of about 200 million light years (in fact, it may not be a separate galaxy but simply a part of NGC 6027 that was torn away by a recent collision). Given that and its 0.8 by 0.4 arcmin apparent size, it is about 45 thousand light years across.

(Only historical information to be entered here; see NGC 6046 for physical data)

Apparent size 1.2 by 0.7 arcmin

Apparent size 1.2 by 0.8 arcmin

Apparent size 3.0 arcmin

Per Dreyer, NGC 6032 is "very faint, pretty large, a little extended, very little brighter middle, northwest of 2", the other being NGC 6035. Apparent size 1.6 by 0.7 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.1 by 1.0 arcmin

Apparent size 1.0 by 0.8 arcmin

Per Dreyer, NGC 6035 is "very faint, pretty large, a little extended, southeastern of 2", the other being NGC 6032. Apparent size 0.9 by 0.9 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.1 by 0.4 arcmin

Apparent size 0.7 by 0.6 arcmin

Apparent size 1.1 by 1.1 arcmin

(only historical information to be posted here; for physical data see NGC 6042)

Apparent size of NGC 6040A is 1.45 by 0.45 arcmin; of NGC 6040B is 0.8 by 0.8 arcmin.

Apparent size 1.3 by 1.1 arcmin

Apparent size 0.8 by 0.7 arcmin

The second IC lists a corrected RA (per Bigourdan) of 15 58 43. A member of the Hercules Cluster of galaxies. Apparent size 0.7 by 0.4 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.6 by 0.6 arcmin. Part of the Hercules Cluster of galaxies (for now, see NGC 6043 for an image)

The second IC lists a corrected RA (per Bigourdan) of 15 58 49. Apparent size 1.3 by 0.3 arcmin.

Apparent size 0.4 by 0.2 arcmin. The recessional velocity of PGC 84720 is nearly 700 km/sec less than for NGC 6045 (which see for images), which corresponds to a separation of 30 million light years. This means they may both be members of the Hercules Cluster, but the smaller galaxy is probably a foreground object, rather than an actual companion.

Apparent size 1.3 by 1.1 arcmin

Apparent size 1.1 by 0.8 arcmin. A member of the Hercules Cluster.

Apparent size 2.2 by 1.7 arcmin

Presumably glare from the star was mistakenly interpreted as a nebulous envelope.