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This one poses quite a challenge. IC 1296 is a faint, face-on barred-spiral galaxy that just happens to lie within 4' of the famous Ring Nebula in Lyra. You've probably looked right at it on many occasions without seeing it! It's quite rare to see galaxies near planetary nebulae because the planetaries are found along the disk of our galaxy. It is in this disk that the majority of the obscuring dust lies, which usually blots from view any far away galaxies that lie beyond. Look for a 1' elongated smudge of light surrounding a bright, starlike core. This core should be visible in modest sized instruments, but seeing the surrounding haze is much more difficult. You will need a clear, dark, and steady night with Lyra high in the sky. Find the central star from the photograph and then use averted vision to try to see the rest of the galaxy. Remember, be patient!
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