NGC 3000

NGC 3000 is a designation that refers to a nonexistent object. It was mistakenly included in the New General Catalogue (NGC), a widely used catalog of deep-sky objects such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.

The listing originated with observations by John Herschel on March 22, 1835, recorded as "h 642" and later indexed in the General Catalogue as GC 1925. The NGC, compiled by J.L.E. Dreyer, relied heavily on the GC, and therefore incorporated the erroneous entry.

The coordinates associated with NGC 3000 are located in the constellation Ursa Major. However, at these coordinates, no deep-sky object matching Herschel's (likely flawed) description can be found. It's generally believed that Herschel either misidentified a star or observed a faint and transient atmospheric phenomenon (like a reflection or internal scattering within the telescope) which he then recorded as a genuine celestial object.

As a "ghost" object, NGC 3000 serves as a reminder of the challenges inherent in early astronomical observation and the importance of careful verification in astronomical cataloging. Modern star charts and astronomical databases typically omit NGC 3000 or clearly indicate its non-existence.