De Vaucouleurs Atlas Type: (R:)SA(r)0+
Filter: B
Telescope: CTIO 1.5-m
North up , East left
Field Dimensions: 7.4 x 6.8 arcminutes
RC3 Type: SA(r)0+
RSA Type: S03(6)/Sa
Surface Brightness Range Displayed: 17.5-26.0 mag per square arcsec
Absolute Blue Magnitude: -20.1
De Vaucouleurs Atlas Description:
Like NGC 1527 , the bright inner zone of NGC 4429 bears an uncanny resemblance to the inner hexagonal zone of NGC 7020 . This zone has bright arcs near its major axis but no ``spots" or extensions as in NGC 7020 and NGC 1527 . The zone looks ring-like and is the basis for the (R) classification. As in the other two cases, the feature projects nearly along the disk major axis.
Most interesting is the small ring in the center. In blue light, this area is affected by near-side extinction in the form of a strong dust arc. Most remarkable is how, in the color index map, this region shows a complete dust ring . The apparent stellar ring has no color contrast and is largely an artifact of the dust ring . Thus, NGC 4429 is a galaxy whose inner ring is mainly a dust feature.