This emblematic galaxy really needs no introduction. It is the archetype of the edge-on spirals with a dust lane. The galaxy is relatively bright in the small scope. The core is almost stellar but shows a little extension. The central areas are getting brighter towards the core pretty fast and perhaps show some inhomogenities as well. The two ends of the Needle are very sharp indeed. The dust lane is very hard and uncertain but it can be seen. I could have made this drawing with a little bigger enlargement as well. But the galaxy didn't show more details and the star field was nicer this way.

Comparison with the photograph

The photo on the left, courtesy of Iván Éder was made using a 30 cm astrograph. The inverted drawing has been rotated and cropped to show a similar area as Iván's photograph.

The extremely elongated shape of the galaxy could be seen in the little 4" telescope along with the galaxy's main feature: the dust lane. To be able to see more of the galaxy (e.g. the tiny ripples and inhomogenities of the dust lane) one would most probably need a far bigger telescope.