Tag: galaxies

NGC 7331 Deer Lick Group of Galaxies and Stephan’s Quintet

Telescope / Lens	TEC 140mm f/7 Refractor
Mount Type	Astrophysics 1200
Camera	SBIG ST10XME
Filters	Astrodon LRGB
Film	CCD
Exposure	185minutes (3 hours 5 min); LRGB (L=125,RGB=60@)
Processing	CCDSoft, CCDStack, AIP, Photoshop CS2-CS6
Date	10/25/2008
Location	25 miles SE of Cottage Grove, Oregon; 122° 52.595′ W 43° 31′ N
Conditions	4568′ magnitude 6 Skies; Clear & 5-7 m.p.h. wind

NGC 7331 (Deer Lick Group of Galaxies ) & NGC 7320 Stephens Quintet

The upper left is Stephens Quintet and the lower right is the Deer Lick group in the constellation of Pegasus. NGC 7331 the largest Galaxy in the Deer Lock group is 9° Northwest of ß Pegasi. The lower right edge of NGC7331 is pointed North and the companion galaxies are to the East. Galaxy NGC 7331 resembles what our own Milky Way galaxy would look like some 50 million light years away. This galaxy has an overall brightness of magnitude 10.3 . This group is a nice visual treat in medium to large amateur scope (10″ and up) NGC 7331 is 10.6′ x 3.8′ (the moon is 28′)

Stephens Quintet (upper left) is a small group of interacting galaxies 300 million light years away. You can see the lower two galaxies are interacting and a long arm extents from the one to the right. This detail is readily evident in the full resolution image. NGC7318A & NGC 7318B (magnitude 14) are colliding and nearby NGC 7319 (magnitude 14.4) may also be involved since it has an arm that stretches out. NGC 7320 (Mag. 13.3) is the top oblong one and NGC 7317 (14.8) is out to the left. Out further to the upper right of the main group is NGC 7320C at magnitude 16.6.

Galaxy NGC 7331 “Caldwell 30” 40 million light years. 12.1′ x 1.0′ magnitude 10.4.  The other lenticular unbarred spirals NGC 7335, 7336 & barred spiral galaxy NGC 7340, elliptical galaxy NGC 7340.  They are 332, 365, 348 and 294 million light years distant, respectively.

Discovered by William Hershel in 1784,

Stephan’s Quintet is a grouping of 5 galaxies, forming a compact group of galaxies. In the constellation of Pegasus, discovered in 1877 by Edouard Stephan,  also known as Hickson Compact Group 92. NGC 7318B collides with the group and a shock wave larger than our own Milky Way galaxy spread between the galaxies.  NGC 7320 is only a foreground galaxy at 39 million light years.  The other five form a group 220-330 million light years away.

Telescope / Lens	TEC 140mm f/7 Refractor
Mount Type	Astrophysics 1200
Camera	SBIG ST10XME
Filters	Astrodon LRGB
Film	CCD
Exposure	165 minutes (2 hours 45 minutes); LRGB (L=120,RGB=15 each) 5 minute exposures
Processing	CCDSoft, CCDStack, AIP, Photoshop CS2
Date	04/20/2009
Location	Eagles Ridge; 25 Miles South of Dexter, Oregon 122° 42′ 45″ W, 43° 48′ 17″N Observing site used by Eugene Astronomical Society
Conditions	3411′ elevation, magnitude 6 Skies; Clear

Leo trio of galaxies is located in the rear leg area of the Constellation LEO, the lion. They are situated halfway between the stars Chertan (3.3 magnitude) on top and  78-Iota Leonis magnitude 4.46, on the bottom. This is a small group of galaxies  35 million light years away. Shinning at magnitude 10.3, 9.7 and 9.4 respectfully, they are visible through a good pair of binoculars or small 4-6″ telescope. Wide field eyepieces produce a stunning view of the Leo Trio of Galaxies in larger aperture instruments of 12-16″.

NGC 3628 is an edge on galaxy discovered by William Herschel  in 1784.  Estimated at 300,000 light years across and 35 million light years away. Apparent magnitude of 10.2 and 15′ x 3.6′ (arc minutes) in size. This galaxy is also known as the Hamburger Galaxy or Sarah’s Galaxy and is a great example of an unbarred spiral galaxy discovered by William Herschel in 1784.

M 65 Galaxy NGC 3623 (Upper Right) and apparent magnitude 10.25 and 8.7′ x 2.45′ 

M 66 Galaxy NGC 3627 (Lower Right) 95,000 light years across, 8.9 mag. 9.1′ x 4.2′