Vern’s Weblog

Stephan’s quintet (NGC 7317, 7318A, 7281B, 7319, and 7320) in the constellation Pegasus is a grouping of 5 galaxies in a 3.5 arc-min area. The largest and brightest of the group, NGC 7320, is located in the lower left of center. Due to difference in red shift, the conventional view  is that NGC 7320 is not part of the other 4 galaxies in the group. It is instead actually part the nearby NGC 7331 group.  However there is evidence of a connecting tail extending from 7320 which implies interaction with the the other galaxies. Some astronomers, such as Halton Arp, maintain that because of this the current beliefs about red shift should be re-examined. 

The galaxies 7318A and B located near the center of the image are quite interesting as well. Not only are they interacting but they also have differing red-shifts. Galaxy 7318B is currently moving toward the others at high speed setting up a tremendous shock wave larger than our own milky way galaxy in size.

Location was Crow Valley Campground in the Pawnee Grasslands just north of Briggsdale, CO. Temperature was 44°F and humidity was 56%. The sky was mostly clear with a few thin clouds, no wind, turbulence around 6/10, and transparency varied from good to very good. Fifteen minutes of video taken with Celestron Nexstar11 telescope, APT wedge, Meade F3.3 focal reducer, and a Astrovid Stellacam II video camera. Camera set at 9/14 gain, integrate 256 (8 sec), and medium gamma. Images were dark subtracted and flat field corrected with ImagePlus, aligned and stacked with Registax3.

NGC 6621 and NGC 6622 (Arp 81) are a strongly interacting pair of galaxies in the constellation Draco. The tidal arm extending up and to the left of NGC 6622 is just barely visible in the below image. Image was taken on May 21, 2006 at 01:53 am MDT with Celestron Nexstar11 telescope, Meade F3.3 focal reducer, and Astrovid Stellcam2 video camera. Temperature was 59°F, sky clear, transparency very good, no wind, location Lousiville, CO.

Located 20 arc-minutes east of M86 in the constellation Virgo is a pair of galaxies known as “the eyes”. According to the Chandra website, it is thought that these galaxies had a glancing collision about 100 million years ago. Both galaxies appear elognated in the NNE to SSW direction.

Image taken with Celestron Nexstar 11, Meade F3.3 focal reducer. and Astrovid Stellacam II video camera. Integration set at 256 (8.5 second exposure), gain 9/14, and medium gamma. Images flat field, dark subtracted, and bias adjusted, 20 minute stack. Sky was clear, transparency was very good, turbulence fair 5/10, no wind, and temperature was 57 °F.

Below is an image of NGC 4038 and 4039 in the constellation Corvus. This interesting pair of galaxies which are believed to be a colliding. NGC 4038 to the north or top in the image contains several dark patches. No sign of the the “antennae” that Hubble images show — I guess I need a bit more aperature! Hubblesite.org has discussion and images of star forming regions resulting from the collision.

Below image taken between 11:20 MDT and 11:40 MDT last evening, April 19, 2006 with a Celestron Nexstar11 telescope mounted on APT wedge, a Meade F3.3 focal reducer, and an Astrovid Stellacam2. Temperature was 43°F, no wind, transparency was very good, and turbulence was 5/10.

While searching for comet 43P last night (didn’t find it), I took a break from the search for a while and imaged NGC 3395 and 3396.

NGC 3395 and 3396 are a fairly bright pair of galaxies (visual magnitude 12.1) in constellation Leo Minor. Both galaxies are at an estimated distance of 85 million light years and are thought to be in the process of merging. UV observations with the Hubble telescope have found knots of material believed to be star forming regions in both galaxies.

NGC 3396 is to the upper left and 3395 is at a right angle and down in below image (north is approximately up and east to the left).