| GALAXY GROUPS (CLICK ON THUMBNAIL TO VIEW FULL SIZED IMAGE) |
The NGC-3190 Galaxy Group (Hickson 44): A group of four various types of galaxies
located in the "Sickle" of Leo between Gamma and Zeta Leonis. The brightest is NGC-3190,
an inclined spiral with a dust lane, located near the center of the photo. Next brightest is the
elliptical galaxy NGC-3193, just to the left of a bright star at upper right center. The other
two members are spiral galaxies; NGC-3185 at lower left, and NGC-3187 just to the lower
right of NGC-3190. This group lies at a distance of 73 million light years from earth.
Visually, the group is fairly bright, except for NGC-3187. All fit easily into the field of a
wide-angle eyepiece.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty-five 60-second exposures taken through the
80mm f/7.5 ED APO Refractor. These images were captured on the morning of 2/21/07,
using Maxim DL Essentials. Further post-processing was done using Photoshop CS.
located in the "Sickle" of Leo between Gamma and Zeta Leonis. The brightest is NGC-3190,
an inclined spiral with a dust lane, located near the center of the photo. Next brightest is the
elliptical galaxy NGC-3193, just to the left of a bright star at upper right center. The other
two members are spiral galaxies; NGC-3185 at lower left, and NGC-3187 just to the lower
right of NGC-3190. This group lies at a distance of 73 million light years from earth.
Visually, the group is fairly bright, except for NGC-3187. All fit easily into the field of a
wide-angle eyepiece.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty-five 60-second exposures taken through the
80mm f/7.5 ED APO Refractor. These images were captured on the morning of 2/21/07,
using Maxim DL Essentials. Further post-processing was done using Photoshop CS.
M-105 Galaxy Group: This group of galaxies lie about 1/3 of the way from Regulus (A Leonis)
and Denebola (B Leonis) and just NW of the M-95/M-96 group. M-105 (lower center) is the
brightest galaxy in the group. It is an elliptical galaxy. NGC-3384, just above it, is an elongated
E7 elliptical galaxy. NGC-3389 is the faintest member of the trio, and is a type Sc Spiral Galaxy.
All three fit nicely into the field of a medium power eyepiece. This group of galaxies lie at
a distance of 29 million light years from earth.
NOTE: This image is a composite of twenty-five 50-second exposures taken through the 80mm
f/7.5 ED APO Refractor. These images were captured on the morning of 2/21/07, using Maxim
DL Essentials. Further post-processing was done using Photoshop CS.
and Denebola (B Leonis) and just NW of the M-95/M-96 group. M-105 (lower center) is the
brightest galaxy in the group. It is an elliptical galaxy. NGC-3384, just above it, is an elongated
E7 elliptical galaxy. NGC-3389 is the faintest member of the trio, and is a type Sc Spiral Galaxy.
All three fit nicely into the field of a medium power eyepiece. This group of galaxies lie at
a distance of 29 million light years from earth.
NOTE: This image is a composite of twenty-five 50-second exposures taken through the 80mm
f/7.5 ED APO Refractor. These images were captured on the morning of 2/21/07, using Maxim
DL Essentials. Further post-processing was done using Photoshop CS.
 |
NGC-4038/4039: A very interesting interacting pair of galaxies in the constellation of Corvus the Crow. In
this picture, NGC-4038 is the brighter galaxy to the right (north). On long-exposure photos and Hubble
Space Telescope images, much detail is seen, including two long filaments extending to the NE and SE of
the main bodies of the two galaxies. The left image has started to capture one of the filaments, which
appears as a faint wedge of nebulosity extending to the upper left of the left-hand galaxy, NGC-4039.
Also visible are many reddish areas, which are large regions of hydrogen gas where star formation has
been triggered by the tidal effect of the collision of the two galaxies. This pair of galaxies lies over 90
million light years from earth. Visually, this contact pair resembles a faint ghostly "Pac-Man". NOTE: The
image on the left is an integration of twenty-five 100-second exposures taken through the 80mm f/7.5
APO Refractor. The image on the right was captured through the C-11 @ f/2 using HyperStar, and is an
integration of ten 180 second exposures. The left image was captured in Maxim DL, the right image was
captured in Nebulosity. Both were post-processed using Photoshop CS, Astro Tools and Noiseware.
this picture, NGC-4038 is the brighter galaxy to the right (north). On long-exposure photos and Hubble
Space Telescope images, much detail is seen, including two long filaments extending to the NE and SE of
the main bodies of the two galaxies. The left image has started to capture one of the filaments, which
appears as a faint wedge of nebulosity extending to the upper left of the left-hand galaxy, NGC-4039.
Also visible are many reddish areas, which are large regions of hydrogen gas where star formation has
been triggered by the tidal effect of the collision of the two galaxies. This pair of galaxies lies over 90
million light years from earth. Visually, this contact pair resembles a faint ghostly "Pac-Man". NOTE: The
image on the left is an integration of twenty-five 100-second exposures taken through the 80mm f/7.5
APO Refractor. The image on the right was captured through the C-11 @ f/2 using HyperStar, and is an
integration of ten 180 second exposures. The left image was captured in Maxim DL, the right image was
captured in Nebulosity. Both were post-processed using Photoshop CS, Astro Tools and Noiseware.
The Virgo Galaxy Cluster: This image is centered on the giant elliptical galaxy M-86, and
shows the center of the huge cluster of galaxys located in western Virgo, approximately
halfway between the star Denebola (B Leonis) and Epsilon Virginis. The other bright galaxy
to the right (west) of M-86 is another large elliptical galaxy, M-84. Forming a triangle with
these two bright ellipticals is the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC-4388 (bottom right of picture).
In the center of this triangle is the small spiral galaxy NGC-4387. Another edge-on spiral
galaxy, NGC-4402, lies just north of M-86, at the top center of the picture. At the upper left
hand corner of the picture lie two galaxies: the smaller one to the north is NGC-4458. The
larger, distorted galaxy just to the south is NGC-4438. This pair of galaxies is commonly
known as "The Eyes", because that is how they appear when viewed visually through the
average telescope. Just to the lower left (east) of NGC-4388 is the smaller spiral galaxy
NGC-4413. Between this galaxy and the two "Eyes" at the upper left of the picture is the
small spiral galaxy NGC-4425. Between the "Eyes" and NGC-4402 lies another small faint
galaxy, IC-3355 (just left of upper center). Another faint galaxy, IC-3303, lies just south of
M-84, about halfway between M-84 and NGC-4388. Another faint galaxy lies just west (right)
of NGC-4402, and another lies just northwest (up and to the right). In all, the images of
THIRTEEN galaxies appear in this field, which is just over 1 degree in size!
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of May 17th 2007 and is a composite of ten
180 second exposures through the 80mm Refractor, using a .5 focal reducer, to shoot at
f/3.75. The images were captured, stacked and processed using Nebulosity, with further
post processing using Photoshop CS and Noiseware.
shows the center of the huge cluster of galaxys located in western Virgo, approximately
halfway between the star Denebola (B Leonis) and Epsilon Virginis. The other bright galaxy
to the right (west) of M-86 is another large elliptical galaxy, M-84. Forming a triangle with
these two bright ellipticals is the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC-4388 (bottom right of picture).
In the center of this triangle is the small spiral galaxy NGC-4387. Another edge-on spiral
galaxy, NGC-4402, lies just north of M-86, at the top center of the picture. At the upper left
hand corner of the picture lie two galaxies: the smaller one to the north is NGC-4458. The
larger, distorted galaxy just to the south is NGC-4438. This pair of galaxies is commonly
known as "The Eyes", because that is how they appear when viewed visually through the
average telescope. Just to the lower left (east) of NGC-4388 is the smaller spiral galaxy
NGC-4413. Between this galaxy and the two "Eyes" at the upper left of the picture is the
small spiral galaxy NGC-4425. Between the "Eyes" and NGC-4402 lies another small faint
galaxy, IC-3355 (just left of upper center). Another faint galaxy, IC-3303, lies just south of
M-84, about halfway between M-84 and NGC-4388. Another faint galaxy lies just west (right)
of NGC-4402, and another lies just northwest (up and to the right). In all, the images of
THIRTEEN galaxies appear in this field, which is just over 1 degree in size!
NOTE: This image was captured on the evening of May 17th 2007 and is a composite of ten
180 second exposures through the 80mm Refractor, using a .5 focal reducer, to shoot at
f/3.75. The images were captured, stacked and processed using Nebulosity, with further
post processing using Photoshop CS and Noiseware.
M-61 Galaxy Group: This image is centered on the face-on spiral galaxy M-61 (NGC-4303).
M-61 lies at the southern edge of the great Virgo Galaxy Cluster, about 2 degrees north and
just slightly east of the 5th magnitude star 16 Virginis. This image clearly shows M-61's two
companion galaxies, NGC-4303A (left center of photo) and NGC-4292 (upper right corner).
M-61 is a beautiful 3-armed spiral galaxy of 10th magnitude, one of the larger galaxies in the
Virgo cluster. The photo shows its bright compact nucleus and the unusual crooked spiral
arms which contain many knots and condensations of stars. M-61 lies at a distance of about
30 million light years. At this distance, its 6 arcminute diameter corresponds to an actual
diameter of over 60,000 light years.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty 70-second exposures through the 80mm f/7.5
ED Apochromatic refractor. The images were captured and processed using Nebulosity, with
further post-processing in PhotoshopCS and NoiseWare.
M-61 lies at the southern edge of the great Virgo Galaxy Cluster, about 2 degrees north and
just slightly east of the 5th magnitude star 16 Virginis. This image clearly shows M-61's two
companion galaxies, NGC-4303A (left center of photo) and NGC-4292 (upper right corner).
M-61 is a beautiful 3-armed spiral galaxy of 10th magnitude, one of the larger galaxies in the
Virgo cluster. The photo shows its bright compact nucleus and the unusual crooked spiral
arms which contain many knots and condensations of stars. M-61 lies at a distance of about
30 million light years. At this distance, its 6 arcminute diameter corresponds to an actual
diameter of over 60,000 light years.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty 70-second exposures through the 80mm f/7.5
ED Apochromatic refractor. The images were captured and processed using Nebulosity, with
further post-processing in PhotoshopCS and NoiseWare.
GALAXY TRIO IN LEO: Visually, this is one of the nicest groups of galaxies in the northern
sky. The trio is nicely framed in a low-power wide-field eyepiece in most moderate sized
amateur telescopes. M-66, to the upper left, is the brightest member, at 9.7 magnitude with
a bright core. M-65, to the lower left, is about the same magnitude, but does not have as
bright a core. Visually, these two galaxies are 21 arcminutes apart. 36 arcminutes north of
this pair lies the fainter edge-on galaxy, NGC-3628, which is much larger, measuring 12
arcminutes in length, but is much fainter. Both M-65 and M-66 are class Sb spiral galaxies,
though M-66 is much different in appearance due to its assymetric spiral arms and elongated
core area. M-65 is a more symmetric oval with a smoother texture. NGC-3628 has a vague
envelope bisected with a prominent dust lane which is easily seen in amateur telescopes.
This trio of galaxies is gravitationally connected, and lie at a distance of approximately 30
million light years from earth.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty-five 90-second exposures through an 80mm
Apochromatic refractor using a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The images were captured
on April 7th using Maxim DL Essentials, combined and processed using Nebulosity v. 2.1, and
"color in motion". Post processing was done using Photoshop CS, levels, curves, and color
balance, and Astronomy Tools. Final image was filtered using NoiseWare.
sky. The trio is nicely framed in a low-power wide-field eyepiece in most moderate sized
amateur telescopes. M-66, to the upper left, is the brightest member, at 9.7 magnitude with
a bright core. M-65, to the lower left, is about the same magnitude, but does not have as
bright a core. Visually, these two galaxies are 21 arcminutes apart. 36 arcminutes north of
this pair lies the fainter edge-on galaxy, NGC-3628, which is much larger, measuring 12
arcminutes in length, but is much fainter. Both M-65 and M-66 are class Sb spiral galaxies,
though M-66 is much different in appearance due to its assymetric spiral arms and elongated
core area. M-65 is a more symmetric oval with a smoother texture. NGC-3628 has a vague
envelope bisected with a prominent dust lane which is easily seen in amateur telescopes.
This trio of galaxies is gravitationally connected, and lie at a distance of approximately 30
million light years from earth.
NOTE: This image is an integration of twenty-five 90-second exposures through an 80mm
Apochromatic refractor using a focal reducer to shoot at f/3.75. The images were captured
on April 7th using Maxim DL Essentials, combined and processed using Nebulosity v. 2.1, and
"color in motion". Post processing was done using Photoshop CS, levels, curves, and color
balance, and Astronomy Tools. Final image was filtered using NoiseWare.
Stephan's Quintet: A very compact grouping of five galaxies located in the constellation
of Pegasus about 1/2 degree south-southwest of the bright galaxy NGC-7331. Of the five
galaxies, only the four faintest are actually gravitationally involved. The brightest member,
NGC-7320, is actually a foreground object, at a distance of about 40 million light years. The
other four are far more distant, at a distance of over 230 million light years. The image on the
left was captured on the morning of 10/9/10, using the C-11 at f/2, using the HyperStar imaging
system and is an integration of thirty 90-second exposures.
NOTE: The image on the right is courtesy of NOAO at Kitt Peak, and is included to show the
identification of the five galaxies and to better show the gravitational distortions and streamers
caused by the interaction of the four involved galaxies.
of Pegasus about 1/2 degree south-southwest of the bright galaxy NGC-7331. Of the five
galaxies, only the four faintest are actually gravitationally involved. The brightest member,
NGC-7320, is actually a foreground object, at a distance of about 40 million light years. The
other four are far more distant, at a distance of over 230 million light years. The image on the
left was captured on the morning of 10/9/10, using the C-11 at f/2, using the HyperStar imaging
system and is an integration of thirty 90-second exposures.
NOTE: The image on the right is courtesy of NOAO at Kitt Peak, and is included to show the
identification of the five galaxies and to better show the gravitational distortions and streamers
caused by the interaction of the four involved galaxies.
The Pegasus 1 Galaxy Cluster: Located about 5 degrees SW of Markab (A Pegasi) this is a dense cluster of
galaxies lying at a distance of over 200 million light years from earth. Like the nearer Virgo cluster, it is centered on
a pair of giant elliptical galaxies, NGC- 7619 to the west (left) and NGC-7626 to the east (right). Both of these
galaxies shine at 11th magnitude. Just to the SW of NGC-7619 lies 13.8 mag. NGC-7617. To the SE of NGC-7626
lies the 16.5 mag. edge-on galaxy UGC-12535. Just east of its south tip is 16th mag. MAC-2321-0810. Due east of
this pair is 13.9 mag. NGC-7631. Due north of 7626 near the edge of the frame lie a trio of galaxies, 13.9 mag.
NGC-7623 in the middle, with 15.7 mag. NGC-7621 to the SW and 16th mag. MAC-2320-0823 to the ESE. Just SW
of NGC-7621 lies the very small 16.5 mag. MAC-2320-0820. At the upper left-hand (NW) edge of the frame is a pair
of stars on a SW/NE line. Just NE of this pair lies 16th mag. MAC-2319-0819. Due south of the southern star is 14th
mag. UGC-12510. Due east of it, lies the small 17th mag. MAC-2319-0816. In addition to these 13 galaxies are
several other very small, faint anonymous galaxies. This image was captured on 11/5/2010 and is an integration of
ten 60 second exposures through the C-11 at f/2 using HyperStar. Captured in Maxim DL, Processed in Nebulosity.
galaxies lying at a distance of over 200 million light years from earth. Like the nearer Virgo cluster, it is centered on
a pair of giant elliptical galaxies, NGC- 7619 to the west (left) and NGC-7626 to the east (right). Both of these
galaxies shine at 11th magnitude. Just to the SW of NGC-7619 lies 13.8 mag. NGC-7617. To the SE of NGC-7626
lies the 16.5 mag. edge-on galaxy UGC-12535. Just east of its south tip is 16th mag. MAC-2321-0810. Due east of
this pair is 13.9 mag. NGC-7631. Due north of 7626 near the edge of the frame lie a trio of galaxies, 13.9 mag.
NGC-7623 in the middle, with 15.7 mag. NGC-7621 to the SW and 16th mag. MAC-2320-0823 to the ESE. Just SW
of NGC-7621 lies the very small 16.5 mag. MAC-2320-0820. At the upper left-hand (NW) edge of the frame is a pair
of stars on a SW/NE line. Just NE of this pair lies 16th mag. MAC-2319-0819. Due south of the southern star is 14th
mag. UGC-12510. Due east of it, lies the small 17th mag. MAC-2319-0816. In addition to these 13 galaxies are
several other very small, faint anonymous galaxies. This image was captured on 11/5/2010 and is an integration of
ten 60 second exposures through the C-11 at f/2 using HyperStar. Captured in Maxim DL, Processed in Nebulosity.
The NGC-183 Galaxy Group: Located in western Andromeda, this group of galaxies lie at a
distance of approximately 200 million light years from earth. This group is also known as the
Abell 71 Galaxy Cluster. The brightest member, NGC-183, is just below and left (west) of the
center of the image. The edge-on galaxy NGC-181 lies just SW, and NGC-184 lies a bit further
due south. This group is just 12 arcminutes north of the star 30 Andromedae. The images of
10 other faint galaxies also appear in this frame. This image was captured on the evening of
11/4/2010, and is a composite of fifteen 60-second exposures through the 11" Celestron at f/2
using the HyperStar system. Captured and processed in Nebulosity v.2.2.8, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS.
distance of approximately 200 million light years from earth. This group is also known as the
Abell 71 Galaxy Cluster. The brightest member, NGC-183, is just below and left (west) of the
center of the image. The edge-on galaxy NGC-181 lies just SW, and NGC-184 lies a bit further
due south. This group is just 12 arcminutes north of the star 30 Andromedae. The images of
10 other faint galaxies also appear in this frame. This image was captured on the evening of
11/4/2010, and is a composite of fifteen 60-second exposures through the 11" Celestron at f/2
using the HyperStar system. Captured and processed in Nebulosity v.2.2.8, with
post-processing in Photoshop CS.
NGC-3718 and Hickson 56: This galaxy group lies just southeast of the star Phact (Gamma
Ursa Majoris) at the southwest corner of the bowl of the Big Dipper. NGC-3718 is severely distorted due to
interaction with its neighbor NGC-3729 to the west (outside the frame). Just to the north of 3718 lies the
distant galaxy group Hickson 56, consisting of 5 tiny galaxies in a spaceof just 3 arcminutes. From left to
right in this image, they are PGC35631 (16.1 mag) PGC35620 (14.9 mag) PGC35618 (15.8 mag)
PGC35615 (16.8 mag) and PGC35609 (16.4 mag).
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of April 6, 2011, and is a composite of ten 70-second
sub-exposures through the C-11 at f/2 using HyperStar and the Orion StarShoot CCD Camera. Captured
and combined in Nebulosity and post-processed using Photoshop CS, levels, curves & color balance.
Ursa Majoris) at the southwest corner of the bowl of the Big Dipper. NGC-3718 is severely distorted due to
interaction with its neighbor NGC-3729 to the west (outside the frame). Just to the north of 3718 lies the
distant galaxy group Hickson 56, consisting of 5 tiny galaxies in a spaceof just 3 arcminutes. From left to
right in this image, they are PGC35631 (16.1 mag) PGC35620 (14.9 mag) PGC35618 (15.8 mag)
PGC35615 (16.8 mag) and PGC35609 (16.4 mag).
NOTE: This image was captured on the morning of April 6, 2011, and is a composite of ten 70-second
sub-exposures through the C-11 at f/2 using HyperStar and the Orion StarShoot CCD Camera. Captured
and combined in Nebulosity and post-processed using Photoshop CS, levels, curves & color balance.
