Monday, January 14, 2019

collected photons from M98 (Halifax)

The BGO aimed at Messier 98 for me. A large spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices. Viewed only once before (on 19 May 2012).

galaxy Messier 98 in luminance

Luminance only, 60 seconds subexposures, 10 stacked shots. FITS Liberator, Paint.NET. North is up; east is left.

The wonderful nearly edge-on galaxy also known as NGC 4192 looks distorted, particular to the north. Something interfered with it in the past, bending and flexing it. It almost looks like two discs parallels. I can see multiple arms and concentrations of stars within. There seems to be an inner region that is much brighter. Compact and intense core.

Quasar Q 1210+1507 is easy to see. It is to the west of the spiral, in an equilateral triangle with stars J121314.4+145000 and J121307.6+144902.

To the south-west of the galaxy, well away, is a round dim patch: MCG 3-31-76.

Just to the north of this is a tiny dim oval: LEDA 1467279.

NGC 4186 appears to the south-south-east, a nearly face-on spiral, small, with a large bright core.

I can see still more galaxies in this image... Busy place!

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Wikipedia link: Messier 98.

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