Observation by Mike Foylan: Arp Object #116

Uploaded by

Mike Foylan

Observer

Mike Foylan

Observed

2014 Dec 27 - 19:34

Uploaded

2018 Oct 26 - 19:09

Objects

M60
NGC4647

Planetarium overlay









Constellation

Virgo

Field centre

RA: 12h43m
Dec: +11°34'
Position angle: +89°59'

Field size

0°46' × 0°36'

Equipment
  • 0.2-m @f7.6
  • SBIG STL-1301E CCD Camera
  • Celestron CG5-GT Mount
Exposure

210s x 2. Flat field and dark subtract calibration frames. Unfiltered.

Location

Cherryvalley Observatory (I83) Ireland

Target name

NGC 4647 & NGC 4649 Galaxies

Title

Arp Object #116

About this image

Neighbours within the Virgo galaxy cluster. M60 (NGC 4649) is a giant elliptical galaxy 120 thousand light-year across containing a trillion stars surrounded by thousands of globular clusters and a number of dwarf satellite galaxies. M60 is some 55 million light years distant.

Distinct spiral galaxy NGC 4647 is estimated to be some 63 million light years distant with a respectable size of 90,000 light years across. The two galaxies are thought to be very weakly interacting and that tidal interactions may be just beginning.

 Dr. Halton Arp originally compiled the Atlas of peculiar galaxies with photographs he made mainly using the Palomar 200-inch telescope and the 48-inch Schmidt telescope between the years 1961 to 1966. Original image can be found here: 

http://ned.ipac.caltech.edu/level5/Arp/Figures/big_arp116.jpeg

Files associated with this observation
Like this image
Comments
Neil Morrison
Neil Morrison, 2018 Oct 26 - 19:33 UTC

  Great image .  I had the pleasure of  hearing a talk by Alton Arp at at SAGAS/ Night Life Convention in Portsmouth  some years  ago;  a fascinating  and informative  talk on active Galaxys. Other  speakers  were Patrick Moore and Douglas Arnold. A memorable day  indeed..

Mike Foylan
Mike Foylan, 2018 Oct 26 - 22:57 UTC

Thanks Neil. That sounds like an amazing time with great memories, it's sad that we have lost some great people but their work lives on. 

Copyright of all images and other observations submitted to the BAA remains with the owner of the work. Reproduction of work by third parties is expressly forbidden without the consent of the copyright holder. By submitting images to this online gallery, you grant the BAA permission to reproduce them in any of our publications.