For identification of the objects, see the labeled image
below. CCD image taken with an ST-9E CCD camera thru Kopernik's 20-inch
F/8.1 telescope working at F/4. The field of view is about 16.3x16.3 arc
minutes, with North at the top. Exposure = 10 minutes.
|
|
M-85 (4382) is a 10th magnitude Lenticular Galaxy.
NGC 4394 is an 11.6 magnitude Barred Spiral Galaxy MCG 3-32-38 is a 17th magnitude Elliptical Galaxy "Q" is 19.2 magnitude Quasar J1225+182 |
M-85 (NGC 4382):
Quote by Charles Messier (March 18th, 1781): “Nebula without star, above and near to the ear of Virgo between the two stars in Coma Berenices, Nos. 11 and 14 of Flamsteed's catalogue: this nebula is very faint. M. Mechain had determined its position on 4th Mar.”
M-85 and its two companion galaxies are a part of the Virgo/Coma Galaxy Cluster, and are located in the Constellation of Coma Berenices. Pierre Mechain discovered it in 1781. This galaxy was at first classified as an elliptical, but because of its slight disk-like shape and outer extensions, it is now considered either a lenticular galaxy or a spiral galaxy with only a slight hint of spiral arms. It is seen nearly face-on but it appears to have a different direction of rotation in the center compared to the outer portion. It also has an inner ring of new star formation. Some Astronomers believe that this star formation results from M-85 having recently "cannibalized" another galaxy. M-85 has the same red shift as the other two galaxies in the image and is strongly interacting with them. This galaxy was the host of Type I Supernova 1960R, which reached 12th magnitude at maximum brightness.
NGC 4394:
This Barred Spiral Galaxy is interacting with M-85. Spiral arms springing prominently from the ends of the bar distinguish this galaxy. There are no obvious dust features anywhere in the bar. The arms spiral rather tightly, just missing the other arm after spiraling 180 degrees. NGC 4394 has a small bright Active Galactic Nucleus.
MCG 3-32-28:
This 17th magnitude Elliptical Galaxy has the same red shift as M-85 and is probably very close to it in space, rather than being a background object.
J1225+182:
The 19th magnitude star-like object J1225+182 is a distant Quasar, with a red shift of 1.19. It is receding from the earth at a speed of 196,340 Km/sec (adjusted for Relativistic effects), and (using a Hubble Constant of 70.5Km per Sec per M_Parsec) the distance is estimated to be 8.5 billion light years.
|
Classification: SA(s)0+ pec |
Classification: (R)SB(r)b |
George Normandin, KAS
April 14th, 2009
