NGC 4038 & 4039 – ANTENNAE GALAXIES

CORVUS

(ra: 12:01,9/ dec -18:52 & ra: 12:01,9/ dec -18:53)

DATA

TYPE: Spiral Galaxy

VISUAL BRIGHTNESS: 10.5 & 10.3

SIZE: 5.4 & 5.4 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 60 Million light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

Two Galaxies interacting located in the Constellation of Corvus. The objects presents a wide band of chaotic dust stretches between the cores of the two galaxies. The sweeping spiral-like patterns, traced by bright blue star clusters, are the result of a firestorm of star birth that was triggered by the collision.

It was quite a challenge for me and the Orion ED 80 to get some detail in the core of both collided galaxies due its relative short focal length and experience. The good skies probably helped.

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Orion ED 80 @ 7.5 Meade LXD 75

SKY CONDITIONS: very good.

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV H9

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II

EXPOSURES: LRGB (50,8,8,8) subs 240 seconds

ACQUISITION: AstroArt v 3. CCD control Interface v. 3.72

GUIDING: Synta 70/400 refractor - SXV Guide Camera

PROCESSED: Images Plus, (no darks, flats nor bias used) Photoshop CS