NGC 672

Click on image for larger version.

NGC 672 (on the right side of the image) and IC 1727 (in the bottom left) are interacting galaxies some 18 million light years distant. From each other they are separated by only 88,000 light years- little more than their own diameters. While outside of the "Local Group" of galaxies, these two are close enough to begin to resolve some of the brighter stellar associations and dust lanes. This gives the galaxies their granulated and bumpy appearence. By examining these galaxies in the radio wavelengths of light, astronomers have detected a large envelope of gas that surround these galactic friends.

Equipment

20in RC Optical Systems telescope Operating at f/8.4
Paramount ME Robotic Telescope Mount
SBIG ST10XME CCD camera with color filter wheel

L R G B color production was used to create this image.

Luminance = 90 minutes binned 1x1
 Red = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Green = 20 minutes binned 2x2
 Blue = 20 minutes binned 2x2
  • One iteration of L-R deconvolution (sharpening) algorithm using CCDsharp was applied to the luminance image.

  • Digital Development (DDP) via Maxim/DL was also used in order to display the the very dim and very bright details of the image simultaneously.
  • Due to the placement of the guide star it was difficult to position and frame these galaxies. Since NGC 672 was the brighter of the two, the other galaxy (IC 1727) sacrificed a bit of itself to the edge of the field.

    • Minimum credit line: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

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    Updated: 10/20/2003