IC2531, an edge-on galaxy in Antlia

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #1 24-02-2015, 07:56 PM

I haven't been able to find many amateur (or even professional) images of this nice little galaxy. It's very faint and quite small and is probably pushing the friendship between me and the scope. The original frame was cropped down to a little less than half-size.
http://www.astrobin.com/159328/
Telescope: 12.5" PlaneWave CDK
Exposure: 4 hours--short I know, but there are those annoying things called clouds stuffing things up.
Camera: FLI Proline 16803.
Mount: AP900

Seeing was mediocre--around 2.7" FWHM

Geoff

Stevec35 (Steve) · #2 24-02-2015, 08:17 PM

Very good for only 4 hours Geoff! Bit of noise in the highest magnification which you could probably smooth out but it's hardly objectionable. The galaxy looks like a smaller version of NGC 4565.

Cheers

Steve

Geoff45 (Geoff) · #3 24-02-2015, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevec35

Very good for only 4 hours Geoff! Bit of noise in the highest magnification which you could probably smooth out but it's hardly objectionable. The galaxy looks like a smaller version of NGC 4565.

Cheers

Steve

Thanks Steve. If the weather obliges I'll get some more data on it.
Yep, it's ngc4565's little brother.

SkyViking (Rolf) · #4 24-02-2015, 10:26 PM

Very cool little edge-on spiral. Clearly has a box shaped central bulge too, it really does look like NGC 891 or NGC 4565. Nicely done Geoff.

RickS (Rick) · #5 24-02-2015, 10:32 PM

Very cool, Geoff!

multiweb (Marc) · #6 25-02-2015, 08:40 AM

Very cool shot, Geoff. Not many side on pics around.

strongmanmike (Michael) · #7 25-02-2015, 08:51 AM

Great result Geoff, as Marc says we don't see many edge on galaxy shots so nice work

Mike

Placidus (Mike and Trish) · #8 25-02-2015, 09:44 AM

Very fine, Geoff. Lots of detail in a tiny beastie, with bright colourful field stars adding interest. The dust lane is great.

(Rolf mentioned the boxy nucleus. There seem to be a lot of learned articles which indicate that box-shaped and peanut-shaped central bulges are the central bar seen side-on or end-on.)