Trio of interacting galaxies at about 70 million light years. NGC 317 is the distorted spiral in the center. Above it is NGC 317B or UGC 593 and below UGC 594, sometimes called NGC 317C. The latter reminds me of M51 without the companion. Same blue white color and distorted arms. It was setting as I got the color data so that is limited. Weather prevented me going back and getting more. Color in the tidal arm is pretty noisy because of this. But it will have to wait for next season.

14" LX200R, L=7x10', RGB=1x10', STL-11000XM, Paramount ME

Rick

Attached Images

NGC317_7X10LUM1x10RGBCROP.jpg (127.3 KB, 62 views)

Hi Rick, Thats what i call deep simply amazing seeing such details at this distance. At ngc 317 the cloud structure at about 7 o'clock position is it part of it or is it a distant closeby dust cloud. Outstanding photo! Clear Skies

That's the tidal arm from the interaction. There's distortion in the lower galaxy (UGC 594) as well as lots of star formation judging by the color and rather intense blue white of the arms. NGC 317's arms are really weird. Then there's that funny blue vertical oval that seems to overlay UGC 593 and a really blue blob above and left of the core of 593. Which galaxy these last two belong to I don't know. Pure redshift data would say 593 is in front of NGC 317 but it looks to me to be behind with the radial velocity difference due to motions within the group. I found little on these guys on the net. Most I did find consider NGC 317 and UGC 593 as in contact. I don't really see it in my photo however. But they are weird. That "distant" blue knot above 593 I assume is part of the interaction and not some distant faint fuzzy. But I found nothing either way on it.

I need to do this next fall under better seeing conditions and when I can get more color data. The color is just too noisy. I need to get the weather man on my side. He's really been a pain since September. I've been clouded out every new moon for 5 months now. I've had to work with a lot of moonlight the few semi-clear nights I've had which doesn't help. Worst period of weather I can recall. Little moisture, just clouds. We need the moisture but clouds with no snow or rain are a pain.

Rick

317 is bizzare. Are we seeing it from an oblique perspective which would explain the "squashed" appearance given the tidal influence?. I have been looking at it for ages try in to visualise the interaction 3D. Thanks for sharing.

Kind regards
Matt

Beautiful, Rick!

Tom

I Have Really no idea what you guy's are Talking about..

But I Really love the Picture!

Beautiful Image m8.

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