Arp 28 / NGC 7678

Designation(s)Arp 28, NGC 7678
Object Type(s)Galaxy
Relevant Catalog(s)All (Chron), Arp, NGC
Arp CategorySpiral galaxies with one heavy arm
Obs. Lat/Long42° 17', 073° 57'
ConstellationPegasus
Date and Time Observed2024-10-26 19:44:00
InstrumentEdgeHD 8" w/f7 reducer-1,422mm FL
CameraPlayer One Apollo Mini
Image DetailsUp is 279.5 degrees E of N. Total integration time was 22m 15s. Exposures 15s@300g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding.
DescriptionThis looks like a lovely, face-on spiral galaxy that is clipped a bit flat along the full length of the right side, and oddly expanded on the left. One can imagine another galaxy making a close approach to Arp 28 from the upper right, stripping off stars (though you can still see something close to Arp 28's original spiral shape in the faint dust cloud that remains). This hypothetical galaxy, as it continues past, then seems to have swung to the lower left (from our perspective) pulling open the main spiral arm of Arp 28, and drawing off more stars from the periphery. Arp categorizes this as having a single, heavy arm, though one could easily argue it has two, both on the lower left of this image. Either way, it's a lovely, intriguing target.
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