Arp 235 / NGC 14

Designation(s)Arp 235, NGC 14
Object Type(s)Galaxy
Relevant Catalog(s)All (Chron), Arp, NGC
Arp CategoryGalaxies with the appearance of fission
Obs. Lat/Long42° 17', 073° 57'
ConstellationPegasus
Date and Time Observed2024-10-26 22:22:00
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 31m 30s. Exposures 15s@300g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding.
DescriptionThis is a puzzling galaxy with what looks like at least 2, and possibly 3, elliptical galactic centers at slightly different orientations. The result is a galaxy with a much larger and more elongated, irregular center than normal. Arp categorizes this as having "the appearance of fission", and I suppose that's possible if you thought that there exists a mechanism for fission. Arp was not a fan of galactic merging... but I certainly think that incomplete fusion is the more likely explanation of the appearance here, given that gravity is a simple mechanism, and that mergers are now a broadly accepted mechanism for galactic evolution.
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