Arp 80 / NGC 2633

Designation(s)Arp 80, NGC 2633
Object Type(s)Galaxy
Relevant Catalog(s)All (Chron), Arp, NGC
Arp CategorySpiral galaxies with large high surface brightness companions on arms
Obs. Lat/Long42° 17', 073° 57'
ConstellationCamelopardalis
Date and Time Observed2024-02-26 21:30:03
Instrument8" EdgeHD SCT
CameraASI294mc-Pro
Image DetailsUp is 276.1 degrees E of N in full image. Up is 180 degrees E or N in comparison and inverted images. Total integration time was 26m. Exposure 30s@305g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding..
DescriptionI struggled with this observation both technically and conceptually. It was captured on a very challenging night which cleared late, with a 97% moon. High clouds closed in to end observing much sooner than I would have liked. So my capture is pretty marginal and noisy. That said, I don't see any "large, high surface brightness companions on arms" even in Arp's image, much less in my own, mediocre image. Remarks for Arp 80 include this cryptic notation: "End of one arm heavy," which may or may not refer to the companion(s). Referring to my inverted image, there are really only 3 possible high brightness candidates within the FOV of the Atlas Plate: the two smudges to the north (bottom) of the disk, one close, the other further away and slightly to the right (NNE assuming E is counter-clockwise from N). Both appear as smudges on my capture, which suggests they are galaxies. That they show up at all makes them arguably "high surface brightness". Position would be consistent with the recorded remark. On the other hand, they just don't qualify in my mind as "large". Logically, the third candidate is the bright dot close to the East (right) edge of the frame, which I take to be a field star.
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